Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

[Kenneth Brown]

This Friday they are installing our pool- A Desert Spring by DoughBoy in 16X24. We actually ordered a mid-grade pool and the company was out of stock so they upgraded us at their expense, the upgrade was a little over 2K more. I'm getting the foam liner that goes under it and the corner cove to help the liner last longer. It comes with a 200 pound cap sand filter and pump. My parents use Baquacil in their pool but I am going with regular chlorine in mine. I prefer the way the water smells and feels with chlorine and if need be Walmart is open 24 hours a day.

So what do I need to know?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

Sounds like you've got it covered KB. I don't think you are concerned with freezing so I won't go there. Other than that, use 3" tablets in a floater for continuous chlorination and liquid chlorine for shock. DO NOT use powdered stuff for shocking the pool, both during the season or for spring start up. pH and alkalinity should not be huge factors in a lined pool.

I don't know what the winter conditions and pool downtime would be for your area but use an algaecide at the beginning of the year.

 

[i386]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

All I know is there's something about an above ground pool's pump that requires my next door neighbor to work on it constantly. 365 days a year it seems like every time I go outside my neighbor is either cutting grass or doing something to that pump. More often, it's the latter.

Let me know if you figure out what it is.

 

[tommays]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

In my pool adventures i have done much better with DE than Sand


I was never able to stay ahead of things until i made the switch to a DE unit

 

[mscher]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

If there any kids nearby, make sure it's fenced in. Great idea to fence in a pool regardless, for your ptorection, as well as everyone else's.

No one needs a drowning tragedy, or an unauthorized slip or fall.

Enjoy.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

Key to chlorinated pool maintenance:

- Get your chlorine stabilized. If you use granular or unstabilized pucks, you'll need a stabilizer to help maintain chlorine levels between 1-3ppm.

- Hardness. With new water and addition of water, you'll need to control your hardness. Add calcium to make harder, remove water to lower hardness.

- Alkalinity. Always adjust your alkalinity first. Between 80-120ppm. You can do this by adding alkalinity plus or minus (Alkalinity plus is simply baking powder but it's still cheaper to buy at a pool supply place)

- pH level. Adjust after alkalinity is in the correct range (pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6) Done using pH plus or minus

- Lastly, shock your pool weekly (more frequent in hot areas) and backwash your filter to remove particles filtered from your water. I use powdered shock treatment but you can use normal granular chlorine or liquid chlorine (according to the package)

On the discussion of algaecide, use it to winterize and open in the spring. It's not req'd year round but I use it on a weekly basis and in hotter temperatures, it aids in algae outbreaks along with the shock treatment.

Enjoy your pool.....I'll be winterizing mine in 2 weeks. Darn Canadian winters....

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

Oh, one more thing with above ground pools. I called my insurance company and bought extra coverage so in the event the pool should collapse and flood my neighbours, I would be covered. Cost me an extra $10/year on my homeowners policy so I'm not sure if you need it in Texas, but something to consider for peace of mind.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

Its about 1 mile from any kids. We have 3 )13,6, and 4 months) so we'll have gates at every entrance and its right beside the house. As far as flooding I have a big creek beside me less than 100 yards, again neighbors are way off. Your other info is exactly what I wanted to hear.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

I don't recall seeing anything about a pool vacuum. Get a manual vacuum or an automatic vacuum when you can afford it. Well worth the investment.

We have a manual vacuum which does the job but does require you to get in the pool. My brother has an automatic vacuum that hooks to the filter if I recall right, neat setup.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

One thing I forgot to mention is you'll need to purchase test strips to check most of the things of mentioned. (around $10 for a container of test strips) However, to measure the hardness of your water and the levels of cyanuric acid (levels of cyanuric acid are what condition or stabilize your chlorine) the strips are more expensive (at least in Canada at around $60) You really only need to check these to get them right at the start of the season and spot check in mid season.

Most pool places will test this for you for free (simply because they figure if you need any chemicals to balance your water, you'll buy it there)

The rest of the cheaper strips you'd use twice weekly to monitor your levels appropriately.

...Nelson

 

[mthieme]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

geez I hate pools...work....money...maintenance, then it doesn't get used.
Our current pool is 12x20. Had a bad case of algae this year. Had to run the pump constantly, vacuum and chlorinate daily. Now at the end of the season, I'm wondering when to close it as I pick out more and more leaves everyday.

 

[gbb]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

I think the sand filter is the best, I had De an if you get a little alge it totally clogs up the De. The sand will last 3 years where you will be buying alot of DE powder. Just back wash it when your psi gets up around 20. I have not had a problem yet this year.

A solar cover is very nice to have, will keep your heat in on cool nights. It's been in the low 60's an even some nights in the 50's here in PA, but my pool temp stays around 84.

Happy Pooling!!

 

[MikDee]

Re: Tell me what I need to know about above ground pools

I like an earth filter, it keeps the pool crystal clear, but it is work if you start to have problems, you'll be backwashing forever! I had a 15X25 for years on Long Island. Mine was crystal clear all the time, (you could see a quarter on the bottom!) but still the problems started, I'd see algea start to grow on the sides, & bottom, and out came the shock, vacuum, & Backwashing! but it was in the sun all day, (warm bath water at times) & hardly got used, that's the worst thing you can do to a pool, it needs to be stirred up occasionally by people, then you run your filter.