Emptying a Concrete Pool: Risks and Long-Term Effects

It is not recommended to leave a cement pool empty for an extended period as this could severely damage the pool causing a need to repair or rebuild it.

Emptying a cement pool and leaving it empty for an extended period of time can cause several problems:

Thermal movement and ground water pressures can cause the empty pool to crack or break.

The surrounding soil can compress the walls and floor of the empty pool due to the absence of water pressure, leading to structural issues.

If groundwater levels rise, they may push the pool up creating a bulge in the pool floor or walls.

Water that pools outside of the cement due to rain, groundwater pressure, or other factors can cause additional structural issues.

Leaving an empty cement pool for an extended period of time means the pool will need costly repairs or even rebuilding before it can be filled and used again.

Instead of leaving a cement pool empty, a few alternative options include covering the pool with a heavy duty tarp or using pool plugs.