Owning a pool can seem great at first, but often begins to feel like more of a burden than a benefit. The inground pool cost can quickly add up, leading some to wonder whether it is a benefit to have at all, especially if the pool is unused. Fortunately, for those who find it too costly to maintain, pool removal is a possibility. Here is a breakdown of indoor pool costs, and the benefits of pool removal.
The Cost of Owning a Pool
On average, owning a swimming pool costs between $4,000 and $12,000 per year. That includes hidden costs like electricity usage, water bills, and insurance costs that many people do not realize come with an inground pool. Insurance alone will cost you an additional $25 per month on average. Your property taxes may increase by as much as 10%, too.
Electricity
Swimming pools cost, on average, $65 to $100 per month in electricity usage. That adds up to $800 to $1,200 dollars per year in electricity bills, just for the pool. During pool season (i.e. summer) up to fifty percent of your power bill could be from your pool alone.
These figures are just for the regular pool equipment that all inground pools have, such as filters and pumps. If you have a heated pool, expect that amount to be even higher.
Water Bill
Pools can raise your water expenses by $4 to $20 per month, or $45 to $245 per year. While it is not nearly as much as the electric bill, over time, that adds up. Pools lose about a quarter inch of water per day, or two inches per week, due to evaporation.
The Cost of Maintaining a Pool
Maintaining a pool involves things like skimming to remove leaves and debris, vacuuming to clean the walls and floor, brushing the walls and floor to prevent and remove algae buildup, cleaning filters, adding water, maintaining pH, and more. It takes a lot of time, so most people pay for services that do this for them.
Pool maintenance can cost between $80 and $150 per month, depending on the size of the pool and where you live. That adds up to as much as $1,800 per year in maintenance costs.
Common Pool Repair Costs
There is a lot that can go wrong in a pool, and repair costs are often high. These are the most common pool repair costs:
Pump Motor
Repairing a pump motor costs between $50 and $300, and replacing it costs up to $800. The variation in cost has to do with the different types of motors available and different rates for handymen and electricians who can install them.
Pool Filters
- Cartridge filters cost between $30 and $90 to replace.
- Sand filters cost between $475 and $720 to repair or replace. The cost depends on how much sand is needed to replace the old sand.
- Diatomaceous Earth filters cost between $700 and $1,020 to replace.
Leaks
Vinyl pool liners with leaks can cost $2,500 or more to repair. For concrete liners, the price depends entirely on how large the crack is, but costs will include draining and then refilling your pool.
Pool Liner Replacement
A new pool liner for an inground pool costs between $1,400 to $4,800 on average.
The Cost of Opening and Closing a Pool
Unless you live somewhere with great pool weather year-round, you will need to close your pool during the winter months and open it again in the spring. This process is more involved than you might think, and most people rely on pool cleaning services to handle it.
Closing
Closing a pool requires lowering the pH to around 7.2, lowering the water level to eighteen inches, and brushing all around to clear out any algae. Then, all dirt and debris must be removed and the whole pool is vacuumed thoroughly. Then, the pool will be covered. If you live somewhere where the temperature drops below freezing, you will need to blow antifreeze into all of the pool equipment.
This costs between $350 and $650, depending on the size of the pool and how much it has to be winterized.
Opening
To open the pool back again, the water level has to be brought back up, the pH raised, all plugs, lights and ladders reinstalled , and the water shocked with chemical treatment. The pool will also need to be vacuumed and all pumps turned back on. This will cost between $385 to $485.
Benefits of a Pool Removal
If you have just purchased a house with a pool and are unsure if you want to keep it, or if you are tired of paying to maintain a pool, you may be considering a pool removal. Pool removals are an excellent way to get rid of a costly inground pool.
Removing a pool may seem expensive at first, but it will pay for itself quickly when your water and electric bills go down and you no longer have to pay for pool maintenance. The cost of the pool removal is insignificant compared to the money you will save over time.
You will also have much more space in your backyard for other activities. With the new space, you could build a deck, create an outdoor kitchen or a fire pit or simply enjoy a lush, green lawn. All of these are great choices, and all are cheaper and easier to maintain than a pool. Many people find that as their children grow older, they have less need for a pool and more need for different types of outdoor entertainment.
Removing an inground pool will also improve the value of your home. Houses with pools are not as popular as they once were, and they tend to sell for less. Keeping your pool is likely driving your home’s value down, while removing it will have the opposite effect.
If you are considering having a pool removed and would like to know more about pool removals, contact Dirt Connections today. Our staff are experienced and expert pool removers, and we can help you understand the process and benefits of pool removal.
