About Above-Ground Swimming Pools

Above-ground swimming pools are great if your backyard does not have enough space for an in-ground pool. They are also much cheaper and come in a variety of sizes. Above-ground pools can also be installed by two or three people.

Function

An above-ground pool provides a family a cheap, easy way to cool off in their backyard.

Types

The most common pool comes with a metal side, a liner, runners and metal posts. It also comes with a large filter and pool pump. Another type is the PVC above-ground pool. The pool is a thick liner that is hung on a PVC frame. These pools come with a smaller filter and pool pump. Above-ground pools can be oval or round and range from 12 feet to 22 feet in diameter.

Time Frame

If you live where the winters are cold, above-ground pools can be covered and prepped for the winter. If properly cared for, the liner will last for years. Chlorine should be added as needed. Most above-ground pools use a floater for chlorine. Bleach tablets are inserted into the floater as they disintegrate.

Considerations

Above-ground pools come with a ladder, which can be removed for safety precautions, making the pool inaccessible to children, unlike in-ground pools. You cannot sit on the metal framework of the pool as you can with an in-ground pool unless you build a raised deck that overshoots the metal framework.

Benefits

Above-ground pools allow you to easily protect a small child from entering the pool and drowning. It also makes it difficult for pets to climb into the pool.

Warning

All pools, whether in-ground or above-ground, should have a fence around them. If you have children or pets, the pool should be fenced separately.