Took a solid 2 week to get it clear but even the nastiest water with enough chemicals can … What happens when you empty a swimming pool (and why you should avoid it) 06 June 2017 Tommy With winter well and truly set in, it's safe to say a lot of swimming pools around Australia are looking a little neglected. Yes. As the pool is refilling, you may need to shift the liner around to make sure it is aligned properly. I didn't open my pool for 4 summers and was nasty green. But fun in the sun may need to be put on hold to perform maintenance on your family's backyard watering hole. ... Leaves and crap got in...now it's green. This will break water lines to and from the pump. If I were you I wouldn't empty it. Not only does plaster keep the water from draining out, it also makes the surfaces of the pool look and feel nice. A reader asks: I'm attempting to drain my inground plaster swimming pool for the first time, to do some plaster repairs.I have never drained it before. Depends on where the natural water table is and how much pressure it can put on the pool (which is a function of the porosity of the earth immediately surrounding the pool). I guess it's sucking air from the skimmers. The older the liner, the less it will stretch when refilling. QUESTION: Is it OK to leave your pool empty for a year or two if you want a break from taking care of it? (I'm in PHX) So if you want to be absolutely certain, just leave the pool full and chemically maintain it year round. If they simply left your pool as a concrete or gunite shell, it would periodically empty out on its own and you’d have to keep refilling it. Left my pool empty for a year and finally after a few days of crazy rain the wall collapsed. Gunite is very strong and the pool can remain empty quite a while if there is no: water, land movement , earthquakes, or other mechanically damaging prospects. Depends on where the natural water table is and how much pressure it can put on the pool (which is a function of the porosity of the earth immediately surrounding the pool). Also do not leave the pool … Use Your Brain before You Drain! Many times I spend more time educating the clients about how to maintain a pool than it takes to inspect the pool. To avoid this problem, installers typically add a ½ inch-thick layer of plaster. I just needed a second opinion. The plaster in the pool is kept moist by the water in the pool. If you know the bottom is above the water table you can leave it empty until the ground freezes. A reader asks: I'm attempting to drain my inground plaster swimming pool for the first time, to do some plaster repairs.I have never drained it before.