Any pool owners out there?

[shutupandride]

We are going tomorrow to look at a house with a pool. Just looking for the pros and cons of pool ownership. What are the extra costs involved? How is insurance effected? Any other good info. Thanks everyone

Oh by the way, it is an in ground pool not sure of the size or current condition.

 

[thinksnow]

They rock but they are expensive. We had to replace the skimmer last year. I ordered all the parts online and installed everything myself. That was right at $1000. Ours is an in-ground 16' x 32' with a liner. The liner needs to be replaced again at another $1000 (with us installing). We spend probably about $350+ a year for chlorine and other chemicals. If it is heated (ours isn't), plan on more things to go wrong and costs for gas/electricity.

The bad part is you will use it a ton at first and then the novelty will wear off. I don't think I even got in it once last year. You will spend time cleaning and checking Ph balance, chlorine, etc. levels at least once a week.

As for insurance, make sure you are covered for other people. We don't allow non-family members to use the pool. That's a little selfish, but think of the lawsuits that could happen. Make sure you get your butt covered well.

 

[niner49]

We are going tomorrow to look at a house with a pool. Just looking for the pros and cons of pool ownership. What are the extra costs involved? How is insurance effected? Any other good info. Thanks everyone

Oh by the way, it is an in ground pool not sure of the size or current condition.

I love my pool! I designed and sub-contracted the building of my pool and saved quite a bit! but that is not what you are asking sorry! but I think you need to take into account how much you will use it and who will use it?

I bought a home warranty from First American, which runs about $41 a month with pool coverage so I am covered as far anything breaking, If thinksnow would of done this he could of paid for his warranty for 24 months! and covered his appliances in the house


as far as chemicals I spend about $28 a month, I shut my pool down in the winter (4 months maybe) and use a product that is made for winter shutdown, I just started my pool up about 6 weeks ago, shocked it added Pool chlor to zap any algae and added 1/2 gallon of acid and I am good to go. I run my pump about 4 hours a night during the summer. Oh my pool is 128 perimeter feet and about 42,000 gallons.

 

[priest lake rmk]

I had a 15x32 in ground. Great fun but it had the older cartridge filter system. Total POS. Our insurance made us put up a fence around the pool and made us remove the slide. They didn't mess around when it came to having the slide removed.

 

[Puddy Tat]

They are a lot of Fun. Keeps the family together! But very expensive to keep up cost us around 300.00 in chemicals and the light bill is out of sight. we warm ours with solar Heat. so that helps. But couldn't be with out one now. we really love ours... Just keep the Filter Clean.

 

[shutupandride]

Thanks for the info guys

 

[Jeff C]

Shutup:

I used to install inground pools and a couple of things to be thinking of:

1. In Minnesota plan on spending at least $1,000 for the summer to heat the pool

2. The first few years of pool ownership, people go wild with testing, shocking too much, algicide this, and chemical that. Plan on spending about $750 for the first few years on Chemmies

3. I would highly recommend spending $12k on an auto cover. Those blue bubble covers suck, and allow the chemicals to evap out of the pool. You keep all the snakes, grasshoppers, mice, frogs, bees, flies, leaves, worms out of the pool. Also if you have little kids, the auto covers will keep them safe if they fall in while the cover is closed.

Believe me, after you have the pool for awhile you will hate rolling up that blue POS cover. Auto cover, push the button and it rolls open/closed in a few seconds.

EBAy has great deals on Polaris auto cleaners. I had a buddy of mine pick one up last year, brand new for $250. I think the pool company wanted almost a grand for the same thing..........

If your still looking at this house and are considering buying it, I would pay a pool company to come and check out the heater, pumps and assess the general condition of the equipment. You do not want to have to buy a new heater shortly after you buy the house.....

Good luck!

 

[Sambo11]

I'm no pool expert but I have spent some time in a salt water pool. I don't know if they cost more or less to build and or maintain but the water feels much better and I didn't have that itchy skin feeling when I was in it.

For anyone who has never been in a salt water pool they aren't like ocean salt water but more like the saline water you use to clean contact lenses.

 

[dieseldog]

Hey Jeff C i am thinking of doing an indoor pool about 15 x 30 and about 5ft deep. How much should something like this cost to do and how much easier is it to heat when it is indoors. I live in ND. I will have to add on a sunroom type oif room to do the pool so i will figure that cost extra. I am just interested in what the pool costs would be. Or what size would you recommend to put in the wife just wants something to lounge around in and swim up and back for a little excercise?