Rusty return jet repair

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Asphalt05

Asphalt05

New member
Mar 3, 2021
4
Green Bay, WI
Pool Size
11875
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hello everyone,
I am new to these forums and in need of guidance/wealth of knowledge for repair of above ground pools. I am a handy guy and new to pools but just need to info on how to do it. I have an issue where i have a rust around my return jet and have leaking issues since late summer 2020. Pool repair places have been diffocult to get ahold of around my area and deciced to take matters in my own hands.
I have a 24FT above ground with 52" height walls. Others have told me to remove rusted area and attach a new sheet metal for support. And others have told me to replace wall. I have not done anything like this before but im a quick learner. I'd like everyone's thoughts and opinions on going about solving this. Thank you and appreciate feedback.
 

Attachments

  • 20210302_160035[1].jpg
    20210302_160035[1].jpg
    623.2 KB · Views: 16
Last edited:
Oh dear. If that’s the rust you can see, I’m wondering if there’s rust you cannot see. How old is the pool? Has it had liner replaced in past, and is, how did the inside of the wall look then?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88
I have yet to remove liner from the wall to check it. The pool came with house when we bought 2yrs ago, but my guess is atleast 20-25yrs old. As for the liner age, I am not sure, like to think it is the 2nd but wpuld not be suprised if it is original.
 
Hey Asphalt and welcome !! This can really go either way, but with a 25 year old pool you don't have much to lose except the few hundred dollar cost of the new liner.

We have seen seen sanding/priming repairs that lasted, and ones that only got another year before failure. The same goes for sheet metal repairs.

One things for sure, if you can see it on the outside, be prepared mentally for what is on the inside. Maybe it won't be so bad, and maybe it will help make up your mind to scrap the whole thing.

@kimkats painstakingly restored her pool and it let go the next season anyway. She'll have good thoughts to share.
 
This is a case where you need to be prepared for the worst case scenario. It looks like the rust at the very bottom of the return opening has completely penetrated the pool wall, its more than surface rust. To assess whether or not this pool is repairable you will need to do a complete drain and pull out the liner so you can see the condition of the interior of the pool wall. You will also need to check the condition of the wall where it rests in the bottom rail. If the bottom edge is chewed up with full thickness rust then the pool is not salvageable. If the rust is confined to one area you can attempt to cut out the damaged section and rivet a piece of sheet metal (not galvanized) to patch the wall. Clean, prime and paint any surface rust on the interior or exterior of the pool wall. You will need to replace the liner. I would buy one that is returnable in case the pool wall is not repairable.
My own experience with pool wall rust and a catastrophic pool failure RIP Rusty Vogue Pool
Kim's pool failure A sad day at our house-bye bye pool :(

If you still want to give repair a shot, this is the information I was going to use to attempt a repair. Advanced Wall Repair for an Above Ground Pool
 
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88 and kellyfair
When I see these stories, what really strikes me is how very lucky it was that no one was in or near these pools when they let go! 😳
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88
That is a sad picture right there. I feel your pain. You really need to take the liner down and see how bad it is. My guess is if you run sand paper over that area it will go all the way through to the other side.

You are between a rock and hard place as it is almost impossible to take the liner down from around the skimmer and return and get it back up just right. You might be able to get it down on the right of the return just enough to see what it looks like under it.

Ask your wallet how it feel about buying a new pool :(
 
Kinda what i was thinking too everyone. Im so glad I can have such a great community to ask such hard decisions. Mentally, im prepared for the worst, but i agree with you all that for the age of the pool its worth attemping to repair. I have yet to take away liner because the 2ft of water in pool now is frozen due to WI weather right now. I plan on digging more into this late spring (late April) but i appreciate SOOOO much for everyone's replies. I will keep in touch when i get to working on it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88, kimkats, zea3 and 1 other person
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply