How To Prepare An Inground Pool For Demolition

Removing an inground pool from your property is a big step toward freedom from expenses and maintenance. You could finally have the yard of your dreams. Whether you are worried about safety, or if your pool is in a state of disrepair, or perhaps you’re just not using your pool often enough to justify its existence, you will soon find yourself with an empty yard after inground pool demolition that can be used however you please.

9 Steps To Preparing For Inground Pool Demolition

Before you can have the pool removed, however, you will need to carry out a few preparatory steps to ensure the work goes smoothly once your contractors arrive. Here is a look at how to prepare an inground pool for demolition.

1. Clean The Inground Pool

Before your pool is demolished, it is a good idea to clean it. Perhaps you’re having it removed because you want to avoid pool maintenance, so you can rest easy in the knowledge that this is the last time you will ever have to clean it. Although you do not need to give it a complete and thorough cleansing, you will want to remove any debris on the bottom of the pool and skim the surface to facilitate the draining process and prevent blockages.

2. Check The Water And Contact Authorities

Before you drain the pool, it is a good idea to check that the water is chlorine neutral and has a neutral pH. Depending on where you live, you may be required to ensure it does not have high concentrations of pool chemicals prior to draining. Your local water authority can advise on this. They will also let you know where you should drain the water. They will typically ask you to direct the water to a sewer cleanout in your home, but some areas will let you drain it into the street.

3. Turn Off The Pump And Other Systems

You should also turn off any systems attached to the pool. For example, if your pool has a pump, heater or swimming pool light that is run using automatic timers, make sure you turn them off.

4. Install A Submersible Pump To Drain

Your regular pool pump is not up to the task of draining the pool. You can rent or buy a submersible pump for this step or you can ask a inground pool demolition contractor to handle it for you. Then you need to turn on the pump and let it do the draining, keeping a close eye on the hose and cords to ensure nothing goes wrong that could put your home and yard at risk.

You’ll need to wait for a clear day to do this, ideally when it hasn’t rained for several days so there is no rain recently soaked into your yard that may make the pool pop out as it empties. Even though you are planning to get rid of the pool anyway, this creates extra work and risks.

The actual draining of the pool will be a little more straightforward ahead of a removal than a typical draining because you do not have to worry about damaging the pool. Be sure to direct the drainage downhill from the pool.

5. Call 811 Before You Dig

811 is a nationwide phone number for people to call before they plan to dig in their yard. You can call on the phone or visit your state 811 center’s website a few days prior to the project to ask for the approximate locations of any buried utilities in the work area to be marked with flags or paint. That way, you or your contractor will not inadvertently dig into any underground utility lines.

6. Find Out If You Need A Permit

In many areas, it is necessary to obtain a permit prior to having a pool removed. This may come without a fee, or it could cost hundreds of dollars. If you are using a pool removal contractor, they can often handle everything connected to the permit on your behalf, but it is important to double check that they are taking care of it because you will ultimately be responsible for following local regulations.

7. Ensure The Area Surrounding The Inground Pool Is Ready

If anything in your yard will make it difficult for the heavy machinery of your pool removal contractors to access the pool, go ahead and move it out of the way. This may include furniture, fencing, and other objects. If you have pets who regularly stay outside, make plans for them to spend time elsewhere during the project. Also, do not allow children to play in the yard during the inground pool demolition.

Trim any flimsy overhanging tree branches in the pool area and remove valuable items that could be damaged, such as fire pits and grills, even if they are not blocking access.

8. Let Your Neighbors Know About Your Plans

It is a good idea to let your neighbors know when the inground pool demolition will be carried out so they can prepare for the noise. Inform them of how long you expect the project to take and offer to let them know when it is completed. Although your neighbor cannot stop you from carrying out a pool removal on your property if you have the proper permits, it is still a good idea to keep them informed to prevent conflicts.

9. Talk To Your Inground Pool Demolotion Contractor

If you are hesitant to carry out any of these preparation steps, get in touch with your pool removal contractor for advice. In many cases, they can take on some or all of the prep work for you. Find out which preparations are included in the fee for the work and how much it might cost for them to help you with the steps you are unable or unwilling to carry out. Your contractor may even provide you with a list of steps you should take before the work begins with detailed instructions.

Reach Out To The Inground Pool Demolition Experts

An inground pool demolition is a big and complex process, and there are a lot of factors to consider. If you are ready to move forward with a pool demolition or have questions about any aspect of the process, get in touch with the pool removal experts at Dirt Connections today. Our professionals will be happy to let you know what to expect every step along the way.