Need some swimming pool advice.

[RWD]

I'm considering buying a pool but I'm clueless as far as equipment and maintenence It will probably be a 21' round pool near the back of my house. I'm going to build a deck on the back of the house that will go up to the pool. My questions are:

How much will my electric bill go up? The pool filter that come with the pool's that I'm looking at are 1-1/2 hp pumps. I pay around 10 cents per KW for electric. How many kw in a hp?

What about chemicals? What can I expect to pay per month for chemicals with low to moderate usage?

Filter type? I'm clueless about filters. The pool store showed me three types but I don't want to rely on a salesman to tell me the truth. Are sand filters any good? What about other types?

Filter size. Is a 1-1/2 hp filter enough for a 20' pool 4' deep? overkill? Some have a 2 speed pump, is this a good option?

Anything else I should know or be asking?
Thanks,
Bob

[Rick O]

H Bob,

When we were looking for a house in 1998 we weren't looking for one with a pool. But the house we fell in love with had a pool. Everyone we talked to said stay away from a pool, they're expensive to maintain, they're a lot of work, and in general they're a PITA. The thing is that none of these people had a pool or had ever owned one. They couldn't have been farther from the truth. We love our pool and spend a lot of time in it and lounging around it. We spend about $300 per season on chemicals and it requires about 30 minutes of work each week for maintenance. I test the water about every third day and adjust the chemicals then. I brush and vacuum on the weekends.

Our pool is 27,000 gallons, inground, vinyl liner, with a sand filter. Since the pool was already here we didn't get to make any of the choices you can make. If I had a chance to change some things here is what I would do. I would consider gunite for an inground instead of vinyl. Our liner developed a big wrinkle in it a couple winters ago. It doesn't affect the pool but it is ugly. Our pumps and filter are located too close to the deck and pool. I usually run the filters in the day time to keep the bugs out and the noise is bothersome at times.

I have no complaints about a sand filter. The sand is supposed to be changed every 5 years which is quite a chore but the filter works well. I can't comment on the cost of electricity. My pump runs for 12 hours a day and draws 7.5 amps at 230 volts. Not much compared to a reef tank.

I buy all of my supplies from Leslie's Pool Supply. They are a national chain and they have good prices and a knowledgeable staff. If you have one close by you could ask them some specific questions about equipment and they should be able to give you good advice.

Have fun with your pool. You'll love it.

[RWD]

Rick,
Thanks for the info. I should have said it's a above ground pool I would LOVE an inground pool but access to the back yard is very limited and a backhoe wouldn't be able to get back there to dig
$300 a year for chemicals is not bad, it's the electricity I'm worried about. Our per KWH rate is high at about .10 and I'm still trying to figure out how much power the correct pump would use. I'm guessing it would add about $80-100 per month to the bill.

[Doug1]

Hey Bob, can you get the make and model of pump and maybe the amp rating. Then someone could give you at least a ball park figure on cost

[Rick O]

I can help you figure you're electrical costs for running the pump. You will need to know the motor voltage and amp draw. You already know your electrical rate is $.10 kWh. In your post you said $.10 per kilowatt but I'm assuming you meant $.10 per kilowatthour.

I'll use the info from my pump for this example. Multiply the voltage by the amp draw to get watts.

230 volts X 7.0 amps = 1610 watts.

One kilowatthour is 1000 watts used for one hour.

1610 watts divided by 1000 = 1.61 kilowatthours.

I run my pump for 12 hours per day so 1.61 kilowatthours X 12 hours = 19.32 kWh per day.

19.32 X $.10 = $1.93 per day to run my pump.

HTH.

[Doug1]

Good job, don't forget to factor in heater caost if it has one

[RWD]

Thanks Rick and Doug. I'm going back to the pool store this week and I will get those numbers and figure it out. I've been looking online at various pool pumps to get a ballpark figure but no one lists the amps or watts, just hp Thanks again.

[Rick O]

I had to dig in my textbooks to find this but 1 horsepower = 746 watts.

[RWD]

Good news---- ordered a 21' pool.
Bad news--- it will be about 2 weeks before it's installed
The temp here has been in the low-mid 90's with very high humidity. The heat index is 105+ A month ago it was in the 50's.

[Alice]

...when's the pool party?

Congrats!

Alice

[RWD]

Last one in is a rotten egg............:-)
Well what started out as a simple pool is now a major project. I now am building a deck from the back of the house to the pool. A 6' fence is next When does it end?

[Rick O]

Originally posted by RWD
When does it end?

When the turbo powered blender is installed.

[dark horge]

Oh.
You wait 'til the moment I leave Chicagoland...

THEN you have a pool installed.




Wooooo---kay.

[RWD]

Update..........................
The pool went from a 21' to a 24' LOL
And Horge, when you are in town next time you are invited. But no Speedo please

[dark horge]

Speedo?
Good Heavens! Talk about public indecency!
That would get the Alsip PD on my sorry butt pronto..hehe.


Seriously, though, post a pic of the pool when you can, 'kay?