Get one of those vacuum robots if you haven't already. Huge time saver.

...Tips eh?...

Get a floaty chair, and a beer, then enjoy. I think that is all the advice you need.

Relax, it is summer.

Allow me to introduce you to the Verro.

Those automatic sweepers are time savers. Too bad they don't work that well. You'll still have to sweep the corners manually because they don't go there. Not an issue if you have a circular pool.

My advice is to keep your pool supplies separated from the pool area. That goes double for any toys, life jackets, or blow-up toys. My sister once donned a life jacket that had been sitting next to the pool all night and when she jumped in about 2 dozen earwigs crawled out of the mesh. If you keep the stuff in the garage it should be much better. Otherwise all kinds of bugs get in there.

In ground or above ground pool?

It's a 20 foot circular above-ground pool. The Sharkline Infinity 54.

If I had the money, I would've liked to buy my family an inground pool, but the initial investment is too much for us right now, and our area's property taxes are so out of control, I couldnt handle the added 'home improvement' value that would hit my bill.

*The best product I can recommend is one of those time-release chlorine floaters. Drop a few tablets into it, set the release rate and forget about it except for the five minutes it takes to test it every day.

If you insist on using liquid chlorine, make sure you don't dump it all in one place. Walk around the pool, pouring slowly. If you dump too much in one spot, you bleach the liner, which discolors it and makes it brittle.

*You need a PH testing kit if one didn't come with the filter. Two small test tubes with a color chart that shows you what color to look for, and two bottles of formula. One measures chlorine concentration, the other measures PH. Buy a canister of PH plus and PH minus for when the reading comes out too high or too low. When collecting your sample, put your arm down into the pool to the shoulder. The sun burns chlorine off, and if you measure too close to the surface you won't get an accurate reading.

*If you live someplace that gets cool overnight, invest in a solar cover for the pool. It looks like a giant sheet of bubble rap. Put it on every night after the sun goes down and it will retain the heat of the day. Don't leave it on during the day for more than two days at a time, or you'll get algae problems. They're bulky, though, so if you don't have a shaded place to store it during the day it might not work for you.

*When you open your pool for the first time after having it covered and closed for the winter, you'll want a couple of gallons of chlorine shock treatment. This is like the regular liquid chlorine, but more concentrated. Gets rid of the algae and general muck that builds up over the winter months. Remember the previous advice: don't dump it all in one place.

*They also make algaecide, which is fun because it makes the pool all fizzy. Use it at the beginning of the season, but don't swim in it for a day or two afterward. Not a substitute for liquid shock-- more of a helper for it.

*Unless the pool gets direct sunlight all day, you really only need to run the filter every other day or so. Saves electricity.

*Make sure to skim the leaves off the top before they get caught in the filter. A clogged filter basket reduces the life of the filter motor and makes it louder. Be especially vigilant of dead bugs if you have large gauge holes in the filter basket at the pool intake, because they'll go right through that and into your filter's inner basket. These tend to be a pain to clean.

*Try and find something called a scum-ball. They're basically little foam dealies that you just drop into your pool. They collect skin oils, sunblock and other funky stuff. They help your filter work better and keep you from having to change the sand as often.

*Patching a tear in the liner is not as difficult as it sounds, but still requires a decent set of goggles and good lung capacity. Buy a few plastic-coated barbell weights to hold the patch down overnight so the glue can bond properly. Be careful not to drop them, or you'll have two holes to patch.

*When you cover the pool for the winter, instead of staking the cover to the ground fill some old jugs (you can use the old algaecide and chlorine jugs if you wish) with water and tie them to the eyelets on the cover. The weight will keep the cover taught, and it won't cause a tripping hazard by having the stakes in the ground.

And now for some fun stuff:

*Golf balls make excellent pool toys for the kids. You throw a handful in, and see how many you can collect before you have to come up for air.

*There is a wealth of nifty pool games/toys at your local Target or Job-Lot. Those giant foam cylinders are a lot of fun, and useful teaching aids for people just learning to swim.

*Walking around the perimeter of the pool to make a whirlpool is fun, but bear in mind that doing it too much weakens the support structure.

*Floating around the pool in a $6 inflatable rowboat with a cool drink and a book you don't care too much about if it gets wet is a fine way to spend an afternoon.

Enjoy.

Some more

1. Alkalinity up from the pool store is baking soda. It costs 1.50 at HEB for 5 lbs, much much more at the pool store.
2. Second the scum ball. Mine is in the skimmer. And its gross how nasty that thing gets(better it than the water).
3. Get a ph/chlorine test kit. Those are the basic things you want to keep in rough control.

and the best one

4. Make it a salt pool. http://www.poolplaza.com/C-Salt-Chlorinators.html

I have an ecomatic. love it! The only problem is that you have upfront costs.

* No, its not salty. The water does gain a slight taste that is different, but not bad
* Feels great opening eyes under water.
* Not having to buy chlorine is awesome
* The generation process raises the pH, so you replace the chlorine(EXPENSIVE) with acid(CHEAP). I pour in about 16oz a week. Not bad. The salt doesn't leave.
* And, there are devices for above ground owners too.
* I had both, and found its a lot more convenient to add acid than chlorine. Once you figure its generation rate, you'll know pretty close how much acid per week you need.

Enjoy!

Don't pee in it, no matter how much you're tempted to.

Are you bringing your kids to the Austin Slap & Tickle? I need to check our insurance...

I won't sue you... much.

Seriously though, there are people out there who will sue if something happens to their kid in YOUR pool, and God help you if it's something of a permanent nature.

They come by once a week, unless I call and ask them to come and fix something (or if I'm going to have people over or whatever). Chem & skimming and thorough vacuum every Thursday so the pool looks great for the weekend. Backwash and equipment cleaning once a month. Family owned business, not one of the big guys.

Pools generally are considered "attractive nuisances" under the law, which means the owner is obligated to keep those damn kids out of his back lawn.

Nope. He should've gotten these kinds of locks. After all, a lock that can be easily cut is obviously a sign that they want you to break in. Although, you're kind a screwed if they bring an arc welder. In which case, it is, again, your fault, because you didn't use a security forcefield.

HIIIIIYAA! Ninja edit! Works every time.

Just put up one of these, have that drink or two and enjoy the view.