If you are considering adding an above ground pool to your yard, you might be wondering if they're difficult to take care of. However, if you engage in proactive maintenance and follow a few easy habits, making sure your above ground pool is sparkling clean and always swim-ready will be a breeze.
Above-ground pools tend to max out at 6 feet in depth, meaning you can't dive in them. Most are even shallower, ranging between 48 and 52 inches. They're also too small for swimming laps.
The easiest and most trouble-free are chlorine pools with sand filters. The chemical levels for these are easiest to test and adjust, and the sand filter only needs to be cleaned out once a season. If a pool has a D.E. filter and uses salt, it will be more complicated to maintain.
In general, the average above ground pool will last between 7 and 15 years. Although this may not seem like a long time for some homeowners, it is worth noting that the average person in the United States will stay in one home for nearly 10 years.
How often should you drain your pool? Most pool professionals recommend completely emptying your above-ground pool every three to five years. You'll be able to start over with fresh and properly treated water.
Dismantling some above ground pools for the winter may be more hassle than it's worth. Whereas other above ground pools are so easily dismantled, from a maintenance perspective it makes good sense to take them down for the winter.
A: It's not a good idea to drain an above ground pool for winter. Snow, ice, extreme cold and errant debris will likely cause significant damage to a pool sitting out exposed to the elements. It's also expensive and time consuming to refill and chemically balance a new pool full of water in the spring.
Save Money
Cost is always the first thing on your mind when making a big purchase like a pool. Above ground pools are less expensive initially, as well as less expensive during regular maintenance. Compared to an inground pool, an above ground pool saves you thousands.
Running a pool adds about $50 per month to your electricity bill. However, monthly energy costs for your pool can range anywhere from $10 to $300, depending on your pool pump type.
Above ground pool owners will continue to pay for maintenance throughout the pool's life. If you decide to do all of your pool maintenance yourself, you can expect to pay $5 to $15 per month. If you hire a professional pool service to do the work for you, that cost is between $80 and $150 per month.
Edward Bedinotti, a certified residential appraiser in New York State, agrees that an above-ground pool won't add value to a property because personal property items are not typically valued in a home appraisal. However, there are times when a well-designed, well-integrated above-ground pool could add value.
Inflatable pools should also be deflated and stowed for cold weather. However, many resin or steel-framed pools are designed to withstand year-round weather, so it's best to check with your pool's manufacturer. Even winter-capable above-ground pools will likely require a "winterizing" process.
If you want a pool you can practice diving in, an above ground pool is not the choice for you. Especially with weather like Massachusetts, above ground pools damage easier than inground pools. Snow and hail can hurt your pool's walls and lining, leading to the pool as a whole not lasting as long.
Heating an above ground pool requires a heat source or another method that stops the water from evaporating from the pool. Heat sources, such as pool heaters, require energy to operate. This can include natural gas, propane, solar panels, or pool-water-heaterity.
Above Ground Swimming Pools Are a Great Idea!
Not only is swimming a fun activity for the whole family, but it also carries a number of health benefits.
Every pool should cycle through all of its water at least once a day, so most pool owners will want to run their pumps for at least 4-8 hours daily. But you don't have to run those 4-8 hours all at once so you can split the pump time up at different parts of the day to ease your energy budget.
Now that you have your pump's KWh rating, multiply that number by the KWh rate listed on your electric bill. If your electric bill rate is 16 cents, which happens to be the national average, you'd pay about $2.74 a day to run the above pump—or about $82 a month.
Above Ground Pool
A pool is, in fact, one of the top home improvement mistakes owners make. An above-ground pool may provide lots of fun for the kids or perhaps even for you but do not expect it to add value to your home. Even the top of the line versions is still considered undesirable for most any home buyer.
When it comes to heat retention, inground pools will stay warmer for longer because of the insulative properties of the ground surrounding the pool. Of course, this can be used with a water heater or a similar system that allows the water to be warmed.
A 24-foot diameter pool is the most popular size for a round above ground model, while 15 by 30 feet is a common choice for oval-shaped pools. However, you'll find round sizes everywhere between 8 and 33 feet. Oval pools range up to 21 by 41 feet but can be customized to stretch much longer.
The frozen water in the skimmer can cause extreme damage to your pool wall, buckling it causing irreversible damage. Once the wall of an Aboveground pool is damaged, the pool is no longer safe, and must be taken down and replaced. Damage is done.
Covering won't lower the temperature of your pool drastically, but it will prevent the water from getting warmer. If the water is at the temperature you want, make sure to keep it that way by covering it up tightly whenever you're not using it, especially during the day.