Close Pool for Extended Time ?

[bjxds]

Brand New Member Here.

We are seriously thinking about installing a fiberglass pool. We are talking with a couple of installers about installing a sump tube and overflow. The installers say the sump tube must be manually monitored, and if water rises a sump can be lowered to remove the water. They also suggest a pump for the cover, when the pool is closed, to remove excess water from heavy rain and snow, if needed. ALL these options require us to manually inspect and hookup/plug in a pump if required, but we will not be there to do that.

My main concern is that, the pool will be closed for approx 6 months of the year. What happens when we close the pool and lower the water, then over the course of six months we receive a lot of snow and rain and the water level in the pool rises? Is there potential or damage? Will the overflow be able to handle this, and if so what happens when the sump fills up?

They say we really have no worries; the sump is for removing water if the pool needs to be drained for repairs, and any excess water from snow and rain will just run off and should not cause any issues. This really doe not sound correct to me.

Any information and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

 

[Newdude]

They say we really have no worries; the sump is for removing water if the pool needs to be drained for repairs, and any excess water from snow and rain will just run off and should not cause any issues. This really doe not sound correct to me.

They got it right. Fill your sink and submerge a full glass of water and it has no forces acting upon it. Now empty the glass and it becomes a boat that wants to float.

What happens when we close the pool and lower the water, then over the course of six months we receive a lot of snow and rain and the water level in the pool rises? Is there potential or damage? Will the overflow be able to handle this,

The overflow will be keep the pool level from overflowing in all times except an extended freeze which would be rare for VA. When it did freeze, it would thaw before considerable accumulation added up. Maybe you'd pick up a couple inches but no biggge IMO.

Any information and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

I'd go with a solid safety cover with your concerns so you only had to worry about the water above the cover. With mostly warm winters, a cover pump would do fine. If it froze / broke every other year they are cheap in the grand scheme of things. Do you have any friends, family or neighbors you could ask to check on the cover pump monthly while you're away ? It would really only be the coldest months, maybe 3 for you. Or with a ring camera on the back of the house you could check it yourself and only call in the help when need be.