Q. We are VERY interested in a house and are seriously considering making an offer. The only thing holding me back is that the house has an inground pool. Personally, I hate inground pools. They seem like so much work, maintenance and are such a huge liability. We have small children and I just don't feel safe about it at all. Because of this, we will offer much less than what they are asking.
The sellers insist that its not that bad though. I beg to differ. Constant cleaning, all the pumps and motors and such, the items we'd have to buy to childproof it (there are none installed currently), all the chemicals and let's not forget the increase in home insurance due to the liability of the pool. So, my question to pool owners is, how much does it REALLY cost to maintain the pool?
The sellers insist that its not that bad though. I beg to differ. Constant cleaning, all the pumps and motors and such, the items we'd have to buy to childproof it (there are none installed currently), all the chemicals and let's not forget the increase in home insurance due to the liability of the pool. So, my question to pool owners is, how much does it REALLY cost to maintain the pool?
Answer
We bought a house with an in-ground pool about 10 years ago. We also have two small children and were in the same dilema. It has been worth it. The yearly maintenance is relatively easy. If you take care of the pool, bring the filter/pump in to the house in the off season (if you live in areas that you wouldn't use it year round). We use the pool May-Oct. We have large oak trees, but the daily and weekly care is not bad. I vacuum once a week, I have an automatic chlorinator (not expensive), and the return jets are set up so that the pool skims itself. The monthly cost for chemicals is not bad, after the initial "opening" of the pool (apprx $100-150) I spend about $20 a month. The learning curve goes quickly, just find a good pool person to advise you. I spend less than 15 minutes every other day checking it, doing a quick skim or adding chlorine.
We also had big concerns with pool safety. We did two things to help. One was to teach the kids how to get to the side of the pool and hold on if they fell in, we taught them how to swim early and we put locks on the doors to the outside with an audible alarm. The pool alarm that goes in the water does not work well, not worth the money.
If you really want the house but don't want the pool you can get a safety cover, drain the pool and not use it. The cost of filling in the hole and making a lawn is relative to running it for a few years. I had a friend that had his filled.
But, the kids have used it for years, they love it, spend a lot of time in it, and learned to swim very well and to respect the water....good luck!
We bought a house with an in-ground pool about 10 years ago. We also have two small children and were in the same dilema. It has been worth it. The yearly maintenance is relatively easy. If you take care of the pool, bring the filter/pump in to the house in the off season (if you live in areas that you wouldn't use it year round). We use the pool May-Oct. We have large oak trees, but the daily and weekly care is not bad. I vacuum once a week, I have an automatic chlorinator (not expensive), and the return jets are set up so that the pool skims itself. The monthly cost for chemicals is not bad, after the initial "opening" of the pool (apprx $100-150) I spend about $20 a month. The learning curve goes quickly, just find a good pool person to advise you. I spend less than 15 minutes every other day checking it, doing a quick skim or adding chlorine.
We also had big concerns with pool safety. We did two things to help. One was to teach the kids how to get to the side of the pool and hold on if they fell in, we taught them how to swim early and we put locks on the doors to the outside with an audible alarm. The pool alarm that goes in the water does not work well, not worth the money.
If you really want the house but don't want the pool you can get a safety cover, drain the pool and not use it. The cost of filling in the hole and making a lawn is relative to running it for a few years. I had a friend that had his filled.
But, the kids have used it for years, they love it, spend a lot of time in it, and learned to swim very well and to respect the water....good luck!
how to decide on size of replacement of filter and pump for inground pool?
Pebbles
I have a standard 18X36 pool with a De filter and a 1HP motor/pump with a SF of 1.5, and want to replace my DE filter with a sand and my current pump also. I have had nothing but problems with my DE filter pressure and I want to lower my maintenance, I am sure it is due to my staying on top of it but neighbors have sand and they do not have these problems plus I have automatic pool cover so that unless open the pool usually insnt that dirty. I have gotten several quotes and each with different models, I would like to know what model you all would recommend that I narrow my choices to so that I can make this decision with better information. I just want to make sure that I am getting the correct size and series and brand that will be the best for our pool, and getting the best bang for our buck. Thank you, I appreciate your help and support on this.
Answer
Too bad you had problems with DE usually a good choice, I recommend Cartridge Filters but for your pool I would recommend a 520sqft cart filter. Check out Pentair at pentairpool.com for the clean and clear plus. They also have a large DE called the FNS which is a cartridge filter you put DE in making it a snap to remove the cores for cleaning and not having to go through the exercise of putting a leaf type DE filter back.
If you want sand Pentair does that too. Check the Triton.
For a pump I would stay with nothing larger than what you have since shure it will circulate the water faster but at a greater cost. Pentair makes a variable speed pump 4 or more speeds in two models but since you dont have a spa you would not likely be interested though the Intelliflow has an interesting feature, it is the only pump on the market that will save it self or someones life due to suction blockage. It montiors flow and senses blockage and shuts off immediately, wheather it be a full leaf basket or a living blockage.
Too bad you had problems with DE usually a good choice, I recommend Cartridge Filters but for your pool I would recommend a 520sqft cart filter. Check out Pentair at pentairpool.com for the clean and clear plus. They also have a large DE called the FNS which is a cartridge filter you put DE in making it a snap to remove the cores for cleaning and not having to go through the exercise of putting a leaf type DE filter back.
If you want sand Pentair does that too. Check the Triton.
For a pump I would stay with nothing larger than what you have since shure it will circulate the water faster but at a greater cost. Pentair makes a variable speed pump 4 or more speeds in two models but since you dont have a spa you would not likely be interested though the Intelliflow has an interesting feature, it is the only pump on the market that will save it self or someones life due to suction blockage. It montiors flow and senses blockage and shuts off immediately, wheather it be a full leaf basket or a living blockage.
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