After you’ve made the investment in building a pool, your next question is probably, “How much does it cost to operate an inground swimming pool?” There are some occasional and ongoing costs when it comes to caring for and maintaining your pool, so here’s what you need to know to budget accordingly.
Cost Replace a Vinyl Liner
If you choose to install a vinyl liner for your inground swimming pool, you will eventually need to replace it. As of 2022, it costs on average about $6,000 – $12,000 to replace your vinyl liner.
However, you typically won’t need to replace your liner until 10 to 15 years after installation. If you use a high-quality pool liner and have it installed by a reliable pool builder like Goodall Pools, it’ll hold up longer. And you can make your liner last as long as possible with proper care and maintenance.
Annual Expense of Heating an Inground Swimming Pool
Would you like to enjoy your inground swimming pool for more than just a few months of summer? Opt for a pool heater! It will double or even triple your swim season. But how much does it cost to heat a pool?
On average, it can cost $1,000 up to over $4,000 annually to heat your pool. However, this depends on a few different factors, such as:
- How long you leave it running and how often you use it. Do you want to swim from Spring Break to Halloween? Or from St. Paddy’s Day to Christmas? No surprise that the more months you heat your pool, the higher the cost.
- How high you set the temperature. The higher the temperature is, the more money it costs to operate.
- What type of heater you’re using. Costs for using a gas pool heater versus a heat pump vary, as well. We’ll be glad to go over your options and discuss this more in depth with you!
Pool Chemicals Cost
While this cost is significantly smaller than replacing a vinyl liner or heating a pool, it is an ongoing monthly expense you’ll expect to pay as a pool owner. The typical cost of pool chemicals can range anywhere from $50 up to $200 in a month, depending on the time of year and how heavily your pool is used by groups of people.
This cost can be reduced in a number of ways, like:
- Installing an Automatic Pool Cover to keep your pool covered when not in use. This prevents debris from falling into your pool, which makes your chemicals work overtime to clean the water. A pool cover also protects the water from sunlight, which can break down chlorine faster and cause evaporation.
- Using test strips or test kits often during swim season. A test strip or test kit may sound like an extra expense, but it can actually help you manage your pool chemical costs. Test strips and kits help determine which chemicals you need, so it takes the guesswork out of balancing your water chemistry and wasting money from buying the wrong or unnecessary chemicals.
Have any more questions about the cost to operate an inground swimming pool? Or curious about our pool maintenance services? Reach out to us at Goodall Pools & Spas! We’d be happy to assist you in any way.
