Mini pool: a cool dip in the smallest space

What it is and how it differs

A mini pool is a small, deep patch of water right next to the house: you step in to cool off after work, sit on the steps with a glass of water, and step out. It is not designed for swimming lengths or for lots of children playing.

That is what sets it apart from a small backyard pool, which has room to move around, play and swim a few strokes. A mini pool is the answer when your available space is measured in just a few metres, or when you want the water almost inside your garden lounge. In holiday accommodation it is often used as a private pool next to a room or suite, where coolness and privacy matter more than size.

Dimensions and water volume

The volumes are approximate, because the water level sits a little below the rim. For comparison, a 4×8 m family pool holds many times more water, which shows in both the warm-up time and the amount of chemicals. You will find more on this particular size under the 2×4 m pool.

A depth of 1.50 m gives the "plunge" feeling many people want from a plunge pool. 1.10 m is more comfortable if you want to sit in the water or if children will use it too.

Where it fits

• On a garden terrace. A level strip of a terraced garden, often with a view, where a bigger pool would not fit.
• In a narrow or very small yard. The panels are carried in piece by piece and pass through doors and hallways.
• Next to a bedroom or living room. The pool becomes an extension of the house and gets used far more often.
• In a spot shaded at midday. Because it warms up so easily, it needs less sun than a large pool.

A prefab mini pool is installed in the ground. A pool on a roof terrace or a building's balcony is a different matter: the weight of the water requires a structural check by an engineer.

Heating, cover and equipment

With only a few cubic metres of water, the sun or a small heat pump raises the temperature in a short time. The heat is lost just as quickly, though, so a cover is close to essential. The options are compared under pool heating and pool covers.

The equipment is small and fits in a compact plant room, which is also a requirement for the small-scale works approval. The pump and filter are sized for the small volume.

Water chemistry in a small volume

In a mini pool every bather and every dose of chemicals has a bigger effect, because it is diluted in very little water. Two people on a hot afternoon shift the chlorine as much as many more would in a large pool.

1. Test pH and chlorine more often, especially after use and in hot weather. See how to test your pool water.
2. Dose in small amounts, calculated for the actual volume.
3. Keep pH at 7.2–7.6 and free chlorine at 1–3 mg/l, as in any pool.
4. Cover the pool when you are not using it, for fewer leaves and less dust.

Questions

See also