Question for pool owners.....

[chanbe]

My husband had someone "give" him an above-ground swimming pool.He just has to go tear it down and we need to buy a new liner.My question is.......are they hard to take care of?I would be the one taking care of it.They just bought a new pump and stuff for it last year and it comes with all the accessories.Said they paid around $5000 dollars for it new and it's not that old-they just don't use it.It seems that there's always someone "giving" one away,which makes me wonder if they're more of a headache than they're worth.The public pool's not that far away from me.TIA.

[Willow]

You will need to put chlorine and shock in the water. You will also need to vacuum out the debris that gets in the water. I don't have a pool but we had one when I was growing up and my ex had a pool. If a lot of people are going to be using the pool then you will need to add chemicals more often.

[JKATHERINE]

I'm not sure if you're going to have a DE filter or a sand one, but we have an inground pool with a DE filter. I have found this site to be morrrrre than helpful! :)

www.poolsolutions.com

[renagade]

Had one for the kids years ago and will never have another one. Big pain!!!!
I was stuck cleaning it out and it costs for the chemicals.

[freebielover]

I don't know all the details but I know it takes a bit of work to keep it up and running. My mom is always vacuuming, cleaning, chlorinating, and checking ph levels. Personally I love the pool because I don't take care of it but I do believe it is a bit of work. I know just setting ours up was a 7 day project in itself its a big oval one. They had to dig and fill in the bottom with rocks and measure and it was a pain. But if you would use it, if you have kids or you like to swim then go for it. I just think a lot of people give them away because they don't use them and its wasted yard space.

[Faithfully]

We have one, and we love it. My kids are in it everyday during the summer. They are a bit of work(maybe 2 hours a week), but well worth it to us. Wish we could afford an inground one(heated) because where we live, it doesn't get to hot, but I wouldn't give up the pool we have now.

[LuvBigRip]

I think they are pretty easy to maintain. Especially in the summer, I always clean when I am in the pool, chemicals do need to be tested regularly, but if you keep on top of them, they are easy to balance. I don't know where you live, but Leslies Pool Supply has free courses on how to maintain your pool. I know in some areas they will come to your home for a fee of about 35.00 to show you how to properly care for your pool. For a first time pool owner it is well worth the cost.

As with any pool, if you own it, please protect kids from it. Fence it, or place a motion alarm in it. Keep the ladder out of it when not in use. Make sure you post a no lifeguard on duty sign to protect from lawsuits and always always always watch your kids in water. Here in Phoenix too many kids die or are brain damaged from water accidents. We just had another little boy die last week.

[buttrfli]

Cleaning tip!

If the pool is round and it has a filter on it, be sure the pump for the filter is running and have 1 or 2 of the kids go around the pool in a circle (the same direction) and get the water going really good.

This will do 3 things:

1. gets debris go go past the pumped and get sucked in.
2. the debris that dosen't get sucked in will go to the middle of the pool making it easy to reach and clean.
3. put the net down in the water while its still going around and the debris that is still going round and around will go into the net.. this keeps you from having to walk around the pool 8 million times chasing dirt around.

[freeplease]

We have an above ground pool, and I can't imagine a summer without one. The chemicals are second nature, once you get used to it. And we spend around 100 dollars a season for them. Much cheaper than a season pass for a family at the Y.
There is some expense getting one installed. We had to have a back hoe come and dig the area. And it has to be as level as possible. Go to your local pool store. They are good about giving free advice. Our has a pool school.

[chanbe]

Thanks for the opinions.It's definately something I'll have to think about.(JKatherine-lots of stuff I'll have to learn about from that website-didn't have a clue what some of that stuff even was!)I will have to have someone show me how to take care of it because hubby already said I'll be the one doing it (I've been wanting one for years).One other question........can you "let it go" for a week if you were on vacation?Or does everything get all messed up with the chemicals?(I know pretty much nothing about pools,can ya tell? :o )

[janelle]

My hubby goes to Pools Plus each Saturday and takes some pool water. They analyze it and tell him what chemicals it needs at that time. They have test kits if you want to test it yourself. You need to keep the PH level at the right level or your pool will grow algae and smell like a fishery.

If they just bought a new pump, etc. it's probably worth it. Getting it free, if you don't like it you can give it away. LOL

[ilvscooby]

We have one of those Easy Set Pools, about the chemicals, someone on another board I go to recommended this site:


http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/grocery.html
http://www.poolsolutions.com/tips/tip02.html

You don't have to use ALL pool chemicals, you can use bleach, baking soda, and borax in your pool, much cheaper and it works just the same. HTH :)

[tracyb]

that is what i was going to say...find a place that test water for you and they will tell you what all you need to put it in...and it is free here to do... it is alot of up keep but well worth it if you will use it alot.....keep shock on hand at all times........ every now and then you will find it at krogers for 99cents agallon so stock up on it then.....if you dont like cold water....invest in a solar blanket...I am getting one this yr....lol...hate the cold water...lol

[june72]

Cleaning tip!

If the pool is round and it has a filter on it, be sure the pump for the filter is running and have 1 or 2 of the kids go around the pool in a circle (the same direction) and get the water going really good.

This will do 3 things:

1. gets debris go go past the pumped and get sucked in.
2. the debris that dosen't get sucked in will go to the middle of the pool making it easy to reach and clean.
3. put the net down in the water while its still going around and the debris that is still going round and around will go into the net.. this keeps you from having to walk around the pool 8 million times chasing dirt around.


This is what we do too and the kids love it(they are usually in the middle of the pool getting floated around) LOL
Another thing we do is if you filter hose is like ours and it hangs in the pool......put a knee high over the end of it and it will catch the bugs that your filter misses, and you just clean the knee high and put it back on. This way the bugs don't get back in the pool..... :D

[ezmoney163]

You don't have to use ALL pool chemicals, you can use bleach, baking soda, and borax in your pool, much cheaper and it works just the same. HTH :)




Bleach will eat the liner. My BIL did this to his pool that is how I know it does it. I think an regular above ground pool and a quick set pool may be made a bit differently.

Good luck!!! ;)

[MistyWolf]

In my opinion they are a pain to take care of, but they are also fun.

All you really need is chlorine, shock and the PH tester. That is all we ever needed when we had one .. my sister and I used it every day and every morning we went out and cleaned it.

Leslie's Pool Supply is really good .. they do test your water for free. And they'll tell you what you need.

Don't forget to backflush your filter regularly too .. I am sure if you went on vacation your pool will be fine .. keep it covered .. it pays to invest in a solar cover.

Good luck!