It's time to get a pool!

[jpr62902]

Last summer was brutal here in the midwest. 90 degree temps on September 30th! I'm a small handful of years away from retirement and I want a POOL! We think a fiberglass mold is the best way to go along with a salt water chlorinator and heat pump to extend the dipping season. The wife is pert near insistent on the automatic\electric pool cover. Given this limited list of parameters, are there any tips that current or former pool owners can offer to make this selection\installation process go any easier? It seems the contractors only want to be responsible for their limited part of the job (pool installers don't answer to electricians, concrete guys are separate, as are fencing and landscaping contractors). I don't want to be a general contractor, when I don't know shi!t about pool installs.

 

[Melensdad]

We think a fiberglass mold is the best way to go along with a salt water chlorinator and heat pump to extend the dipping season.

I don't have a heat pump, mine has a N.G. heater.

Fiberglass and salt water.

Pretty much idiot proof. I am proof of that.

 

[FrancSevin]

It's 35F outside. Kinda hard to consider pool design here in St Louis MO.

But go with Fibre glass for sure. Diatomaceous filter system as well.
A pool heater? Of Course.

oversize everything and you will have lower maintenance costs.

 

[waybomb]

When in California, we had a huge pool. 40,000 gallon. We were in the desert. We lost about an inch per day. It was a chlorine pool.

First thing I did was fabricate an automatic electronic fill system.

Then I got rid of the chlorine. I installed a Natures2 silver iodide system. All we needed was a floater with one tablet of chlorine in it. I'm not sure if it's available anymore. All i had to do was change the cartridge twice a year.

This was about 25 years ago.

 

[jpr62902]

Some good info here.

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

We had a pool growing up. I spent too many years being the pool maintenance boy. Never again. Although, I think the systems are better these days. My dad used to make me scrub the tiles around the perimeter by hand.

It was fun to have but I don't want to be the pool boy ever again.

 

[m1west]

Had one it my previous home 40000 gallon with a 10’ deep end, it was fun when the kids were little, but became like a boat later on, work time 10x enjoyment time. I don’t have one now and don’t miss it.