Can hydrostatic valve be closed?

[mccurdyp]

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but I am constructing a pool at our house in Central America, sourcing most of the equipment here in USA. Someone mentioned installing a hydrostatic valve to avoid the pool lifting when the usual torrential rains come. But I was also told if I keep the pool filled year around it shouldn't be an issue. esp. if there's a good drainage system with sump pump. At same time I don't like the idea of another pump to maintain, so am leaning towards the valve.
However, I don't want dirty ground water entering the pool when not in use. Of course, if the pool is empty I'm less concerned about that as it can be easily cleaned out.
So, will the weight of water keep the pool in ground? Or, if I do install the valve, the pool is full, and the rains are enough to cause significant groundwater, can the valve be plugged; or maybe the main drain can be, so it doesn't contaminate the entire pool?
On the other hand, since we're away for many months at a time, the option of draining the pool is nice too so we don't need to maintain chlorine levels and keep running the pump and swg.
Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[JohnT]

Welcome to TFP!

Generally you don’t want the pool To be empty. The plaster can deteriorate and you have the risk of floating the shell. Not to mention that an empty pool may be more dangerous than a full one with the fall risk.

 

[Texas Splash]

MC, welcome to TFP! Typically, the water weight of a full pool is designed to keep the hydro-valve closed. There have been instances when a valve can get stuck OPEN, either due to a faulty valve or if it was partially open and some gunk got jammed in there (i.e. sand, stone, etc). But they serve a good purpose for those who live in areas where the water table increases to a point that catastrophic failure could occur if not equalized. As John stated, we generally advice to never leave a pool completely empty, especially if you have a high water table. Someone like @Pool Clown may have more info to add.

It may help to know more about your pool and equipment by updating your signature.

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www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mccurdyp]

MC, welcome to TFP! Typically, the water weight of a full pool is designed to keep the hydro-valve closed. There have been instances when a valve can get stuck OPEN, either due to a faulty valve or if it was partially open and some gunk got jammed in there (i.e. sand, stone, etc). But they serve a good purpose for those who live in areas where the water table increases to a point that catastrophic failure could occur if not equalized. As John stated, we generally advice to never leave a pool completely empty, especially if you have a high water table. Someone like @Pool Clown may have more info to add.

It may help to know more about your pool and equipment by updating your signature.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Hi Texas Splash! I did add a description to y signature, and added some more particulars to my introduction. Thanks for your advice!

 

[Pool Clown]

You should probably get the type of valve that is spring loaded. IOW, it works when it needs to. If you were to be a full time resident, you could consider the type that is just a threaded plug. This would be a positive semi-permanent seal. You would have to either dive down to remove before or while draining. Or if you dont want to dive, be present as soon as the pool is empty to remove it and allow the (possible) outside pressure to equalize.

 

[mccurdyp]

You should probably get the type of valve that is spring loaded. IOW, it works when it needs to. If you were to be a full time resident, you could consider the type that is just a threaded plug. This would be a positive semi-permanent seal. You would have to either dive down to remove before or while draining. Or if you dont want to dive, be present as soon as the pool is empty to remove it and allow the (possible) outside pressure to equalize.

Thanks again for advice. I was interested in the suggestion "..consider the type that is just a threaded plug. This would be a positive semi-permanent seal.." i looked in Amazon and found lots of spring-loaded, but it didn't look like any could be screwed closed. Does anyone make something like that i.e. screw close when we're there, open and rely on spring when we leave for 4-5 months?

 

[Pool Clown]

We would make our own out of 1 1/2" PVC pipe 12" to 16" with an FIP fitting glued on to one end then screw in a threaded plug. Leaving the other end open with 12 to 16 1/2"holes drilled in the sides. then gunite it in place so the holes would be in the dirt and the threaded cap towards the inside of the pool.

 

[PoolGate]

Pools Popping Out of The Ground - Approved Home Pros

Javier Payan from Payan Pool Service rocked our worlds this morning by explaining that it's possible for a pool to literally pop out of the ground, because of a scientific phenomenon called hydrostatic pressure. After a big rain, the ground water balance is affected, and if you drain the pool...

www.sandiegoapprovedhomepros.com