- There have been a couple of additions to the above ground pool family in recent years. The most common above ground pool is a steel sided, vinyl liner in many different shapes. But quickly moving up in popularity is the portable pool with a top ring that inflates. As you add water, the ring rises until the pool is 3 to 4 1/2 feet deep. Then there is the exercise pool that allows you to swim for hours and go nowhere. Of course there will always be the inflatable pool used and loved by children everywhere. Above ground pools are still very affordable and most last for years.
- Installing a steel sided pool can be accomplished by a few people and a lot of elbow grease or you can hire a pool installer to do the work for you. The ground must be perfectly level for these pools and the ground excavation is probably the hardest part. Most installers charge between $300 and $700 to do the job depending on the size of the pool. These pools come in various sizes and shapes. They are only about 4 1/2 feet deep though in the deepest pools. They come with a deck around the top or a removable ladder so that small children or pets don't accidentally fall in. The steel sided pool works by placing vinyl liner inside the steel sides and securing with an aluminum top guard. A filter system is then hooked up to the pool by placing a hole in the wall and running a skimmer box through it. The water goes to the filter from the skimmer and a basket in the skimmer catches leaves and other debris you don't want to clog up your filter. Under the skimmer box is another hole for the water to run back in after it is cleaned by the filter. Sand filters are the most common used by these type pools and you can purchase a pool chemical kit to keep your pool free from bacteria and algae. The chemical kit will come with a water tester so you know how much of each chemical is needed. You will also need a vacuum to clean the bottom of your pool. This is normally a vacuum attachment to a hose that connects to your intake through your skimmer. There are other accessories, such as pool covers, solar covers that heat up the pool and winterizing kits that you may want to purchase along with your pool. These pools can be a lot of work but well worth it if you have lots of swimmers in your family.
- The portable pools are the new guys on the block. They take very little time to install so you can be swimming sooner. They are made from a 28 to 30 gauge vinyl and use a cartridge filter system. All you need to do is pick a level surface of your yard, spread out the pool, blow up the inflatable ring at the top and start filling with water. As the water increases it pushes the inflatable ring and up come the walls. Some manufacturers recommend putting a tarp down under the pool to prevent sticks from protruding through. This whole process takes about an hour, not counting filling the pool. A cartridge filter system uses a tubular cartridge that you can take out of the pump, clean with soap and warm water and put back in. Not only is it easy to install but it is easy to take down and store. This way your pool is not exposed to the extreme cold and freezing so it lasts longer. You can purchase chemical kits, covers and safety alarm systems that will let you know if someone falls in. They also come with a removable ladder to avoid children getting in when no one is looking.
- There are two kinds of exercise pools. One is just a small pool with a harness the swimmer hooks into. When he swims the harness keeps him from moving forward. The other has jets like are in a hot tub, but create a much stronger current. The swimmer swims against the current but doesn't go anywhere because the current pushes him back. The current can be adjusted to each swimmer or the type of swimming your doing. The standard size of these pools are 8 feet wide by 15 feet long. They are very easy to keep clean using a copper/silver purifier to sanitize the water. They can also have custom jets put in them so the pool can double as a hot tub.
