How should I be updating the database?

Hello all;

I work on the database locally and then update it at the end of the day by deleting the database via Webfaction's web interface, recreating the database, then logging into webfacton via putty to run the command (psql -U nyob meplaygamenow < ~/meplaygamenow.sql) that populates the database.

Is there a less harsh way for me to be updating the production database that maybe is more like flushing the old data out rather than deleting the database and recreating it?

I ask because I need an easy way to update my work at the end of the day tat doesn't result in a lot of downtime with errors like this:

psql: FATAL: no pg_hba.conf entry for host "[local]", user "dotcomboy", database "meplaygamenow", SSL off

I get this right after creating the database anew, sometimes only for a minute, sometimes for hours. Uptime of my site is so important and the site relies on the database, so I need to know if this is WebFaction's fault or mine,and if mine what I should do to fix it.

thx so much for your help in advance! :)