AIBU to get one of those bigger paddling pools with the pump etc

[meltingmoaner]

Dug out old paddling pool to find it damaged. Do I take the plunge on one of the fancier ones?
How much effort are they with the chlorine stuff etc?

It kills the grass and even with chemicals the water ends up filthy full of mud and grass

Mine loved it at Primary School age.

However it does need to be a horlt summer to make it worth it.

We’ve had one for 7 years. Kids are 13 and 12 and still get in for a swim. With a pump and a cover it’s not too much work at all. Lots of happy times and days in it for us and I’d highly recommend. However, I just don’t think about how skanky it probably is by September!!

However, I just don’t think about how skanky it probably is by September!!

😮😆

Definitely. We have had one for years. It is amazing. You do need a few things with it. Decent underlay underneath, a pump, a heater, chlorine floater for tablets. We fill once and use all summer. The water will be crystal clear if you do it right. There is a FB page something like above ground swimming pool that is really helpful. The joy and fun my kids and their friends have had makes it worth it. Myself and dh use it too. Bit of work to it. We rested the bit of lawn it was on every year. V straightforward. Just chuck the seed on and it takes off again and you'd never know.

Great investment. We bought a 12 foot one in 2020 and used it until last year. Kids are now 18 and 15. We kept it on the patio, so no damage to grass. Had it up for around 8-12 weeks and refilled 2 or 3 times. Keep on top of the chlorine tablets and make sure you cover it/use a net to get out any bits.

We have an above ground pool up all summer every year, not in the UK so can't comment on whether it's worth it weather wise, but definitely worth it in terms of fun v effort.

The ground needs to be level. Once the pool is up, filled and the filter connected you need to tests the water PH with a dip stick. Then add chemicals to increase/decrease the PH to the right level. That's a really quick job tbh, but it's the most important. Then you 'shock' it with one large dose of chlorine, leave for at least 8 hours, then you're good to use it assuming all is correct when you test it again before use. As long as you know how much water is in your pool, the chemical dosing is really straightforward.

You'll need a floating container for your chlorine tablets to maintain levels, you just put the right number in and put it in the pool. Test daily (1 minute job) and keep levels correct, topping up tablets as needed.

The filter will need running for the right amount of time each day (depending on pool size) and if they're paper filters, will need changing regularly. A whizz round the pool with a net is the only other thing you need to do.

It wont end up muddy, that's what the filter's for. Ours stays perfect for months with just a few minutes of attention each day.

A few years ago in a hot summer I got out an old but big paddling pool for DH and me to use. DC had last used it as teenagers. It was fun but tore eventually.
I just ordered a giant paddling pool for DH and me. It's one of those rectangular ones in a frame. I hadn't really thought about keeping it full beyond the heatwave or using chlorine. @Nix32 I was going to put it on the grass but maybe the patio would work?

On a patio it will need an underlay... we use foam play mats.

(We have the mumsnet hated hot tub niw)

A cover is a must to keep out leaves and dust.

The filter keeps the water clean, but it needs to be on a lot if the cover is off and the pool is getting used.

Water heaters are in my experience useless, but maybe ours was just rubbish.

Forgot to add the safety side of it they want to bring there friends
you can’t leave them for a minute

On the subject of safety...Our pools have always had ladders with external steps that you can unclip and lock in place too high for children to reach. If you're going for a deeper pool, and have younger children, I'd definitely recommend that.