Liner or base failure

[poolinnh]

Long time lurker first time poster. Located in New Hampshire.

About 2 weeks ago, I got a call that my backyard was full of water. I get home and found my pool is the cause of the water. It looks like the liner failed on both long sides of the pool. Unsure what caused the failure at this point as it has been frozen for past couple of months, did have a slight warming around the same time of the failure. As you can see in the pictures the major failure points, the bottom track is broken and there is major base/ground displacement. The inside of the pool is still full of large chucks of ice so I havent been able to inspect the inside of the pool. Trying to figure out what caused this and what the best course of action to repair this would be.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

You need to drop a submersible pump into the pool and drain it ASAP. You at least need a new liner and possibly a complete new pool.

 

[poolinnh]

There is nothing to drain, it’s all ice that is slowly melting as the weather warms up.

I hope I don’t need a complete new pool. I know I need a new liner, more trying to figure out how this happened as I’ve winterized it the same way for past 3 years and have had no problems.

 

[Newdude]

Hard to say if the top of the liner ripped causing the lower damage, or it gave way low and caused it all to rip up top when the ice dropped with the water level.

How old was the liner ?

I got a call that my backyard was full of water.

Who called ? A neighbor, or the teenager who tried walking on the pool ?

 

[poolinnh]

Hard to say if the top of the liner ripped causing the lower damage, or it gave way low and caused it all to rip up top when the ice dropped with the water level.

How old was the liner ?




Who called ? A neighbor, or the teenager who tried walking on the pool ?

Liner was maybe 6 years old installed by the previous owners.

Sorry my wife called me in a panic.

To me it looks like it gave out low and pulled the liner. Only because the sides were still more or less at the level it was at before the water decided to leave the pool.

 

[Newdude]

Liner was maybe 6 years old installed by the previous owners.

Ok so it likely wasn't brittle and past it's time.

Sorry my wife called me in a panic.

MUCH less likely she was walking on it. Phew. But also never 0% chance.

To me it looks like it gave out low and pulled the liner.

Frost heave of the ground could have popped the wall from the bottom track and 70k lbs of water did the rest.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Looking at the photos it looks like you have a broken bottom rail and a bubble in the wall. I can't say say that the pool is pretty much gone but I would think it is since there's not a solid ring holding the walls in anymore. We got rid of our last pool because the bottom rail was totally rusted away, I was concerned that the amount of water weight may pop the bottom of the pool out and nothing was there to hold it in.

 

[poolinnh]

Looking at the photos it looks like you have a broken bottom rail and a bubble in the wall. I can't say say that the pool is pretty much gone but I would think it is since there's not a solid ring holding the walls in anymore. We got rid of our last pool because the bottom rail was totally rusted away, I was concerned that the amount of water weight may pop the bottom of the pool out and nothing was there to hold it in.

Can those rails not be replaced? I figured it's a replaceable part. I have a feeling either the ground shifted or the rapid thaw and refreeze caused the ice to shift and tear the liner.

 

[poolinnh]

Ok so it likely wasn't brittle and past it's time.

MUCH less likely she was walking on it. Phew. But also never 0% chance.



Frost heave of the ground could have popped the wall from the bottom track and 70k lbs of water did the rest.

Thats possible the ground shifted, the wall with the broken rails is close to a slope.

 

[ajw22]

Can those rails not be replaced? I figured it's a replaceable part.

Have you checked if parts are available?

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Can those rails not be replaced? I figured it's a replaceable part. I have a feeling either the ground shifted or the rapid thaw and refreeze caused the ice to shift and tear the liner.

I don't know, you'd have to contact the pool's manufacturer and see if parts are available.

 

[Mdragger88]

I too suspect ground heave.
The crease at the bottom of the wall and busted bottom track tells the tale. Its just something that happens sometimes. Mother nature.
The only thing you can do to try to prevent it is keep water away from the pool by diverting run off & ground water with drainage.
Even If you can find the bottom track you don’t really want to put the creased wall back. It will be weak in that spot.
You will need to disassemble the entire pool to replace the bottom track. Buying and shipping a new wall, track & liner will likely cost the same as a whole new pool package.
After all the water is out and you remove the liner you can assess the damage again and maybe add a repair panel if its just that one bent area but I would strongly consider & prepare for replacement.

 

[poolinnh]

I too suspect ground heave.
The crease at the bottom of the wall and busted bottom track tells the tale. Its just something that happens sometimes. Mother nature.
The only thing you can do to try to prevent it is keep water away from the pool by diverting run off & ground water with drainage.
Even If you can find the bottom track you don’t really want to put the creased wall back. It will be weak in that spot.
You will need to disassemble the entire pool to replace the bottom track. Buying and shipping a new wall, track & liner will likely cost the same as a whole new pool package.
After all the water is out and you remove the liner you can assess the damage again and maybe add a repair panel if it’s just that one bent area but I would strongly consider & prepare for replacement.

Very solid advice thanks you. Patiently waiting for the ice to melt so I can fully assess the damage. Not looking forward to replacing the pool if that’s what it comes to.

 

[Newdude]

Any model could be 3 years discontinued with scarce parts, but it looks pretty new from here to have better chances of parts available.

Best wishes.

 

[Mdragger88]

Very solid advice thanks you. Patiently waiting for the ice to melt so I can fully assess the damage. Not looking forward to replacing the pool if that’s what it comes to.

Keep us posted!