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 When you decide to get an above ground swimming pool, you are making a long term decision. To get years of enjoyable use from it, there are a number of things to consider. First of all, will you really use it? Think about your schedule and responsibilities. Remember that just keeping up with pool maintenance requires time and money on a consistent basis. Here's a tip, though. If you happen to live in an older home and have not had air conditioning installed yet, you are sure to use the pool often!
Not only do you need to consider how much free time you have available to spend in the pool and maintain it, remember that the most important aspect of owning an above ground pool is safety. If you have children, they must be supervised each and every time they use the pool. You also need to make sure you have the pool secured so that you are aware of each and every time the kids are in the pool. Is this something you can manage?
Another thing to consider when your pool is still in the dreaming stage is just how much space you have available for a pool, and what shape of above ground pool will fit in that space. Pools come in round, oval, and rectangular shapes, and a wide range of sizes. It is very important to measure the area you have to devote to a pool. It will be very disappointing if you order and start to set up a pool that is too big to conveniently fit in your yard.
You also need to assess your yard for the best pool location. It is nice if the pool can be in a sunny location that does not get much wind. Also, consider if you ever need to drain your pool, such as in moving it, where will the water go? If it goes into a neighbor's yard, they might be pretty upset with you. Actually, if you properly maintain your pool, you shouldn't have to drain it, even over the winter. The problem happens when you get behind in your maintenance schedule. Then you might have to drain it to clean it. So the rule is, don't get behind in your maintenance schedule!
A final consideration when getting a pool is whether you are going to set it up yourself or hire someone to do it. Some above ground pools are pretty simple to set up, but you will need to buy some sand to level out the ground underneath. You will also want to have at least one or two friends or adult family members available to help.
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