We have the really big one, and now that summer is ending we need to drain it. Today would be a really good day because it's going to be in the 80's so it can dry before I put it away.

but the plug is at the bottom of the pool wall, just underneath the wall. Somehow I am supposed to hook up a hose to it. Has anyone ever drained it another way?

By Tripletmom on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 09:17 am:

We just let the plug out and let it drain that way.We also let the air out of the top ring and it deflates so the water just poured out.We had ours in a spot where it didn't matter where the water ran.They do take awhile to drain though.

By Sunny on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 09:23 am:

We always just siphon the water with the hose and never bothered with the drain.
How many gallons are you draining? The small pools (1000 gallons) took more than a day to drain. If you want to have it drained completely today, you may also need to bail water from the pool.

By Colette on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 09:58 am:

I think it's like 4000 gallons maybe more..I can't get to the plug....I tried digging around and now I can touch the plug but I can't unscrew it...grrrr and now I am dirty and wet.

By Tripletmom on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 10:15 am:

Doesn't the plug unscrew from the outside of the pool? Ours did.Can you just deflate the top ring and let it all pour out?I bought the bigger pool for next year I'll have to check out everything before I set it up next year.The bigger ones sound like a pain is the butt.

By Colette on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 10:26 am:

yes, it does, but the screw cap is on the ground, under the pool - I think it wasn't completely level. I am ready to pop it and buy a new one next year.

maybe the sump pump would work.

By Tripletmom on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 10:47 am:

Ours was on the side.What a stupid set-up to just have it on the bottom.I'm sorry you're going through this,how frustrating.

By Colette on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 11:07 am:

finally got the stupid cover off to find out the garden hose - which it says to use - is to small. So I really am using my sump pump and it's working great so far.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 11:58 am:

That's good!

By Fraggle on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 09:03 am:

Colette, now that you have it drained, tell me how much of a pain it is to clean and dry. We just threw out our small intex pool after four years of use. It was just too small this year for my girls and they want a bigger one next year, but I though the small one was a pain to clean up and store. I'm not sure I want to get a bigger one next summer.

By Colette on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 11:36 am:

Ask me tomorrow - there is probably an inch of water left so I will be using the wet vac for the last little bit. The sump pump was awesome for draining it but I figured out my mistake (acutally dh pointed it out to me - there is a hose adapter I was supposed to use), so anyways, tomorrow or later today I will wet vac it, and then leave it to dry in the sun, probably dry vac it and then pack it.

I'd still probably get the big one if I had to do it over again. All the kids and dh and I were able to use it.

By Fraggle on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 04:00 pm:

Thanks Colette, let me know.

By Colette on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 11:22 am:

Well, it's a beautiful, breezy day so I got the shop vac out early and sucked up the water. That took about 45 minutes. Now I am letting it air dry and I am also trying to figure out what I can use to prop the sides up so I can make sure they get dry. I am afraid if I put it away damp it will get moldy.

So, it's a bit of a pain to pack away but I am being anal about getting it really clean. I would still get another one.

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - 01:40 pm:

I turned mine upside down last year and had Katies outdoor house and a broom on the other side it dried out properly without molding.This year I threw ours out b/c I got a bigger one for next year.It should be interesting how I'll do next year.