Need ideas for draining my pool without flooding the yard

You're definitely onto something with the dry well idea. A couple years back, I helped my brother set one up for his pool drainage, and it's been working great ever since. A few quick thoughts from our experience:

- Totally agree on skipping fabric-wrapped pipes - ours clogged up pretty fast too, especially after heavy rains and pool cleanings.
- We went about 5 feet deep with the dry well, filled it with chunky gravel, and didn't line the bottom either. Good call there.
- One thing we learned the hard way: double-check your soil drainage first. Ours was borderline clay-ish, so we ended up digging a bit wider to compensate.
- Also, consider adding an overflow pipe or channel just in case you get a crazy storm or something. Better safe than sorry...

Sounds like you're already thinking this through pretty well. Once you get it dialed in, you'll probably wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Good luck!

"One thing we learned the hard way: double-check your soil drainage first. Ours was borderline clay-ish, so we ended up digging a bit wider to compensate."

Good point about soil drainage, but honestly, if you're dealing with heavy clay, a dry well might not be the best solution at all. I had a rental property with similar soil conditions, and even after widening the pit, it still struggled during heavy rains. Ended up installing a simple French drain system instead - worked like a charm and was less hassle overall. Just something to consider before you commit...

Yeah, French drains are pretty reliable. We had heavy clay too and tried the wider pit route - didn't really cut it. Switched to a French drain setup later, and honestly, wish we'd done it sooner. Less stress overall...

French drains are solid, agreed. We had a similar clay nightmare - felt like digging through concrete pudding, lol. Ended up going French drain too, but added some native plants around the edges to soak up extra water naturally. Worked surprisingly well, plus it looks nicer than a muddy swamp. Just gotta watch out for mosquitoes...they love those damp spots.

We had a similar issue when we drained our pool last summer. Our yard slopes slightly toward the neighbor's property, and the last thing we wanted was to flood their garden beds. French drains are definitely solid, but we went a slightly different route - built a dry well.

Here's what we did step-by-step, in case anyone wants to try it:

1. Dug a hole about 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide (yeah, clay soil is no joke...felt like chiseling through rock).
2. Lined the hole with landscape fabric to keep dirt from clogging things up.
3. Filled it halfway with gravel, then placed a perforated drainage pipe leading from the pool area into the center of the well.
4. Covered the pipe with more gravel until about 6 inches below ground level.
5. Topped it off with another layer of landscape fabric and then backfilled with soil and grass seed.

It worked surprisingly well - no flooding or muddy messes after draining the pool. Plus, you can't even tell it's there now since grass grew right over it.

One thing I'd add though: mosquitoes were definitely an issue at first because water pooled briefly around the drain pipe entrance. We ended up planting citronella and lavender nearby, which seemed to help keep them away naturally.

Native plants around your French drain sound like a smart move too - might have to borrow that idea next time we do some landscaping around ours...

Nice job on the dry well - sounds like a lot of digging, especially in clay! We did something similar a few years back, and citronella really helped with mosquitoes for us too. Glad it worked out for you.

We had to dig a dry well too when we drained our pool last summer - definitely not fun in heavy clay soil. Citronella helped us a bit, but honestly, setting up a fan nearby made the biggest difference with mosquitoes... guess they can't handle the breeze.

"setting up a fan nearby made the biggest difference with mosquitoes... guess they can't handle the breeze."

Funny you mention the fan trick - I stumbled onto that by accident a couple years back. I was draining our pool and rigged up some box fans just to keep cool, but noticed it kept the mosquitoes away better than citronella ever did. Never tried digging a dry well though... how deep did you have to go in that clay? Seems like it'd be rough going.

Did a dry well last summer - had to go about 4 feet down in heavy clay. Not fun, but doable. Just pace yourself and have a good spade handy... and maybe a cold drink waiting afterward.

Did a similar project myself a couple years back - heavy clay here, too. Digging is definitely manageable if you break it into smaller chunks. One thing I'd suggest is adding some gravel or crushed stone at the bottom of your dry well to help with drainage. Clay can be notoriously slow to drain, and the gravel layer really helps speed things up.

Also, think about positioning carefully - make sure it's far enough away from your pool and house foundations. Learned that one the hard way when my first attempt turned into a mini swamp near the patio... not exactly ideal for summer BBQs.

And yeah, cold drinks afterward are mandatory. I'd even argue they're necessary halfway through! Good luck with it, take your time, and it'll turn out fine.

"One thing I'd suggest is adding some gravel or crushed stone at the bottom of your dry well to help with drainage."

Gravel definitely helps, but honestly, if your clay is really dense, gravel alone might not cut it. I ran into this issue myself - ended up installing a perforated pipe wrapped in landscape fabric leading away from the dry well. It made a huge difference. A bit more work upfront, but saved me from dealing with standing water later on... just something to consider before you start digging.

Yeah, gravel helps a bit, but honestly, if your soil is heavy clay like mine was, you'll probably need something extra. I tried going the gravel-only route first and still had drainage issues - ended up adding a French drain with perforated pipes wrapped in landscape fabric. It wasn't exactly fun digging that trench (trust me...), but it solved the flooding issue completely. Might wanna think about biting the bullet now rather than redoing it later.

"It wasn't exactly fun digging that trench (trust me...), but it solved the flooding issue completely."

Haha, I feel your pain - I spent a weekend wrestling with clay soil myself. French drains really are a lifesaver, though. Just make sure you slope it properly or you'll be back out there digging again...ask me how I know.

Clay soil is definitely a beast to work with...been there, done that, got the muddy boots to prove it. French drains are awesome, but if you're looking for something a bit simpler, you might consider redirecting the pool water into a rain garden area. Basically, you'd dig out a shallow depression filled with plants that love soaking up excess water - native grasses and shrubs usually do the trick. Looks nice, helps wildlife, and no more swampy yard situations.

Rain gardens sound interesting, but I wonder how they'd hold up long-term with the chlorine or saltwater from the pool? Wouldn't that affect the plants or soil quality eventually...anyone have experience with that? Also curious if there's a way to combine a rain garden setup with some kind of historical landscaping - maybe something that fits an older home's aesthetic without looking out of place. Has anyone tried something similar?

I've been thinking about the chlorine/saltwater issue too, and honestly, from what I've read, rain gardens might not be the best fit if you're regularly draining pool water into them. Chlorine can mess with soil microbes and plant health over time. Maybe consider a dry well or French drain setup instead? You could still landscape it historically - like using stonework or brick edging that matches your home's style. Just another angle to think about...

"Maybe consider a dry well or French drain setup instead?"

Good call on the French drain idea. I've installed quite a few of these setups for clients dealing with pool drainage, and they usually work out pretty well. Here's how I'd approach it:

First, figure out your yard's natural slope - water always follows gravity, so you'll want to position the drain accordingly. Digging a trench about 18-24 inches deep and lining it with landscape fabric helps prevent soil from clogging things up later. Fill the trench halfway with gravel, lay down perforated pipe (holes facing downward), then cover it with more gravel and wrap the fabric over the top before backfilling with soil.

If you're worried about chlorine affecting plants, you could also add a small holding tank or basin to let the water sit for a day or two before it drains into the ground. Chlorine dissipates pretty quickly when exposed to air and sunlight, so this extra step can really help minimize any negative impact.

And yeah, matching stonework or brick edging to your home's style is a nice touch - makes the whole setup look intentional rather than just functional.

"Chlorine dissipates pretty quickly when exposed to air and sunlight, so this extra step can really help minimize any negative impact."

Good point about chlorine fading fast - I drained my pool last summer using a similar French drain setup, and honestly, the grass nearby never looked greener, haha. Didn't even bother with a holding tank. Just make sure your slope is decent enough...otherwise you'll end up with a soggy mess (ask me how I know).

Totally agree about the slope - learned that lesson myself the hard way. Couple extra tips from experience:

- If you're worried about erosion or puddling, toss down some gravel or river rock around the drain exit. Helps spread water out evenly.
- Keep an eye on your local weather forecast. Learned quickly that draining right before heavy rain is a recipe for disaster...
- Also, if you've got flower beds nearby, direct the flow their way - my plants thrived after getting that diluted pool water.

Haha, learned the flower bed trick myself - plants loved it, but my roses got a little too ambitious afterward. Ever tried using a flexible drainage hose to redirect water further out? Saved me from creating an accidental swamp in my yard...