Above-ground pool...suggestions?

Wood_Butcher_Dav · Sep 26, 2005

Another option is to price out is a gas heater. This could add another 6 weeks or so to the begining and end of the season. As others have said pay someone that knows what they are doing and have it installed.

Dave

KubotaSteve · Sep 26, 2005

My parents had an above ground pool for about 20 years. Actually it was two pools. After about 12 years the first one was rusting in places and dad deemed in unsafe so he got a new one. They were on a corner lot with dirt roads on the side. They were constantly vaccuming the pool and using chemicals to keep it clear.
I just put mine in this spring and it wasn't as bad as I thought. I lived off of a paved road and I only vaccumed my pool a couple of times and it stayed crystal clear.
As the other guy said make sure it is childproofed to the hilt. I have a two year old and I definitely wanted to make sure that there was no issues. I've got self closing, self latching (on pool side of gate) gate, with no chairs around for him to climb on. Also invest in the pool alarm.
Good luck.

MossRoad · Sep 26, 2005

Pools are like any other hobby. They take some time and money, but if you enjoy it, do it.

We have an old, 24' round pool. I added several inches of sand under it so that it ended up being only 3 ft deep. That was good for the kids. You can't swim laps in it but there is an alternative... they make bungee cords that velcro to your ankles. The other end gets Velcro's to something immovable, like your deck, etc... Then you can swim to your heart's content and get some really good exercise without going anywhere /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Get a fence around it, even if the ladder tips up and locks, get a fence. Check your state laws regarding this.

Get a solar cover. Spring for the heavy duty ones. The thin ones only last a couple years.

Get a solar cover reel. It makes for easy storage and off/on of the cover by one person. Also, store the cover in the shade. Once you take it off the pool, the sun will heat it up and cook the plastic very fast.

Investigate the cost of an automatic pool robot to do the cleaning for you.

Invest in a timer for the pump.

I spend about 10 minutes working on our pool each week. That's it. This involves a chemical check, top off the chemicals as needed, brush the side walls by hand where the solar cover meets the liner(our robot won't get that part and there always seems to be a tiny scum line at that point), and check the pressure on the filter. Backwash and fill pool as needed.

The only problems we have to watch for are lack of or excess rain. Rain can overfill the pool, diluting the chemicals. Drought requires adding water from the hose, which can change the chemistry and add metals(we are on a well).

Really, though, if you do it right, it doesn't take that much maintenance and you get lots of enjoyment out of it, weather permitting. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

indebt · Sep 26, 2005

Hellow I install swimming pools in the summer for my mother who owns her own pool shop. Round is going to be cheaper than oval due to the extra supports and labor needed to install. Oval is ok it just takes up more space , if you like to swim laps oval would be better if it is for the kids to splash around in either would do .I would suggest going with a 52" wall either 24' 0r 27' round , I would also use an earth filter . It is easier to use and the water is crystal clear and the maintaince is less than sand filters. The Best advise is to find a good LOCAL DEALER and ask for refrences.

techman · Sep 26, 2005

A few comments (after 27 years w/pool). Spend the extra money for an aluminium wall as compared to steel. Better life overall. Also consider a 52" rather than a 48". More fun swimming. We haev had good life with Johnny Weismuller brand.

As for size, we have had 18' round. With more kids consider a 24' or an oval. Ovals are nice, but more complex (bracing) and more expensive to replace liners, if needed.

As for filter, only consider an earth filter. Cartridges are way too expensive to maintain, and sand filtes are not as efficient and much more work and weight to deal with to replace media, and move indoors in the winter.

I use liquid chlorine and spend about $ 75/season. Do not buy PH + and PH - or other chemicals. For PH plus use baking soda, and PH - use muriatic acid. Both very cheap as compared to the "pool" chemicals. Most important is to spend money to get a good chemical test kit. A good kit will have PH, chlorine level, acid demand, total alkalinity as a minimum. Normally once you get the chemistry settled down in the spring, you will only need to add chlorine, and possibly a bit of acid on occasion. If the PH stays within range, the chlorine will do its job and no other chemicals will be needed.

On the installation, request plastic or foam wall coving. This forms the contour for the liner at the bottom of the wall. Old school is to use samd to form the coving. If you get a leak, the sand will wash out and eventually you will have the liner blow out at the bottom of the wall. The plastic coving can not wash out and saves the liner.

paul

PeterT · Sep 26, 2005

My only sugestion is if you have moles in your yard get rid of them before installing a pool. We did have them get under the pool and chew a hole in the liner. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

good luck
PeterT