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Alyssa Lynn Hartrick and her family discovered the abandoned pool eight months after moving in, replaced the filter, chlorinator, and lining, hired water supply, and spent over $11,000 to recover the space in Ohio, before publishing the result on TikTok and reaching 1.3 million views.
Alyssa Lynn Hartrick, 33, and her family restored an abandoned pool in the backyard of the house they had purchased in Ohio, United States. The true state of the structure appeared eight months after moving in, when the couple removed the cover and found green and black water, torn tarp, and equipment that needed to be replaced.
According to a report by the American magazine People, published on May 26, 2026, the transformation cost more than $11,000. The process was shared on TikTok by Alyssa, a beauty salon owner, and the before and after video surpassed 1.3 million views.
House had been unoccupied for several years
The family had purchased the property about a year and a half before the report’s publication. The goal was to live on a small plot on the outskirts of the city, where the couple could raise their daughters with more space and eventually enjoy the existing pool in the backyard.
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The previous owners, however, had left the residence three or four years before the purchase. During this interval, both the house and the pool remained practically untouched, a condition that helped explain the level of deterioration found later.
Cover hid green water and torn tarp
The severity of the problem only became evident when Alyssa and her husband removed the cover. Under the external protection, the water had green and black hues, while the internal lining was torn in different places.
The scene showed that the abandoned pool would require much more than cleaning and chemical application. The structure needed technical evaluation, component replacement, and finish renewal before it could be safely used again.
Renovation was postponed to prioritize the interior
Even after the discovery, the couple decided not to immediately start the recovery. At that moment, the family’s resources and attention were focused on modernizing the interior of the newly acquired house.
The pool remained a future stage of the residential project until the family decided to tackle the neglected space. The choice allowed organizing expenses by phases, but also prolonged the period in which the backyard continued without its main leisure area.
Specialists evaluated plumbing and equipment
Before starting the work, Alyssa hired a specialized company to inspect the general state of the abandoned pool. The professionals checked the filter, plumbing, and other components that could present hidden failures after years without maintenance.
The inspection was necessary to discover if there were structural damages or underground problems beyond the contaminated water and compromised cover. A renovation started without this evaluation could reveal greater expenses when the service was already underway.
Filter, chlorinator, and lining were replaced
The recovery included replacing the chlorinator, equipment used to help treat the water, and the sand filter. The internal lining also needed to be replaced due to the tears identified after removing the cover.
These interventions allowed the main systems of the pool to be operational again. The family also hired supply companies to fill the structure with clean water after the completion of the repair stages.
Heater Leaked After Recovery
Even with the operation restored, not all problems were solved. The existing heater leaked and had to be disconnected, preventing the equipment from being used in the new space configuration.
Alyssa stated that the family intends to buy another heater for a later season. The expense not yet concluded shows how the recovery of an old structure can continue to require investments even after the main transformation.
Expenses Exceeded US$ 11,000
As reported by the family, the renovation had cost more than US$ 11,000. The amount included replacement of equipment, installation of new coating, hiring professionals, and water supply.
The cost demonstrates that restoring an abandoned pool can be akin to a structural renovation, especially when several components have lost their functionality. The initial appearance of the water was just the most visible part of a set of problems accumulated over the years.
Full Video Reached 1.3 Million Views
After completing the main phase of the work, Alyssa posted a video on TikTok showing the entire transformation. The recording included the initial state, water removal, repairs, and the final result in a single sequence.
The content surpassed 1.3 million views and received hundreds of comments. According to Alyssa, part of the interest arose because viewers could follow the entire process without having to wait for several videos published separately.
Comments demanded a safety fence
Among the reactions, users praised the result and suggested new improvements for the backyard. One of the most frequent recommendations was the installation of a protective fence around the pool area.
The family later installed the safety barrier. The measure gained importance especially because the couple has daughters and intended to transform the place into an area regularly used by all residents.
Backyard will still receive furniture and new heater
Alyssa intends to continue modifying the space with furniture intended for relaxation within the fenced area. The purchase of a new heater also remains in the plans to extend the period of water use throughout the year.
Despite the improvements still planned, the abandoned pool ceased to be a deteriorated point of the property and returned to function as a leisure area. The contrast between the dark water found under the tarp and the final result was the central element of the repercussion on social networks.
Transformation divides opinions on the investment
The case shows that the purchase of a house with an external structure without maintenance can bring expenses difficult to calculate just by appearance. An inspection before the acquisition could reveal part of the problems, but some defects only appear after coatings, covers, and equipment are removed.
Would you invest more than US$ 11,000 to recover an abandoned pool or use the space to create another type of area in the backyard? Tell us in the comments what decision you would make and if you think the transformation was worth the cost faced by the family.
