HAVE YOU CLEANED YOUR POOL AFTER LAST POOL PARTY…???
As many people think that adding a cleaning chemical like chlorine and bromine to the pool water is enough to keep the pool completely clean but this is just like keeping a fish in the aquarium and only keeping the water clean and not paying proper attention to the actual aquarium. So keeping the pool water clean is one part. The other very important part is to keep the pool clean from bugs, insects, leaves, and all the greasy fungi that grow on the pool walls if we do not keep a regular check on our pool hygiene.
Maintaining a clean swimming pool is not just important for its visual impact but is also for the user to enjoy swimming on regular basis for a longer period of time.
As many people think that adding a cleaning chemical like chlorine and bromine to the pool water is enough to keep the pool completely clean but this is just like keeping a fish in the aquarium and only keeping the water clean and not paying proper attention to the actual aquarium. So keeping the pool water clean is one part. The other very important part is to keep the pool clean from bugs, insects, leaves, and all the greasy fungi that grow on the pool walls if we do not keep a regular check on our pool hygiene.
Table of Contents
Cleaning Tools
Now we have established that how necessary is keeping your pool clean but the next thing that comes to mind Is how we can achieve this level of cleanliness for our pool as it is not an easy task. Here is a solution for you. We can use proper pool cleaning tools to help us keep our pool clean on a daily weekly and monthly basis.
Here is the list of my personal favorite cleaning equipment that I am sure will give you great results as they have helped me in keeping my own pool crystal clean.
TELESCOPIC POLE:
As we can’t see clearly underwater with the naked eye one piece of equipment that’s going to make your cleaning process underneath water extremely easy is a TELESCOPIC pole.
A telescopic pole is an extendable rode that ranges from 8 to 16 feet in length and more according to your need. You can attach a wide range of additional equipment to it such as a skimmer net, vacuum heads, brushes, etc. That will help you clean your pool walls and floor properly.
FILTERS:
The integral part of any swimming pool cleaning system is its filtration. We use 2 types of filtration methods. One is
- Sand filtration system
- Cartridge filtration system
The core function of a filter in a swimming pool is to keep it clean from dirt and sand particles. It consists of a heavy-duty pump that transmits water into filters and it will help in dissolving any dirt and other particles that get dropped in the swimming pool. The key to good filtration is that we must clean the filters on a fortnightly or monthly basis.
SKIMMER NET
Skimmer net is most likely to be the simplest, most effective, portable, and regularly used piece of equipment for pool cleaning. We can simply attach it with the telescopic pole and it’s ready to gather all the leaves, hair ties, insects, and all other unwanted objects that are in the swimming pool in one swing.
We have two options here to choose from.
- Flat skimmer
- Bag skimmer
Both skimmers are great for cleaning the pool. Flat one collects all the fungi and dead greasy materials easily while the bag skimmer gets filled with them. The only issue with the bag skimmer is that we have to empty it and it’s v difficult when it’s wet so the flat skimmer gets extra points.
With everything, quality is of prime importance so one should not buy cheap skimmers as they break quickly.
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USAGE:
We should use a skimmer net on daily basis in order to keep our swimming pool clean from all the rubbish that will otherwise sink to the bottom and make the filtration of the swimming pool more rapid than normal.
POOL BRUSH:
As we got the telescopic pole we can upgrade it by attaching a pool brush at its end. The function of this pool cleaning tool is that it brushes off all the floor and walls from all kinds of fungi and dirt.
The choice of pool brush depends on which pool surface we are going to use it on
Most pool surfaces are made of three types of materials.
UNPAINTED CONCRETE
GUNITE
FIBERGLASS, VINYL OR PAINTED CONCRETE
When you have the unpainted concrete floor you can easily use both stainless steel or nylon brushes to scrap the dirt. With gunite, you have to go for stainless steel fiber brush as nylon is not the correct choice for this surface. If the surface is fiberglass, vinyl, or painted concrete only nylon brush is your best pick as it will work most effectively and clean your swimming pool.
As we discussed the quality concern, it’s always recommended to find a solid and durable pool brush as per your surface need.
USAGE
Swimming pools walls, stairs, and corners need our keen attention as they get most dirty and very quickly. Pool brush will be of great help if we use it at least twice a week. In order to avoid extreme build-ups of fungus and other bacteria regular and precise use of the pool, the brush is highly recommended.
MANUAL AND ROBOTIC POOL VACUUM CLEANERS
All you have to do is attach the vacuum head and vacuum hose with the length that covers your pool to the telescopic pole and it’s ready to extract all the unwanted substances from your swimming pool. U can also add a skim vacuum/ vacuum plate if it is required.
All you have to do is attach the vacuum head and vacuum hose with the length that covers your pool to the telescopic pole and it’s ready to extract all the unwanted substances from your swimming pool. U can also add a skim vacuum/ vacuum plate if it is required.
USAGE:
Robotic vacuums are automated devices that are available in the market for pool cleaning. They come in very handy as they keep on rolling on the pool surface and clean it as it goes. It sounds so perfect but the only issue we face is its cost. If the use of the pool is bringing in customers then it’s a financially sound decision to use a robotic pool cleaner. If it’s affordable for you then there is nothing better than sitting around enjoying your party and let this robot do all the dirty work.
Robotic vacuums are automated devices that are available in the market for pool cleaning. They come in very handy as they keep on rolling on the pool surface and clean it as it goes. It sounds so perfect but the only issue we face is its cost. If the use of the pool is bringing in customers then it’s a financially sound decision to use a robotic pool cleaner. If it’s affordable for you then there is nothing better than sitting around enjoying your party and let this robot do all the dirty work.
Check Dolphin Products:
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POOL COVERS:
Pool covers are your best friends if we talk about keeping the swimming pool clean for a longer time period. Not only are they effective in the winter season when you might choose to close your pool for months they also provide coverage in case of bad weather. Once you put on the covers it will save you a tremendous amount of cleaning work that you have to do otherwise.
USAGE:
Solid covers will give you better results but mesh covers can also do the job of keeping out the dirt and leaves. Once it gets warmer and you take off the covers and with minor cleaning your pool is ready to jump in. In case you left your pool uncovered then the cleaning work at the beginning of the season you have to put in is enormous and costly as well.
HEALTH CAUTION:
As we have emphasized on the cleaning of your swimming pool in this article one of the major reasons for that is to keep everyone who uses the swimming pool healthy. As WHO has published strict rules and regulations for pool cleaning in order to ensure that no serious health issues arise from this healthy activity
As children and old people have lesser immunities it’s highly recommended to recreational swimming pools keep a strict check on cleanliness as it’s very much possible that unhygienic pools are feeding ground for bacteria and can cause illness. Keeping your pool clean is the only way toward healthy swimming.
HOW MUCH IT WILL COST YOU TO MAINTAIN A POOL:
As we have discussed the pool cleaning options for our swimming pools next thing that’s going to come to your mind is how much it will be going to cost you to keep your pool clean as per your chosen option.
During the summer season, the average cost of maintaining a clean pool can range from $475 to $800 with an average expense of $66 per month on the pocket of pool owners.
Considering these facts we will describe your average cleaning cost weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.
During the summer season, the average cost of maintaining a clean pool can range from $475 to $800 with an average expense of $66 per month on the pocket of pool owners. The factors we have to keep under consideration in cost for pool maintenance are
- Water Type
- Size of the pool
- Heating mechanism
- Ground-level
- Filtration
- Pool cleaning equipment
WATER TYPE
Water type will affect greatly the cost we have to incur to keep the pool clean and healthy for the swimmers. Two different types of water pools are
- Freshwater pool
- Saltwater pool
Keeping pool water clean from any type of contamination and pollutants on regular basis is key and paying this cost will save you a lot of mess, as well as high maintenance costs of infrastructure repairs due to fungus & bacteria, build up from long times available.
Keeping pool water clean from any type of contamination and pollutants on regular basis is key and paying this cost will save you a lot of mess as well as high maintenance costs of infrastructure repairs due to fungus & bacteria build-up for a long time
Keeping pool water clean from any type of contamination and pollutants on regular basis is key and paying this cost will save you a lot of mess, as well as high maintenance costs of infrastructure repairs due to fungus & bacteria, the build-up for a long time.
SIZE OF THE POOL
The cost of pool cleaning is directly associated with how big the pool is. Bigger pools will definitely cost you more as they will use more chemicals to keep the pool water at the acceptable pH level. A pool of 15’×30’ at the ground level and depth of 5’ holds 20,000 gallons of water but just with the increase to 20’×40’ on-ground holds 30,000 gallons this will directly affect the cost as the chemicals used to keep the water clean & healthy for 30,000 gallons. This cost will also be affected by the choice of the filtration system and the length of the vacuum hose.
HEATING MECHANISM:
The heating system of a swimming pool is of great importance. If the pool has a heating system installed in it, it can be used all year long. But the heating system is a costly luxury to have. The electricity used to keep the pool at an acceptable temperature would cost a great amount and is a factor in which type and size of pool you want to have. Salt or freshwater pool and size of the pool will vary the cost of the heating system that we need to install for the pool to provide balanced water temperature in any weather.
GROUND LEVEL:
There are two levels in which we can have swimming pools
- In-ground level
- Above-ground level
The average cost of maintenance of an in-ground level swimming pool is much higher than the above-ground level. There are 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of water in an average in-ground swimming pool. This will directly increase the maintenance cost. As the above-ground swimming pools are only 18 feet with 4 feet of depth that collects only 7,000 gallons of water which is far less than the in-ground, the maintenance cost will be far lesser. So with above-ground swimming pools, you cannot enjoy deep dives but it will cost way less than in-ground which provides deep-diving pleasure.
FILTRATION:
If the pool water is properly filtered it is most likely to be enjoyable for a longer period. Filtration is the key here in achieving clean water standards and definitely, it has a cost. The cost of filtration depends on which system you choose for your pool. The filter options that are available are cartridge filter, sand filters, diatomaceous earth filter, Or if you are having a saltwater pool you have to go for a saltwater chlorinator.
The average cost to change the pool filter is $285.53 per filter with a price range that varies from $256.17 to $ 314.89
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EQUIPMENT:
A SKIMMER NET:
A solid skimmer net is going to cost you around $15 to $30. You must try to find a detachable handle so that once the net gets old and worn out you can easily replace the net instead of replacing the whole piece.
MANUAL & ROBOTIC VACUUM COST:
A durable and long-lasting vacuum will charge you around $225 to $950. The choice of vacuum is crucial if the pool is of bigger size we need a heavy-duty vacuum as smaller with cheaper quality will ruin your swimming pool as it will not be able to perform effectively.
Robotic vacuums are pricier and will add a higher expense for the buyer.
HOSE:
It’s additional equipment that we need to use with the vacuum as we need to clean the pool in every corner and every edge. The average cost varies with length and quality. Cost varies from $30 to $60 with the length variation.
POOL COVERS
Pool covers add value to keeping a clean swimming pool. It keeps them warm and dirt-free and its cost depends on the size of the pool and the quality you want to keep. The price range varies from as low as $50 to as high as $700 depending on durability
CHEMICAL BALANCE COST:
Keeping chemically balanced water is the key to a healthy swimming pool. The pH should range from 7.5 to 7.8 to avoid any irritation of eyes and skin and working out of the surface
Chlorine tablets and pool shocks are used to maintain and boost chlorine levels. Cost ranges from $20 to $30 per month.
Saltwater pool cost
Saltwater pools are low maintenance ones so as a result, the cost will be low depending upon how much salt is initially introduced in water. Cost is around $25 to $30 for a 50-pound salt bag that you dissolve once to get a longer time effect. Its monthly cost is close to none.
Some Other Costs to Consider.
As we keep an eye on the equipment and pool cleaning chemicals, some other factors are also effects on the cost of maintaining swimming pool.
Pool Leaks
Having a pool leak is a big mess as you have to find it first and it mostly ends on draining the pool to repair the leak. Calling the professionals for the fixing of the problem can cost you around 300$, and this is not it now you have to fill the water of the pool and also add the chemicals for it cleaning. This process will cost you a good amount depending on the size of the pool. So keep it in your mind while costing your annual maintenance cost for the swimming pool.
The Yard around Pool
Keeping your pool water clean is a big task but if you don’t take care of the yard around the pool then leaves and other debris will make it very difficult for you to maintain your pool water clean. This will cost you some fences or hiring someone to clean the yard on a daily or weekly basis and it will eventually affect your pool maintenance cost. So keep this expense in mind too.
Insurance Cost
Being an owner of a house with a swimming pool in it will definitely increase the cost of insurance of your liability. As insurance companies are securing your swimming pool they will charge some extra hundred dollars per year and it’s because the swimming pool is included in the property. So this cost will also add up in the swimming pool maintenance cost.
Electricity Cost
In maintaining the clean pool water you need a pump and filter to connect with it, which will increase your bill to another 50$ to 300$ dollar a month, and if you are using a heat pump to keep the water warm you need to pay an extra 50$ to 250$ per month in your electric bill. So also keep this in mind too while calculating the cost.
FINAL VERDICT:
Having a swimming pool adds great value to your life. You can enjoy pleasure able moments with your loved ones. Have parties together and even enjoy just having a view of the water or a deep calming swim.
In this article, I gave you all the information you need to keep your pool in a tip-top crystal clear condition and also paid all the attention you need to the cost that it’s going to deduct from your pocket. Its average cost to maintain a pool is somewhere between $75 to $160 monthly and a yearly cost of $900 to $2000. Newly built pools take the initial thorough cleaning that might cost from $200 to $400 on average. If you want to own a pool then be ready to spend $2500 to $5000 that includes water, electricity, repair, and maintenance.
In the end, we can only say that having a pool adds luxury to your house but it’s also heavy on pocket. So decide carefully keeping all these factors in mind. It is a long-term commitment to own a swimming pool and by taking good care of it you can enjoy it for a longer time period.
Happy swimming.