Small Pools--Easy Set vs. Steel Frame

[JoeyGee]

Does anyone have experience with Easy Set and/or steel framed pools? I am talking about the small (10'-12') diameter. We had a 10' Easy Set last year, but the inflatable ring kept bursting (which I have since discovered I was putting in too much air, and as it heated, the air expanded...)

Anyway, I would take it down every year and store it, and would like to keep it for at least 3 years. The only real complaint I see on the Easy Sets is getting the ground level, but I already have done that. I have no experience on the steel framed, so I don't know if they're worth the extra money.

[cabinetman]

We are on our second Easy Set pool. We gave the first one away to a neighbor. We bought a larger one, like 15-16ft, and it is great. Grandkids love it. The pump and filter work good and we bought replacement filters at a spa store. We used one of those floating chlorine tablet holders. The air ring is a safety feature as I see it. We had it on a not so level area, with no problems. I don't think we would go for a steel frame pool. I'm not installing the diving board this year, as I still have a headache.

[L. D. Jeffries]

Can't say about the other kind, but had a 24' steel frame pool when we lived out in Boise, ID., but since moving back to northern NY the pool season just isn't long enough to warrant the cost. I know I learned one thing from my experience; never would have believed how many thing can go wrong with plain, ole simple WATER! Seemed like everything you needed to correct a problem came in a quart bottle and cost $19 minimum, not to say anything about the cost of chlorine; if laundry bleach (and basically that is all it is) cost as much we would all be wearing dirty clothes

[lrogers]

We have the 18' Easy set, just set it up for the second season. This time we did a better job leveling. The only complaint I have is that I had to replace the hoses (one had a pin hole leak) between the pump & pool and the hose under the pump/filter for the same reason. Neither were real expensive, just ticked me off.

They really are easy set, about 30 minutes to be ready for water and about 14-18 hours to fill!

Long time ago I had a small steel wall pool and the easy set has it all over that one.

[docrowan]

Just saw this thread and checked out the Easy Set pools at Walmart.com. Pretty unbelievable price for what you get, especially since the responses on this site indicate it functions as advertised. I have a little experience with the old steel frame pools from when I was a teenager and they are a real pain to set up.

Question about the Easy Set - we've got a number of trees in our backyard. What do you use to cover the pool at night?

Also, most of the houses in our neighborhood don't have fenced in back yards, including my own. Has anyone ever built a safety fence for their pool? We've got good kids in our neighborhood, but some are fairly young and come over to play with my four year old. I wouldn't fill the pool more than about mid-chest high on her, but I still am very conscious of the risk of drowning.

Chris.

[crokett]

Having just gone through this I'd get the steel frame.

Got an easy set for free last summer. Started setting it up a few weeks ago and there was a leak in the inflatable ring. Tried patching it but then gave it away. We got a new 4' high steel frame instead for a couple reasons.

1. Oldest is not yet 3. The steel frame I can fill part way and it still works fine. Can't do that with easy set. Our sitter has a daughter who just turned 3 and she does not like going in their easy set since she can't stand.
2. Since solid sides, it can take being a little out of level easier than easy set. Our sitter also ran into this issue too. Her husband said he already wishes they'd gotten the steel frame.
3. Neighbor had easy set at his old house and said you can't lean on the side of an easy set or it squashes and the water spills out.
4. No air bladder to leak again...


The steel frame was simple to set up. Advertised as 45 minutes with a couple people. Took me by myself only about an hr. 'Course then it took another 10 days to figure out the pump.

[jAngiel]

For safety reasons I would not put up a pool at all unless there was a fence around it. Not worth taking the chance.