How Much Does Pool Maintenance Cost?

Factors That Contribute to Pool Cleaning Costs

Frequency

How often you get your pool cleaned is one of the most significant factors that affect costs. The more often you clean your pool, the more expensive the overall costs will be per year. Monthly professional pool cleanings, for example, cost an average of $115 per visit, which can add up to $1,380 per year. 

On the other hand, if you just need professional help opening and closing your pool, it could cost around $450. If you’re looking for the most affordable way to maintain your pool, you may opt to take the DIY route and perform most maintenance tasks yourself.

Level of Service

Minimal maintenance tasks like checking the pH and filters may cost as little as $80 per visit, while additional tasks may cost up to $150 a visit on average. Professional service visits may include tasks like:

• Checking the water pH and filters 

• Brushing

• Vacuuming

• Skimming debris

• Checking robotic cleaners

• Emptying baskets and traps. 

The more services you require, the more you’ll pay. 

Size

The larger your pool, the more expensive it tends to be to clean. There’s more surface area to skim, which means it will take technicians longer to clean. Your pool will also require larger, more expensive filters, which can cost up to $75 each.

In-Ground vs. Above-Ground

At $75 to $100 per hour, on average, the rates to clean in-ground and above-ground pools are about the same. However, above-ground pool costs tend to be slightly lower overall since they’re usually smaller. In-ground pool costs are typically higher due to their larger size.

Chlorine vs. Saltwater

Both saltwater pools and chlorine pools incur routine maintenance costs, but saltwater pools cost less on average to maintain than chlorine pools, with yearly salt and chemical costs averaging between $70 and $100. 

You should also expect to pay an additional $200 to $800 every three to seven years to replace the salt cell. In contrast, chemicals for a chlorine pool can cost around $60 to $70 for 25 lbs of tablets, which may need replenishing multiple times per year.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Indoor pools cost about $15 a month for cleaning chemicals, while outdoor pools cost around $115 per month for overall maintenance.

Unsurprisingly, indoor pools tend to be less expensive to maintain than outdoor pools. While they do require similar chemicals, they don’t require a lot of other maintenance tasks, such as skimming the water to remove debris. 

Repairs

In addition to regular maintenance costs, you may need to repair common pool parts every so often, no matter how well you maintain your pool. Some common pool repair costs include:

• Pump motor: $185 to $350

• Cartridge filter: $13 to $75

• Replacement sand: $12 per bag

• Sand filter: $150 to $500

• Diatomaceous earth (DE): $20 per 25-lb. bag

• DE filter: $600 to $700

• Vinyl liner patches: $20 to $200

• Fiberglass liner repair: $300

• Sand concrete or gunite liner repair: $800 to $1,550

• Heater repair: $395 to $1,200

Labor

Labor costs for pool maintenance range from $75 to $100 per hour. Pool chemicals and equipment are relatively affordable; labor is the main expense when you hire a pool technician to maintain your pool.

Opening a Pool

Usually, a professional will open your facility for between $150 and $300. Dirty, green pools may run as much as $300 to $400 to open due to added cleaning and chemical expenses. When you should open your pool depends on where you live. Make sure your pool is ready for summer with a series of steps, including:

• Removing the cover

• Reassembling the filter system

• Cleaning and testing the water chemistry

• Refilling the water

• Turning on the pump and other equipment

Closing or Winterizing a Pool

The price of closing and winterization typically ranges from $150 to $300. This price includes:

• Shocking the water

• Lowering the water levels

• Cleaning

• Backwashing the filter

• Closing and storing filter elements

• Clearing water lines

• Installing the cover

A pro will typically perform the service in two or more visits since the water must be shocked several days before closing. For an experienced homeowner, closing is a full day's work.

Additional Pool Maintenance Costs

Many pool maintenance tasks, like skimming the water or checking the pH, need to be accomplished monthly or even weekly. However, there are a few tasks that, while needed less often, should still factor into your pool maintenance budget. These include:

• Pump and heater maintenance

• Draining and cleaning

• Acid wash

• Chlorine shock or wash

Cost to Own a Pool Per Year

Repairs, electricity, and water can be $1,800 to $3,200 per year, not including normal maintenance. Including maintenance, homeowners should expect to spend between $3,000 and $5,000 per year to maintain their pool.

How Much Does It Cost per Month in Electricity?

Homeowners pay as much as $300 per year in electricity to operate their pump. Exact pricing depends on the type you have. Newer structures have variable-speed pumps that operate at reduced horsepower (hp) to lessen energy consumption and operating costs. Older ones may still have single-speed pumps that run intermittently at a high horsepower, which uses more energy and costs more to operate.

How Much Does It Increase Your Water Bill?

Expect to pay between $60 and $120 to fill a standard, 15,000- to 30,000-gallon structure with city water. After the initial fill, homeowners pay an average rate of $0.004 per gallon when they must add water during opening or due to evaporation. This price does not include up to $100 in overuse fees charged in drought-prone areas like California.

DIY vs. Hiring a Cleaning Service

If you opt to maintain your pool yourself, you’ll spend about $50 for a pool vacuum and hose and about $60 for a fall maintenance kit. Monthly chemical maintenance kits cost between $20 and $100 per month.

Homeowners who clean on their own can save as much as $1,000 per year in maintenance fees. This is enough of a savings to offset the initial investment in cleaning and maintenance equipment. However, a service will likely use higher-end equipment and possess more expertise. It’s always best to hire a local pool maintenance pro.

DIY Pool Maintenance Costs

The majority of maintenance projects can be DIY. All it takes is the right materials and the ability to follow simple written directions.

How to Maintain Your Pool

Proper pool maintenance is relatively easy when you keep a regular schedule. Some regular maintenance tasks include:

• Skimming: Skim the surface of your pool at least once every few days, and clean out strainer baskets once a week.

• Vacuuming: Regularly vacuum your pool with either an automatic or manual vacuum to catch fine debris.

• Brushing: Brush the walls of your pool once a week before vacuuming to loosen particles for the vacuum to pick up.

• Cleaning filters: Different types of filters have their own unique cleaning requirements.

• Pool heater maintenance: When calcium and other minerals build up in the heater's tubes, it may require maintenance.

• Water level check: Check the water level every time you skim the surface and clean the baskets, and do not allow it to fall below the skimmer basket intake tubes.

• Maintaining pH: Check the water regularly with a home testing kit and follow instructions carefully when adding chemicals to neutralize the water.

• Shocking the pool: Add more chlorine to “shock” the pool and reduce odors every few weeks.

• Leak detection: Keep track of your pool’s water level, and call a professional if you suspect a leak.

• Winterizing: If you live in a cool climate, you’ll have to winterize your pool to protect it from the cold.

• Reopening: In the spring or summer, you’ll need to reopen your pool and make sure it’s ready for swimming.

Benefits of Hiring a Pool Cleaning Service

While hiring a pool cleaning service is generally more expensive, there are some benefits. These include saving time, saving money in the long-term on repairs and remodeling, and reducing dangers due to improper chemical management and equipment malfunction.

FAQs

How often should I clean my pool?

Different pool maintenance tasks should be accomplished with different frequencies. You should have your pool skimmed every few days, and check and balance the chemicals at least once a month.

What should I do if I use too much chlorine in my pool?

There are a few ways that you can lower the chlorine level in your pool if you’ve added too much, including exposing the water to sunlight, heating the water, diluting the pool water, or using a chlorine neutralizing product.

How can I save on pool maintenance?

One of the easiest ways to save on pool maintenance is to start completing some regular pool maintenance tasks yourself. While more serious repairs should be left to the professionals, routine tasks like skimming your pool to remove debris or checking the pH are tasks that can be accomplished on your own.