Refreshing Your Pool

💧Why Fall and Winter Are Ideal for a Drain and Refill

As the swimming season winds down and temperatures drop, many pool owners shift their focus to winterization. But for some, fall and winter present a golden opportunity to refresh their pool water entirely. Draining and refilling your pool during the off-season can improve water quality, protect surfaces, and simplify next year’s maintenance.

🧠 Why Drain to Refresh?

Over time, pool water accumulates dissolved solids—like calcium, stabilizers, and contaminants—that can’t be removed by filtration or chemical treatment alone. This buildup leads to:

  • Cloudy water and scaling
  • Reduced sanitizer effectiveness
  • Staining and surface damage
  • Unbalanced chemistry that’s hard to correct

Draining and refilling gives your pool a clean slate, especially if your Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or Cyanuric Acid (CYA) levels are too high. Fall and winter are ideal because:

  • Lower demand on water supply compared to peak summer
  • Cooler temperatures reduce evaporation
  • You’re not interrupting swim season

🧰 What You’ll Need

  • Submersible pump or pool pump
  • Discharge hose (check local regulations)
  • Water testing kit (especially for TDS and CYA)
  • Fresh water source
  • Time and supervision (never leave draining unattended)

🧼 Step-by-Step Guide

1. Test Your Water

  • Check TDS, CYA, calcium hardness, and pH
  • If CYA is above 100 ppm or TDS exceeds 2,500 ppm, consider a partial or full drain

2. Choose a Dry, Mild Day

  • Avoid rainy or freezing conditions
  • Ensure the ground around the pool is stable to prevent hydrostatic damage

3. Drain Safely

  • Use a pump to remove water slowly
  • Follow local discharge rules—never drain into storm drains or septic systems

4. Inspect and Clean

  • Scrub surfaces, remove debris, and inspect for cracks or wear
  • Take advantage of the empty pool to perform repairs or acid washes if needed

5. Refill and Rebalance

  • Refill with fresh water
  • Test and adjust pH, alkalinity, calcium, and sanitizer levels
  • Add winter chemicals if closing the pool afterward

⚠️ Important Considerations

  • Never drain a vinyl liner pool completely unless absolutely necessary—liners can shrink or wrinkle
  • Watch for high water tables that can cause inground pools to float or crack
  • Partial drains (30–50%) are often safer and still effective for reducing TDS and CYA

🧠 Final Thoughts

Refreshing your pool water in the fall or winter isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about long-term health for your pool and easier maintenance come spring. Whether you’re a homeowner or a service pro managing dozens of accounts, knowing when and how to drain for water quality can save time, money, and headaches.

 

 

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