What is The Average Cost to Own a Swimming Pool?

Before purchasing a swimming pool, you may be wondering, "How much does a pool raise your electric bill?" How much does it cost to hire a pool cleaning service? “How much will I have to spend for chemicals?”

These are perfectly reasonable questions, and you're a wise consumer for asking them.

It is not enough to know that your pool will cost you money each year. We believe you have the right to know how much it will cost to maintain your pool, which is why we chose to publish this article.

River Pools specializes in the manufacture and service of fiberglass pools throughout North America, and we are well-versed in the maintenance expenses and requirements for all types of inground pools, whether concrete, fiberglass, or vinyl liner. In this post, we'll go through the maintenance costs for each style of inground pool, giving you a good idea of what to expect.

Let's start with a look at some of the elements that can influence the cost of pool upkeep.

Factors influencing swimming pool maintenance expenses

Most pools appear identical from the outside, yet each pool style is unique. The difference could be in the materials, the construction technique, or both. The bottom conclusion is that not all pools will necessitate the same level of maintenance.

Here are some of the major factors that can influence how a pool is maintained and how much it costs to maintain:

The type of pool (fiberglass, concrete, or vinyl liner)

Size of the pool

Climate and geography

The pool's age

These factors will be taken into account in the next sections.

The Cost of Maintaining a Concrete Pool

Concrete pools, on average, have the greatest cost of ownership of any of the three varieties of inground pools. The porous surface necessitates more chemical consumption and necessitates running the pump/filter for longer periods of time. Let's take a look at some of the yearly and long-term expenses associated with owning a concrete pool.

The use of electricity

The amount your concrete swimming pool will add to your electric bill is determined on the size of your pool and whether you use a heating or cooling pump.

Smaller pools are often less expensive to operate because there is less water to filter. Large pools will also be more expensive to own and operate. The cost will also be determined by the type of pump you have:

With a concrete pool, a 2-speed or variable speed pump might cost $60-$100 a month, depending on the size of your pool and your local power rates.

With a concrete pool, 1-speed pumps (which are soon becoming obsolete) might cost $150-$300 a month, depending on pool size and area.

How can you calculate the electric costs of a concrete pool? To begin, you must determine how long the pump must run in order to filter the water across the entire pool. This is often referred to as the turnover rate. To calculate the turnover rate for your swimming pool, use the following easy formula:

Concrete pools require you to filter all of the water twice every day, so multiply the resulting number by 2 and operate your pool for that many hours every day. Why does it need to run for an extended period of time? Because the porous surface encourages algae growth, you must circulate the water more frequently to keep it clear.

Do you want to know how a pool pump/filter system works? Check out this comprehensive guide.

Heating and air conditioning

If you use a heating and cooling pump, you should expect to pay an extra $50-$250 per month on your electric bill, depending on the size of your pool and how frequently you heat or cool it.

Concrete Pool Chemical Costs

Because concrete pools are prone to algae infestations, they will unavoidably necessitate extra chemicals. The cost of your chemicals will be determined by the amount of chlorine (or other chemicals) required by your pool. This will vary depending on the findings of your pool water testing. The final cost will also be determined by the brands you use.

To give you a ballpark figure, anticipate to pay at least $20 each purchase of chlorine tablets, powder, or liquid. Keep in mind that other chemicals, such as pool conditioner, may be required. Pool chemicals and related supplies can cost up to $750 per year on average.

How much does it cost to keep a saltwater pool in good condition? If you have a saltwater system, you will be introducing salt to your pool instead of chlorine, which will reduce your maintenance costs slightly. Expect to pay at least $15 per bag of salt, and bear in mind that you can use anywhere from half a bag to more than 15 bags to maintain appropriate chemistry.

We strongly advise against using salt water systems in concrete pools. The salt can be too abrasive on the plaster surface, causing it to wear out more quickly.

scrubbing

Aside cleaning chemicals and removing leaves and bugs, it's a good idea to vacuum and scrub the entire surface of your concrete pool with a steel brush at least once a week. This will keep algae at bay while also making the pool clear and sparkling.

If you don't have the time or energy to accomplish all of that (it's a lot of work! ), you may hire a pool service to clean and manage the chemistry of your pool for you. Pool service fees will vary by region and company, but you should anticipate to pay around $500 per swimming season.

If you do happen to have a major algae problem, use this solution.

The element of water

The cost of your water is difficult to calculate because it is dependent on your activities and the size of your pool. While your pool is open for swimming, the water should be between the skimmer's middle and within one inch of the top of the entrance (see illustration below).

If your water level falls below a certain level, you would generally top it off with water from your garden hose. This will automatically increase your water cost, although the exact amount will vary depending on the pool. After you've had your pool for a few months, you'll have a fair sense of how much this will cost.

If you ever need to drain and refill your pool, you'll have to spend a lot more (at least $100 more). You can also engage a bulk water delivery service, albeit this may be more expensive.

However, as a general rule, do not drain your pool without first consulting a professional or having it done for you.

How much does it cost to maintain a concrete pool on a monthly basis?

The cost of your concrete swimming pool will fluctuate from month to month. You may anticipate to pay substantially more for energy and chemical upkeep when the pool is open for swimming than when it is closed for the winter.

How much does it cost a year to buy a concrete pool?

In total, you should budget roughly $1,650 each year to maintain your concrete pool. This includes the expense of opening your pool at the start of the season and closing it for the winter. This does not include major maintenance charges such as resurfacing, which we will discuss in the following section.

Long-term maintenance expenses include acid cleaning and resurfacing.

Unfortunately, running the filter and adding chemicals aren't the only things to consider when owning a concrete swimming pool. These pools also necessitate hefty long-term maintenance costs. They are as follows:

Resurfacing after acid cleaning

Acid washing your concrete pool removes spores and keeps algae blooms at bay. Depending on the condition of their pool, most concrete pool owners perform this every 3-6 years.

This procedure necessitates draining your pool and scrubbing the surface with an acid solution. This job should be done by a professional unless you absolutely know what you're doing.

You should budget roughly $500 for this procedure, plus the cost of refilling your pool with water.

Pool resurfacing can cost $10,000 or more and is normally done every 10-15 years. Replastering, retiling, or reapplying aggregate to the whole surface of your swimming pool is what this entails. Plaster is the least expensive alternative, while tile is the most expensive. You'll also have to pay to refill your pool when it's been resurfaced.

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Vinyl Liner Pool?

Vinyl liner pools aren't the most low-maintenance pools, but they're also not the most high-maintenance either. Overall, in addition to paying for energy and chemicals, your vinyl liner pool will necessitate some serious maintenance work every few years. Let's go over this in greater depth.

The use of electricity

When you have a vinyl liner swimming pool, your electric cost will go up, just like it does with any other pool. You'll need to run the pump/filter system every day, which will cost you roughly $30-$50 a month if you use a variable speed pump. You should anticipate to pay $75-$150 per month for a 1-speed filtration pump.

The good news is that, unlike a concrete swimming pool, you only need to filter the water once a day. This means you'll be able to save money on your electricity bill.

However, you may need to run your filter for a longer period of time to deal with any algae that has accumulated in your pool. Electricity for a vinyl liner pool will cost you around $300 per year.

Heating and air conditioning

Heating or cooling a vinyl liner pool, like a concrete pool, can add $50-$250 to your monthly electric bill, depending on the size of your pool and how frequently you heat or cool it.

Costs of Vinyl Liner Pool Chemicals

Vinyl liner pools have an edge over concrete pools when it comes to chemicals. Algae will not grow as well in a vinyl liner swimming pool as it would in a concrete pool, but it can accumulate at the seams and become an issue if the pool is not properly maintained. You can still expect to spend roughly $400 on chemicals per year, which is less than you would with a concrete pool.

The amount of chemicals you need to add can vary depending on the pool and the area in which you live. Again, every time you buy chlorine for your pool, you can anticipate to spend at least $20.

What about systems that use saltwater? We do not propose installing a salt water system in a vinyl liner swimming pool unless the walls are composed of polymer. The metal walls would be prone to corrosion, which could lead to severe (and expensive!) issues in the future.

scrubbing

Just like any other swimming pool, you'll want to vacuum your vinyl liner pool and maintain it clear of leaves and debris. You should also use a soft, nylon cleaning brush to brush the surface of the entire pool once a week to prevent algae from growing.

Caution: Do not scratch the surface of your vinyl liner with harsh or sharp instruments! You risk damaging the liner and having to replace it sooner than necessary.

Because cleaning your pool isn't too time-consuming, you won't need to engage a professional cleaning service, which can save you $500 every year. Of course, this is a convenience that any pool owner may use to save time and energy.

The element of water

As with a concrete pool, you must ensure that the water level remains constant (midway up the skimmer) while the pool is open for swimming. You'll use your garden hose to add more water as needed, and you may lower the water level when it's time to close the pool for the winter.

However, the most expensive part of the water bill will be replenishing the pool. Your pool's liner will need to be updated every few years. To do so, you must empty the pool in order for the pros to install a new one. Depending on the size of your pool, filling it back up can cost you at least $100.

Again, before draining your swimming pool, it's a good idea to consult with a specialist.

How much does it cost each month to run a vinyl liner pool?

Your vinyl liner swimming pool's monthly cost will not be steady throughout the year. When the pool is available for swimming in the spring and summer, expect to pay the most. When you close the pool, your maintenance expenditures will be greatly reduced.

How much does it cost each year to buy a vinyl liner pool?

Aside from liner replacements on a regular basis, you can anticipate to spend roughly $700 a year on vinyl liner pool upkeep. This is largely made up of the cost of chemicals and power, which will vary depending on the pool and where you reside.

Long-term maintenance expenses

Unfortunately, the vinyl liner will not last forever, and it will have an even shorter lifespan if you do not maintain it. The pool will need to be drained and the liner replaced every 5 to 9 years. This can cost you at least $4,000 each time, totaling $8,000 - $16,000 over the course of 20 years.

The Cost of Maintaining a Fiberglass Pool

Fiberglass pools have the lowest cost of ownership and need the least amount of upkeep of the three pool varieties. Overall, you will pay far less on repairs, resurfacing, power, and chemicals than with any other pool. Let's take a closer look at this.

The use of electricity

Unlike a concrete swimming pool, your fiberglass pool will only need to be filtered once a day, saving you both time and money. A 2-speed or variable speed filtration system will cost $30-$50 per month, whereas a 1-speed system will cost $75-150 per month. Each year, you can anticipate to spend around $200 on electricity for a fiberglass pool.

Variable speed filter systems are preferred because they are versatile and cost-effective. As a result, all of our pools come standard with a two-speed pump system. You may even filter your pool water at a low pace 24 hours a day with this type of technology for better water circulation without significantly increasing the expense.

Heating and air conditioning

Depending on the size of your pool and how frequently you choose to heat or cool it, heating or cooling your fiberglass pool might cost anywhere from $50 to $250 each month. Some climates are mild enough to avoid the need for heating and cooling, but many are not. Heating and cooling can increase the usage of your pool in specific places.

Costs of Fiberglass Pool Chemicals

To sterilize their pool water, most individuals use chlorine tablets, powder, or liquid. The cost varies depending on the type of pool, with fiberglass pools using the fewest chemicals to maintain in balance. In fact, fiberglass pools require 70% fewer chemicals than concrete pools.

This is owing to the smooth, non-porous surface known as the gelcoat. Algae cannot take over your swimming pool if there are no places for it to hide, and it is extremely unlikely that it will become a problem. Each year, you should anticipate to spend roughly $175 on chemicals for a fiberglass pool.

What about saltwater systems installed in fiberglass pools? A fiberglass pool would be ideal if you wanted to run a saltwater system in your swimming pool. The salt does not corrode or damage the interior of the pool, making it safe to use without the risk of eroding the pool's surface or causing damage to the surrounding environment.

The cost of maintaining a saltwater pool will vary based on the size of your pool and the surrounding environment. Expect to pay at least $15 for each bag of salt, in addition to any specialist maintenance work that needs to be done on your generator and other equipment.

Do you want to compare saltwater and chlorinated pools? See our complete instructions here.

scrubbing

We recommend that you vacuum your pool on a regular basis to keep it free of particles. To keep dirt at bay, we recommend brushing the surface of your pool once a week with a soft, nylon cleaning brush.

Because that is all that is required, there is no need to employ a professional cleaning service if you do not wish to. Fiberglass pools require far less labor than other types of pools and may be readily maintained on your own.

The element of water

You must maintain an appropriate amount of water in your fiberglass pool, just like you would in any other swimming pool. This is usually located around halfway up the skimmer's entrance. You'll normally utilize your regular water hose to raise the water level in your pool because there's no need to bring in a bulk water supplier.

Unlike vinyl liner and concrete pools, you will only need to drain your fiberglass pool on rare times (if at all). Indeed, we recommend that you never drain your fiberglass pool without first speaking with a fiberglass pool expert who can advise or assist you with the operation. That means you won't have to pay to refill it, as you would with a concrete or vinyl liner pool.

How much does it cost to maintain a fiberglass pool on a monthly basis?

The significant bulk of your maintenance cost, like with other pools, will be covered during the summer months when the pool is open. Once the pool is closed for the winter, the costs of electricity, cleaning, and chemicals may be reduced.

How much does it cost a year to own a fiberglass pool?

Between electricity and chemicals, the annual cost of owning a fiberglass pool will be roughly $375. Unless your pool has significant damage or is in need of repair, the only extra things you will have to consider are additional water bills and maybe the cost of accessories such as cleaning brushes and pool covers.

Here's a complete breakdown of fiberglass pool maintenance operations to give you a better picture of what your routine would look like.

Long-term maintenance expenses

Fiberglass swimming pools are incredibly durable, however the gelcoat will need to be refinished at some point. However, you will most likely utilize your pool for another 20 or 30 years before this is necessary.

Assume you are 45 years old. If you install a fiberglass pool today, you won't have to make any significant expenses in pool resurfacing until you're 65 to 75 years old.

That's a long stretch of uninhibited swimming.

You will not be able to refinish the gelcoat on your fiberglass pool on your own. When the time comes to resurface it, you will undoubtedly hire a professional to handle the work.Give SmartLiving Home Repair Services a call today at (888) 758-9103