rebelgtp wrote: Sadly it is not here. Now I'm also not saying that I'm anti pool. I remember this really cool one when my dad was in real estate where the pool was both indoor and outdoor and there was a glass wall you would swim under to go from one side to the other.
That would be awesome for those times when you lock yourself out of the house. 
last summer my neighbors skipped out on their mortgage and left their pool full, just unplugged it (or the power was turned off) so I ran an extension cord to my place and happily used the pool all summer while the neighbors and the mortgage company decided what to do...
I was sad the day I came home and found it drained
I also have an in-ground pool. It's not that bad if you stay on top of it. I would look into a salt water system. A little higher on buy in, but the overall cost of keeping it is much less. Above ground systems aren't that bad from what I can tell.
Depending on how big the pool is and how much pump you have, you may not have to run the pump and filter as much, which will also save you money. DO NOT UNDERSIZE the pump and filter,if you do, it will be a PITA no matter what. That's the biggest problem I see with most pool packages whether in-ground or above ground.
I'm not sure what it does to our electric bill. We run the pool the same part of the year we run AC, so it's hard to say. That said, we only run the pump maybe 4 hours a day.
Im pretty sure a owning a pool is far more likely to kill your kid than owning a gun. Playing with guns in the pool trumps all! 
You should be able to get a rough estimate of electricity you will use. 1hp=746 watts. With the average efficiency of motors you can figure about 1000 watts per hp. Shouldn't be to hard to figure out rough usage and multiply that by your local rate.
http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm
mad_machine wrote: last summer my neighbors skipped out on their mortgage and left their pool full, just unplugged it (or the power was turned off) so I ran an extension cord to my place and happily used the pool all summer while the neighbors and the mortgage company decided what to do... I was sad the day I came home and found it drained
mmmm, freshly drained pool. mind if i drop in? 
maroon92 wrote: not only if YOU had a kid. there is a stupid law that if a neighborhood kid sees a pool, goes swimming, and drowns...or even injures himself, the owner of the pool is liable...AKA, YOU LOSE YOUR ASS! something about unmitigated attractiveness or something...rule one with pools, put in a locking gate!
It's called an "attractive nuisance" (not to be confused with one of my pre-Wife girlfriends...) It's not a stupid law IMHO, it forces people to make sure that kids, who oftentimes aren't smart enough or old enough to understand all of the dangers of a give situation, can't get into a bad situation.
Oh, and you don't lose your ass, your insurance company pays up. You do have insurance, don't you?
I've been having the pool discussion with my wife also for the last 2 years. I'm still winning, but only because she won't go buy one by herself.
maroon92 wrote: not only if YOU had a kid. there is a stupid law that if a neighborhood kid sees a pool, goes swimming, and drowns...or even injures himself, the owner of the pool is liable...AKA, YOU LOSE YOUR ASS! something about unmitigated attractiveness or something...rule one with pools, put in a locking gate!
Plus eleventy gazillion. We had a pool at the first suburban house we lived in (moved in in 1969), it was surrounded by a 6' brick fence and 2 gates. We came home from a family trip to find that a neighbor across the street had told her kids to go play in the pool. 
My dad FREAKED, understandably. He put locks on both gates the next morning and called his lawyer buddy who informed him that a pool is considered an 'attractive nusiance'. His advice to my dad was keep the locks on the gates, jack up his liability limits and keep his fingers crossed.
914Driver wrote: With a pool you have to do the maintenence whether you use it or not. With a boat you only do maintenence if you use it. a.) There are ample bodies of water in your area. b.) It's a FAMILY thing, picnics on a lonely beach, watching fireworks in your own space, no traffic jams. c.) Kids learn navigation, rules of the road and meet & greet with new people. d.) Fishing & crabbing. e.) Kids don't need chlorine to learn how to swim. You're welcome. Dan
That is funny. I have a pool and a boat.
The dictionary definition of a boat - A hole in the water that you pour money into.
Datsun1500 wrote: Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....
I am not in the US, but my pool added less than $40 a year to my insurance.
The running of the pump and the heater was probably about $600 a year. Last year was not a nice summer or fall and we ran late. I am 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto.
Like somone else said - Get a salt water chlorinator. No chlorine, soft skin, salt is cheap.
pools are nice, but a hot tub is the way to go... and when your done, you throw the cover on and no worries about the toddler next door drowning in it, no extra insurance, etc..ect...
as soon as i find one locally that some one is selling cheap.. its my next investment... my back needs it after working on cars in the little spare time i have..
I love my pond, spring fed, fully stocked. Go for a swim then get dinner
Or then be dinner, if you live in Per's neighborhood.
Duke wrote: Or then be dinner, if you live in Per's neighborhood.
well, the Blue Gills tend to get agressive and will bite you, good thing they only get as big as your hand.
I remember the time a blue gill bit my father's nipple, the resulting levitation was interesting to watch
NGTD wrote:Datsun1500 wrote: Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....I am not in the US, but my pool added less than $40 a year to my insurance. ...I am 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto.
That's because your pool is only a pool for 4 months of the year. The rest of the time, it's a skating rink
My girlfriend in high school had an in-ground pool. It was an excellent reason to get her into a swimsuit. But so was windsurfing. As someone who grew up swimming in lakes, I get bored in pools really quickly. Unless I have a girlfriend in (or, on a couple of memorable occasions, out of) a swimsuit around.
Insurance, most polices specifically exclude pools and trampolines without a rider. Without the rider you're not covered.
Dead squirrels, after fishing several out of the one we had it was hauled to the road for trash pickup. If you have trees, maintenance is daily unless covered. Nothing is worse than spending most summer Saturday mornings fishing leaves and dead squirrels out of the pool, draining it, cleaning it, and refilling it so the kids can tell you the water is too cold to swim in. The only way I will ever have another one is when I can afford to pay someone else to maintain it.(never) Buy a boat, probably not cheaper, but less PITA.
Keith wrote:NGTD wrote:That's because your pool is only a pool for 4 months of the year. The rest of the time, it's a skating rinkDatsun1500 wrote: Before you go any further check to see what your homeowner insurance will be. It will go up a great deal, some companies will not insure you if you have a pool. Might be able to nip it in the bud right there.....I am not in the US, but my pool added less than $40 a year to my insurance. ...I am 3 1/2 hours north of Toronto.
Yup 4 months is about right. It does look a lot like a rink right now!
ignorant wrote: http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm
You know, alot of people die in cars everyday too. If you want a pool, get a pool. If you don't want to deal with it, don't get one.
I saw a commercial for an above ground pool. It was thirty seconds long because that's the maximum amount of time you can picture yourself having fun in an above ground pool. -Mitch Hedberg
ManofFewWords wrote:ignorant wrote: http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htmYou know, alot of people die in cars everyday too. If you want a pool, get a pool. If you don't want to deal with it, don't get one.
Its about realizing the risks and making an informed decision.
Pools are filled with water. Do you know what fish do in water?
neon4891 wrote: well, the Blue Gills tend to get agressive and will bite you, good thing they only get as big as your hand. I remember the time a blue gill bit my father's nipple, the resulting levitation was interesting to watch
be thankful it was only your adams apple. It could have gone for your lure
My inlaws have an above ground that they have fully pimped with a deck, gazebo/cabana plus ceiling fan, lights, etc. It's pretty nice, and I THINK they use it sometimes on their own, but they confess that they put it up as an attraction for us to bring their grandkids over and have them visit. I gotta teach the 4-year-old to swim this summer.
These same folks' neighbor had a kid drown in their pool (edit: neighbors kid, neighbors pool). Pretty much ruined them in any way you can think of- truly a terrible thing to have happen. I wouldn't be able to take the risk.
I'm on board with the hot tub idea, but the wife saw some kind of documentary years back about the kinds of nasty germs that are/can be in those things. Ever since, she's shot me down there.
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