So, you’re thinking about getting a pool. You’ve probably looked at the price of in-ground installations and felt your soul leave your body for a second. $60,000? In this economy? No thanks. That’s usually when people start looking at intex pools above ground. But there’s this weird stigma, right? People think they’re just "glorified bathtubs" or something that’ll pop the second a neighborhood cat looks at it funny.
Honestly, that’s just not the reality anymore.
Back in the day, these things were basically blue plastic bags held up by a prayer. Now? You’ve got galvanized steel frames and puncture-resistant PVC that’s actually tougher than the liner in some high-end permanent pools. I’ve seen families keep a Prism Frame or Ultra XTR model running for seven or eight seasons straight. It’s all about whether you actually know how to set the thing up or if you’re just winging it on a Friday afternoon with a beer in your hand.
The Brutal Truth About the Setup Process
If you think you can just throw an Intex pool on your lawn and start the hose, you’re going to have a bad time.
Ground leveling is the literal "make or break" for intex pools above ground. If your yard has even a slight three-inch slope, all that water weight—thousands of gallons—is going to push against one side. Eventually, the frame buckles. I’ve seen it happen. The water doesn't just leak; it "tsunamis" across your yard and into your neighbor's basement. Not a great way to start the summer.
You need a transit level or at least a long 2x4 with a bubble level on top. Dig out the high spots; don't just fill in the low spots with loose dirt. Loose dirt compresses. Your pool will sink. Use masonry sand or, better yet, 1-inch foam insulation boards under the liner. It makes the bottom feel like a cloud on your feet and protects the vinyl from nutgrass—which, believe it or not, can actually grow straight through a pool liner.
Why the Pump That Comes in the Box Usually Sucks
Let’s be real for a second. Intex is great at making pools, but the "Krystal Clear" cartridge filters they bundle with the cheaper Easy Set models? They’re barely adequate. They’re fine for a week, but once three kids and a golden retriever jump in, that filter is toast.
If you’re serious about this, you upgrade to a sand filter. Specifically, the Intex SX1500 or the SX2100. Sand filters are game-changers because you don't have to clean a gross paper cartridge every two days. You just "backwash" it. It takes two minutes. Plus, the water clarity you get with glass media or silica sand is miles ahead of the basic cartridges. It’s the difference between swimming in a lake and swimming in a bottle of Evian.
Navigating the Model Maze: Easy Set vs. Metal Frame vs. Ultra XTR
Buying one of these isn't as simple as picking a size. You have to choose the architecture.
- The Easy Set: This is the one with the inflatable ring. It’s the cheapest. It’s basically the gateway drug of the pool world. It’s fast to set up, but it’s vulnerable. If a bird decides to sharpen its beak on that top ring, your pool height just dropped by two feet.
- Metal Frame: These use powder-coated steel pipes. They’re the "middle child." Reliable, sturdy, and they look a bit more intentional in a backyard.
- Ultra XTR Frame: This is the heavy hitter. The "premium" version. The steel is galvanized and coated inside and out to prevent rust. It’s noticeably more rigid. If you live somewhere with high humidity or salty air, this is the only one you should even consider because the standard frames will rust out in three years otherwise.
Don't forget the "Graphite Gray" panels. Intex started making these pools that look like they have wood or stone siding. They’re basically just an Ultra XTR pool with plastic cladding on the outside. They look significantly better if you’re worried about your backyard looking like a construction site, but you’ll pay a premium for that aesthetic.
Dealing With the "Pool Guy" Problems Yourself
When you own intex pools above ground, you are the lifeguard, the janitor, and the chemist. You can’t just ignore the water for a week. Well, you can, but you’ll wake up to a swamp.
Algae is the enemy. It loves a warm Intex pool. Most people over-chlorinate because they’re scared of germs, but that just wears out the liner and makes your skin itch. Get a decent drop-test kit—not the cheap strips that look like a science experiment gone wrong. You need to know your Cyanuric Acid (CYA) levels. If your CYA is too high, the chlorine literally stops working. It’s called "chlorine lock," and the only way to fix it is to drain half the pool and start over.
Also, get a salt water system. Intex makes an add-on saltwater chlorinator that’s surprisingly affordable. It turns ordinary salt into chlorine. It’s much gentler on the eyes and makes the water feel "silky." Once you go salt, you never go back to those pucks that smell like a public locker room.
Winterizing or Tearing Down?
This is the big debate. Do you leave it up or take it down?
If you live in a place like Florida or Texas, keep it up. Just keep the pump running a few hours a day. But if you’re in a place where the ground freezes, like Ohio or New York, things get tricky. The ice can expand and crack the plastic fittings.
Most people try to take the pool down and "fold it up." Good luck with that. Once that vinyl has been in the sun for four months, it gets stiff. Folding a 15-foot pool back into the original box is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. It’s never happening. Most people end up rolling it loosely and storing it in a large plastic tote in the garage. If you do this, make sure it is bone dry. If there’s even a drop of moisture left, you’ll open that tote in May and find a mold colony that has gained sentience.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
The pool might cost $500, but that’s just the entry fee. You’re going to spend another $300 on "stuff."
- A decent ladder: The one that comes in the box is often pretty shaky. If you’re a larger adult, you’ll feel like you’re climbing a wet noodle.
- A skimmer: Get the one that hooks to the side of the pool. It catches leaves before they sink. Once they sink, they’re a pain to get out.
- Electricity: Running a 0.5 or 0.75 horsepower pump for 8-12 hours a day will add $20 to $40 to your monthly bill. It's not a lot, but it's there.
- Water: Depending on where you live, filling 5,000 gallons can cost a bit on your utility bill, or you might need to pay a water truck $200 to $400 to come fill it up fast.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that these pools are "temporary." While they are technically portable, treat them like a permanent fixture. Build a little deck around it. Put some gravel or mulch around the base to prevent weeds from growing up against the liner.
If you treat it like a "cheap" toy, it’ll behave like one. If you treat it like a legitimate piece of home infrastructure, it’ll last you a decade. I know people who have built beautiful "above-ground-in-ground" setups by burying the Intex pool about 12 inches into the ground (carefully!) and surrounding it with a wooden deck. It looks high-end for about 10% of the cost of a traditional pool.
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Real Talk on Safety
Safety isn't just about fences. Because these pools have soft sides (especially the Easy Set), kids can sometimes lean over the edge and the wall will give way. You need a removable ladder. When you aren't using the pool, take the ladder out. Period.
Also, check your local codes. Just because it’s a "pop-up" pool doesn't mean your city doesn't have rules. Some places require a 4-foot fence even for temporary intex pools above ground. Your insurance company might also have a mini-heart attack if they see it on Google Maps and you haven't told them. Just a heads up.
Actionable Steps for a Perfect Season
If you’re ready to pull the trigger, do it right. Start by mapping out your yard. Find the sunniest spot because a pool in the shade is a cold pool, and nobody wants to swim in 68-degree water.
- Order early: By June, the best models are usually sold out or marked up by 50% by third-party sellers.
- Buy a heavy-duty tarp: The ground cloth Intex provides is thin. Buy a 12-mil silver/brown tarp to put down first.
- Get a vacuum: Don't rely on the "venturi" vacuums that hook to a garden hose. They just blow dirt around. Get a vacuum that hooks directly into your suction port.
- Test your water daily: For the first two weeks, test it every single day until you understand how the sun and the rain affect your pH.
It’s a lot of work, honestly. But on a 95-degree day in July, when you’re floating with a cold drink and the kids are actually playing quietly instead of screaming at a video game, you won't care about the leveling or the chemicals. You’ll just be glad you didn't spend $60k to get wet.
Check your ground level twice. Buy a better filter. Keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.6. That's the secret sauce.