Installation
Ultimately, you can install a pool in virtually any yard. But the harder it is to access, the more it's going to cost to do it. Sloped lots may also require retaining walls, adding more to the budget.
You should also be aware that a heavily treed yard can be a two-fold problem for pool owners: The foliage will reduce the amount of free, passive solar heating the sun provides, and you'll spend a lot more time cleaning out leaf litter.
Snow cover and frozen ground generally limit the installation season to between late spring and early fall, making winter the ideal time to do your planning and shopping around. Just don't try ordering a pool installation in May hoping to host your first pool party in early June. The busy season for installers starts as soon as the ground thaws and the installation process usually takes about two weeks start to finish, including the excavation of the pit, erecting the frame, preparing the base, pouring the concrete, and installing the liner or edge finish. (A fibreglass pool eliminates some of these steps and can therefore usually be installed a bit more quickly.) If you're looking to save money, many companies offer deals on late-season installations.
Maintenance
Properly maintained, an in-ground pool will provide about 25 years of family entertainment. There are two basic maintenance tasks with an in-ground pool: cleaning out debris and purifying the water. “Pools today are more maintenance-free than they used to be,” says Gary Walters, general manager of Seaway Pools in Markham,
Ont. “There are automatic cleaners, better circulation systems that keep the pool cleaner, and new automatic saltwater systems that are becoming very popular.”
Chlorine has been used traditionally as a water purification additive, usually as a liquid or in puck form. Saltwater systems are akin to having a mini automated chlorine manufacturing plant on site, that continually circulates a mildly saline solution. “The salt water in the ocean is around 30,000 parts per million [ppm]. The salt content in your body is about 7,500 ppm. We put 3,500 ppm in our pools,” explains Walters. The advantage is that it doesn't have the strong odour or skin irritation associated with chlorine. Other pricier systems use ozone or non-chlorine alternatives for purification.
During pool season, you'll need to regularly test the water's chlorine and pH levels, and adjust the chemicals accordingly. Other than that, you'll just need to maintain the water level to compensate for splashing and evaporation, periodically run a pool vacuum (there are many automated models to choose from), and occasionally scoop out any leaves or other debris that land in the water.
Your pool supplier will advise you on the procedures for winterizing the pool in the fall (and opening it up each spring). They vary in construction material and components but will include draining the pump and circulation lines, scrubbing the walls, and “shocking” the system with a heavy dose of chlorine.
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