05-17-2018, 11:21 PM
I have a 16x32 inground. Pools are a breeze to maintain if you keep up with it, and especially if you use it regularly. The less you use it, the more opportunity for dirt and debris to settle from the water column onto the bottom of the pool. Get in there and swim regularly and it stays off the bottom and is able to be removed by the pool's filter. Additionally, you are more attune to what is going on with the water quality with regular use. If you don't get in the water for awhile, you might not notice that there was a haze developing as an indicator that there could be an algae bloom, or you might not notice a reduction of return water pressure signifying the filter needs cleaning.
My recommendations, if you choose to get one, is to go as big as you can afford. It's not like you can add size at a later date. Go with a sand filter, not D.E. or cartridge. While the latter filters do filter smaller particles, one cannot see or feel the difference, but there is a tremendous difference in ease of maintenance with a sand filter (as well as long term cost). If you can swing it in the initial investment, get a salt water system. Maintaining water quality is even easier as it essentially controls the chlorine for you. Finally, plan out your equipment arrangement in a way that allows future upgrades or ease of replacement. Consider the fact that equipment, valves, and pipes or hoses will eventually need replacement or repair; so try to envision what you will have to do to remove something. I myself just had to replace a cracked fitting that forced me to glue cut and glue in a 2" piece of PVC pipe because of the proximity of the preceeding piece of equipment. The only way to avoid it would have been to remove and re-plub 3 things. You may want a heater or heat pump to expand your swimming season, but with proper planning you can space things so it could be added at a later date.
My recommendations, if you choose to get one, is to go as big as you can afford. It's not like you can add size at a later date. Go with a sand filter, not D.E. or cartridge. While the latter filters do filter smaller particles, one cannot see or feel the difference, but there is a tremendous difference in ease of maintenance with a sand filter (as well as long term cost). If you can swing it in the initial investment, get a salt water system. Maintaining water quality is even easier as it essentially controls the chlorine for you. Finally, plan out your equipment arrangement in a way that allows future upgrades or ease of replacement. Consider the fact that equipment, valves, and pipes or hoses will eventually need replacement or repair; so try to envision what you will have to do to remove something. I myself just had to replace a cracked fitting that forced me to glue cut and glue in a 2" piece of PVC pipe because of the proximity of the preceeding piece of equipment. The only way to avoid it would have been to remove and re-plub 3 things. You may want a heater or heat pump to expand your swimming season, but with proper planning you can space things so it could be added at a later date.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
