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Hey there. If all goes well, we'll be the new owners of a home that has a saltwater pool. Neither of us have had a pool on the property and know little about how to maintain one, etc. So we have some questions.
Should we get a pool cover and a security fence (we have an eight year old and an "adventurous" three year old).
If we get a pool cover, is it easy to put on and take off? Or do we need to get an auto one?
Will an auto one cost a lot of money?
How many instances have y'all seen snakes in your pool? The area where we will live is pretty wooded vs. the former farmland we used to reside on. It has been densely populated for quite some time though. Will we have a critter problem with the pool? And of course, we've been told that pest control is a must now. Any tips on keeping critters out of your pool?
We aren't the DIY types. So we'll need a pool service. How much do you think that will cost?
No snakes but we have had a few dead animals (baby bird, chipmunk).
It doesnt happen very often. Just be careful when you open your skimmer. I like to use a hanger to pull the skimmer out rather than reaching in with my hand.
We haven't had any snakes either. Had a few frogs, which we "encouraged" to leave by putting plastic snakes around the pool. No critters, even though we back up to a greenbelt. Just the occasional squirrel taking a careful drink. Haven't fallen in yet, that we know of.
Looked at a cover. Problem is, anchors have to go several feet back from the pool edge, most likely in the decking. We only have decking around half of the pool, and they weren't real positive about putting the anchors in the stone coping. That, and the irregular shape and stone waterfall meant a $7000 price mainly to keep debris from the trees out of the pool. With no kiddos at home, not worth it.
I've heard a minimum price of $15K for the automatic roller versions.
I've had a pool for over 20 years and stopped using the big winter cover because it was such a pain. However, my advice is to get one of those motorized metal covers. That way, when not using the pool you can cover it quickly and easily, critters won't be able to fall in, and maybe your house insurance will give you a discount for having it. Also, I had 6 foot rock walls with locking iron gates installed around the pool patio. There are also pool alarms available. Safety first!
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