Pool Maintenance

How Much Pool Maintenance Costs

September 8, 2023

Having a swimming pool makes for a lot of fun, but along with the fun comes swimming pool maintenance. Enjoying your pool for years means taking care of it for years too. If you are looking into installing a pool on your property, the cost of maintaining your pool is something you need to figure into your decision. Let’s dig into the ins and outs of what you should consider for your pool maintenance cost before making your decision.

We will cover:

  • Average pool maintenance costs
  • Factors affecting your pool maintenance cost
  • The most expensive part of maintaining your pool
  • Factors in Minnesota pool maintenance cost
  • Hiring a pool care professional 

Average Pool Maintenance Costs

When figuring out the cost of having a pool, the first thing you may ask is: what is the average pool maintenance cost? This is easy enough to answer. On average the cost for professional pool maintenance is between $1000 and $2000 annually. Knowing what goes into calculating that average pool maintenance cost though is also important.

How much pool maintenance costs overall depends on several factors. Some of the factors that affect cost include:

  • Maintenance frequency
  • Pool size and shape
  • Pool type
  • Your location 

Pool Maintenance Frequency 

Maintaining your pool requires a few different things, some of which you may not have thought about until you start looking into it. The frequency of doing maintenance as well as how long maintenance takes both play into your overall pool maintenance cost. The tools and chemicals used for maintenance figure in too.

Maintaining your pool involves:

  • Keeping it free of debris through both a filter and manual skimming
  • Balancing the water’s pH
  • Treating it with chlorine or other pool chemicals
  • Keeping the walls and floors clean
  • Making necessary repairs

The average monthly cost of maintaining your pool by doing these things is between $90 to $150, depending on your pool size, shape and type. 

Pool Maintenance Cost by Pool Size and Shape

When it comes to pool maintenance cost, size matters. The size of your swimming pool is a big factor in maintaining it. This comes down to the fact that the materials used to maintain it and the time it takes to do so factor into the cost. The bigger the pool, the bigger the cost. The average pool is about 500 square feet. A pool that is smaller than 500 square feet may be on the lower end of the average pool maintenance cost range. It then goes without saying that a bigger pool will be on the higher end of that range and can easily exceed it.

Size is not the only thing that matters though. The shape of your pool matters too. A more straightforward rectangular shape usually takes less time than a more irregular, serpentine or custom-shape design. 

Type of Pool Affects Maintenance

The type of pool you have is another factor that affects the price of your pool maintenance. Talking about the type of pool though can mean a few different things, including how it is constructed, the materials used to construct it, and how the water that fills it keeps clean. 

Pool Construction

There are two basic types of pool construction: in-ground and above-ground. 

In-ground Pools

In-ground pools are set in the ground and generally are flush with your landscape. They are built with a different mix of materials, but come in basically four different types. These include:

  • Concrete with plastic or aggregate finishes
  • Concrete with stone or tile finishes
  • Fiberglass
  • Vinyl

Each of these types of in-ground pools have different maintenance needs that require different materials and frequency. All of which affect how much your pool maintenance costs. 

Concrete with Plastic or Aggregate Finishes

This type of pool has higher maintenance costs overall but is also more durable than other pools. They become stronger over time instead of deteriorating, which is a part of maintenance too as they may require less costly repairs over your pool’s lifespan. 

Concrete Pools with Stone or Tile Finishes

These types of pools are highly decorative, but it is difficult to repair or replace the tiles. Also, the chemicals used in the pool need to be precisely balanced to prevent such costly repairs. This may add to the overall maintenance of this type of pool. 

Fiberglass Pools

This pool material has the lowest maintenance costs and is not prone to algae growth, which helps with lowering pool maintenance costs too. The fiberglass however does tend to deteriorate over time, adding to maintenance costs over time when it comes to repairs. 

Vinyl Pools

Vinyl deteriorates the fastest out of any pool construction material and is harder to maintain over time. The pool chemicals need to be precisely balanced to extend the life of the vinyl. The vinyl liner replacement costs are also high. All of this adds up to less expensive upfront costs, but larger maintenance costs over time. 

Above-ground Pools

As the name suggests, above-ground pools are installed above the ground. They are constructed of either steel or aluminum. The type of maintenance of above-ground pools is usually about the same as in-ground pools with the added cost of maintaining the deck or platform that surrounds the pool. All of which needs to be calculated into your monthly maintenance. 

How You Clean the Water Affects Maintenance

How the water that fills your pool is cleaned and kept sanitary also factors into your pool maintenance cost. There are three basic types of pool water:

  • Chlorine
  • Saltwater
  • Natural 

Chlorine Pools

The pool water of a chlorine pool relies on the chemical sanitizer chlorine to keep it clean. Chlorine comes in tablet, powder, or liquid form. The chemical needs to be prepped and then periodically added to your swimming pool. Other chemicals, like conditioners, may also need to be added from time to time. The average cost of the chemicals can run between $700 to $800 a year. 

Saltwater Pools

This type of pool water uses a generator that turns salt into chlorine to keep the water clean. Maintenance costs do not include the purchase of chlorine tablets like with chlorine pools, but it does include purchasing salt, a generator, running the generator, and repairing or replacing it when necessary. 

Natural Pools

This type of pool water is used to mimic natural water sources and does not use pool chemicals to keep clean. The water is run through a filter system and kept moving to remain sanitary. This can be a more complicated process to initially set up but over time it usually has lower maintenance costs than a chemically treated pool. Installing the filter system is an initial cost as well as running it and keeping it in good working order. 

Where You Live Affects Maintenance Costs

Where you live is also a factor when calculating the cost of maintaining your pool. With outdoor pools, heavy storms or high humidity can make conditions that require more work to maintain your pool. Storms can cause damage or bring in excess debris. Damage needs to be repaired and debris needs to be removed or it can wreak havoc with your filter. Humid conditions can also cause algae build up, which requires more frequent cleaning and monitoring of your pool’s pH balance. If you live in an area with more frequent storms or humidity, your pool maintenance costs may be higher.

In addition, not all climates are suitable for an outdoor pool to be used year-round. In Minnesota, for example, where temperatures prevent year-round use, your pool maintenance will include a few extras when your pool is not in use. 

Swimming Pool Maintenance Costs in Minnesota

The cost of pool maintenance in Minnesota includes opening your pool for use during the warmer summer months and safely closing it during the cold winter months. These opening and closing costs depend on your pool type, and the maintenance features you have installed. This may include the filter, cover, heater, or pump.

Properly opening and closing your pool is important to safeguard its longevity. Hiring a professional pool maintenance technician to help with this vital maintenance job is often well worth the cost. A professional in Minnesota can cover routine pool maintenance during the summer months, but can also cover some related pool services like opening and closing your pool too. Properly closing your pool when summer ends can ensure that it will be ready to be opened again after the winter is over. 

pool maintenance

Related Pool Maintenance Costs

Pool Cover

Maintaining your pool also means covering it when it is not in use to prevent debris from collecting in your pool. The pool cover also serves to keep animals out of your pool. There are a wide variety of pool covers that come in a wide range of prices. These include:

  • Automatic
  • Manual
  • Solid or Mesh Safety
  • Solar
  • Winter
  • Sliding Deck 

Acid Wash

From time to time, your pool may need to have a deep clean to remove any grime, build up, or staining. This will prevent your pool from looking dingy and dirty. This deep cleaning process often includes an acid wash. This deep cleaning is done with chemicals, most commonly hydrochloric or muriatic acid. This acid is combined with water, sprayed onto your pool’s surface and then scrubbed. This process is best done by a professional pool cleaner for the best and safest results.

Pool Repair

In addition to routine maintenance, your pool will most likely require repairs over its lifespan. These may include repairs to your pool equipment, plumbing, construction materials such as plaster, tiles, or lining, or repairs to your pool decking or water features, if you have them. These types of repairs require a professional pool technician to ensure your pool is in optimal condition. 

The Most Expensive Part of Swimming Pool Maintenance

We have covered a lot about what goes into your pool maintenance cost, but we have not covered the most expensive part of this cost, which is your pool equipment. This includes both buying the equipment and running it. Equipment includes:

  • Heaters
  • Filters
  • Pumps
  • Salt cells
  • Automation systems

This equipment costs money to run. Keeping your swimming pool circulating with a pool pump keeps your pool clean and safe, but operating it is expensive. Next to your HVAC system, it can be the second most expensive thing you run in your household. The heater and filters cost money to run as well. Figuring these costs into your pool maintenance plan is important not to overlook. 

When to Hire a Pool Care Professional

When it comes to maintaining a pool, hiring a professional can help you keep your pool in its best condition, so you are free to enjoy it. The cost of a professional can also be outweighed by preventing conditions that can cause costly repairs. Professionals can often spot potential problems and take care of them before they cause damage. 

Professional pool maintenance fees depend on many of the same factors that go into pool maintenance costs like size and shape of your pool and what type it is, as well as where you live. So, how much does weekly pool maintenance cost when you hire a pool care professional? This average weekly upkeep cost is usually somewhere between$20 to $50. It usually includes standard cleaning, chemical level check, water balance and any necessary treatments. 

Pool Maintenance Cost: The Last Word

If you own a swimming pool, there is no way around the cost of maintaining it. Understanding the factors that go into calculating your pool maintenance costs however goes a long way in ensuring that your pool is more fun than headache. Fun after all is the point of owning a swimming pool in the first place.