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Summer is Coming and many are considering running
pools or purchasing a pool. I thought we could "pool" our frugal ideas
together as to how to save on pool chemicals, parts, heating & equipment as
well as electricity & refilling!
Submit your
Ideas/Suggestions
First Tip: How to get a
Pool for Free!
Recently I managed to acquire a pool by placing an ad in the paper offering to
"uninstall" one.
The key is to take lots of pictures as you are taking it apart so that you can
put it back together again.
Second Tip:
Depending on where you live pools are not a great selling point to a home. In
the Northeast (particularly here in Maine) Pools are actually a deterrent for
selling a home. Oftentimes money is held in escrow to until the owner of the
home is able to remove the pool from the premises. What does this all mean to
you? If you are trying to acquire a pool for free, go in to your local real
estate broker and let them know that you are willing to remove a pool at no
cost as long as you are able to keep it. In our office alone we have at least
20 pools per year that need to be removed in order to facilitate a sale.
2. Re-Using a Pool Liner
It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to Re-Use a used pool liner.
Why? Because the liner shrinks and you will never be able to line up the
skimmer holes again. Be sure that you can afford to purchase a new liner and
that the pool you are removing does not have a liner that is difficult to
find.
What will happen if I try to re-use a liner that was
previously installed?
It will appear as though it is lining up well while
it is refilling, when it gets 2/3's of the way to complete, it WILL CAVE IN.
Why? If you keep the filter clean you will save tons
of money on chemicals, etc. If you are experiencing algae problems, take the
filter apart daily & clean it with a hose until all the green gunk is gone.
Oftentimes after refilling a pool that has algae problems, the water is
contaminated by an unclean filter system.
Testing your water can save you money by
preventing you from adding wasteful chemicals to the water. Oftentimes the PH
can be raised if needed with the addition of a little baking soda.
Be sure you understand the chemicals that are being
poured into your pool. A pool Service Company once told a good friend of mine
exactly what she needed, (Several POUNDS of chemicals!), her pool turned
Black, literally. What she later found out that the chemicals reacted with the
natural minerals in her WELL water.
Solar covers will save a great deal of money on
heating costs for your pool. These are pretty much a necessity in the
Northeast Climate to help extend the pool season as long as possible. You will
not need to run your filter as long if you keep your pool covered when it is
not in use.
Other Tips- The easiest way to quickly
level the area for your pool is to create a line level using strings and
stakes. Simply pound in some stakes into the ground where you pool will be
placed, then wrap a string around the stakes, use a level to be sure that your
pool will be level. Then simply add sand (or other leveler- we recently used
free sawdust from a local mill!), to the top of your string. Voila- a level
area for your pool.
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