Intex above ground pool - Debris Cover

[m8man]

Howdy,

I have just bought a new pool. Our old one had it's last swim and we decided to get a bit larger one. This one is only 16 ft but it's a bunch bigger than our last one.

I have ordered the solar cover, and the saltwater treatment system but those aren't quite here yet. The directions almost make it seem to put the debris cover on regularly but I'm wondering if it's necessary? As a kid I always had a pool and we just kept the SOLAR COVER on it and that kept bugs out and the water nice and warm. I plan to do the same thing I did as a kid. with the solar cover. Do any of you have both a solar cover and debris cover? Do you only use the debris cover here and there? I'm wondering if it's designed to simply keep the debris out, (like it's called) or is it an off season cover? I feel the solar cover will be good enough. When I was little we just put a cover on pool that looked like the debris cover but only had it on during the winter.

Any thoughts out there? It is a 16ft, ultra frame intex pool

m8man

 

[garyl62]

We had one of those pools for about 7 years. I assume it is a blow up the ring and fill it with water style. I was one to only put the solar cover on, but my wife always wanted to put the debris cover on each night. Her thinking was more about safety of other little kids in the neighborhood since there were times no one was home at our house. I will say the debris cover did a better job at keeping it clean. When things landed on the solar cover they usually ended up in the pool when we took that cover off. I think with both of them on, it also kept it a little warmer, but that's really hard to tell since the air temp and sunlight affect it so much.

We never did the saltwater treatment system so I can't comment about that, but make sure you use a skimmer type circulation system. That really kept it clean, and we used chlorine sticks you placed right in the skimmer basket which worked well. The other thing we did was take a lot of time to build a level base to set it on, then we put some brick pavers around it. That really helped keep the grass out of it and gave us a good solid pool. I know some people who didn't worry too much about being real level and ended up with the pool being lopsided always spilling water out when a there was a lot of action going on in it. Then when we were done with the pool, we converted the area into a true brick patio.

Here is a photo with the pool in the background in 2005, then another one of the patio we did in 2011.

Good luck!

 

[legend02]

Never Heard of a Debris Cover, we keep our solar cover on when were not using the pool for two reason to keep the pool warmer and keep stuff out of it. Just be carefull taking the solar cover off so everything on it doesn't fall in the pool.

Our pool is a 21 foot standard round pool with the metal sides.

 

[eagle1]

I would think solar cover would be plenty unless pool is near a lot of trees. Just a matter of how clean you want to keep it.
I know my mom and dad have a net type cover they use in fall when leaves start dropping.

 

[m8man]

Gary,

very nice. I hope all is going well. I have a pool that has a frame you put together, sort of D shaped for the frame. It doesn't have the blow up ring. I will try to post a pic. My camera hasn't worked in a few months and I haven't mastered the art of uploading a pic from my iphone yet. soon hopefully.

m8man

 

[mezz]

Chris, I have had a few of the Intex pools, the most recent we picked up last year is just like yours but an 18' x 52" ultra frame. I use the "debris cover" only, keep in mind, the debris cover cuts out the sunlight whereas the solar cover allows the light in. Keep in mind sunlight depletes your chlorine levels, so, keep an eye on the chlorine levels. Other than that, each will keep out debris to a certain degree. Does the solar cover attach to the frame of the pool? If not, you may want to find a way to in order to keep the wind from blowing it off. Any further questions, give me a call.-Mezz

 

[5_spot]

I bought an Intex 18' x 52" last year and had it up all season. I wouldn't bother with the debris cover, the only time I put it on is when we gone for a week and so much water came up thru the air holes, half the debris fell in just trying to get it off & I had it on very taught. A quick skim daily ( or more) is what we do. I didn't use a solar cover last year, but have one on the way, that's all you need on there. I too grew up with a pool and we only used the solar cover. I also put on the saltwater system & that's the best thing I did. Once I set it up, I NEVER ADDED ONE MORE THING ALL SUMMER, WELL INTO SEPTEMBER. It was crystal clear and clean till the day I drained it. All tested levels maintained 'ideal". Last season I used the filter that came with the pool, which is barely sufficient in my opinion, plus I changed the cartridge filter daily. I upgraded to the Intex sand filter this year and what a difference!

 

[m8man]

I bought an Intex 18' x 52" last year and had it up all season. I wouldn't bother with the debris cover, the only time I put it on is when we gone for a week and so much water came up thru the air holes, half the debris fell in just trying to get it off & I had it on very taught. A quick skim daily ( or more) is what we do. I didn't use a solar cover last year, but have one on the way, that's all you need on there. I too grew up with a pool and we only used the solar cover. I also put on the saltwater system & that's the best thing I did. Once I set it up, I NEVER ADDED ONE MORE THING ALL SUMMER, WELL INTO SEPTEMBER. It was crystal clear and clean till the day I drained it. All tested levels maintained 'ideal". Last season I used the filter that came with the pool, which is barely sufficient in my opinion, plus I changed the cartridge filter daily. I upgraded to the Intex sand filter this year and what a difference!

Awesome to hear, thanks.

 

[m8man]

wow, what a great summer for a new pool. we have been using the heck out of it and my two boys are swimming nonstop. I am mostly using the solar cover and it seems to be doing fine.


In fact the water was so warm I may leave the cover off tomorrow night. the water is 85 degrees. when we leave the solar cover off the water will drop by about 10 degrees.


holy camoly, the summer started slow but has turned to be great.

now to get some more time on the S x S

 

[scottd]

We are on year 2 with one and my kids 6 and 4 love it. We keep the debris cover on almost all the time and even though it's got the holes it keeps the pool MUCH cleaner. When it is off for a couple of days there seems to be much more junk in the pool to clean. Not perfect by any stretch but the extra time to put the cover on is worth it to me to not be cleaning it. I use cheap clamps from Menards to hold it on all the posts otherwise it seems as a strong wind could get it right off.

We also have the saltwater system. Love that. Get the proper amount of salt, some conditioner, and never had to touch it all summer last year and so far this year either. I can come out of the pool and not even feel a tremendous need to shower like I normally would in a chlorine pool.