What would you do?

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centralmaine

centralmaine

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Bronze Supporter
Jun 6, 2017
60
central Maine
I have spent the last couple days preparing my yard for a pool install along with many hours of reading here at TFP. The pool is an Intex !4' X 42" I levelled the location with sand and I am preparing to surround the pool with a 16' X 16' square of 4"x4" pressure treated retaining wall to keep the sand in place. The location had a 4-5 inch slope so ground prep is vital.

The more reading I do the more questions I seem to have but the answers seem to come...mostly with common sense, like tonight I realized my pool volume @ 3 ft is approx 3300 gallons not the 4000 gallons I first thought as the total height of the pool is not the water line so now it becomes a seasonal install given the fact my geographic location and the length of the pool season.

As my avatar shows, a normal snow fall can be 10 ft not counting drifts. So my thought is my little pool should be taken apart and stored for the winter. Honestly I don't think this pool can withstand a Maine winter left up with a couple ft of water in it.

I was thinking of pulling the trigger on one of the recommended test kits, but after reading about seasonal pools my 4 way kit that I bought last yr for an inferior pool my wife bought, was never used and might get me through the next 2 months. Labor day seems to end summer in an instant up here.

I was also going to purchase a stronger/larger filter/pump as the one that came with the pool is a little bigger than a thermos my dad took to work yrs ago. Still undecided, I guess I'll see how this one performs.

Please correct any of my observations...thanks.
 
There is not anything magic about 3300 vs 4000 as far as whether you treat it as a season pool or not.

The idea behind the seasonal pool article is that some people balk at the price of a good test kit ... and instead decide to take the risk of trying to "get by" and the hassle of a potential drain, clean, and re-fill.

By far getting a good test kit and properly maintaining the water is much more likely to allow you to enjoy a full summer of swimming.

Upgrading the filter (and pump) to a larger sand filter is a vast improvement over the tiny cartridge. A smaller upgrade step is to get a reusable cartridge (Unicel / Filbur / etc) instead of the disposable Intex versions.

With 2 months of summer left, you might get by with your existing test kit (depending on how old it really is and how it was stored) if you are diligent about keeping the proper FC and CYA levels.
 
jblizzle said:
There is not anything magic about 3300 vs 4000 as far as whether you treat it as a season pool or not.

The idea behind the seasonal pool article is that some people balk at the price of a good test kit ... and instead decide to take the risk of trying to "get by" and the hassle of a potential drain, clean, and re-fill.

By far getting a good test kit and properly maintaining the water is much more likely to allow you to enjoy a full summer of swimming.

Upgrading the filter (and pump) to a larger sand filter is a vast improvement over the tiny cartridge. A smaller upgrade step is to get a reusable cartridge (Unicel / Filbur / etc) instead of the disposable Intex versions.

With 2 months of summer left, you might get by with your existing test kit (depending on how old it really is and how it was stored) if you are diligent about keeping the proper FC and CYA levels.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response, I don't want to "just get by" as my 9 yr old will be in the pool any and every chance he gets. I think you convinced me about getting the TF100 test kit as well.
Who knows, I might need a bigger pool in a yr or so.:)
 
It will certainly make it easier for you to properly maintain your Chemistry that is for sure. There are many members who have found how easy it is to maintain a pool following our methods and every year getting bigger and bigger pools :)
 
It might not be too hard to take that size pool down and store it. I left my 18' ultra frame up for 3 years, including a winter with a week of 20 below zero temperatures, one year we had heavy snow and ice, with no ill effects. (I drained partially and took the hoses and pump off.) My current pool is a 26' ultra frame, we are on the third season with it staying up all winter. (Pennsylvania)

If you keep your chlorine levels steady, and follow pool school, you should be able to keep it clear.
 
Upgrading the pump/filter is the best way to help keep a clean and clear pool. I suggest spending on that before I would a test kit.

If you do go for the pump upgrade, go larger than you need. My guess is one summer (two max) of enjoying that pool and it will be time for a bigger pool and then you will be thankful you got the larger pump. :D
 
centralmaine said:
I have spent the last couple days preparing my yard for a pool install along with many hours of reading here at TFP. The pool is an Intex !4' X 42" I levelled the location with sand and I am preparing to surround the pool with a 16' X 16' square of 4"x4" pressure treated retaining wall to keep the sand in place. The location had a 4-5 inch slope so ground prep is vital.
Click to expand...
Are you saying you built up the ground with 4-5"of sand?
 
ike0069 said:
Upgrading the pump/filter is the best way to help keep a clean and clear pool. I suggest spending on that before I would a test kit.

If you do go for the pump upgrade, go larger than you need. My guess is one summer (two max) of enjoying that pool and it will be time for a bigger pool and then you will be thankful you got the larger pump. :D
Click to expand...

Thank you...I just may do that as the expenses accumulate;)
 
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