How to Drain a Pool With a Garden Hose

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

If your pool pump broke -- or if it never had a pump in the first place -- you can still drain the pool without emptying the water one bucket at a time. Instead, siphon the water out with a garden hose. Water from an outdoor faucet helps create the siphon. In order for the siphon to work, the drainage location -- where the water exits the hose -- must be lower than the end of the hose taking water out of the pool; a siphon won't work properly traveling uphill. The hose method works for both in-ground and above-ground pools.

Advertisement

Simple Spigot Method

Video of the Day

This method works for a garden hose long enough to have one end completely submerged in the pool while the other end is attached to an outdoor faucet.

Video of the Day

Step 1

Attach one end of the hose to the faucet. Place the other end of the hose in the pool, completely submerged.

Advertisement

Step 2

Turn on the faucet to allow a full stream of water -- rather than a trickle -- to travel through the hose. Turn off the water 30 seconds or so after you notice water exiting the submerged end of the hose, indicating the hose is full.

Step 3

Remove the hose from the faucet quickly and kink the hose near the end previously attached to the faucet. The kink helps keep the water in the hose, much like placing your thumb over one end of a straw while the straw contains liquid.

Advertisement

Step 4

Carry the kinked end of the hose to the drainage location, holding the hose end higher than the level of the water in the pool as you walk. Release the kink in the hose and set the hose end down once you reach the designated drainage area.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...