Thank you for your quick response! I don't think we have an extra line in our pool. When it was put in back in 1973, there were two lines (plus the main drain). When we reopened the pool recently, the old pipes going into the shallow end were corroded and we had to close that line off. (We didn't want the pool guys to destroy our concrete apron while excavating). So we just have the one in the deep end. When my husband "manually" vacuums, we run the filter and he sticks the hose right into the skimmer. We were thinking of something that would operate without the filter. If we get a vacuum with a dirt bag attached, would we still need a dedicated line? Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions! I'm still learning how to maintain our pool (recently reopened) and am still getting familiar with pool jargon. Thanks! Mary

What a stupid response above! Nope?!?!? Of course there are. Look up in google 'pool robot' and there are plenty of pool cleaners that are electronic/robotic. You throw them in just once a week or so, they run their cycle and you pull them back out and roll them into the corner. So there is a hose/power line while it is in the pool, but it is small and only in for a few hours/cycle.

Ponz, Interesting quandary! We are going through the same decision right now. We are planning a pool house and pool. Our issue is not related to the budget, but the design limits of a pool fit for a cover. We absolutely want to have a slide (tacky as they may look) BTW - you should look at SR Smith - their turbo twister looks awesome. Lucky for us we can tuck the slide at the back of the yard close to the block wall where it won't be the focal point of the pool. Also, if we were limited to a rectangle shape, the pool would have to be about 25% smaller. With this in mind, we could sacrifice the Baja shelf and spa, but we want it all (of course). I have asked a lot of people about the cover. I have a sister plus several close friends that have the cover. All of the people with a cover are happy with the cover and try to talk me into putting one in, however, everyone who I've talked to that have a pool without a cover love their pool. I have also asked people who were going to put the cover on and decided not to if they regret not putting a cover on - the answer was no. What does this tell me - everybody loves their pool. Good news considering the size of investment. Some things I have considered: *The tile located under the cover (where it is rolled up when fully retracted) always seem to turn a lovely shade of slime. This has happened after a few years with each pool I've seen. What this says to me is - maintenance! It kind of grosses DH and I out - I know I would be under there with a kitchen brush on a regular basis. *After a year or two the cover ends up looking really bad. My sister's is 5 years old - which is probably the average life of a cover - and it is faded and stained where water puddles on it. Again, you can probably scrub the puddle stains off - but again - maintenance. *This may be a Las Vegas thing only, but when the pool cover is on in the summer, and you open up the pool, some spots in the pool are so hot that it is unbearable to get in. We have actually added cool water to the pool to make it swimable. *Replacement cost. It is a hard number to believe, but my sister keeps throwing out $5k as the replacement cost for her cover and says it will need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Now I know I am probably going to stir a little reaction with this post from the cover lovers. I am not totally against them; I just think there are positives and negatives. The main reason I considered the cover is for the safety issues. I have resisted getting a pool until now (my 4 children are 4-12 yrs) because drowning risk scares me to death. DH and I do not feel comfortable that a fence can prevent a drowning. We are now pretty sure we will get a pool safety net. There is a time commitment involved, but the 100% safety rating is the piece of mind I am looking for. We have absolutely decided that safety is non-negotiable, so the net will be on each day after swimming and during all breaks from swimming if a non-swimmer is in the vicinity. We made our final decision based on the feedback that we received from friends without an auto cover, personal observation, and input from kids. Nieces that are in teens wish they had a more exciting pool, always seem to be at other friends pools with slides, diving boards, spas, etc. Son practically begged us not to get a rectangle pool. On a different subject, how much do you think you will spend on the pool house? We need one as the closest bathroom in the house is through the kitchen and down the hall (all over wood floors). Also, hate the look of pool equipment in a tuff shed or scattered all over the deck. As mentioned before, land is at a premium, we can only eek out about 8'X11' for the pool house. I'm curious if you have received a price for yours and how large you are planning. Good luck with all your decisions! Kim

It depends on how shallow the shallow end is. If the robotic cleaner won't go to a 3' area, then you need a warranty call. If the shallow end is inches deep (like on a beach entry), it is not going to clean that area. You will need to supplement your cleaning tools with a vacuum