I felt like I had won the lottery the first time we were able to buy a house which had an inground pool. However, I quickly learned that I knew nothing about pool care. Several years later, I know how to care for our pool year round thanks to advice and help from my local pool contractor. I wanted to start this blog so that I could help other first-time pool owners with what to watch out for regarding their swimming pool. From signs of water leakage to how to winterize your pool, my blog posts are aimed to be educational and informative for pool care newbies.
How To Repair Sidewall Damage To Your Pool
The walls of your above-ground pool are in place for a reason -- they are holding the entire pool together. If there is any damage to the exterior walls, it can cause a major problem with your pool and even make it unsafe for swimming. If you don't do something about this damage, you may end up needing an entirely new pool before you know it. Read on for instructions to repair sidewall damage to your pool.
Rust
If you begin to spot rust on the side of the pool, you'll need to check how deep the rust goes. If it goes all the way through, you may need a new pool; if it's just on the outside and only on the surface, you can repair this before it ends up eating all the way through the thin metal. Take a piece of coarse grit sandpaper over the rusted area to remove as much of the surface rust as you can. Then use fine grit sandpaper to smooth the area. Clean the area to remove any dust, then paint over the spot with a rust-proof spray paint the same color as the rest of your pool, or paint over the entire outside of the pool so you don't have any mismatched areas.
Dent
A dent in your sidewall may cause your sidewalls to not be structurally safe. To remove the dent you can use cold and heat to pull the dent out. Use a can of air and spray the dent, which will freeze the dent, then immediately heat the area with a blow dryer. You will begin to notice the dent pulling itself out. Keep an eye on the area to be sure the dent doesn't return. Prevent dents by keeping things away from your sidewalls -- this includes not mowing too closely to the pool, keeping the kids from playing kickball or soccer too close to the pool, and never allowing anyone on the rails of the pool, which can cause the sidewalls to dent or crease.
Out Of Track
If the sidewall somehow got out of the track in the ground below, this can be a pain to get back together, and one that should be left to a professional. If you think the wall is out of the track, call a professional to have this repaired. If it isn't repairable, the repair company will let you know and may suggest a new pool instead. This is a big job, as the entire pool will need to be disassembled and you may need new grading or leveling to be done.
Your above-ground pool can be repaired, although sometimes it may be in your best interest to have the entire pool replaced. Talk to a swimming pool repair professional for help with any issues you may be having with your pool.