Should I drain my pool in Florida?
Rarely, and never casually. Florida's high water table can push an empty shell out of the ground. Most problems that seem to call for draining — high stabilizer, high calcium, stale water — are handled with a partial drain and refill instead of emptying the pool.
Reasons a partial drain is used
- Cyanuric acid climbed above the useful range
- Calcium hardness is scaling equipment
- Total dissolved solids are very high after years without dilution
- Salt level overshot the generator's range
The few times a full drain is warranted
- Resurfacing or major structural repair
- Severe staining that requires an acid wash
- A contamination event that cannot be treated in place
A full drain here should be planned around groundwater, done with a hydrostatic relief valve checked, and completed quickly — ideally not during the rainy season. This is one job worth having done by someone who works on Florida pools daily.