Pool maintenance is a critical component of your backyard swimming experience. So as you’re daydreaming about pool parties and training for the 100-meter freestyle, set aside some time to evaluate your pool’s maintenance needs and how it compares to your budget.
At Goodall Pools & Spas, we have been helping swimming pool owners across Central Pennsylvania build and manage their dream pools for over 60 years. We know how important your pool is to you. And we know how well excellent products, superior service, and well-researched educational resources help you use that pool to its full potential.
What follows are key tips and links to help you crunch the numbers on your pool maintenance budget. Put them into practice, along with the products and services we offer at Goodall Pools, and you’ll enjoy the best return on your pool investment.
Why is Pool Maintenance so Important?
Budgeting for a regular, thorough pool maintenance regimen ensures that your pool remains a healthy, beautiful, long-lasting environment. Without properly treating every element of the pool, from its construction features to the water itself, you inevitably run into situations that are more costly and dangerous to both your pool and its users.
Chemicals, for instance, come up frequently on pool owners’ shopping lists. And the amount spent on them is affected by a number of variables (more on that later). This being the case, it can be tempting to pull back on the quality and/or quantity of the chemicals you buy in an effort to save a few dollars. However, cutting corners in the chemical department often triggers a chain reaction where organic contaminants are more able to thrive in the pool. Ultimately, your guests face more health risks, and the pool’s structure and operating systems deteriorate.
This shows how your short-term maintenance actions pose long-term consequences for both your pool and your bank account. Take the necessary steps to do your pool maintenance well. This way, you’ll keep the environment healthy without needing significant repairs and replacements prematurely.
What Are the Ongoing Costs of Pool Maintenance?
When it comes to pool maintenance, you should prepare for ongoing costs in the following categories:
- Structural Components
- Pool Supplies
- Chemicals
Let’s take a closer look at how each of these contribute to an inground pool’s longevity and functionality.
Structural Components
In our blog, How Much Does It Cost to Operate an Inground Swimming Pool? we delved into the most predictable maintenance expenses for an inground swimming pool. Here, we focus on two of them that pertain to the pool’s physical structure: the vinyl liner and the heating system.
In addition to enhancing your pool’s overall look, the pool liner protects your pool’s interior from leaks, erosion, and contamination. With proper care and maintenance, a vinyl pool liner lasts an average of 10 to 15 years once installed.
As of summer 2022, a vinyl liner replacement from Goodall Pools costs between $7,000 and $12,000. For a few thousand dollars more, you can add on certain items like a new pool pump, coping for your pool deck, a saltwater system, etc.
Your pool’s heating system is another heavy-hitting maintenance element in your pool’s operation. The frequency and extent of its use are reflected in your monthly electricity bill. On average, pool owners in 2022 should anticipate pool heating costs between $1,000 to $4,000. The actual cost depends on the heater type, the length of time it’s used, and the temperature it’s set to.
However, there are ways to make your pool’s heating system more energy efficient. At Goodall Pools, we sell a wide variety of energy-efficient equipment, including heat pumps, that can extend your pool season while keeping your electricity bill in check.
Pool Supplies
When we say, “pool supplies,” we mean the small tools that make a big difference in your day-to-day pool maintenance. These are especially important if you plan to do your pool maintenance yourself. We even have a guide that provides solid suggestions to the specific items you want in stock from each of the following pool supply categories:
- Safety (e.g., rescue hook, a life ring, first aid kit)
- Cleanliness (e.g., skimmer, brush, vacuum)
- Water Sanitation (e.g., chemicals, test strips)
- Fun (e.g., toys, floats, games)
Pool owners doing their own pool maintenance can expect to pay, on average, $500 to $1,500 in 2022 on supplies. The cost rises when you hire a professional pool service to handle the maintenance. In this case, you pay more upfront, but you recoup that expense through the time you earn back to pursue other things besides pool maintenance.
Chemicals
The composition and application of pool chemicals can vary so widely that it’s helpful to look at them as their own maintenance expense category. Depending on the time of year and how heavily your pool is used, you can anticipate spending an average of $50 to $200 a month just on pool chemicals in 2022.
A number of factors affect the amount you pay for chemicals. One of the most influential factors is the supply chain. Since the pandemic, swimming pool use and backyard recreation, in general, saw huge spikes due to the number of people wanting to make the most out of quarantine. Consequently, demand for chemicals shot up, supply went down, and prices rose accordingly.
As supply normalizes and prices continue to evolve, it’s important that pool owners know what to look for in their pool chemicals both before and after they make a purchase. Here’s one pro tip: Be wary of “value-sized” containers. They’re often simply a knockoff of a better product that’s been diluted for volume purposes. For more ideas on how to enhance the longevity of your pool chemicals at home, visit our blog 6 Tips for Safely Handling Pool Chemicals.
Your Pool Maintenance for 2022
How well prepared are you to maintain your pool in 2022? Contact us, at Goodall Pools & Spas. We will help you establish a maintenance regimen that is both effective and economical. Then, visit one of our five locations to stock up on BioGuard® pool chemicals and cleaning supplies. You’ll quickly see how your pool maintenance doesn’t have to take over your bank account!
