How to Prepare for
Your Cowboy Pool

🔨 Base & Ground Prep

We recommend creating a decomposed granite gravel pad, about 2–3" thick and at least 1 foot wider in diameter than your pool. This base should be:

• Free of grass or growth
• Well-compacted
• Perfectly level in all directions

Note: We do not recommend sand as a base material for leveling your pool.

Important: A concrete pad isn't necessarily level, and neither is a flat-looking yard. You can check your space by laying a long, straight 2x4 (about the length of your pool's diameter) on the ground and placing a level on top. If the bubble is off, your space isn't level — bumps or dips will need to be addressed before install day.

⚠️ Install Day Policy – Unlevel Sites

⚡ Pump Placement & Electrical

You'll need a level 2' x 3' pad for the filter pump, located within 100 feet of a 110v, 15amp GFCI outlet (standard outdoor outlet).

By default, our install team places the pump within 10 feet of the pool. Want it farther away, or planning to bury your pool pipes? Extended-distance and underground rigid PVC options are available — just let us know in advance and we'll provide pricing and specifics for your layout. (If you're burying pipes, the yard will need to be trenched prior to install.)

🧰 Need Help Getting Your Space Ready?

For full-service landscaping, hardscaping, leveling, decking and pergolas we recommend Urban Oasis Contracting (Austin only) where your vision for the perfect outdoor space becomes a reality. (737) 218-3711

🪵 Planning a Deck?

If you're building a deck around your pool, be sure to install your pool first, then build the deck around it. This ensures proper access and alignment. If you have any questions along the way, we're always happy to help!

To ensure your Cowboy Pool is properly supported and stays level, you'll need to prepare a solid, compacted base before your installation date. We recommend removing all grass or vegetation and creating a decomposed or crushed granite pad that extends at least 1 foot wider than the diameter of your pool. A 3" thick pad works best in most cases, though 1.5" to 2" may be sufficient if your ground is very hard and the area does not retain water.

• Do not use sand or pea gravel as a base, as they can shift and cause the pool to settle unevenly.
• Your gravel base must be compacted thoroughly (with a hand tamper or plate compactor) and completely level in all directions.
• Do not include a slope for drainage.
• The pad should be firm enough that your foot does not sink more than 1/4" when walking on it.

If you're unsure whether your area is truly level, you can check by placing a long (pool-diameter length), straight 2x4 on the ground where you want your pool and setting a level on the narrow side. Even if the space appears flat, you may find bumps or dips that need to be corrected.

⚡ Filter Pump Placement

You'll also need to prepare a level 2' x 3' area for your filter pump. The pump must be within 100 feet of an outdoor 110v, 15-amp GFCI outlet.

Our standard above-ground setup includes placing the pump within 10 feet of the pool. Need a longer distance, or planning to bury your pipes? Extended-distance and underground rigid PVC options are available — just reach out in advance and we'll provide pricing and details for your layout. (If you're burying pipes, trenching must be completed before install day.)

🌿 Need Help with Ground Prep?

If you'd like help preparing your pad, we recommend the following Houston and Galveston-based landscapers who are familiar with our Cowboy Pools:

• Patrick (Houston): patrick@fitzgeraldoutdoor.com
• Kelvin (Galveston): (409) 599-3994
• Oscar Alaniz (Galveston): (409) 939-7257

🪵 Building a Deck?

If you're planning to build a deck around your pool, please wait until after the pool has been installed. You'll want your pool in place first to ensure proper spacing and alignment.

Our filter pumps can be placed just about anywhere from right next to your pool within 50 feet of the pool and within 100 feet of the outdoor GFCI outlet. Please let us know if you plan to place your filter pump further than 25 feet from your tank since we will need to upgrade your pump for an additional fee.

We'll run a heavy duty extension cord (up to 100') from wherever you decide to place your filter pump to your outdoor outlet. Determining factors of filter pump placement also include aesthetics and sound, though it makes a fairly quiet hum. We will bring all the extra hosing you may need for whatever you decide. There will be two hoses from the pool to the filter pump and an extension cord from the pump to the electrical outlet. There are 3 holes drilled, but the 2 suctions are connected and then 2 hoses extend from there. We'll need to access the water source with 100' garden hoses just to fill up the pool. Then the pool water will recirculate itself.

For Our Pre-Assembled Cowboy Pool (Shipped Nationwide)

Your Cowboy Pool will come with 10' of flexible PVC so that you can create some distance between the pump and the pool. If you know you'll need the pump and filter system to be significantly closer or farther from the pool, please let us know so we can adjust that length before sending it out to you.

Do I need an electrician?

• TempTamer (110v): May not need an electrical upgrade. Needs a dedicated 110v outlet. Draws ~8.3 amps.
• Crosswind & 11kW Electric Heaters (240v): Yes, these require professional wiring. Expect electrician costs to start at $1,000 and increase with trenching or wiring upgrades.
• Natural Gas/Propane Heaters: Require a 120v/15amp dedicated outlet (in addition to your pump outlet). Cannot use extension cords. A plumber must connect the gas line.

Placement requirements

• Heater must be within 10ft of the pool pump.
• Pump can be up to 50ft from the pool (requires upgraded pump).
• For gas/propane heaters, the outlet must be within 3ft of the unit.

Who can help locally in Austin?

• Electrician: Albert at 512-766-3828
• Plumber (gas line): Ryan Waits at 512-965-4524

Electric heater / chiller specs

The Cowboy Pool is 6', 8' or 10' (+/- 4 inches) wide by about 26.5" tall (this will vary based on pool size).

Our Waterway TWM-30 cartridge filter pumps are 23" tall x 25" long x 16" wide and will need to sit on level ground. Yes, our cartridge filter pumps do fit under our curved benches! Please note that if you received a sand filter pump, those will not fit under the curved bench.

Please note, the look of The Cowboy Pool will vary depending on size (6ft, 8ft, 10ft sizes available). The 10' Cowboy Pool is deeper, 28" tall, as the poly tank sticks out a few inches from the steel tank and can have a piece of trim attached to cover the gap created. Sometimes the wide lip of the poly liner will fit into the steel tank, and not stick out above it. This happens when the steel tank used is wider than the width of the lip. Either look will not effect the functionality of the pool. Imperfections can occur during the manufacturing and transport process to our warehouse that is out of our control. Occasionally there are scratches and dents that are unavoidable. Because galvanized steel stock tanks come nested in threes for transporting, the exact size of each tank can vary 2–6 inches.

If you are building a deck around the pool and filter pump, please note that you will need full access to the top of the filter and pump as well as the side of the pool where the hoses connect. We will also need access to the outside of your pool where the hoses/pipes will be attached on one side of the tank.

To build your deck around your pool, you will need to have your pool installed before the deck is built.

Our filter pump and hosing can live under the deck, as long as we'd still have full access to the top and sides of the equipment. We'd also need to access the hosing that attach to the pool at three points, and those fittings that attach to the pool wall from the outside.

The Crosswind 50-i heater/chiller can't be placed under the deck.

Our filter pump is 23" tall x 25" long x 16" wide and can be placed just about anywhere within 50 feet of the pool and within 100 feet of the outdoor GFCI outlet.

We'd be happy to be connected with your builder as needed. You may reach out to schedule a consultation at howdy@cowboypools.com.

The lead time is an estimated time frame after you purchase your pool package to our first available time slot. Once you make a purchase, you can reach out to us if you have a reliable leveling/landscaping completion date, and we will do our best to schedule around that.

Cowboy Pools delivered nationwide: The current lead time is estimated at about 3–6 weeks, depending on your location. In order to provide affordable shipping prices, your delivery is coordinated with others in your area, so lead times may vary. We'll get your Cowboy Pool on the first available route!

Austin and Houston installs: Please check the Cowboy Pool product page for current lead times.

Please see "How do I prepare my yard" for more information.

Please read the following maintenance instructions. These pools should be properly maintained to ensure proper sanitation measures are taking place. If you're looking for a worry-free option, we're now offering a weekly or bi-weekly service package (Austin area only).

Circulation

• Your pool comes with a high-performance above ground filter pump. We recommend that you run the filter pump 8 hours during the daytime.
• Backwash or clean filter if pressure is above 10–15 psi.
• Clean the skimmer & pump basket.
• Keep jets facing circular and downward.
• Fill your pool using a hose connected to a municipal water source. Keep your water level above the suction and return, especially when your pump is on an automatic timer, as the pump should not suck in air. You'll need to backwash the air bubbles out if your pump has accidentally pumped in air.

Cleaning

• Skim the surface daily.
• Cleaning the Cartridge Filter: Remove and clean off cartridge every few weeks, or when you notice your water flow is weaker than normal, or when the pressure gauge is 5–10psi higher than normal. Use a garden hose with spray nozzle to spray down the cartridge from top to bottom. You may purchase a curved cartridge cleaning tool that attaches to your hose. Do not use a pressure washer!
• Every so often, you may need to scrub your tank with a soft, non-abrasive brush or sponge to ensure that your Cowboy Pool is clean of algae and any slimy stuff.
• Vacuum as needed.
• Cleaning the pump basket regularly is important to the overall maintenance of your swimming pool. Clogged baskets make your pump have to work harder to try to cycle the water. This can decrease the life and stress the seals in your pump. Follow these steps: unplug the pump → push and turn the filter valve to closed → insert the supplied plugs into the two suction fittings → remove pump lid → use a garden hose to wash the basket → install pump basket lid and o-ring (do not over-tighten) → make sure filter valve is in the "filter" position → plug pump back in to power.

Chemistry

• During the summer months, use 1½ to 2½ cups of liquid chlorine weekly and 1–2 chlorine tablets every other week. Add the liquid chlorine directly into your pool while the pump is running, and keep it running for at least an hour afterward.
• In the cooler months, you will use much less chlorine. We recommend about one chlorine tab every two weeks to as little as one tab per month. Supplement with liquid chlorine as needed (1–2 cups every other week), especially if your pool will be used in the colder months.
• DO NOT put your chlorine tablets directly in the pool! Place them in a chlorine floater and keep it all the way closed to release the chlorine slowly through the holes in the bottom.
• To activate your filter pump, switch your timer to the ON position, then return it to TIMER mode when done. This process helps prevent or clear up murkiness and green water. Always place chlorine tablets in a floater to avoid tabs falling to the bottom of the tank.
• For best results, chlorinate in the morning or evening when the pool is out of direct sunlight. If you have a sand filter, backwash weekly; if you use a cartridge filter, clean it every other week or as needed.
• HERE is a link for the recommended chlorine tablets for our pools and HERE is the liquid chlorine we recommend.
• DO NOT use powdered pool shock, muriatic acid, algaecide, or clarifiers on your Cowboy Pool. These can damage the galvanized steel coating and lead to corrosion in your equipment. Powdered shock, in particular, is too strong for small pools like these and contains calcium, which can cause scale buildup. Shock is intended for larger in-ground plaster pools, so stick with liquid chlorine and 1" chlorine tablets without added chemicals.
• When adding chemicals to your pool, always start with the lightest amount. Remember, Cowboy Pools are small bodies of water, so it's better to add less initially — you can always adjust later if needed.
• DO NOT mix chlorine and bromine in water. This can cause a dangerous chemical reaction. If you're going to switch from one to the other at any point, you'll need to drain and clean your tank, and do a line flush.
• Backwashing: After a period of time, dirt accumulates in the sand filter which causes resistance to flow and which makes it necessary to backwash the filter (only for sand filters).

Troubleshooting

• If your pool starts looking a little cloudy or green, it may mean but doesn't necessarily mean you don't have enough chlorine. Too many chlorine tablets can harm your tank and doesn't always help your water. Here are some maintenance steps to keep your pool clear in such a situation: if you have a sand filter, backwash your pool; add fresh water to your pool; you may need to add between 1–2 cups of liquid chlorine to a cloudy pool and about ¼ a gallon to a green or brown pool when the pump is running. Liquid chlorine reacts differently with the water than chlorine tablets do, and will help clear up your pool.

Draining

• We recommend draining and refilling your pool once or twice per year to get a fresh start to your pool water. To drain your pool, unplug your drain using pliers to unscrew the drain plug. Use a shop-vac, a sump pump or siphon water with a garden hose to get any remaining water out. We do not recommend draining your pool and leaving your tank vulnerable to rain and debris, as oxidation can occur.

Winterizing

• We recommend keeping your pool filled with water and having the water pumping throughout the year in warmer climates. Surprisingly, keeping water in the pool at all times minimizes the chance of rust. This is unless a freeze lasting over 48 hours is expected and then you may follow the instructions in our Winterizing section.
• When the temperature drops below freezing, or when there is a freeze warning, switch your timer to "On" so that the pool is programmed to circulate until the temperature rises. For added freeze protection, cover your hoses and filter pump with a blanket. See freeze instructions with your filter pump and Camplux heater handout.
• Changing the sand in your sand filter is recommended about every 4–5 years, or when your sand has worn out and fails to capture contaminants from your pool. You'll need to replace with 40 lbs of filter sand (about $20).

If this sounds like more than you want to handle on your own, we offer Bi-Weekly Pool Service to service your pool water and equipment every other week. Sign up for pool service here.

Yes, ONLY if you use a quality outdoor extension cord that is at least 14ga and can handle at least 13 amps. This is important, as a lesser quality cord can malfunction and cause problems to the filter pump, and can potentially spark or cause a fire.