Having a swimming pool is one of the great joys in life. But a pool needs maintenance. A lot of maintenance, in fact. On average, the annual cost for a professional pool maintenance company costs about $1,430, with the price ranging from a low of $1,065 to a high of $1,800.
While there’s no universal price for professional pool cleaning and maintenance, these numbers make for a good ballpark. They can vary depending on a great many factors, so don’t be surprised if you get a number completely different from what you were expecting. Read this helpful guide to get an idea of what will influence the cost of your pool’s maintenance.
In this pool maintenance pricing guide, we’ll cover:
- Average Pool Maintenance Costs
- Pool Maintenance Cost by Pool Size
- Other Factors That Affect Cost
- Related Pool Services
- Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
- Cost by Location
- FAQ About Pool Maintenance Costs
Average Pool Maintenance Costs
| National Average Cost | $1,430 |
| Typical Range | $1,065 – $1,800 |
The average size for a swimming pool is 10 feet wide by 50 feet long, or 500 square feet. Although square footage matters when it comes to swimming pool maintenance, it’s far from the only factor. The shape and type will also affect the cost, along with the frequency of services. As long as you keep up on maintenance, however, it shouldn’t add up too much.
Maintaining a pool involves a few different things. Keeping the water clean and free of debris is one of the most obvious. This is accomplished through the use of a dedicated filter and occasional manual skimming. You also need to maintain the water’s pH balance and, if it’s a chlorine pool, treat it with chlorine. Finally, you’ll need to clean the pool’s walls and floors, and make any necessary repairs when issues come up.
Pool Maintenance Cost by Pool Size
One of the biggest factors that will affect the cost of your pool’s maintenance is size. The greater the square footage of your pool, the more work and materials have to go into maintaining it. Generally speaking, a small pool is considered 10 feet by 20 feet, or 200 square feet. A medium pool is 10 feet by 50 feet, or 500 square feet. A large pool is approximately 20 feet by 40 feet, or 800 square feet.
Larger pools will be more expensive to maintain than smaller ones. If you use a professional pool service company, get quotes from multiple sources to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
There are a myriad of other factors that will affect the cost of maintaining your pool. These can be difficult to put a price on, but they’re important for homeowners to consider when trying to calculate the price so that you can budget accordingly.
Frequency
How frequently you clean your pool will be a big factor in determining its cost. More frequent treatments will be more expensive, even if you’re doing the maintenance yourself as opposed to hiring a professional. Time, tools, chemical balancing treatments, and chlorine and other materials all add up the more frequently you need to clean and maintain your pool.
The average monthly cost of pool maintenance is about $120, with the typical range sitting between $90 and $150.
Type of pool
Another factor to consider is the type of pool. There are a few different pools available, and each will need different maintenance with different frequencies and possibly different materials. Some will be cheaper and easier to maintain, while others might be more complicated and expensive and may require professional help.
- In-ground pools are pools that are set in the ground. These can be made of a variety of different materials such as vinyl and concrete.
In-ground pools are generally uncomplicated to clean and maintain so long as you keep on top of skimming and chlorination, but may need to be drained to do a deeper clean every so often. - Above-ground pools are pools that are installed above the ground. They’re typically made of either steel or aluminum as opposed to in-ground concrete pools.
The maintenance for an in-ground and above ground pool is pretty much the same, but above-ground pools may come with a deck or other platform that must also be maintained. - Saltwater pools use a salt chlorine generator to keep them clean. The generator turns salt into chlorine, which means that you don’t need to buy chlorine tablets, but you will need to periodically purchase salt. You’ll also need to maintain or possibly repair or replace the generator.
Aside from these factors, however, maintaining a saltwater pool isn’t very different from a chlorine pool. - Natural pools are pools that are made to mimic natural water sources. As such, they don’t use any pool chemicals, instead relying on filters, natural and artificial, and the movement of the water to keep clean.
Establishing this kind of pool system can be tricky, but once you have it right, the only maintenance you should need to do is skimming. Natural pools are surprisingly low-maintenance. There’s no set average cost for a natural pool’s maintenance, but it’s considerably less than a regular one. - Indoor pools are installed in your home or a free-standing enclosed structure. On the surface, it might seem like these pools may need only as much maintenance as any other standard pool. In some ways, they do, and in fact need less due to the lesser risk of debris and detritus gathering in them.
However, an indoor pool needs a few things that others don’t, namely a ventilation system. Without proper ventilation, the harsh chemicals required in an indoor pool will fill the air and become hazardous. A strong dehumidifier, which will carry an extremely hefty cost, is also required to prevent moisture from ruining the building’s structure.
Pool cover
One thing that almost every pool needs is a pool cover. There are a wide variety of covers available, each with different prices that will vary depending on your pool’s size and shape. Covering your pool will help keep debris and animals out, which will reduce the work on your filter, saving you money. It will carry some up-front cost, however, and require maintenance or replacements just like the rest of the pool.
Types of pool covers:
- Automatic
- Manual
- Solid Safety
- Mesh Safety
- Solar
- Winter
- Sliding Deck
Shape of pool
Another factor in the cost of a pool’s maintenance is the shape of the pool. Rectangular shapes are most common for in-ground pools, while many above ground pools are circular. These are far from the only shapes a pool can have, however. Different shapes can be more difficult to clean, especially if they’re different from ones typically used.
Related Pool Services
If you’re maintaining your pool or having it maintained, then there are a few other services you may need done while you’re at it. Each of these will carry its own price point if you’re having them done as opposed to DIY, which you probably should.
Here are a few different services along with their typical price points:
- Pool installation
- Opening/Closing a pool
- Converting a pool
- Pool repair
- Hot tub
- Automatic pool cleaner
- Pool heating and accessories
Installing a new pool
Installing a pool is quite the project, especially if it’s an in-ground or indoor pool. It’s likely not something you’ll be able to DIY, and you’ll need to get the help of a professional.
| Type of Pool | Average Cost |
| In-Ground | $45,585 |
| Above-Ground | $2,695 |
| Indoor | $103,335 |
| Saltwater | $37,135 |
| Natural | $69,165 |
Acid wash
Acid washing a pool involves draining it and scrubbing the pool walls and floor with a substance known as muriatic acid. This helps to remove stains and keep your pool looking its best. Keep in mind that you cannot acid wash a vinyl pool. Acid washing is a lot of time and work, so it’s likely that you’ll only have it done every few years. On average, this treatment costs between $290 to $400.
Pool opening and closing
If you live in an area with cold weather, you’re going to need to close your pool in the winter and lower the water level. Once it warms up, you then need to go through the process of opening it so that you can use it again. Both opening and closing carry a cost, and together, they’re about $405.
Converting a pool
You may also want to convert an existing pool to a saltwater system. You can have a saltwater pool installed from scratch, but if you already have a pool and want to make the switch, you can rest easy that it doesn’t carry too much cost.
On average, converting your in-ground pool to a saltwater pool costs $1,435. You can also convert your pool to a natural one, but this is far more complicated and doesn’t have a set average price.
Pool repair
Just like anything else, pools will also need periodic repairs. The price for these will depend on the repair that needs to be done and its severity. If a pool is damaged badly enough, you may need to simply take it out and construct an entirely new one, but this is a worst-case scenario.
Overall, the cost of repairing a damaged pool is about $518. In the case of small, easy fixes that you can do yourself, it shouldn’t cost more than ten or twenty dollars, while big problems such as a large leak can go into the thousands.
Hot tub
If you have a pool to maintain, you might want a hot tub to go along with it so that you can enjoy a nice hot soak. The cost to install a hot tub is about $6,900, and just like a pool, it will require periodic maintenance and repairs that will add on to cost over time.
Pool accessories
There are also many miscellaneous things that a pool owner may want or need for their pool. For example, a deck is practically a necessity for an above ground pool, and an automatic cleaner can save a lot of time when it comes to cleaning.
| Accessory | Average Cost |
| Deck | $5,855 |
| Pool Heater | $3,000 |
| Filter | $1,260 |
| Lights | $700 – $1,650 |
| Automatic Cleaner | $625 |
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
If you don’t want to shell out the money for a professional maintenance service, then you can always try DIY pool maintenance. This will save you on labor, but you’ll still have to pay costs for materials and spend the time to put in the work yourself. In addition, make sure you know the risks involved with any chemicals you use such as chlorine.
You’ll need some pool equipment to maintain your pool and its various parts yourself, but thankfully none of it is too expensive. Here are some of the things you’ll need along with their average costs:
| Equipment | Average Cost |
| Pool Filter Cleaner | $15 |
| Water Test Strips for pH Levels | $17 |
| Pool Brush | $20 |
| Pool Skimmer | $21 |
| Algaecide | $22 |
| Chlorine Shock | $53 |
| Pool Vacuum | $223 |
Cost of Pool Maintenance by Location
Another factor that will affect the cost of your pool’s maintenance is location. Areas with cold weather will require you to winterize and close your pool, and pay more in heating costs. Conversely, warmer weather will incur higher water costs due to evaporation. If you live in an area with frequent storms, you may need a better filter or skimmer basket than average and need to chlorine your pool more often to maintain its water chemistry.
In addition, your area may carry higher installation costs should you choose to install a pool. The more difficult a soil type is to work with, the higher the cost, and your yard may need to be leveled before you can begin construction, which will have its own price tag. Finally, your area may have local codes that require certain safety precautions for your pool, such as fencing or nets, which will also carry an additional cost.
FAQ About Pool Maintenance
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether owning a pool is worth all the time and money you’ll be spending on maintaining it. A pool can be a great way to have some fun in the sun, but if you or your household aren’t fans of swimming, it’s probably not going to be worth it.
However, a pool can add to the value of a house, especially an in-ground pool. On average, a pool in the backyard can add about five to eight percent to the total value of a home. This might not be a significant boost, but it’s still extra money in your pocket should you decide to sell.
Fiberglass pools are the easiest to keep clean, as the fiberglass prevents algae buildup.
Between a pool’s pump and filter, you can expect to see your electric bill go up by about $300 per year, which will increase further if your pool is heated. You’ll also need to add water to the pool periodically, but this will likely be a negligible amount unless you’re refilling the entire pool.
DIY can save you a lot on pool maintenance. You can also shop around for the best deals on professional care. If you really want to save on maintenance costs, however, the best way is to have a smaller pool. “Spools,” or small pools measuring about 10 to 16 feet by 6 to 8 feet, are a good option if you have a smaller backyard or if you just don’t want to spend a ton on pool maintenance.
Unfortunately, yes. As fun as it is, a pool is also a rather serious hazard. If you have one, expect your home insurance rates to increase by about $20 to $25 per month.
When to Hire a Pool Care Professional
The annual average cost of maintaining a pool is about $1,430, with a range of $1,065 to $1,800. However, these are not concrete numbers and can vary widely. Be prepared for a higher cost than you expect and budget for your pool accordingly.
If you have a pool that needs maintenance but are tired of doing it yourself, or if your usual pool person has unexpectedly become unavailable, PoolGnome will connect you with the best local pool care pros in your area.
Note: PoolGnome may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
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