Above Ground Pool - Is it savable? Or dangerous?

[Pauls234]

Quick background – this AGP came with the house I bought in June 2012. Not certain of the age, but based on talks with neighbors I think it could have been installed as early as 2006, but not likely any earlier.

I replaced the liner in May 2015 and when I did that I treated all of the rust spots inside and out with rust converter and then another coat or two of rustoleum, see link for details (Help Paul install his new liner) I also painted the pool as you can see (details in my sig).

I noticed another round of rust showing up in places around the bottom, so had planned to hit that with a rust converter before winter sets in, with the hope of getting another season out of it. I went around and pulled all of the rocks away from the perimeter and came across at least one really bad spot. It is soft, and almost rusted through. On the plus side (maybe?) it is near the bottom so I think it is likely below the sand cove, so perhaps that gives some stability.

Is there any way to support or brace this from the outside? Having seen this, I am seriously doubting that I can get another season, and the risk of 21K gallons sloshing through my yard is pretty sobering.

Pics show the really bad spot (though without scale, that "crack" is maybe an inch or less) and then a representation of what it is like for most of the rest of the pool which doesn't look too bad.. well, at least looks like it survive at least another year with some rust treatment.


Questions:

Any hope of repair from the outside? (If I have to pull the liner, I will just start over with a new pool)

If yes, any chance that repair lasts another year? Or am I just looking at getting through the winter?

Or, should I be looking at complete drain now, and then… what? Just collapse the walls for the winter an deal with things in spring?

 

[Bperry]

Will be hard to say how long it’ll last but you can look up on YouTube what happens when they do it on purpose (maybe because they are in a similar situation and decided to just cut their losses?)

The rust converter isn’t really doing anything for you. It may slow the rust progression a tiny bit on the surface but once the structure is compromised the damage is done and it’ll keep disintegrating if the damaged parts are not completely removed.

Don’t have any experience estimating how long it might be, my experience is more with automotive metal rust. But your pool looks similar to what I’d call unsalvageable auto body parts.

 

[Casey]

I think a new pool is in your future and if you really enjoy having one, you should start pricing them now and order one.

 

[Newdude]

Sad to say I think you are on borrowed time Paul. Casey above, @kimkats and @zea3 all had similar and they didn’t end well.

If the pool is located where it can harm your yard or playing kids / etc when it does let go, you may want to take it down at a time of your choosing, instead of the worst time possible when the universe decides to make it a worst possible time.

 

[Mdragger88]

It sounds like it had a good long run for an above ground pool. But I agree, It’s on borrowed time now. Rust is always worse on the inside than you see on the outside.
You may choose to dismantle it & keep the area covered with the liner bottom until the install of a new pool to protect it & prevent having to do too much dirt work. Better to be in control of where the water goes now. Especially if u get snow/ice in the winter.
Luckily 30’ is still a common size & a replacement won’t be too hard to find. Also replacing a pool with the majority of the ground prep already done is totally diyable if you’re up for that. Many here have had great experiences with the pool factory. They even offer a new completely resin (walls & all) pool.

 

[Newdude]

They even offer a new completely resin (walls & all) pool.

+1 if the budget allows for the project you weren’t expecting. This isn’t an experiment pool. You entirely know you’ll keep and use it forever. Go all resin and never worry about rust again. To be clear the resin walls are pretty new only in the last year or two. Previously a ‘resin’ pool was just the uprights and top rails. So make sure it includes wall too because some older models might still state they are ‘all resin’.

 

[Pauls234]

Thanks everyone, that is about what I was expecting. And I have seen those pool collapse videos, even the ones where they were done purposely scare me. Can't imagine that happening in my yard, which is exactly why I dug rocks away from the edge of the pool to give it a good end of season inspection.

And I was thinking resin, but also not sure if I will still need a pool or live in this house in 15 years. I mean probably, but lots can change. Guess it depends on price difference, so time to do some shopping.

I like the idea of leaving the liner over the area to protect it. I know the walls get support from the water, but given that I don't care about the walls, what is the risk of just draining it, removing the winter cover and leaving it up through winter? Wind catches the walls and blows them through my back window?

 

[Newdude]

, but given that I don't care about the walls, what is the risk of just draining it, removing the winter cover and leaving it up through winter? Wind catches the walls and blows them through my back window?

Pretty much. It would take a certain ‘perfect storm’ of conditions, but these days with the way these storms go……. Yeah. Lol. Unlikely but still possible.

I’d drain it down to about 6 inches and remove the top rails and posts, then sawzall the walls to leave a mini pool to keep weight on the floor liner. Or remove everything but the floor and weight it down with your objects of choice.

 

[Pauls234]

You mean sawzall the walls all around so it becomes like a 6 inch high wall or whatever?

 

[Newdude]

Exactly like that. Too high and it will collapse with no other support. But a mini pool of a few inches would probably hold up. You could leave a small piece of the legs in place to help support it but they don’t sawzall very easy so it’s more of a PITA to do.

 

[Newdude]

It’s also possible that the sawzall vibration while trimming just the walls down convinces the bottom track to implode. Then plan B would be weight down the floor liner like a temporary tarp.

 

[Newdude]

*also, when you bust out the sawzall and the 10 year old blade snaps, they all make a much fatter blade now that is less prone to breaking. Milwaukee sells theirs as the ‘Axe’ line. It’s rather infuriating to snap a $5 blade with perfectly good teeth on it.

 

[Pauls234]

Got it, appreciate the thoughts. Can't do anything until I drain so going to get started on that.

I also had an idea of rigging up some guy wire and staking it into the ground away from pool and then also running some from one side to the other to kind of tie it to itself so there is support pulling both ways. Need to think about it more, but all else equal, I would prefer to drain down and leave the structure in place until a full teardown in spring.

Wish I would have done this inspection before I put my new winter cover on!

 

[Newdude]

I also had an idea of rigging up some guy wire and staking it into the ground away from pool and then also running some from one side to the other to kind of tie it to itself so there is support pulling both ways.

The stake idea would certainly help, but your winters can be harsh and one nasty blizzard might take the whole thing houseward, stakes and all. It will basically be a parachute waiting for the right gust to take it away if empty.

I would prefer to drain down and leave the structure in place until a full teardown in spring.

If it was to blow, where would the water go ? If it’s downhill and far enough from the house, I’d probably avoid the general area whenever possible (easier done in the winter) and hope for the best as is. Maybe drain 1/3 to help the wall pressure while not leaving too much exposed to catch the wind.

Hang tight for more thoughts.

 

[kimkats]

You may choose to dismantle it & keep the area covered with the liner bottom until the install of a new pool to protect it & prevent having to do too much dirt work. Better to be in control of where the water goes now. Especially if u get snow/ice in the winter.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ take the walls down and leave the liner on the bottom. We cut the sides of the liner so only the bottom was left. Take that water out now while you can still control where it goes.

 

[zea3]

Vibration from heavy rain is what caused mine to collapse, so I doubt it would survive the sawzall treatment. If it did however that is still 2600 gallons of water suddenly being released that has to go somewhere if the wall breaks and it will seek out the lowest point. After mine collapsed we left the bottom of the liner on the ground to preserve the site for 3 years and finally tossed it a couple of months ago. It did a pretty good job of keeping the majority of the area weed free and I didn't weight it down with anything.

The link to my sad pool demise is in my signature.