Factors That Contribute to Pool Cleaning Costs
Frequency
How often you get your pool cleaned is one of the most significant factors that affect costs. The more often you clean your pool, the more expensive the overall costs will be per year. Monthly professional pool cleanings, for example, cost an average of $115 per visit, which can add up to $1,380 per year.Â
On the other hand, if you just need professional help opening and closing your pool, it could cost around $450. If you’re looking for the most affordable way to maintain your pool, you may opt to take the DIY route and perform most maintenance tasks yourself.
Level of Service
Minimal maintenance tasks like checking the pH and filters may cost as little as $80 per visit, while additional tasks may cost up to $150 a visit on average. Professional service visits may include tasks like:
Checking the water pH and filtersÂ
Brushing
Vacuuming
Skimming debris
Checking robotic cleaners
Emptying baskets and traps.Â
The more services you require, the more you’ll pay.Â
Size
The larger your pool, the more expensive it tends to be to clean. There’s more surface area to skim, which means it will take technicians longer to clean. Your pool will also require larger, more expensive filters, which can cost up to $75 each.
In-Ground vs. Above-Ground
At $75 to $100 per hour, on average, the rates to clean in-ground and above-ground pools are about the same. However, above-ground pool costs tend to be slightly lower overall since they’re usually smaller. In-ground pool costs are typically higher due to their larger size.
Chlorine vs. Saltwater
Both saltwater pools and chlorine pools incur routine maintenance costs, but saltwater pools cost less on average to maintain than chlorine pools, with yearly salt and chemical costs averaging between $70 and $100.Â
You should also expect to pay an additional $200 to $800 every three to seven years to replace the salt cell. In contrast, chemicals for a chlorine pool can cost around $60 to $70 for 25 lbs of tablets, which may need replenishing multiple times per year.
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Indoor pools cost about $15 a month for cleaning chemicals, while outdoor pools cost around $115 per month for overall maintenance.
Unsurprisingly, indoor pools tend to be less expensive to maintain than outdoor pools. While they do require similar chemicals, they don’t require a lot of other maintenance tasks, such as skimming the water to remove debris.Â
Repairs
In addition to regular maintenance costs, you may need to repair common pool parts every so often, no matter how well you maintain your pool. Some common pool repair costs include:
Pump motor: $185 to $350
Cartridge filter: $13 to $75
Replacement sand: $12 per bag
Sand filter: $150 to $500
Diatomaceous earth (DE): $20 per 25-lb. bag
DE filter: $600 to $700
Vinyl liner patches: $20 to $200
Fiberglass liner repair: $300
Sand concrete or gunite liner repair: $800 to $1,550
Heater repair: $395 to $1,200
Labor
Labor costs for pool maintenance range from $75 to $100 per hour. Pool chemicals and equipment are relatively affordable; labor is the main expense when you hire a pool technician to maintain your pool.