Installing a 24’ ‘Above Ground Pool in Orlando

The most common size above-ground swimming pool in Orlando is a 24’ round. During the now 38 years of installing pools, I have installed more 24-foot round-shaped ones than any other size.

Twenty-four-foot round above-ground pools are popular in Orlando. This is because Orlando and surrounding towns have homes with big enough yards AND there are a lot of families that live here that will opt for a bigger pool.

9 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT INSTALLING A 24’ ROUND ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ORLANDO

1 24’ AG pools typically have 16 uprights and top rails

Occasionally, I’ll see one with 17 of each, but most all pools this size have 16.

And if it has sixteen uprights and top rails, it’ll also have 16 top connectors, bottom connectors, and bottom track pieces.

So, for a 24’ round pool, you will need 16 patio stones to go under each upright.

NOTE: Professional installers will include the patio stones with the installation

2 A 24’ pool requires clearing and leveling a 26’ circle of yard

24 ft pools have about twenty-four feet of swimming area. This means the wall of the pool will be a 24’ circle and then the frame of the pool will stick out about another six inches all the way around depending on your model.

Clearing and leveling a 26’ circle will then give enough room to install the pool with its frame

3 A 24’ round pool is big enough for a household of four or more

This size pool holds about 14 thousand gallons and will accommodate up to 10 swimmers snugly. This is good with families that invite friends over or have dogs.

4 A 24ft AG pool in Orlando takes about one day to have installed

DIYers may take a week and some installers without a machine can take two days, but generally, an experienced installer with the right equipment should install a 24’ round in one day.

5 I charge $1300 to install a 24’ round above-ground pool

This is about the average cost to have a 24-round pool installed in Orlando (In 2023-4) My price includes PVC hard piping the equipment and up to 12 inches of off-level grading.

Some other pool installers may not include the hard piping or that much grading, so it’s good to know what is included as you don’t want any cost surprises.

NOTE: This is a price for metal-walled(hard-sided) type above-ground pools. Soft-sided Intex, Coleman, and Bestway made pools are different. With those, I only offer a ground-preparation service.

6 Depending on your water pressure, a 24’ pool takes about 24 hours to fill on average

Almost everyone in the Orlando area fills up their pool with their own water source. Municipal water in Orlando and Orange County has decent water pressure in most areas.

Some living in areas outside of Orlando may have wells. Some wells pump water very slowly and some can pump a lot of water quickly.

Few here in Central Florida will opt to have a water truck fill their pool. This is a very expensive option but can fill your pool very quickly. NOTE: A 24’ pool will require two water truck loads to fill.

7 A 24-foot round semi-inground pool will require at least a 27’ round hole

Setting an above-ground pool partially in the ground has become quite common in Orlando.

A pool needs room in the hole to be assembled, so making the hole 1.5ft wider than the pool size all the way around will give enough room to build

8 Installing a 24’ round above-ground pool takes at least two people

The bigger the pool, the harder it is to keep the wall up during installation. When installing a 24ft, I will have myself and one other experienced helper.

This is mainly to get the job done in one day AND get the wall up and secure if any strong wind is possible.

Most DIYers will use about 4 people to install a 24’ round pool.

9 In Orlando during the summer, installing a 24’ round pool should start very early in the morning

The summer in Orlando is also the rainy season. It can rain every afternoon here. This is why you want to have a 24’ pool almost completely installed before around 1 pm.

Afternoon storms in Orlando don’t last long, but they can be violent with high wind gusts and lighting. You want the pool to be almost done (or done) before the potential of one of these storms comes.

10 Protect your liner from nutgrass

Nutgrass in Orlando and surrounding areas can be a real problem for above-ground pools.

It’s essential to remove all of the root mass with the grass (sod) AND apply a quality GRANULAR ONLY nutgrass killer to the ground before installing the liner.

Installing an 18’ Round Above Ground Pool in Orlando

An 18ft round above-ground swimming pool is the second most popular size in Orlando.

Orlando above-ground pool owners will often choose the 18ft round size with households of 2-3 or if the yard is smaller.

18ft round AG pools are a nice size and a little easier to maintain during the long and brutal swim season of Orlando. This is why it’s the second most popular size for Central Florida.

THINGS TO KNOW WHEN INSTALLING AN 18’ ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ORLANDO

1 18’ above-ground pools typically have twelve uprights and top rails

The frame of a round above-ground pool is made up of same-size pieces. They will have the same number of top rails top and bottom connector plates, top cap assemblies, bottom track pieces, and uprights.

The amount of frame parts for an 18’ round is almost always 12 pieces of each. Some models will have 13, but that is fairly rare.

2 An 18ft round pool requires clearing and leveling a 20’ circle.

With the frame included and depending on the model, an 18’ above-ground pool will take up a physical space of about 19 feet around. Clearing and leveling 20 feet then will give enough room for the installation.

3 18’ round pools are a good size for households of two or three

In America, bigger is better. With swimming pools though, that’s not necessarily true.

Keeping in mind that the bigger a pool, the more maintenance it requires may help you decide that an 18-round is the perfect size for your needs.

4 Installation of an 18’ round pool should take less than a day

Barring a lot of grading or some big mishaps, an installation crew of two should have no problem getting an 18’ done in one day.

This does not include the time to fill the pool.

5 Standard installation of an 18’ round above-ground pool is $1100

This is my price and includes PVC hard piping the equipment to the pool (with 2 valves) and up to twelve inches of off-grade leveling.

Other installer prices may not include certain things, so you want to make sure and know what’s included in their price as no one likes extra cost surprises.

6 Depending on your water pressure and source, an 18’ pool takes about 18 hours to fill on average

Almost everyone in the Orlando area fills up their pool with their own water source. Municipal water in Orlando and Orange/Seminole County has decent water pressure in most areas.

Some living in areas outside of Orlando may have wells. Some wells pump water very slowly and some can pump a lot of water quickly.

Only a few here in Central Florida will opt to have a water truck fill their pool. This is a very expensive option but can fill your pool very quickly.

7 Installing a 24’ round above-ground pool takes at least two people

The bigger the pool, the harder it is to keep the wall up during installation. When installing a 24ft, I will have myself and one other experienced helper.

This is mainly to get the job done in one day AND get the wall up and secure if any strong wind is possible.

Occasionally if someone doesn’t show up AND the weather is going to be good, I will install an 18’ round by myself.

Most DIYers will use 3 or more people to install an 18’ round pool.

8 In Orlando during the summer, installing an 18’ round pool should start very early in the morning

The summer in Orlando is also the rainy season. It can rain every afternoon here. This is why you want to have an 18’ pool almost completely installed before around 1 pm.

9 An 18-foot round semi-inground pool will require at least a 21’ round hole

Setting an above-ground pool partially in the ground has become quite common in Orlando.

A pool needs room in the hole to be assembled, so making the hole 1.5ft wider than the pool size all the way around will give enough room to build.

MY STANDARD INSTALLATION PAGE

Electrical Requirements and Options for an Above Ground Pool in Orlando, FL

Just like with any other type, above-ground swimming pools need circulation so they can stay clear and healthy for people to use. So, all pools need a pump to move the water, which means all pools need electricity.

Above-ground pools in Orlando need more water movement than most areas of the US. This means their pool pumps need to be sized correctly and run longer. This also means more electricity.

THE WARMER THE WATER, THE MORE ALGAE GROWS

Since Orlando is in a hot region with about eight hot months, algae grow like crazy in swimming pools here. In addition to chemicals that kill and dispose of algae, the water needs to be moving too.

Moving water distributes the chemicals faster and more evenly, adds oxygen to the water, and slows the growth of algae overall. So, if you have a pool in Orlando, then you’ll be needing a good pump to move the water.

ABOVE-GROUND POOLS HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PUMPS

Above-ground pool packages come with pump/filter combo packs. These packs are specially made for AG pools and ALWAYS have pumps with plug-in type 120-volt electric cords.

TYPICAL ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL PUMP IN ORLANDO

1 Standard 3-prong 120v outlet

This is a plug just like any other in your house. It’s ideal to run an outlet out to the pump sitting next to the pool in your yard, but many just use an extension cord using their existing outdoor electric outlet by the house.

NOTE: Some above-ground pumps come with a special “twist-lock” type plug. This is a pain because you will have to either install a twist-lock type outlet OR change the pump cord to a standard 3-prong type.

2 A dedicated circuit with a 15 or 20-amp circuit breaker

Pool pumps take a lot of electricity (for 120v), so they don’t like to share the power source with anything else.

If you just use your outside house outlet, it may have a couple of outlets inside the house sharing that same line (that goes back to the beaker panel). If it does and you are using the other outlets for something, then the pump may “trip” the breaker at the electric box due to an overload demand of electricity. Not good.

So, to have proper electricity going to your pool pump, you will need that electric line that is going from your breaker panel to your pump to be all by itself or “dedicated” to just the pump.

NOTE: Soft-sided, Walmart, Intex, or Bestway type pools have much smaller pumps and require much less electricity. They may be able to share a circuit with other things.

3 A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

Have you noticed that some of the outlets in your kitchen and bathroom are different-looking? They may have a couple of buttons on them.

Those are outlets with a GFCI. And they are there because water is nearby. Since water and electricity don’t play well together. By code, a GFCI is there in case water mixes with electricity.

The GFCI will prevent you from killing yourself or your house from burning down by quickly killing the power if it senses a power surge or something.

A swimming pool has water. A pool pump has water running through it. So, as a protection, there should be a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) somewhere in line between the pump and the breaker panel.

DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE RUN ELECTRICAL TO THEIR ABOVE-GROUND POOL PUMPS

There is a big variation in how people choose to get the electricity to their pool pumps. Here’s a list of some of those ways from best and most expensive to easiest and cheapest.

A Hire an electrician

Having an electrician run power to your pump is the safest and best way, but you’re gonna pay for that.

Many getting an above-ground pool are on a smaller budget, so they don’t go this route. If you do though, you are currently looking at $500-$1500 on average depending on where your breaker box is and how far away the pool pump is.

B Run the power to code yourself

This will be cheaper than using an electrician, but will be a lot of work and you’ll have to know what you (or a friend or family member) what you are doing.

C Tap into your outside house outlet and run a wire to the pump to set up an outlet there

After making sure the outside outlet isn’t sharing any other power needs AND it’s got a GFCI on it, you can wire in #12 or #10 wire and run it underground out to where the pump is.

From there you will stub up an outside, waterproof outlet close enough to plug the pump into.

D Bury an extension cord from the outside outlet of the house to the pump

Although not ideal, I have seen this used and work for many years. Just make sure and use a good quality extension cord and somehow waterproof where the pump cord plugs into the extension cord.

E Lay out an extension cord on top of the ground from the house outlet to the pump cord

This is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to get your pool pump running, but I don’t at all recommend it.

I have seen this hundreds of times though. The cord will need replacing within a couple of years at the longest and it’s not good for mowing the lawn and is a tripping hazard.

My thinking is that many will do this as a temporary way to get power to the pump, but then never upgrade.

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO CONSIDER WITH THE ELECTRICAL NEEDS OF AN ABOVE-GROUND SWIMMING POOL

1 Add a timer

Most above-ground pool pumps don’t have timers on them. And since most will only need to run about 8 hours a day, you’ll want a timer to automatically turn the pump on and off.

It’s very common for people to assume their pool package comes with a timer. Let me tell you, 99 times out of 100, it doesn’t.

1 Equipment add-ons that require electricity

Addons like salt chlorine generators and ionizers will need to be plugged in as well. Keep this in mind when running your electricity.

If installing a standard outdoor outlet, there will be two outlets (like in your house), so will be able to accommodate one extra plug, but not two.

2 Pool lights

There are many pool lights on the market that use solar to run, but there’s still no substitute for a light running from an electrical power source. Consider this with your electrical setup and consider where the light is going in reference to where your power is run.

3 Landscaping lights

Just like pool lights, there are so many landscaping lights that run on solar, but they are nowhere as good as ones running from a real power source.

If your budget is bigger and you are making your yard look nice around the pool too, then since you are already running power out into the yard, this is a good time to run some power for landscaping lighting.

4 Potential electrical needs for pool users

If you are planning on a pool deck or an area to hang out next to the pool, consider running an outlet in that area just in case you need to power something.

CONSIDERING ME TO INSTALL YOUR POOL? GREAT! HERE’S MY PRICE SHEET.

PLEASE NOTE THOUGH THAT I (OR NO OTHER POOL INSTALLER) DO ANY ELECTRICAL WITH THE POOL INSTALLATION

Above Ground Pool Installation East Orlando

Probably the biggest concern with above-ground swimming pools and east Orlando is ground wetness. As you move east of Orlando, it gets closer to sea level and the ground gets wetter.

I’ve lived in Orlando since I was about five years old. In the early years, we only went east of Orlando to take canoe trips down the little Econ(lockhatchee) river AND watch Dusty Rhodes wrestle at the Eddie Graham Sports stadium.

Of course, we also drove through east Orlando to get to the beach by way of going down S.R. 50 or the Beeline.

And later, when I started installing above-ground pools, I did a lot of jobs in Azalea Park, Alafaya, and in neighborhoods up and down SR 436.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND SWIMMING POOL IN EAST ORLANDO

1 Wet Ground

By far, the biggest concern with installing an above-ground pool in eastern Orlando is how wet the earth is there.

Most areas in East Orlando are dry enough for a pool install, but the farther east you go from 436, the wetter the ground gets.

If considering installing a pool in your east Orlando yard, take note of how long it takes for the yard to get dry after a heavy rainstorm. If it takes more than a couple of hours to feel dry again, it might be too wet.

You can also remove about a 2ftx2ft section of grass in the area where you want your pool and see how “mushy’ the earth is or stays.

2 The earth is usually flat

Areas that are wet are also usually very flat. This is a good thing when installing an above-ground pool. Because water is level, swimming pools have to be very level.  
This means that the ground the pool sits on has to be very level. Starting out with a level area in the yard makes the pool install easier than if it had some slope to it.

3 East Orlando yards are usually big enough

As Orlando became more populated, the lot sizes for homes got smaller. Fortunately for the east area of Orlando, most of it was established earlier during our 50-year boom (Thanks, Disney World)

Older homes then commonly mean bigger backyards, which is great for installing an above-ground pool.

4 Easier yard access

Commonly, an above-ground swimming pool doesn’t need any equipment to install. More experienced pool installers (like myself) will use a machine to do the groundwork portion of the installation.

Using my machine as an example, my skid/steer machine is exactly 48 inches wide. This means that I need at least 4.5ft wide access to the yard.

Many walk-through-only gates aren’t wide enough for a machine to go through.

Fortunately for established areas like most of East Orlando, the yards are big enough for many to have double gates. Also, older homes are more likely to have wood fences, which are much easier to temporarily take a section down for wider access than vinyl fences more common in newer neighborhoods.

5 Earth type

People typically don’t think about what their yard’s earth is made up of.

Fortunately for those installing in Orlando, Central Florida is mostly sand-based. This is good as sand is easier to work with in terms of moving and leveling it.

East Orlando is mostly sand-based except for areas in Conway. Apparently, areas of Conway used to be used for farming. Because of this, some of these areas will have very rich, almost black earth.

Rich soil earth is maybe easier to work with than sand earth and makes a better, flatter pool bottom since it packs very well. So, if you have rich soil-like earth in your yard, that is good for installing an above-ground pool.

INSTALLING YOURSELF BUT DON’T WANT TO DO THE GROUNDWORK?

Removing the grass and leveling the earth is usually about fifty percent of the job for installing an above-ground pool.

Many are willing to assemble the pool but don’t want to tackle the very laborious job of preparing the ground.

I offer the service of preparing the ground ONLY. Here’s my info page for ground-prep only.

NOTE: Ground prep only is great if you bought a soft-sided (Intex, Bestway,) as they are much easier to assemble, but still require a good ground preparation.

Considering me for installing your metal-walled pool? Here is my price sheet.

POOL STORES IN EAST ORLANDO

Pinch-A-Penny
10228 Curry Ford Road
Orlando, FL 32825

https://pinchapenny.com/stores/orlando-fl-168

Leslie’s
419 S Chickasaw Trail, Orlando, FL 32825

https://lesliespool.com/location/orlando-florida-east-orlando-801.html?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=store_801

Pinch-A-Penny
5833 South Goldenrod Road
Ste. A
Orlando, FL 32822

https://pinchapenny.com/stores/orlando-fl-131

Above Ground Pool Installation Orange County FL

Since 1986, I have lived in and installed above-ground swimming pools in Orange County, Florida.

When my family moved here in 1972, the population of Orange Co, FL was about 300,000. Currently (late 2023), the population is now a booming 1.5 million. That is a lot of added people, homes, and above-ground pools.

The reason for so much growth in Florida’s OC is obvious, Disney World. It was why my parents moved here in 1972. Since Disney though, many big attractions came to Orlando like Sea World and Universal Studios.

Orange County is pretty big and has quite a few towns like Apopka, Winter Park, Winter Garden, and Ocoee. As of late much of the growth for Orange County has been to the east in the areas of Bithlo and out towards Lake Nona.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA

1 Ground wetness

When it comes to how wet the earth is in Orange County, it’s a tale of two areas. Although OC is mostly flat and close to sea level, the earth starts to elevate as you move west and north in Orange County.

This is a good thing for installing pools as you don’t want much for groundwater.

As you move east in Orange co though, it gets wetter and wetter. It’s not ideal to install an above-ground pool on too wet of ground, so keep this in mind if you live in East Orange County.

If your yard stays wet (like mushy) or keeps standing water for more than a few hours after a rain storm, this can be a sign that the earth is too wet for a normal pool install.

NOTE: Some areas in east Orange County will be too wet to install an above-ground pool semi-inground.

2 Level or sloped yards

As mentioned with #1 above, west and north Orange County starts to get some elevation to it. This is good for “high and dry”, but not as good for having a level yard for a pool installation.

West areas like Oakland and north like Apopka will be more prone to have sloped yards that need extra leveling for an above-ground pool install.

Most of the rest of Orange County (especially east) is very flat, which makes for an easier standard pool installation.

3 Earth type

As a general rule, Orange County, Florida sits on sand. This is great for installing an above-ground pool as sand is easier to level and move around.

Some developers of neighborhoods may choose to bring outside earth in to raise up the area. With this, you may get some harder earth in the first couple of feet of depth.

A good example of this is with the extreme east Orange County area/neighborhood called Wedgefield. Some lots and homes in this area have added hard clay earth (because the area is too wet), which can make a pool installation much harder.

4 Very long and hot swim season

Having a swimming pool in Central Florida means you will usually have about an eight-month-long swim season, and most of those months will be very hot.

Because of this, expect pool equipment and liners not to last as long as they would in any state north (which is about all of them). You can also expect to pay more to maintain the pool as the hotter the water, the more chemicals it takes to keep the water clean and healthy.

Pool water in Orange County can get too hot to be refreshing, so keep this in mind when deciding where to place your pool in reference to shaded areas of your yard.

Upgraded equipment is a good idea

Summers are brutal and long in Central Florida. Getting better and bigger pool equipment, thicker liners, and upgrades like a main drain are a good idea.

These added initial costs will save you in the long run.

ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLERS IN ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA

Regrettably, there are only a handful of good pool installers in Orange County. In truth, if you can find two installers to give you a price for a job, you will be lucky.

I’m not just saying this just because I install pools here. During the now 38 years of me doing installs in OC, there have never been more than a half dozen installers in any one season.

And that was when Recreational Factory Warehouse was here and in their heyday

During the last 15 years or so, there have only been a couple of installers that live in Orange County. Some will come from Ocala or Tampa or the East Coast, but not usually during the busy season and for an additional cost.

IF CONSIDERING ME FOR YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLATION, HERE IS MY PRICE PAGE

Above Ground Pool Installation Altamonte Springs

There are quite a few above-ground swimming pools in Altamonte Springs. And over the last 37 years, I’ve installed my share of them there.

To a guy like me who’s lived in Orlando since 1972, Altamonte Springs is more known for its mall (Altamonte Mall). For many years, this mall was considered the best mall in Central Florida.

Malls aren’t as much of a thing anymore thanks to online shopping, so the only mall in Orlando that is still fully intact is the Mall of Millenia.

In later years, Altamonte is also known for the Cranes Roost area. This is a large non-residential area that is most famous for hosting the Red Hot and Boom event.

This north suburb of Orlando sits between Winter Park and Casselberry and has a much different vibe than downtown Orlando.

With a population of under fifty thousand, Altamonte Springs hasn’t grown as much as other areas of Central Florida. This is mainly because most of its area has long been populated with residents, so there’s not a lot of room for new houses.

ABOVE-GROUND POOLS IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS

A lot of families live in Altamonte and since the houses are older, the yards are bigger. This makes for an area with many above-ground pools.

6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ALTAMONTE SPRINGS

1 Some areas are hilly

Most of Orlando (and all of Central Florida) is fairly flat. Some areas of Altamonte can be hilly though. This is usually nice, but not as much if you want to install an above-ground pool.

A swimming pool has to be very even, so if you have some slope to your yard, it’s going to take more to level the earth for a pool.

Pool installers (and myself) will have to charge more for the install if they have to level the ground more than six inches or so.

2 Altamonte Springs has a lot of big trees

Established landscaping is beautiful and the one thing that you can’t have done. It already has to be there. Older, big trees are the main part of great landscaping

Big trees are not necessarily a good thing when having a swimming pool or getting it installed. This is because big trees have big roots. And you can’t have big roots where you are installing an above-ground pool.

Also, big trees close to your swimming pool are both good and bad. The good is that it provides shade, which keeps the pool water temperature cool in the summer. The bad is that trees have leaves. And leaves fall.

3 Yards in Altamonte are usually bigger

As Orlando has gotten more homes during the last 50 years, the lots have gotten smaller. This is so they can fit more houses per acre as the area populates. Duh.

Smaller lots are not good for swimming pools. A small lot means a smaller backyard. And a smaller backyard means larger swimming pools won’t fit.

Fortunately for Altamonte Springs, most of the neighborhoods are older, so most have larger-sized backyards.

4 The earth in North Orlando

Most above-ground swimming pools are set up directly on the ground or what pool guys (like me) call “the earth”. Many are now set in the ground some too, which is called semi-inground.

Regardless of whether the pool is going on top of the ground or in it some, the type of earth matters.

Your yard (the earth) can be made up of different things. It can have sand, soil, clay, rocks, and buried debris. It can also be very wet or very dry.

The earth in Altamonte is usually really good for installing an above-ground pool. It is mostly sand-based and may have some darker soil in it. This is a good thing.

5 Yard Access

When I started installing above-ground pools in the 1980s, we only used shovels to do the groundwork. Now, most installers who have any level of experience at all will use a skid/steer machine to level and prepare the ground.

So, access for an earth machine is needed.

Yards in Altamonte are older, so this is usually good for providing access.

How much access is needed?

As an example, my skid/steer machine is very small (but perfect for the job). It is 48 inches wide. This means you will need a gate to be at least 4.5ft wide so the machine can get in the yard.

If the gate/s aren’t wide enough, a section of wood fence can usually come down fairly easily. If you have a vinyl fence though, it will be much tougher to gain access.

6 Groundwater/moisture

Some of the areas east of Orlando can have very wet ground. This is not good for installing an above-ground pool.

Fortunately for Altamonte Springs, the ground is almost all “high and dry”. This is very good for getting a pool.

Considering me for installing your above-ground pool? Here’s my price page

Want me to dig the hole for a semi-inground installation? Here’s my price page

Installing to pool yourself but want me to do the ground preparation? Here are my prices for that.

Pool stores in Altamonte Springs

Pinch-A-Penny
623 Montgomery Road
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

Leslies’s
445 West S.R. 436 STE 1053
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714-4107

Orlando Above Ground Pool Installations

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