by Angela V We are finally enjoying this beautiful sunny summer weather here in Vancouver. We got a small inflatable pool for the boys this year, and since I am not a fan of using chlorine and pool chemicals, we have to drain it regularly to get fresh clean water for them. So far we’ve drained it three times and I finally found an easy way to drain it, using a simple garden hose, no wet vac needed!
There are a few known methods to drain your above ground pool, but if you don’t have the extra equipment, and just want to stick to using your garden hose then keep reading.
Our pool has a drain plug on the bottom, but draining all that water onto our newly installed grass every few days would just cause problems with our grass and our home’s foundation, so instead, we use the hose to drain the water out to the alley, so it goes straight into the big city drain. Don’t forget that water seeping down near the foundation of your house can cause foundation cracks and other issues.
Easily Drain Inflatable Pool with a Garden Hose {Easy Steps}
We first tried sticking one end of the hose to the plug bottom and letting the water run through the hose, however, that took a very long time to drain. So, we ended up cutting an old long hose in half and following the instructions below:
- Hook one end of the garden hose to a nearby faucet.
- Hold the other end of the hose above the rest of the hose and wait until you see water coming out of the other end of the hose, we want to make sure all air is out of the hose.
- Unhook the garden hose off of the faucet, keeping the other end pointing up so the water doesn’t come out of the hose (basically, hold each end of the hose in each hand, keeping all the water in the hose).
- Submerged one end of the hose inside of the pool, close to the centre.
- Lay the other end of the hose lower than pool water, and leave it in the location where you want to release all the water.
- The water flow should then reverse and the pool will begin to drain.
If that doesn’t work, you can always put one end of the hose into the pool, and suck on the other end of the hose to get the water flow going. I don’t recommend this if your pool has really dirty water though!
If you have an inflatable pool for the kids, do you use a chemical kit for it? Or do you get fresh water for it regularly? If you need tips on how to open and maintain a small above ground pool that needs chemicals, I also wrote a very easy step by step post with tips on how to keep your above ground pool’s water clean and safe.
Hope this draining method works for you! If it does, leave a comment.
Happy Summer!
23 Comments on “Easily Drain Inflatable Pool with a Garden Hose {Easy Steps}”
Thanks for sharing this! Trying it today.
Awesome, I am so going to try this
a very clever idea! thx.
Where were you able to buy this pool? It’s exactly what my family needs!
Neat. I will give it a shot.
Neat. I will give it a shot.
This is a fantastic idea
It would be such fun and easy to do.
Wow that was easy thanks for the information.
When we had the small pool we had to drain it, but by the time it was to be drained most of the water was out of it from the girls splashing so much, so we used a pail and then flipped over, but our pool was not near the house so no issues with water
We learned your “trick” the hard way, lol. We have an 18′ above ground pool and one hot summer we used tap water to top off our pool. Not giving it a second thought, we unhooked the hose from the tap, and layed it on the grass so the water inside the hose would drain out, but neglected to pull the hose out of the pool. We ended up draining half our pool back out while eating dinner!! Won’t make THAT mistake again!! Lol
Thanks for sharing, looks like it may do the trick.
That is the biggest inflatable pool I’ve never seen. Definitely keeping this in mind for next summer.
I could picture myself hanging out in that pool on a hot day!
We used fresh water for our kids’ pool when they were younger. I never liked chemicals. Thanks!
This is a nice pool, and good idea for draining, esp if you aren’t going to use chemicals. I like the way you store it on its side, less potential for water getting in there when it rains, and safer. This post has me longing for summer and hearing kids’s laughter and sounds of playing in the breeze!
This is a great way to drain the pool
Thanks for the tips. Hard to believe pool season will be with us soon. Can’t wait!
Things change according to time and requirements. People keen to add fun and joys into their lives especially in this quarantine time. So, buy an inflatable swimming pool and have some good moments with your family members. I am a professional dealer of portable pools and mostly dealing in selling Bestway readymade pools in different specifications. Contact me for more info.
An inflatable pool is the best for summer fun, and it is so easy and convenient to handle.
amazing! will try this next summer
Good to know for next summer. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Angela, Your guide on draining inflatable pools with a garden hose is incredibly helpful and well-explained. The emphasis on safety and eco-friendliness is commendable. Your clear instructions and images make the process easy to follow. Great job!