⚡ CFB Dashboard

Have an inground pool and here are my 100% must haves. It'll sound like a lot, but if you're going to do it, do it right. 1. Saltwater - the way it works is you have a salt cell that hooks up to your pool pump/filter system that turns the salt into chlorine "naturally." Water feels much more natural, doesn't have a chemical smell, won't burn the eyes, and is much better for kids skin. +$2,000 2. Heater - if you're in KY a heater gets you an extra 2-3 months of usage a year. We open our pool in April and close it in October. Friends without heaters are usually May - September. Get a natural gas one and hook it up to your gas line. I recommend Hayward as a solid brand. +$7,000 3. Automatic Pool Cover - this one is less of a must have than the first 2, but if you have young kids or tons of trees I'd put it up there. For kids it's 100% needed for safety. The leading cause of death for kids ages 1-4 in the US is drowning. Fences and gates don't work, toddlers are uncontrollable. Having it covered when you're not in it or sitting right next to it is such a mental relief. If not for kids, it'll save you a ton of time and energy keeping it clean when you're not using it. It also acts as a heater in the early and late seasons to save you on heating costs (note: this can actually overheat it some in the summer when it's 100 for a month straight). +$20,000 4. Outdoor Grill/TV Set up - Once the pool is in, finish it off with a legit built in BBQ and outdoor TV. It really completes the whole thing. No one wants to be in the pool the first weekend of CFB kickoff while their team is playing. No one would rather be anywhere else when you have a 55" mounted on your poolside pergola. Lastly - If you're doing it, I assume you have the means so have fun with it and don't sweat the cost creep. Inground pools are expensive these days, you'll likely go over budget, but it's worth it. Memories/Experiences > Money.