We test pools for weeks to determine their characteristics and provide detailed information about their installation, maintenance, and repair. Below, we list methods that we use to prove the data provided by the manufacturer.

How We Test Pools

Swimming pools are widely used in many residential households during the hot season.

There are different types of pools – in-ground, above-ground, inflatable, frame, infinity, steel, concrete, fiberglass, saltwater, plunge, vinyl liner, and others.

We take for review only frame and inflatable pools, as their quality depends on the manufacturer and your choice, while the rest are built on-site and depend on the professional qualities of your construction team. These pools are not cheap, and most owners do not have the intention to buy them for every season.

Our reviews are based on a set of tests, which we perform to evaluate all technical characteristics. Based on this data, you can decide what type of pool is better for your family and make a reasonable choice.

Most of the tests described below are also applicable to hot tubs and spas. We want to highlight that we do not perform tests of water quality that impact swimmers; these tests you should perform by yourself in biochemical laboratories as water composition in different regions is not the same. Additionally, even though the pool could be considered safe, do not forget to maintain it regularly and test pH balance, alkalinity, and chlorine.

Usability Test

This test is performed to understand how comfortable the pool is for usage and installation. When you receive the pool from the manufacturer, it is delivered, packed, and disassembled. The key factor in long service life is the correct installation. We always follow the installation guidelines to estimate their correctness and determine if they are enough for a beginner in pool equipment. If we realize that the manual is not enough, we will provide appropriate suggestions for tools and actions in our review.

We consider the installation easy if it takes less than one hour without additional tools. The installed pool should stay firm without leakages; all connection joints should be tightened without significant effort. Normally, no special equipment is required for this test.

We also prefer models that are supplied with a built-in pump and filter. Such pools do not require additional equipment to start the swimming season; you only need to add water and connect the pool with electricity. These pumps and filters should be enough for proper water circulation and debris capture. These models receive the highest rank in usability tests. The parameters of the pump and the filter are tested separately, which will be described further. The availability of additional accessories such as a ladder, slides, lighting, and others is good but does not impact the test result.

It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for winterization. All assembled pools are better stored disassembled in a heated place to prevent tube rupture. That means, please do not throw away your manual after the first installation.

Material test

Vinyl pools (PVC) are the most popular among assembled pools as they are made of durable material that may resist fades and stains. It is also a cost-effective solution and easy to clean. Most of our reviewed pools are made from vinyl. Unfortunately, there are different vinyl pool liners; some can be easily damaged, and some can last for a decade. Most manufacturers do not indicate the chemical composition of the liner to determine how safe it will be in a swimming pool (especially in hot tubs and spas).

Nevertheless, it is forbidden to drink water from a swimming pool, but it is safe to swim in it. To prove that, we check how the material is performed in salt water, under regular pool chemical treatment, on sun in a hot day, and with air temperature up to 85 F and water temperature up to 104 F. The material should not change its structure, no odor should be smelled, and no change of the color in the pool (from the material color) should be observed.

We also check the thickness of the material with a feeler around the whole length. It should be even to prevent leakage. Some pools have a thicker bottom part or additional layer on the ground to prevent damage; this we consider as an additional point during pool estimation. Moreover, thick liners resist accidental damage by kids or animals for a long time. We perform leak tests with water inside the pool, and in case of water spills, we use a vinyl liner leak detector to find all places.

Repair capability test

We have to admit that all liner repairs have not been solved for years; normally, it is a temporary solution until the end of the season. In this test, we check how the repair patches fix small rips, tears, or other damages on vinyl pool liners.

Additional points receive models where suitable repair patches are included in the package. Otherwise, we use a standard patch kit. We check the repair capability by applying a patch to the damaged place underwater with a vinyl adhesive.

We have several kits to check which one is better for the specific pool liner. As a result, you will see the recommendations for pool repair. Nevertheless, assembled vinyl pools have the advantage of purchasing only a liner, not the whole construction.

Frame test

In this test, we estimate how the pool is assembled, how the details fit into each other to make the whole construction firm, and how the frame reacts to different weather conditions (rain and sun).

The pool can have plastic and steel frames. We check the stability of the frame with full water capacity to understand how the load impacts.

Normally, a steel frame is preferable and is used for large pools. When the frame is assembled, we leave it for a week in normal summer conditions – sun, heat, rain, and thunderstorms. This test shows how paint on steel or plastic tubes reacts to weather conditions. We do not play in the tested pools and do not try to damage the construction.

Pump Test

This test is applicable only for pools supplied with a built-in pump. For other pumps supplied separately, please check a separate specified article with the pump test description. For this test, we check water circulation (how much time is required for full water capacity circulation through the pump), the noise during work (if it makes cavitation noises or not), pump pressure (it should be as specified in the technical specification), how the pump is filled with water and any other operation problems. The pump is checked with water without air; if it does not suck the water from the pool, then it or the connection components are damaged. The pump can’t run without water as it leads to seal overheating, melting, and burning of components. To prevent this, we check if the pump basket is filled and the lid is tightened.

During this test, we also checked how a pool pump works when there is debris in the pool. All debris should be collected in a skimmer basket, and a filter, but small parts can reach the pool basket. As the pool pump is not dedicated to adding new water (water is added and assembled in the pool by hose) and only for circulation, we normally do not check the change of water level while the pump is running. If we consider some leakages, we can perform a bucket test. Normally, all pumps should provide two times water turnover during 24 hours (which means twice a day). To save electricity, the pump should ensure this turnover during 8-10 hours of working time. We also check the operating pressure (normally around 7-10 PSI) to see if it corresponds to the technical characteristics. If it does not have a pressure gauge, we install a digital one on a pressure line (outlet). If the water pressure is low, it could be a notification of a dirty filter.

Finally, we estimate the pump’s usability, including how easy it is to control and how conveniently the valves are located. During this test, we receive information about the whole system’s work; if all connections are properly fixed and tightened, there are no leakages. In some rare cases, the pump does not start, which may be the reason for the electrical problem. With a multimeter, we test the resistance of the coils and compare them.

Filter Test

This test is similar to the cleaning test performed in the pools to check pool cleaners. We add some debris and dirt in the pool and observe how it is sucked by the pool pump (additional test of pool pump) into the skimmer and does not return. We also perform additional checks by adding a scoop or two of diatomaceous earth or sand into the water near the skimmer to see if it returns from the filter and after the pump. If it does not stay in the filter and the water is cloudy, the filter does not work. Finally, we connect the vacuum hose to a skimmer and see how cloudy water circulates. In our reviews, we also include recommendations for filter operation and maintenance. In all tests, we check how quickly the filter requires cleaning and how it is performed.

Additional accessories tests

If the package includes additional accessories, we will check them as well. For ladders and slopes, we evaluate their stability, whether they are slippery, and whether they are safe for kids. For all accessories, we try to use an overall human weight of about 250 pounds (120 kg) in different weather conditions. Lighting and other night accessories we check at night, whether elimination is enough for spending time in a pool or spa without additional lights. For jets and other bubble-creating devices, we check the strength of flow with a water flow meter for safe figures of the human body. Pillows and other inflatable parts we live for a week and see how they change with human usage and without.

If you have barriers for kids in the package, we create different situations to check their protection features. All our tests are based on the Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools (prepared by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) and the American National Standard for Residential Inground Swimming Pools. As a private pool owner, you should protect the pool from unauthorized usage, so if you don’t have these accessories in the package, think of buying them.

Conclusion

As you see, our pool tests are based on reliable measures of pool equipment and its construction. We try all pools from our reviews to provide you with trustworthy information. We test material, frame, usability, filter, pump, and accessories – all parts of your assembled swimming pool for safe and long service life. We cover framed and inflatable pools of different sizes from different manufacturers. Following our reviews of technical characteristics and maintenance recommendations, you can choose a suitable model for many years. This article is also applicable to inflatable spas and hot tubs due to their similar construction. For stationary pools, we have separate tests and reviews.