Hello TFP!
Firstly, I want to say how excited I am to have found this resource; this is truly remarkable, and I really hope to use all of the accumulated knowledge and advice from you all here at TFP. Let me explain a little more and hopefully I can convey my anxieties.
My wife and I met through competitive swimming when we were young, and a goal of ours was to own a home with a pool. We've finally made that dream a reality, moving into our new home 2 weeks ago with an in-ground gunite pool out in the back. The previous homeowner was an elderly gentleman who's son did all of the maintenance around the house, including the pool.
According to him, they stopped opening the pool around 3 years ago. I think there may be a few feet of water in the center of the basin, but I haven't fully removed the cover to see. There has been rainwater covering the canvas cover, which I've since pumped out. I've heard conflicting views regarding whether it's potentially harmful to leave the pool without water, which has been part of the worry.
While in the process of purchasing the home, we contacted a pool maintenance company, and they had us go look at the brand of the pool. They said that the exact brand of pool that we have (Sylvan) always has issues from the time period it was installed, and that if it hasn't been opened in the past several years, it could cost tens of thousands to repair, and to fill it in is just as expensive.
I'd love to get our pool up and running, but I have absolutely no clue where to even begin thinking of where to start, much less actually starting. Two more pieces of information I've seen asked is we are on well water, and it's a sand filter as far as I'm aware.
I can provide more details if needed, but like I said I'm just not sure what to even include. Barely treading water here, which is new for me. Any advice would be very very much appreciated!
Thank You!
PS: Bonus doggo walking in front of one photo
Firstly, I want to say how excited I am to have found this resource; this is truly remarkable, and I really hope to use all of the accumulated knowledge and advice from you all here at TFP. Let me explain a little more and hopefully I can convey my anxieties.
My wife and I met through competitive swimming when we were young, and a goal of ours was to own a home with a pool. We've finally made that dream a reality, moving into our new home 2 weeks ago with an in-ground gunite pool out in the back. The previous homeowner was an elderly gentleman who's son did all of the maintenance around the house, including the pool.
According to him, they stopped opening the pool around 3 years ago. I think there may be a few feet of water in the center of the basin, but I haven't fully removed the cover to see. There has been rainwater covering the canvas cover, which I've since pumped out. I've heard conflicting views regarding whether it's potentially harmful to leave the pool without water, which has been part of the worry.
While in the process of purchasing the home, we contacted a pool maintenance company, and they had us go look at the brand of the pool. They said that the exact brand of pool that we have (Sylvan) always has issues from the time period it was installed, and that if it hasn't been opened in the past several years, it could cost tens of thousands to repair, and to fill it in is just as expensive.
I'd love to get our pool up and running, but I have absolutely no clue where to even begin thinking of where to start, much less actually starting. Two more pieces of information I've seen asked is we are on well water, and it's a sand filter as far as I'm aware.
I can provide more details if needed, but like I said I'm just not sure what to even include. Barely treading water here, which is new for me. Any advice would be very very much appreciated!
Thank You!
PS: Bonus doggo walking in front of one photo
So it looks like you inherited quite a project. You're' correct that we generally advise to not leave a pool empty. In places with an elevated water table, we don't even advise lowering the pool less than a foot or two from the floor. That's to ensure the pool walls and liner remain stable. In your case, it looks like the walls have collapsed. If so, you may need assistance with a professional to stabilize those walls before anything (i.e. new liner) can be done. The equipment pad part is fairly easy with the exception of cost. 
and have it tested for metals. If they want to test for other stuff let them BUT do NOT buy ANYTHING from them!!! Tell them it is not open yet but you just wanted to know about the well water for when you do open it. Metal testing is the ONLY thing we "allow" the pool store to test as it is one of the few things they get halfway right.
