Is your above ground pool ladder wobbly and you are looking for solutions to stabilize the pool ladder?
If you have a swimming pool then, you probably already know how convenient removable pool ladders are. You can easily take them out during winters or when you intend to not use the swimming pool for some duration. The good thing about these pool ladders is that they do not rust and are easy to clean.
The only hiccup about having a removable ladder is its stability. Unlike the ladders anchored into the deck/ground/ pool frame, these are free to be removed as required. Therefore the pool ladder can get slightly wobbly as it might float up since it gets light in the water. So the question that then comes up is how to keep the pool ladder from floating up.
Most companies have a fix for that. Pre-built water or sand filling holes/compartments are in the ladder. These are made to add weight to the ladders. Doing this prevents them from floating up when submerged in water. This inbuilt mechanism to prevent floating up of the ladder is most convenient. So, if you haven’t got your ladder yet, purchasing one with compartments to fill in weights is a better option. Making holes yourself or finding quick fixes/home remedies are not as efficient.
However, if you already have a swimming pool ladder and do not have the option of filling holes, you can either buy ladder weights or create them yourself to keep your ladder from floating.
Readymade Weights for Pool Steps
Readymade pool ladder weights are the most convenient option, as they are hassle-free you just have to fill in the weights and attach them to the pool steps. However, you have to consider the size and weight of your pool steps to get the appropriate quantity of weights.
DIY Pool Ladder Weights
There is one more solution to stabilize ladders if you don’t wanna buy extra equipment you can create them yourself, it will require a bit of effort and creativity.
Things Needed for DIY Pool Ladder Weights:
- Plastic bottles/Plastic containers
- Water
- Pool-filter sand/ sand
- Vinyl-coated exercise weights
- Nylon rope
Water:
Having water weights is the simplest and least disordered option out of all the quick fixes. If your pool ladder does not have the option to fill water inside it, you can use this alternate technique. Get vinyl or plastic water bags from your swimming pool accessory supplier to make water weights for your steps.
These are used to keep swimming pool covers in place. These also double up as water weights to stabilize your pool ladder. The reason why water is the best option is that even if, by accident, it leaks, then cleaning is not going to be a headache, unlike in the case of sand.
Sand:
Sand is heavier than water and therefore serves as a better weight. If your ladder does not have the provision for filling in the sand, then you can fill plastic boxes/bottles with sand. Make sure you secure the mouth of the container to prevent any spill out. Tie the sand-filled container at the bottom of the ladder by suspending it with a nylon rope. The only drawback of using sand as the weight is an accidental spill/leak.
The downside of using sand as weights is it will make the swimming pool muddy, and cleaning up will be tiresome. The only solution is that if you notice the sand leaking, immediately vacuum it and fix the leak. Another way to avoid this mishap is to get pool-filter sand. This type of sand is easy to filter in case of a leak, thereby preventing the swimming pool from getting muddy.
Aqua Weights:
You can also consider making use of vinyl-coated weights that are used for underwater aerobics. Comparatively, coated weights are better than other metal exposed ones since they have very high chances of rusting. Similar to the water/sandbags, tie these to the ladder with the help of a nylon rope, and your ladder will not go anywhere when submerged in water.
Gravel:
Just like water and sand, you can also use pea gravel to weigh down your ladder. You can fill in your steps with pea gravel in place of water/sand if you have the option to do it. If your ladder is not compatible with filling holes then, filling a plastic container with pea gravel should also work.
Ensure you tightly close the opening and suspend the box from the ladder to prevent the ladder from floating. One main difficulty with using pea gravel as weights is that if it leaks into the swimming pool and gets caught in the pool filter or automatic cleaner, then it will cause a lot of damage that may or may not be repairable.
These are just a few of the famous and most accessible methods to stabilize a pool ladder at home. You can go about doing this entirely your way once you understand the purpose and mechanics of preventing the ladder from floating. However, bear in mind that not all products are water-friendly for the long run, and some might even pose severe threats in case of an accidental slip up.
In the case of an emergency, you can always use whatever is available and viable at that point. For a more permanent option switching to a heavy-duty pool step or a pool ladder with filling holes should be considered. If that is not an option for you, then doing proper research before making your DIY weight in terms of endurance and resilient products to use in making these weights is a smart way to go about doing it.
Points to Take Care of:
- The nylon rope you use to tie your DIY weights should not be very long to avoid tangling in it while swimming or using the ladder.
- Metal as a makeshift emergency weight. Metals are most susceptible to corrosion. The rust may damage the swimming pool liner.
- If you use pea gravel or rocks to add weight to the ladder, one leakage can lead to irreparable damage if it gets caught in the swimming pool filter. Stepping on the stones can cause injuries to the feet and also damage the pool liner.
The same goes for the sandbags. While they are a good alternative, one spill will result in muddy water, which is a headache to clean. The possibility of algae growth also increases if the sandbags are not regularly checked for tears or tiny leaks.
