It’s summer, the temperature is rising, the kids are off school and need entertained. What better than a pool, some friends and a few toys to keep them cool and happy for hours in the back yard?
These days pools come in shapes and sizes so, to help you in your choice here are reviews for 3 of the best selling Intex pools.
My first choice, is relatively inexpensive but you will have to add on the cost of an electric pump if you don’t already have one!
Intex 117-by-76-by-53-Inch Rainbow Ring Pool Play Center
This pool is designed with younger kids in mind. It is divided into 2 sections. There is the “wading pool” and a slightly bigger pool with the water slide inside. It comes with a water sprayer – which has to be attached to a garden hose and a couple of games are thrown in also – a ring toss game and a ball roller or toss ball game (the hoops and balls are included.)
On the whole what you see on the box is what you get which seemed to please the parents who have purchased this pool, there were no disappointments regarding size etc.
The manufacturer states that the pool is suited best to children between the ages of 3-7 years however many parents felt that by the time their kids had reached the age of around 5 years whilst they still loved the pool, the featured games etc. had lost their appeal. The slide too is fairly short and not much good for older or taller children
Using an electric pump the pool can be inflated fairly quickly. Without a pump? You are in for a long job because there are a number of parts with individual valves for inflating. So investing in a high power pump is probably a sensible idea. Some parents made the mistake of assuming that a pump was included with the pool – not in this instance.
The one BIG complaint about this pool is the lack of a plug or two to allow the water to drain away. This pool can hold up to 77 gallons of water so tipping it up to empty is no easy task and bailing it out with a bucket a very long task! The other moan was cleaning – particularly under the slide it was very difficult to access to allow a thorough clean.
Negative points aside, the kids I spoke to all absolutely loved the pool and would spend hours playing happily. In fact a couple of parents even brought the pool indoors in the cooler weather and turned it into a massive ball pit – great idea for a party!
Next up is a metal framed pool, again from the maker Intex. This one is a bit more expensive than the last but, still highly recommended and depending where you live can be left in position all year round!
Intex 12-Foot-by-30-Inch Family Size Round Metal Frame Pool Set
As the name suggests this Intex pool is constructed from strong metal pipes which interlock and are then fed through an extremely strong vinyl casing which runs round the top of the main body of the heavy duty vinyl pool. Many of the people I spoke to who have purchased this pool did say that they had been very concerned that the pool structure was not “solid” enough. All of them had to admit however, that this was most certainly not the case on completion, particularly after it had been filled with water.
The big difference with this pool is that you will undoubtedly have to do a bit of work first. The area of ground where it is to sit has to be completely level and debris free, i.e. no stones, sharp twigs etc. Depending on the type of yard you have this could spell a lot of hard work – or you could pay a contractor to do it for you! Whatever you do it is essential that you are aware of this before you buy this pool because unless you are replacing an older pool in the same spot you cannot just take it from the box and get building!
Remember also, this is a semi permanent pool and will require regular maintenance and cleaning just like a regular swimming pool. Also keep in mind that depending on the climate where you live it may have to be dismantled and stored over the winter months. It will not withstand temperatures dropping below freezing.
The over all consensus from owners I have spoken to would seem to be that it is easy to construct and keep clean. One consistent moan was that the pump which is supplied with the pool is not strong enough. However, because the pool was such a reasonable price no-one seemed to mind paying to upgrade it too much.
Another concern for some was that this intex pool did not come with a ladder, making exiting the pool for shorter adults and kids a bit tricky – you can purchase a ladder separately. Whilst a couple of buyers received an incomplete kit. It was eventually sorted out but it was precious pool time wasted!
Everyone who owns one of these Intex pools seems to love it, from couples who just want to laze on floats on a hot day to families whose kids fill the pool with friends everyday during the summer vacation from school.
To sum up this Intex pool is sturdy, durable and a real hit with all family members and at a really great price.
OK the next pool is not inflatable or vinyl, and is even more durable and has a metal frame.
Intex Ultra Metal Frame Pool with New Child Safety Barrier Ladder – 18′ x 52″ complete set
Buy one of these pools and you are really in with the big boys! However there are a few things you really must consider before making such a purchase.
Firstly and probably most importantly the ground the pool will sit on must be level and free from any debris such as stones – remember this thing holds around 6,981 gallons of water and will compress the ground beneath it. Getting this first step right is essential and it may be worth bringing in a contractor to do this for you mechanically.
Construction of the pool may seem a daunting task but everyone I have asked about this has said the same, the instructions are very clear and concise and the pieces fit together extremely easily and snugly. In most cases it took around an hour and a half from start to finish. Before you fill the pool with water think carefully about the positioning of the pump etc. Once filled with water the structure is solid – the kids can hang onto the sides without any problems.
This is a semi permanent pool and does need regular maintenance. Once again Intex seem to have come up trumps with owners praising the cleaning kit and skimmer which is supplied with the pool. The pump also gets the thumbs up although upgrades are available at an additional cost. One owner suggests hosing the filter every few days therefore reducing the number of times it requires replacing.
The ladder has also been improved and now comes with a child safety barrier.
Everyone who has purchased one of these pools who spoke to me absolutely loved it, the size is great and will fit into even fairly small back yards. It can hold several kids and a few adults at any one time.
The manufacturer recommends this pool for children aged 6 years and up and it goes without saying that they should always be supervised by an adult. However, with an adult in the pool and suitable floats younger children can also have hours of fun.
All three of these Intex pools can be purchased from Amazon.Com at fantastic price. As always you can be sure of first class service and secure payment at all times.
