How to Drain an Inground Pool Below Skimmer

There are generally two reasons why you may want to lower your pool’s water level below the skimmer:

• To reduce the risk of the water freezing in the skimmer and pipework during the winter and damaging it.
• If your skimmer housing leaks, you need to fix it or replace the skimmer completely.

You can drain the water in an inground swimming pool to below the skimmer by running the pool’s pump in the filter’s waste position. All water is drawn in through the main drain, NOT through the skimmer.

Let’s take a look at how to achieve this.

How to drain an inground pool below the skimmer

You can use the pool’s pump to lower the pool’s level below the skimmers, but to do so, you must ensure that you close the valve/s that control suction from the skimmers and open the valve that controls the suction from the main drain at the bottom of the pool.

If you didn’t do this and left the skimmer valve open, once the pool level reached the bottom of the skimmer’s opening, air would be drawn into the system (possibly damaging your pool pump), and no further water would be expelled.

In some pools, there may be just one diverter valve that controls where the suction comes from, which is turned toward the skimmer/s or the main pool drain.

With the valve/s selected to use the main drain, turn the multiport valve of the pool filter to the “waste” position. Depending on your particular setup, this will cause the water to flow out of the system either into your drainage system or your yard.

If you left the multiport valve in the “filter” position, you wouldn’t drain water out of the pool; it would just be pumped straight back into it. The same would be true with the lever in the “recirculate” position.

Now switch on the pool’s pump and run until the pool’s level lowers to the required point, probably a few inches below the skimmer’s opening.

You can also use this method to drain your pool entirely or after heavy rain to lower the level.

How to drain a pool below a skimmer without a main drain

If your pool does not have a main pool drain then you will need to use another method to lower the level of the water to below the skimmer, otherwise the skimmer will start drawing in air once the level drops to the bottom of the skimmer..

Drain using a submersible pump

If you put a submersible pump attached to a hose in the pool, you can run it until the level has dropped to the required level below the skimmer opening.

Drain using a pool vacuum

Connect up your manual pool vacuum to your hose and pool pole. Then, insert the hose into the skimmer suction hole, as you usually do when vacuuming your pool.

Then, with the vacuum at the bottom of the pool, run the pump until the level drops to the desired level.

Drain using a “cheat” hose

To do this, take a piece of pool hose 3-5 feet long. Attach a weight, such as a rock or some other heavy item, using duct tape to one end. Lower the end with the weight attached into the pool, and put the other end through the top of the skimmer and into the suction hole.

When you run the pump, water will be drawn up through the hose even after the water level reaches the bottom of the skimmer.

Should I drain my pool below the skimmer?

Under normal circumstances, you would not want the pool water below skimmer level, as they would not work, and floating debris would accumulate on the pool’s surface.

However, if you live in an area where it gets cold enough in the winter for the skimmer to freeze, then lowering the water so that the skimmer is empty will help prevent damage to the skimmer housing and the pipework. This will form part of your inground pool winterization process.

Also, if you need to repair the skimmer, perhaps due to a leak, or even replace the skimmer housing because it is cracked or broken in some other way, the water level must be below this to enable the repairs.

How Far Below Skimmer To Drain Pool For Winter

To ensure the pool’s longevity and facilitate proper winterization, the water level should be lowered by approximately four to six inches below the skimmer.

This allows for adequately expanding freezing water without causing cracks or other structural issues in the pool. By following this recommended guideline, pool owners can safeguard their investment and minimize the potential for costly repairs in the future.

Can you run the pool pump if the water is below the skimmer?

If the pool level has dropped below the skimmer due to evaporation or a leak, the pump should be shut off, as it may be damaged if it runs dry.

Suppose you have deliberately lowered the pool’s level (for winter or repairs). In that case, you can continue circulating the pool water through the filter while the level is below the skimmers by shutting off the skimmer feed and only drawing the water in through the main drain.

What happens if the pool water is below the skimmer?

If the water level drops below the skimmer’s level, deliberately for the reasons given above or due to evaporation or a leak, air is likely to be drawn in through the skimmer.

Eventually, the pump will fail due to running dry for an extended period. That would be an expensive mistake.

Should you drain an above-ground swimming pool below the skimmer?

If you will not be draining your above-ground pool completely for the winter, then draining it below the level of the skimmer is a good idea to prevent water from freezing in the skimmer box and damaging it.

Since there is no main drain at the bottom, drain your pool water below the skimmer’s level. You must use a submersible pump, a shop vac, or a garden hose to siphon sufficient water.

Summary

Properly preparing your pool for the colder months is essential during winter. One crucial step is draining the pool water below the skimmer level. This process ensures that the pool equipment below the water level remains protected and prevents potential damage from freezing temperatures.

Follow a few simple steps to drain the pool water below the skimmer. First, locate the skimmer in your above-ground pool; it is usually positioned on the side of the pool. Once located, determine how many inches below the skimmer you need to drain the pool water. Generally, it is recommended to drain the water around six inches below the skimmer level.

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