Hi Gena: As you can guess, I'm interested in finding successful solutions to those owners of pools that for reasons such as yours need a solution to all the problems associated with owning and maintaing pools. Presently, I have no good ideas for you but would like to find out what you end up doing in the end. If I locate a solution for your problem I'll pass it on to you.

If you could drain the water from the pumps, filter and heater it would help you prevent freeze damage in these items. If you equipment is not located below the pool. The filter has adrain plug on the bottom of the filter, the pumps usually have plugs in the bottom of the pump pots and the heater has a plug at the header to drain the water from the heater. You can also cover all of the exposed piping and equipment with some form of blanket to help insulate it or I have also seen customers run a light bulb out to the equipment and run it all night long to protect the equipment. Hopefully if you can not get the equipment drained it won't get really cold and cause any more damage. Hope this helps

if there is water all the way around the perimeter, something serious is going on that needs to be addressed. I know you just had some significant rains too. Pictures of the area(s) you suspect will help. In fact, posting pictures of the pool and the equipment pad can help. How old is the pool? Has there been any changes to the landscape in a 400 yard perimeter such as a new house or anything? Is the coping still solidly attached? Tiles falling off usually means water got behind them and caused the thin set to deteriorate. I am assuming the pump was running when the water level dropped overnight. This is indicative of a failed return line. You may have several issues happening that need to be addressed. Waiting will not make it cheaper. Patching often makes costs for proper repairs go up, adding to the costs associated. A plaster leak is not normally so dramatic in such a short time. Do you have a multiport on your filter? It may be leaking out the backwash line.

Alisonn, I had a pool removed too when I bought my house here in NJ. There is a requirement from NJDEP that your removal company needs to comply with. Basically it concerns the fill material that gets put into the hole, how large the pieces are from the concrete that is broken up and put back into the hole, etc. In Atlantic county, I needed a demolition permit, and then had to get inspections once the pool was removed and the cement chunks put into the hole, then again after the final fill was completed. $3500 is a good price. Mine cost $5500 to remove. Good luck!