Sagging Clogged Mesh Cover

[mknmike]

I’ve got an in-ground pool of a size I can’t recall but think it’s 18’x28’ with a green mesh. There’s one section between the spring loaded straps that collects all the leaves and water and has apparently become impermeable prior to my purchase of the home June 30, 2021.

When we bought the home my assumption was that the mesh had a puddle on top from dipping into the water that was only maybe 2-3 inches below the tile. My pool guy winterized the pool and dropped the level maybe 18”, and now I see that the cover is holding a pond of water that will run through the cover if I broom it around, but is causing a lot of sag.

My gut is telling me to put a support in that area like a long pipe running across the pool to prevent the sagging in that location.

I’m told a cover like mine costs $6000 so I want to preserve this one as long as possible.

Pictures to come.

I am currently renting the house out, and need to go over today to clean up the leaves.

[Teapot1]

They all sag unfortunately, if you put a pole under it will sag on either side making two pools of water. If you get enough poles you will win. If you can get the cover tight enough it will help. Mesh covers don't acheive much so if/ when it fails get a non mesh cover that keeps out the light.

[mknmike]

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Same links/pics for tapatalk (or other) app:

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I am thinking that a metal pipe running from one side of the pool to the other to support the center of the puddle is what I need.

Now that I’m here, I think a 16’ pipe might cover the span.

Edit, it’s a Merlin, and apparently the dragon fountain at the end is the cause of the price tag.

[mknmike]

Today was my first big day of leaf cleanup at this property. I believe the property has been “over mulched” and I’m trying to figure out how the hardscaping should be designed to hold debris away from the pool cover.

Even at the end of the totally dry day today and after multiple sweeps and leaf blowers on the puddle, it is now smaller than a basketball, and the cover seems to have flattened out. I’m pleased with that, but think that maybe a pipe across that weak spot will make sense. Does anyone have an opinion on this approach? I figure if I get a puddle on one side or the other, I will be able to move the pipe to that puddle’s location. Maybe multiple pipes. I’m thinking that gas-line-black-pipe would be easiest. I recall being able to get that in 20-foot lengths.


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[Teapot1]

The pool industry has cover pillows, air bags that you inflate, mixed feelings on these as it usually means constructing a sort of raft. Might be easier than a long pole but thats for you to decide.

[mknmike]

The pool industry has cover pillows, air bags that you inflate, mixed feelings on these as it usually means constructing a sort of raft. Might be easier than a long pole but thats for you to decide.

Thank you.

My pool guy dropped the level a lot to assure that the rainwater doesn’t cause the level to get back up to the tile (which could allow water to freeze behind them and pop them off).

So it would have to be a big balloon and I guess it would have to be tied off by strings to keep it in place. Having the changes makes this sound complicated to me.

I’ve been thinking of maybe flipping the cover over and trying to wash the underside of the clogged area with a hose, or maybe even a pressure washer to get the water flowing in that area again. I think if the water would flor through, it wouldn’t put so much weight on the cover.

… or if the water level was higher, then it wouldn’t sag so far before the water on top of the cover gets supported by the water below the cover.

Did we drop the water level too much? Should I raise the water level and just put a sump pump on the top step? Apparently there’s concern that the float for a sump pump would get caught in ice and not work properly.

I’m learning.

[Teapot1]

The water shouldn't be able to get behind the tile, otherwise so would dirt, bacteria and algae unless I have missed something?
Yes the pillows are around 2.5 ft feet square about 14-16" high and tie off in the corners.

Yes if the mesh is clogged, jet wash it. Boy I detest mesh covers.

[mknmike]

The water shouldn't be able to get behind the tile, otherwise so would dirt, bacteria and algae unless I have missed something?
Yes the pillows are around 2.5 ft feet square about 14-16" high and tie off in the corners.

Yes if the mesh is clogged, jet wash it. Boy I detest mesh covers.

Well, I purchased the house that had been vacant for three years this past June after it went on the market Mother’s Day 2021 advertised as vacant since 2018, and I think the pool hadn’t been opened probably since ~2005 for all I know. There was debris on the bottom that had to be pumped out in order to get the water to clean up, far too much for the sand filter to handle. That was my project of getting to see the bottom of the pool.

The pool also wouldn’t hold water above about two inches below the tile. Water would go into the basement of the house if the level went above that mark.

My pool guy pumped out the sludge, patched the obvious crack, and glued three of the ~20 tiles I pulled off the bottom of the pool back on. We initially didn’t worry about the house-side that you normally don’t see, but my kids and I were swimming and enjoying the pool, only a few hundred bucks in.

I got the quote of $10,000-18,000 to redo the top of the pool and all the coping, and was told it looks like a 1950’s pool. That makes sense as the house was altered significantly in that period of time, maybe the early 1960’s at the latest. My pool guy said that if I got him some clean tiles, then he could replace the fallen tiles for a few hundred bucks more. I opted for this route knowing the pool has made it 60+ years with this design, and have lots of other work to get done on the house. Even after the tiles were put on, there are obvious cracks in the mortar, one that’s even got grass growing out of the crack. I know this is bad, and is perhaps the reason my pool guy suggested dropping the level so much… to assure we don’t get ice heat the tile.

I do think I should get one of those balloons.

[mknmike]

Pictures from my first thread on this site:

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I think they show up as links if not on tapatalk or similar app (same as the links above).


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[Teapot1]

Ok I get the picture and could open a couple. Hope the pump in and out plumbing has been replaced from that small bore pipe.
The pillows aren't easy to deal with but you get a knack of using them, I use 4. But a cheaper first step than the pipe. See how you get on.

[Denniswiseman]

Pictures from my first thread on this site:

I think they show up as links if not on tapatalk or similar app.

When posting images try using

Where you write a post
Click Full Editor & Preview
Click Attachments
Click Add Files or you can drag and drop

If that doesn't work for you leave out the image tag

Doing that will enable others to see your images more easily

[mknmike]

Pictures from my first thread on this site:

I think they show up as links if not on tapatalk or similar app.

When posting images try using

Where you write a post
Click Full Editor & Preview
Click Attachments
Click Add Files or you can drag and drop

If that doesn't work for you leave out the image tag

Doing that will enable others to see your images more easily

Thank you Denniswiseman. I use the tapatalk mobile app for all my online forums, so doing the above is comparatively cumbersome. I’ve been told before. I am sorry, but I do not intend to use the method above. So I will refrain from posting anymore pictures on this site.


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[Denniswiseman]

You can post the link but leave out the image tag as we have to copy and paste it without the tag
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202111 ... 35960d.jpg

[mknmike]

You can post the link but leave out the image tag as we have to copy and paste it without the tag
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202111 ... 35960d.jpg

Thanks for that tip. I do appreciate it. I will copy the links and remove the tags the tapatalk app inserts.


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[mknmike]

I see lots of “above ground pool cover ballons/balls” which are really inexpensive. I think I want ropes to hold it in place though. I guess I could build a harness for the ball/balloon, but I don’t know how big the ball should be. I don’t know how much of it will be submerged because I don’t know the downward pressure that will be exerted on it. I guess I can always let air out of an oversized balloon. The “pool tree system” seems to be for above ground pools. So buying one of those for about $250 seems unwise when I can get three balls for $30. I guess I could put the ball in a contractor trash bag and tire ropes to the bag if I’m not confident in my abilities to make a harness. Heck, I guess I could even use a tarp that already has grommet holes in it for ropes.

Or I could just slip a 16’ long 2x4 or pipe under there.

I’m really worried about this thing tearing as the puddle gets larger and larger as the clogged area grows.

I understand that covers don’t last forever. Neither do cars, but we still change the oil in our cars. My gut tells me I can get more life from this cover if I care for it.

Oh. So now I see these are also to relieve the pool walls of the freezing water expansion issue, probably a big issue for above ground pools. Seems like it would be good for in ground pools too though. Right?

KCHEX 4'x4' Durable Air Pillow For Aboveground Swimming Pool Winter Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0282RB/re ... FTRF1868C6

Maybe that’s an argument for having multiples under the cover in the center. Maybe three would be good.

Then I started thinking about how little the weight of that puddle is in comparison to tons of snow that might sit on there later in the winter.

Noob pool owner.

Am I dumb to want to support the cover?

Maybe 2x4s or pipes all along the cover isn’t a terrible idea. I don’t know.