Winter can be mental torture. Temperatures plummet, the grass turns brown and you’re trapped inside with nothing to do like Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Shining.” Well, instead of having lengthy conversations with ghosts before picking up an axe, use the bleak solitude as a chance to plan for the spring. The big melt, after all, will be here before you know it. So the big question you want to ask yourself this winter is this: is an above ground pool right for you and your family come spring?

Pros and Cons of an Above Ground Pool  

Compared to in-ground pools, above-ground pools are temporary and comparatively easy and inexpensive to install. They can be drained and moved when needed. Since they don’t require regular cleaning, chemical treatments and filtering, they’re super-easy to maintain. Also, modern above-ground pools are simply nice to look at.

Now let’s look at the downside. Everyone loves an above-ground pool — except the grass it sits on. If you get an above-ground pool, you’re dooming a pretty big patch of perfectly good grass to a slow, painful death. Unlike their in-ground big brothers, above-ground pools don’t add value to your home. In fact, they can actually be a burden if you ever decide to sell. Above-ground pools are limited in size, shape and depth. They’re not good for laps and are pretty much limited to splashing around or just chilling out. Also, if you’re into diving, and you like your head and neck the way they are, an above-ground pools is not for you.

So there you have it. Like anything else, above-ground pools have pros and cons. Basically, above-ground pools come with a whole bunch of lesses. They’re less expensive, less work and less functional than in-ground pools.