Install Above Ground Pools FAQs, answered by experts
Unless you have an alternative to chlorine in your pool to prevent bacteria and viruses from taking up residence in your water, it’s not safe to swim in a pool without enough chlorine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swimming in a pool with insufficient chlorine could lead to skin and eye irritation, ear issues, respiratory distress, such as coughing and congestion, and various other health issues. Always make sure your chlorine levels are healthy and stable before swimming for proper pool safety.
Both above ground and inground pools can have pool liners. Inground pools made of gunite don’t need pool liners, and you’ve probably walked along an unlined pool and felt the ripples and ridges on the floors and walls. But adding a liner over gunite or other pool types helps protect the wall panels from algae growth.
A 24-foot diameter pool is the most popular size for a round above ground model, while 15 by 30 feet is a common choice for oval-shaped pools. However, you'll find round sizes everywhere between 8 and 33 feet. Oval pools range up to 21 by 41 feet but can be customized to stretch much longer. Choosing the right size will come down to where you can level your yard and how many swimmers plan to use the pool at a given time.
Yes, you will need to shock your pool with high levels of chlorine or bromine when you first fill it to kill off bacteria and pathogens. You’ll need to wait for the chlorine concentration to come back down to a safe level before swimming. After that, you can test and maintain the chlorine and other levels as normal. The only exception to this is if you get pool water delivered by a professional. In that case, the water might come pretreated, so you might not need to shock it.
Yes, it’s possible to DIY a plunge pool and shave labor costs off of the project total. If you’re considering a DIY build, keep in mind that you will be responsible for pool installation and landscaping (which may require excavation). This type of DIY project is best left to particularly handy homeowners who have prior pool installation experience.
The Milnor, ND homeowners’ guide to above ground pool installation services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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