While the great Australian dream might be to own your own home, undoubtedly the second one would be to have an above ground pool in the backyard. Cooling off from that extreme summer heat with your family and your friends is one of the biggest benefits of having your own pool.

What if you’re in the market for a pool but don’t understand what kind of above ground pool would be best suited for your house? There is all kinds of pool terminology and choices you should be familiar with before purchasing an above ground pool and in this article I will shed light on these things.

There are a great many sizes you can purchase but generally speaking, most above ground pools come in round or oval shapes. The most popular size by far is the 24 ft. round model which is quite common in many Australian backyards. Depending on available space, you may opt for a smaller 12 ft. pool or if you do have ample space, you can go larger up to around 42ft.

Believe it or not, size isn’t everything when it comes to pools. The location you put them in is just as important. It’s best to install it in a place that gets full or partial sun during the summer months. It will also need to be placed on a flat surface that is not near power lines or anything else that might obstruct the pool functioning.

You will need make room for more than just the pool itself as well. Above ground pools use side supports but some models have done away with this if you’re prepared to spend that little bit extra.

Because corrosion can be a major problem with any kind of pool, new models now use a resin or plastic during the manufacturing process. This adds to the expense of your above ground pool but will also prolong it’s life span so it’s best to think of it as an investment rather than an expense.

The great thing about above ground pools is that you can change the look of it when you feel the need because they use a vinyl liner on the inside of the pool. If you don’t care for these, you will receive your basic vinyl liner with your purchase.

You will need a filtration system so that it runs clean and minimises any upkeep you need to do to maintain it in good working order. There are two kinds of filters you can use. The first is a sand filter which are inexpensive but can be a complete mess if you fail to clean them. The second is known as a cartridge filter and while these do require less maintenance they are expensive to replace once they’ve worn out.

Lastly, you will require a good pool pump. Remember, you don’t need the most powerful pump in the world. A 1HP pump is more than sufficient for any small, medium or large above ground pool.

If you already own an above ground pool, this maintenance video will be of much interest to you as the summer months begin to draw closer.

Besides the obvious benefits of cooling off in the summer time, did you know that installing an above ground pool has some hidden benefits you may not have thought of? Read on to discover the top 3 reasons to forgo an underground swimming pool and install an above ground pool instead!

1 – Backyard space is becoming further limited as developers attempt to build more and more homes on lesser space. Land is an extremely valuable asset and digging huge holes in it can reduce the value of such an asset. If and when it comes time to sell your home, a below ground pool can limit the people in the market who might purchase your house. While some buyers may have interest, why limit yourself to a small section of the market? An above ground pool gives you the option of removing it when it comes time to sell, increasing the market value of your home.

2 – They’re safer! All pools are required to be fenced off by law. Sadly though, many young Australian children continue to drown each year by falling into these pools. An above ground pool ensures that children cannot accidentally “fall in” due to lack of supervision. By simply removing the step ladder into the pool, you can rest easy knowing that you’re minimising the risk of a drowning in your pool.

3 – It can be dismantled at any time. Pools are synonymous with Australian families but there might come a time where you no longer require a pool. Below ground pools required a lot of work in order to have them removed and this is also a costly job. Most above ground pools can be removed by the home owner. This saves you time, money and the choice to re-build the above ground pool at any time in the future.

As you can see, an above ground pool is the right choice when selecting a pool for your home!