OT - Need some advice on inground pools

caliking

Just thought of something that may be useful.

Confirm that the builder will add unions between the pump motors and pool plumbing. Makes it easier to swap out motors in the future. Many (most?) builders may already be doing this. 

GrateEggspectations

caliking said:

Just thought of something that may be useful.

Confirm that the builder will add unions between the pump motors and pool plumbing. Makes it easier to swap out motors in the future. Many (most?) builders may already be doing this. 

Thanks for mentioning! Company is coming to survey our backyard and plan it out Thursday, so this is helpful as I build my list of questions.

GrateEggspectations

Quick update to all who previously chimed in....

We’ve committed to a pool and are looking at installation for June 2021. The healthy  skeptic in me says that we’ll be lucky if we get it by fall 2021.

Only have a few residual decisions to make - one of which is whether we go 14x28 or, my preferred option (with an added cost), 15x30, either or which would be a flat back kidney. I think there’s more chance I’ll regret having gone smaller than the alternative. So bigger may be better in this case.  

Once again, a sincere thanks to those who shared their experience. 

SGH

nolaegghead said:

Nah.  3000 ppm salt is technically salt water

We call that brackish 

Mark_B_Good

GrateEggspectations said:

Quick update to all who previously chimed in....

We’ve committed to a pool and are looking at installation for June 2021. The healthy  skeptic in me says that we’ll be lucky if we get it by fall 2021.

Only have a few residual decisions to make - one of which is whether we go 14x28 or, my preferred option (with an added cost), 15x30, either or which would be a flat back kidney. I think there’s more chance I’ll regret having gone smaller than the alternative. So bigger may be better in this case.  

Once again, a sincere thanks to those who shared their experience. 

I have a huge backyard ... I went with 14 x 28 only because they had a standard design ready to go ... not due to space constraints ... you will not even notice the difference to a 15 x 30 really.  And the cool thing is about a 14 x 28, is that you can build an ice rink over it using 2x10 x 16 feet (gives you 1 ft of overhang on each side) ... 15ft wide pool, and the joists only have 6" overhang on each side ... starts getting a bit nerve racking!

kl8ton

If I was a pool installer sales guy,  I'd be telling everyone June 2021 until at least July 1st anyway. 😁

More pool equals less mowing!

jonessteave

For a climate like Ottawa’s, fiberglass pools are often a better choice due to their durability and resistance to damage from freezing temperatures. They generally require less maintenance compared to steel walls with vinyl liners, which can be more vulnerable to extreme cold. Regarding chemicals, a saltwater system is typically gentler on the pool and easier to maintain long-term, though it does involve a higher initial cost. Chlorine systems are effective but may require more frequent maintenance and can be harsher on both the pool and the environment. For the best advice specific to your situation, consider consulting a local pool contractor near me who can offer tailored recommendations based on your climate and preferences.

lousubcap

And then along came jonesy.  With the edit on cue.  

Mark_B_Good

jonessteave said:

For a climate like Ottawa’s, fiberglass pools are often a better choice due to their durability and resistance to damage from freezing temperatures. They generally require less maintenance compared to steel walls with vinyl liners, which can be more vulnerable to extreme cold. Regarding chemicals, a saltwater system is typically gentler on the pool and easier to maintain long-term, though it does involve a higher initial cost. Chlorine systems are effective but may require more frequent maintenance and can be harsher on both the pool and the environment. For the best advice specific to your situation, consider consulting a local pool contractor near me who can offer tailored recommendations based on your climate and preferences.

Wait is this click bait?

I wouldn't say vinyl is a worse choice than fiberglass ... I've seen fiberglass pools crack ... and then you throw them away.

Vinyl is pretty flexible, and has a lot of give when it comes to freezing conditions. Down in the Greater Toronto Area, it's definitely one of the more popular choices, and we have enough bad (cold) weather for it to be a challenge here.  I've owned Vinyl Pools here for 15 years ... and ZERO issues. Easy to maintain. Probably should mention that the vinyl will need to be replaced every 8 to 10 years ... other than that,  it's pretty straight forward.

Also, I have a salt water chlorinator ... and I'd say as long as you get the right (quality) brand ... they work well. The electrode needs to be replaced every 5 years, but other than that ... it works like a dream. I literally only have to put pH down in the pool once or twice the whole summer (if it rains a lot) ... other than that, it takes care of itself.

caliking

For once, ol' jonesy may have done something good. 

@Mark_B_Good - do you have any tips to share re: salt water chlorinators? I'm thinking of converting, and have just started researching brands, cost, etc. 

Mark_B_Good

caliking said:

For once, ol' jonesy may have done something good. 

@Mark_B_Good - do you have any tips to share re: salt water chlorinators? I'm thinking of converting, and have just started researching brands, cost, etc. 

Yeah for sure.  The pool company I built my last two pools utilized Zodiac salt water chlorinators, and specifically the DuoClear Salt System (Zodiac DuoClear | Zodiac Pool Systems).  It is very GOOD ... very reliable. Salt cell needs to be replaced every 5 years, but other than that, you add salt at beginning of season (in Canada, after winter ... otherwise for year round, just top up salt once every 6 months??) ... and walk away!

I have heard of other people using other brands ... with disappointment, to the point they do not recommend using salt chlorinators ... I can tell you, the DuoClear is amazing ... had it on two pools for past 15 years, and no issues.

GrateEggspectations

@Mark_B_Good

That’s a very reassuring review. 

kl8ton

Running a residential pool would be way less stressful.  I am contemplating ditching my salt cells and going to liquid chlorine on our commercial pool.  Right now I am manually dosing with liquid chlorine as the whole computer/sensor system is jacked up.

Ozzie_Isaac

I had salt cells, I went through 2 in 3 years.  My new pool I really screwed up and got a tablet feeder.  Every tablet has stabilizer in them and my CYA level was off the charts.  Finally got that resolved and am back to just liquid chlorine.  I am contemplating going back to Salt Cells.  That seems to be the lowest maintenance, lowest cost setup (when it works).

caliking

Thanks for the tip @Mark_B_Good. I will look into the DuoClear SWG.

@Ozzie_Isaac - that's kind of where I am now... CYA is quite high, and I feel like I'm a hamster in a wheel trying to keep up with chlorine in the pool. It's getting old. 

Fred19Flintstone

Here’s my pool story:
The first Mrs. Flintstone wanted a pool when we moved to Flint.  We found a place with an inground pool (steel walls with vinyl liner) and we bought it.  My wife loved swimming and so did my daughter.  Then my wife had another bout with cancer which she lost.  I met the current Mrs Flintstone and she grew up in South Florida.  Our pool was heated with a solar cover, but never got warm enough to suit Wilma except for 3-4 weeks per year.  I ended up wearing compression stockings for my circulation issues so swimming became a rarity for me.  My daughter and her friends used the pool, but getting her to help clean it was a big chore.  To motivate her, I started saying, “You know, I could have the pool filled in if you don’t want to help me clean it.”

She would say, “No, no!  I’ll help you.”  That worked for 2-3 years.  Then she got tired of it all and called my bluff.  “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

I don’t miss the hassle, the high cost of the chemicals and the repair bills (because something would go wrong frequently with that pool).

Sorry for the negativity.