Login Register Sign up for the GRM e-newsletter

Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Give me a better reason not to get a pool. « 1 2 3 »
  • EastCoastMojo

    March 31, 2009 12:24 p.m. EastCoastMojo Dork

    rebelgtp wrote:

    Sadly it is not here.

    Now I'm also not saying that I'm anti pool. I remember this really cool one when my dad was in real estate where the pool was both indoor and outdoor and there was a glass wall you would swim under to go from one side to the other.

    That would be awesome for those times when you lock yourself out of the house.

  • mad_machine

    March 31, 2009 4:31 p.m. mad_machine UltraDork

    last summer my neighbors skipped out on their mortgage and left their pool full, just unplugged it (or the power was turned off) so I ran an extension cord to my place and happily used the pool all summer while the neighbors and the mortgage company decided what to do...

    I was sad the day I came home and found it drained

  • racerdave600

    March 31, 2009 5:07 p.m. racerdave600 Reader

    I also have an in-ground pool. It's not that bad if you stay on top of it. I would look into a salt water system. A little higher on buy in, but the overall cost of keeping it is much less. Above ground systems aren't that bad from what I can tell.

    Depending on how big the pool is and how much pump you have, you may not have to run the pump and filter as much, which will also save you money. DO NOT UNDERSIZE the pump and filter,if you do, it will be a PITA no matter what. That's the biggest problem I see with most pool packages whether in-ground or above ground.

  • Datsun1500

    March 31, 2009 5:20 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

    Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....

  • DILYSI Dave

    March 31, 2009 5:40 p.m. DILYSI Dave UltimaDork

    I'm not sure what it does to our electric bill. We run the pool the same part of the year we run AC, so it's hard to say. That said, we only run the pump maybe 4 hours a day.

  • MrJoshua

    March 31, 2009 7:12 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    Im pretty sure a owning a pool is far more likely to kill your kid than owning a gun. Playing with guns in the pool trumps all!

  • MrJoshua

    March 31, 2009 7:14 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    You should be able to get a rough estimate of electricity you will use. 1hp=746 watts. With the average efficiency of motors you can figure about 1000 watts per hp. Shouldn't be to hard to figure out rough usage and multiply that by your local rate.

  • ignorant

    March 31, 2009 7:17 p.m. ignorant PowerDork

    http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm

  • AngryCorvair

    March 31, 2009 7:34 p.m. AngryCorvair Dork

    mad_machine wrote:

    last summer my neighbors skipped out on their mortgage and left their pool full, just unplugged it (or the power was turned off) so I ran an extension cord to my place and happily used the pool all summer while the neighbors and the mortgage company decided what to do...

    I was sad the day I came home and found it drained

    mmmm, freshly drained pool. mind if i drop in?

  • pigeon

    March 31, 2009 7:55 p.m. pigeon Reader

    maroon92 wrote:

    not only if YOU had a kid. there is a stupid law that if a neighborhood kid sees a pool, goes swimming, and drowns...or even injures himself, the owner of the pool is liable...AKA, YOU LOSE YOUR ASS!

    something about unmitigated attractiveness or something...rule one with pools, put in a locking gate!

    It's called an "attractive nuisance" (not to be confused with one of my pre-Wife girlfriends...) It's not a stupid law IMHO, it forces people to make sure that kids, who oftentimes aren't smart enough or old enough to understand all of the dangers of a give situation, can't get into a bad situation.

    Oh, and you don't lose your ass, your insurance company pays up. You do have insurance, don't you?

    I've been having the pool discussion with my wife also for the last 2 years. I'm still winning, but only because she won't go buy one by herself.

  • Jensenman

    March 31, 2009 8:07 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork

    maroon92 wrote:

    not only if YOU had a kid. there is a stupid law that if a neighborhood kid sees a pool, goes swimming, and drowns...or even injures himself, the owner of the pool is liable...AKA, YOU LOSE YOUR ASS!

    something about unmitigated attractiveness or something...rule one with pools, put in a locking gate!

    Plus eleventy gazillion. We had a pool at the first suburban house we lived in (moved in in 1969), it was surrounded by a 6' brick fence and 2 gates. We came home from a family trip to find that a neighbor across the street had told her kids to go play in the pool. My dad FREAKED, understandably. He put locks on both gates the next morning and called his lawyer buddy who informed him that a pool is considered an 'attractive nusiance'. His advice to my dad was keep the locks on the gates, jack up his liability limits and keep his fingers crossed.

  • March 31, 2009 8:13 p.m. NGTD HalfDork

    914Driver wrote:

    With a pool you have to do the maintenence whether you use it or not.

    With a boat you only do maintenence if you use it.

    a.) There are ample bodies of water in your area.

    b.) It's a FAMILY thing, picnics on a lonely beach, watching fireworks in your own space, no traffic jams.

    c.) Kids learn navigation, rules of the road and meet & greet with new people.

    d.) Fishing & crabbing.

    e.) Kids don't need chlorine to learn how to swim.

    You're welcome.

    Dan

    That is funny. I have a pool and a boat.

    The dictionary definition of a boat - A hole in the water that you pour money into.

  • March 31, 2009 8:17 p.m. NGTD HalfDork

    Datsun1500 wrote:

    Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....

    I am not in the US, but my pool added less than $40 a year to my insurance.

    The running of the pump and the heater was probably about $600 a year. Last year was not a nice summer or fall and we ran late. I am 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto.

    Like somone else said - Get a salt water chlorinator. No chlorine, soft skin, salt is cheap.

  • 924guy

    March 31, 2009 9:36 p.m. 924guy HalfDork

    pools are nice, but a hot tub is the way to go... and when your done, you throw the cover on and no worries about the toddler next door drowning in it, no extra insurance, etc..ect... as soon as i find one locally that some one is selling cheap.. its my next investment... my back needs it after working on cars in the little spare time i have..

  • neon4891

    March 31, 2009 9:44 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

    I love my pond, spring fed, fully stocked. Go for a swim then get dinner

  • Duke

    March 31, 2009 10:01 p.m. Duke Dork

    Or then be dinner, if you live in Per's neighborhood.

  • neon4891

    March 31, 2009 10:52 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

    Duke wrote:

    Or then be dinner, if you live in Per's neighborhood.

    well, the Blue Gills tend to get agressive and will bite you, good thing they only get as big as your hand.

    I remember the time a blue gill bit my father's nipple, the resulting levitation was interesting to watch

  • Keith

    March 31, 2009 11:31 p.m. Keith UberDork

    NGTD wrote:

    Datsun1500 wrote:

    Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....

    I am not in the US, but my pool added less than $40 a year to my insurance.

    ...I am 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto.

    That's because your pool is only a pool for 4 months of the year. The rest of the time, it's a skating rink

    My girlfriend in high school had an in-ground pool. It was an excellent reason to get her into a swimsuit. But so was windsurfing. As someone who grew up swimming in lakes, I get bored in pools really quickly. Unless I have a girlfriend in (or, on a couple of memorable occasions, out of) a swimsuit around.

  • Toyman01

    March 31, 2009 11:54 p.m. Toyman01 Reader

    Insurance, most polices specifically exclude pools and trampolines without a rider. Without the rider you're not covered.

    Dead squirrels, after fishing several out of the one we had it was hauled to the road for trash pickup. If you have trees, maintenance is daily unless covered. Nothing is worse than spending most summer Saturday mornings fishing leaves and dead squirrels out of the pool, draining it, cleaning it, and refilling it so the kids can tell you the water is too cold to swim in. The only way I will ever have another one is when I can afford to pay someone else to maintain it.(never) Buy a boat, probably not cheaper, but less PITA.

  • April 1, 2009 6:36 p.m. NGTD HalfDork

    Keith wrote:

    NGTD wrote:

    Datsun1500 wrote:

    Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....

    I am not in the US, but my pool added less than $40 a year to my insurance.

    ...I am 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto.

    That's because your pool is only a pool for 4 months of the year. The rest of the time, it's a skating rink

    My girlfriend in high school had an in-ground pool. It was an excellent reason to get her into a swimsuit. But so was windsurfing. As someone who grew up swimming in lakes, I get bored in pools really quickly. Unless I have a girlfriend in (or, on a couple of memorable occasions, out of) a swimsuit around.

    Yup 4 months is about right. It does look a lot like a rink right now!

  • ManofFewWords

    April 1, 2009 7:00 p.m. ManofFewWords Reader

    ignorant wrote:

    http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm

    You know, alot of people die in cars everyday too. If you want a pool, get a pool. If you don't want to deal with it, don't get one.

  • spriteracer

    April 2, 2009 7:45 a.m. spriteracer New Reader

    I saw a commercial for an above ground pool. It was thirty seconds long because that's the maximum amount of time you can picture yourself having fun in an above ground pool. -Mitch Hedberg

  • MrJoshua

    April 2, 2009 8:06 a.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

    ManofFewWords wrote:

    ignorant wrote:

    http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm

    You know, alot of people die in cars everyday too. If you want a pool, get a pool. If you don't want to deal with it, don't get one.

    Its about realizing the risks and making an informed decision.

  • Wally

    April 2, 2009 8:42 a.m. Wally UltraDork

    Pools are filled with water. Do you know what fish do in water?

  • mad_machine

    April 2, 2009 12:50 p.m. mad_machine UltraDork

    neon4891 wrote:

    well, the Blue Gills tend to get agressive and will bite you, good thing they only get as big as your hand.

    I remember the time a blue gill bit my father's nipple, the resulting levitation was interesting to watch

    be thankful it was only your adams apple. It could have gone for your lure

« 1 2 3 »  

You'll need to log in to post.