The following are frequently asked questions concerning portable above ground
pools and the KD pools in particular. This list continues to grow with questions
asked by customers in our showroom and by our online customers as well. If your
question is not asked and answered below, please feel free to email
us and we will be sure to get back to you promptly.
KD Above Ground Pool Installation Requirements
General Pool Questions
Pool Maintenance Questions
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KD ABOVE GROUND POOL INSTALLATION
REQUIREMENTS
What type of
foundation can the KD pool be installed on?
Unlike other types of above ground pools, the KD pool does not require a
sand base. In fact, the KD pool can be assembled on top of dirt, sand, grass,
concrete or variety of materials. Simply remove large debris and sharp objects
before you assemble your KD pool.
How long does it take to
assemble a KD pool?
Assembly time will vary with how many breaks you take but usually a KD round
pool will take 1-2 people approximately one hour and the rectangular KD pools
will take 2 people an afternoon.
Can a single mom assemble
the pool?
We have had moms and kids assemble their KD pools while Dad was at work. You
definitely do not need to be a "Tim Allen" like person to assemble
this pool. If you follow the instructions, you shouldn't have a problem.
How level does the area
need to be and how do you properly level the area?
For the round pools, the ground needs to be within 2" of level. For the
KD rectangular pools, it is ideal to have the ground as close to level as
possible. When leveling your area, always "take away" dirt instead of
"building up" an area.
How much space does a KD
portable pool require?
The KD round pools require the circumference of the pool plus an area for
the ladder and equipment which is directly across from the ladder location. For
the rectangular pools, you need to add an additional 4' overall (2' per side)
due to the diagonal
supports that support the sides plus room for the ladder and equipment. On
the rectangular pools, the equipment has to be installed on the short side and
the ladder can be installed on either long side or the short side.
What are the
electrical requirements?
The equipment pak has a 6' long cord and should be plugged into a GFCI
protected outlet. Extension cords should not be used. When doing any necessary
electrical wiring, always be sure to do according to local codes. In addition,
the equipment should be installed on a level area with good drainage.
Do you have to fill the pool
all the way to the top or can you leave less water in it?
The water level has to be high enough to allow water flow into the skimmer
and then the pump. The correct water level is 4" - 6" down from the
pool top rail.
GENERAL POOL QUESTIONS
What is the KD pool liner
made of and how is the liner made?
The
KD pool liner is made of 2 components; a polyester woven core and a special PVC
coating. The polyester woven core is made up of thousands of tiny polyester
multi-fiber strands bound together into a larger strand. The advantage of a
multi-fiber strand is its flexible durability and higher tolerance to stretching
and resistance to ripping. The larger multi-fiber strands are then woven
together to form a fine polyester woven core similar to a metal screen on a
window. This acts like a chain link fence and creates a "shared
resistance". So, even if a puncture were to occur, the neighboring
"links" shoulder the resistance thus preventing the puncture from
spreading. Next, the woven core is then coated and encased with two specially
formulated types of PVC. One coating of PVC is mixed with a Royal Blue pigment
(exterior of pool) and an Ultraviolet light inhibitor. The other coating of PVC
is mixed with both a light blue pigment (inside of pool) and a protectant that
resists the negative effects of chlorine and other swimming pool chemicals. The
final step is creating the shape of the pool. This is done by laying the
material together, overlapping by 2' to 4" and then connecting with high
frequency welding using a brass welding tool.
Some companies offer the
Classic or "Club" KD pool. What is the difference with the Classic
round and a Royalty series round pools?
The Royalty series pool is the top of the KD line of above ground portable
pools. The Classic or Club pool was the first KD series made. It was
manufactured to maintain a price point and be sold through mass merchants. All
improvements that were learned from being field tested in consumer homes were
made exclusively to the Royalty series. Therefore, many quality features found
on the Royalty series are not on the Classic series. A brief list of some of the
differences is below:
| Royalty Pool |
Classic or "Club" Pool |
Lifetime liner warranty,
(against ripping & tearing) |
5 year liner warranty
(against ripping & tearing) |
| Stain Retardant liner |
—
|
| UV resistant liner |
—
|
| Liner exterior blue |
Liner exterior tan |
| Aluminum poles and tees |
PVC poles and tees |
| 1 - 1.5 hp pumps usually |
3/4 hp pumps usually |
How is a KD pool different
from metal wall above ground swimming pools?
When comparing a KD pool to metal wall above ground pools, there are many
advantages. First, the KD pool is much easier to install than metal wall above
ground pools and can be built on most surfaces. Therefore, grass does not have
to be removed and replaced with a sand base like on metal wall pools. Also, the
KD pools can be taken down yearly whereas a metal wall pool stays up year-round.
This makes for a lower cost of "ownership" since winterizing and
chemicals are not needed if the pool is taken down during the winter. Another
difference is that the liner on a KD pool is much thicker than the liners found
on most metal wall pools.
How does a KD pool compare
to other soft-sided portable pools?
When compared to other portable above ground pools, the KD quick snap
tee connector is a patented feature that makes assembly the easiest of all
similar pools. In addition, the bottom rope found on the KD round pools is also
patented. The tee, belly band and rope feature give tremendous stability to our
pools. Finally, the liner found on a KD pool is much thicker than most portable
pools.
What is the most popular
KD pool size?
The NSPI statistics show that round pools outsell all other shapes by 2 to
1. For KD pools, our best selling size has traditionally been the 16' round.
Are custom pool sizes
available?
KD pools is owned by Zodiac—the makers of Zodiac boats. A great deal of
research and design is put into every size we have available. Each shape and
size is engineered and tested to deliver the maximum performance for our
customers. By randomly manufacturing sizes, less quality control would be
engineered into the pool. Therefore, KD has maintained 5 sizes of round
pools and 5 sizes of rectangular
KD pools.
What are the poles and
structure of the KD pool made from?
The KD Royalty Round pools have 100% anodized aluminum vertical ribs,
horizontal ribs and connecting tees (the Classic series use PVC poles and tees).
The KD rectangular pools use a steel structure. This framework is covered by a
15 year warranty.
Is decking available for
the KD pool?
Decking kits are not available through KD but many customers have built
their own decks around the pools.
How much water do the KD
pools hold?
| 8' Royalty Pool Package |
1950 gallons |
| 12' Royalty Pool Package |
3300 gallons |
| 16' Royalty Pool Package |
6600 gallons |
| 20' Royalty Pool Package |
10000 gallons |
| 24' Royalty Pool Package |
15000 gallons |
| 10' X 16' X 4' Royalty Pool Package |
3950 gallons |
| 10' X 23' X 4' Royalty Pool Package |
5550 gallons |
| 13' X 20' X 4' Royalty Pool Package |
6350 gallons |
| 13' X 26' X 4' Royalty Pool Package |
8450 gallons |
| 16'5" X 33' X 4' Royalty Pool Package |
16000 gallons |
How can I heat the water?
Many of our customers choose to add a solar
cover to their order. This allows you to use the natural energy of the sun to help heat the
water. You will need to be careful though because the solar covers have been
known to heat the water to 95 degrees and above.
Do I need a fence or permit
for my pool?
Fencing and permit needs vary all over the country. You should check with
your local building department.
POOL MAINTENANCE QUESTIONS
Can I leave the pool up
year-round or do I have to take it down during the winter?
The choice to leave the pool up or take it down is entirely up to you. Our
customers are split fairly evenly on this issue. If you do choose to take your
pool down, a winter storage bag is included with your pool purchase.
We have a lot of trees
nearby, what is the best way to keep a KD pool clean?
You have 3 choices for keeping your KD pool clean. The first is to add a
secure cover to your pool. The secure cover will help keep the pool clean and
unwanted guests out. However, this cover will not allow the solar
cover to heat the water if that is what you want. You can also use a manual
vac system which includes a pole, net, vac head and hose. Finally, for the
greatest ease and convenience, you can use a pool sweep such as our Baracuda
Ranger. This sweep connects in-line with the equipment and automatically cleans
your pool whenever the pump is running.
What is the cost of
operation?
Electrical costs vary greatly all over the country. Depending on the rate
you pay for electricity, your power cost can range from $10 - $25 per month to
run the pump and filter.
What type of chemicals
do you recommend?
To sanitize your pool, you have several choices. The first would be a
granular or tablet form of chlorine. While chlorine has been used for years,
many customers like to explore chlorine-free alternatives since chlorine can
bleach out the inside color of your pool liner. One alternative that we
recommend is using non-chlorine Baquacil in your pool. Baquacil is a 3 part
system that only requires attention once per week so you can spend more time
enjoying your pool and less time maintaining it. One final alternative is using
silver ions as found in the Nature 2 product. Using Nature 2 in your pool cuts
down on chlorine usage by up to 90%.
