So you want to change your lifestyle and get yourself a pool, but you want to do it cheaply, and easily ? The easiest pool to buy is what is known as an 'Easy Set' pool. 'Easy Set' Pools can be installed, ready for filling within 10 minutes. The pools are made from high quality re-enforced PVC with a flotation collar and they sit above ground. 'Easy Set' pools are a great idea, and they have dropped to excellent price levels. They can provide great entertainment at sensible prices. An 'Easy Set' pool can set you back as little as £60 to £100 and that includes at least a filter. This article will tell you all about 'Easy Set' pools and what you can expect, and what you need to think about before you buy. Buying an ''Easy Set'' pool, despite the name, is not like buying a paddling pool. You need to be fully in the picture and aware of what you will be getting into otherwise you may be disappointed with your purchase if it's not used properly. Despite the low price, an 'Easy Set' pool is a 'proper' piece of kit which needs careful consideration and planning First, which pool size are you going to buy ? The size will depend on the space you have available, your budget, and the number and experience of swimmers who will be using it. The simplest pools are about 10 feet in diameter, and 36 inches deep, rising to 18 feet in diameter and nearly 4 feet deep. You need to think about where you will site the pool. It's really important that the pool is situated on a flat area, and you may want to think about siting it in a sunny area, away from leaf fall, or bird droppings. If you don't have a flat area, you should think about levelling the ground first. If the ground isn't level, then one side of your pool may be up to the top with water, while the other side is shallow by a few inches or more. Not only does this look unsightly and out of place, but this would probably cause added pressure on the lower side, which would make it more vulnerable to collapsing. You might also want to think about buying the largest you can. Buying a larger pool means you get a deeper pool. With all of these types of affordable pool the box may say it is 48" deep (4 feet) but you have to read the fine print. In THEORY the depth is 48", in still water, but that will always leave the pool very full and on the verge of spilling over. In reality, it is about 40" or so deep. With the flotation ring types of pool, you should also consider that you cannot enter the pool using the sides. You should buy a ladder that goes up and over the flotation ring. Putting pressure ON TOP of the flotation ring will cause the side of the pool to be mashed down enough to allow the pool water to start cascading over the side in a torrent. This may not be a problem with a small pool if you can lift children in and out, but you may get a bit fed up of having to do this all the time. Before setting anything on the ground, clear the area of any rocks, sticks, twigs, or sharp objects that could puncture the pool. It might be a good idea to set down a tarpaulin or something similar. Make sure you are in a place where you're going to have access to water and electricity. And have a place nearby that you're going to be able to drain the water at the end of the summer. You might be think that thee noise from the filter would be distracting, but these are generally very quiet and don't have a loud motorised hum, but more of a whisper. In fact, someone probably wouldn't even notice unless they were within a few feet of it. So it's not a problem having near the house, and it certainly won't upset the neighbours. To set up the pool, you just put air in the top ring, with an electric pump it should only take a few minutes. When you are finished just turn on you water hose and fill it with water. It may take between 3 or 4 hours to fill, but this of course depends on your water pressure. Make sure you take any nozzles off the hose as it will fill much faster. Fill the pool about one inch. Make sure the water spreads evenly while filling the pool. If not, you may need to move the pool to a different area. After you have filled the pool approximately an inch, stand back, away from the pool to make sure the ground still looks even. If the ground looks uneven, it is best to drain the pool and move to a new location. The pool sides will start to rise as the pool fills, and the reinforced PVc will start to form the pool walls. Be aware that a small 8ft pool can take as much as 4000 litres and some of the larger 'Easy Set's pools (18ft), as much as 18,000 litres; so depending on which pool you purchased, it could take a lifetime to fill. Continue filling the pool. Every hour or so while filling the pool, stretch out any wrinkles that may be inside the pool. The pool will rise as the water fills up. The water will support the pool walls. And while you are filling the pool, notice how even the water is spread across the bottom. If it isn't even, remember, you're either going to have to live with the difference for the rest of the season, or you'll need to stop, drain the pool, correct the problem, and try again. Refer to your package's instructions for filter or pump instructions. I should mention that the pool package will probably come with an instructional DVD. Maintaining the pool every day may be necessary. Think about purchasing a cover for your pool to help keep debris out, and only use the filter as necessary. Covers are very cheap, starting at £5.00. You can also buy solar covers for your pool at about £15. Solar covers are designed to attract the sun's heat and focus it into your pool. It also helps prevent heat escaping overnight. Depending on the size of your pool, and the size of your filter pump, you might be instructed to run the motor for a minimum number of hours each day. It might be a good idea to have an outdoor timer to handle that for you. Anything to make you less of a slave to your new pool is all the better. It will also help regulate the amount of electricity you use (because you won't leave the motor running), and improve the quality of the pool's water (because you won't forget to turn it on). You will need to clean your filter regularly and replace it at least 2 times a year. You should also be aware that you will need to buy a Chemical Maintenance Kit if your pool is going to be set up for any length of time. Your pool chemicals should always be in balance to prevent skin and eye irritation. A Chemical kit contains all you need to maintain crystal clear water in your pool, and prevents algae growth and skin and eye irritation. Shock treatment is included in the form of stabilised chlorine granules, pH adjustment chemicals to maintain the right level of pH, Polyquat Algaecide to help remove algae and test strips to help keep the chemicals at the right level. Shock treatment is a term that refers to 'kick starting' the chlorine cleaning cycle of the chlorine already in the water. To underline the purpose of this article, buying an 'easy set' pool should be a considered purchase, but once you've made up your mind to buy, it's a commitment to a leisure lifestyle.
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