Hi Rob, we actually had the same thing happen to our vinyl liner. After about 2 years of use, it developed a few holes. We did find a replacement liners, but the replacement liners cost as much as buying the entire pool kit again! I wish the liners would come down in price, as it is very wasteful to have the poles and hardware thrown away when an entirely new pool kit is purchased. A pool water monitoring kit is necessary to adjust the chlorine and pH levels of the pool. Chlorine, alkaline pH adjusters, and acid are available at any local hardware or pool store.
Once the ground is leveled, it is wise to lay a weed-preventing cloth over the dirt. This will prevent any grass from growing into the pool liner. Some types of grass (specifically, St. Augustine and Bermuda) have been known to puncture the pool liners of Intex pools. The Easy Set pools come intex baby float in sizes ranging from 8′ across x 30″ deep to a rather large 18′ across x 48″ deep. These pools require an absolutely level surface prior to set up, or the pool may collapse and cause injury or property damage. The Easy-Set pools may also fail due to a puncture of the top inflatable ring.
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.
If you get temps and snow like we do here, leave it up. I don’t think I would still have it if I had to drain, store and fill it every year. First things first, let’s talk about what this swimming pool is. Designed to be solid, easy to assemble, and easy to maintain, Intex’s metal-frame pools, like the 26710EH Prism, are the hybrid of a fixed-in-place, above-ground swimming pool and a temporary, removable swimming pool. Many people simply fill their Intex pools with a water hose attached to the city water line. Other options include water-supply companies, which will fill the pool up in a fraction of the time using a truck with a pump.
A small gap will be required at the top of the bucket opening so that the pump can pull the DE into the filter system. Care for your Intex pool properly to enjoy swimming in crystal clear water all summer long. During winter, the brand recommends draining, disassembling, and storing the pieces in a safe location. To drain, remove intex purespa the cap from the valve on the exterior pool wall and hook up a hose. I’m also not super thrilled that the cover Intex sells as an accessory, blows off in the slightest of winds; a problem if you don’t want to clean leaves and bugs out of your pool each day. However, the kids didn’t listen to me and yet the pool stood firm.
Stacy, we had some difficulty removing the horizontal bars, too. If the bar is stuck to the actual liner, turning it will sometimes help loosen it. If you are trying to dislodge the first horizontal bar , then try raising the vertical bars at an angle until you can slide one end of the horizontal bar out. It is a tricky thing to do – but once the first one is out, the rest of the bars are easy. There are a number of similarly sized above-ground pools that compete with Intex’s 12-foot set, and one of the top options is the 12-foot x 33-inch Summer Waves Active Frame Pool.
Note that, according to the manufacturer website, the pump and filter won’t completely prevent algae growth. In order to do that, Intex suggests purchasing an Intex Krystal Clear Saltwater System, which runs about $140 on the low end. A saltwater system will help maintain the correct chlorine and pH levels in the pool, which is necessary not only to prevent algae issues but also to kill any harmful bacteria that may be looming in the pool.
But, after a quick trip to the store and another new pool, we were ready to try again and hope we had better luck. This may be the first time in two years that most kids will be able to intex frame pool explore the wonders of the great outdoors. Marie Field-Faith makes sure her young ones are protected from the harmful rays of the sun with Orange and Peach Sunblock for Babies and Kids.
The Summer Waves pool is certainly nicer looking, thanks to the woven details on the exterior, but it is slightly more expensive. Overall, the Intex won us over with its quality construction and reasonable price. The filtration system was simple to use, and it proved to be effective at keeping the water clean. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Angelica Leicht is a product reviewer for The Spruce who specializes in reviewing home, decor, and family products.
But, if these consideration boxes are easily checked off in your situation, then I wouldn’t hesitate to add an Intex metal-frame pool to your summer plans. I can fully see this pool lasting at least a few years as long as I drain and store it when the temperature drops below 41°F as recommended by Intex, which is what I would highly suggest doing since it’s only covered by a one-year warranty. Although, many online reviews state that owner’s keep theirs up all winter long with no issues, should you decide to take the risk. Intex pools need to be set-up on extremely level ground. And if I’m being honest, he was almost correct when right out of the box it was clear that my brand-new, prized pool had a liner defect .