Pros-cons of having a pool?

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

I've never owned a house with a pool - I loved them growing up but have no idea about what it takes to maintain one or any of the costs.

If you have or have had a pool, did you use it and love it? Hated it and couldn't wait to be rid of it?

 

[fsu1jreed]

I just bought a house last year with a saltwater pool..........I love it, but it does add ~$100 onto my electric bill. Here's my set-up.......trying to save up money for this as we speak.

 

[Bud Fox]

I think it depends.

My wife and I bought our house, with no pool, in June of 2005, when my kids were infants.

My wife fell in love with the house, so we bought it, even though I personally wanted a pool.

Fast forward 10 years, my twin boys are 10, and we would like a pool so they can enjoy it as they grow up, and it is a fun addition to the South Florida lifestyle we lead.

We are selling our current house in June to move to a house with a pool.

Obviously, climate plays a role as well

 

[Dr. Nole]

The pool was wonderful when kids were younger...used it all the time. Now that one in college and the other in High School not much use at all.

 

[wdnole]

They're great as long as you get the SI swimsuit model option.

 

[SeaPA]

We put in a pool about 10 years after we'd built our house, prior to the kids being born. Wife really wanted it; I did not. I figured she'd use it a lot, I'd rarely use it but would be the one stuck with the maintenance of it. Turned out that I use it far, far more than she does, and the maintenance is a wash. Takes a little time to check various chemicals & add what is needed, but that time is offset by having less yard to mow.

I'm in it almost every day for 9 months out of the year, even if just briefly (jump in to cool off after mowing the lawn, working out, whatever).

 

[skramer100]

We have a salt water pool and the cost is negligible at least to us. Only large expense that we see is when we run the heater in the winter for the kids to swim. Only do this over holidays due to the cost. Automatic vacuum and salt system is a lot at start up, but checking water every other month and dumping a bag a salt in the pool every month is easy.

 

[NoleManDan17]

We had a pool when I was a kid. It was fun for the first few years but after a while we didn't go in as much. As I got older I had the responsibility of cleaning it and maintaining the chlorine, which isn't too difficult but can be tedious. If you have the money, I recommend hiring somebody to take care of your pool. Personally, I'd rather not have a pool again but that might change when I have kids.

 

[BelemNole]

Major requirement for the new house was that it had a pool. It's freaking hot here in the summer. Wife and kids used it a lot last summer. It has a heater (gas) but we don't use it much other than for the spa. Kids love the pool now, but we'll see how many years that lasts. It certainly adds to our power bill. We've paid someone to maintain it this first year, but eventually I will take over as there isn't that much to it.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Depending upon where I move to, we might get a natural pool. I wasn't all that interested in a straight forward pool but instead wanted a koi pool to complement my coral reef, cold water marine and freshwater aquariums, but I see there's growing interest in merging the two. And it's actually much lower cost to create a natural pool than a chemical pool (even a "saltwater" version).

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g1146/natural-swimming-pools/

Link to natural pools

 

[OrlandNole]

Growing up, we swam in natural pools all the time. We called them "lakes".

 

[Bartdog]

and even if you're not IN it every day, it's always THERE. I don't know the best way to express it, but I just like sitting by the pool. Even sitting inside the house you can see the light reflecting off the water and it gives me a strangely good feeling. I am glad we built ours.

I had just turned on our heater and was expecting to be. In it tonight and tomorrow, but we had a quick cool spell so to heck with that. A couple of years ago, I was in it from March to September. It all depends on the weather. If I have several days in the low 80's the heater will get it up to a very comfortable temperature.

 

[fsu1jreed]

Originally posted by Bartdog:

and even if you're not IN it every day, it's always THERE. I don't know the best way to express it, but I just like sitting by the pool. Even sitting inside the house you can see the light reflecting off the water and it gives me a strangely good feeling. I am glad we built ours.

I have to completely agree with this.

 

[SeaPA]

Originally posted by OrlandNole:
Growing up, we swam in natural pools all the time. We called them "lakes".

We've got a pool and a pond. Pond'd be good for you.

 

[RTM58]

Pros

Cons

 

[jamnolfin]

Our pool will be 19 years old this summer. I need to have it resurfaced, it still looks good but some stains on the floor bug me. Most people don't notice them but I do, like a small dent in a car. Ours is open air and we have trees on other half of lot so we get debris in it. Its a job and costs a couple grand a year but its home entertainment, we have parties by it, I have a TV out there. Anything I can do to keep me at home saves me money, it seems I spend $1-200 or so every time I leave home. Its a no brainer for me.

 

[Nole Daddy]

I love having a pool.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[seminoledq]

Originally posted by RTM58:

Pros

Cons

Doesn't matter what the topic, these two images always go hand in hand.

 

[kc78]

This is how I imagine the OP while typing this post.

Pool Dreaming

 

[fsu1jreed]

Originally posted by RTM58:

Pros

Cons

Am I the only one that can't see the Pro pic?

 

[jeffy]

Homeowners insurance is higher when you have a pool, just as it is when you have a trampoline.

 

[hatsbo]

I have a 3 acre pond behind my house, so great views and low maintenance. Biggest letdown so far is it's got several streams and a large spring feeding it, which keeps the ice too thin in the winter for me to skate on.

 

[FreeFlyNole]

I grew up part of my childhood years and teenaged years with a pool, and the house I rented at FSU for 2 years had one, and worked as a lifeguard for years, so I have a ton of experience cleaning chlorine pools. It sucks.

My in-laws have a salt pool, it's a lot less work, but more expensive on the start up end, and you still have to buy maintenance chemicals.

We spent 7 months looking for a house, and we put a list together of exactly what we wanted and a pool was a hot topic.

Because we have a 1yo and a 3yo, we decided against a pool, but wanted a neighborhood with a community pool, which is exactly what we have. Sure HOAs can be a bit of a pain, but it's the best option, not to many hot MILFs on the Spacecoast but I sure like not having to clean a pool.

 

[FSUTribe76]

Originally posted by OrlandNole:
Growing up, we swam in natural pools all the time. We called them "lakes".

If course.

But the point of a natural pool is that you don't need to waste a lot of money on highly toxic chemicals and high cost filtration system if you have an appropriately balanced ecosystem. I build them all the time in my aquariums and the big part of my enjoyment of that hobby comes from "playing God" and creating a stable and almost selfsufficient ecosystem. So doing that on a large scale making sure you've got the right plants for nitrate and phosphate "transportation" and the correct balance of animal life from the biggest fish to smallest bacteria is what is fun for me.

Plus...a well maintained and fully functional natural pool looks 100000000x better than the concrete sterile pools.

 

[goldmom]

We had pools from the time our kids were in second grade and kindergarden, after they had a couple of summers of swim lessons. Even when no one used it for weeks at a time, we enjoyed having them. Our dogs LOVED them. And when our kids were in high school and college and away all the time, we loved to skinny dip and whatever else under the stars.

 

[wdnole]

Originally posted by FSUTribe76:
Depending upon where I move to, we might get a natural pool. I wasn't all that interested in a straight forward pool but instead wanted a koi pool to complement my coral reef, cold water marine and freshwater aquariums, but I see there's growing interest in merging the two. And it's actually much lower cost to create a natural pool than a chemical pool (even a "saltwater" version).

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g1146/natural-swimming-pools/

This sounds pretty interesting, but looking at those photos I think I would still be tempted to put a pump and a DI filter on some of them, just to eliminate any turbidity.

Back when I was in CC I was doing some lawn maintenance work and this one condo we did had the nicest pond. Very clear water that tempted you to jump in for a dip after mowing for a few hours (I wasn't permitted though!). I found out that they did have a filtration system but did not add any chemicals. I'm sure it was not unique, but I personally haven't noticed a pond like it since.

And yes, that pond was good for me... I just wasn't good enough for that pond

This post was edited on 3/18 5:50 PM by wdnole

 

[seminoledq]

Originally posted by FSUTribe76:

Originally posted by OrlandNole:
Growing up, we swam in natural pools all the time. We called them "lakes".

If course.

But the point of a natural pool is that you don't need to waste a lot of money on highly toxic chemicals and high cost filtration system if you have an appropriately balanced ecosystem. I build them all the time in my aquariums and the big part of my enjoyment of that hobby comes from "playing God" and creating a stable and almost selfsufficient ecosystem. So doing that on a large scale making sure you've got the right plants for nitrate and phosphate "transportation" and the correct balance of animal life from the biggest fish to smallest bacteria is what is fun for me.

Plus...a well maintained and fully functional natural pool looks 100000000x better than the concrete sterile pools.

In addition to the bacteria and fish, don't forget to stock it with at least one gator

 

[Deerfuel2]

Originally posted by Dr. Nole:

The pool was wonderful when kids were younger...used it all the time. Now that one in college and the other in High School not much use at all.

My situation as well. Bought a place at the beach a couple of years ago and I didn't know if anyone has even been in the pool since
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[jamnolfin]

Originally posted by Deerfuel2:

Originally posted by Dr. Nole:

The pool was wonderful when kids were younger...used it all the time. Now that one in college and the other in High School not much use at all.

My situation as well. Bought a place at the beach a couple of years ago and I didn't know if anyone has even been in the pool since
Posted from Rivals Mobile

I live 2 blocks from the gulf but still use the pool.

 

[djinklude]

I plaster pools in Nashville TN and I would love to hear feedback on the cost of switching from using chlorine to a Salt system. We have customers who ask all the time but most people have used them for only a couple of years here so we have no real data.

 

[DanC78]

Cons: cleaning it, toddlers could drown and die very easily if you're not watching like a hawk.

Pros: plenty of pros
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[NolaNole9]

Originally posted by djinklude:
I plaster pools in Nashville TN and I would love to hear feedback on the cost of switching from using chlorine to a Salt system. We have customers who ask all the time but most people have used them for only a couple of years here so we have no real data.

Can emeraldnole work with you?
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[semifan1]

My GF bought a house with a pool I worked on that thing redoing the plumbing and keeping it up. She also bought the house with no garage. I told her this will be a rental. Who the hell buys a house with no garage. Ugh
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[skramer100]

Originally posted by djinklude:
I plaster pools in Nashville TN and I would love to hear feedback on the cost of switching from using chlorine to a Salt system. We have customers who ask all the time but most people have used them for only a couple of years here so we have no real data.

Not 100%, but pretty sure it is just the cost of the autopilot system and the salt generator. Plus the initial dump of salt which isn't too bad.

http://www.autopilot.com

 

[ncnole1975]

Originally posted by NolaNole9:

Originally posted by djinklude:
I plaster pools in Nashville TN and I would love to hear feedback on the cost of switching from using chlorine to a Salt system. We have customers who ask all the time but most people have used them for only a couple of years here so we have no real data.

Can emeraldnole work with you?
Posted from Rivals Mobile

Underrated post. Hahaha
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[MVT ATLANTA]

Originally posted by djinklude:
I plaster pools in Nashville TN and I would love to hear feedback on the cost of switching from using chlorine to a Salt system. We have customers who ask all the time but most people have used them for only a couple of years here so we have no real data.

Most salt systems range from $600-1200. Then you have installation and salt. So maybe another $75-100. Most vendors run deals though.

They are easy to install, you'll just need 12" of uninterupted PVC line (no turns) to ensure good water flow through the cell. I had a Goldline(Hayward) on my pool and it was great.

Like Free mentioned, you'll still need other maintenance chems like acid, stabilizer, phosphate removers and such.

 

[Bartdog]

you'll spend a lot of time dropping acid.

 

[Bud Fox]

Growing up, I managed a number of large chlorine based pools, with both DE & sand filtration.

The real problem here in Florida is that Chlorine (or if you use HGH) really burns up fast in the Florida heat., a ton of maintenance work.

My In Laws had a salt system installed a few years ago, and as far as maintenance goes, it has been amazing, and the salt system has done a great job stabilizing the PH as well.

I have acid washed their pool twice since 1996, and it looks amazing.

I will definitely be getting a salt water based system when we buy our next house.

 

[Nolebra Kai]

We had a pool growing up and it was great. My wife didn't so she really wanted a pool when we were looking for a house. It doesn't take a lot if time to take care of it. We installed a salt system and it reduced the maintenance time a lot. The only annoying thing is the pollen falling through the screen into the pool and replacing panels on the screen.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[dero316]

Isn't Cob working on a new non chlorine pool filter invention?