Many people want a decent-sized pool for the kids but don't want to install a permanent swimming fixture in the yard. You may want to weigh the cost of installing a permanent above ground pool (that would only have to be grounded/bonded once) vs. the Intex system. It is a good idea to contact the local water utility to ask about a "dumping fee" waiver, if applicable. The filter motor is a intex krystal clear 637R. My ground was slightly sloped, put drain on that side n had not 1problem w drainage of 20 x 48". Whether or not you opt for automatic cleaning depends to a large extent on the size of your pool and the extent to which you use it. A floating chlorine dispenser is not enough to keep bacteria levels down: occasional shocks are required to keep the water clean. Pool algae tend to occur in warm and , Swimming under a high-quality pool dome made in Europe? It is always safest to use tap water to fill your pool. Shock treatments are commonly done once a week, and with Intex pools this should be no different. Pool maintenance kit (pH and chlorine testing kit), Pool cover to keep the pool clean/prevent evaporation of water. Doing so will give your pool the ability to generate chlorine by pouring in regular table salt, and while this is still technically a chlorine pool, its noticeably less harsh on the skin. If the ground is level, you will be fine - the leveling is the hardest part of the process. It is possible with the swimming pool domes from SunnyTent! Of course, if you have to set the pool up all over again, youve already done it at least once so you should be familiar with getting the pool up and running. Theyve long been the go-to above ground pool due to their ease of use, excellent quality, and low cost. Any tips?? Once the ground is leveled, it is wise to lay a weed-preventing cloth over the dirt. The most popular (and cheapest) form of pool sanitizer is chlorine, which can be found in either powder, granule, tablet or liquid form. If the bar is stuck to the actual liner, turning it will sometimes help loosen it. Our township requires this but it seems like I would have to pay someone to do this every year. A sand filter pump filters through sand or glass grains dirt the size of a sand grain from the water. Before draining, always make sure you fully clean the pool with a skimmer net, pool brush, and if needed, a vacuum. The liner is placed on the prepared ground and spread out: do not drag the liner about or a tear may form. This chlorine smells and causes irritation to eyes and mucous membranes. When it comes to above ground pools, however, Intex pools are where its at. Youll want to keep the chlorine level at around 1 to 3 ppm. If these other substances or minerals come into contact with chlorine, they can mix with the water, causing it to discolour. One satisfied customer stated, "You want toasty warm water in your pool? We at SunnyTent wish you the best with maintaining your pool and of course we wish you lots of swimming fun in a sparkling clean pool! I did the shock yesterday and the blue floor now is lost. The Intex brand is perfect for the consumer who wants to "try out" an above-ground pool system without investing a lot of money. This is done by first cleaning the pool and balancing the water. It doesnt look good. This includes the pool shell, pool pump, pool filter, hoses, and a few other accessories depending on the model. Question: Can I use the pool cover with the chlorine floater? Well water or ground water may contain minerals or other substances. DE can be purchased at any local DIY store or pool supply store and will help to keep the water in an Intex pool sparkling and clear. Sanitizing chemicals are added to pool water to kill off harmful bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic health hazards. But there will still be things you need to take care of from time to time. The downside of this method is that the pool is unusable for a couple of days until the chemicals dissipate. The pump does not need to run for 24 hours straight. Checking the manual can tell you your pools volume, or you can simply Google the model you purchased. Intex pools use either sand filter or cartridge filter systems depending on the model. Leah Lefler (author) from Western New York on September 08, 2020: Hello, Jonnut - you may buy this filter from amazon or directly from the Intex site. If you get temps and snow like we do here, leave it up. We did find a replacement liners, but the replacement liners cost as much as buying the entire pool kit again! Ensure you have a salt system (filter/pump with electrocatalytic oxidation capabilities) before using salt in your spa - Intex manufactures systems specifically for their product line. Plugging the pool drains, disconnecting and cleaning the filter pump, and putting a cover on the pool will be all thats left to do. If these other substances or minerals come into contact with chlorine, they can mix with the water, causing it to discolour. TA affects the pools pH level, and essentially acts as a buffer, protecting the pH level from wild fluctuations. Jen, our area doesn't require a permit or grounding/bonding. We once had a terrible problem with algae in our pool and the shock couldn't clear the green water. You may also find their competition (such as Bestway), but when it comes to longevity and material quality, Intex is the king of specialized above ground pools. We also took ours down, and that potentially caused the liner to wear thin. They are too small for the filter and often sink to the bottom, making it no longer easy to remove on the surface. I pulled out my pool from the side of my house, and realized a large rat chewed large 4x4 holes, at least 10-15 Im wondering is there somewhere I can purchase just the vinal pool without the hardware, pump, poles, etc,.? Some customers complain that the Easy Set pools develop a slimy film on the underside of the inflated ring and that the overall diameter of the pool is less than stated on the packaging (the top of the pool slants inward, so the labeled size is for the diameter of the bottom of the pool). Home Blog 7 Tips To Keep Your Pool Clean. The liner, however, may be punctured by sharp objects: it is wise to lay a ground cloth prior to setting up a metal-frame pool. To accomplish this: Intex pools are an inexpensive, affordable above-ground pool option for families on a budget. This requires you drain the pool and disassemble it, as cold weather and ice will damage the liner beyond repair. When we refilled the pool, we made sure to shock it regularly to prevent algae regrowth (and now have a salt-water system that has worked much better than the chlorine system we originally had). HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The location you choose is also important for the cleaning of your swimming pool. The danger of an electrical short is high and can cause death to any person inside the pool. Question: I just bought one Intex 15 x 42 pool and I want to know if I can run the pump with the cover installed on the pool or without it? Repeat this process as necessary to achieve a crystal-clear Intex pool. When adding the start up kit, should I fill the pool completely or add the chemicals & then add the water? A properly cared-for Intex pool will create a fun swimming environment for years! However, they still require cleaning. You can often clean it more efficiently yourself. From tips regarding pH value to automatic cleaning. Similar to acidic pools, alkaline water also irritates swimmers eyes, nose, and causes itchy skin. I don't think I would still have it if I had to drain, store and fill it every year. For smaller swimming pools, a swimming pool pump is actually not necessary. The time required to set the pool up is only 30 minutes. Before buying a new pump, I would contact Intex's customer service to determine if they have insight into why the pump isn't sufficient for your pool. In this case, we had to use the shock and then also vacuum out the algae as it fell to the pool floor. We are currently without an Intex pool. Anything under 7.4 and the pool will become acidic, and anything over 7.6 will turn the water too alkaline (or basic). If you are trying to dislodge the first horizontal bar (and it is not stuck to the liner), then try raising the vertical bars at an angle until you can slide one end of the horizontal bar out. Filling a 16' x 48" Intex Metal Frame Pool. The SunnyTent can be used perfectly for this. A pool water monitoring kit is necessary to adjust the chlorine and pH levels of the pool. Since Intex pools are smaller than most, this can sometimes present challenges that you rarely find with inground pools. An above ground solar cover reel will be elevated to match the height of the pool, and only requires you unspool the cover and respool it when you want to use the pool. The SunnyTent is very affordable compared to a fixed cover. By doing so, you can prevent many problems, no dirt such as leaves and insects get into the water. Leah Lefler (author) from Western New York on May 30, 2012: Wow, TM! I have replaced the pump once ( first one froze and cracked) and replaced valves 3 times. SunnyTent and third parties place marketing and tracking cookies so we can recognise you. Best $100 I ever spent. We did drain it, clean it and refill it this year which is the only time we did this after initial setup 8 yrs ago. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. We will cover it this year since water is somewhat fresh. The Intex metal frame pools solve many of the problems seen in the Easy-Set pools. Shocking dosages are generally 1 lb. On the flipside, a highly-alkaline pool will have scaling and cloudy water issues. My friend didnt have the filter when he gave to me, so just wandering where can I get filters for this motor filter. How often should you change the water in an above ground pool? Drain the pool. Running the pump throughout the day will keep the pool at a more constant temperature and may minimize evaporative loss of water. if it is only cosmetic i cant care, A friend gave me a model b 14 by 42 intex pool. Level the ground before setting up an Intex pool. In addition, a high pH value is unhealthy for eyes and skin. A cartridge filter pump contains a paper filter that you must change every 1-2 weeks. Having to pay an electrician on a yearly basis raises the cost considerably. The shock level has to be 10 times the amount of combined chlorine in the water in order to raise its free chlorine level and reach breakpoint. Reopening your Intex pool is no different from reopening any above ground pool. You can change your cookie preference, view the instructions in our, Swimming from spring to autumn in the SunnyTent, Warm and clean swimming water without energy costs. If the level of chlorine is already high, a non-chlorinated shock is used. These are things like additional shock or algaecide, and youll have to run the pump for a day to fully distribute them throughout the pool. A high bather load and a smaller filter size can sometimes cause Intex pools to become dirty pretty quickly. The liner should definitely not be damaged by a single shock treatment, and with the pool being only one week old, a call to customer service is definitely in order! To keep your pool clear and clean, chlorine tablets are often indispensable. Whether youre setting it up from scratch, or just taking off the pool cover, youll need to start by balancing the water with the proper chemicals. Answer: It is possible to buy a "start-up" kit at any big box store or online for your Intex pool. It is a tricky thing to do - but once the first one is out, the rest of the bars are easy. Youll need to keep total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm (parts per million), and its important to be aware that this will drift upwards or downwards with your pH level as they strongly influence each other. Its the total concentration of dissolved carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides and cyanurates in the pool water. So, try to place the pool in as free an environment as possible, where there is often more sun, which makes swimming more pleasant. This is pool algae. The most important tip we can give you is to cover your pool when you are not using it. A pool ring inflated on a hot summer day may also cause the ring to appear deflated in the evening because the air inside the ring is at a lower pressure than the ambient air when the temperature drops. At a value of 7.0 the water is neutral; at a higher value the water is basic and at a lower value the water is acidic. Cleaning a sand filter can be as simple as backwashing, while cartridges require manually rinsing or replacement. Is it because there is enough space or just because the swimming pool has always been there? The horizontal bars are threaded through the sleeves at the top of the pool, and T-bars are used to connect each bar with locking pins. There are many ways to heat your above-ground pool, but which way is best, most , Nothing is more annoying than swimming in cold water, between leaves and blades of grass. To make this job perhaps a little easier, we have collected seven tips for you. Pool shocking is the addition of a massive dose of chlorine to the pool. Answer: You will need to purchase a water testing kit and will also need to "shock"' the pool when the water values are off. Chlorine Free Pools: 7 Pool Chlorine Alternatives (Pros & Cons), Pool Maintenance Checklist: Daily, Weekly, Monthly (Schedule), Best Pool Skimmers: A Detailed Review & Buying Guide. Its also important to shock the pool overnight so the chlorine wont burn off too quickly (the suns UV rays eat it up). Often, Intex gives a letter identifier to the size of the tube (you can find tubing size adaptors online). Tbars done. If chlorine levels are low, a chlorinated shock can be used to bring them back up. If the floor of the pool takes on heavy debris, you can vacuum it up using either a suction-side, pressure-side, or robotic cleaner. This will prevent any grass from growing into the pool liner. The pool should be taken down in areas that expect freezing temperatures. This agent binds all loose particles together, making a larger mass, so that they can be filtered or can be removed in some other way more easily. Store the poles and connectors separately, to prevent any punctures to the liner during storage. We did carefully level it, though. It is also possible that your pump is broken or not functioning appropriately. Black stains may appear on the inflatable ring of the Easy-Set pool: this is caused by floating sunscreen and is impossible to eliminate once it occurs. Then we stored it in the basement and just set it up again for 2012 and the boys have been swimming in it without incident. The triple-ply polymer liner that Intex pools use is very durable, but at times it may require repairing. The walls of the pool and the floor should be brushed down using a soft bristled pool brush that wont damage the pool liner material. The main difference is that the majority of Intex pools are smaller and have a uniform depth, so theyll be easier to clean. Is it recommended to get a bigger pump? The ideal pH value of swimming water is between 7.2 and 7.6. The method of purification of these pumps differs. A small amount of DE is needed: approximately 1/4-1/2 cup of DE will help clear a large Intex pool from cloudy residue. If TA doesnt stay in this range, you will end up with an acidic or alkaline pool. Also my pool is not on level ground.so far so good. After about 2 years of use, it developed a few holes. Now I remove the pump for the winter. A box level can be placed on a long pipe or piece of timber to gauge whether the surface is even. Chlorine, alkaline pH adjusters, and acid are available at any local hardware or pool store. I live in Jersey where it gets mighty cold and we receive our fair amount of snow and I have had my 16' Intex pool up for 8 years possibly 9 years and have never taken it down. If you see that the pH value is too high, this means that algae formation and lime deposits can occur. No rips, holes, collapses but liner is starting to wear along the top where liner wraps around the rim bars. Intex pool care doesnt differ much from most above ground pools, or even inground pools for that matter. You can use a flocculant to solve this problem. Intex pools are essentially an all-in-one above ground pool, providing everything you need to get your new backyard pool up and running. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. It was given to us without instructions. What do you really need for pool keeping? To avoid this, place a pool float under the cover while the pump is running (this will elevate your pool cover so it doesn't get swamped by circulating water). Weve drained the pool and still cant get all the little debris out. Very quickly, submerge the bucket and place the open end over the water inlet to the pump and filter. Any higher and the water will be too harsh on your skin and eyes. I wish the liners would come down in price, as it is very wasteful to have the poles and hardware thrown away when an entirely new pool kit is purchased. per 10,000 gallons of water. The chlorine and other chemicals in a shock kit are fairly strong and I try to make sure the pool is full before adding them. Or does the swimming . It is possible your pump is not big enough to handle the load. The chlorine floater will likely be insufficient and your water may turn green if the pool pH becomes too high. poolonomics.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. Unless you live in a tropical climate, youre going to need to learn how to winterize your Intex pool in the fall, and reopen it in the spring. Some types of grass (specifically, St. Augustine and Bermuda) have been known to puncture the pool liners of Intex pools. If you are into DIY projects, you can also try your hand at a homemade pool heater, which are usually cheap and effective. Intex doesnt sell a heater, but due to the smaller size of their pools you can heat them very efficiently using solar power. Other options include water-supply companies, which will fill the pool up in a fraction of the time using a truck with a pump. The Easy-Set pools may also fail due to a puncture of the top inflatable ring. Unlike traditional pools, draining an Intex model can only be done using a garden hose, taking the drain time to anywhere from 2 to 3 days in some instances. For example, you may suffer from irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes. Solar blankets are your best bet, as they rest on the surface of the water when the pool isnt in use. Question: Where does tube A go into my pump? Answer: You may use a saltwater system with your Intex spa. I set up my 18'ft metal frame intex pool 5 yrs ago and never took it down. By "lost," do you mean bleached out? HELP//. Pool testing kits are inexpensive and come with complete instructions for use and for when shock is needed. The additional advantage of the SunnyTent is that it is foldable and that the SunnyTent not only ensures that your water temperature is maintained, but that it even heats the water. Intex offers two basic pool types: the "Easy Set" pool with an inflatable ring on the top of the pool and the metal-frame pools. Youll next add winterizing chemicals to keep the water clean. Leah Lefler (author) from Western New York on October 18, 2015: Stacy, we had some difficulty removing the horizontal bars, too.