How to fix my pool

[Giganticide]

I bought my house about 10 years ago, and it has a 10 ft x 20 ft pool. The pool was a chlorine pool and had a regular pump and a sand filter. About 3 years ago I replaced the pool pump before the winter with the new digital one that turn the pool on and off automatically when it got near freezing. I had never closed the pool during the winter and would just keep it running whenever the temperature got anywhere near freezing. I had my pool running great for about 7 years and was able to keep the water clear and in great condition

Unfortunately, with the new pump it froze up in the winter and I didn't realize it, and the pump destroyed itself, the sand filter which is about $3,000 got a huge gash in the side where it blew open and the sand fell out. The pump was about $1,800 and I know at least one of the main water pipes above ground is shattered and broke apart. I don't know if any other pipes broke that I can't see. I've now had the pool empty for 3 years because it's a lot of money to try to fix it. Is there a cheaper setup that would run my pool without costing so much money? Is it worth fixing up? I also see where people fill in their pool but it seems to cost as much as fixing it.

My kids are in college now, and I don't think anybody would even use the pool anymore. I'm thinking of selling in another two or three years and I think it's got better resale value if the pool is working. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jimrahbe]

G,

Depending on where you actually live, having a pool is often a negative, when selling a house.. When selling, you will need a working pool, in good shape or no pool at all..

If you live in a large city, they most likely have rules about what needs to be done to fill a pool in. It does not make much sense to me to repair and maintain a pool, if you are not going to use. Contact the City and see what the rules are, and then determine what the cost to fill it in would be.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[sande005]

The only advice I have to share - almost 30 yrs ago when I bought this house, it had a pool. And especially in Minn., that was a big drag on it - houses were going fast, except for this one. Several others we looked at had a rectangle of dirt in the back yard, so they would sell faster.
Now kids gone, and the dogs are the most regular users of the pool. When the fence and some pool equip needed replacing, two years ago, we got bids for filling it in. The fence+equip was $15,000. Filling in was $25,000 - not including re-landscaping due to all the heavy equipment damage to the lawns, fence coming out, etc. Realtors tell me that with salt pools, the stigma even in cold climates is changing, and many people are not near as adverse to pools here as they were, since feeding and care are so much less. So we admire it, sometimes use it, and the dogs are happy....and the kids when they return for a brief visit each summer.
But nobody wants a house with a major repair expense facing them on move-in day. If your roof is shot before selling, you'd fix it. Ditto on the pool, if removal isn't a viable option.

 

[Mdragger88]

I assume the figures you’re referring to are based on paying someone to buy & install the broken equipment replacements?
There are cheaper ways to accomplish your repairs by doing them yourself or even just buying your own equipment and paying someone to install. $1500 should be able to buy you both a pump and filter unless you’re married to using more pricey equipment.
The plumbing will need to be pressure tested and repaired which may be pricey but further investigation is needed.
you haven’t mentioned whether you have a vinyl, fiberglass or plaster pool but there may be damage from sitting empty that will need to be resolved.
Pics and more info is needed to help you repair your pool if that’s the route you decide but I seriously doubt it will cost what filling in the pool would. We’re here to help if you take the project on.