Having a pool can make your home the center of summertime activities. Eventually, though, you may decide that your priorities have changed. While a pool may be fun for a short time in your life, the amount of money, time, and maintenance required to keep the pool safe and clean can easily become too much to continue. Whether you are certain you are ready to remove your pool or still considering your options, here are a few of the benefits of a swimming pool removal in the summer to consider.
Continued Maintenance
Pool maintenance doesn’t end when the season is over and the pool is closed. During the fall, you’ll need to continue adding chemicals to the pool to prevent algae growth and other issues. It’s also important to continue cleaning the water and trimming nearby trees to ensure that debris doesn’t clog the equipment. Spending so much time checking the water circulation, cleaning the water, and maintaining the proper chemical balance can take up more time and money than you may be willing to contribute. While hiring a professional is an option, this likely could cost even more.
In addition to regular maintenance, you’ll also need to close the pool properly once the weather turns colder to prevent liner breakage, equipment malfunctions, and frozen pipes. Plumbing and equipment damage can be common during cold weather, leading to equipment malfunctions that can quickly lead to murky water. Moreover, while keeping pool pumps running during the off season is recommended to keep the equipment from freezing, small amounts of water can find their way into the pump and freeze, causing cracks and other damage. Changes in water temperatures can also cause pool liners to tear, crack, or break, causing the water to drain out and flood your yard. By removing your pool before the summer is over, you’ll be able to spend more time enjoying vacation and less worrying about what to do with your pool in the fall.
Extra Expenses
Owning a pool means that you’ll constantly be paying for chemicals, cleaning and maintenance equipment, and safety gear, even when the pool is not in use. Regular repairs and equipment replacement, chemicals, electricity and water costs, and professional cleaning, among other maintenance tasks, can cost up to $5,000 per year. The less frequently you use the pool, the more those expenses can seem like a burden too heavy to continue tolerating. A pool removal typically costs about the same amount as one to three years of pool maintenance costs, depending on the type of removal selected, and you can begin seeing savings almost immediately after choosing to undergo a removal.
Depending on your area, removing your pool may help you sell your home more quickly. New buyers may enjoy the idea of a pool, but when faced with the realities of the extra maintenance required, they may instead prefer a larger yard (or a backyard gazebo) instead. They’ll have lower insurance costs and be able to spend less money on their backyards, making your home a more attractive choice for many home buyers who would prefer to focus more on their homes and less on any extra, potentially unnecessary, features.
Pool Liabilities
In addition to the financial expense of pool ownership, you may be faced with several liabilities and other worries. Small children and pets can often fall into pools and face serious injury or even death without proper supervision. Homeowners therefore need to secure their pools with fencing and other precautionary measures in addition to supervising their pool at all times. Because pools are considered “attractive nuisances” in the insurance industry, homeowners are responsible for anyone who enters the pool, whether they are an invited guest or not, and any injuries they may sustain. Homeowners insurance policies are typically $50 higher per year to account for these liabilities.
Space Concerns
In addition to the money and stress spent on your pool, there are several other reasons to consider removing your pool during the summer. Many homeowners choose to remove their pools if the pool is taking up too much space. Underused pools take up a large amount of the backyard, making it difficult to host events or use the backyard for other purposes. Instead of a pool, you may prefer to have a patio, outdoor kitchen, garden, or shed, allowing you to enjoy your yard on your own terms. Your family may enjoy having the extra space, and you’ll likely appreciate not having to worry about any pool-related injuries or other concerns.
Your Swimming Pool Removal
There are two types of pool removals that you can consider. A partial pool removal is a cheaper, faster option. Homeowners who choose this option can use the resulting space to create a patio, gazebo, garden, or other small, outdoor installation. A full pool removal, however, while more expensive, allows homeowners to place a dwelling area over the former pool area, as it creates a more stable foundation for new construction. The type of removal you select will depend on your budget, timeline, and goals for your new backyard.
Speak to Dirt Connections for more information about removing your pool or to schedule a consultation. Dirt Connections offers full and partial pool removals and offers free consultations to help you choose the right process for your needs and ensure that you will be happy with your new backyard. The company has years of experience in helping homeowners achieve their ideal backyards and prides itself on completing projects in a timely, clean, and professional manner. Dirt Connections can also provide various residential and commercial construction services, including free fill dirt delivery, in addition to its pool removal services.
