Above Ground Swimming Pools

Above ground swimming pools are an excellent option for people who are looking for value for their family entertainment dollars. Although spending a couple or a few thousand dollars can seem like a lot at first, when you compare the money spent on an above ground swimming pool to something like a week long vacation for your family, it starts to look more practical. If your family likes to swim and you have been paying for a swim club membership, that is more money that will be freed up after the purchase and installation of your own swimming pool. Today's above ground swimming pools can be expected to last for several years and provide entertainment throughout the hot summer months. All things considered, if you enjoy spending time with your family during the long summer days, one of your best options for family fun is an above ground swimming pool.

There are some swimming pool accessories that you will also want to make sure that you have when you purchase and install your above ground swimming pool. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should get your started.

A swimming pool filter is a must have item. It is what keeps your pool clean. If you are purchasing your pool as a package, the filter that is included will be selected to accomodate that particular swimming pool. If you are purchasing the filter separately however, make sure that the filter is rated to handle the amount of water contained in your pool. There are different styles of filters available. You will see that the finer the particles removed from the water, generally the higher the price will be. Two of the most common types of swimming pool filters are sand filters and earth filters. Earth filters are more expensive, but they remove very small particles from the water.

Swimming pool tools that you will want to have include a vacuum that connects to the filtering system and a hand held surface skimmer. The vacuum is used to remove larger particles that accumulate on the bottom of the pool. It acts sort of like a sweeper for your pool. There are automated robotic ones available if you do not like to do the work yourself. As expected, the automated ones are going to cost more than the models that you operate by hand.

A swimming pool surface skimmer is basically a fine mesh net on the end of a long handle. This is what you use to remove floating objects that have fallen into your pool such as bugs and leaves. It can also be used to remove any small debris that may be floating under the surface of the swimming pool.

Swimming pool liners are what actually come in contact with the water and swimmers.  It is also what you see when you look down into the swimming pool.  The liner uses the outside of the pool as a support or frame.  The type of liner you will need depends on your particular pool.  If you are purchasing a pool new, the liner will most likely be included in your purchase.  If you need a replacement swimming pool liner, you will need to know what kind of liner you need.  Of course getting the size right is vitally important. In addition, you will need to know if you need a beaded swimming pool cover or an overlap style cover.  If you can see the pool cover hanging down the outside of the pool, you have an overlap liner.  Describe your pool to the person you are buying from or check the documentation of your particular pool model to make certain before purchasing a new liner.

Swimming pool covers are used to keep debris from falling into your pool. They can also help to keep the water temperature up and help to reduce radiational cooling that occurs over night. There is a lot of surface area at the top of a swimming pool and a good solar cover can act like a blanket to help keep the heat from escaping when the temperature drops. Most people have a cover that simply is spread out over the surface of the pool when everyone is done swimming for the day. There are also pool safety covers available to help in the prevention of swimming pool accidents. These are often seen on in-ground swimming pools. Depending on your needs, there are also automatic and retractable swimming pool covers available.

Different types of covers have different purposes. Swimming pool safety covers and swimming pool winter covers are not designed to trap solar energy the way that a solar cover will. You will need to decide what you want to have for your own situation. Above ground swimming pool covers are definitely a good thing to have. They will add to your overall swimming pool expense, but many people consider them an essential item if you are going to own a pool.

There are some swimming pool costs that must be taken into consideration if you do decide to purchase an above ground swimming pool. The area where you intend to install the above ground pool must be level. This is an absolute must. Water weighs a lot and if the weight is distributed unevenly, there is a risk that the pool could collapse. A pool that collapses is not only inconvenient. It can cause some serious damage to property and, if anyone is in the pool at the time, it can result in injuries that could have been avoided.

If your property is not level and you cannot level it on your own, you will need to hire someone who does excavation to move some earth for you. The cost of this service will depend on the rates charged by the excavator. If you have the ability to handle this step on your own, you will probably save at least a few hundred dollars.

Another potential cost that many people do not consider is the running of electricity to your pool. A swimming pool filter and pump unit can draw a lot of electricity. You cannot run a light duty extension out of a window and expect it to power your pool's filtering system efficiently and safely. Depending on your current situation, getting electricity to your pool area could cost hundreds of dollars or more.  Check on your local codes and ordinances and have a professional do the work for you.

Drive through most suburban neighborhoods today, and you will see at least two or three above ground swimming pool tucked away in backyards. They seem to be getting more and more popular as a reasonably priced option for family entertainment. Depending on the neighborhood where you are driving, you may also see some in-ground swimming pools too. When I was growing up, my family did not have a swimming pool. None of my friends had pools either. It was much less common for the average family to have their own pool. A couple friends had memberships at private pools and every once in a while I'd get to tag along as a paying guest. I knew at a pretty early age that I wanted to have a swimming pool when I grew up.

Whether you have been around swimming pools your whole life or not, the decision to get one of your own can be a bit daunting. There are a lot of decisions to make and it can turn into quite an investment depending on what route you decide to follow. There are basically two main styles of swimming pools that most homeowners choose from when they decide to get a pool for their home. The most basic choices are in-ground swimming pools and above ground swimming pools.

Both styles of swimming pool will cool you off and get you wet, but there are some major differences. The biggest factor that influences most people's decision is that in-ground swimming pools are a much larger investment. That is, they cost a LOT more money to get installed on your property. The difference in price can be profound. Depending on the size and various other factors, an in-ground swimming pool could end up costing you an amount running into the tens of thousands of dollars. Some people are fine with this. They see it as an investment in a home improvement and believe that they will probably get their money back if they decide to sell their home in the future. If you have the money, an in-ground pool opens up many possibilities for different swimming pool designs that simply are not available for above ground swimming pools. If you have the money, you can let your imagination guide your swimming pool design. For many people though, a project costing that much money is simply out of the question. Especially considering today's rather "challenging" economy, an above ground swimming pool is a much more practical option.

For those who are on a very tight budget, there are inflatable above ground swimming pools available.  One popular brand is Intex swimming pools.  These inflatable pool kits are much cheaper than even a small traditional above ground pool.  They also have the advantage of being very easy to set up.  In fact, they call their pools "Easy Set" because of this particular trait.  Of course they are not as sturdy or large, but for some families, they are a very nice option that fits nicely into even a tight budget.  Because Intex pools are sold as complete kits, you will not have to worry about looking for accessories like filters and liners.  If you are not interested in having the biggest and best pool in the neighborhood you may want to look into Easy Set Pools.

For families watching their spending, above ground swimming pools can be an option that is more affordable than they realize. You can often grab a great deal on discount above ground swimming pools a few times each year through local swimming pool dealers. The best times to check with pool retailers (don't forget to check online too) are at the beginning of the season, the end of the season (right around Labor Day), and the fourth of July. This is when most swimming pool dealers are having their sales. In the spring, they want to get people buying and bring in new customers. On the fourth of July, they are making a mid-season push just as pool sales might start to slow down and the weather is getting pretty hot, and at the end of the season (Labor Day), they need to get the "old" inventory moved along so it doesn't have to be stored away and then sold as year old merchandise in the Spring.

Another way to save on a swimming pool is to watch your local classified ads. Usually, when someone want to be rid of a swimming pool, they want it moved quickly. This option opens the door to owning a swimming pool to just about anyone who is interested. If you watch your local classified listings, there is a very good chance that you will see at least one free above ground swimming pool being given away by people who just want to get it off of their property after their children or grandchildren have stopped using it. If there are no free swimming pools available, there will probably be some above ground pools offered for prices in the low hundreds that often include filters and sometimes swimming pool covers in the deal. These are great opportunities for savings that are just waiting for you if you watch and wait patiently.