Does your home have a pool or hot tub?

[Rain Man]

I'm watching "Lottery Winner Home Buyers" or some such thing on HGTV. The couple is in Miami, and the homes all have swimming pools.

Swimming pools seem nice in concept, but I kind of wonder how much long-term quality of life they offer. A back yard swimming pool is not big enough to swim laps, I think. So if you have a pool, how do you use it? (If you live in an apartment or condo, you can consider a common-area pool to be your pool.)

And is maintenance a hassle?

When I bought my house, I took a long look at a house that had a pool. But in the end it didn't win me over.

Same questions for hot tubs, though I have no expectations off swimming laps in a hot tub.

Backyard pools are sure beautiful, though. When they show a house with a swimming pool, I ooh and aah. If I had a pool big enough to do laps in, and it was shallow enough for me to not drown, and if maintenance was easy, I'd want one.

[TribalElder]

In Florida most houses have pools in the back yard that are also enclosed in plexiglass or someshit making it like a greenhouse so you can enjoy them year round

in KC area a pool would only be good half the year and be a liability the other half (assuming in ground)

[TribalElder]

Never understood why the enclosed pool trend didn't take off as a thing around here

example

[Dartgod]

[JD10367]

I have a decent sized in ground. Maintenance isn’t bad if you’re lazy and don’t give a shit; I don’t worry about pH and all that other crap, I just dump a liter of liquid chlorine a day (runs me about $20 a week). Repairs and electricity is a different story; it’s cost me thousands to replace a motor, electrical lines, and fix leaks, and it adds at least $100 to the monthly electric bill. You could do laps in it but the stupid part is, I can’t swim. I just bob around on pool noodles drinking beer.

[Rain Man]

I've been noticing the prevalence of enclosed pools, particularly in Florida. Is that to protect against bugs or rain or ... or hurricanes or something?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by JD10367

I have a decent sized in ground. Maintenance isn’t bad if you’re lazy and don’t give a shit; I don’t worry about pH and all that other crap, I just dump a liter of liquid chlorine a day (runs me about $20 a week). Repairs and electricity is a different story; it’s cost me thousands to replace a motor, electrical lines, and fix leaks, and it adds at least $100 to the monthly electric bill. You could do laps in it but the stupid part is, I can’t swim. I just bob around on pool noodles drinking beer.

So are you glad you have it, or do you kind of wish you didn't?

[KCUnited]

Gators, mosquitoes

[BigRedChief]

I pay a company $125 a month to take care of the pool and jacuzzi. My wife uses the pool for exercise. We use it for parties and entertainment with friends. I use the hot tub to help recovery after a great workout.

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I've been noticing the prevalence of enclosed pools, particularly in Florida. Is that to protect against bugs or rain or ... or hurricanes or something?

I believe there is a law which requires a 4 foot protection barrier so naturally the enclosures popped up to profit off the upsell is my guess

That's the only thing I could find. The enclosure would also provide anti bugs, anti rain, anti etc.

[Rain Man]

I kind of think that a pool would be nice if I was in a big condo complex where the pool is large. But I don't think I'd really want one in my private home. It seems like maintenance and liability would outweigh the benefits.

I go out to a timeshare in California every year, and it's got several huge pools. I like going to the pool and hanging out, even though I find a shady spot and don't often swim.

I never really liked hot tubs until a couple of years ago, and now I kind of like them. Again, I may be too lazy to do the maintenance on a private one, but the timeshare in California has them and I'll use them occasionally.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

I believe there is a law which requires a 4 foot protection barrier so naturally the enclosures popped up to profit off the upsell is my guess

That's the only thing I could find. The enclosure would also provide anti bugs, anti rain, anti etc.

Good point. Enclosed would certainly minimize your liability if some kid or disoriented senior citizen wanders into your yard. It may be environmentally wrong, but you could also air condition it.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I pay a company $125 a month to take care of the pool and jacuzzi. My wife uses the pool for exercise. We use it for parties and entertainment with friends. I use the hot tub to help recovery after a great workout.

Now that you mention it, I guess a person could jog in a small private pool. I would like doing that.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Now that you mention it, I guess a person could jog in a small private pool. I would like doing that.

she does some jogging routine in the pool.

[KCUnited]

I don't really understand the premise of that show either. People win, this guy comes in, acts all happy for them, finds out what they have to spend and want in a home, then hooks up with a local realtor for a list of properties.