Is it expensive to maintain a pool?

Question

i am thinking about buying a house with a pool. Are they expensive to maintain?

Answer 1

There are a couple of factors that can add or subtract cost to the maintenance of a pool. Geographic location can have a big impact....If you live on the Gulf Coast or in a warm climate, you will be using and maintaining it all year long. If you close it in for the winter, then it might be a little less.

The single largest cost for a pool is the electricity for the pool pump. You will need to run the pump daily for 4-6 hours to filter the water and add chlorine. Pool chemicals are not particularly expensive. A 50 pound bucket of chlorine tablets will cost about $50 and last a couple of months depending upon how much sunshine you get and how much you use the pool.

I have a 20,000 gallon pool and my monthly cost is less than $100 per month.

Two things to consider....if the house already has a pool, you will be getting the pool at much lower cost than if you had one built. Adding a pool to a home doesn't add as much value as it costs to intall. So you're getting a pool for less.

The other thing, if you live in a warm area it is fun to take a dip in privacy of your own home and not have to drive to a public pool.

If you have kids, it's good for entertaining, and keeping them close to home.

One more factor to consider.....what is the condition of the pool and the pool equipment. You might bargain with the seller to upgrade the equipment if it is old. Thus you can split the cost and roll it into the mortgage.

And finally, have it inspected by a professional to make sure it is in good shape and all the lines are clear.

Answer 2

The actual maintenence of the pool regardingjust the chemicals is not terribly expensive. You must budget for the unknown problems such as: what if it gets a leak, does it need resurfaced soon, what if something goes wrong with pump, etc. And you also have the added expense of the water to keep it filled, the electricity to run the filter everyday for 4-8 hours, and heating it if you use something other than solar. Solar has its costs also because the panels don't last forever and the gaskets on the pipes springs leaks after a few years. Your home owners insurance is more with a pool and it only adds about $10,000 in value to a home compared to the same home without a pool. In general, unless you and your whole family swims everyday, pools are not worth the added expense they create.

Answer 3

We bought a house with a pool. My husband and I knew very little about maintaining the pool. The big costs are running the pool filter and the you need to add chlorine. Also expect a couple hundred dollars in chemicals to open the pool. If you do get a pool bring water in to be tested at your local pool shop. They tell you exactly what chemicals to put in and how much. It is free to test the water. This past summer I probably spent 300 on chemicals.

Answer 4

They're expensive to maintain and there is an awful lot of housework involved. I used to be a lifeguard. It's like owning a horse. It's nice if you have somebody else to shovel the ****.

People aren't afraid of water and they grossly underestimate how dangerous a home pool is. It's MANY times more dangerous to a child than a gun in the house. I've known three people who drowned in the river in separate incidents, and I rescued a child in a swimming pool once. She wasn't in trouble. She was drowning. Every year a lot of people drown in swimming pools with or without lifeguards, and it's so common it usually doesn't make the newspaper.

Training a lifeguard only takes a couple of days, but it makes a huge difference. Most importantly they are taught to PAY CLOSE ATTENTION, and to never let a drowning person touch them. You'll notice lifeguards have those long orange rescue tubes. That's to keep a drowning person from getting hold of the lifeguard. I have a cousin who went as a chaperon on a kids' beach outing. The kids were put into small groups and each group had two college girls assigned to watch them. They weren't trained lifeguards and they hadn't had the pay attention lesson drummed into their heads. One of the children in her group drowned.

Answer 5

Yep. You have to make sure the chemicals stay balanced, that there is chlorine in the pool a lot and that the cover stays on in the winter. The parts are very expensive, but I think the fun times far outweigh the expense.

Answer 6

It's actually rather cheap. Cheaper than maintaining a lawn that for sure. Most local pool care companies where I live only charge like 20 bucks a month.

The only thing that is maintained is the chemical balance and of course removing debris that lands in it. Then again I don't live in an area that has snow.

Answer 7

Yes they are....you have to maintain the chemical balance 365 days a year whether you are swimming in it or not. Rain ...leaves...it will keep you busy...if the pool is covered you get the dirt from the screen every time it rains.....a lot of work and a lot of expense to a pool.......

Answer 8

Summer is more expensive because you use more chorine and shock.But winter is cheap.I would guess a container of the chorine tabs cost me about $65.00 and that last about 2 months.When it comes time to replaster tats about $2500.00.If you properly maintain your pool,keep it clean,you should have to replaster about every 7 years.When you think of the cost of gas to drive to the beach or pool,parties you can have in your own backyard,and a pool adds about $20,000 to the value of your home.

Answer 9

Which Pool?

Answer 10

It's not so much the money, because it's justified with the actuall use of the pool, and it's not to bad if you bargain shop... but it's more time consuming than anything else. If you want it to stay clear and Not turn green, you really have to invest alot of time.