IG pool but not using it?

is that possible?

saw a house on mls but has a pool. both of our kids are too young to have it open. is it possible to keep the pool and not open it for a few years?

Re: IG pool but not using it?

no absolutely not! If you're not going to use it fill it in.

You need to open it and maintain it or you're going to have BIG issues

Get a pool alarm and have a fence installed around it.

I grew up with and IGP (as did many others) and I'm just fine

Message edited 7/8/2010 5:29:25 AM.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

I have a 2 and 3 year old and we use our IG pool. We had them both in it as babies. They love it. We have a fence and we teach them about safety. They never go in the fenced area without a grown up and they are never in the backyard without us.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

We have one, and will not open it for years. I actually refused to look at houses with pools, for some reason looked at this house, and of course fell in love with the house....I looked into having it filled and everything. We have a loop lock cover, and just put some chemicals and such in (don't know which ones) and have not had a problem. So, yes, I believe it can be done!

Re: IG pool but not using it?

My mom once didn't open her pool for about 3 years (seasons). When we did open it - she had to hire a pool company to come in and do it but nothing major went wrong.

If you're going to go that route I suggest getting one of those loop lock pool covers.

eta: Like a PP I would definitely introduce them to the pool ASAP. Water safety is incredibly important (as you can see with all the drownings that have occurred). You can also install an alarm that is motion activated.

Message edited 7/8/2010 10:52:18 AM.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

I have a friend who is selling their house. they already have their new house. They did not open the IG pool, even though their kids are old enought to use it. they live 90% of the time in the new house and they don't want to have to worry about it or pay to maintain it when living in their new home.
It is in perfect working order because they used it last year.

It really depends on the situation.

It could be broken though, and they don't want to tell you.

thats what happened with the house we bought. previous owners told us they had it open and had just closed it when we found the house in september. turns out they hadn't opened it in years! and a lot was broken

ETA-the pictures you saw on mls might have been taken before they opened the pool. I would go and see the house still

Message edited 7/8/2010 11:32:47 AM.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

thanks everyone for ur feedback. something DH and i definately need to think about. good to know that we can leave it closed for a few years tho.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

Even if you don't plan on using it for years make sure it is open and running before closing. We luckily did this thanks to my dads suggestion. Good thing we did because the pool was collapsed under the cover. She claims it must have "just happened" but she had to pay to get a new liner and it fixed not us.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

Re: IG pool but not using it?

Re: IG pool but not using it?

One of the items listed in our contract was the pool being open and in working order when we closed.

The pool was closed when we went into contract and they had to have it opened and working when we closed. We had it inspected by Pool Masters before we closed--around a week prior. They checked the filter, heater, etc.

Re: IG pool but not using it?

I have an 18 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. We didn't have a fence up last summer and opted not to open it again until after the fence was installed this year. There were no problems caused by not opening it.

However, we do have a loop loc, and I would disagree with the PP who recommended that you use them as a cover if you aren't going to open it. Because the loop loc allows water to flow through things like pollen and debris also get through. When we opened it up, it was a green swampy mess. My mom has a regular cover and I am sure that she would not have had the same problem.

You will probably want to check the water level and make sure it doesn't get too low.