How much work is a pool?

[Lazarus52980]

I live in Minnesota, so getting an in ground pool is largely out of question, but I was thinking of getting an above ground pool that we could just take down in the fall. Does anyone else have one of these? How much work is it to keep them clean of junk? (I have 2 trees in the back yard where it would be). How much is the maintinance in dollars?

I am sure the kids would enjoy it though...

 

[onza]

I live in MN.

I would strongly advise you not to get a pool. It's a ton of work and you can only enjoy it for such a short period of time... Plus outdoor pools look kind of cheap and trash like (but that is just an opinion)

Good luck

 

[poundruss]

Plus outdoor pools look kind of cheap and trash like

what?

 

[JJ650]

I live in MN.

I would strongly advise you not to get a pool. It's a ton of work and you can only enjoy it for such a short period of time... Plus outdoor pools look kind of cheap and trash like (but that is just an opinion)

Good luck

??

 

[IronWing]

I think he meant above ground pools look kind of cheap and trash like.

 

[onza]

I think he meant above ground pools look kind of cheap and trash like.

Sorry - this is what I meant. Moving along folks.

 

[natto fire]

what?

I think he is referring to above-ground pools that are simple enough to dismantle at the end of a season. Depending on your area, that is absolutely true. If you live in a neighborhood with junkyards for yards and houses in various states of disrepair then yeah a pool is no big deal. However, most places and people agree that yards with cheap looking pools have a ghetto feel to them.

OP: Depending on the trees and size of pool you are looking at, it is either a daily or every few days chore to skim the surface and check chemical levels. Another thing to consider is electric for the pump, and how you are going to heat the water. I personally would never consider a pool living in Minnesota, but I wouldn't in Ohio either and that has an arguably longer season for it.

edit: BTW, above ground can look good with a proper deck around them. It all depends on the house and the site to get the proper look.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The weekly maintenance isn't such a big deal. Test the water and balance chemicals twice a week, vacuum one or twice a week, spend 5 minutes skimming leaves off the surface every time you use it, none of that takes much time. Putting it up and taking it down though, that would be a major bitch for anything beyond an inflatable kiddie pool. For such a short season that sounds like you'd tire of it pretty quickly.

Figure $150-$200 a month for chemicals and electricity to run the pump/filter.

 

[AnMig]

I have an intex 18 foot diameter 4 feet depth pool from intex, takes around 5000 gallons.
Its one of those rising inflatble rings.

I am also from Minnesota
I have had it out x 1 1/2 months and have maybe used it 3-4 times, its been cold in the past few weeks.

If you decide to get one things to consider:

1. Are you getting city water? if you are then thats half the battle. My main problem first few years was getting the iron out of our deep well water, messed around with those paper filters. get a cheap sand filter (120$). This is the way to go if you decide to get a pool.

2. water treatment, just get a water chlorinator, basically you pour salt into the water then run the chlorinator 3-4 hours per day to create chlorine. With the proper timer you can set the sand filter and chlorinator to run at night and you pretty much have a maintenance free pool.

3. heating-still struggling on this most important aspect as this would determine the actual use of the pool in our cool area. I am actually working on those solar black hose heaters but still have not finished it, don't think it would be very effective in our area.

My advise just go to the one of our 10,000 lakes to swim when ever you feel the need to swim. Water will most likely be warmer.



good luck

 

[manimal]

get and indoor wave poop if you live in a cold climate or get a big hot tub like I did.


Well we do just go to the neighborhood pool in the summer though.

 

[Scotteq]

Minnesota? Maybe the OP can get government subsidies by registering as a mosquito farmer.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I knew a family in southern MD that had a screen/glass patio.
They put in an inground next to the porch and enclosed it.

Having an portable above ground pool may seem fun; but the use that you will get will be minimal.
Having a permanent one also add more flexibility (design); but the temperature of the water will be a killer no matter what.

Solar heating will help; having a thermal heat cover on the pool when not in use will also help.

Having a deck around to a permanent pool will add some value and allow you to sit outside by it for relaxation, even if you do not use it.

You could invest in some magnesium for heating

 

[Lazarus52980]

Alright, I think the posters here have convinced me. I will scrap the pool idea.

Maybe I can look into a hot tub...

 

[CPA]

get and indoor wave poop if you live in a cold climate or get a big hot tub like I did.


Well we do just go to the neighborhood pool in the summer though.

I'm not sure I want to know what a wave poop is.

It doesn't sound fun and seems like it would be a lot of work to keep clean, if that's even possible.

 

[onza]

Alright, I think the posters here have convinced me. I will scrap the pool idea.

Maybe I can look into a hot tub...

Winter months will run you 100-200 per month extra (utilities) to run the hot tub. I would consider just filling up your bathtub with a rubber ducky instead.

 

[lupi]

Set one up this year, only a 10 footer. Keep it covered M-F for the mosy part. Toss a chlorine tab in every couple of days, skim bugs out occasionally on the weekend and vacuum every other week. Post setup, I'd say it's been minimal effort except that I am having to do a decent amount of ph+ chem adds. Probably from the large amount of rain we've had last month I guess.

 

[LookBehindYou]

We just had a 24' above ground installed (currently trying to salvage my back yard now). After two weeks of running it, maintenance has been pretty effortless. I use the BBB method, so my chlorine comes from just using household bleach. I test my water every evening and aside from the initial dose of borax and cyranuric acid, my daily ritual consists of just adding about 20 -30 oz of bleach. I vacuum on saturday mornings, run the pump for about 4 hours daily and when we're in it.

I'd reccomend checking troublefreepool.com if you're interested...

 

[OutHouse]

Alright, I think the posters here have convinced me. I will scrap the pool idea.

Maybe I can look into a hot tub...

i had a hot tub for 10 years. here are some of the things i learned as a hot tub owner.

1. I will never never never never ever get in a public hot tub. if you ever turn on a public hot tub and you see that brown foam shit. thats bacteria.
2. keeping the water balanced can be a pain in the ass especially if its used often.
3. break downs are $$$$. the mother board on mine finally died and a new one was just over $1,000.
4. To run the pumps and heat at the same time you need it to be on a 220 breaker.
5. I hated it when we had friends over and used it. if you want to see how much laundry detergent that is still in your clothes (swim suit) after washing it, get in a hot tub. your hot tub just became a big bubble bath. the only way to get rid of the soap is to drain and refill.
6. I really dont miss mine at all.

 

[lxskllr]

Pools are like boats. It's better to have a friend that has one than own one yourself.

 

[OutHouse]

Winter months will run you 100-200 per month extra (utilities) to run the hot tub.

as a former hot tub owner i can say that is bullshit.

 

[LegendKiller]

My parents had a 12x40' in-ground pool in MN when I was a kid. It was a lot of work, especially opening/closing it for the winter and then cleaning it out in the spring (didn't use a cover). You don't get to use it long unless you get a heater and those can get expensive in MN, propane or elec, even with a solar cover (which degrade quickly).

Some things can be pretty major with them, including a new liner, filter issues...etc. Chemicals can get expensive if the water gets out of whack.

As far as an above-ground, sorry people, don't do it, you look like hicks. If you can't afford an in-ground, don't inflict it on your neighbors.

Also, pools are quickly becoming a net-negative to house values. Too much work, too much money, too much liability.

My HOA (in MN) has three pools, that's more than enough for us.

 

[TridenT]

It's a lot of work with very little payoff.

 

[drebo]

Can you swim naked in your HOA pools?

 

[tfinch2]

Plus outdoor pools look kind of cheap and trash like (but that is just an opinion)

Based on the thread, you meant to say above ground.

I would say it all depends on the type of above ground pool. If you get some $300 summer special from Wal-Mart, then yeah it will probably look at bit cheesy. If you get something like a steel frame Doughboy with nice decking, it doesn't look bad at all.

Of course an in-ground would be much better looking and last longer, but your talking maybe 5-6x the price.

Another advantage an above-ground has is it is much easier to remove if you decide you do not want it.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Winter months will run you 100-200 per month extra (utilities) to run the hot tub. I would consider just filling up your bathtub with a rubber ducky instead.

A hot tub would definately attract the next door neighbor who is foxy looking!
I am not sure that she would be interested in his bathtub.....lolol