EVERYTHING you need to know in owning an above ground pool?

Question

I am about to buy an above ground pool and i have no clue what to do when i get it. if you have an above ground pool, please tell me EVERYTHING about owning one. And this includes in the winter when i close my pool. And what's "shocking the pool"? thank you!

Answer 1

Everything you need to know about owning an above ground pool is work,work,work.
Shocking the pool is done maybe about once a week orI Have found also after each heavy rain cause rain water will turn your pool green quick if you don't shock it.Shock is a chemical you can buy at Walmart.I have also used bleach for shock sometimes it works and is lot cheaper.I haveabout a 3500 gallon pool and put 1 to 2 gallons of bleach in it.If you over do it don't worry it will just be cloudy water for a day. Get a net to get bugs out each day.Winter get a cover sunlight is also the factor that causes algae.Get a floating container for chlorine tablets they help.

Answer 2

After the pool is installed, put black plastic sheeting-the thin stuff, all around the bottom of the side of the pool. back fill that area about 6 inches deep with river gravel-the smooth kind. Go the whole way around with this.
Now, on the side of the pool, they might install the skimmer thru a square or round hole in the pool, with the lower part under the water about 3-4 inches. There should be a connection for the outlet hose on it. the hose will run to the inlet side of the pump, thru it into the pool filter, then back up thru another hose, and back into the pool. Depending on the type of filter, it will have to be cleaned periodically.
If you live in an area where water freezes in winter, and you have very cold weather, here's what i had to do, since i live in that kind of area.
I had to remove the skimmer, which meant drawing down the water level some. Then there was a plastic cover plate to be installed. The pump and filter had to be drained, and stored inside the house. Also the hoses had to be drained.
I had a large truck inner tube, which i inflated bigger than for normal truck use. This i centered in the pool, in the water, and held it in place with some ropes, four of them. I then placed a large beach ball in the tube, tied it in, too. Then i stretched the pool cover over the whole pool, inner tube, beach ball, and tied it in place. It must be large enough to go over the side of the pool. I used water filled plastic milk bottles tied at intervals to keep it in place. The cover must let rain water run off it and not pool on it!
Some places say you should bring the water level back up to the summer level, but i didn't do it, because we were on a well, and the cost of city water being hauled in was too much.
you should be furnished all the information you will need to know about pool ownership and maintenance. Follow all instructions to the letter. don't skimp on chemicals. keep the water clean. The pool should be vacuumed often, depending on how much it gets used.
you have asked for and will be getting, a whole lot of work to keep you busy all summer. If you are home during the day, you can do the pool work in the morning, and swim in the afternoon. If you have a 5 day a week job, be prepared to spend your evenings cleaning and maintaining the pool!
What is "Shocking the pool?"
thats what you must do when you have been to busy or too tired to clean the pool, and keep up on the chemicals. It means putting in a large chemical treatment to clear the water of algae, and germs, and make it clear again. Swimming in green, algae infected water is very unhealthy! Not to mention the skeeters that love to swim in it at night!
In our area, we had to install a six foot high fence around the pool to keep little kids and undesirables out of the pool. It was a nuisance at times, but the law required it! We had our pool about 18 years, and the last 2 years, nobody went in it, so i took it down. The plasticsheeting and gravel back-fill had protected the metal, and it had no rust on it.