Pressure testing a dry pool

[cj8896]

Hello! My wife and I had a contract accepted on a house with an in ground pool. It is concrete with a vinyl liner. The owner of the house passed away last year and the home is being sold by a parent who doesn't have any knowledge about the condition or maintenance of the pool. From what we can gather it has been empty for probably a year.


We realize we will have to sink a pretty penny into it, we just want to see how much. We are thinking if the cost will be 35k+ we might walk away. We are planning to have someone run a pressure test on the pool, but l wasn't sure if this can even be done in this condition (pictured above).


Will someone be able to access everything necessary to perform a pressure test in this condition?


Is there anything else we should be aware of besides performing a full inspection with a pressure test?


Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[PoolGate]

When they pressure test the pool plumbing it's done with air. They should be able to test adequately in that condition. Make sure your tester is familiar with pool plumbing. Are you aware of any of the pool history such as when was the last time it was used?

 

[cj8896]

When they pressure test the pool plumbing it's done with air. They should be able to test adequately in that condition. Make sure your tester is familiar with pool plumbing. Are you aware of any of the pool history such as when was the last time it was used?

No, given the seller’s situation we weren’t able to get much information. However, using Google Maps history, it was definitely used in summer of 2023. I’m assuming that was the last time.

 

[ajw22]

We realize we will have to sink a pretty penny into it, we just want to see how much. We are thinking if the cost will be 35k+ we might walk away. We are planning to have someone run a pressure test on the pool, but l wasn't sure if this can even be done in this condition (pictured above).

I cannot tell what I am looking at in that picture.

Did someone recently drain the water from the pool?

It rains in St. Louis and a pool should hold water. A good pool should be holding water and be a wet swamp. Otherwise the liner is leaking and needs replacement. And you do not know what you will find in the condition of the shell when the liner is removed.

I do not see any returns or drains in the pool picture.

Will someone be able to access everything necessary to perform a pressure test in this condition?

Is there pool equipment?

Do you have pictures of the equipment pad?

What access to pipes is there at the equipment pad?

Is there anything else we should be aware of besides performing a full inspection with a pressure test?

Are the pool walls level?

Is the ground or deck surrounding the pool level?

Has any areas around the pool sunk down?

With a leaking pool the water can undermine the shell or deck.

What type of pipes are in the ground? Modern schedule 40 PVC? Black poly pipes? Copper or iron pipes?

What vintage is the pool? What timeframe was it built?

 

[cj8896]

Thanks for the reply! See below for a few responses.

I cannot tell what I am looking at in that picture.

Did someone recently drain the water from the pool?

Sorry, realize the picture is a bit disorienting. The winter cover is green across the top right of the picture. Then the (badly torn) liner is blue with a tiny bit of water collected at the deep end.

I think there was likely a tear in the lining then the man passed away, so the whole pool drained causing this.

I do not see any returns or drains in the pool picture.

I believe they are on the concrete behind the liner which has completely separated.

Is there pool equipment?

Do you have pictures of the equipment pad?

What access to pipes is there at the equipment pad?

Note - the cut wires actually go to something else. The pump has electricity.

Are the pool walls level?

Is the ground or deck surrounding the pool level?

Yes the area surrounding is level.

Has any areas around the pool sunk down?

No

What type of pipes are in the ground? Modern schedule 40 PVC? Black poly pipes? Copper or iron pipes?

I assume the same PVC as in the equipment picture.

What vintage is the pool? What timeframe was it built?

1985

 

[ajw22]

Have you spoken with a company who has said they can pressure test the pipes?

It will not be simple and if I was the owner I would be concerned about the state the plumbing is left if you back out of the purchase.

The pool equipment looks better than I expected and just needs some TLC.

I think you can get that pool running for under $35K.

 

[cj8896]

Have you spoken with a company who has said they can pressure test the pipes?

I am calling today to see if someone can come out this week.

It will not be simple and if I was the owner I would be concerned about the state the plumbing is left if you back out of the purchase.

Just to be sure I understand - there is a concern that the pressure testing will cause damage to the pipes?

The pool equipment looks better than I expected and just needs some TLC.

Good to hear. Based on google maps history, the pool was up and running in summer of 2023. It seemed like it was well cared for up until that point.

 

[ajw22]

Just to be sure I understand - there is a concern that the pressure testing will cause damage to the pipes?

Were the pipes winterized? Will the pressure test return the pipes to a winterized state after the test?

The cover needs to be removed; the returns and skimmers outlets all have to be located in the pool and plugged; the pipes connected to the equipment need to be disconnected at the unions; and one pipe is broken and may need repair; then each pipe can be pressurized individually.

What state will the pool be returned to when all that is completed?

 

[cj8896]

Were the pipes winterized? Will the pressure test return the pipes to a winterized state after the test?

The cover needs to be removed; the returns and skimmers outlets all have to be located in the pool and plugged; the pipes connected to the equipment need to be disconnected at the unions; and one pipe is broken and may need repair; then each pipe can be pressurized individually.

What state will the pool be returned to when all that is completed?

It would shock me if they winterized the pipes. I will be sure to ask these questions to whoever conducts the test.

 

[ajw22]

Pressure Testing Principles | Leak Tools – Blog

 

[PoolGate]

I think, if you have the time, that it would be more beneficial to get a couple of pool builders to come out and give their evaluations. That pool will most likely need extensive work. Perhaps just a liner, but perhaps more. The above $35k estimate is probably low. If a pool is mandatory for your home purchase plan on significant money to restore this pool. Most pools are included "as is" for a reason.

Also keep in mind that this is busy season for pool builders. Even finding someone that can restore this pool for this pool season is a stretch.

 

[cj8896]

I think, if you have the time, that it would be more beneficial to get a couple of pool builders to come out and give their evaluations. That pool will most likely need extensive work. Perhaps just a liner, but perhaps more. The above $35k estimate is probably low. If a pool is mandatory for your home purchase plan on significant money to restore this pool. Most pools are included "as is" for a reason.

Also keep in mind that this is busy season for pool builders. Even finding someone that can restore this pool for this pool season is a stretch.

Thanks for the reply. At this point I scheduled someone to do a pressure test and a separate pool builder who is going to do an inspection/give me an estimate on repairs. My thought is if the pressure test fails or the pool builder gives us too high of a number we will likely walk away.

 

[Bperry]

Thanks for the reply. At this point I scheduled someone to do a pressure test and a separate pool builder who is going to do an inspection/give me an estimate on repairs. My thought is if the pressure test fails or the pool builder gives us too high of a number we will likely walk away.

Be there when they test if possible and ask questions. Some inspectors just seem to treat inspections like free pay checks. I paid for a separate pool inspection in our home and the result was no issues found (other than what was obvious) Guess what, there was a leak in both skimmers causing the deck to slowly sink.

 

[cj8896]

Thanks for the help everyone. I wanted to provide another update here. We had the pipes pressure tested today. It turns out the former resident winterized the pipes and they all held pressure. Here is a picture with the cover off.

 

[ajw22]

Congratulations on your new house to-be.

Liner Replacement - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Bill1974]

The only thing I don't understand is why it's not a swamp. How is rainwater draining out and where is it going? Can you check to see if is sounds like there are any hollow areas under the concrete? What is the soil like in that area? Sandy well draining or clay? Has someone been pumping out the pool?

 

[Bperry]

The only thing I don't understand is why it's not a swamp. How is rainwater draining out and where is it going? Can you check to see if is sounds like there are any hollow areas under the concrete? What is the soil like in that area? Sandy well draining or clay? Has someone been pumping out the pool?

The liner is ripped.

 

[Bill1974]

The liner is ripped.

I understand the liner is ripped, looks like the holes made in it were intentionally put in based on the pattern.

I would not expect water to water to freely drain thought the cement base and not cause some issues with the soil under it. I don't think pools of this type are made like a permeable concrete surface that typically has drainage system in the subsoil. If the subsoil is sandy and there are cracks I could see the water draining out but that usually also means some settling of the subsoil.

 

[Bperry]

I understand the liner is ripped, looks like the holes made in it were intentionally put in based on the pattern.

I would not expect water to water to freely drain thought the cement base and not cause some issues with the soil under it. I don't think pools of this type are made like a permeable concrete surface that typically has drainage system in the subsoil. If the subsoil is sandy and there are cracks I could see the water draining out but that usually also means some settling of the subsoil.

Cement base just means the base, not the walls or whatever joint is between the walls and the base. (Cement is also not always concrete, sometime vermiculite, and there’s likely no rebar in the floor so cracks are almost a certainty)
Concrete is also not waterproof. If the liner has been ripped for a while, there’s plenty of time to saturate the surrounding soil. It’s for sure potentially very damaging to the surrounding area.

 

[PoolStored]

They could have discovered a leak, then drained it to avoid a swamp and put holes in the liner to keep it drained.