Intex Pool - support posts leaning

[Fndr70]

Hi all,

I have a 22 foot diameter intex pool. It was installed by the previous owners of my house. We moved in here in the fall of 2018. I noticed recently (within the last month) that a few of the post are not straight. See attached pic. A rough measure has them about 5 degrees off plumb. It's possible that they've always been like this and I just never noticed. The water level has always been a little higher on the far side of the pool (where the two fences meet in the picture). I can't get a good measurement right now because the pool is drained a foot or so below normal levels and the cover is on, but I'd say the water level is about 1-1.5 inches higher in the part by the corner of the fence.

The pool is up all year round and I live in Pennsylvania. Looking for advice on what to do about this (if anything). As far as I can tell the pool is just sitting on top of dirt. I'm thinking of draining it and just trying to straighten out the supports just by moving them/pounding them straight. This is also likely the last year I'll have this pool as we'll probably be getting an inground at the end of 2022 or beginning 2023.

 

[Mdragger88]

It doesn’t look unstable or unsafe. An inch or so out of level is acceptable.
You could drain & try to replumb the legs (pounding them is a bad idea). It’s likely that the legs have sunk a little over time becoming uneven. The best support is to have pavers under the legs with the tops of the pavers flush with the surrounding ground.

 

[Fndr70]

How else would you re-plumb them? By pounding them I meant at the foot of the leg, trying to straighten them out

 

[Newdude]

Hey Fender !!!! I would be worried about stressing something that couldn't handle it on a several year old intex. As in, creating a huge problem while trying to solve one that didnt matter.

Now. Before i say what i have to say, i need to stress that i LOVE these pools. They are affordable for many, and if you get wet when it is hot out, the important part was achieved. And floating on a raft with a stiff drink is the same in these, more permanant above grounds, or in grounds. All water makes you float the same. Any who. Absolutely LOVE these things.

That said, they are a bag that is full of water and will shift. From the pics i believe you are entirely within tolerance and its not worth risking the 4+ year old intex.

 

[Fndr70]

Hey Fender !!!! I would be worried about stressing something that couldn't handle it on a several year old intex. As in, creating a huge problem while trying to solve one that didnt matter.

Now. Before i say what i have to say, i need to stress that i LOVE these pools. They are affordable for many, and if you get wet when it is hot out, the important part was achieved. And floating on a raft with a stiff drink is the same in these, more permanant above grounds, or in grounds. All water makes you float the same. Any who. Absolutely LOVE these things.

That said, they are a bag that is full of water and will shift. From the pics i believe you are entirely within tolerance and its not worth risking the 4+ year old intex.

Do you mean trying to fix it could make it worse? I get that - I thought that too. Everything I read online about tolerance said it was fine, and there are no obvious bulges in the liner or anything to indicate a serious problem. I am the type of person to make mountains out of molehills I wanted to gather others opinions though. My plan is to just observe for any changes. I actually found a pic from last year and the supports look the exact same.

 

[Newdude]

I am the type of person to make mountains out of molehills

You saw something and you asked. Please do anytime.

My plan is to just observe for any changes.

I actually found a pic from last year and the supports look the exact same.

So me, @Mdragger88, and last years pics agree its fine. hang tight in case other eyes spot something. Upon opening get a bunch of shots inside and out, and post them up so we can see the 'whole picture'.

 

[Mdragger88]

How else would you re-plumb them? By pounding them I meant at the foot of the leg, trying to straighten them out

If there’s low/ almost no water they should just move. If you try to “adjust” them with the pool full (this means there’s 1000’s of lbs of pressure) you may accidentally bend them - then you will have made your mild issue a big one

 

[Casey]

Honestly,, I would not adjust anything. This is one of the better installed intex pools we see. It looks nearly perfect and I'm afraid, if you go poking the bee's nest, you're going to come up stung. I think you should leave it alone. It looks stable. You could make things so much worse chasing perfection on a 4+ year old intex.

As for your inground pool... I just bought my first one. If you're not on a pool builder's list for a build, I would implore you to get on one to hit that 2022-23 build. Do your research. I'm in SW Pa.

 

[Fndr70]

Hi all - original poster here

Thanks for all the info. One further question.

After uncovering the pool and filling it back up, the below picture shows how the water level differs. The picture shows the biggest difference. Now, the water level has always been like this, since I’ve moved in anyway. The biggest difference is from right to left in the pic, and my incredibly precise and accurate method of measuring by putting a tape measure all the way down to the bottom and measuring the top of the water puts the biggest difference at approx 2.5 inches. There do not appear to be any structural abnormalities. Supports look fine, even on the higher side. Nothing appears to be bowing. So given this, any further thoughts? The internet says as long as it’s not over 3inches difference your ok but I figured I’d get more informed opinions here. My other incredibly scientific reading of putting a level on a piece of cardboard and floating it in the pool shows it’s level all the way around.

I probably would not have gotten concerned over this had I not noticed the original issue.

 

[Fndr70]

Also as requested here are pics of just about every angle I can think of the side by the open grate fence is the side where the water level is highest

 

[Mdragger88]

It looks ok from here - measure from the waterline to the top rail all the way around. If there’s more than a few inches difference then u have a problem to deal with.
The level on the floating cardboard won’t show anything as water automatically levels itself.
The walls/legs/support system being off level is the problem you are worried about - as if it’s off too much in one place or on one side, that water (that will always be level) will put uneven pressure in one area instead of it being evenly distributed amongst the liner & support poles.

 

[Fndr70]

It looks ok from here - measure from the waterline to the top rail all the way around. If there’s more than a few inches difference then u have a problem to deal with.
The level on the floating cardboard won’t show anything as water automatically levels itself.
The walls/legs/support system being off level is the problem you are worried about - as if it’s off too much in one place or on one side, that water (that will always be level) will put uneven pressure in one area instead of it being evenly distributed amongst the liner & support poles.

Yeah that’s what I was trying to do - the biggest difference in water level is about 2.5 inches when I measure like you said

 

[Mdragger88]

Yeah that’s what I was trying to do - the biggest difference in water level is about 2.5 inches when I measure like you said

I would watch the offending legs for movement/sinking- if things change more then it’s time to drain & re- level those areas. Do u know if they used pavers to prevent the legs from sinking? If not & you need to put some you will need to ensure the tops of the pavers are level with the ground that the pool bottom rests on. This may require some digging to inset them.

 

[Fndr70]

I would watch the offending legs for movement/sinking- if things change more then it’s time to drain & re- level those areas. Do u know if they used pavers to prevent the legs from sinking? If not & you need to put some you will need to ensure the tops of the pavers are level with the ground that the pool bottom rests on. This may require some digging to inset them.

Yeah I think that’s the plan. As far as I can tel it’s just sitting in ground. I only want this pool to last one more year so I really don’t want to drain and Re level if I don’t have to. I’ll just keep an eye on it and lol for any significant changes.