My parents have a pool. The regular maintenance isn't too bad, test the water every few weeks, add chemicals as necessary, and keep it clean. The filter needs to be back flushed a few times a year, takes maybe 30-45 min to do that routine. Is the pool heated? Running the heater can make a HUGE difference in your electric bill from what I understand.
I think owning a pool is somewhat akin to owning a 996 Porsche. It's not so much the expense of normal upkeep that's a killer, it's the threat of one day waking up to a multi thousand dollar disaster. Things like the liner tearing, cracks in the cement, or leaks in the plumbing can all get expensive in a hurry.
I have two brothers in law that have pools. I was considering installing one so I asked about them.
Their recommendation was to start smoking crack. That it would be cheaper, and won't ruin your life any worse than owning a pool.
Probably a slight exaggeration, but I didn't install a pool.
A somewhat baffling discussion for me. We have a 15 x 30 above ground pool that I put together myself 11 years ago and that has been no trouble at all. Above ground pools come in many quality levels, and if you pay Yugo money, you get Yugo quality. Ours was top of the line, and we have no rust, and the liner is just fine.
We've been using conventional chlorination, with good success. We find that the pool places recommend about 5 x as much chemical treatment than has proven necessary, and we've been doing this long enough to be sure it works. Our chlorine levels are usually barely detectable, and the water is just fine. It's just my wife and I using it, so if you had rampaging hoards of ankle biters using it constantly, it might be different.
Much of the 'hate' for pool maintenance I suspect is related to attitude. Some people find washing a car way too much trouble to bother with, while others will keep their cars spotless. I'd estimate that we spend about 15 minutes a week on the pool, excluding starting it up in the spring and putting it to bed in the fall.
Sine_Qua_Non wrote:
NGTD wrote:
Salt water is much more forgiving than chemical chlorine. The chlorinator separates the NaCl to create chlorine. Once you get the chemicals balanced off in the spring, it remains pretty stable after that.
Until it rains.
huh? It does not get any worse than south Florida when it comes to rain, and what NGTD has been true for me. Once balanced you dont mess with it.
Sine_Qua_Non wrote:
NGTD wrote:
Salt water is much more forgiving than chemical chlorine. The chlorinator separates the NaCl to create chlorine. Once you get the chemicals balanced off in the spring, it remains pretty stable after that.
Until it rains.
Rain doesn't really bother it. The most it will do is dilute the salt, and I add what, maybe 4 to 5 40lb bags a year, at $5 a bag. And most of that is at the beginning of the season. It doesn't even throw off the PH and Total Alkalinity like it did when I had chlorine. I've been running a salt water system for 8 years, and I doubt I spend 30 minutes a week on it total during the summer, nothing in the winter. Opening and closing takes about half a day, and most of that is cleaning the cover and getting it ready to install. I put in a safety cover about six years ago and will never go back to a standard one. Super easy to put on and no worries anyone will fall in.
Yep, what these guys said about the salt system.. I have a smaller above ground that was a royal PITA with algae control and bouncing chemical levels.. I fought it for two years, then I discovered the wonders of salt.
I think the salt converter was 150 on Amazon, and now I'd say I spend 15 per week on maintenance, and most of that is scooping leaves.
I was about to tear down the pool till I found out about that.
I still might have to, depends on how much the deck will be to r&r, but at least the last two years have been easy peasy :)
Salt system-your pool is full of saltwater and an automatic system monitors your chlorine levels. If Chlorine gets low-the chlorine generator converts some of that salt to chlorine and tada-your levels are fine again. No chlorine tanks, no liquid chlorine or pellets, no acid, I assume you add a little stabilizer every so often (not really sure but it makes sense), and you are set. It is still a chlorine pool, you just store all of the future chlorine right there in the pool and a machine keeps your levels steady for you. I ran a commercial liquid chlorine fed pool for a few years and would recommend salt for you. I can't see much of a reason to do a home pool any other way.
If you do decide to do liquid or pellets, get a decent Taylor test kit and quit listening to the pool store. Having them test your water for you is like asking your dealer for advice on how much of your money you should spend on drugs.
Chlorine pool here. My pool is rock solid; a few minutes a week and a few gallons of chlorine a year keep it perfectly in line. I will second what others have said: an older pool can become a giant money-sucking hole in the ground, but at 15 years, mine is still pretty easy. Yeah, heater is spendy, but.... pool. You like it? Go for it. Don't? Don't.
Margie
