Why would an in ground, concrete swimming pool try to pop up out of the ground?

Question

We emptied our large, in ground, concrete swimming pool to clean it. My husband became ill and we left the pool empty for about 2 months. One day, we notice one end was trying to come up out of the ground! Pool experts said to fill it with water immediately and maybe it would settle back into the ground. It did for the most part but, of course, damage (cracks, patio concrete, etc...) had already happened. Now, we are afraid to take the water out for repairs. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Either excessive moisture below the pool or a tree root.

Answer 2

I run a jail in VA and we had a similar problem with a new exterior freezer that was laid partially in the ground on a concrete base. It rose 14 inches until contractors found out we laid it on top on an undrground stream.

I hope that isn't your case; we had to abandon the unit at it's current placement and ended up creating a drainge pond there.

There's something causing the pool to expand upwards, concrete doesn't move in that manner unless it's "helped".

Look into that theory for a while. Godspped and good luck.

Answer 3

Underground water hydraulically pushes an empty pool up. I've seen many "floaters". One had floated six feet out on the deep end. Repairing one is always done on a pool by pool basis. They almost always float on one end, or one side, rather than lifting evenly all over. You should get a reputable pool BUILDER to do the repairs. Repair companies are not typically equipped to do this sort of reconstruction. By the way-- get your check book! It ain't cheap.

Answer 4

The pool is floating in the surrounding earth.
Trench around it and install a pump to keep the water away and it won't do it again.
You most likely have to trench around anyway for the repairs.
If you trench around, lower the water to half before, otherwise the waterpressure may push the walls out.
In any case it will be a rather large job so you may want to get an pool builder to help you out.

best of luck.

Answer 5

Sounds like a moisture problem on the end that tried to float up. When they put the pool in they probably did not do a good job of putting in drainage for water, which can be very costly now. Or it could be that there is a tree root that is trying to push it up. Best to get a good pool person out to get him to check to see what the problem really is, moisture of roots.

Answer 6

it is floating out of the ground... has there been a lot of rain lately? beleve it or not, but it is actualy floating out of the ground like a boat in water. they have the same problem when puting in septic tanks. if you want to fix it, wait for when it hasnt been rainning much. and when you do do it, do it quickly and get it filled quickly.

when they put a septic tank in, if they don't fill it with water, it will float right out of the ground.

Answer 7

the cement pool works on the same principle as a ship on the ocean. being empty, it weighs less than the ground it displaces. when reservoir tanks and wastewater tanks are built at ground level, flapper valves are installed to relieve upward pressure when empty.

Answer 8

Yup the water floated it up. They have this type of problem when you install a septic tank and forget to fill it up with water.

mike

Answer 9

maybe it got to hot and expanded, concrete expands and contracts under changing weather conditions. im sure the water is the meduim which keeps the concrete cooler

Answer 10

Bear in mind I know nothing about this subject, but my first instinct would be to weight it down with something when you remove the water.