Pools

[Moliere]

We are at a point where we are seriously considering putting a pool in our potential (we have an offer on a house) backyard. MJ has wanted her own pool for sometime but we've never had the yard to do it right and I didn't want to go halfway on a pool. We have a community pool that we use often in the summer as the kids are there at least 3 times a week if not more. But the community pool is sometimes crowded, it can be a bit dirty, and it's a little bit of a drive to get there. HOwever, I think we mostly like the idea of hosting pool parties and being more of a destination spot for our kids' and their friends as they move into their teenage years.

So on that, do any CSers have pools? Any tips on what works/doesn't work well or what you would have done differently?

So far we just know we want salt water instead of chlorine.

[TripletDaddy]

Power lines and an easement near my lot line are thwarting my efforts to install a pool. Otherwise I would already have one. Love pools.

[falafel]

We are at a point where we are seriously considering putting a pool in our potential (we have an offer on a house) backyard. MJ has wanted her own pool for sometime but we've never had the yard to do it right and I didn't want to go halfway on a pool. We have a community pool that we use often in the summer as the kids are there at least 3 times a week if not more. But the community pool is sometimes crowded, it can be a bit dirty, and it's a little bit of a drive to get there. HOwever, I think we mostly like the idea of hosting pool parties and being more of a destination spot for our kids' and their friends as they move into their teenage years.

So on that, do any CSers have pools? Any tips on what works/doesn't work well or what you would have done differently?

So far we just know we want salt water instead of chlorine.

I'm planning on a pool soon as well. What made you decide on salt water? The chlorine smell? I love that smell. It wouldn't be a pool without it.

[Moliere]

Power lines and an easement near my lot line are thwarting my efforts to install a pool. Otherwise I would already have one. Love pools.

We looked at a home that had an existing pool, but the pool was about 2 feet from the back house wall. The realtor told us that most lots in our area that back up to a street have a 13 foot easement. That basically forced the owners to put the pool pretty much against the house with a random strip of grass between the pool and the fence. That, and the noise from the street, made us pass on the house.

The house we are trying to get is in a cul de sac and has the big pie-shaped back yard and only a six foot easement against the fence. Plenty of room for a pool, some grass and a good sized patio/outdoor kitchen.

I'm planning on a pool soon as well. What made you decide on salt water? The chlorine smell? I love that smell. It wouldn't be a pool without it.

MJ picked out salt water. I really don't care, although I hate the chlorine smell. I think they are easier on the skin and much easier on the eyes, although I think chlorine pools aren't as bad as they used to be. I've heard that salt water pools are rough on metal and other stuff in the backyard, but they are easier to maintain. We have a number of pools in our ward and most are salt water and they all swear by it.

[Uncle Ted]

MJ picked out salt water. I really don't care, although I hate the chlorine smell. I think they are easier on the skin and much easier on the eyes, although I think chlorine pools aren't as bad as they used to be. I've heard that salt water pools are rough on metal and other stuff in the backyard, but they are easier to maintain. We have a number of pools in our ward and most are salt water and they all swear by it.

Yeah, chlorine pools are not as bad as they used to be.

If it was me I wouldn't do salt water. They are kind of a pain and expensive to maintain. The pool sales guys will tell you otherwise but you may want to talk to some pool cleaning/maintenance guys. I am guessing most of the guys in your ward that have salt water pools don't try to maintain their own pool. The sales guys will tell you that you will save money no having to buy chlorine. What they don't tell you is that are required (by the salt water system's warranty) to buy the special pool salt that is about 3x more than it should be and lots of acid for cleaning the salt water system. Salt water pools generate chlorine so you don't totally get away from not having chlorine in the pool. The chlorine generator (aka "cell") lasts for about 4 years and they are $800+ to replace. You have to clean the cell with acid quite often because stuff builds up in it. And the salt water will corrode everything including stainless steal.

[CardiacCoug]

I love our pool. Nothing better than hanging out with the kids in the pool during the summer. It costs as much to maintain, heat and chlorinate every summer as a nice vacation for the whole family but I enjoy it more than a vacation.

I don't know much about salt water but our chlorine pool is easy to maintain and I do it myself. If we keep the water warm and the kids use it a lot it takes pretty frequent addition of chlorine to keep it chlorinated.

Also obviously a pool is really dangerous, more dangerous than keeping guns in the house I'm told. We have a heavy duty cover (that kids can even walk on) and I never leave the pool uncovered unless I am right next to or in the pool. For me the safety/risk factor for kids is the only downside of a pool -- you need to have strict rules about always keeping it covered.

[Uncle Ted]

Also obviously a pool is really dangerous, more dangerous than keeping guns in the house I'm told. We have a heavy duty cover (that kids can even walk on) and I never leave the pool uncovered unless I am right next to or in the pool. For me the safety/risk factor for kids is the only downside of a pool -- you need to have strict rules about always keeping it covered.

Yeah, if I did a pool again I would get an integrated cover. We have some friends that lost a grandchild to drowning in their pool just a few years ago. Really sad.

[Moliere]

Yeah, if I did a pool again I would get an integrated cover. We have some friends that lost a grandchild to drowning in their pool just a few years ago. Really sad.

I've never seen a pool cover in Houston. I've seen pool alarms and one pool fence, but I don't think covers exist down here.

My kids are all decent swimmers. Even the 5 year old can swim the width of the community pool without help (about 15 meters) but I do worry about it...not enough to not get one though.

And heaters are thankfully not always needed unless you want to swim on thanksgiving or Christmas. There are water chillers available (for those August swims I guess), which I'm not considering.

[CardiacCoug]

My kids are all decent swimmers. Even the 5 year old can swim the width of the community pool without help (about 15 meters) but I do worry about it...not enough to not get one though.

Yeah you have to have something (pool alarm at least) for when relatives with little kids come to visit and want to play in the yard. Obviously you need a fenced back yard where gates are always closed so a neighbor 2-year old can't wander back there. I'm sure you could get an automatic cover -- helps keep the pool clean and secure. You might realize once you get the pool that (other people's) little kids are in your house or in or near your backyard more than you think.

[Uncle Ted]

Yeah you have to have something (pool alarm at least) for when relatives with little kids come to visit and want to play in the yard. Obviously you need a fenced back yard where gates are always closed so a neighbor 2-year old can't wander back there. I'm sure you could get an automatic cover -- helps keep the pool clean and secure. You might realize once you get the pool that (other people's) little kids are in your house or in or near your backyard more than you think.

Yeah, when we had a pool I added a pretty good umbrella policy to my insurance just in case some kids wondered into my back yard. An automatic cover would be nice especially for leaves and the other crap that blows into the pool but I would definitely not get the salt water with one of those. The salt would eat it.

I have always wondered about something like this: http://akvospiralift.com/akvo-home/

[TripletDaddy]

I love our pool. Nothing better than hanging out with the kids in the pool during the summer. It costs as much to maintain, heat and chlorinate every summer as a nice vacation for the whole family but I enjoy it more than a vacation.

I don't know much about salt water but our chlorine pool is easy to maintain and I do it myself. If we keep the water warm and the kids use it a lot it takes pretty frequent addition of chlorine to keep it chlorinated.

Also obviously a pool is really dangerous, more dangerous than keeping guns in the house I'm told. We have a heavy duty cover (that kids can even walk on) and I never leave the pool uncovered unless I am right next to or in the pool. For me the safety/risk factor for kids is the only downside of a pool -- you need to have strict rules about always keeping it covered.

whag sort of costs are you talking about? That doesn't seem possible that the cost would be the same as a nice vacation.

[clackamascoug]

whag sort of costs are you talking about? That doesn't seem possible that the cost would be the same as a nice vacation.

I did my pool for about $500/year. Maybe he took the kids camping for $500.

In Oregon we got a solid 60 days of pool use a year. And the kids loved it.

In the 4th grade on the first day back to school, our daughter had to write about a summer experience. It was to start.... "I remember..." and ending with "...Now that was Summer!"

This is what she wrote;

I remember...
Jumping into that ice cold pool
and staying under
till I couldn't hold my breathe any longer.
... Now that was summer.

[bluegoose]

We also live at the end of a cul de sac with a pie shaped back yard. Good sized pool, lots of trees and bushes, but very little lawn to mow.

We absolutely love our pool for many of the same reasons you guys mentioned. Great for hanging out in the summer with the family and friends. We have people over swimming at least once or twice a week in the summer. It's also great for a quick dip after a hot run or bike ride. Instant cool down.

We have a regular chlorine pool. Some of our close friends have salt water. Theirs is a little easier to maintain and is a little easier on the eyes and swim suits. But I do my own pool work and maintenance and it is not really that big of a deal. Keep the debris traps clean, add chlorine as needed, brush it down once a week in the summer, add chemicals periodically. The only thing I dislike is having to take apart and clean the sand filter. Depending on the time of year and how much crap the kids kick or drag into the pool I have to do every couple of months. Takes 30-60 minutes to do.

If it fits the budget and space in the yard I would recommend a nice waterfall of some sort.
They look nice and the sound is very relaxing.

If I were building a new house I would definitely include an outdoor shower near the pool. Not so much for use before swimming, but it's great to have the kids lather up and get their night time clean up taken care of while they're already wet.

You should also think about what kind of cleaner system you want. Most of the older styles come with the hose and robot cleaners. Newer ones come with pop up cleaners. They are designed to coordinate when they pop up to help push the debris toward the cleaner intake in the deep end of the pool. They are much more subtle and less of a hassle than the automatic sweepers, but I don't think they do nearly as good a job. Just my opinion, as I've only ever had the pop up kind.

Light or dark bottom colored pool? Dark will increase water temps a couple of degrees in the summer. I think they look nicer, but some other friends of ours recently bought a place with a white pool bottom that looks great.

We don't have a pool cover. I'm not too worried about my own kids, as they are excellent swimmers. But we won't invite certain people over any more because they won't closely supervise their own little kids in the yard. Covers also help a ton with water evaporation if water rationing is an issue in your area.

Skip the diving board. Too dangerous, especially as the kids get bigger.

[CardiacCoug]

whag sort of costs are you talking about? That doesn't seem possible that the cost would be the same as a nice vacation.

We keep the pool pretty warm and have been running it May through September.

I think our filter and heater are old and not very efficient but I'd say running the filter probably raises the electric bill $100 per month, the gas heater probably $150 per month (more when we're getting the pool warm in the spring) chemicals $80 per month. Miscellaneous pool-related crap probably $50 per month. I bought a robot to clean the pool that was $1500. Maybe "nice vacation" is overstating it but it adds up to be pretty expensive.

[Jeff Lebowski]

My two-year old nephew wandered off and fell into a swimming pool and drowned while visiting someone. I won't ever get over that. Be careful everyone.