A pool in your own backyard is a dream for many homeowners.
However, when installing the pool, it can happen that the pool is crooked and therefore no longer looks reasonable.
In this article, we will explain to you what risk arises when the pool in the garden is crooked and what steps you can take to straighten the pool.
Table of Contents
The pool is crooked: how does it happen?
Many people decide to purchase an above ground pool for financial reasons. But during the installation and the first filling with water, they suddenly realize that the pool is crooked.
This is due to the subsoil. If the ground is uneven from the beginning, the pool will have a difference in height and, accordingly, will stand crooked. This problem occurs especially if it is a large pool, because then the height differences can no longer be avoided.
What can happen if the pool is crooked?
If your pool is crooked, the water level will also be uneven. This has the consequence that the water can overflow from the pool, which can also lead to a loss of water in case of strong movements. In addition, children will not be able to safely swim in the pool if the water is suddenly over their heads at the ends where children would have been safe with an even water level.
It also becomes problematic when the skimmer is in the shallow end of the pool and is no longer half covered. This can prevent the skimmer from working properly, which in turn negatively affects the quality of the water.
In addition, the liner can wrinkle if the bottom is lumpy or sloped. These wrinkles can cause various things to get caught in the pool liner and cause the liner to tear. In this case, the linings can be repaired with a patch of vinyl, which is not permanent.
Torn liners lose a lot of water over time, so you should always make sure that the liner remains wrinkle-free to prevent it from tearing.
The uneven pressure created by the weight of the water can damage the walls of the pool.
In the very worst case, a pool can even tip over if the pool does not permanently withstand this load. This happens especially if the pool does not have a steel frame, but has a simple ring. This can lead to personal injury and property damage.
The connected filter system can be damaged, or the hose can be torn off. But children can also be severely injured by the weight of the collapsing pool.
When does a pool need to be straightened?
Even if even small differences in the height of the water, such as under one percent, have serious effects, the pool does not yet automatically have to be straightened.
However, the pool would have to be straightened at the latest when the slope is more than one percent, because otherwise the difference in the height of the water in the pool is clearly too high. In general, you should make sure that the pool has a height difference of less than three centimeters.
If you don’t do anything about the height difference, the pool can easily tip over and cause not only some damage, but also injuries.
Straighten the pool: What should be done before setting it up
If you’re going to set up the pool on a slope, there are a few things that should be done. What else to do before that, you will learn below.
If you have a slight slope in your garden, you should immediately level out the unevenness with sand. It is important that the soil is not too deep. Sand is best suited for an angle of one to two degrees.
If the angle is significantly steeper, you can completely remove the soil. The pool can then be integrated directly into the slope.
Alternatively, you can fill the ground with soil. The soil can be taken from your own garden or purchased.
If you do not want to integrate your pool into the slope and do not want to level the slope, you can also use stilts as an alternative. Another alternative is to simply place your pool on the terrace. Patios are smooth and compensate for steep slopes in the garden without any problems.
Straighten filled pool: In 7 steps
You have already set up your filled pool and suddenly realize that it is crooked?
Don’t worry. We have prepared for you seven simple steps how to straighten your filled pool.
There should be at least two people involved in the work. To straighten your pool, you will need a shovel, spatula, hose and some work gloves to avoid possible injuries to your hands.
Step 1: Drain the pool
For the first step, you should lift the lower part of the pool. In order for this to happen without any further problems, the pool should be emptied halfway.
Step 2: Remove the leveling blocks
In the next step, you should remove the leveling blocks, which were placed under the bottom plate during the construction and installation of the pool, from the bottom side.
Step 3: Lift the wall
Once you have removed the leveling blocks from the bottom, you will need to lift the wall with a shovel. To do this, you should place the tip under the slab and push down on the handle to lift it.
Step 4: Replace the blocks
In this step, one person needs to hold the slab up while the other person replaces the leveling blocks under the slab. Since these are hard to reach, you’ll probably need a hammer to help.
Step 5: Repeat the process
You will need to repeat this step for each leveling block on the underside of the foundation.
Step 6: Fill the hole with soil
In the area where you lifted the blocks in the last step, there should still be a hole left behind. This must now be filled with soil. To ensure that the soil is well-packed, it is best to water it with a hose.
If the soil is not well-packed, the basin will shift.
Step 7: Fill up the basin again
Finally, you can fill your pool with water up to the desired height.
Intex or Bestway pool is crooked: What now?
If your Intex or Bestway pool is crooked, it’s important to straighten it out to prevent damage or injury.
How you straighten your pool step by step and what you should consider before, we have already explained above.
FAQ
How straight should a pool be?
The surface of your pool should be 100% stable and straight. A slope of 1% can cause the pool to tip over or lose a lot of water if it is filled with a lot of water.
To make the ground level, you should sprinkle the slope with gravel or sand, so that there is no difference in the height of the water level.
Who is liable if the pool leaks?
If your pool breaks and leaks for any reason, homeowners insurance comes into play. This is true whether water damage occurs in your backyard or on your neighbor’s property.
Damage to a permanently installed pool is always covered under homeowner’s insurance. Only if you do not have homeowner’s insurance do you have to have the pool insured separately.
Can an above ground pool tip over?
If the ground of your above ground pool is neither straight nor stable, the above ground pool can tip over in the worst case.
Especially above ground pools, which have a steel frame construction, contain much more water than usual and are therefore very heavy. The larger the pool, the more water presses against the walls. If the pop-up pool is now crooked, it will quickly tip over because of the enormous pressure.
