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Why Draining Your Pool is Necessary

You relax, we maintain.

As part of regular pool maintenance, your water must be drained and refilled—much like changing the oil in your car. Over time, total dissolved solids (TDS) and cyanuric acid (CYA) build up in your pool, making it necessary to refresh the water.

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Las Vegas pools historically needed draining every 3–5 years. However, rising temperatures, prolonged heat waves, and extreme evaporation rates have accelerated this timeframe. Over the past decade, pools have required draining every 2–3 years, and with recent record-breaking summers, many pools now need it annually. The trend of increasingly hotter summers is expected to continue, making regular water replacement more crucial than ever.

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The Southern Nevada Health District sets guidelines for when pools should be drained. Public pools must be closed if cyanuric acid (CYA) levels exceed 80 ppm or total dissolved solids (TDS) exceed 1,800 ppm, as these levels reduce chlorines' ability to sanitize the water. While residential pools are not legally required to meet these thresholds, we follow similar principles to maintain the health and safety of your pool.

 

Please note that we strongly recommend draining your pool during the cooler months, well before temperatures approach 90°F, as extreme heat can damage plaster and Pebble Tec surfaces.

 

What is Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)?


TDS measures all the substances dissolved in your pool water, including magnesium, salt, calcium, sulfates, iron, and other minerals. Everything added to the water increases TDS, including chlorine, algaecide, and clarifiers. Even swimmers contribute through sweat, deodorant, hairspray, and other personal products. Additionally, wind-blown debris and rainwater raise TDS levels.

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However, the biggest factor is evaporation. As water evaporates, fresh water refills the pool—but the minerals and solids remain behind, continually increasing TDS levels. Evaporation doesn’t just dilute the water—it concentrates the dissolved solids, which can cause scaling, cloudy water, and increased chemical demand. Because Las Vegas water is extremely “hard” due to its high mineral content from Lake Mead (which has become even harder over time due to drought conditions), TDS builds up much faster here.

 

High TDS can cause:

 

-Water quality issues
-pH imbalance, leading to corrosive or scaling water
-Cloudy water and calcium deposits
-Skin and eye irritation for swimmers
-Damage to pool surfaces and equipment

 

Salt Pools:


Although saltwater systems use less chlorine, they still contribute to higher levels of TDS and calcium buildup because of the salt and mineral content in the water. Even with the lower chlorine usage, the presence of salt and calcium still requires regular maintenance to prevent scaling and other water quality problems.

 

What is Cyanuric Acid (CYA)?


Cyanuric acid (CYA), also known as "pool stabilizer" or "pool conditioner," is essential for preventing chlorine from breaking down too quickly in sunlight. Without CYA, up to 90% of chlorine can be destroyed in just two hours.

Unlike other chemicals, CYA does not break down over time. It accumulates in the water, especially when using chlorine tablets that contain stabilizer. Our company exclusively uses stabilized chlorine tablets because they are the industry standard and designed for residential pools like yours.

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Under 50 ppm – Chlorine remains stable and effective.
Over 100 ppm – Chlorine becomes less effective, and water can become corrosive with a dangerously low pH.
Over 200 ppm – CYA can embed into the plaster, making draining and acid washing necessary for plaster pools.

 

High CYA levels can:

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-Stain and damage plaster, tile, Pebble Tec, and fiberglass
-Harm pool filters and heaters
-Reduce chlorines' effectiveness, leading to algae growth and sanitation issues

 

The Role of Extreme Heat & Evaporation


The extreme summer heat, increased evaporation, and hard water from Lake Mead are all contributing to higher TDS, calcium, and CYA levels faster than ever before. Without proper maintenance, high levels of these contaminants can cause costly damage to pool surfaces, equipment, and water chemistry—making your pool harder to maintain and less safe to swim in.

 

When an Acid Wash is Recommended


For plaster pools only, we may recommend an acid wash if CYA levels exceed 200 ppm. This is because CYA can become embedded in the plaster, and simply draining and refilling the pool may not fully resolve the issue.

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Why Draining Your Pool is Important


If we recommend draining your pool, it is due to these water quality issues. Choosing not to drain your pool may lead to problems beyond our control, including damage to your pool surfaces, equipment, and water quality.

 

By addressing these issues now, you can ensure your pool remains safe, clean, and properly balanced for the seasons ahead.

What is our process?

You relax, we maintain.

​Draining and refilling your pool typically takes 3-4 days for a 10,000-gallon pool and 4-5 days for larger pools.

 

Visit 1: Draining the Pool
Our technician will locate the cleanout drain on your property, where the pool water will be sent to be reclaimed by the water district. To avoid delays, please locate your cleanout drain in advance. (It is in the ground, not in a wall.)
A submersible pump will be placed in the deep end of the pool, and a hose will be run to the cleanout drain.
The pump will be plugged into the nearest outlet to start draining. This process typically takes 4-5 hours, depending on pool size.

 

Once the technician confirms proper drainage, they will leave. Our pumps have automatic shut-off floats. However, if the pump does not turn off automatically or an issue arises, simply unplug the pump to stop the flow of water and notify our office.
 

Visit 2: Refilling the Pool
The technician will remove the pump and hose and begin filling the pool with your hose.
You will be directly notified when the filling process starts. If we cannot reach you, we will not proceed.
Important: YOU MUST MONITOR YOUR POOL’S WATER LEVEL AND TURN OFF THE HOSE TO PREVENT OVERFILLING.
Filling time depends on your water pressure and pool size. On average, it takes 36 hours to fill a pool. Once full, please contact our office.

 

Visit 3: Restarting Equipment & Balancing Chemicals
Our technician will return to restart the pool equipment and add fresh chemicals to balance your water.
DO NOT TURN ON THE EQUIPMENT YOURSELF.


Average Price: $300

Dive

Home of the Chlorine Free Pool

Las Vegas Valley Water District 

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Please visit the link below for useful tips from LVVWD regarding refilling estimates, leak detection, and more.​

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LVVWD

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Contractor License - NV#0090330

The Pool Doctor LLC 702-218-4791 2251 N. Rampart Blvd #1504 Las Vegas, NV 89128

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