Regardless of your inground pool's material, it runs the risk of becoming popped. That is because popped pools result from a pressure imbalance that can happen to any inground pool. When your pool is full of water, that water creates a hydrostatic force against the inside of your pool.
Much of this rain water penetrates into the ground, raising the inground water table, which creates a lot of hydrostatic pressure pushing up on the pool. After the water table raises enough, the pool may float or pop up out of the ground.
A concrete pool that “floats” – or pops out of the ground – is an extremely rare event. Most of them occur during major flooding events or hurricanes. 80% of the weight of a pool is water (8 lbs per gallon) and when full, an average inground pool can weigh 250,000 lbs!
When the pool is emptied, there's no more hydrostatic pressure inside the structure. At the same time, if there's an influx of groundwater, the exterior hydrostatic pressure will cause the pool to crack, bulge, or float (pop).
Filling your pool with dirt is the fastest and most affordable way to get rid of a pool because there's no need to remove your concrete or metal shell. This saves on both labor and hauling costs. However, filling a pool with dirt is still a delicate process that requires careful preparation, drainage, and demolition.
A popped or floating pool is a swimming pool that has risen out of the ground. Popped pools are not an everyday happening, but when they take place, they may result in irreversible damage to your pool.
The greatest danger you face when draining a pool is hydrostatic pressure. That's just a fancy term for the pressure of all of the groundwater around and under your pool pushing against your pool's walls and floors. Water is heavy, and hydrostatic pressure can be significant.
Concrete Pools
Once water is removed (and subsequently, the interior hydrostatic pressure), if there's an influx of groundwater, it will push the pool up and out of place. As a general rule, you shouldn't keep any pool empty for longer than it needs to be.
Close the pool for winter – but don't drain it.
In winter, the water in your pool is still your friend. Especially when properly winterized, it helps to protect the pool liner, keep it clean and prevent unnecessary damage from debris, harsh weather and other factors.
Backfilling a pool is the process of filling the empty space left by the inground pool with gravel, sand, or dirt. Backfilling is just one part of the pool removal process. The concrete floor and walls of the pool must be broken up and/or removed prior to backfilling.
Generally, pool water needs to be replaced once every five to seven years. This should be done during mild weather so that your pool surface is not at risk from strong sunlight and heat. Your pool maintenance company can recommend when it is time to drain your pool.
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.
The month of March is the BEST time to open your swimming pool. If you wait any longer for the temperature to rise higher than 65 degrees algae and other organics will start to grow.
At first you'll add chlorine in what's called “shock” levels – an extra heavy dose to start your pool off. A shock dose coupled with extra circulation will ensure that all the water gets treated properly in the beginning.
As a general rule of thumb a DE filter can clear up a pool within 1-3 days, a sand filter 5-10 days, and a cartridge system can vary widely based on the size and condition of the filter elements, and how often they are disassembled and cleaned.
It is best to close your pool when the temperature of the water is consistently below 60 degrees. Once the water temperature drops below 60 degrees, microorganisms and algae cannot grow and become dormant for the winter season.
Shock and Chlorinate Your Pool
Shocking kills any bacteria that might linger in your pool during the winter. We recommend shocking a few days before you close the pool. If that is not possible, make sure to shock the pool the night before you close it for winter.
If your pool has been green all season you're probably super excited to close it. While it seems like the easiest option – it's not! It's much smarter to close your pool as clean as possible. Algae can grow in water as cold as 50 degrees.
In-Ground Pools
Drain the water down to no more than 6 inches from the bottom of the skimmer if you plan to use a standard floating winter cover. Use your pool filter, switched to the "Drain" setting, to empty the pool water.
The average cost to fill in an inground pool is $4,000 to $16,000 for full demolition or $2,000 to $10,000 to fill in with dirt. An above ground pool removal costs $300 to $800, or $2,500 with a deck. The cost to get rid of a swimming pool depends on the size, depth, material, and accessibility.