Kids are getting bigger, and i resent spending 12 quid on a single season paddling pool, as in its not enough. I would rather spend more and have a pool that isnt going to need replacing year on year.
The Spot ive got is 2.5m square, so an 8ft (2.44m) pool would be best i think.
my OH thinks a steel frame pool is best, but they vary in price wildly while looking to be the exact same product.
Anyone got any reccomendations for an 8ft paddling garden pool/brands/sources please?
We had an Intex one, 3x2m rectangular. It lasted 4 summers and we sold it on after the children pretty much ignored it for a summer and I resented paying to run the pump and maintain it. My main problem was it wasn't massively deep. A friend has a 10ft round one that is 36" deep and seems to be better.
But..... good luck finding somewhere in stock. I've been looking again this weekend and everywhere is out of stock. I've not tried looking physically in places because it was an alcohol inspired desire whilst sat at a bbq at the weekend. If you find some for a decent price then let me know!
We had either an Intex or a Bestway that had an inflatable ring at the top. It was fine for a few years, but I did have to patch the inflatable ring a few times. We added a small pump and filter that generally kept the water clean through the summer with adding spa chemicals to it.
Its a slippery slope though, we now have a hot tub....
Intex or Bestway here too. 3m x 2m x 0.6m, in its 4th year. The kids love it as long as the water is clear. I struggle with getting the dosage of chlorine powder right and it seems to green up at the first opportunity of a missed dosing.
My neighbour has mentioned a chlorine solution that he only uses once a week. I need to tap him up for more info.
Lidl 3m pool, self-sustaining pool, in store now-ish. We've had one for three years. I binned the pump it came with after a month of continuous use and bought a much larger one from amazon which has far greater filtration capacity.
Having had it on some 25mm kingspan sheets but then seen the state they got into, it's now resting on a load of those soft garage floor tiles which are cheap as chips from Halfords at present. These provide a good non slip surface outside the pool and also inside as the base flows nicely over the chequer pattern. DO NOT rest it directly on the ground as you will get leaks.
When filling put about 100l in first and then make sure the bottom has no creases in what so ever. If you don't do this, it'll fill wonkily and you'll constantly have it walking itself into a state of collapse over several weeks - honestly they move, like Jaba's slower wobblier cousin, it's quite scary!
Get a test kit, some chlorine tabs and a floating dispenser from your local dirty sex pond supplier - often to be found lurking at the back corner of dobbies. Shock the water on first fill and then let it stabilise in the sun (the UV breaks down the chlorine). Run the pump for about 8 hours during a shock, overnight after every use and thereafter once or twice a week. I don't run the pump when the pool's being used - I don't trust amazon electrical stuff that much. Likewise the chlorine float comes out before the kids get in. Test the water every day you want to use it. I made a vac, but really a proper one is next on the list. Filter gets cleaned once a week and after every vac. If you look after a fill, it'll last all summer without needing a change - a cheap cover and a net to haul out debris makes a huge difference.
Lay out firm ground rules with your kids - 3000l of water is not just obviously dangerous to them, but could do serious, lasting damage to property if it goes wrong. Mine know its not to be used when we're not around, they're not to play with the cover, pump, chemicals, test kit - that's all for me. Sitting on or leaning on the walls is strictly forbidden. The also know and accept that if I say the water test failed, they can't use it for the next 24hrs. I'm seriously impressed with their respect for all this.
Look out for bees, they're attracted to the water and until I got a cover I was constantly fishing the poor things out, exhausted.
One of the best things I've bought for the house.
Prisoner#1 earning pocket money vac'ing the pool
all useful stuff, thanks team. i hadnt considered that at some point a paddling pool becomes a pool that requires chemicals and tlc. Intex and Bestbuy do seem to be the common names, just not naming that inspire confidence.
The water chemistry nerdy bit is like owning fish, without the misery of owning fish.
When Lidl have them in, they do a sump pump for draining pools. With the right hose it’ll empty our pool in about 5 minutes. Extremely useful as you’re not meant to shove the water into runoff.
