Some questions about a large, inflatable pool?

Intex Pool questions!?

• I've been reading and comparison shopping for a few days now but still have a few unanswered questions! Any help is MUCH appreciated! First off- my yard is level (enough- I walked around and inspected area- it looks perfect). The pool is for my husband and I and my twin 13 year old girls. I know it's not going to be a diving or lap pool- but still want room and depth to play. I was leaning towards the Easy Set Inflatable- but the more I read, I think I should go for the sturdier metal frame (probably 15X4ft water level). My land is in a wooded area (the area for pool is in clearing) and there are occasional branches, animals... 1. Do I need power supply 24 hours? Will be running utility cord from Garage. 2. This model doesn't come with a ground cover, but does come with a cover which everyone has complained about. Maybe I should lay the cover down as a ground cover and buy a different top cover? 3. Can this type of pool be taken down at end of summer? (I know the inflatable one can) 4. What extras should I buy when I get the pool? (ie: glue for patches, filters, chemicals, solar panel, sturdier ladder, etc...) I am not going to be heartbroken if this pool only lasts one summer. It costs the same as an annual pool membership. I just want to make the best choice. Any extra advice/suggestions is greatly appreciated! I've seen people offer extra points for best answers- I don't know how to do it- but if you tell me and give the best answer, I'd give you 1,000 points if I could! Thanks again!

• Answer:

  I have the Intex 16' x 3.5' with inflatable ring. I'm not sure what you mean by "sturdier" but 3 years ago, we had what they called the "100 yr flood". My pool was overflowing, but didn't collapse. I decided against the metal frame type because I've seen the metal legs buckle under pressure, causing problems. And since I have no experience with the metal frame ones, I'm not sure if they're any more difficult to level or not. In my opinion, the fewer the pieces, the fewer things to go wrong. But that's just me. Yeah, I had problems with my top cover, too. But I always thought that it was because I'm by myself and had no one to help me with it. The ground cover is simply a big tarp. I see no reason why you couldn't use the top cover for a ground cover, especially if you're going to invest in a solar cover. That may come in handy if there will be a lot of shade that might prevent the water from heating all day. Most of these pools come with a small patch kit, but you will need filters and chemicals. Walmart sells a basic maintenance kit with a variety pack of chemicals and sampling sticks. Depending on your water, you may need more of 1 type chemical than another. But shock and chlorine are basics. My sister had the 18' version of my 16' one. Hers came with more extras, a bigger pump, and sturdier ladder. But that's your decision. One of the extras that I have no regrets of investing in was a thermometer. I kept it tied to a rung of the ladder, so i wouldn't have to chase it down to read it. Another thing I bought was an inflatable cooler, but I didn't use it for drinks. Because it has an inflatable lid, I used it for my cell phone, asthma inhaler, goggles and towel. Also, a large plastic pan, such as a cat litter pan, can be filled with water and placed at the bottom of the ladder. Comes in handy for rinsing feet. Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy your pool.