Address rusting walls now or in the Spring

[Bryan's Pool]

My inghround steel wall pool (vinyl liner) was installed in 1988, so it has the older galvanized steel. I was planning on addressing my few problem areas in the spring since highs for the next few weeks will only be in low 40s here in NW Ohio. I am concerning that rate of rusting will increase since the damaged liner is now exposing the rust to the air. (Long story as to how I came to be in the state of affairs, lol.)
First question, should I remove as much rust as possible now, or simply wait another 5 months?
Second question, is there anything I can temporarily apply to the rust so that the oxidation does not accelarate over the winter?
Third question, how much rust can I remove without damaging the integrity of the steel wall? There is no rust on the outside of the wall facing the backfill.

 

[ajw22]

First question, should I remove as much rust as possible now, or simply wait another 5 months?

It is not going to get better if you wait 5 months. If the weather lets you do it you might as well treat the walls now with rust neutralizer and Rust-O-Leum.

Second question, is there anything I can temporarily apply to the rust so that the oxidation does not accelarate over the winter?

It is the same treatment.

Third question, how much rust can I remove without damaging the integrity of the steel wall? There is no rust on the outside of the wall facing the backfill.

None of the rust is helping the walls structurally.

Remove all the rust and see how much meat you have left on the wall.

Rust is like cancer. I think that rust may be terminal to your pool.

@Casey @zea3

 

[Newdude]

+1. 34 years is a GOOD run for buried steel. I'm not saying it has to be time, but it could very well be time.

 

[Casey]

I'd push on the area gently and see how much give it has. Check it with another area without rust to see if it's the same. If it does have a lot of give, this pool will probably need replaced with a new one.

 

[zea3]

That is a pretty significant layer of rust ready to flake off of the wall. Since this is an inground pool you can probably replace sections of the wall with the same gauge steel that has been rust proofed. It would need to be riveted in place and several layers of tape over the rivets. What is more concerning is do you plan to keep this pool empty all winter? There is a very real chance the walls could fail due to soil moving and pressing in on the walls. Water provides a lot of structural integrity for a pool. You will need to brace the walls if you cannot make the repairs and refill now.

 

[kimkats]

Start counting you pennies That top part is bad off. I worry that when you start steel brushing that area you will find it is almost all the way through. Do as Casey suggests and give a slight push to see what it does there.

My pool walls were not that bad when we replaced the liner. I wire brushed the whole thing and spray painted it good. It only lasted a few months before the rust took over and rusted through.