It’s not a bad as you think. I’ll spend about an hour 1 time a year cleaning leaves out from the neighbors stupid tree, the rest of the time our automatic cleaner does its job. I clean the filters at the beginning of the season once more mid summer and maybe once again in the late fall. Chemicals run about $750 a year now (a few years ago I’d estimate it was about $500). If you have a basic knowledge of chemistry then the chemical part is easy. All pool stores will do a free water test. Pools are great for entertaining, especially if you have kids.

Go with a saltwater pool. It’s more expensive to put it in but cost less to maintain. And it’s not a little less either but much less inexpensive to maintain. You’ll really save money buying chemicals for saltwater over chlorine pool.

The wife might override that idea. Salt water doesn't agree with her hair. But thanks for the info.

Yup that's about right in line

A salt water pool does have chlorine. The levels are lower and the way it is put into the pool is different, but a salt generator creates chlorine created from the salt content. We have had a salt pool for the last 15 years and it is nice. The cells have to be replaced periodically, control boards go bad, and salt cost a few bucks, but I think it has been worth it.

I maintained mine forever but 2 years ago when all the chemicals shot up and you couldn't even get some of them, I went with a pool service. I pay $185 p/mo and they supply everything. I was quoted as high as $240.00 at the time. For me, its money well spent. no more trips to the pool store to test water, buy soda, muratic acid, chlorine, all I have to do is swim.

A pool like that with water features, hot tub, etc. will run around $100K to build.

The average monthly costs vary based on size / location / provider. Here's some things to think about.

Annual Maintenance Time: _____
Annual Maintenance Cost: _____

We have a 28K gallon pool, with a fabric grid based filter.

During the months where the wind is blowing and knocking leaves down, your personal time goes up. Until I installed a leaf / debris cover for the fall months, I was cleaning the pool 2-3 a week. Leaves, twigs, dust / dirt. Even with a weekly / bi-weekly cleaning from a pro.

During the summer months, chemical levels change quickly, you will be using a pro weekly during this time. Or you would need to do this weekly personally and your chemical uses go up 2-3 times.

We pay around $45-50 per trip. During the late Spring / Summer, this is around $200-250 per month. 4 or 5 weeks per months. During the fall we drop down to 2x a month, then in the winter only once a month.

We also buy shock for those days when the pool gets used more than 1-2 days per week. This runs around $100-200 depending on the volume you buy. Our pool is 28K gallons. So I need to use 2-3 lbs of shock per application.

Time, if you're on top of it, a cleaning / skimming could be around 15-20 minutes, if you have to vacuum the pool, add another 20-30 minutes.

Then there's the filter flush / cleaning. Flush is around every other month based on the pressure caused by debris, dirt, etc your pulling out of the pool. You'll need DE for that. DE is not as expensive. Last time it was around $45 for the biggest bag. When you flush you need to add 4-5 lbs, based on the size of the pool.

When you need to deep clean your filters, which is 2x a year. That's easily an hour+ to do this. Plan for 2 the first time or 2 you do this. If a pro does it, add $150-200 per deep cleaning.

Don't forget the tools you need to buy to service it, these add expenses.

Also plan for future repairs / upgrades. Pool cover (worth every penny), Cracks, leaks, plumbing, and pumps. We have put around $20K into our pool since the purchase of our home. We are the 3rd owner of it, and the previous owners, didn't care for it like we do.

We love our pool! But I dread the costs every year. AHAHAHHA

And more convenient and more better water.

We don't have an inground but just a 22' x54" deep above ground on the side of a hill so we walk out of the bedroom onto a 30' partial wrap around deck. We're under trees. I'd say maybe 30-45 minutes a week cleaning. We run one of those robot vacuums sometimes. Chemicals less than $250 year. Ours is salt. Extra expense is the chlorine generator. We run our pump 12 hours a day.

Not a turrible PIA. It is Mrs RayBob's so she does the water management side (free testing if we buy chemicals from the place by her job.

Ours stays covered from Sept until late April.

the best pool is someone elses pool.

Pools are great if you have children who are strong swimmers and their friends are confident and safe in the water.

I'd be perfectly happy never having to manage a pool ever again. I enjoy swimming in the ocean or a lake, but pools take up so much precious solar ground array space.

my suggestion, put in a nice, oversized, in ground hot tub that can have a pool attached later, see how you like the upkeep on something that size first.

you will get about 500% more usage out of a large hot tub as well in my experience.

have it plumbed in for a pool, if you don't get a pool then you have oversized hot tub equipment that should last a lot longer.

jmo

I agree with you. We use or sons whenever they`re out of town and a couple of times every month for family gatherings. I would never spend my $$ on one though. I`d bet that only half of the people who have had one installed would do it again after having one for 5 or so years.

this I can tell you for sure, check with your homeowners insurance and see what the added cost will be for a pool/liability, check for city/county/state code for fencing/security, permit needed etc.

I haven't read through all of them yet (but I'm about to...) and the first thing that pops to mind, ask yourselves if you really WANT a pool. It's never a "need." I have a biased opinion on them, but I will NEVER have another property with a pool. What an absolute nightmare.