Draining Above Ground Pool For Repair

by Amy
(Westminster, MD)

I am having some sink holes fixed in the bottom of my above ground pool. The service company has told me to drain the pool before they come to repair it. The liner is only a year old. If I let the pool empty for a day or two, will the liner shrink?


Hi Amy. I never like to see it happen but sometimes repairs do have to be made that require a pool to be drained. These types of repairs almost always happen in the first year or two, when the liner is fresh. In the first couple of years it is OK to drain and refill a pool without having to worry about liner shrinkage. It may shrink some but it is still fresh and will stretch right back into shape.

Try to plan it so you do not have to let it sit empty to long. A couple of days is fine, but not a couple of weeks. If you are going to pump the water out you can do this the day before they are scheduled to work on the pool. If you plan to siphon the water out allow several days or more, it is a very slow process.

Empty Pool

Our liner got a big hole and all the water from the pool was lost. We plan on getting a new liner in the spring but we would like to know if it is ok for the pool to stay empty all winter?

Hi. The only problem with leaving a pool empty is wind damage. If a strong wind catches it just right it could blow the pool down causing damage to the wall and possibly other parts. If the liner can in anyway be patched just enough to hold a little water in the pool over the winter you are better off.