When it comes to timing, you’ve got to go with the flow
As your new pool construction trickles toward the finish line, you might wonder how long it takes to fill a pool. Unfortunately, you can’t jump right in. Filling a pool takes a little patience, but the actual timing depends on the pool size and your method. Here’s everything you need to know.
There are two main ways to fill your pool with water: You can use a garden hose or hire a pool water delivery service. Some people also choose to use well water, but only some wells have enough water to fill an average-sized swimming pool, and the water may need additional chemical treatment. Either way, filling a pool can take anywhere from one to 48 hours.
The average garden hose pumps out 8 to 9 gallons of water per minute (though it can vary from 4 to 12 gallons). If you’re wondering how long it takes to fill up a pool with a garden hose, it takes anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to fill an average-sized pool. Of course, this is just an estimate. It will take longer if you have a larger pool or low water pressure.
Since this method does require patience, it’s best for homeowners on a budget, people with smaller pools, or those who want to refill a pool that’s lost water due to evaporation.
Believe it or not, you can actually hire a company to come in and fill your pool. This is generally the fastest way to fill an empty or near-empty pool. Depending on the pool’s size, a bulk water delivery service may be able to fill your pool in one to three hours.
Since this method costs more than city water, it’s best for homeowners who want to dive in ASAP.
Water pressure is the key to how long it takes to fill a pool with a garden hose. This measurement tells us the force that water travels through our pipes. The higher the water pressure, the quicker the flow rate, and the faster you can fill your pool.
Most homes have a water pressure between 40 and 80 psi (pounds per square inch), but it depends on several factors. Gravity causes water pressure, which is why utility companies store their water in tall water towers. Your home’s water pressure usually depends on the distance in elevation between your city’s water tank and your home, the width of the pipes in your home, and the width of your hose.
You can figure out your home’s water pressure using a water pressure test gauge. This device will tell you whether or not you have high water pressure (above 80 psi) or low water pressure (below 40 psi)—but the more important figure is the flow rate. Generally, the higher the water pressure, the higher the flow rate (unless you have an issue with your plumbing).
Flow rate is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). You’ll need a 5-gallon bucket, calculator, and stopwatch to get this figure. Follow these steps:
Place your garden hose in your 5-gallon bucket.
Press start on your stopwatch while you turn on the hose’s faucet.
Stop the stopwatch as soon as the bucket is full, and note the number of seconds.
Now it’s time for some math (think of it as your own pool fill-time calculator). Divide the number of gallons in the bucket (5 in this case) by the number of seconds it takes to fill the bucket (the number on your stopwatch). Multiply this number by 60—and that’s your GPM.
For example, if your 5-gallon bucket takes 60 seconds to fill, your hose has a GPM of 5. It will take 2,000 minutes—or 33 hours—to fill a small 10,000-gallon pool.
Once you know the hose’s flow rate, you’ll need to determine your swimming pool’s water capacity. The typical pool holds anywhere from 13,000 to 20,000 gallons, but the volume depends on the size. To get the figure, you’ll need to crunch some numbers. The formula varies depending on the shape of your pool.
Tip: If your pool has a shallow end and deep end, use the average depth.
To determine the water capacity of a circular or round pool, use this formula:
Diameter Length (A) x Diameter Length (B) x Depth x 5.9 = Total Gallons
To determine the water capacity of a rectangular pool, use this formula:
Length (A) x Length (B) x Depth x 7.5 = Total Gallons
Learning how to fill in a pool with a garden hose is pretty straightforward. Just hook up your hose to the outdoor tap, put the other end of your hose in the pool, and turn on the water. You can use multiple hoses to speed along the process if you have multiple outdoor taps.
Since you need to run the hose for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to make sure someone is home to monitor the process. If something goes wrong—like a hose springing a leak—it could cause major water damage. For this reason, it’s also a good idea to pause the process overnight.
For most homeowners, the cost to fill a pool is between $60 and $1,250. If you do the job on your own with a garden hose, the cost will depend on your city’s water prices. Most people spend $60 to $120, but certain areas have water limits. For example, if you overuse water in California, you could pay a fine of up to $100. Nonetheless, city water is generally the most affordable option at an average of $0.0004 per gallon.
If you plan to hire a pool service, you can expect to spend $175 to $380 per delivery—which can significantly add to the cost of an above ground pool. Most water delivery trucks can only hold up to 6,000 gallons of water, so you may need a few deliveries. Contact a pool service near you for an estimate.
When budgeting for this project, you might also want to consider why you need to fill your pool. Sometimes, you’ll need to drain your pool to make repairs. In this case, you may spend an additional $175 to $255 on draining the water, plus the cost of pool repairs.
If your pool takes longer than one or two days to fill, you might be dealing with low water pressure. Using a water pressure gauge on your outdoor tap, you can check your water pressure. A reading of 40 psi or below is considered low. A leak, a nearby water shutoff, or several other reasons could cause this.
If the water pressure isn’t a problem, you could have a low flow rate from clogs, corroded pipes, or other plumbing issues. It’s best to call in a local plumber to get to the root of the issue.
You should avoid filling your pool overnight—just as a precaution. Generally, you’ll want someone around to check on the progress. If your hose springs a leak or you overfill your pool, you could end up with some costly water damage. At worst, you could flood your home’s foundation. For this reason, ensure someone is home and awake, even if your pool takes a couple of days to fill.
It can take 24 to 48 hours to fill a 15,000-gallon pool with a garden hose. Generally, a hose will pump out anywhere from 4 to 12 gallons per minute, with the average hose resting somewhere between 8 to 9 gallons per minute. If you want to speed up the process, a water delivery service can fill your pool in as little as an hour.
