All,
I am considering getting an intex 12' x 24' above ground pool within the next month or so for my 3 boys (OK and me and the Mrs
) to enjoy. I have a rather large back yard and there's a good spot between 4-5 trees where I can place the pool with plenty room around it. I know the first step to a successful installation is prepping the ground to make sure it's level so I asked my neighbor who had an above ground pool for many years (and has a tractor..and knows how to do just about anything!) for advice. He immediately began telling me I was wasting my time with an above ground pool, it's too hot here in Southeast Texas and he was constantly having to add more chemicals as the excessive hot water was burning through them all the time. Eventually said well if you can find a way to keep the water cool you might be able to manage it. I've had a few other friends tell me it's just a huge money pit, so I'm trying to get answers from those who've been through it ahead of time
.
First, as for the temperature....I plan on getting a large enough shade cloth to string between the trees and shade the entire pool and then some. I think this preventative measure might be the most effective in keeping the water from getting blazing hot. Next, I've heard a few folks from southern, humid areas say that installing a simple water fountain and running it at night can do wonders to cool the water. I thought all of the water coolers, evaporative coolers, radiators didn't really work well when the outside temperature isn't much different than the water, or in a region where the humidity is already high, but a few folks here seem to suggest that they've had good success cooling their water with a pretty crude/simple pvc array with a bunch of holes in it to make your own fountain/sprinkler. So my first question in all that rambling is: Has someone in the deep, humid south had good luck with both a shade cover and fountain/sprinkler? Is one sufficient or are both needed? Are there any other things that make a big difference in keeping the water from cooking your alive
.
My next question is ongoing maintenance of the pool. I know a lot of above ground pools come with pumps and filters that are nothing short of criminal. This one seems to have a semi decent sand filter/pump. I've heard chlorine is off the charts but it looks like liquid chlorine could be used for a more manageable maintenance cost. Is there a great benefit early on attempting to convert to a different pump/filter or a salt water system? Since I'm buying a relatively inexpensive pool and hoping to use relatively inexpensive methods to keep it cool, I don't mind spending some money if the price/performance ratio warrants it, but don't want to spend above the cost of the pool swapping out something that isn't going to benefit me much.
OK I've rambled enough...if you have any advice, personal experiences, etc. you can share I would greatly appreciate it. Or if you have any other advice for a pool noob I'm open to that as well. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
. Ok let me see what kind of pit I’ll have scraping it down to level. I guess this is where it gets even more important to know exactly where the footprint will be 
. And I knew the scraping thing at one point but forgot in all the other details I’ve been fretting about. Thanks for the reminder!!!
