Adding an in-ground pool to your property can have a number of benefits. In an ideal situation, it can add an average 7% value to your home. It can also allow you to enjoy all the benefits of relaxing in your own backyard.
Whether you’ve had a pool for years, you’re considering a home with a pool, or you’re getting ready to add a pool to your property, it’s important to carefully consider how you’ll manage pool maintenance, including likely pool maintenance costs and your overall maintenance schedule.
Weekly Maintenance
When your pool is in use during the summer months, it’s important to take care of regular maintenance tasks quickly. Each week, make sure that you:
- Skim the pool to remove leaves, bugs, and any other debris that may have settled onto the surface of the pool. Skimming can help remove things that may not be picked up by the filter, or help prevent wear and tear on the filter.
- Vacuum the pool to remove dirt and grit. Vacuuming the pool with a pool vacuum can help keep your pool cleaner and clearer.
- Brush the sides and bottom of the pool. Regular brushing can help reduce algae growth and keep your pool clear.
Generally, these tasks are simple enough to take care of on your own, which means that you don’t have to worry about paying someone else to take care of them. However, some people may prefer to have someone come in to consistently manage those tasks for them, allowing them more free time to actually enjoy their pool. According to HomeGuide.com, you can expect a weekly service contract for pool maintenance to cost between $20 and $50.
Related: How Can a Swimming Pool Increase Your Home’s Value?
Monthly Maintenance
In addition to the necessary weekly maintenance tasks, there are some things you can take care of monthly or more sporadically to properly care for your pool and keep it running at peak efficiency.
- Test your water chemistry. Maintaining the right chemical balance can help keep your water safe to swim in while decreasing algae growth and preventing germs from growing in your pool.
- Check over your equipment and make sure that everything is running properly. A clogged pump or drain could cause a build-up in dirt and grime very quickly, which could pose a number of problems for overall pool upkeep.
- Check your filters. Any time the filters get clogged, they can no longer remove grit from your pool efficiently, which could mean that you end up with cloudy or dirty water. Regularly checking and maintaining your filters can also help maintain your pool’s overall health.
Monthly maintenance costs may vary depending on the type of pool you have. A concrete pool, for example, may require a higher balance of chemicals in order to maintain ideal pH balance, while a fiberglass pool may require a different level of chemicals for overall upkeep.
Monthly maintenance generally costs between $30 and $95, depending on what you need to have done to the pool and who you have coming out to take care of it.
Related: A Quick Guide on How to Maintain a Saltwater Pool
Winterizing Your Pool
If you live in a region where the winter months roll around and bring frigid temps, you may need to winterize your pool in order to keep it safe during those cold months. This will ensure it’s ready for you to return to it’s oasis-like sparkle when summer returns. There are several steps that go into winterizing your pool.
- Remove any pool accessories. Pool accessories need to be deep cleaned and stored during the winter so that they’ll be ready to use when summer returns. Drain any equipment that won’t be in use over the winter months, especially equipment that may be in danger of freezing when temperatures fall.
- Make sure that you have conducted a full deep clean on the pool. You may need to skim, vacuum, and scrub your pool completely in order to make sure that it’s ready for the season.
- Drop the water level in your pool. Check the guidelines for your specific pool to determine how much you may need to reduce water levels in order to keep it safe. The type of cover you use may also impact your water levels through the winter.
- Check your pool’s chemicals. You may need to make sure that you have your pH, calcium, and chlorine set properly before you fully winterize the pool. Add shock and algaecide to keep the pool clean and algae-free over the winter.
Once you’ve finished preparing the pool for winter, you’ll need to cover the pool. Consider whether you might want or need a safety cover, which can help provide protection against people or animals falling into the water.
If you have pets or small children, you may find that a safety cover offers a number of key benefits. Check your pool cover each season to ensure that you do not have any tears that could cause dirt and debris to get into the pool.
Winterizing your pool will cost an average of $250, but may cost as much as $400 or as little as $150, depending on the size of your pool, whether it is an above-ground pool or in-ground pool, and your specific maintenance needs. Having someone else come in to take care of winterizing your pool may also extend your maintenance costs.
Opening Your Pool
Once summer arrives, it’s time to open up your pool and start using it again! Before you can start swimming, however, it’s important to make sure that your pool is ready for the season. Make sure you are prepared by addressing the following:
- Remove any debris from the cover. Check for wear and tear, whether you use the cover during the summer months to help keep debris out or you need to know if you’ll need to purchase a new cover for next winter.
- Remove and store the cover.
- Check your pool chemicals if you’ll be opening the pool yourself. You may need your test kit, chlorine, shock treatments, and algaecide treatment before you open for the season.
- Look over the pool to make sure it does not have any damage. Check for overall wear and tear as well as cracks. If you notice any serious problems, you may need to have them repaired before you open the pool for the season.
- Clean the pool, including scrubbing it down and removing any stains or algae. Remove debris from the pool, if needed.
- Turn on the filter. Let it run for at least 12 hours before you add any chemicals.
- Test the water and add chemicals as needed.
- Add any accessories or equipment that you may have stored for the winter, including the pool lights, slides, pumps, and more.
Opening your pool for the season is always exciting, since it means you’ll be able to get out and start swimming. Having someone come in to open your pool for you will cost an estimated $250-$300, on average.
Pool Maintenance Tips
Are you getting ready to open your pool, or are you interested in strategies that can help you maintain it? Take these key tips into consideration.
1. Keep up with routine maintenance.
It’s easy to let your routine pool maintenance get away from you. After all, you’d rather be sitting back and enjoying your pool than taking care of cleaning it! However, if you let that routine maintenance go, it can be much harder to clean the pool later.
2. Take care of any potential problems quickly.
As with many types of maintenance, a little problem with your pool can quickly turn into a big one. If you’re worried about cracks, you may need to bring in a local professional to take care of the damage quickly before you end up with a larger leak or more serious issues. Keep in mind that fiberglass pools will often have small cracks in the surface. Thanks to their gel coating, these will not impact the integrity of the pool. However, larger cracks may need to be dealt with quickly.
3. Choose the right pool maintenance contract.
Be realistic about what you can and can’t handle for yourself when it comes to pool maintenance as well as what you’re willing to take care of. Working with a qualified pool maintenance company can go a long way toward helping you get more enjoyment out of your pool at a lower cost.
Choose a contract that includes the services you need, whether that means a contract that includes opening or winterizing your pool for you or one that includes regular weekly or monthly inspections and maintenance.
Do You Have the Right Pool for Your Needs?
Choosing the perfect pool is an exciting investment in your home. Making sure you care for your investment properly is important. At California Pools, we help our clients choose and build the best pools for their needs. Contact us today to discuss the pool of your dreams.
