Intex Prism Frame Pool Review

The Intex Prism line of above-ground pools has numerous similarities with the slightly cheaper Metal Frame range from the same manufacturer, as well as Bestway’s Steel Pro Max products.

The most obvious differences, in fact, are just that the Prism pools have a gray rather than light blue color scheme on the outside and are available in shapes other than round. The Prism Frame pool sets have this in common with their closest competitor, the Bestway Power Steel series.

What really sets the Intex Prism Frame line apart, though, lies beneath the surface.

Where the Prism Frame is Better

Although the construction is not a huge quality jump from the slightly cheaper Metal Frame range from the same manufacturer, the support poles are stronger. On the round pools they are wide and oval instead of round, and on the rectangle pools they are still round, but in a solid u-shape. The pools also come with a 1-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects, which is much better than the 90-day return period offered on Metal Frame products.

The liner is from the same multi-layer PVC material as most pools, but they seem to be more resistant to direct sunlight (which can really play havoc with plastics over the long term). The frame, for its part, is powder-coated on the outside for greater resistance to rust, while the individual supports are wider than they really need to be, boosting their structural strength.

Plenty of Size Options

The biggest departure from the Intex Metal Frame range is that the Prism series gives you the option of choosing an oblong-shaped pool, at least if you choose a larger size (16½ by 9 feet and 20 by 10 feet). Most backyards and patios are roughly rectangular, so cramming a round pool in there often results in a waste of space.

If your lot is on a slope, a circular pool also requires you to clear and level a larger surface. With a pool that’s longer than it is wide, you’ll experience a much smaller drop in height if you place it edge-on to the grade. An elongated pool also allows you to swim longer distances at a time and is much better suited to games like splashy volleyball.

When deciding on which size to order, you may want to actually get a tape measure or pace out the measurements to see exactly what will fit in your chosen location. Small differences will matter to your water consumption, too: upgrading from the 42-inch-deep, 14-foot pool to the 15-footer requires 500 gallons of additional water; going for the 48″-high 15-foot pool means an extra 580 gallons of interior volume.

Getting It out of the Box and Onto the Ground

The basic idea behind this pool’s construction will be familiar to anyone who has assembled a pool like this. Crosswise supports get pushed through loops on the top of the liner, then connected to vertical posts using T-shaped fittings.

For round pools, a belt around the lower half of the pool keeps the liner and posts from bulging outwards. On the oval and rectangular models, the bottom of the U-shaped poles are supported by straps at ground level – note that this means that your pool will actually require an area slightly wider than nine and eight feet respectively.

All told, putting all the parts together shouldn’t take much more than an hour or two, and it’s very difficult to make a mistake. You don’t need to use so much as a screwdriver, though someone lending a hand by holding sections in place will be of help. Particularly on the rectangular and oval models, the structural pipe assembly does seem loose at first, but everything falls nicely into place once the pool is filled.

Below is an instruction video from Intex (the pool is an older model, but it will still give you a good idea):

If you get stuck, you can always glance at the manual or watch the included DVD – putting the filter assembly together can be less than straightforward. You have until the water reaches the filter holes, about 2 feet off the ground, to get this right once you start filling the pool.

Enjoying and Maintaining a Intex Prism Frame Pool Set

Like all above-ground pools, the Intex Prism Frame series requires fairly level terrain. Also note that the height listed on the box is from ground level to the rim: the actual water depth will be about 6 inches less than the height of the pool.

If you need it to be shallower, perhaps to accommodate small children who are still learning to swim, you can fill it with to little as two-thirds of its capacity. This is required for the water to reach the filter pump’s suction ports. A drain plug near the bottom is designed to fit an ordinary garden hose and is much more convenient than emptying several thousand gallons of water using a bucket.

Speaking of the pump, its fitting to the pool’s inlet port is equipped with aero-hydration technology, which is just a trademarked way of saying that it forces air bubbles into your pool. This has a number of benefits besides looking cool, though: if you have hard water, the additional oxygen will help draw out excess minerals. The bubbles also tend to make impurities coagulate together for more efficient filtration, as well as making the air around the pool more pleasant by releasing negative ions.

Unfortunately, this pool shares a flaw with most economy swimming pools, namely an underpowered pump and undersized filter. The latter needs to be cleaned frequently with a hose and replaced every two to three weeks to keep your pool as clear as can be. If this seems like too much trouble, you can always replace the whole shebang with a sand filter or saltwater system. Doing so will probably require you to purchase a couple of adapters, so you may want to enlist the help of someone at a pool supplies store.

Most Prism Frame models, apart from the 10-foot and 12-foot versions, are supplied with a stepladder, ground cloth and surface cover. This ground cloth has less than a foot to spare on each side, so make sure you center your pool on it correctly before you turn on the hose to fill it.

Your Best Choice for Keeping Cool this Summer?

Although Intex Prism Frame pool sets’ balance between quality and price makes them good value on paper, you should be aware that you’ll probably end up paying more. In addition to a more capable filter pump, which many users consider essential, you’ll also probably need a thicker ground sheet, assorted cleaning tools and chemicals.

It would have been great if the liner were more durable. You get what you pay for, however: this pool overall is definitely superior to any blow-up pool, some of which don’t cost that much less. At the same time, the material and workmanship can’t be compared to higher-end pools like the Intex Ultra XTR.