Had a house with in-ground pool for 26 years. First 15 years we thought it was great.

Posted by harb on April 14, 2026, 13:33:29, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

The next 5-7 years were just ok. Used much less and kinda stopped having pool parties so it was used much less. The last 3 to 5 years I barely got in it and MrsHarb used it sporadically. I was honestly read to move on from it 10 years ago. MrsHarb, not so much. Maintenance was usually minimal as long as it is being used but the last few years it was hard to keep chemicals balanced since it just wasn’t used much. Replaced the vinyl liner 3 times over those years we had it and it was getting close to needing one when we sold. I usually assumed around $30-50 increase in power bill but who knows with the fluctuations in weather in both winter and summer. Chemical costs varied. I have no desire to put in another pool. This pool was built back in the mid 70s so I’m sure some of the issues we experienced would not be there with a modern installation. We also wanted to convert to salt water but couldn’t due to the way it was originally built. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. Previous Message unless there are things to consider for the different types. curious what your experience has been in cost, effort, maintenance, overall worth it, etc.? [Assassin] Harb is the epitome of a Goldfish Troll. [Opey] Assholes gonna asshole [tiki] #### all the way off with that, you bloodthirsty hilljack.

Sidejack: Until recently, I didn't realize above ground pools were such a south side Chicago thing

Posted by KingTalkyTiki on April 14, 2026, 12:57:01, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

It’s ok until you get sick of it. Then you have a problem*

Posted by Stu on April 14, 2026, 12:52:31, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

Previous Message unless there are things to consider for the different types. curious what your experience has been in cost, effort, maintenance, overall worth it, etc.? Chicken Little poster child

We put in a liner pool when we built our house

Posted by Jersey on April 14, 2026, 12:31:51, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

I have someone open and close it for us but do the in-season maintenance. We have a pond and timber about 50 yards from it so I'm usually fishing out random frogs, baby rabbit and mice. Turtles present the biggest challenge - I usually use a snow shovel for them. Previous Message unless there are things to consider for the different types. curious what your experience has been in cost, effort, maintenance, overall worth it, etc.?

put an in ground in '24, love it.

Posted by illiniranger on April 14, 2026, 11:33:46, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

we got saltwater and the heater, i use the pool from April to October. I closed the pool last November and was in it on Halloween. i don't think the maintenance is that onerous. get a nice pool robot, run it once a day, you'll be fine. salt water pools are a lot less maintenance. i don't put very many chemicals in it at all and it stays really clean. run your filter correctly and you'll be fine. in terms of cost, the size doesn't change the cost that much (a 40'x20' only cost a few thousand more than a 32'x16') but where the costs add up is all the features, i.e. how many lights, what kind of coping you want around the pool, how much concrete you want, etc etc. i don't know your price range, but that's where the costs will add up. i would tell you that when it comes to this shit you get what you pay for. i wouldn't be shy about going a little higher on certain things, once the pool is in, it is in, and it is hard to modify after the fact. Previous Message unless there are things to consider for the different types. curious what your experience has been in cost, effort, maintenance, overall worth it, etc.?

I have received 3 quotes for inground fiberglass pools in central illinois.

Posted by Dilbert on April 14, 2026, 11:28:23, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

There is quite a range amongst those 3... Previous Message unless there are things to consider for the different types. curious what your experience has been in cost, effort, maintenance, overall worth it, etc.?

No. I spent a couple of summers during college building and cleaning them, and would NEVER own one.

Posted by doubledown on April 14, 2026, 11:09:55, in reply to "homeowners: do you/have you owned a swimming pool? above ground or in ground doesn't matter"

It's basically a boat with the water on the wrong side. Previous Message unless there are things to consider for the different types. curious what your experience has been in cost, effort, maintenance, overall worth it, etc.?