The sizes of the two pools are comparable; the Summer Waves pool is only 3 inches deeper. At under $200, this above-ground pool is a steal, and it can often be found at a discount. The construction is solid, and the pump system works like a charm to combat the dirt, grime, and gunk that comes with having kids jump in and out of a pool. The flat surface we found in our yard was pretty far from the side of our house, but we were able to connect the pool pump to a power source via an extension cord. As for water, we had to run a hose from a spigot on a second-story patio down to the pool. It took between six and eight hours to fill the pool to the fill line, which is about 90 percent of the 1,718-gallon capacity.
Even with five or six kids in the water, there was still plenty room for them to stretch out and float without taking an accidental elbow to the nose. If we decide to take down our Intex pool before summer’s end I can pretty much predict that this will be the number one reason why. It has been stressful having small children around a pool that cannot be outfitted with the same safety measures that a more permanent pool can benefit from. I had considered this from the beginning, but one I didn’t fully absorb it until I saw how excited my youngest was to get into the pool whether we were near him or not.
The brand also offers Disposable Swim Pants allowing babies to enjoy swimming without worries. They also have Kids Face Mask which has a child-friendly design that encourages kids to wear them to prevent them from catching the virus or spreading it. Intex pools are an inexpensive, affordable above-ground pool option for families on a budget. The overall cost of an Intex pool is increased by the purchase of necessary accessories, but the expense is well below that of a permanent above-ground pool system. The only safe way to heat an Intex pool is by using a solar blanket.
The same goes for the liner—we needed one person to hold the heavy-duty pool liner up while the other person slid the metal beams through the liner sleeves. As expected given the minimal amount of parts in the box, setup was essentially snap-and-go. All it took was two people, some patience, and some elbow grease—we didn’t even need the DVD to get intex baby float the frame built. I spent the first hours that the kids were in the pool, yelling at them not to bump into the pool walls or create too many waves; I was sure it was going to explode and wash them out into the yard. This 12-foot by 30-inch round Intex pool was the perfect fit for this family. Owning a swimming pool has always been a dream of mine.
Repeat this process as necessary to achieve a crystal-clear Intex pool. Once the pool has begun to clear, remove the filter and spray it with a hose to remove the DE. Mix the DE and water in the bucket to create a suspension.