How Much Room Is Needed for Pool Equipment?

Whether you plan to install an in-ground swimming pool or an aboveground unit, you must sacrifice backyard space in order to do so. Unfortunately, when mapping out measurements for a new swimming pool, some homeowners fail to take pool equipment into account. While pool equipment takes up far less space than the pool itself does, it takes up enough space that you must provide for it when designating space for your new pool.

All swimming pools require a pool pump and filter. The pool pump pushes water through the filter and back into the pool. The amount of space you need for your built-in pool's pump and filter system varies according to the size of your pool. The more gallons of water your swimming pool holds, the larger your pool pump needs to be and the more space you must reserve for its installation.

Although there is no way to determine exactly how much room you need without knowing the size of your pool, Midwest Fiberglass Pool Distributors notes that the average pool owner should set aside a patch of ground approximately 4 feet square for a built-in pool's pump and filter system.

Aboveground pools are generally smaller than the built-in variety. Because such a pool is smaller, it holds fewer gallons of water and requires less filtration. This allows homeowners with aboveground pools to get away with a smaller pump and filter system than homeowners with built-in pools. Yet another space-saving advantage of owning an aboveground pool is that pool pumps and filters for aboveground pools are available as single combined units.

Purchasing the smallest suitable pump and filter for your swimming pool isn't just crucial to saving space in your backyard – its also necessary for the health of your pool. When it comes to pump and filter systems, bigger isn't better. A pump and filter system that is too large will process your pool water too quickly. According to Swimtown Pools, this can result in your pump passing back into your swimming pool debris that should instead be removed by the filter.

While a pool pump and filter are your pool's main pieces of electrical equipment, a pump and filter aren't the only equipment you need after installing a pool. You must also keep pool-cleaning equipment, such as a vacuum and a net, handy. Pool chemicals are also vital for keeping the pH in your swimming pool properly balanced. You do not have to reserve backyard space for cleaning equipment and pool chemicals the same way you do a pool and its pump and filtration system, but you must still designate a space for miscellaneous equipment when you install a pool.