What are the dangers of leaving a concrete (in-ground) swimming pool empty for a long time?

Answer 1

There's a couple. First off, if the hydrostatic valve in the main drain isn't functioning, or not present and simply plugged, the pool can lift. Chances are it won't crack, but it'll look awfully silly at an angle and may not be viable anymore. Secondly, there's the danger of having an 8 /1/2 to 9 foot pit, ready to accept any meal it can get. Kids mostly, it's a long fall. Thirdly, if it's a marbalite finnish, you aren't doing it any favours. You'll get spider webbing (cracks) developing in it as it dries out.. It WILL stain as well. When all is said and done, you may wind up having to re marbalize ( expensive) or having to paint over the marbalite if you want to bring the pool back into operation.

Answer 2

A lot depends on where it is (from a climate perspective).

One of the things a full pool does is provide water pressure against the sides from an internal perspective keeping the pool from collapsing internally from external pressure. This pressure could be caused by winter rains in some climates causing the ground to be water-logged and heavy thereby pushing the walls.

It is unlikely that the pool would collapse but cracks might form.

If it is in a colder climate where there is little water there is no real problem.

Bottom line I would ask a local pool maintenance firm for advice. They know the climate and they know how different pool construction materials work.

Answer 3

Depending upon where you live, the water table in the ground could actually cause your pool to be pushed up out of the ground. I live on the Texas Gulf Coast, and here the water table is just a few feet below the ground. When contractors resurface a pool, they actually drill a couple of holes in the bottom of the pool to relieve the upward pressure so as not to float the pool.

Rather than drain the pool, why not just add large excesses of pool shock and cover the pool?

Answer 4

I run a reformatory in VA and we had an analogous project with a clean outdoors freezer that became into laid in part interior the floor on a concrete base. It rose 14 inches until contractors found out we laid it on top on an undrground flow. i wish that's no longer your case; we had to desert the unit at that is modern-day placement and ended up coming up a drainge pond there. there is something inflicting the pool to amplify upwards, concrete does not flow in that way except that is "helped". seem into that concept for a on an analogous time as. Godspped and good success.

Answer 5

you would have to take the plug out that is under the bottom drain, so that water cannot get under it and make it float out of the ground like a boat in water

Answer 6

first, someone can fall into it. second, if there isn't water to exert outward pressure on the pool walls; any slight movement of the earth will cause the walls to crack.

Answer 7

Some one will fall in?? Looks trashy?

Answer 8

cave in