Hi,
We don't want to open our above ground pool this summer. Too expensive right now for the amount of time we use it.
Right now, we have a tarp covering it and the pool is only 1/4 to 1/2 full of water.
What are our options if we don't want to open it?? We can easily get the water out of the top of the tarp, but are worried about mosquitos/algae growing in the sitting water inside the pool.
A pool store has stated we shouldn't leave it unopened as we may have problems in the future.
THOUGHTS? Can we really not open it?
**Thanks for replying. Someone mentioned draining the water. I've heard other say that if I drain the water my pool will collapse. Is this true?
Thanks!
Mommy on a Budget!
Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated!!
Well.....we decided to open the pool to keep it from being an eye sore and keep the mosquitos away. Thanks to all for feedback.
Maybe you could sell it since you don't use it much
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/pools-spas-saunas/removing-a...
http://www.city-data.com/forum/house/146158-removing-abov...
If you don't want to use it, it should just be taken apart and stored, or sold to someone who will use it. If you drain the water out the liner will dry up, get brittle and be worthless next time you want to use it. The frame is usually made to dissasemble and set up again. If you just cover it, it will stink and rot the liner and you wont want to mess with it. You are trying to save money but have you figured out how much it costs to keep it full and clean for the summer compared to what it will cost to clean, and filter and fill and replace a rotting liner next year? Its usually cheaper to maintain, than to catch up. You might be at a point where the only way to save money is to get rid of it. And someday, if you want, buy a nice sparkling new one.
I do not know about above ground pools...but for our in ground pool we used a product called 'mosquito dunk' to treat the water before we moved...Home Depot/lowes type places sell it as I recollect.
Best luck!
Michele/cat
I'd love to see the answer since we also have an aobve ground pool and as the kids get older it doesn't get used much. My DH has never wante dto take many trees down so it never gets warmer than FREEZING. It has to be a very, very hot day for me to want to jump in.
You don't HAVE to open it.
I would drain ALL of the water. This will solve the mosquito/algae issue. It also solves the problem for if some kid tries to get in.
As long as the tarp stays in place, you won't have a problem, so just keep checking the tarp every few days.
Don't worry about it collaring if you drain it, there is no pressure on the sides of an above ground pool to push it in. But, the liner will probably dry out and get brittle. It may also shrink back to it's original size. When the pool was first filled the liner stretched to fit the frame of the pool. If it gets brittle and shrinks it will split and crack when/if you ever fill it again. Also every time it rains, you will have to drain the water again.
My suggestion is to take the pool down. If you don't want to do it, I have heard of people selling or giving pools away to anyone that wants to disassemble it.
If your pool has a deck around it you can do what my parents do: they drain the water to 1/4 to 1/2 full, then put sheets of plywood across the top. They nail the plywood to the deck to keep it secure. My dad uses the super cheap plywood, like particle board.
When he does open it up, the water is green, but it doesn't take much to clean it up because there isn't much water in it. And he saves the plywood to use again. And they don't have a problem with mosquitos since they started using the wood instead of a tarp
just keep a pump on top of cover and drain that water only not pool water
