Top 18 DIY Pool Equipment Enclosure Ideas | saw bucket (2023)

FAQs

What is the best way to hide pool equipment? ›

Should You Enclose Your Pool Equipment? Pool equipment — pumps, filters, pipes, etc. — are designed to be outside and withstand the elements. It's not mandatory to enclose them or cover them, as long as they are safe from severe storms or natural disasters.

A simple canvas cover or tarp with tie-down straps can be used to cover the filter, but should be removed prior to the commissioning of your swimming pool or, at minimum, the startup of the filter. A properly winterized filter shouldn't crack.

Local codes and manufacturer guidelines also play a large role in dictating where equipment can be placed and how much surrounding “open” space must be provided. As a general rule of thumb, the mechanical space should be about an eighth of the size of the pool water surface area.

While it's not always necessary with today's winterized pool equipment, covering your pool heater is still a good idea. Placing a barrier between your heater and the snow, ice, sleet, and hail that are sure to fall over the winter months helps to minimize the damage caused by these adverse weather events.

Florida homeowners install pool enclosures as a safety barrier option when building a backyard pool. Pool cages are very common in central Florida due to the pool safety requirements. They also provide an excellent barrier to bugs and harsh sunlight.

Many companies offer kits for DIY pool enclosures that can help you cut down on the costs of installing more permanent structures. Whether it's a DIY pool dome or DIY pool screen enclosure, read on to learn how to build a pool enclosure on your own.

Adding a screened porch or pool enclosure to your home can provide a variety of benefits. It can be a good investment if you're looking to sell, as it could increase the likelihood of a successful sale and may even add value to your home.

There's a danger of freeze damage to your pools if and when temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The damage could include cracked equipment and broken pipes, both of which lead to expensive repairs.

Does water go through winter pool cover? ›

While covered throughout winter, water is sure to build up on the pool cover. This is when a cover pump is essential to keeping water off the cover. Automatic pumps can be left on the cover. But Aqua Pools recommends removing the pump, including the hose, and bringing it inside during freezing weather.

If circumstances allow, stay close to the pool. Shorter pipe runs = less work for the pump which extends the life of the pump and uses less electricity. Our projects typically average a distance of 20–40 feet from the pool to the equipment, but as stated earlier, much longer runs are sometimes required.

The equipment pad should be a reasonable distance from the pool so that you can move between the pool and equipment without a long hike. Most pads require a minimum of a 4'x4' area and depending on the equipment it could be up to a 5'x10-12' area or larger.

A small storage box shed is a tidy place to store a pool pump and a few other small items, while a large storage shed or pool house is ideal for storing all your backyard items.

Hang Storage Hooks

If possible, hang the hooks out of direct sunlight. Plastic floats shouldn't be left in the sun or stored in the pool because heat and water can wear the plastic down over time. Using vertical space in a shady area is the best way to keep them in prime condition.

Combine the storage capacity of two storage pools

Remove one of the storage pools first so that its drives are no longer in use. These drives can then be added to the other storage pool for storage expansion. Back up the data on the storage pool that you want to remove or move the data to the other storage pool.

Depending on the size of your pool, we still recommend you run your pump run at least 4-6 hours a day during the fall and winter months. The daily cycle can be divided into multiple cycles, but each cycle should be no shorter than 4 hours, for all the water to pass through the filter at least once.

You do not have to enclose your pool equipment (pump, filter, heater). A lot of people camouflage it with landscaping or a small fence, so that is not visible. Pool equipment is designed to be outdoors. As long it is taken care and properly maintained of there should be nothing to worry about.

Absolutely! A cover does nothing to interfere with the water circulating through your system. It doesn't touch your pump or any other piece of equipment you have. When your pool is covered during these winter months, you can run it less, thus protecting the pump from premature aging.

Are pool enclosures worth it? ›

Your pool will be much cleaner overall due to it keeping out extra debris. A pool heater and pool enclosure is a perfect combination that will extend your swim time. While pool heaters make you dive into the water even during cold days, having pool enclosures help protect you from rain and snow.

Above Ground Pools Skirt the Law

According to state law, if a pool has over 24 inches of water, it needs to be entirely enclosed by a barrier. A property fence does not count. Such laws are mandated by Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, which was designed to prevent the accidental drowning of children.

Overall, installing your own inground fiberglass pool can save you between 6 and 10 thousand dollars. However, if something goes wrong, you might end up spending a lot more trying to fix it. You may also experience more delays or setbacks than you would if you left it up to an experienced professional.

A. The top of the pool enclosure shall be at least 60 inches above grade.

The standard that the pool cover industry references is from ASTM, a company known and referenced widely for safety standards for many industries. The ASTM standard for pool covers requires the ability to hold at least 435 pounds.

Some home improvements increase your home's value, but others don't. While you and your family will certainly enjoy a pool, prospective home buyers might see it as a safety hazard and a maintenance hassle. Overbuilding for the neighborhood can be a mistake.

In addition to keeping dirt out, pool enclosures help discourage algae growth, reduce both water and chemical evaporation, and even save you money on energy costs. That's because your pool's filter and other equipment don't have to work so hard under the shade of an enclosure. It's a win-win all around.

Although a pool is generally considered a luxury, it can also boost your home value. In fact, in some housing markets, it's actually seen as a deficit if you're the only house without that refreshing retreat in your backyard.

U.S. Masters Swimming's rule book dictates that pools used for competition should be between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit and that open water competitions can't occur in a body of water less than 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit unless there are special precautions.

What is the perfect pool temperature? ›

If you're looking for a perfect pool temperature, not too hot, not too cold, 77 – 82 degrees (25 – 28°C) may be the way to go according to most recreational swimmers. In most cases, pools should be comfortable, and the average swimmer will agree with this.

Freezing temperatures, whether talking about your ice box or your plumbing, is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature where water freezes. It can be great for ice skating, but damaging to our swimming pool equipment and plumbing. This is mainly because freezing water expands.

Run your pool pump continuously when temperatures are near or below freezing. You don't need to run your heater, moving water likely will not freeze. Disconnect any aerators and lines to slides. Booster pumps for pool cleaners don't need to run continuously.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Pool chemicals are sensitive to extreme temperatures as well. Avoid letting liquids freeze as they could begin to separate, making them unusable. Storing chemicals outside or in extreme heat can cause liquids to expand or the chemicals to release gases, causing leaks and spills.

Frozen water of any kind on your pool cover is a big problem. It can be especially frustrating if it melts, and you don't have time to pump it off before it refreezes. Edges of it are sharp and can puncture your pool cover. It's best practice to wait until the snow and ice on your pool cover melt.

A tarp is an oversized waterproof cover used to protect swimming pools during harsh weather conditions. It's fixed with water bags placed in each corner, allowing it to stretch over the entire surface of the pool. While cost-friendly and easy to set up, tarps are typically less durable than pool safety covers.

Tightness

Once your new safety cover is installed, the cover should lay taut over the pool with no sagging or gaps, like a trampoline. You may notice that the cover will slightly stretch over the first winter. This is completely normal during the first seasons of use and when the cover encounters snow loads.

The best time to run your pool pump is during the warmest hour of the day; however, keep in mind that this means you will have higher energy consumption, which may lead to an increase in your electric bill. If you want to save on your energy costs, you can run your pool pump at night to avoid peak hours.

One of the most significant consumers of energy in homes with swimming pools are pool pumps, which keep pools clean by circulating water through filters. Pool pumps can consume 3,000 to over 5,000 kWh per year.

As much as you can

If your question is “How often should I run my pump to keep the pool at its best?” the answer would be 24/7 for as much of the year as the pool is in operation.

How thick should a pool pad be? ›

When you are choosing a liner for your pool, liner thickness is one of the choices you will need to make. The two choices for in-ground pools are 20 mil and 27/28 mil. For the 27/28 mil, some companies call it 27 mil, while some call it 28 mil.

Concrete surfaces that support large trucks, heavy machinery, or steady traffic need concrete rebar reinforcement. Any structural concrete, like walls in buildings, should definitely include rebar. But if you're pouring a concrete driveway as a place to park your family minivan, you might not need rebar.

Excavate the slab area to a depth of about 7 inches, allowing 3 inches for a gravel base and 4 inches for concrete.

Air circulation around the motor is essential for optimal operation. Even if you have a pool pump cover, make sure there is enough ventilation and free airflow around the pump, to cool the motor.

A typical equipment pad layout is pumps on one side, filter in the middle, heater on the other side and pipes from the pool coming up from gravel along the side of the equipment pad. There should be enough spacing between and around equipment for regular service and repairs including access at the rear of the pumps.

Keep it on a low shelf so it won't fall or roll. If you keep your motor outdoors all winter, you could build a 'lean-to' with lumber or plastic for snow, rain and tree branches, but keep good air flow around the motor, and don't wrap it in plastic, which traps moisture inside the motor.

The pool heat pump also cannot be installed in an enclosed or indoor area (nope, you can't hide it inside a shed). All of these special considerations must be followed not only for your unit to function properly but for you to avail of the warranty as well.

To rack the balls, use the triangular rack. Place the one ball at the apex over the marker on the pool table. Randomly fill in the other balls, ensuring the ten ball is in the middle of the third row. To ensure a tight rack for ten ball, place all fifteen balls in the rack when setting up the game.

Most in-ground pools have the system located above the level of the pool water, just a foot or so. And although it's important to have the equipment pad elevated from the surrounding ground, for storm runoff, a system that it located too high above the pool water level may pump priming problems.

What is the life expectancy of pool equipment? ›

On average, pool pumps last eight to 12 years before needing replacement. Over time, it's normal for pool parts to begin to wear down. In addition, swimming pool technology has come a long way in the last decade.

A swimming pool enclosure helps keep the bugs, wandering reptiles and rain out of your pool. A large screen pool enclosure can also stop UV rays and keep your pool cooler during the hot summer months while offering protection against the wind and cold in the winter.

Shade and Shelter Your Pool Area

Your pool enclosure roof can keep out rain or block out the sun to give you a shady outdoor area to enjoy year-round. Many homeowners shade their outdoor areas to keep sidewalks, patios and other concrete areas shaded and cooler during summer months.

Benefits of Winter Pool Enclosures

Winter pool enclosures greatly enhance the swimming area, hot tub area and/or greenhouse area and allow for year-round use. Homeowners, condominiums and hotels are unable to use their outdoor pool and hot tub when the weather is inclement or during the colder months.

With a swimming pool enclosure, you can even enjoy your swimming pool in the coolest months in relative comfort! Utilizing the warm rays of the sun, a custom enclosure creates a greenhouse effect that keeps your pool environment warmer than outside and even lessens heat loss from pool water during the evening hours.

A small fence, wall or screen near your pool deck is a simple way to hide pool heat pumps from sight. Choose from glass, steel or wood to match the existing decor and materials of your existing outdoor area and visitors won't notice the all-important equipment thats keeping your pool at the perfect temperature.