In-Ground Pool Owners?

[Anybodyhome]

I had a 16x32 when I lived in Greensboro years ago and it wasn't that complicated or costly to maintain. But that was 1995 - 1998.

 

Bought a new house with a huge backyard that would leave plenty of room even after a pool and the surrounding concrete deck.

 

Anyone here had one installed within the past few years and can you tell me how much the chemicals cost these days?

[Inimicus]

I too would be very interested in this info.  Ive got a half acre back yard that I'm very interested in sinking a pool in.

 

Ive looked at a couple of online resources but the cost estimators make it sound like its cheaper to bury a Aston Martin Vanquish in the back yard than dig a pool.

[Cat]

Our pool is amazingly easy. It's a gunite pool. I add chlorine to the little fish that floats around our pool every 3 or so weeks. We backwash and burn it about every 5- 6 weeks and when we take the pool water in to get checked it's always in great shape. We don't shut it down for the winter, it just runs at night or when it gets below 40 degrees out (i think). Ocassionally it will get algae if we get too lazy but it goes away quickly.

 

I say we spend no more than $150 a year on pool chemicals. Chlorine tablets, fiber clear and whatever we use to burn it with.

[thefuzz]

Go with a salt water pool.

 

I would guess about 30-40 grand to install.

[g5jamz]

Salt water systems are the rage, but we haven't switched over. 

 

Pools can be as much as you want to put into them.  Rock work around them...cascading waterfall on one end.  Kidney shaped.  One was at our house when we bought it...can't recall dimensions, but around 24-25,000 gallons.  I'd say if I'm completely out of chemicals at pool opening (Memorial day or prior), I'm looking about a hundred bucks in startup chemicals and another 75 to 100 for the 3" tablets we throw in the skimmer.  Those last a long time and get used up depending on the weather...sun/rain/etc.  Don't know power consumption, but I did wire up a timer so it doesn't run 24/7 nowadays. 

 

I don't know what the basement price is getting into an inground pool.  The way they've designed the newer ones being all fiberglass inserts (basically a big tub), I wonder if they're cheaper.  Vinyl or concrete construction has to cost more I would think.  Kids love the pool...good for parties.

[Johnny Rockets]

We have a 20,000 gallon (think it's 16' 32') and converted to saltwater this year. Not sure why it wasn't done sooner. Water stays crystal clear and costs about $25 a year in maintenance. 3 bags of salt when you open it and maybe a bag mid year (if at all) and that is it. No more chemicals, no testing, no cleaning and you feel cleaner after the pool than when you get out of the shower because the water is so "soft".

 

Cost for a new one would be about $30K on average I would think  but I wouldn't think about installing a new one that isn't salt. Just my personal opinion.  

 

Screw it...time to open a beer and hit the pool. Not sure I could survive without having one.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hawk]

is that a turd?

[Davidson Deac II]

I have a 16x36 inground.  The chemicals aren't all that expensive (I spent about 200 this year during swimming season), but make sure you keep it cleaned out, and the water balanced.  And you might want to cut away any trees. Leaves in the pool increase chemical cost.  And sometimes ice storms cause branches to fall in breaking your vinly liner. 

 

And btw, avoid vinyl liners.  :)

 

I have heard good things about salt water pools.

[Anybodyhome]

Thanks for the input... so, some specific questions:

1. a salt water pool isn't really salt water as much as it is a soft water pool?

2. filter systems? I had a sand filter previously- how much effect on the electric bill?

 

btw, very nice Johnny Rockets, exactly all I need is right there in your pic...

[Johnny Rockets]

is that a turd?

LOL...nah that is Chalie Sheen. He is my temp guage that has a shark on top wearing sunglasses. He has this grin on his face that makes him look like the pool pervert as he floats around.

[Hawk]

ya...ok...he's the pool pervert.....riiiigghhhttt!!!

[2jakefansinva]

is that a turd?

 

don't know but.......somebody left a sh*t stain on that corn-hole board.

[Johnny Rockets]

Thanks for the input... so, some specific questions:

1. a salt water pool isn't really salt water as much as it is a soft water pool?

2. filter systems? I had a sand filter previously- how much effect on the electric bill?

 

btw, very nice Johnny Rockets, exactly all I need is right there in your pic...

1. Right, you don't really taste any salt or chlorine. I heard it is less than 10% of true salt water but not sure how true that is. My parents have a soft water system in their house and it feels very similar. I wouldn't drink the pool water though. : )  

 

2. The filter system I am not sure about because we had a guy do the conversion. I don't think the filtration system itself changes at all. They just install the salt water cell and do some plumbing/electrical work. No real change to the electric bill really. I guess you could lower it by not running the pump as much but we run it all day and shut it off at night.  

[Davidson Deac II]

Thanks for the input... so, some specific questions:

1. a salt water pool isn't really salt water as much as it is a soft water pool?

2. filter systems? I had a sand filter previously- how much effect on the electric bill?

 

btw, very nice Johnny Rockets, exactly all I need is right there in your pic...

 

I run mine 24x7 from about mid may to mid sep.  The electric bill increases by about a hundred a month, but according to the duke power estimate that comes in my bill, only about $25 of that is due to the pump, the rest is due to running the AC more in the summer.  I am not sure how accurate it is though.