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The most important aspect to keep your above-ground pool in tip-top swimming condition is to always check your chlorine level daily. Algae can and will grow if your chlorine level drops dramatically, and you definitely do not want that to happen. Algae are slimy and difficult to clean.
The floating canisters of chlorine (sold in department stores and drugstores) are the easiest means by which to ensure adequate supplies of chlorine. They are maintenance-free. All you do is poke a hole in the vent at the top, then look for the hole next to the amount of gallons of water in your pool. There are usually two holes, one on each side of the canister. Poke a hole in these, using a nail or other sharp object, and drop the canister in your pool. That's all there is to it. No checking the filter daily or handling smelly chlorine.
The canister will normally last three weeks to a month and floats on its side when the chlorine runs out. All you do is remove it from your pool and put another one in.
Keep your pool covered when not in use. This will help to keep leaves and other debris from blowing in and make vacuuming easier and quicker. Solar covers for above-ground pools are sold through mail order catalogues and at department or pool supply stores. The specially designed bubbles on these covers attract the solar energy from the sun and heat the water in your pool.
Unless you live in a climate where it freezes during the winter, and you get a lot of snow, an above-ground pool can be left up all year long. Once again, cover your pool during the winter to help keep dirt out. Winter covers that attach to the edges of the pool are sold at the same places that sell solar covers.
It is important to remove the solar cover before covering the pool. Rinse off with a hose, let air dry, then fold and put away until the spring. Remember to check your chlorine canister at least once a month during the winter and replace as necessary.
Vacuuming dirt from the bottom of the pool is quick and easy. Depending upon the amount of use and how much debris gets blown into the pool, you will have to vacuum at least once or twice a week. Pool supply stores sell an attachment that connects to your garden hose. Simply screw onto the hose, hook on a pool-cleaning pole, and turn the water on. A vacuum is formed and all you do is run the attachment over the bottom of the pool.
Dirt and leaves are sucked up into a "sock" which is easily emptied when you are finished. Turn the water off, disconnect from your hose, let sock dry, and put away until the next time. It usually only takes about a half an hour to vacuum (depending how dirty the pool is) and you're ready to swim.
The newer filters only need to be cleaned at the beginning of your swimming season. Block off the intake valve (where the water enters the filter from your pool), disconnect your electrical supply, remove the inside of the filter, and hose off the paper with a hard spray of water. Reinsert into filter, turn it on, and you're done.
Above-ground pools come in depths from three feet to six feet, are a price-efficient substitute for built-in pools, and a great way to beat the heat.
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