Sometimes the best solutions are the ones that look a little weird but get the job done.
Totally agree—my last “solution” involved a broom, a tarp, and a lot of wishful thinking. Didn’t look great, but hey, less mud in the house. Has anyone tried those cheap plastic kiddie pools as a temporary catch basin? I keep thinking about just redirecting the water into one and letting it drain slowly, but I’m not sure if that’s genius or just asking for a backyard slip-n-slide.
I’ve actually tried the kiddie pool trick—once, when I was desperate and out of other ideas. It worked for about half an hour before the pool started to bow out and threaten a full-on tidal wave across the patio. Those things aren’t really built for much weight, especially if you’re draining a big pool. If you go that route, maybe reinforce the sides with something? Or only fill it halfway at a time.
What’s worked better for me is digging a shallow trench and laying down some old garden hose to direct the water further away from the house. Not pretty, but it kept my lawn from turning into a swamp. Has anyone else tried using those flexible downspout extenders? I’m wondering if they’d hold up to that much water or just pop off under pressure...
Has anyone else tried using those flexible downspout extenders? I’m wondering if they’d hold up to that much water or just pop off under pressure...
I’ve actually used the downspout extenders for a smaller above-ground pool, and they held up okay, but I had to secure them with duct tape at the connection points. Otherwise, they did start to slip off once the flow picked up. Not the prettiest solution, but it worked in a pinch. Have you considered using a sump pump with a long discharge hose? I found one on sale last year and it made things way easier—just ran the hose out to the street. Curious if anyone’s tried connecting multiple hoses together for extra distance... does that reduce the flow too much?
I’ve wondered about the flow rate too when you start chaining hoses together. Last summer, I tried connecting two garden hoses to reach the storm drain, and the pressure definitely dropped—took way longer than I expected. I think the narrower diameter and extra length just slow everything down. Has anyone tried using those flat, lay-flat hoses like they use for dewatering? I’m curious if they’d be more efficient or if they’re overkill for a backyard pool.
I get what you mean about the pressure drop. I’ve tried chaining hoses before and it’s always slower than I expect, even with decent water pressure at the spigot. The lay-flat hoses are interesting—I’ve only used them once when I was helping a buddy drain his flooded basement. They moved water fast, but they’re kind of bulky to deal with and you really need a pump to get the most out of them. For just draining a pool, maybe they’re a bit much unless you’ve got a big setup or want it done super quick.
Honestly, for most backyard pools, I think a single wide-diameter hose does the trick if you can manage the length. But if you already have access to one of those lay-flats and a pump, might as well give it a shot. It’s not overkill if it saves you hours standing around watching water trickle out...