Community pool vs Own pool - from those with experience, is having your own pool worth it? (McKinney: condo, buy)

[mami2emily]

Originally Posted by simonekillian

OK, I'm Canadian, and I have NO idea why anyone would want to heat their pools in Dallas. If a person didn't heat their pools, what is the lowest temperature the pool would get? (I'm used to swimming in ocean water that rarely sees 20 degrees Celsius- 68 degrees F) That would be after many weeks of 80+ degree weather. :-)

Dallas is not extremely hot year round. Believe it or not by late September our pool's temps drop significantly (doesn't help it's a very deep pool, so harder for the sun to heat up all that water). I have never looked at the pool temps come October-April, but it would be a fair guess that it gets below 60's.

Yes there are still plenty of 80 degree days throughout fall. But any given day it's a slow rise in temperature to get to the high temp of the day...not enough time to heat up the water in a pool. By end of September my kids are done with the pool. This year the first day that the water actually felt tolerable was April 1...and my son who lasted the longest in the water had blue lips and chattering teeth by the time he got out. We have no desire to heat a large 9' depth pool for winter time enjoyment...the cost would be enormous. But we do heat the spa on occasion in the winter months.

A lot of people who don't mind the extra heating bill costs do heat up the pool in fall/winter/spring.

[sunball]

Very well said. We have two young kids, house with a pool is a big no no due to safety. Plus, if backyard is already very small, if you have a pool, there is not much place for your kids to run and play.

Originally Posted by mami2emily

I have experienced both. My short answer:

If you have younger kids it's great to do the community pool because you and your kids will get to make a lot of new friends. Instant playmates whenever you run up to the community pool, and lots of parents to hang out with.

If you have teens it's great to have your own pool. Everyone wants to hang out at your home and it's a great way to keep track of your teen's friends and you get to have them in your home versus them hanging out who knows where.

If you are set on having a pool, make sure the house you buy already has one.

[Pincho-toot]

Depends on how much you actually wanna use it. I'd get an above ground swimming pool first, and see how that goes over the summer. You might find it's either too much of an upkeep, or that you don't use it as much as you thought you would, or maybe you'll find that you use it more than enough, and the upkeep is not as bad as you thought and you wanna upgrade to a below ground pool.

[DFWDove]

I prefer private pool, it's just more private, hygienic, convenient and tranquil. If you can't afford it then it's another thing but if you can swing it then imho HOA is not the same as having one in your backyard.

My children learned swimming early on and our poolside door has a latch with security alarm and several wind chimes hang on top of the door so no one can go out without making a commotion.

[MurphyPl1]

I don't believe most HOAs will allow an above ground pool.

[Siggy20]

I like our pool because the kids do use it in the summer, I enjoy the spa. It is great being able to swim without going to a community pool. The pool is nice to look at gives me a sense of tranquility looking at it. With that said though, it has been a bit of a pain in the butt keeping it open year round, cleaning it, and dealing with the maintenance issues that keep cropping up. I think that when the kids are out of the house, I would prefer a scenic backyard without a pool but maybe a hot tub to ease my aching bones!

We pay someone to clean/maintain it so it isn't too bad but I still have to do my share of spot cleaning. Our NJ pool though you could close and forget about during the winter although if you had torrential rains, I would need to start the pump to pump out excess water. Thank goodness our pool here has a better drainage system.

At this point used to having a pool. If we didn't have kids, probably wouldn't have a pool.

[Tomorrow-by-the-sea]

I have a love/hate relationship with my pool. When I first bought the house with the pool, for the first two years, i was feeling a lot of regret. It was expensive, I was constantly having issues with it... Junky polaris pool cleaner equipment losing parts in the pool.... Then heavy leaf fall in November and algae and pollen in April. Plus, on the occasional nights we have in Dallas where the temperature does go below freezing, the freeze guard would kick in and the pump would run all night--and I could hear my electric bill going up.

But now 5 years later, I have learned 'the ways of the pool.' :-) I replaced the Polaris cleaner with a Kreepy Krawly which has fewer parts and fewer problems. I found a pool company that will just check the chemicals during the summer months. I know now when there's a hole in one of the cleaner hose segments, when the leaf basket is full, and how to clean the pol. Green water no longer fills me with dread. And I swim in it every day in the Summer. I feel bleh on days that I miss a swim.

If I didn't have my own pool, I probably still wouldn't use our HOA's community pool. Wherever I drive by there. I always see lots of small children going there and the thought of being at a pool with 30 screaming little kids does not sound relaxing to me.

However if you have children, then a community pool might be a great place for them to meet and socialize with other neighborhood kids.

[Siggy20]

Great post Tomorrow! I need to,look into a better pool cleaner. Our Polaris cleaners have been the bane of my existence for many years. I will look into the cleaner you mentioned.

You do make good points. Right now I'm sitting by the pool watching the kids swim. I jumped in earlier in the day after my gym workout. Have to admit that Texas summers are ideal for a pool. Our pool is sitting at 91 degrees and is perfect for me. Later this evening when we grill some steaks, we will be out again.

We rented for a year prior to buying our house and had access to a community pool. At times it would be curiously deserted, other times filled to the brim with very little kids. I so much love a private pool now.

[EDS_]

Regarding Tomorrow-by-the-sea Siggy 20's comments................


Did you both by chance have Polaris, "suction side" vacs?

I'm on my 5th pool as an adult. Polaris Venturi/pressure side vacs are the best thing ever IMO.

[Trespassers W]

I use Dolphin Nautilus robot and cannot be happier. I almost never have to vacuum my pool, the robot cleans the pool floor and walls just fine. Best $600 ever spent.

To add to the topic discussion: for me the fun and convenience of private pool totally outweighs the cost, which comes to around $100 monthly including electricity and chemicals. I do the maintenance myself, it is really not that hard once you learn how to keep your water balanced.