Cooling Off in a Float Pool for under $500

 

I wanted to post about this last year, but I wanted to wait to see if it really worked and how it held up.  It did, so I am. I wanted to share a good photo of the pool, but I am always in it so it is hard to remember to take photos.  Above is a perfect example of how clean and clear the water can be in a float pool.

I have always loved the water, well not splashing and not necessarily swimming.  I like to float and relax.  For many years, we had a pool for the kids.  We had a big one someone gave to us.  It was nice, but really deep for our kids ages at the time.  It was a lot of work and stress for the 2 months out of the year we could use it.  Then we moved and it stayed with the house.  A couple years later, we convince my husband to get an Intex 4ft deep pool.  We have had two different styles, the floating ring and the metal posts.  Both worked well for a 2 seasons, but at the time the cost was high for our funds available, but having no air-conditioning we needed something.  Once we got air-conditioning in the parsonage we were living, we never had a pool again. Not from the lack of trying.  We knew several people with inground pool, but that was not a possibility until we no longer lived on a church owned property.  We moved to our own home in 2013 but by then it wasn't feasible because our children have grown and were late stage stage of high school, plus we both worked full time.  Relaxing in the privacy of my own cool water was never going happen.  Then came the fall of 2022.  Well not a fall, though there were several of those, but more so the exasperation of my illness.  I did some research and discovered the float pool.  This is something that is popular in the South West, but gained in popularity during the years of the pandemic.  People were purchasing livestock stock pools to make float pools.  What is a float pool?  It is a shallow pool of water, not deep enough for swimming, but people sit or float in it to cool off.  I discussed it with my husband for over a year until we agreed that if I could get one for under $500, we would do it.  Well the stock pool at Tractor Supply was out because that for $500 out right.  So I got to brain storming.  With the help of lots of research, I made it happen.

I love it and so does my husband.  It is cool and relaxing with minimal maintenance.  How you ask?  Research!!  I have done the research for you, hope it helps.  How did I do it for under $500?  Here is the break down.  These are the current prices which are slightly higher than when we purchased, but still under $500.  (Links are Amazon - I get no incentives from Amazon)

INTEX 26710EH Prism Frame Premium Above Ground Swimming Pool

12ft x 30in – 1718 Gallon Capacity – Pool Only

$144

GLI Pool Products 12 Foot Round Armor Shield Pool Floor Liner Pad

$42

Intex 28633EG 2500 GPH Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump System with 1,900 GPH Flow Rate, 110-120V GFCI, and Automatic Timer for Above Ground Pools

***Key for crystal clear waters**

$153

INTEX 1.25" to 1.5" Type B hose Adapters for Pumps & Salwater Systems - Set of 2

$12

Solar Pool Cover

$22

You will see these parts only come to $373.  Yep, that's all.  Additional coats depend on your situation.  We have our water delivered since we are on a well system.   We have one truck come and refill the hot tub and the pool at the same time for $250.  

What about chemicals?  It depends on what you use.  My husband is allergic to chlorine in regular use, so we use Bromine.  It is the same chemical that we use in the hot tub so it is hard to determine exact pricing.

For these flexible items I rounded the price for this stock pool for under $500.  

If you want to cool off in the summer, but don't want to break the bank this is a great option.  

A few notes; We live in Northeast Ohio and do disassemble the pool in October and reassemble it in May.  The solar cover lasts one year for us, but it it is in direct sun for the full day.  The filter is the key to keeping it clean (along with for us - bromine).  It doesn't get slimly!  It is short enough we can step over the pool edge to get in and out, but tall enough we don't have concerns about our  2 year old grandson falling in.  Though we never leave him unattended.  Another benefit, it only takes a day or two to warm up with the shallow water and solar cover.

As always reach out with questions or comments.  I would love to hear if you have a float pool at your home and how it works.