Use a jackhammer, sledgehammer, or other tool to smash holes into the bottom of the pool. This will allow water to drain out of it in the future. Remove any top decking concrete walkways, coping tiles and any other concrete around the pool that you don't want anymore. Toss it into the pool over the holes you have made.
If you don't go the Deckover route, following are a few other options during the time when your swimming pool is empty and/or you no longer want to use your pool for swimming: Turn your pool into a skateboard park. Watch kids play games inside an empty swimming pool. Host a party inside your empty pool.
How it's done: Filling in a pool involves draining the pool, punching holes in the bottom, demolishing the top layer of the pool (18" - 36"), placing the rubble in the bottom, filling in the pool with additional dirt and topsoil, and compacting the soil.
You no longer have the additional hazards and liabilities that come with pool ownership. If you sell your house, it may increase the number of potential buyers and make your home easier to sell. If you have young children, removing your pool eliminates the potential safety hazards associated with pool ownership.
Shocking your pool is easy: Use a shock treatment to bring your 10 to 12 PPM. Then, wait a day or two for the chlorine to come down to its normal level, about 1.5 to 3.5 PPM.
How long can you leave a pool empty? Well, the minimum amount of time possible in order to minimize the risk of serious damage. Most issues that require a pool drain will take at least a day or two to resolve, but it's recommended to not let it sit empty for any extended period of time.
What happens if too much shock is added? You cannot overshock a swimming pool or add too much. Adding too much shock or overshocking your pool will kill off algae. The negative of adding too much shock is it will upset the chemical balance of your pool.
"Shocking” refers to the process of adding chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals to the water in order to raise the "free chlorine” level. The goal is to raise this level to a point where contaminants such as algae, chloramines and bacteria are destroyed.
Lower the water level to just below the mouth of the skimmer. This removes the water from the throat of the skimmer, which could easily sustain damage should water left there freeze. Also remove the water from the plumbing lines using a shop vac. Be sure to plug the empty lines to prevent them from refilling.
You want to make your home more energy efficient, and the pool is wasting resources. The water used to fill the pool and the energy costs to keep it running can cause a significant spike in your utility bills. If the costs do not equal the benefit, it may be time to get an estimate to have the pool removed.
Therefore trying to make your property more attractive to potential buyers, pool removal could be your best option. Removing your pool also allows your property to have more outdoor green space. An uncluttered yard increases your property's potential; thus increasing your property's value.
Filling In Your Old Swimming Pool
As you fill the hole and are able to walk the excavator into the hole you can use the tracks and blade to compact the dirt. You should work to push and pack the soil as much as possible to mitigate potential settling.
Some are opting to fill in or demolish their swimming pools rather than continue to maintain or remodel them. Or maybe you have bought a house with an in-ground pool that is in need of repair, requires too much maintenance, or you can use the space for something else.
At an average of $0.004 per gallon, city water is the most inexpensive and most popular option. For 15,000 to 30,000 gallons, you'll pay between $60 and $120.
Fiberglass pools require professional removal. Fiberglass pools will eventually need to be replaced. Fiberglass is a strong material, but if it is not taken care of, it will deteriorate quickly. If your pool has reached this point then removal and replacement is necessary.