who also has a swimming pool?

[Capt_Cully]

Looking for new homes. I was thinkin' I might want a swimming pool. My wife was quick to point out they are a major PITA, having grown up with one. I, did not. She also pointed out the maintenance required and that it would be an added stress on top of maintaining a salt water aquarium.

Anyone have anything to add? Pros? Cons? Thanks

 

[ggdowski]

Not if you put salt in it :thumbsup:
You would need a lot of live rock.


Never had a pool But I have heard they are a lot of maintenance.
I've also heard that they dont really raise the value of a house.

 

[lcs]

We have a pool, this coming summer will only be our second with it. Last summer was the first time I had to help with caring for a pool and I didn't mind it at all. However, and this is a big one, my husband really enjoys taking care of it and loves to swim to that makes a big difference. If it were just me, I wouldn't have one, but they're really not that much work once it's up and going for the season.

 

[superkat]

we had a huge pool when i was growing up. Heck of a lot of maintenance....my dad used to grumble and complain about it all the time. you also need to drain it and do alot of special stuff to the pipes during the winter. upside, i loved being able to go swimming whenever i wanted to and it was great for parties, entertaining, etc. We have a jacuzzi right now, and have been plagued with winterizing problems...cracked pipes every year, leaks, settling especially during the spring...had to raise it up, lay down a concrete slab...finally got the sunporch constructed around it...but won't be filling it until we are sure temps won't go below freezing. However, it is awesome to hang out in when the boy is asleep and unwind. Depends on how much time you have on your hands....or if you want to s---t out the money to a pool hand.....

 

[jaybfresh]

Inground pools raise the house value (and increase taxes), while above ground pools dont because they arent considered permanent.

As far as maintenance, I grew up helping to take care of one and honestly the upkeep is nothing compared to a reef tank. It can take a full afternoon to open and close it, but thats only once a year. After that its just routine things like using chlorine, vacumming, and cleaning the filter. (Although this was an above ground pool... not sure if anything else is needed for an inground)

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

our first house had a pool.

I wasn't into it when we purchased the home.

There were two or three summers in a row when the kids were in that pool almost every warm sunny day. As it turned out, those were some of the best days of our lives.

Pool maintenance wasn't too bad as long as I did it when my wife wasn't around... know what I mean?

Nowadays we have a hot tub and I wouldn't trade it for all the swimming pools in the world. The stars were fantastic last night!

 

[chrisguy]

I've had pools all my life. Current house, 12 years with a pool.

With a pool, like most things, maintenance is the key. In the summer you need to keep up on the chlorine or get one of the new self regulating salt filters. Like our tanks, as long as your are decent about the maintenance, pools are easy. It's when you stop using them, don't add chemicals that's when they turn into a PITA.

The best maintenance for a pool is to use it. Keep the water moving. I'm not lying when I say I generally only vacuum my pool 2-3x per season. When my kids are in, they use a little net to remove any leaves, etc and they swim every chance they get.

IMO, a pool is much easier to take care of as compared to a reef tank.

 

[Capt_Cully]

My largest concern is liability. I'm not a particularly social person at this stage of the game. Not like we "entertain" every weekend. To me, a perfect night is one spent with my wife and new baby. Bottle of beer for me, glass of wine for her, and just chill. I think of the summers to come with children and I am lured towards buying a house with a pool.

As far as increasing value, I'd agree if this was Cali or Fla. But around here, to me, add seasonal use, maintenance, liablility, increased taxes and insurance, and that steers me away......

Thanks for the tips. I mean I didn't think they'd be as high maintenance as a reef tank, I just wanted to see what the reality was. What are the daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, maintenances and costs?

FWIW Gary, wife wants a hot-tub. I want a 4 wheeler for hunting. Wonder which one we'll get first............:furious:

 

[GMaquarium]

Our house came with a pool. At that time it has not been used for a few years and was a huge mess. I did not want the pool so the first summer we did nothing with it. The cover collected some water and frogs began to breed there. Between the bugs, frogs and the smell it turned into a problem. We eneded up getting rid of the pool.

My parents have a pool at their house. Its very clean and well maintained even though it only gets used a few times a year. My father keeps the pool going all summer long just so the grand kids can come play.

The main thing about pools is that its only worth having if you use it. If you do not use it you would still have to take care of it or it turns into a swamp.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I am afraid of the "boat" syndrome. Everyone wants to don the Cap'm's hat and cruise the lake in comfort while stirring your scotch with the index finger of the hand which holds it. But logistically, if you don't live on a lake, boats are a real pain in the neck. 2 best days in a boat owner's life......

Still not sure how I stand on the pool thing. Looking at it through the eyes of a child it sounds like heaven. Heck, even to me, an after work BBQ, beer, and a dip sound delightful. Just checking everyone elses take on it. Is it a delight in reality??? I'm seeing a few more nays vs yays.

 

[andrew2010]

If you get a pool look into a salt-chlorine generator. It is a little pricey up front(remind you of anything?), but it will save you money on chlorine and chemical additives. As far as a hot tub, I was a pool/hot tub tech. Look into a hot spring or tiger river spa. They cost less to run than any other spa (between 15-30 bucks mo) AND they have a 5 year no fault warranty(labor and parts) on everything but the cover. Hot sprigs /Tiger river spas are owned by masco inc, the same co that owns Craft Maid cabinets,delta faucet,behr and about 12 others. So they do stand behind their product.

 

[andrew2010]

btw You can get a huge hot tub and turn it down to 75ish in the summer and pretend its a pool! As far as the fencing NYS wants a 4' fence or deck around the pools with a locking gate or stairs.

 

[aww_419]

Pools are a major PITA. If you dont go the expensive route with salt or saltchloro hybrid then theres a ton of maintenance if your a stickler. I got swimmers ear one year at our old house with the pool and overdid it on the cleaning and shock every time after that. Worst pain ever and you cant sleep. And with these terrible summers who knows how many days of use youll get. Now we have a hot tub, a tiger spa actually. I would suggest one rather than a pool. cheaper and easier to maintain and can be used all year round. Really nice to crack open a few beers and relax especially when its snowing out. Think i might go check the perams now LOL seriously though i think i will. Good luck with the decision.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Pools are a major PITA. If you dont go the expensive route with salt or saltchloro hybrid then theres a ton of maintenance if your a stickler. I got swimmers ear one year at our old house with the pool and overdid it on the cleaning and shock every time after that. Worst pain ever and you cant sleep. And with these terrible summers who knows how many days of use youll get. Now we have a hot tub, a tiger spa actually. I would suggest one rather than a pool. cheaper and easier to maintain and can be used all year round. Really nice to crack open a few beers and relax especially when its snowing out. Think i might go check the perams now LOL seriously though i think i will. Good luck with the decision.

You're talkin' my language!!! what would one expect to pay for one, on average?

 

[andrew2010]

Those spas start around 2500 for a really small one avg 4500-6k a top of the line is around 13k. check out Liverpool Pool and Spa they deal in them near you. If you get one tell them you want free ozone (Or the freshwater setup), steps and a cover lifter. Most spa stores charge 4-600 bucks for that retail but will include them in the price of the tub. ozone , pat of the freshwater setup is introduced by a Beckett venturi (yep, the same one we use for skimmers) and has a silver iodide cartridge that inserts inside one of the filters. that system only has you putting 1-3 tablespoons of oxidizer in the spa a week instead of a ton of chemicals. They run a nice silent mag drive circ pump that runs 24/ 7 for filtering and heating instead of using the jet pumps for that use. It helps with maintenance and energy costs. I would rather replace a 100.00 pump twice in 10 years intesd of a 350.00 pump every 3-4.

 

[andrew2010]

I'm not trying to sell you on one . I just miss mine, I had to sell it before Christmas when we moved.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I can't wait to drop that price tag on my wife and watch her complain about me wanting a 4 wheeler! Looks like I might be winning.....

 

[andrew2010]

now you just have to weigh the "fun" factor. More fun on a four wheeler, or in a hot tub...lol

 

[aww_419]

I got mine for a steal a 5 person for 900 from an older couple who lived down the street. just took some ingenuity to get it over to the house. Only a couple years old and they barely ever used it. We got 9 skinny people in it before (which doesnt include me BTW). But when I was looking for a new one I found a few that were reasonable for the size and features i wanted for about 2.5k which usually will include delivery IME. prices im shure are ever changing. Garys has them on-sale all the time. And we use just regular liquid pool chlorine $3/gallon and shock occasionally. a gallon will last me a month but it gets a lot of use. About every 6 months i check kh ph and such. but i check for chlorine about twice a week as we are in it quite often. and i usually give it a little chlorine after we get out to kill anything we leave in there. Its worked great for a few years now with no problem except the light that you can turn on and off in the tub blows after a few weeks. they are $5 each and a bit of a pain to replace. but we usually dont turn the light on anyway.

 

[Gravesj1s]

-Cully,

I absolelutely refused to give in to my girls(13,8,6 & wife on getting a pool. Its a good thing to. I had an excavating friend come over and dig a pond instead. I now have every kid in the neighborhood at my house either catching frogs & salamanders -hockey players and ice skaters in the winter.I cant imagine how many kids I'd have if I gave into the pool.
You may be able to convince the wife on getting a 4 wheeler. Have her drive one ,you maybe suprised it worked for me.I use mine to hunt too, but wife and I take long rides all the time.You can find some really good deals,I bought a pair polaris 400's with only 60 miles on each for the price of one knew.
Good luck to you and definately meet up some time.