The biggest myth in the pool industry? That fiberglass pools pop while concrete ones never do. The simple truth is that both types of pools have an equal probability of popping out of the ground.
It’s important to know that while a rare occurrence, any and all pools can pop. If they do pop, it’ll normally be when the pool is drained. Draining your pool is an important and necessary part of any pool owners routine maintenance. While it’s an event that typically only takes place once every 5-7 years, it’s one surrounded with anxiety. Because once a pool is drained, it loses all the heavy weight of the water in the pool. Without the water weighing the pool down, the pressure of the ground against the pool becomes higher than the pressure of the pool against the ground. This increase in pressure can cause the pool to pop. While this is a rare occurrence, it tends to be more common in coastline states (Schonfeld).
Why is that? The answer lies with a state’s water table. The water table is exactly what it sounds like: a table of soil saturated with high levels of water. While some states naturally have a higher water table than others, no water table is stable. In rainy seasons the water table will be higher than compared to dry seasons. Landlocked states or states in a drought will have a far lower water table than those near the coast. Having a pool pop is extremely rare, but there are some preventative measures you can take that will lower the risk (Schonfeld).
The first and foremost easiest way to lower the chances of a pool popping is to not drain the pool during rainy or hurricane season. This means that if you’re a Florida resident it’s best to avoid scheduling your pool draining during the months of June-November. It’s important to note that even if it’s been a couple of days since rain, and the top of the soil looks dry, the water table can still be very high. Secondly, it’s important to have a plan when draining your pool. Try to drain your pool at a downward angle, so if there’s a problem while draining all the water doesn’t come rushing back into the soil around the pool. Normally, if you live right on the water you’ll be required to install a hydrostatic pressure relief valve into your pool. These are meant to be used as the last resort when draining your pool. The relief valve, once pulled, will allow any water that has pooled under the pool to enter the pool. This essentially reduces any additional pressure on the pool. Lastly, once you drain your pool dont lollygag, fill it back up as soon as possible (Schonfeld).
The biggest thing to take away from this article is that this is an extremely rare occurrence, think one in a million. All that aside, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So, drain during dry seasons and have a plan for where all the water will go. And remember, a concrete pool can pop just as easily as any fiberglass pool.
Schonfeld, Daniel. “The Inground Pool Pop Up: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Prevent It.” PoolPartsToGo, 2 Oct. 2020, poolpartstogo.com/blogs/articles/the-inground-pool-pop-up-what-it-is-why-it-happens-and-how-to-prevent-it?srsltid=AfmBOop-QXaTV6Y23yCkd-hJZqxI3nNonhwltFY1UNHjKbnh3PErz_gh. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.