A qualified pool contractor who is familiar with local regulations can assess your yard and let you know if it’s feasible to install a pool. Whether or not your yard is suitable for a pool depends on a number of factors, including the size of your yard, the placement of utility lines, your yard’s terrain, and more. It’s a good idea to see if it’s even possible to put a pool on your property before you get too far into planning.

There are three types of pool filters—cartridge, sand, and D.E. (diatomaceous earth). Cartridge and sand filters are the most popular types and are affordable and easy to maintain. D.E. filters are more expensive and require more maintenance, but they are also very good at filtering out small particles.

Your pool should only lose around 1/4 of an inch of water per day, give or take. More wind, sunlight, and heat will cause this number to increase, while rainy or cloudy days will decrease the amount of water that evaporates.

The type of sand you need for your sand filter depends on the manufacturer’s instructions, but you’ll need to use sand specifically for pool filters. Silica sand is a wallet-friendly, common choice that’s relatively easy to replace. You’ll choose between various grades of sand and different-sized sand grains.