Paddling Pool For Floating

[Jennykenny]

I love floating and want to buy a child's paddling pool for our very small courtyard garden.
Anyone got any tips on keeping the water clean, (without chemicals) and protecting the underside as it will be resting on our brick paved courtyard.
Any other general tips, - best place to buy? How big for a 5'4' woman?

[sherrardk]

We don't use chemical but do empty it out often. We rest ours on camping roll things.

[boxtops]

How will you get one deep enough for an adult to float in....?

[Jennykenny]

Camping rolling things- good idea.
I think that most adults could float in about eighteen inches or less??

[Jennykenny]

Sherrardk, are we talking about the same things? What Americans call pool noodles?,-nbrightly coloured polystyrene tubes that help children swim?

[sherrardk]

No, they are foam things that you would use as a mattress if you went camping - you can cut them to fit.

[fairycakes69]

I had a quick up 8ft pool, that I could lie on a LILO in, was pretty chilly though, solar cover only heats the first layer of water. Takes 6 hours to fill though, emptied every 3rd day.

[boxtops]

Our neighbours have a huge round paddling pool, but it will only take about 10 inches of water by the look of it. You'll need something with fixed sides, surely?

[Sycamore3House]

We had one of these. This catalogue number is the one from Argos Chad Valley Family Swim Centre Inflatable Paddling Pool. 365/0921.
We had a small electric compressor to inflate it. Once it was full we just used to top it up rather than empty completely. We used to lay ours on an old duvet.
Don't know if it would work but would a heavy duty aquarium pump do the job.

[EDDIE51]

Far too big for a child's paddling pool , even the largest ones have only 4 to 6 inches of water, one with 18 inch's of water would be deep enough for a child to drown .

[Jennykenny]

Thanks Sherrak, got the idea.
Fairy, Lilo, will bear that in mind - ref water heat, no more colder than the sea, but I suppose you would be moving around a bit more in the sea.
Change the water every three days - ouch. We already have horrendous water bills for just two adults. I'm sure our water meter is wonky.
Sycamore, don't want to buy a pump that I would use once a year.
I think I'll have to give up on this idea, but thanks everyone for your help.

[Frank97]

They do look fun for this hot weather, wouldn't mind one myself if it wasn't for the dog!
http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article8737102.ece/alternates/w620/101.jpg

[EDDIE51]

^^ it is easy to check your water meter just take the reading and note the date then a month later check it again. Subtract 1st reading from the 2nd and multiply by 12 for a years estimated reading. It is worth remembering that 2/3rds of a water bill are for sewerage not the water itself. We pay £2 per cubic meter /1,000 litres for water but another £4 cu metre for sewerage. You pay sewerage on 90% of your metered water so use 100 cubic meters of water and the bill is for the water plus 90 Cu M for sewerage .

[EDDIE51]

^^ should have added, to check for leaks look at the meter when you know there is no water going to be used for example just before you go out for a day and all taps /washing machine is off. When you get back the reading should be exactly the same as before you left, if it has gone up you have a leak and need to get it fixed.

[fairycakes69]

That's like the one we had. We don't have a water meter, so not a worry for us. Stopped using due to taking so long to fill and kids in for all of ten minutes, cos it's cold.

[boxtops]

We don't have to do all that, Eddie - we get separate bills from different companies for incoming and outgoing water :-)

[EDDIE51]

^^ We get water from Affinity Water and sewage dealt with by Anglia Water but it all comes in one bill from Affinity. £2 a meter water + £4 a metre sewage.