Above Ground Pools

[Sharon]

Does anyone have one?  How hard are they to maintain?  Would you do it again?

I moved into a new place beginning of December.  It came with an above ground pool, 13ft X 25.5ft.  The previous owners of the property were selling due to divorce and getting information on anything was difficult.  I knew that the pool would need some work, you could see broken hoses etc.  There are just a few inches of water in the bottom from rain/snow melt.

There was a box of papers left with the house from 3 owners ago.  It appears that the pool is 22 years old.  I've been having trouble finding any place that will give me any information.  All the pool places around here get really snooty and tell me they only deal with in ground pools.

Now my dilemma is trying to decide if I should get a new filter, pump, hoses etc and see if there is a few more years life left in the liner.  Should I just scrap the whole thing or should I start over with everything new including the liner.

I do love to swim and the area I'm in will be hot over the summer, with most days into the 90+ degrees.

[bookkeeper]

I was a former pool owner at the same time my neighbor had a large above ground pool.  My neighbor taught me all about pool chemical, flushing the filter and how to tackle repairs.

The liner is the expensive part.  If that is intact, you can source the rest of the parts.

When DH and I decommissioned our pool, I sold the pump, filter, cover and all the accessories to someone trying to open and old pool in a house they had just purchased.  Used stuff is out there, people get in and out of pools all the time.

I would look for a half hp pump and a large sand filter on the used market first.  Hoses and fittings are readily available at the big box stores and online.  Chemical is really cheap at Costco and Sam's Club, but they only have it in the spring and early summer months.

My neighbor with the large above ground pool had a spring storm destroy it.  She had spent all day pumping out the winter water and scrubbing the liner.  She was going to refill it in the morning.  A spring thunderstorm came up and blew in the aluminum sides of the pool and wrecked the liner, all because it was empty for a few hours.  She collected her insurance money and bought a hot tub instead.  Word to the wise, don't leave an above ground pool empty for any length of time.

[happyhoix]

My SIL has a big above ground pool. They live on a sloping lot and the built a deck around the pool, making it look like an in ground pool. They had it a good 25 years now but I don’t know if they ever had to redo the liner.

[azucena]

If you're on fb, you could try posting in local groups asking for a pool guy with references.

[Deleted]

I had an in-ground pool but the first thing I did was buy a book at Leslie Pool Supply on pool maintenance, because I knew zip.  I highly recommend it.  A friend had an in-ground pool and didn't know you had to winterize it (we were in NJ) and she had to replace some expensive equipment after they let it sit out all winter (probably full of water).

[buystoys]

We had an above ground pool when we moved here.  The previous owner hadn't set it up correctly, so the water always tilted towards one side.  Then there were the crepe myrtles they planted right next to the deck he built.    No matter how often DH cleaned it, it seemed like we always had crepe myrtle flowers in the pool.

I don't do the maintenance, but I have the impression that it's about the same for above ground and in ground pools.  DH griped when we had the paper filter and is now happy that we have a sand filter again.  That was the biggest change and it was a bad move for us to go to the paper filter. 

Hope you enjoy it!

[busymom]

I hate those things.  (No offense, Sharon.) At a family gathering at someone else's house, DH was supposed to be watching DS when he was little, and I happened to glance out the back window just in time to see DS attempting to climb the ladder to get into their above ground pool.  I ran out the door hollering at DH, who stopped talking to whatever relative had distracted him, and he grabbed DS before he went into the water.  IMHO, unless you've got an alarm, or some way to be sure to keep the little people safe, they're not something I would want to own. 

[Sharon]

Mar 29, 2022 14:18:37 GMT -5 busymom said:

I hate those things.  (No offense, Sharon .) At a family gathering at someone else's house, DH was supposed to be watching DS when he was little, and I happened to glance out the back window just in time to see DS attempting to climb the ladder to get into their above ground pool.  I ran out the door hollering at DH, who stopped talking to whatever relative had distracted him, and he grabbed DS before he went into the water.  IMHO, unless you've got an alarm, or some way to be sure to keep the little people safe, they're not something I would want to own. 

There is a wooden deck along one side and the ladder is supported by the deck.  There is a locking gate to get on to the deck.  At this time since the pool isn't functional the ladder has been removed. The gate is kept locked at all times unless we are actively on the deck.  With three grandkids age 4 and under safety is a top concern.  The kids are also being taught, although the forget from time to time, that they aren't even allowed to get near the deck unless Mommy, or Daddy, or Grandma is with them.  Which is also part of the reason for the diligence in keeping the gate locked. 

[Sharon]

I just called the company that made the pool and they weren't happy to find out that there authorized dealer basically blew me off and refused to help me with my questions.  She is also going to send me a list of the parts that are needed to get the pool functional again.

[Deleted]

Mar 29, 2022 14:18:37 GMT -5 busymom said:

IMHO, unless you've got an alarm, or some way to be sure to keep the little people safe, they're not something I would want to own. 

Thanks for that reminder.  When I lived in Cincinnati (over 40 years ago) a little boy disappeared during the winter.  It was all over the news, they searched everywhere, all kinds of rewards were offered, including one from Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler Magazine.

They found him after the Spring thaw- in the family's pool.

[haapai]

I've always been under the impression that the major cost of maintaining a backyard pool wasn't the chemicals or the constant replacement of pumps etc.  It's the liability. 

[CCL]

We've had above-ground and in-ground pools. If you have a pool supply dealer around, they are typically very helpful. Is that who you talked to that wasn't helpful? The pools we had are still going strong after ~30 years.



One thing I would recommend is to NEVER TRUST ANYONE ELSE to watch the little ones.

[Deleted]

Mar 29, 2022 16:00:39 GMT -5 haapai said:

I've always been under the impression that the major cost of maintaining a backyard pool wasn't the chemicals or the constant replacement of pumps etc.  It's the liability. 

I don't think my homeowner's insurance was all that more expensive in either NJ or KS, although I did buy an Umbrella Liability policy.  Replacing equipment was the biggest expense for me.  Refilling it after repair to the concrete liner was pricey, too.