pool question (Cove: how much, houses, neighborhood)

[where_to_move]

we are currently looking at a home that is PERFECT in all aspects except it has a pool.

I have a toddler, so I have the safety factor (I will get the hard cover that you can walk on to solve that) anyone know rec'ds for places or possible costs?


My main q's....
This pool is tile on the bottom, so IMO must have been built mid to late 90s??
It is your avg size pool, 15k gallons? Estimating, with a hot tub.

Who would you rec'd for cleaning & pool maintenance? how much should this cost a month? I called one company & they said $40 a WEEK!!! Outrageous! Or is this normal??? If you maintain yourself, how much time a week do you put into it? How much do u typically spend for chemicals etc....

If it is an older pool can it easily be converted to salt water generator? Which I heard makes it easier for maintenance & cleaning?

thank you for your time/ I will upload a pic, if I can get one

ETA: pool pic

[woodinvilleguy]

Regarding converting to a salt water generator. That is possible since it is just at the pump side of things. The question regarding salt would be is the coping limestone? If so then the salt will not be a good match. You could add an ozinator to your system and an automatic chloring feeder to reduce the amount of chlorine needed and make life a little easier.

Have you looked at the mesh fencing that is removable as an option? They drill holes in the deck that the fencing sits in so it can be removed if you want.

For swim lessons, take your kid to Nitro, they rock at swim lessons but absolutly get a fence or cover to protect from accidents.

[readymade]

I, too, am looking at a house with a pool (not yours, heh). And I'm planning on having a baby so safety is very important to me as well. I haven't heard about the hard cover, but here are some links to some soft automatic safety covers:

Coverstar - RecessedTopguide Cover Systems (http://www.coverstar.com/SwimmingPoolCovers/recessed-topguide.aspx - broken link)
Pool Cover Specialists support for the automatic pool cover. Request Information (http://www.poolcovers.com/requestsent.cfm - broken link)
Automatic Pool Covers, Inc.

They are expensive as hell to put on an existing pool, but totally worth it. The base estimates for a 16x20 pool seem to be about $7K. Also, they cut down on pool maintainance costs (chemicals, heating, etc...)

I'm sure you already know this, but be very very careful with a baby around a pool. In doing my research, I discovered that drowning was the #1 death of children in CA, Florida, & Arizona, and #2 in most other states.

Please let me know what you come up with regarding the hard cover! Is it something that's easy to put on and take off? I didn't like the safety pool nets because they look like they're really hard to remove and put back on... sort of defeats the purpose of having a pool!

[iceshots]

I have had a pool for 17 years up north in two different houses, and bought a house down here with a pool. My daughter was born and grew up while we had a pool.

Recommendations

1) Put a fence around it. The gate should be spring loaded and latch automatically.
2) You can get security devices that are set off with any movement of the pool water.
3) You can also get monitors that you strap on your child's wrist that go off if they touch the water.

Most importantly, teach your child to swim and respect for the water. A pool can be a lifesaver instead of a danger. I agree that a lot of children drown in pools, but how many drown in other people's pools, or in a lake or river because they cannot swim or otherwise respect the water? Over the years, our pools have been used to teach a number of friends and relatives kids to swim. In most cases, this was after failed swimming lessons or kids who were afraid of the water. A backyard pool just screams out fun and no pressure for kids who are reluctant to try to swim. Just make sure the non-swimmers have the proper flotation aids. When my daughter was young (18 months - 3 years) she wore a flotation bathing suit whenever she was in the pool area.

Another rule. - Parents are responsible for their own kids. I was not the local lifeguard. If you want your kid swimming in my pool, you are there to supervise and safeguard them.

A pool cover may seem like a good idea, but I agree with Readymade, it will become a hassle if you use the pool frequently, and you will get to a point where you will not use it. Therefore, wasted money.

I had chlorine pools up north and considered switching to salt. I have a salt pool down here, and have toyed with the idea of switching back to chlorine. I just had to get the salt system PCB changed. Still waiting for the bill. The salt has etched the limestone coping. Will have to seal it to prevent it getting worse.

With the chlorine pools I attached a chlorinator and filled it up weekly. The biggest hassle was buying the chlorine sticks each month or two.

I always maintained my own pool. If you keep a regular eye on it, it is not a major hassle. I have had neighbors who contracted out the maintenance and had major issues. Know and understand your pool and you will be able to anticipate issues before they happen.

Sorry for the long post, but it just kept coming out.

[Poltracker]

Folks another word of warning about pools....make sure the pool drains and suction inlets comply witht the Virginia Graeme-Baker Act (even check on your neighborhood pool). Children can get stuck in the suction inlets which can cause serious bodily harm or death as in the above case. Most older pools will need to be retrofitted. In most cases, this is an easy matter of putting a new type of cover over the suction inlet. More work may be necessary on other pools.

[readymade]

I was toying with NOT putting a bid on a house with a pool because do I want to risk my kid's life? But, I think as long as you layer protection (cover/fence, supervision, lock all windows & doors that go out to pool, pool alarm, swimming lessons at an early age, etc...) you vastly reduce the risk. Also, I didn't say "don't get a cover." Actually I think a cover is a lot safer than a fence (fences can be jumped/climbed). But I'm definitely going to get a cover that is EASY to put on and take off... thus, the automated pool cover in the links above.

Also, my husband was a competitive swimmer who once had Olympic aspirations and I've been swimming since I can remember. I'm pretty sure we're going to raise the next Michael Phelps.

And I know everyone probably knows this, but don't rely on the fact that your kid can swim. I was a FANTASTIC swimmer and I almost drowned in 5 feet of water at a pool, once, because I had a panic attack halfway across the pool and just started sinking. I was around 6 or 7. I went under, and my uncle just happened to be walking by, saw what was happening, dived in, and saved me. Everyone else thought I was just messing around.

[brownybaby]

The pool alarm is great- unless you have a dog that likes to swim. Take that advice from me!!

We had the pool alarm and agate put all around our pool when our daughetr started walking. You are on hyper alert for safety - but it gets better after swim lessons.

Good luck! It looks a like a beautiful pool!

[woodinvilleguy]

That's a scary experience. I remember my grandmother who was a competive swimmer just tossed me into the pool to see if I could swim. eek.

I just know that I would end up not having the pool cover at all times so we opted to get a fence. I guess I am not as concerned about when they climb the 5ft fence for drowning. I think pools are like dogs, while I love my dog, I would never leave a dog alone with a baby trusting that everything will be ok.

[readymade]

I'm turning into a commercial for a pool cover, heh. The pool covers I'm looking at are automated, therefore, with the flip of a switch, it opens in about a minute. It also helps to heat the pool, cuts down on chemicals, prevents evaporation, saves the pump from having to work so hard, and prevents stuff from falling in your pool. Although, I wonder what happens to the leaves that fall on TOP of the cover!

When I was 6 months old, my parents read that babies could swim so they tossed me in a pool. And I did! (growing up, I always imagined my mom literally throwing me in a pool, but she insists it didn't happen that way, heh, and that she was very gentle about it)

[iceshots]

Originally Posted by readymade

Although, I wonder what happens to the leaves that fall on TOP of the cover!

I would suspect that they just fall into the pool. Unless the cover has some fancy cleaning attachment that will scrub them off as it retracts.

My first pool was not heated and we had a solar blanket on it. This was purely for heat retention and added no safety value at all. In fact, it would be an extra hazard if someone fell into the pool and ended up under the blanket.

Leaves on the cover would be a major hassle especially if the were wet. Dry leaves would fall off the blanket into the pool as you rolled it up. Then you just scooped them out from the end of the pool. Wet leaves would simply stay on the blanket and roll up with it. Then start to decompose. Yuk.

I think a powered safety cover is the way to go if you are really afraid of the dangers of an open pool.

A nicely landscaped pool with a water feature and nice landscape and pool lighting can turn your backyard into fairyland at night. But then you would have to have the cover retracted, which would not be a big problem if you were having a party or something.

I guess I'm just a pool fan.