Home swimming pool

[Spinner812]

Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.

[graciegirl]

Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.


Get the auto fill...I think it also keeps the water down if we get deluged with rain.

[BarbyM]

Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.


We have what they call a Weep Line. This takes out water automatically if we get a lot of rain. Never had Auto Fill. We rarely have to put water in the our pool with all the Florida rain. We have had 6 pools and love having our personal pool. We also changed from Solar Panels to Electric Heat for the water. We really like this. Only added about $10-$15 a month on our electric bill for this. We like our water in the high 80's. We are born Floridians and don't like cold water pools.

Enjoy your pool.

[villagetinker]

Neighbor had the autofill fail between home owners, the home watch did not notice the new pond between homes, and the neighbors had to call it in. Ho idea how much water was wasted.

[Goldwingnut]

Get it, no more hassles with adding makeup water. It's a simple device and has a very long history of operation. Take the top off the auto fill and off the back of the toilet, they are the exact same device and do the exact same job.

[Spinner812]

Thank y’all for the responses. Very much appreciated.

[jojo]

We have auto fill and are glad we did. Our neighbor does not and lost his pool pump when the water level went down when he was gone. He thought the pool cleaners were tending to it and they didn't.

[Toymeister]

We have auto fill. It uses the same mechanism as a toilet. Like a toilet it has a overflow tube.

With ours the over flow tube was cut to length for an ideal water height. The float on the toilet valve was also set to ideal. So in practice the rain drained away and each time we used it the movement of our bodies and the displacement of water of two humans caused water to be drained away, in turn auto fill refilled it.


The home was vacant for a while. The vacant home used 380 gallons in the winter time. No it was not the toilets, those were shut off. During the summer (with rains) it used approximately 1850 gallons while we were there, swimming.

This is how I fixed it:. I added a 1" diameter coupler on the drain tube. This coupler raised the water level before it drains. The water level raises with rain and our spalshing around also sends some water down the tube but not so much that the auto fill kicks in. Essentially, I created a one inch buffer of water. The auto fill only is used if it is hot without rain.

For less than one dollar I cut my water bill and sewage bill but still never have to worry about low water level.

If you want to see this PM me.

[rjn5656]

$10-15 a month heat with electric seems low.

[HoosierPa]

Our pool builder was adamant about not recommending auto fill. Said if you have a leak, you will never know it. Instead, he added a built in manual fill line. When water is needed, all I do is turn 1 valve and it will fill the pool without dragging a hose out. I then tell Alexa to set a timer for “X” minutes and that’s it. I rarely add water. I kinda wish I had an overflow to empty water automatically or at least an inground pipe leading to the back of my lot so I don't have to unroll / roll out the blue vinyl hose to dump water

[under55]

While gone on a trip for 3 weeks our auto fill came loose. It was reported by T and D pool tech. They sent someone out the next day to fix it. Not sure how many days it was loose between Tech visits but did use about 4000 gallons of extra water about $10. Plus sewer.
So lesson learned gone for more than a few days shut it off.

[Diane F]

Absolutely! We've had a pool without it and I will never do that again. Autofill keeps the water level right where it is suppose to be.

[LoisR]

Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.
Don't even build a pool. It's a total waste of money if you live in TV. Spoken with 30+ years as a pool owner.

[wlou]

Def get an auto fill feature - In the dry season if your water level isn’t high enough , your pool motor could burn out if no water flow - happened to us in VA with an inground pool ������

[coconutmama]

$10-15 a month heat with electric seems low.

We estimate $25/mo to heat ours. We keep pool at 86 degrees. Might be a bit $ higher if we have a colder Jan/Feb. like 3 years ago. (Of course using a pool cover at night). Yes, we have an auto fill. Like it, especially in droughts

[Carl123]

Definitely get the auto-fill but more importantly, get the overflow drain. I know several friends without it and they regret it! Also, consider solar panels for heating your pool. It easily extends your swim season by two months. Also, get the pool, you won’t regret it. Always sparkling clear and clean. Go to a neighborhood pool any given afternoon and it is cloudy and has a film of lotions and potions floating on the surface. Kinda like sharing a bathtub 🤢

[rjackson1759]

Get the Auto-fill!! You will be able to "fine tune" it (pool company will do it initially),but it is a "life saver" in this hot weather when we have so much 'surface evaporation'. Anybody who has created a 'pond' because of pool overflow should checker their pool drain! There is a hole in the back of the filter basket assembly, where excess water can drain out into your 'drain track' (perforated drain/divider which separates your pool deck from your lanai, or other permanent concrete surface. If that drain becomes clogged (and it does) just take your garden hose (with a high pressure nozzle) and blow it out! No 'pond', no problem.



Neighbor had the autofill fail between home owners, the home watch did not notice the new pond between homes, and the neighbors had to call it in. Ho idea how much water was wasted.

[Villages Kahuna]

Auto fill and auto drain is not an expensive option. It’ll be the best decision you make in designing your new pool.

[Ndomines]

If your pool is concrete I would say yes[. If your pool is fiberglass no. The difference is in the depth of the skimmer. The fiberglass skimmer is set into place lower than a concrete pool and if you vac. your pool yourself you have a long reach down and your knees will be very unhappy. I have autofill. It’s great but I also have a fiberglass pool. The best combo for autofill is a concrete pool. QUOTE=Spinner812;1824245]Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[Ndomines]

if your pool is concrete i would say yes[. If your pool is fiberglass no. The difference is in the depth of the skimmer. The fiberglass skimmer is set into place lower than a concrete pool and if you vac. Your pool yourself you have a long reach down and your knees will be very unhappy. I have autofill. It’s great but i also have a fiberglass pool. The best combo for autofill is a concrete pool. Quote=spinner812;1824245]our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of september. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.[/quote]

[davephan]

We had to manually fill vacation home’s pools before. I thought at the time an auto fill device could easily solve that problem. With additional effort, maybe there could be an alerting method if the auto filling runs too long.

I thought that electric pool heating in the winter adds about $300 a month to your electric bill. I heard that if you don’t constantly heat your pool, electric heat takes a couple days to heat up the pool and gas heat takes only a few hours. Supposedly gas pool heating is cheaper. So, gas pool heating is probably a no brainer if you have natural gas service. I also heard that saltwater pools are nicer than chlorine pools.

[PoolBrews]

Auto Fill and Auto Drain are usually listed as two separate options from builders. Get them both, don't even think twice. My first two pools didn't have either, my new pool here does. Without the auto drain, your pool will overflow during a big rain... and this can damage the coping.

The auto fill works great when it's really hot out and we're not getting rain - you lose a lot of water to evaporation every day. If the auto fill fails (rare, but can happen), you'll get a higher water bill than normal, you fix it and you're OK - again it's extremely rare for it to fail in an open position. The cost isn't that much. Filling my entire pool only cost about $20.

The peace of mind you get is awesome. I remember having to pull a hose to my pool in GA at least twice a week just to add water. Then you have to babysit the hose to make sure you don't overfill.

[xlhig]

Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've never heard of this. Is this something that can be added to an existing pool and if so, who can install one?

[richs631]

Our pool is scheduled to be built at the end of September. We’re trying to decide if we should have auto fill. Any advice from pool owners would be appreciated. Thanks.
You will need it if your ever away on vacation. Especially during the summer months when water evaporates quickly.
I have it on a water feature in my yard

[greenflash245]

just do it. why even ask us?

[Dan M]

Definitely get the auto fill device installed. We have it- a simple toilet type float valve with an overflow pipe out To the back yard. Our sister down in Ft.Myers has no auto fill and she adds water all the time and forgets to turn it off sometimes!

[will1546]

Get it

[Mfrench]

I urge you to have auto fill. The Florida heat causes water in pools to evaporate quickly overnight. You can lose 2 inches a day. Without auto fill you will have to refill with your hose !

[Phil B]

I’ve had pool for 3 years and happy that I have auto fill and auto drain. Don’t know what the extra charge is, but both save you a lot of trouble.

[TimeForChange]

With 89 Swimming pools in TV I don't understand why anyone would go to the expense of having one built and then paying to have it serviced but have it. I had one in Atlanta before moving here eight years ago and I will never have another one.

[TimeForChange]

With 89 Swimming pools in TV I don't understand why anyone would go to the expense of having one built and then paying to have it serviced but have it. I had one in Atlanta before moving here eight years ago and I will never have another one.

[bpascani]

We moved here from just up the road (Gainesville). Opted not to go the pool route here, but had one for 13yrs. in Gainesville. We did not have an auto fill, and never had any problems, but, if you are away for months at a time, and don't have a pool service while you are away, OR, if pool situations are different here from most places, you might want one.

[JSR22]

With 89 Swimming pools in TV I don't understand why anyone would go to the expense of having one built and then paying to have it serviced but have it. I had one in Atlanta before moving here eight years ago and I will never have another one.
Everyone has a different perspective. I would not live here without a pool. Privacy, convenience, and night swimming are a few of the reasons why. Additionally I control the water temperature and my pool water is cleaner than TV pools.

[drrichard]

ABSOLUTELY YES!! We've had ours for 15 years and NO problems. It is actually identical in appearance and function to a toilet and we have one on our pool and one on our spa. Again, no problem with either one.

[bpascani]

I think some folks are self conscious about swimming, pool sitting, etc. in public, and they like being able to just walk outside 2-3 times a day (especially with little grands). We are at the point that you are, and would rather load up and drive the golf cart. I will say, even with a screen enclosure, which we had in Gainesville, I would never have a pool that wouldn't accommodate a (removable) barrier fence.

[NavyVet]

Don't even build a pool. It's a total waste of money if you live in TV. Spoken with 30+ years as a pool owner.

Totally disagree. We use ours every day unless there are thunderstorms.
Bought our (3rd) house here intentionally for the pool after giving up a few years ago on swimming in TV pools, so many pools yet nowhere to swim a few laps. Sports pools are classes and volleyball all day, too hard to find a few lap lanes. Even if you do, waiting in the heat for your turn only to find someone else jump in ahead and take your lane is NOT my idea of fun. If you try to swim a lap or two at neighborhood pools, you get dirty looks. All those pools in TV and none are SWIMMING pools.
As with other 'amenities' too many people competing for a spot makes it impossible to enjoy them. 'The Lifestyle' is great in theory, but the reality is a joke. Now with the pandemic and having to stay home, I'm especially glad to have my own pool. Just saying.

[ron32162]

YES! I would not have a pool without it. keeps it at a perfect level too much rain it drains and too much heat with evaporation it fills it

[shut the front door]

Why have a pool? Because some people prefer to step onto their lanai and into a pool that they don't have to drive to. I personally don't care to sit at a pool and have to see big, fat man teets, speedos, open wounds, and people who spend hours in a pool and never seem to need to go to the restroom.
I especially enjoyed my pool during the closure of all pools in TV. I was very popular with friends who don't have their own pool. :icon_wink:

[NHsnow1]

Definitely get the auto flow and overflow drain. We hear the pool with solar and it is the only way to go. Also have a hot tub that we heat with propane. Buried a tank and fill it once a year. It feels grand on the old bones. We’ve had the pool for 4 years and have not one regret.

[mark001]

We have had our pool since 2004. Only once I replaced the auto fill insert. It was not expensive. When I was thinking about it like you before our pool was contracted one or two people told me about stories they heard. It stuck and over willed the pool. We have never experienced this issue. Remember, there is a certain evaporation rate fir every pool. It depends on a lot of factors. One nice thing is if you leave on vacation you do not have to worry about the pool level.
I would not be without it. Good luck in your decision.

[Mustagotlost]

I think that putting a new pool it would wise to include the valve. We have had a hot 90s and low humid 35 in Michigan we have been adding an inch daily. My brother has an automatic refill valve in AZ. Don’t know if that’ helps for Florida since the humidity is always high.

[Cherylmcdaniel]

Yes - get the auto fill.... it’s nice to not have to drag a hose around the pool deck.

[Brad-tv]

Yes a pool autofill/ drain is a must saves a lot of headache when it rains or evaporates. Make sure it is installed correctly and works correctly. Splashtime installed ours and it never worked correctly and refused to fix it. After dozens of emails and phone calls they refused to fix it. I ended up fixing it myself with a $3 part. That's why I will never use a discount pool company again .