Built 2 pools. First one with a 2005 year built home and the other with a 2011 year built home. The 2011 home is way more energy efficient so the electrical bill is substantially less. Look for a $100-$150 increase in electricity alone.

As far as maintenance, I use a pool company that come out once a week. In non pool season I use the chemicals only and it runs $85 a month. When pool season ramps up I opt for the scrub and chemical package for $120 a month.

I ran the numbers on DIY but the pool company comes out ahead. You typically spend anywhere between $50-$75 each month at a pool supply store. Plus they are always trying to upsale you. You get the benefit of someone always checking your pool each week as well as the pool company storing all the chemicals.

tl;dr- higher a pool company and expect an increase in an electric bill.

Edit- do not go salt water. Eats up your natural stone and the parts crap out a lot faster than a chlorine pool.

Easy to maintain and I suggest looking up trouble free pool - they can teach you how to balance your own pool using common items (bleach, baking soda, acid - etc) and avoid the inflated costs of the pool companies. Also suggest a salt water pool (not really salty) for ease of maintenance while on vacation.

Only problem we have is the normal wear/tear on pumps etc, but worth the kids enjoyment every summer.

Just understand it's not really a swimming pool....

It's a BIGA$$ chemistry set!

Strongwind86 said:

---

Just understand it's not really a swimming pool....

It's a BIGA$$ chemistry set!

---

That you should pay other people who specialize in that chemistry set to deal with.

I'm apparently the lone dissenter here. I've had my pool about a year and have taken care of it myself. The chemicals cost a lot upfront and would continue to cost a lot upfront if you shop at the pool store. I put about 15-20 minutes a week in the offseason and twice that during the hot summer months.

Basically there are only 3 things you have to deal with on a weekly basis.

1. Chlorine- I use the "chlorinating liquid" which is just bleach. If you use solid varieties of chlorine then the extra stabilizing ingredients will eventually mess up your PH. That being said, I will still add a few tablets on a low setting during the summer to augment. The sun and heat will burn up chlorine faster than the winter months.

2. Acid- During the summer, I generally had to put in 2-4 cups of muriatic acid per week. I havnt had to put hardly any in over the winter.

3. Clean skimmers- During the summer I had to clean it to get balls and frogs out. 1 time a week is sufficient. When all the leaves drop, it was like 3 times a day.

Occasional items include cleaning the pump filter which is less than a minute on my system. The most time consuming part is a 2-3 times a year cleaning of the filter cartridges. Using my pressure washer, it takes about an hour to do the 4 cartridges.

Cost
A bottle of "Chlorinating Liquid" at walmart is $3 and will do a 1-2 weeks during the summer and over a month in the winter. I'm not sure what acid costs, I've only had to buy 4 bottles but it's not expensive at Home Depot. It's outside int he lawn and garden area. A bucket of solid chlorine tablets is the expensive item. I buy the premium ones with the most chlorine to limit the stabilizers going into the pool. A gallon bucket is well over $100 but will last the summer.

The final 2 things I've discovered in my 1st year-

Buy a good test kit and follow the directions at www.troublefreepool.com

I'm a teacher too, so I have all summer to babysit the pool and check chemicals. It's not hard and it's easier to avoid wild ph fluctuations if you check it a few times a week opposed to once. I have nothing better to do so 10 minutes spent every few days is more value to me than $100 a month for some guy to come do the same thing.

Edit- It's a heck of a lot cheaper to buy a house with a pool than to buy a house then build a pool.

Mr. McGibblets said:

---

Built 2 pools. First one with a 2005 year built home and the other with a 2011 year built home. The 2011 home is way more energy efficient so the electrical bill is substantially less. Look for a $100-$150 increase in electricity alone.

---

Either you have a big freaking pool, or inefficient equipment.

I built a pool this summer and my bill only went up 40-50 bucks a month.

We have a pool and I take care of it myself. It is a saltwater pool (I had my flagstone coping sealed) and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's nice not to have to lug jugs of bleach to the pool every other day. Once you get the chlorinator % set you're done. I only supplement with bleach when the water gets super cold or after a big pool party.

I would estimate that I spend about 15 minutes a week on the pool during the winter and about 30 a week in the summer. I do pay someone to come and clean the filter (I have a DE filter) and the salt cell every nine months or so, but that is a big job that I don't want to do myself.

My biggest recommendation is to stay away from the pool store and use troublefreepool.com. I am amazed what some friends of mine spend on pool chemicals. All I have ever needed for my pool is bleach, muriatic acid, baking soda, borax, calcium chloride, salt, and cyanuric acid, and the only one of those that I use very often is the muriatic acid.

Nothing wrong with having a pool service but don't be intimidated by pool maintenance, not that big a deal. Once you get it down, it's no different than maintaining the soil in your yard.

VanZandt92 said:

---

DAmn owning a pool sounds terrible.

We just moved into a neighborhood that has a club pool. Pretty dang nice.

---

When the kids aren't around during the summer, I typically enjoy the pool at night with my lovely bride, some whiskey, and just about anything else that tickles her or my fancy. Swimsuits are not generally required, encouraged, or acceptable. Same is true for winter nights in the spa. So yeah, it's not terrible, and I don't think a club pool would be nearly as enjoyable. But that's just me.

Quote:

---

and I don't think a club pool would be nearly as enjoyable.

---

I guess it depends on who is in the club...