Anything you would have done differently?

We are just beginning the pool process as far as deciding what we want, getting estimates, etc. I know absolutely nothing about inground pools!

For those of you with pools, is there anything you wish you would have done differently as far as options, pool type, etc? I know these installers will come out and make their recommendations, most of which will be to make as much money as possible. I don't want to make this investment only to start wishing we would have done this or done that once we begin using the pool, learning more about it and so on.

If you do in-ground liner, make sure you get fiberglass walls. Out neighbors have galvanized steel and they have rusted through. The crappy pool company came by and patched it with steel patches and then covered with foam. That, of course, accelerated the corrosion and they are now thinking of just filling it in because it's a duck/frog pond now.

I would also make sure the pump is below the water level, if possible. It sure makes re-priming the system easy.

We also went with an IG liner pool with polymer walls; installed in 2004. It made sense that they would hold up better in the ground over steel (we are on the coast so the ground water table is high).

Our dealer also recommended oversizing the filter. That turned out to be a good thing. My DE filter will go all season on a single charge.

I'm also happy we went with a SWCG (Aqua Rite). I don't enjoy maintenance, so anything that makes it easier is a good thing for me. :D

There are few things I would have done different:

1. Have the equipment spread out more on a larger pad to make access easier. It's going to be a real pain should we have to replace anything that requires plumbing work.

2. We went with a mesh safety cover based on the dealer's recommendation. Based on my experience I wish we would have opted for a solid cover. With the mesh cover spring cleaner was much more work. Also I had to wait until the water was cold enough before closing and open before the water warmed to avoid algae issues. This meant closing in December and opening by the first of March. That meant 4 months out of the year where the pool was running, requiring maintenance, when it wasn't being used. After a few years dealing with that I bought a large, inexpensive tarp size solid cover to put over the mesh cover. Now I can open and close when I wish (I open in May and close the first of October) and spring cleanup is much easier.

3. The pool package included a Hayward Viper automatic cleaner with a booster pump. I was never really that satisfied with its performance. Not knowing any better, I figured that's just the way those cleaners are. A few seasons ago I replaced it with a Polaris 280 (it was an easy swap since we already had the booster pump and required plumbing/hookup). It performs much better than the Viper ever did. So if your looking to get an automatic cleaner (I would have a pool without one!) consider the Polaris.

Oh, and the only other thing I would have done differently is not have waited so long to get a pool (we hesitated for almost 10 years before deciding to "take the plunge". ;) )!

You have the advantage of knowing about this forum to help you. I didn't discover it until some years after getting a pool, so the first few years of maintenance was a pain (and expensive). Since finding this site and following the recommendations, maintenance has been much cheaper and easier. :)

Good luck. :)

I would have hired the engineer BEFORE I had my base built, not after when there was a fear it was too small.

I would have kept the same pump but gotten a 300# sand filter rather than a 200# one

Just the kind of info I was wanting...any others?