Home / Articles / PSC Ep. 52: Should I buy a used above ground pool?

PSC Ep. 52: Should I buy a used above ground pool?

Should I buy a used above ground pool?
Matthew Simmons

2 Minute Read

17
Comments
In today’s episode of Poolside Chat, Rob and Matt tackle another common swimming pool question:
  • Is it a good idea to buy a secondhand above ground pool?

Is it a good idea to buy a used above ground pool?

  1. The first thing you’ll want to do is try to find out the make, model, and age of the pool. If it’s more than 5 years old, be careful. There may be corroded or damaged parts. Older pools are more likely to have parts that are obsolete. Most people will assume that the above ground pool parts are universal but that is not the case.
  2. Manufacturers to stay away from are Muskin, Buster Crabbe, Esther Williams and Johnny Weissmuller Pools. These are no longer made, meaning their parts are extremely difficult, if not impossible to find. Also, stay away from Doughboy pools because parts are only available through licensed Doughboy dealers, making them pricey.
  3. Make sure to count all the parts and make sure that none are missing. Most pools will have the same number of parts. For example.. a 24’ pool may have 16 uprights. This means you should also have 16 top caps, 16 top rails, 16 bottom rails and so on.
  4. And lastly, check the walls for rust. If you see a moderate amount of wall rust, Run, don’t walk away from the seller. A weak wall can lead to this (insert video of pool exploding). Also, replacement walls are very expensive to replace difficult to find a dealer that will sell them to you. You’d be better off getting a new pool.

We understand getting a great deal on an above ground pool is hard to pass up. But that great bargain can turn into a money pit real fast. Instead of buying a used pool, save for a brand new pool, or if the kids are begging for it, get “just-for-now” pool like a soft-sided pool.

If you need to identify a specific pool model, check out our article titled “Identify My Above Ground Pool“.

Troubleshooting Topics

Need Replacement Parts?

Swimming Pool Products

Pumps
Cartridges
Salt Systems
Liners
View All Pureline

17 responses to “PSC Ep. 52: Should I buy a used above ground pool?”

  1. Matt Szczepkowski Avatar
    Matt Szczepkowski

    WE BOUGHT A LIGHTLY USED DOUGHBOY 24′ ROUND ABOVE GROUND POOL IN 1996. HAD TO BUY A NEW LINER DUE TO VINYL MEMORY ISSUES BUT THAT WAS IT. KEPT IT UP UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN WE FINALLY REPLACED IT DUE TO JUST WANTING A NEW POOL FOR A CHANGE (AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN NOW AFFORD A NEW ONE) THAT AND IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE’D HAVE TO BUYS A NEW PUMP AND FILTER ANYWAY. I’D SAY THAT $400 WE SPENT 20 YEARS AGO WAS A GREAT INVESTMENT~!

    Reply
    1. Matthew Simmons Avatar
      Matthew Simmons

      There’s an exception to every rule.

      Reply
  2. Alisia Avatar
    Alisia

    This post presents clear idea in favor of the new visitors of blogging, that
    really how to do blogging.6379

    Reply
  3. A Avatar
    A

    The home I purchased at the end of 2014 came with a 16×32 oval Doughboy that was installed in 2000. Spring of 2016 the pool failed due to washout of the sand base the pool was built on. What luck.

    I just got to rebuild the pool. I did have to spend some money at the dealer replacing rusted parts but wound up with everything I needed to put it back up. The only issue was the instructions. I had to use the instructions for the “newer model” of the same pool – the dealer said it was the same pool, and didn’t have the ones from my exact model.

    Turns out the instructions weren’t the same. Due to different geometry of the side supports, my pool wound up 16.5 feet wide instead of 16. We had already bought a beaded liner, and are having a tough time installing it. I’m wondering if it’s really possible to get 5″ of stretch across the middle of the pool, and if so, how to do it. We dropped over $600 on the liner and bead receivers, I’d really like to make this work.

    We were able to get it in the track all the way around, but on the flat sides, it bulges out several inches away from the wall. We got about a foot of water in the first time and only one side made it to the wall – the other never got within 6″.

    Do you have any suggestions?

    Reply
    1. Matthew Simmons Avatar
      Matthew Simmons

      I’d contact who sold you the liner and advise them the liner is ill-fitting. There is not much else to do other than that when the liner is already installed.

      This is an example of why we say not to buy old pools, the amount of money spent on buying replacement parts and liners on top of the cost of the pool almost equals the cost of a brand new pool.

      Reply
      1. A Avatar
        A

        Thanks Matthew. We’ll give them a call.

        If the pool hadn’t come with the house, we’d have bought a new one. We even considered it before rebuilding this one. Live and learn.

        Reply
  4. Clare Piper Avatar
    Clare Piper

    Hi Matthew,

    I actually had amazing luck with a used KD Pools Dynasty Rectangular 26’X13’X52″ pool I bought locally for $900. It was only one year old in 2004, the year I bought it, and it is still going pretty strong as of 2018. The pump motor failed, and I ended up buying a 2500 gph Bestway Intex-type pump/filter setup, which works OK. I had a tiny leak in the liner, which I managed to patch underwater.

    I’d like to keep this pool going, since it seems to be very durable. It has also survived wind and rainstorms. I have noticed that the pool belt is starting to lose its top coating in places. The underlying mesh fabric seems to be OK. Do you know what Zodiac boat fabric the liner and belt are made of? I know that there were two types: Hypalong and Stronglan PVC (?). The belt and liner are gray.
    Can I re-coat the existing bare mesh spots without having to remove the belt? I do know that you have an available belt for a Royalty 24″ round pool, which, I calculated would be about 84 ft long, and would more than fit my 23×13. Would that take the weight?
    Your other belt for a 20″ Dynasty round pool is only about 70 feet, and wouldn’t work.

    Are there any sources for replacement liners for this pool? I can take pictures if thdat would help Thanks for your time and patience in reading this. Yes, I am an engineer, which has helped keep this pool going.

    Clare Piper

    Reply
    1. Matthew Simmons Avatar
      Matthew Simmons

      I have no experience with KD Pools or boat fabric, so I am not going to be much help in this case.

      You may want to try an old KD pool dealer that can help you with this.

      Reply
  5. Sunrise Pools - William Dahl, Owner Avatar
    Sunrise Pools – William Dahl, Owner

    This is Sunrise Pools, LLC. Just wanted to let you know we install your above ground pool liners within a 100 miles of our zip code 19067 on a regular basis. We refer our customers to you because the quality of your liners is just as good as the others but at a third of the cost.

    Reply
  6. Chuck Garst Avatar
    Chuck Garst

    I bought a 26 year old Johnny Weissmuller pool a few months ago. It’s not true that you cannot find parts. I have found parts both online and on eBay. The parts for aluminum pools however last forever, so I just need the bottom wall tracks. Just bought a new beaded JW liner too. This pool is one of the best ever made and it will last another 20+ years.

    Reply
    1. Jeremy richard Avatar
      Jeremy richard

      what did you pay for a used Johnny weissmuller pool ? I know they are well constructed and because of the extruded aluminum they do last a long time.

      Thank you

      Reply
      1. Matthew Simmons Avatar
        Matthew Simmons

        Those pool brands may last a long time, but you have to keep in mind it has been a while since those pools were in production. So, even if you picked up a used pool from one of their later models, that pool has already gone through a good chunk of its lifespan. Add in the fact that there is no current parts supplier of Weismueller or Williams pools, you could be setting yourself up to buy a very expensive heap of scrap.

        Reply
    2. Matthew Simmons Avatar
      Matthew Simmons

      If you are picking up “new’ Johnny Weissmuller pools, I suggest you make sure the parts you received are actually aluminum. These parts you are purchasing would not be OEM unless they were sitting in a warehouse for a decade or more, waiting to be sold on eBay.

      Reply
    3. Annette Avatar
      Annette

      I have one here myself that just won’t die. It’s 15 years old. In perfect condition. Having trouble finding a liner. Where can I get one? 15 x 30 48 inch height.

      Reply
    4. Lisa Dow Avatar
      Lisa Dow

      Any chance you know where I might be able to find installation instructions? We bought one used from someone and they do not have the installation instructions.

      Reply
    5. My Avatar
      My

      I own a wisemuler up here in Canada. Amazing quality, still going strong and zero issues.

      Reply
      1. Matthew Simmons Avatar
        Matthew Simmons

        Awesome, those things were built to last, no doubt. I hope your pool keeps on keepin’ on.

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *