Ask the Pool Pro

About Above Ground Pools

Feel free to post a photograph with your question.  Sometimes that can be a big help to me when answering your pool questions.

If you have an above ground pool set up that you are really proud of, share it with us.  We would all love to see it.  It could be that new deck or a wrinkle free liner installation.

The bottom of this page has a list of all of the great questions you all have asked, and my replies.  Scroll down to see if your question has been answered.

We are building the best above ground swimming pool resource on the web.  Thanks

Let the pool pro help with your pool questions.

Ask the pool pro any question you may have about above ground swimming pools. He may just have an answer.

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Now the used above ground pool is up.... 
Ok....now that I have the used 18" X38" Secard pool up and full of water, I have to establish how to put the deck up to it. Main problem is that the pool ...

buy a used Doughboy pool.. 
I'm about to maybe buy a used 2 year old large (18X38) Doughboy pool with deck, pump, filter and all the accessories. Main problem with this I see is ...

Leaking Skimmer Hose 
I have a 24 round above ground pool. The hose that leads from the bottom of the skimmer basket is leaking from the top no matter how tight we make the ...

used pool 
I have read your stories here and have bought a used pool. It was up and clean and holding water. I have replaced the rusty pieces that I was concerned ...

Pool leveling question 
I am thinking about an above ground pool 54 inches high and 18 foot round. However my yard is not level. From high side I drop over 10 inches every 10 ...

pool buckling when filling 
I purchased a new Intex 16 x 32 x 54" ultra frame pool. While filling with water, the long sides buckle inwards significantly. I put in about 10,000 ...

Pool Skimmer question 
We recently had a 24 foot round above ground pool installed and have a slight problem with the skimmer.

The pool's top rails are 10 inches and extend ...

Pool in ground 
Need to find bottom rails for a 15x30 Muskin pool. Can you help me? Also wanting to put my above ground pool in ground 3 to 4 feet. I know you said this ...

Placement of above ground pool  Not rated yet
Hi, My husband and I purchased a used 18' above ground metal framed pool. We are planning on setting up come spring (We live in Wisconsin).
Previously,...

side wall rust  Not rated yet
I have a lot of rust on the side wall at the bottom. In a couple spots its rusted thru. I was told I could flip it over. The top is fine and I could ...

propane heater for above ground pool  Not rated yet
I have an above ground Doughboy pool that holds 20,000 gallons of water. I have a dome over the pool and I want to keep the pool at 82 degrees thru the ...

setting up the pool base  Not rated yet
I had to dig in the yard to set the base level.
When placing pavers at each support post I set it level front to back and side to side and slid the level ...

running pump during winter  Not rated yet
We have a 24 x 54 round pool. We have winterized it and covered it. How often do we need to run pump during the winter? Or do we need to?

Hi, I recommend ...

Above ground into Inground?  Not rated yet
We recently purchased a home with an in ground pool. Only problem was that the previous owners were trying to get rid of it. It is a concrete pool, 5 ...

How to empty my above ground pool  Not rated yet
Hi, I am selling my above ground pool and need to empty it. I do not have a sub pump, is there any other way to empty the pool? I was thinking of taking ...

closing a problem pool  Not rated yet
We bought a house with an above ground pool and discovered that it was slowly losing water at the rate of almost an inch a day. This pool was not used ...

Drained pool, Liner came off.  Not rated yet
We own a 16x28 doughboy pool with a deep section and an expandable liner. We drained it to remove some roots that were growing under the liner. When we ...

empty pool  Not rated yet
Our liner got a big hole and all the water from the pool was lost. We plan on getting a new liner in the spring but we would like to know if it is ok for ...

help with pressure gauge  Not rated yet
I have a Hayward de filter #50 that I need to replace the pressure gauge. I have unscrewed the large brown casing from the filter but I can’t get the ...

Expandable liner question  Not rated yet
What is the best way to install an expandable liner for a new 33 foot above ground pool? I have about 8 years experience installing above grounds, but ...

foam pool base  Not rated yet
I am going to be installing a 30' AG pool.
I see that someone used foam sheeting instead of sand. What kind of sheeting is this? I have ordered the pool ...

Best way to re-level pool?  Not rated yet
Our pool has sunk on one side, almost 4" lower than the rest of the pool. What is the best way to fix it? The original installers did not put patio stones ...

pool deck safety  Not rated yet
I work in a group home for children with disabilities. We have an above ground pool with a metal pool deck (with the walkway going all around). The pool ...

how does the pool pump work?  Not rated yet
We were given an Intex above ground pool. We have no directions to it. We have set it up and turned on the pump. We hooked all tubes according to directions ...

Pool Covers  Not rated yet
What is the best type of cover to use on an above ground pool?

Solid or mesh?

I have a 33' round above ground pool.

Thanks,
Tony


Hi Tony,...

Pool Sand  Not rated yet
I asked for mason sand at the local quarry, and after putting it down it look more like beach sand? They gave me regular sand! Will this damage my liner?...

bowing of pool wall  Not rated yet
After finishing the install of our 18 x 33 above ground pool, I noticed that about an inch and a half above the bottom track the wall has a slight bow ...

Bent pool wall  Not rated yet
Our pool wall folded over in the area just to the left of the skimmer and just to the right of the return outlet due to a shrunken liner. The fold is about ...

Aluminum Footplates  Not rated yet
I need 15 foot plates for my pool. The old ones are aluminum and the tabs break off easily. Where can I get new ones? The top and foot plates on my pool ...

Move Above Ground Pool  Not rated yet
Is it possible to move an above ground pool from one home to another and if so how difficult will it be?

My wife and I have moved hundreds of pools ...

difficulty leveling ground  Not rated yet
Dennis,
I have viewed many of your responses but here is my question anyway. I have purchased an 18x38 Doughboy AG. I want it sunk in the ground about ...

laser level to install above ground pool  Not rated yet
I will be doing my install this weekend. I live in Maryland.

A friend lent me their Dewalt laser level with tripod and shaft before going out of ...

replacing leaking return fitting  Not rated yet
I just purchased a new return fitting, how do I remove the old one and install the new one, what kind of tools would I need. Thank you in advance.

Hi ...

swimming pool contractor in Arizona  Not rated yet
I am thinking of buying an oval above ground pool, the kind without buttresses. I have not been able to locate anyone to install an above ground. I do ...

Hayward Pump and Sand Filter  Not rated yet
We purchased a new (to us) previously owned 24 ft. round pool, that came with a older Hayward model S48K2A2 Powerflo pump and S-160T high rate sand filter ...

Doughboy liner installation  Not rated yet
By the sounds of it, you have installed a lot of Doughboy pools which is what I have. I have a 48" wall Timberline and the liner is original I think. I ...

Leaking Liner  Not rated yet
There's a hole on the bottom of my overlap liner and water keeps leaking out onto the lawn. I tried a patch a couple of times but it's not holding up,...

Flower bed on backside of pool  Not rated yet
This is our 3rd summer with the pool. We purchased it from a local company that has been around forever, CROWN POOLS, and went with a 32 x 18 Doughboy ...

Resin pool caps  Not rated yet
I have a 16 X 40 above ground pool with steel caps. Two years ago I had them striped down to bare metal and repainted, now the paint is coming off again....

Pool Floor Pads  Not rated yet
We are about to purchase a 27' Mighty Sun brand above ground pool, after looking threw pages and pages of pool information (and finding your site- thank ...

AGP Installation Cost  Not rated yet
What is a ballpark estimate for 27'-30' AGP install with a ground slope of 1 foot in 30feet.
ie: labor/materials? Planning a pool and need an idea of ...

Inner stabilizer rail on above ground pool  Not rated yet
I am in the process of installing an 18 x 33 Sharkline pool and have discovered a couple of issues with the install.
The top inner stabilizer rails that ...

Best way to backfill pool  Not rated yet
I live in central Illinois. I am burying my 52" pool 24’ above ground pool into the ground. Do you have any advice on how to address drainage? Also,...

DoughBoy Pools - Inground  Not rated yet
I am planning on installing a Doughboy pool in the ground. I am going to leave 6" out has recommended by you and Doughboy. My question when the pool ...

losing pump flow  Not rated yet
We have an above ground 24' round w/ a DE filter. We can get the pump going great, then within an hour there is almost no flow coming out. If we turn ...

replacement bottom rails  Not rated yet
Hi...

We're stuck on dial up - so after 3+ hours of searching - I came across your site. Thank you for all your hard work and effort to put this together ...

Vacuum the pool  Not rated yet
When I opened the pool this year, I shocked my pool. Then I went to vacuum it and while vacuuming the algae came out of the pool jet. I’ve tried everything ...

Replacing a skimmer   Not rated yet
I recently bought a house with an above ground pool (18x33). The pools has not been used for a few years and I am replacing the liner. The skimmer is ...

empty pool ideas  Not rated yet
Love your site! My round 24'x48" Cornelius pool is at least 11 years old and it was already installed when I bought my house 10 years ago. My liner finally ...

build pool on clay or remove  Not rated yet
Hi!

We just picked up a used 15 X 30 foot pool. We live in an area with heavy clay soil. What is best for a base?

Remove grass layer, place concrete ...

Pool Wall Buckle  Not rated yet
We just installed a 24 foot round Mighty Sun Rushmore pool. There is a dent at one of the uprights. Is there a way to fix this?

Hi Cathy, the dent appears ...

pool underlay  Not rated yet
I am installing a 18 x 33 above ground pool for the first time. Never done this before. I am undecided as what to use under the pool; sand, foam, gorilla ...

Soft Sided Pool Installation In Ground  Not rated yet
We have a soft sided pool, 18x9x52. I would like to put it in the ground about 36" and bring our deck out to it. Would sand be o.k. for back fill or do ...

pool replacement parts  Not rated yet
We have an Outback above ground pool. During a bad storm last year we had a piece of furniture go flying, and it knocked off one of the two-piece top ...

sand and patio blocks  Not rated yet
Every where on the internet about prepping for above ground pools, I read that I should use masonry sand. Many sites even say I should use patio blocks ...

Beaded liner  Not rated yet
Hi there,
I'm installing a beaded liner and I have the pool completely empty (quite a job). The walls are exactly 48" high and the bead receiver sits ...

Intex Pool Questions  Not rated yet
We are considering a large 16x32 Intex ultra frame pool, which appears to be soft-sided. This selection is based on price/feature set, plus the size and ...

top rails for above ground pool  Not rated yet
Can you tell me where I can go on the internet to find top rails for our pool and hopefully the price will be better than a local dealer?

Hi Pam, these ...

Why is the Doughboy so much more expensive?  Not rated yet
We are looking for a 18' round AG pool. We live in Phoenix. Got a quote on a package that was non-doughboy that included pool, ladder, filter, vac, etc....

Bottom Rail Placement  Not rated yet
I have an older Doughboy above ground pool with a wood tone finish. It is a 16 x 32. It has 10 long bottom rails, 6 medium rails and 4 shorter ones. I ...

cutting pool wall from 27' to 24'  Not rated yet
Our local zoning is restricting the size of my pool to 24' based on lot size. I just obtained a used 27' pool not knowing the ordinance. The Aqualeader ...

Above Ground Pool Center Drain  Not rated yet
We are getting ready to install a new liner in our above ground pool. Some of our neighbors have above ground pools and upon their installation they ...

pool liner install  Not rated yet
I am installing a replacement 18'x33'x52" Swim Line above ground pool liner. I have it in the pool area with a few inches of water in the bottom. The ...

Base for Above Ground Pool  Not rated yet
I want to put a pad in the bottom of our pool this time to fight the super grass that keeps coming through our liner. Which one is better, happy bottom ...

Pool walls buckling  Not rated yet
We are installing a 27' above ground pool. We followed all instructions perfectly. When we started filling the pool, the walls started buckling in. We ...

Level Ground for Pool  Not rated yet
What's the best way to level the ground for a large above ground pool? (32' x 16')
My yard is mostly sand.
Who can I call to level it if I don't want ...

bottom rail replacements  Not rated yet
I bought a 24 ft round above ground pool 16 years ago when I was still living at home. We are attempting to relocate it but the bottom rail was the only ...

skimmer butterfly gaskets  Not rated yet
I’m replacing my 24ft above ground pool liner and the old style skimmer. Now the old skimmer had a gasket on the outside wall and then on the inside was ...

chemicals for above ground pool  Not rated yet
I got my above ground pool last year and I fought with it all summer. I spent so much money on chemicals. (to find out that algae stays green when it ...

How much sand for pool  Not rated yet
How deep should the sand be in the center of the pool area. My whole backyard is presently sand, but well compacted, and I imagine I'll haul in some fresh ...

Yard too wet for used swimming pool to be installed?  Not rated yet
What would you recommend for a slightly damp yard (muddy at times like spring, and a little water runoff stream running through backyard)? Would an in ...

Beaded Liner Replacement  Not rated yet
I just bought a new beaded liner to replace my old one which is also a beaded...but after installing it it doesn't seem to fit right..seems like it is ...

Pool Off Level  Not rated yet
I have an oval Esther Williams pool. The left side of the pool is in ground to about 4 inches from the top. The rest of the pool is packed with dirt about ...

Gorilla Pad, Happy Bottom and Foam  Not rated yet
Going to install a Tahitian 18 x 33 this summer. I've used sand on the last one and had a bumpy floor. This time I'm going to use foam board for the ...

Heating a Soft Sided Pool  Not rated yet
I am just wondering if there is a heater you can get for the round soft sided pools or if there is a way to heat them. Ours is either a 10' or 12' round ...

Deck around a Doughboy pool  Not rated yet
I have a sand dollar doughboy pool installed in ground by professional installers for doughboy pools as well as the excavator. Now we are in the process ...

Pool Wall Rusted  Not rated yet
I have a 24' x 4' deep above ground pool, I have noticed that the sidewall is rusting pretty bad at the bottom. Is there anywhere to purchase a new sidewall?...

Doughboy Price  Not rated yet
We have been shopping above ground pools. Your input and advice has been appreciated. The quality of a Doughboy is a given, but the price is a lot more ...

Leveling and Tamping  Not rated yet
I'm going to attempt to install another above ground pool this summer. (18x33 Tahaitian buttress free). I had one at the other house and have moved (Cantar,...

Resin Pools  Not rated yet
Question: Hello there. I perused your expansive and very informative FAQ about above ground pools but could not find anything about resin based pools?...