How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Pool on Average?

A swimming pool is a place where one can slip into with ease and unload the stresses of the day. The cooling water from pools moving over the body messages and relaxes the body and the mind. Not only that, the act of swimming releases endorphins, or ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain – what more could you want?

Are you dreaming of floating carelessly and effortlessly in your very own swimming pool, but wonder how much does it cost to maintain a pool?

We’ve gathered some useful information for those would-be pool owners interested in knowing general pool costs.

How Much Does a Pool Cost?

Let’s get into the upfront costs of owning a pool. This really depends on a lot of different variables.

Is the pool indoor or outdoor? Is it an above-ground pool or an inground pool? What material is it made of? Is it heated or not?

Most pools, regardless of whether they are above or inground, are made out of three common materials – vinyl, fiberglass, or cement. The expense of which goes up respectively, with vinyl being the cheapest and cement being the most expensive.

Let’s take a look at above-ground pools first, as they are the most affordable option for owning a pool. On average, a 15′ around and 4′ deep pool can cost between $800-$1,500. Jump up in size all the way to a 33′ round and 54″ deep pool, your average costs become $4,000-$7,000.

Inground pools give your backyard a seamless look. They are also usually made of higher quality materials, which means they tend to last longer.

Concrete is the go-to material used for building an inground pool. On average, a concrete 12′ by 24′ rectangular inground pool costs around $60,000-$90,000. That’s quite an increase from the above-ground average.

Read Also:

• Read This Before You Start Building a Swimming Pool and Spa for Your Home
• Robotic vs Suction vs Pressure Pool Cleaners: Differences and Buyer’s Guide
• 9 Key Things to Consider Before Installing a Pool in Your Backyard
• 10 Swimming Pool Ideas That Will Make a Splash This Summer
• DIY Tips on How to Build Your Own Swimming Pool
• Why Consider Hiring a Professional Pool Cleaner?

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Pool?

Pools need regular maintaining or else they will deteriorate quickly. Have you ever seen a pool with green algae growing on its floors and walls, or mosquitos or frogs swimming in its waters? Those conditions arise within a pool that has been neglected.

To answer, “how much does it cost to maintain a pool?”, you have to look at the tasks needed to maintain it.

Typical pool maintenance includes but is not limited to – checking water levels, testing water chemicals, applying chemicals when needed, vacuuming, skimming, brushing, checking equipment, checking and emptying filters and baskets, etc.

Other pool maintenance requirements are seasonal. Closing down a pool for the cold season requires a set of tasks like shocking the water, lowering the water levels, backwashing the water filters, closing and storing filter elements, clearing water lines, and installing covers.

Opening a pool back up requires removing the cover, reassembling the filter system, cleaning and testing the water chemistry, refilling the water, and turning on the pump and other equipment.

Some of these things can be easily done by the owner. However, not everyone has the time or skill needed to keep a pool healthy and safe.

Average Pool Service Costs

For most pool owners, swimming in the pool is what brings pleasure – not maintaining it. For those who would rather hire pool services from a trusted company like Crystal Blue Aquatics, here are some averages you might expect:

• Opening a pool – $150 to $300
• Closing a pool – $150 to $300
• Weekly/monthly pool services – $80 to $150
• Average hourly – $60 to $90

DIY Maintenance

If doing pool maintenance yourself appeals to you, you’ll save yourself on average $1000 annually in service fees. Here is a list of equipment and supplies you’ll need to purchase:

• Skimmer
• Chlorine
• Muriatic Acid
• Soda Ash
• Test Kit
• Replacement Test Kit Solutions
• Vacuum
• Filters
• Pool Cover
• Replacement Filter Cartridge
• Replacement Filter Sand
• Replacement Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

The most expensive piece of equipment is the vacuum and can range from $20 to $600. The pricier vacuums are automatic and run along the bottom of the pool, while the cheaper versions are manual.

The total of all these supplies and equipment can run you anywhere from $745 to $1,300.

Related Post: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Review

Added Electricity Costs

When a pool is open, the water is fed through a filter via a pump, in order to keep the water flowing. This maintains the health of the water.

Ideally, pool owners would keep the pump running 24/7 for optimal pool health. Unfortunately, you’d have to go out and get two more jobs to keep up with the cost to do that. So as a general rule, most pool owners will run their pump for at least 8 hours a day.

The added electrical costs per month vary largely depending on pool/pump size, how often the pump is running, and whether or not the pool is heated. Here are some averages for different scenarios:

1. A pump with 2-speed or variable-speed/filter system: $30 to $50 every month
2. A pump with 1-speed/filter system: $75 to $150 every month
3. Heat pumps: $50 to $250 every month
4. Inground hot tub: $100 to $300 every month

Cost to Fill Pool With Water

A 15′ by 30′ pool at 4′ deep will need about 13,500 gallons of water. On average, it costs between $4 to $10 for every thousand gallons used. This means that a 30′ by 15′ pool would cost anywhere from $54 to $135.

Pool Repair Costs

In a perfect world, your pool and equipment would last forever. Unfortunately, things break down over time and need repair or replacement. Here are some common pool repair costs you might incur as a pool owner:

• Water Pump or Motor: $50 – $300 to repair, and $150 – $800 to replace
• Water Heater: $50 – $400 to repair, and $500 – $3,500 to replace
• Plumbing Issues: $100 – $250 to repair, and $600 – $1,200 to replace
• Vinyl Liner: $50 – $200 to repair, and $450 – $800 to replace
• Pool Cover: $50 – $200 to repair, and $550 – $7,500 to replace
• Pool Lighting: $65 – $150 to repair, and $350 – $900 to replace

A Swimming Pool Adds Value

Adding a swimming pool to your house can add value if you ever plan to put your house on the market. In fact, in best-case scenarios, a pool can add up to 7% in market value to your house. Just don’t go and put up an inflatable kids pool and expect much-added value!

In this article, we answered your question of “how much does it cost to maintain a pool?” If you found this article useful, make sure to check out other home improvement articles from our blog.