How Much Are Swimming Pool Maintenance Costs?

Many homeowners will invest in an inground swimming pool this year, thinking a one-time cost could pay off in the future as it will provide plenty of hours of fun. Unfortunately, many don’t consider the ongoing maintenance costs. Over the years, I’ve discovered that swimming pool maintenance costs can soar. The costs can range as low as $1,000 annually, but sometimes exceed $5,000 in extreme cases when more extensive repairs are needed.

In this article, I will review the following:

• The most common maintenance costs incurred by a standard-size swimming pool
• The price of materials and pool equipment
• Taking a DIY approach vs. paying for pools services

Let’s get started with the total average annual cost. Also, if you’re building a new swimming pool, make sure to check out my inground pool cost analysis as well.

Main Takeaways

• On average, pool owners spend around $1,000 per year on swimming pool maintenance.
• Maintaining saltwater pools is cheaper than maintaining traditional chlorine pools, although saltwater pools have a higher initial cost.
• Maintaining your pool is the cheaper option, but hiring a pool maintenance company is a lot more convenient.
• You can break down swimming pool maintenance into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

The Average Annual Cost of Pool Maintenance

The average spent on swimming pool maintenance is about $1,000 a year. Much of the money goes towards appliances like filters.

However, I’ve observed that this doesn’t consider buying new parts, such as pool vacuums or pumps, which could quickly increase the price to over $2,500 annually.

Average Cost of Pool Maintenance by Category

A homeowner can determine basic maintenance costs by first pricing the pool chemicals and equipment to understand the base cost minus the labor.

Equipment Costs

• Skimmer and skimmer basket (From $30-200, depending on the kit you buy)
• Telescopic pole and net (Less than $10 for cheapest models)
• Vacuum for smaller debris (From $100-500, depending on simple vacuums versus automated)
• Filters (Replacement filter cartridges are $15 to $100 depending on size, and for sand filters, replacement sand is less than $20 per bag; DE is more expensive)
• Cover (Upwards of $500, protects against debris, should extend two feet beyond the top)
• Pool brush to clean the surfaces ($15 to $45)

Cost of Chemicals

• Chlorine ($75 for 25 pounds of tablets, or $5-10 by the gallon)
• Muriatic acid (Alters pH, less than $10 per gallon)
• Soda ash for acid reduction (Less than $10 per container)
• Testing kit for chlorine, bromine, alkalinity, and acidity (Less than $20 for the kit, or about $10 for replacement solvents)
• Algaecide (Around $20-$50 per gallon of algaecide depending on the brand)
• Pool shock ($25-$50 for a pool shock)
• Stabilizer ($20 for a 5-pound bag)
• Pool clarifier ($30 for 1 quart)

Electricity Costs

Utilities for a swimming pool vary from city to city because of very different seasonal temperatures. Generally, expect to pay $1,460 per year for a water temperature of approximately 80° degrees. Price is also affected by whether you set up a gas/electric line for the heater or use a heat pump. You can figure out the details for your specific setup with my heater sizing guide.

Look for variable speed pool pumps to control consumption costs to keep prices down.

Impact On Your Water Bill

A pool in your backyard will increase your water bill as well. When you initially fill up a pool, it will cost around $100 to fill a standard pool of approximately 25,000 gallons (or more if you live in a state with water scarcity). Once you have filled it up, you will have little reason to use more water unless you have a leak. If you live in a hotter and drier climate, you may experience more evaporation than in other states. Expect to pay an extra $10+ a month to top up your pool water with normal evaporation.

Equipment Maintenance Costs

Pool equipment can be expensive, so ensure you look after the equipment after purchasing and installing. Maintaining your pool equipment can make a huge difference in your overall pool maintenance costs as you will spend less money repairing or replacing the equipment.

You should be maintaining your filter on a monthly basis or when the pressure reads 10 psi above the normal range. Backwashing and clearing water lines is a must, but in some cases, you may need to deep clean the cartridge or DE filter grids by soaking them in muriatic acid. Reassembling filtering systems, retesting, and refilling can cost upwards of $250.

In the winter, you must store all of your pool equipment properly. So, if you don’t already have a shed, you may need to shell out between $80 to $200 for a proper weatherproof storage box.

Finally, extras like diving boards can cost hundreds of dollars, up to $1,000, depending on function, as can LED lights when priced by the bulb.

Equipment Repairs

The repair of major appliances will incur much of the cost of repairs, costing between $100 to $1,200, depending on the pool part and the city of residence.

The most common repair issues include:

• Major rips or cracks in the liner or cement – Up to $2,500
• Smaller liner rips – Less than $250
• Brand new liner – Up to $4,000
• Problems with the filter pump – $50 to $1,000, depending on whether repairing or replacing the motor
• Water heater – Less than $500 to repair or over $3,000 to replace
• Pool filters, replacements for the cartridge, sand, or diatomaceous earth variety, expect to pay $300 to $1,700 depending on the filter
• Plumbing obstructions – As little as $100 or well over $7,000
• Pool cover replacement – As low as $100 or up to $6,000
• Pool heater or heating tubes – Up to $300 for leaks, clogs, rust, or overheating issues

Pool Opening and Closing Costs

Most people do not use their pools year-round. As the colder months come around, you will also need to consider the costs of closing the pool for the winter. To close the pool properly, you must ensure the water is chemically balanced, cleaned, and partially drained. Once that’s done, you will also need to cover the pool.

Besides the usual chemicals, you will need to purchase the following items to close your pool correctly:

• Air pillow – $10-$20 per pillow
• Winter pool cover – $50 to $200+
• Winterizing chemical kit – $30-$50
• Antifreeze – $10-$20

Winterizing costs not only involve installing a cover, but also shocking the water, lowering the water levels, cleaning the area, backwashing the filter, clearing water lines, and opening or closing the cover.

Read my research on pool opening costs for more information on the average costs for those tasks.

Additional Maintenance Costs for Saltwater Pools

The type of pool you have can significantly affect maintenance costs. A big reason why chlorine pools are generally more popular than saltwater pools is that the latter has a much higher upfront cost. Namely, to get a saltwater pool, you need to purchase a saltwater generator. Expect to pay around $2,000 for the generator itself.

However, once you purchase the saltwater generator, saltwater pools are cheaper to run than traditional chlorine pools. This is because salt is much cheaper than chlorine. Salt can cost around $15 per 40-pound bag of pure pool-grade salt. And once you put the initial salt in your pool, you will not need to replenish it often, as salt does not dissipate.

Although not necessary, an additional expense you should consider for your saltwater pool is zinc anode. A zinc anode can help protect the metals in your pool from corroding. Expect to pay around $20 to $80, depending on the model.

If you’re thinking about a saltwater pool, read my saltwater pool maintenance guide and my comparison of saltwater and chlorine pools for more information.

Additional Costs for Indoor Pools

It is generally cheaper to maintain an indoor pool than an outdoor pool. Indoor pools are not exposed to elements that cause the chemical balance to alter. However, you will need to purchase a dehumidifying system to help maintain your indoor pool. Expect to pay $1,000 for a budget option and upwards of $20,000 for an industrial-grade dehumidifier.

Since indoor pools are open year-round, you should also expect to pay a higher yearly electricity bill.

Should You Hire a Pool Cleaning and Maintenance Service or Try DIY?

Maintaining and looking after your swimming pool by yourself is the cheaper and more budget-friendly option, but a more convenient route would be to hire a pool maintenance company. While paying a pool cleaning service will not save you from the expenses of repair or replacement parts themselves, the professionals can perform any maintenance and cleaning services for a monthly fee. Average pool cleaning service prices are roughly $100-$200 per month.

You can save approximately 150% by opting to maintain the swimming pool yourself. However, I’ve learned firsthand that when it comes to highly technical issues, the best option is to work with a specialist pool service company in your area that can quickly identify the issue. I’ve seen too many horror stories of pool owners trying to fix complex issues themselves and only creating more damage.

Final Tips: How to Maintain Your Pool

You can break down swimming pool maintenance tasks into three phases: daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance.

Daily maintenance involves skimming the debris (mainly outdoor pools, where twigs and leaves fall inside). This improves circulation, reduces the need for extra cleaning chemicals, and maintains the proper pool water levels.

Evaporation gets rid of water every day. If you also have a small leak, you must constantly refill that loss. Generally, you want to refill one inch (or 25mm) per hour. Buying a pool cover can help with both issues.

Weekly maintenance involves vacuuming the pool floor for small debris, backwashing the filter, brushing the walls and floors to get rid of algae, and maintaining the proper chemical balance.

The pH level of a pool should range between 7.2 – 7.6 for chlorine to work. I’ve found that maintaining these levels and frequently testing your water chemistry will help prevent bacterial infections from algae buildup. Muriatic acid can help with this issue.

The pool’s filtering system runs 24 hours a day to prevent algae development. In addition to shocking with chlorine (chlorine levels should be between 1-3ppm), maintenance also involves testing for calcium hardness, total alkalinity, and bromine levels (3-5ppm), oxidizer, and stabilizer.

Monthly maintenance involves cleaning various pool parts, lubricating fillings, searching for leaks or cracks, chemically cleaning the filter, and testing water quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type of Pool is the Cheapest to Maintain?

The cost of maintaining your pool will vary depending on what kind of pool you have.

Concrete: This is the most expensive type of pool to maintain. This is in part because concrete is the most susceptible to algae infestations. In turn, forcing pool owners to run the pump more often and use more chemicals to keep the pool clean. Concrete pools also require acid washing every few years, costing up to $500!

Vinyl:  Vinyl liners may not require as much constant maintenance as concrete pools, but the weak liners do not last very long and will need to be replaced every 4-8 years, costing up to $5,000!

Fiberglass: Fiberglass pools are the easiest on your checkbook in the long run. Although they come with a higher initial price tag, they require up to 70% fewer chemicals than other pool types and can last over 20 years if well-kept.

What is the Average Cost of Hiring a Pool Maintenance Company?

The cost of hiring a pool maintenance company to clean and service your pool will vary depending on your region and what services you want. On the low end, you can expect to pay $70 for a basic pool cleaning, but for a more extensive cleaning and treatment service, you may spend upwards of $300.

Is it Cheaper to Maintain an Above Ground Pool?

It is generally easier and cheaper to maintain an above ground pool because of its smaller size. Equipment for above ground pools typically costs less, and the pumps are smaller and more energy efficient. However, it is worth noting that these smaller pumps are also less effective, so they may result in the pool becoming dirty and algae infested.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to build a swimming pool soon or already have one, you know the importance of staying on budget. Not anticipating maintenance costs and repairs can cause you to go over your projected costs.

By planning, you can take care of your new pool and swim worry-free for years! Questions? Leave me a note!