Installing a pool is a major undertaking so you might as well plan for the extras you want while you’re at it. Here are some add-ons and upgrades you may want to consider for your new pool.
Pool Heater
The swimming season here in Canada is brief, so you may want to install a gas or electric pool heater to help extend it. Your pool builder will help you choose the right size and model based on the volume and surface area of water in your pool. Ask about money-saving timers, too.
A pool heater will need to be sheltered in a ventilated equipment shed. If you build it bigger than needed, you’ll also have a storage space for pool toys, pool supplies and garden equipment.
Pool Cover
A pool cover helps to keep the heat in. Natural Resources Canada estimates that a pool cover reduces pool heating costs by up to 50 percent. A cover also prevents the evaporation of water and chemicals and reduces the amount of debris that falls into the pool when you’re not using it.
Covers can be operated manually by a crank system or they can be fully automated, responding to the touch of a button. A cover should be fully retracted before anyone gets into the water, for safety’s sake.
Fun Stuff
In the end, a swimming pool is about having fun. If it’s deep enough, you can add a diving board or a slide and a partly submerged ladder for getting out of the deep end. If you want to work out in the pool, you can have high-powered jets installed that will let you do “laps” even in a small pool.
Pool Enhancements
To add to the overall look of your yard, you can add a pool deck of natural stone or even a waterfall. Recessed pool lights add nighttime beauty to a yard and an outdoor shower will let users rinse off before getting into the pool and after they get out.
Safe and Secure
If you have young children, there are products like a waterproof wrist strap that sets off an alarm if a child falls into the water. For pets, you can install a plastic ramp that offers an easy to see and use exit from the deep end. To protect both children and pets, you can get a monitoring system that sets off an alarm if anything falls into the pool.
If your yard isn’t already entirely fenced in, municipal bylaws in Toronto require owners to build a fence around the pool with a self-closing, lockable gate.