If you own a swimming pool or are thinking about getting a pool, the one must-have pool accessory is a swimming pool slide. If you don’t know anything about them, then you have come to the right place. This section is going to discuss the various aspects of swimming pool slides, from the basics to how to find the right one for your pool.
The great thing about swimming pool slides is that they often take up just a little space while providing hours and hours of fun for the children (and in some cases, the adults too). Sliding down your own slide can make you feel like you are at an amusement park; except you can go inside your house to dry off and eat.
When it comes to slides, there is an unbelievably large amount of choices. Therefore, let’s explain some of these choices that are currently available.
Depending on your preference, you can either get a closed (i.e. tube) slide or an open slide (one without a cover). While a tube version will cost more, it is much safer than an open one. Hence, when it comes time to choose between these two types of slides, you are going to have to perform a cost/risk assessment.
Additionally, you will also have the choice of getting a swimming pool slide that has curves or is straight. If you have older children, you may even want to get a slide that has corkscrew turns in it. As you can imagine, a curved slide will be a little more risky but can be more fun. On the other hand, a straight slide can be less dangerous and oftentimes cheaper.
Let’s move on to finding the right pool water slide. The type of pool you have will determine the type of slide you can get. Since there are two basic types of pools (inground and above ground), you will either have to use an above ground pool slide or an inground pool slide.
When it comes to the variety of above ground pool slides, the consumer is a little limited. This limitation is caused by safety concerns. Since above ground pools are fairly shallow, it really isn’t possible to get a slide that will come with all kinds of gimmicks or is very tall. If a manufacturer was to create this type of slide, he or she would most likely be sued for negligence.
On the other hand, if you are searching for inground pool slides, you will have a much greater selection of inventory to look at. Keep in mind though that the limiting factor of a shallow depth can still limit your choices. Hence, if you are going to install a slide, it should be positioned at the deep end of the pool.
After you determine which kind of slide to pursue, you will need to set a maximum limit on how much you want to spend. This is because a slide can very quickly exceed your budget. As proof of this phenomenon, pool slides can range from one thousand dollars all the way up to fifteen thousand dollars. If fact, if you have a very large budget, it is possible to find luxurious inground pool slides that can easily exceed the fifteen thousand dollar threshold.
An aspect that you should include in your budget is the slide’s installation. These items can be quite bulky and time consuming to build, so you will have to decide whether you are going to do it or if you are going to hire someone else to build it instead.
A third aspect of the slide that will affect the total cost is the slide’s height. As the pool slide gets higher and higher, there will be a tendency for the cost to go higher and higher. When it comes to actually choosing the height of the slide, you will want to consider the age of the children who will be using it (the average slide height is between three feet and eight feet). If you have older children, an eight foot slide may not be a problem; if you have a six year old, an eight foot slide may frighten them to the point that they won’t use it.
The last item you may wish to consider when you buy a slide is whether or not it comes with a warranty. Very often, the standard swimming pool slide warranty is three years. While this may be standard, the fact is a manufacturer can choose whatever warranty period they want to, and may not offer a warranty at all.
Before we conclude, we wanted to touch on the topic of inflatable pool slides. These slides are a fairly new innovation when it comes to having fun around the pool. There are basically two versions. The first type of inflatable pool slide is one that is blown up by an air pump and then is positioned next to the deep end of the pool. This version is situated out of the water. We bring this up because the second type of an inflatable pool slide actually floats in the water. It is in essence its own little floating island.
Another nice thing about an inflatable pool slide that is out of the water is the fact that you can contact a water hose to it, resulting in a true pool water slide.
In case you were wondering, it is possible to get inflatable pool slides for less than two hundred dollars. If you do choose to get this type of pool, pay special attention to the warranty offered by the manufacturer. Additionally, you will want to make sure it comes with all of the accessories i.e. a repair kit, an air pump, etc.
As we have demonstrated above, there are many choices available when it comes to pool slides. Whether you have an above ground or inground pool, you will be able to find the right slide for you and your family. Heck, you even have the option now of buying inflatable pool slides that actually float around the pool.
If you don’t have a pool slide yet, we highly recommend you get one soon. Without one, you are missing all of the fun.
