3 common mistakes above ground pool owners make

Mistake # 1: Not having the pool installed correctly.

This is great. A poorly installed pool is almost always more difficult to maintain and it can also be dangerous for your children to swim in it.

If you are installing yourself, be sure to follow all instructions and be sure to ask questions when in doubt. This is the age of computers, all your questions have probably been asked and answered, it’s just a matter of finding the right information.

No matter who installs the pool, start checking the level early on, when there is only a few inches of water in the pool. Take a tape measure from the top rail to the top of the water. Do this around the pool. The measurement must be within one inch. There is no point in continuing to fill if the pool is not level.

One of the most common questions I get asked is “My pool is a number x inches of elevation, is it safe?” There are too many factors to give an affirmative or negative answer. For example, if the pool is three feet deep, it wouldn’t matter much. But the point is that you do not fill a pool that is not level, do not waste the water, because whether the pool is safe or not, you will not be happy with it.

I’ve written a lot about what to look for with professional installers and how to get the job done right if you decide to do it yourself. It doesn’t matter who builds the pool, watch how it fills up. Not only do you want to control the level, but you should also be looking at anything that may not seem correct. In oval pools, watch for indentations under the liner in the area of ​​the pressure plates. Also take a close look at the side braces, they should stay upright and not start to arch.

With a round pool, watch the studs, they should all be straight up and down in all directions. If they start to change, there could be problems. Look at the bottom rails, are they all sitting on firm ground and remain that way? Look inside the pool for indentations, especially in the cove area. Anything other than a perfectly installed pool could be a red flag.

Mistake # 2: Not learning how to care for a pool.

After installation, all the questions come about why my filter is not working, why is my water green, why are there holes in the bottom of my pool, etc.

Now that your pool is installed, you need to learn how to care for it. Is your filter not working? Will, most do. True, many pools come with underpowered units and upgrading is a priority. But before you do, try running the filter for more hours a day. Some units need 24/7 to keep the pool clean. Try different runtimes before giving up your filter.

Certain types of algae will get through most filters, this is not the filter’s fault, the algae need to be killed. If you vacuum the pool only to find the bottom just as dirty ten minutes later, that’s your problem, the algae.

To properly maintain your pool, you need to learn about filter maintenance and water chemistry. Failing to become an expert at both will incur high expenses at the pool shop for years to come. Gaining knowledge in these areas will reward you with a clean, sanitized pool that you and your family can enjoy for years and years, without breaking the bank with repairs and buying chemicals.

Error n. 3: do not garden around the pool.

This is very important and yet it is often not done. You need three feet around your pool that is grass and weed free. The best way to do this is with landscaping plastic and decorative rocks. You can build a barrier, line the interior with plastic, and fill it with stone.

Doing this will help prevent cove flushing, weeds and grass growing through the liner, critters entering and under the liner, and many more pool mishaps.

Landscaping is another expense, but it is worth it if you plan to enjoy your pool in the distant future, such as beyond the next month.

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