Freebie Pool - what am I looking at?

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JessBlount617

JessBlount617

Silver Supporter
Jun 2, 2024
423
Lebanon, IN
Pool Size
5000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hey friends! I found a freebie AGP near me - the owner said he’s sick of it so he is dismantling it, and giving it away for free.

Looks like 28’ round - but, I have asked about the depth.

Pool seems to be in good/decent shape from the few pics. But he mentions needing a liner.

Thoughts on the few pics he has posted? Worth it? Talk me off the ledge…

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You'd need a liner either way. They never stretch right the second time nor will the skimmer screws line up just so. If the walls / bottom tracks and posts are free of rust once the liner is out, it could be a steal.

At worst you'd get way better equipment and $75 at the scrap yard. Cation there though. I got about that for my above ground pool but also a nail from the parking lot. Filling the low tire to get to the tire guy for a patch broke the aluminum valve stem and a $160 TPMS sensor and $25 patch later, I took a bath. :ROFLMAO:
 
Newdude said:
You'd need a liner either way. They never stretch right the second time nor will the skimmer screws line up just so. If the walls / bottom tracks and posts are free of rust once the liner is out, it could be a steal.
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Good to know I'd need a liner regardless. That makes the $400 easier to swallow - plus I have the perk of picking out what I like. Win win, really. I plan to drive up and see it before I decide on it - luckily it's only about 40 mins from the house!
Newdude said:
At worst you'd get way better equipment and $75 at the scrap yard. Cation there though. I got about that for my above ground pool but also a nail from the parking lot. Filling the low tire to get to the tire guy for a patch broke the aluminum valve stem and a $160 TPMS sensor and $25 patch later, I took a bath. :ROFLMAO:
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And why am I not surprised you'd end up in a scrap yard, with a blown tire... Only you, @Newdude :ROFLMAO:
 
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You have to get a new liner so price that out.
More up close pictures- you’re looking for rust or Bubbled paint that indicates rust underneath. Look everywhere.
Especially near the base where the ground touches. Go look if you want but understand the dirt work involved to install it
and move the dirt away from the base to inspect.
Its alot of work to dismantle a hard walled pool that you want to still use & not damage in the process.
You also need to know the make & model so you can find out if there’s replacement parts available.
 
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Mdragger88 said:
You have to get a new liner so price that out.
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I asked about depth so that I could get at least a ballpark estimate. I think PoolLiners.com was running $400- $500 (still far cheaper than a NEW build of that size/design of pool)

Mdragger88 said:
More up close pictures- you’re looking for rust or Bubbled paint that indicates rust underneath. Look everywhere.
Especially near the base where the ground touches. Go look if you want but understand the dirt work involved to install it
and move the dirt away from the base to inspect.
Click to expand...
Good call - I plan to go up during the daylight and get some face-to-face time with the pool. I want to see what kind of shape everything is in - rather than pack it up and have it be my problem when I get it home. I knew to look for rust - but what about on the mechanicals? What kind of wear/tear do I need to scout??

Mdragger88 said:
Its alot of work to dismantle a hard walled pool that you want to still use & not damage in the process.
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I see there is a lot of bolts from the third pic - so definitely interested in the amount of time/energy it takes. I also plan to do a better job of my own ground work in the backyard to support a pool like this. I threw up my cheapie investment this year to get a feel for what I would be in for... and after clearing the rust hurdle, it's been a fun little investment.
Mdragger88 said:
You also need to know the make & model so you can find out if there’s replacement parts available.
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THANK YOU FOR THIS! I would never have thought! Should I also try to grab as much info on the mechanicals to ensure there are replacement parts too?
 
JessBlount617 said:
but what about on the mechanicals? What kind of wear/tear do I need to scout??
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it either leaks or it doesn't. Leaks could easily be bad connections, but other spots would be bad. The rust streak down the side of the filter is something to look into for example. Make sure it's an old leak and bot a current one.
JessBlount617 said:
Should I also try to grab as much info on the mechanicals to ensure there are replacement parts too?
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It certainly wouldn't hurt. It's still a great deal if you need a new pump for $300(?) next year.

I don't mean to be the wet noodle, but more pool also means more fill water, and more Joe Dirt'n it. That's the biggest drawback I see for a free upgrade. You certainly know what you're capable of though, so if you're OK with it, go for it if you don't see any massive red flags (rust) when you start taking it apart.
 
Newdude said:
it either leaks or it doesn't. Leaks could easily be bad connections, but other spots would be bad. The rust streak down the side of the filter is something to look into for example. Make sure it's an old leak and bot a current one.

It certainly wouldn't hurt. It's still a great deal if you need a new pump for $300(?) next year.

I don't mean to be the wet noodle, but more pool also means more fill water, and more Joe Dirt'n it. That's the biggest drawback I see for a free upgrade. You certainly know what you're capable of though, so if you're OK with it, go for it if you don't see any massive red flags (rust) when you start taking it apart.
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Wet Noodle away - don't think that wasn't my first thought. Bigger pool, more water, more time with my BFF. But also... fill trucks are a thing. And if that means I shell out $500 on a liner, $500 on a fill, $300 on a filter... then is the FREE pool worth it?? And if my re-fill means Joe Dirt, I'd rather that than what I dealt with for 2-3 weeks at the start of the season.
 
I do have a little sand filter I bought as an upgrade to my current AGP. Not sure it would be big enough to manage a 28 footer... but I could sell it and use that cash to invest in a bigger/better one if needed.

Question - if that filter was using filter balls, is it easy to move to sand?
 

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There was another old thread I was reading where someone got a free pool a few years ago. The labor to remove it was an all day job with multiple people and it sounded almost not worth it. You might also ask the seller, based on all the pool toys etc laying around and the doll house in the background, whether the kids that use it are okay with it going away. Maybe they just need to know how to clean and maintain it.
 
TinFoilHat said:
There was another old thread I was reading where someone got a free pool a few years ago. The labor to remove it was an all day job with multiple people and it sounded almost not worth it. You might also ask the seller, based on all the pool toys etc laying around and the doll house in the background, whether the kids that use it are okay with it going away. Maybe they just need to know how to clean and maintain it.
Click to expand...
You want me to give away all our secrets?! 😂
 

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