SWIMMING POOL ADVICE: If you knew then what you know now.... (heat pump, buy)

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by meye4suns

What feature do you wish you had?

A pool overflow device for when it rained (we're in a drought here, but when we installed the pool well over a decade ago, it really did rain a lot...)

As others have mentioned, you must SERIOUSLY consider the costs to maintain your pool. Long after the kids are grown and gone and rarely anyone uses the pool, it still costs quite a bit to maintain it, and that includes replacing skimmers, heaters, baskets, pool pumps, etc. Make sure you really know, long term, what you're in for.

[azdr0710]

this entire thread has been a great discussion on the pros and cons of pools and the suggested features for them...thanks to all the posters

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Whats the point of even having a backyard then?

To provide distance from the neighbors.

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

To provide distance from the neighbors.

I KNEW you were going to say that!

[HX_Guy]

Something to add to the discussion...I'm reading the manual to our controls system right now and learned that they actually have automatically chemical dispensers now that will sense the pool's chemical balance and add chlorine or bromine, muriatic acid or CO2 gas. It monitors the level continuously and shows the stats in real time.

Looking online, it looks to cost about $900.

[lewdog_5]

We are purchasing a house with a pool. Our first home and our first pool. We've been in the desert less than two years and having spent all the previous years of our life up north, I couldn't pass it up. I'm all for maintaining it but I have no idea where to start!

Am I correct in assuming I can pay one of the local pool stores to send a guy over to tell me all about my pool, if it's working ok and provide me with a maintenance schedule for it? I really don't care what it costs but I wanna make sure I'm doing everything right from the start.

[Rogarven]

I guess I am curious as to how much more is your water bill with the pool and before you had it?

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by Rogarven

I guess I am curious as to how much more is your water bill with the pool and before you had it?

I can let you know once we get our water bill. I'm sure it'll be less now than in the summer when evaporation is much higher.

[maverick974]

Originally Posted by lewdog_5

We are purchasing a house with a pool. Our first home and our first pool. We've been in the desert less than two years and having spent all the previous years of our life up north, I couldn't pass it up. I'm all for maintaining it but I have no idea where to start!

Am I correct in assuming I can pay one of the local pool stores to send a guy over to tell me all about my pool, if it's working ok and provide me with a maintenance schedule for it? I really don't care what it costs but I wanna make sure I'm doing everything right from the start.

You can hire a pool guy. He comes out once every week and does the basic necessary maintenance but he can't be there all the time so even if you have a pool guy, it's a good idea to check your pool chemicals every couple of days or so. Trust me on this, the LAST thing you want is for your pool to have an algae bloom. It takes a week or more to get it cleaned up and a few dollars in chlorine to make it go away and all the while, you shouldn't be in the pool. It just plain SUCKS.
I tried using the pool company to maintain my pool and it was horrible. A green pool every few weeks and they were selling me hundreds and hundreds of dollars in chemicals. I finally decided to take care of my pool myself and it has worked out beautifully. I use very little chemicals other than regular liquid chlorine and a little bit of muratic acid to keep my pool balanced.
Check out this website and the guys there will be more than helpful with all your questions.
A Swimming Pool and Spa Care Forum • Trouble Free Pool

Originally Posted by Rogarven

I guess I am curious as to how much more is your water bill with the pool and before you had it?

My water bill in the winter is usually about $35.00 or less. During the summer, it goes up to $50.00 or more but I have a sand filter so I'm back washing quite a bit during the summer to keep my calcium from building up too much.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Rogarven

I guess I am curious as to how much more is your water bill with the pool and before you had it?

You can get a pretty decent calculation of it. Say you evaporte 1/2 inch of water a day in the heat of summer. You have a pool of 400 sq ft surface area. Your water loss is

.5/12 ft x 400 sq ft = 16.67 cu ft of water per day to evaporation. Water is priced by the thousand gallons and 16.67 cuft is about 125 gallons per day. 30 days in a month and you lose 125 * 30 = 3750 gallons. Round it off to 4000 gallons for splash. Water sells for around $3.00 per 1000 gallons in summer so it costs you $12.00 for the water.

BUT WAIT!

All the cities also soak you for sewer which is based on your water use. You probably pay at least as much for sewer as for the water so it comes up to $24.00.

BUT WAIT!

The cities do not charge you for sewer use above what you use in winter if you have been here a year and have a "track record" of what you used in winter. You can also appeal in the first year and they will adjust it. So in the end, it comes close to $12.00 per month for a 400 sq ft pool.