Buying your first pool can be a daunting task. There are so many options that it can be overwhelming. There are several factors you can take into account as you make your decision.
How much space do I need for a pool?
The above ground pool has many advantages over an inground pool. Above ground pools can moved if necessary. While that isn’t usually a something you think about when it comes to pools, it can be a big bonus if you would need to use your yard for something other than a big pond of water.
Water will reveal the slightest slope in your yard so you need to choose a space that is almost perfectly level. If your yard is out of level by more than an inch or 2 you will need to add top soil or sand to level off the pool area.
With an above ground pool you don’t need a lot of room but you should consider its placement carefully. Even the smallest of pools will hold hundreds of gallons of water. An Intex EasySet 18 foot by 48 inches (high) pool holds roughly 5,400 gallons of water. Yes, 5,400 gallons! You don’t want that water ending up in your house if something happens to your pool.
One nice advantage to the 18 foot round Intex EasySet pool is that it doesn’t require a fenced in yard. Check your local ordinances for confirmation as this could vary from place to place. In our area we are free to have the above ground pool without a fence as long as we put the ladder away when we aren’t monitoring the pool.
>> Check here for the lowest prices on the Intex EasySet 18 x 48 Pool <<
This is the easiest pool to maintain once you know what to do.
How big of a pool do I need?
Choosing the right size above ground pool isn’t as hard as it may seem. If you plan on buying a pool so that your kids can enjoy swimming in the summer then think more short-term. If you kids are under 10 you can start with a smaller pool that they will feel comfortable in. The out of pocket for above ground pools is very economical. It may only cost you $25-50 per year over the time you own and use the pool.
My kids are over 10 so we invested in the Intex Easy Set 18 x 48 pool that I mentioned above. We bought it for around $400 which isn’t cheap but we were paying almost $300 a year for a family pass to the local swim club. We have had our pool for over 3 years now so it’s been worth it. I’ll get into the steps I take to maintain our pool. Our water is crystal clear all summer long.
How much should I spend on an above ground pool?
As I mentioned above, we paid about $400 for the 18 foot round pool. It’s not a super huge pool but it is the biggest above ground Easy Set pools you can get. Our kids and their friends pack into it and have plenty of room.
What you want to pay on your above ground pool is up to you. If you follow the my maintenance plan your pool should last at least 5 years. The Easy Set pools are not permanent fixtures so keep that in mind. Maintenance is minimal but you still need to take care of it or like anything else it won’t last as long as it is designed to.
Can I install my pool by myself?
Yes but it will be a lot harder and take a lot longer. If you have a helper it will cut the installation down quite a bit. Our pool takes about an hour to setup and get ready for the water truck. We pay to have the water delivered. It takes minutes as apposed to hours of letting the house hose run. We pay about $140 to have our pool filled up. That’s about 5,400 gallons.
Do I need to be a chemical expert to manage a pool?
Heck no. I’ll be first to admit the information that Intex gives you is lacking and confusing. That is why I created this website. Once you know what to do maintaining your pool water is a breeze. There is other options besides using chlorine in your pool.
Should I get a salt water system or use chlorine in my pool?
We have tried both. Initially I thought I liked the salt water system. The bags of salt were heavy but they were cheap. That part was easy. The system however needed constant maintenance. If you didn’t maintain the salt water system (in addition to the normal pump) your water would suffer.
Intex Easy Set Salt Water System
It’s really a personal preference if you want the salt water system or not. It will require more maintenance.
Do I need to be handy to install a pool?
Not necessarily. The Intex Easy Set pools are really easy to set up when you know what to do. It is always better to have helpers. The pool can be quite heavy even without the water in it. There aren’t that many connections or parts to assemble for the pool so the skill level on a handyman scale is probably a 3 out of 10.
Where should I buy my pool?
They sell Intex pools a lot of places. Click here to see what I bought from Amazon. It was supposed to be a surprise for my kids but Amazon was so darn fast that it showed up in less than 2 days. I have Amazon Prime so my shipping was also free.
It was a complete package including the ladder and the pump. The pump is a 1,500 gallon pump and it works perfectly. You could upgrade that if you want but the 1,500 gallon pump will work just fine. You’ll also want to get a skimmer. It’s not included.
Intex Deluxe Skimmer for Easy Set Pools
