Ambre Solaire

Can anyone advise ?

A property we are interested in has a swimming pool which was built about 3 or 4 years ago when the house was reformed, but it has never been filled with water as the property has never been lived in.

How can I ensure that everything is "in working order" with the pool and would it have to be filled with water for it to be checked. Obviously we do not own the property as yet

Thanks

spain

Im not an expert but cant see there would be anyway to check for leaks or test the filtration system (assuming it has one) without filling it with water

jdr

Is there any rain water in it ?

mikeoc

You'll probably find loads of loose tiles and the whole thing will need either an acid wash and/or re-grouting too

rugbymatt

now thats a bloody good point jdr!

poollounger

Also consider the cost of filling it, although they don't need to be emptied each winter as I had always imagined. If you have well/bore hole water, your pump may not be poweful enugh to fill it and you will probably have to buy in water at around 80-100 EU for about 12,000 litres. I would consider making a retention subject to the satisfactory filling and running of the filter system.

Ambre Solaire

How long does it take to fill an empty pool, I think it is 6m x 3m

Would you get a pool "engineer" ? to look at it while it was filling or look at the pump house and tiles before it is filled and then after ?

Apologies if these questions sound a bit dim !

mikeoc

Get the pool surface checked before it is filled. You can do this, check for discolouration and loose tiles. Then once you are filling it check the pump and filter. Send me a PM if you need specific advice

poollounger

Where are you Ambre?? If you are anywhere near Chiclana or thereabouts Ben from CDL Caretaking will probabaly look at it for you for a very reasonable fee. Our pool was still cloudy after running the pump and the chemicals etc.. he got it clear and sparkling in no time at all.

Ambre Solaire

Miles away - unfortunately, property is near Rute in Cordoba.

I only thought about the pool last night, as I have been thinking about builders quotes - free ones that is on the house !

Thanks

dazzle

You really need Beachcomber's advice here.

I'm sure that a swimming pool can suffer structural damage if it's left empty for any length of time and I'm guessing that it would be very expensive to rectify once it's happened.

If I were you I'd want to check this out properly before I signed on the dotted line.

Mitzyboy

Is it actually not a good idea to empty a pool at all? Ours is a couple of years old now and the light needs replacing so I guess I'll have to drain partially at some point, but should it be drained and maintained avery so many years?

dazzle

No you don't need to drain the pool at all to change the light, as they are usually in a removable water tight unit. Someone else on here will probably be able to explain how to do it because although Ben at CDL did tell me, I never actually finished the job off and ended up leaving it for him to do

Mitzyboy

You know, I wondered if that was the case but I didn't have the guts to remove the two screws in case disaster struck!

Thats interesting ..... anyone in the know give me some tips then please?

jdr

HERE keep yer Marigolds and wellies on though ;-)