OT: Get a swimming pool or not?

[kelscross]

I'm undecided about whether or not to get my kids a swimming pool this year. It's not the safety concern, as they will not get in it unsupervised...it's more of the ...is it more trouble than it's worth concern.

I'm talking one of those easy set up soft pools that rise when you fill them. There's one at walmart for 300 bucks or so...is it too much trouble? Anyone had any experience with these?

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Go to amazon.com and search for the Easy Set Pool, 15' x 42" . There are lots of reviews on upkeep, etc.

My concern with these is making sure people use some type of water sanitizer like the chorine tablets in order to prevent illnesses and to keep the water clear. But, I've considered getting one myself.

Right now, I'd just be happy with the baby pool that only holds an inch of water. ANYTHING for relief of this heat we're having this SPRING - it's not even summer yet!

 

[Starr W.]

I'm undecided about whether or not to get my kids a swimming pool this year. It's not the safety concern, as they will not get in it unsupervised...it's more of the ...is it more trouble than it's worth concern.

I'm talking one of those easy set up soft pools that rise when you fill them. There's one at walmart for 300 bucks or so...is it too much trouble? Anyone had any experience with these?

We're going on the 3rd year with the "soft pool". It's not too much trouble with the testing and chemicals. DH picked up a slightly bigger model last fall when they were marking them down.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We had one and it was horrible. The filter is not enough to move the water and it ended up being a huge mosquito breeding ground. I am not the only person in my area that had that problem. You need to get a larger filter than they give you.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

In our old house we had the type of pool you are talking about and for us it was a nightmare-and we are seasoned pool owners. Very difficult to keep clean unless you cover it all the time that it is not in use or you happen to have a backyard with little to no trees-at least that was our experience. We have a regular inground pool now and this is by far much easier upkeep. We had to drain and refill the inflatable one too many times. But...if it is a choice between that and having no pool at all, then by all means I would go for the inflatable. Just get the kids to help with vacuuming and skimming.

 

[Starr W.]

In our old house we had the type of pool you are talking about and for us it was a nightmare-and we are seasoned pool owners. Very difficult to keep clean unless you cover it all the time that it is not in use or you happen to have a backyard with little to no trees-at least that was our experience. We have a regular inground pool now and this is by far much easier upkeep. We had to drain and refill the inflatable one too many times. But...if it is a choice between that and having no pool at all, then by all means I would go for the inflatable. Just get the kids to help with vacuuming and skimming.

We keep ours covered about 90% of the time and as for trees we're in a pretty tree-free zone(I have 2 "big trees" that Dad bought for a wedding present 13 years ago, biggest in the neighborhood). First 2 years never had to drain and refill and DH gets pretty OC about testing.

 

[kldmom2000]

We had one of the soft-sided pools for one season and as an above poster stated, the filter was not powerful enough for the pool.... we couldn't seem to properly balance the chlorine either and we had big problems with mosquitoes breeding as well (and we have a huge problem w/ EEE and West Nile here!!!) THEN we heard about how our city was cracking down on anyone with those pools that did not have a fenced in yard and would be issued fines and such, so we took ours down. Make sure you know your city/town's rules re: pools and fencing before you spend the $300 because in the long run, it could cost much more....

 

[acadia1960]

We have an 18ft easy set. The pump is not strong enough to clean, without help from me. I skim, do whirlpools etc. I like a nice clean pool. I use a floater with chlorine tablets, most of the time. During hot & humid weather (July), I supplement with powdered chlorine, and other chemicals as needed. My neighbor has the same pool, but bought his a year earlier, his pump is much stronger. It seems to me the company decided to go cheaper, with their pumps. My husband called the company, they could care less. I have always had pools, but can't have a permanent above ground , because we are going to be selling this house. They are basic, but worth the money, to keep cool and have some fun. I paid $300.00 at Walmart 2 years ago.

 

[dopeygirl156]

We are on our second season with our easy set pool. As the others have said the filter is not the most powerful but if you put the cover on it nightly it will help keep alot of junk out of it. We have had no trouble generally with the chlorine levels and vacuuming, but DH is very attentive to it. Even though it is some work my kids love having it and swim in it every chance they get. We have the 18x48 size and all five of my kids can play in it without any trouble. They were in it yesterday for about 3 1/2 hrs. IMO even if we only keep it for 4 seasons we certainly got our moneys worth for the 300.00 dollars it cost.

 

[alloyd1170]

Ive gone through two and wont do it again. I kept them on our balcony away from the trees, used a filter, chlorine tabs, and checked the levels daily. I kept it covered, but the water would get so hot it wasnt refreshing. To change it out daily wouldve been a real pain (expensive if on city water, but we have well water). I still had growth on the bottom where it bunched up, and bugs would get in and drown. Once I did set it up on the grass, but it killed the grass underneath. It also leaked, and it was a haven for some bug to nest underneath it (I think they were bumble bees, and there were hoards of them growing under it).

As someone else mentioned, you also need to find out about local laws regarding fences and pools. Even if you dont need a fence, Id still worry about a neighbor's kid getting into it.

Now I just use one of those plastic molded pools and fill it half way in the am. By lunch time, the sun has warmed it a bit so the kids can play in it. Then I drain it at night. My kids dont use it very often so its no big deal. What they really do like is a slip n slide.

alison

 

[kelscross]

I did tons of consideration...even measured my backyard (the level spots) to see where I could put it as I know it will kill the grass. We don't have hardly any trees in our neighborhood yet as it is a new housing development. Of course the one spot in the yard that I haven't been able to grow grass in (the ideal space) is not quite large enough in diameter and I would overlap in the land behind me a couple feet. I'm going to ask the builder if I can put the pool there because they are not developing the land behind me, it's just a field.

My friend that has one, has had great luck with hers, but they put work into it, which I don't mind, but I work 12 shifts at night and I'm sleeping, so I have to consider how much time I have to maintain it. She also told me to take a sample of the water out of my spigot and take it to a pool supply store so they can run tests and tell me what chemicals I need to start out with.

So basically, it's still under consideration...thanks for your replies.

 

[blessedby3]

We have an in ground swimming pool and have had nothing but trouble with it this year for some reason. Pool places have said it has to do with high pollen counts and a warm winter. We have already put $600 into chemicals this year just trying to get it opened. When we took the cover off it was GREEN!!! We had been using baquisil products and have had to switch completely over to chlorine. Total cost so far- $600!!! We just bought the house last year and the pool was already here. I never thought it would be this much cost or hassle just to get clear water!

 

[clm3]

Its funny you posted this ... I'm filling our 15x42 as I type this. This is our 2nd year and its serves its purpose. I am considering getting a more powerful pump/filter system because it was not strong enough last year. You MUST make sure your land is level !! We learned the hard way last year, ended up filling, draining, leveling better, and refilling. My only REAL complaint is getting the fine sand and dirt out that settles on the bottom. I bought a different vacuum from what is included (that one is a joke) and it seems to work better, but it is a daily cleaning.

But, overall my kids love it and it keeps them busy so I don't have to sit at the neighborhood pool everyday! This will have to work until DH will splurge for in ground.

Good Luck

 

[pantherlj]

In our old house we had the type of pool you are talking about and for us it was a nightmare-and we are seasoned pool owners. Very difficult to keep clean unless you cover it all the time that it is not in use or you happen to have a backyard with little to no trees-at least that was our experience. We have a regular inground pool now and this is by far much easier upkeep. We had to drain and refill the inflatable one too many times. But...if it is a choice between that and having no pool at all, then by all means I would go for the inflatable. Just get the kids to help with vacuuming and skimming.

Where can I get a vacuum? We have one from a few years ago but the bag and hose attachement are missing and I can't remember where we bought it from. We haven't set up the soft side pool in a couple of years. I can't believe how much chlorine we are going through!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Where can I get a vacuum? We have one from a few years ago but the bag and hose attachement are missing and I can't remember where we bought it from. We haven't set up the soft side pool in a couple of years. I can't believe how much chlorine we are going through!

Kmart. That is where I had purchased the pool and they had all the accessories, including the vacuum there in the same aisle. The only thing I had to purchase elsewhere was the ladder and believe it or not, it was difficult to find just a basic A-frame ladder!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We have an in ground swimming pool and have had nothing but trouble with it this year for some reason. Pool places have said it has to do with high pollen counts and a warm winter. We have already put $600 into chemicals this year just trying to get it opened. When we took the cover off it was GREEN!!! We had been using baquisil products and have had to switch completely over to chlorine. Total cost so far- $600!!! We just bought the house last year and the pool was already here. I never thought it would be this much cost or hassle just to get clear water!

Our pool was green for the first time when we uncovered this year too. I do believe it was from the unusually warm winter also. We had to shock our pool twice, use algaecide once and make sure the PH was adjusted properly (took twice also). After a week of high maintenance, we are crystal clear. We use all BioGuard products. Hope your pool clears soon...ours was a pain this year, but this is the first time-normally we open it up to totally clear water. We were hoping to use ours for the holiday weekend, but as Murphy's Law prevailed, it didn't clear up until the day after the weekend was over!

 

[kelscross]

okay guys...

I went with the small version 12x36. It's the only one that would fit in the level spot in my yard without overlapping into the land behind me. I didn't reach the builder this morning so I went with the small one. So it's a glorified baby pool...ha! I figure if it doesn't work out it was 90 bucks so that's no biggie and it will suit my kids' purpose. They're 5 and 6 so that should be fine.

Maybe in a few years we can get a pool professionally installed. My dream is an inground, but it will take some haggling, because the power lines run through my backyard so I'll have to talk to the city and power companies about that. Also, if I get an above ground maybe one with a nice deck or something. But, again, that's a few years down the road.

Wish me luck that this doesn't turn into 36 inches of cesspool breeding ground!!

 

[acadia1960]

This was the size we started out with. My son was 5, we put that pool up 3 years in a row, until he outgrew it. You still will have to use chlorine. I bought a spa size floater & small Chlorine tablets. Worked great.

 

[blessedby3]

Our pool was green for the first time when we uncovered this year too. I do believe it was from the unusually warm winter also. We had to shock our pool twice, use algaecide once and make sure the PH was adjusted properly (took twice also). After a week of high maintenance, we are crystal clear. We use all BioGuard products. Hope your pool clears soon...ours was a pain this year, but this is the first time-normally we open it up to totally clear water. We were hoping to use ours for the holiday weekend, but as Murphy's Law prevailed, it didn't clear up until the day after the weekend was over!

Thanks, we did finally get clear water
The kids actually swam yesterday although it was cold. We need to get the solar cover on and bring the temp. up some. Our pool has lots of shade around it- probably part of the reason it stayed green for so long. We also wanted to swim over the Memorial Day holiday, and DH invited his family over and we all sat out by the green pool yuck.
Guess we need to invite them over again since you can actually see the bottom and get in it.
Green water wont kill you though. DD8 accidentally fell in the deep end when the pool was nasty green and she survived it. I figured her skin might fall off or something She is still intact and in one piece although I wouldnt recommend swimming in green water on purpose!!

 

[Starr W.]

You guys remind me of a couple of my employees that had inground pools and the May-September conversations about pool chemicals and ph levels. For some reason, they were on opposites ends of the Ph scale and every morning we would have to here the updates on ph levels!