Lisa Johnson's House and Home - Articles on Home, Family, and Living

Lisa Johnson on Buying a New Swimming Pool

Chapter 1: Educating Yourself on Swimming Pools

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October 1, 2003

Probably the first couple months was spent learning about swimming pools, once we decided to go full steam ahead on getting one.  

1. Swimming pool designs and options
2. Maintenance Costs
3. Safety Regulations

Swimming pool designs and options

The Internet is a great way to find information.  Basically, you just want to look at various photographs of swimming pool designs, pick out a few that appeal to you, print them out and save them.

Another thing to learn about are the various cleaning and maintenance choices.  Getting all the right equipment makes all the difference.  If you're like us, you don't spent all that much time cleaning the pool, so place close attention to filters, skimmers, vacuum cleaners, and chlorinators.  DO NOT overlook these details, because they will come back to haunt you if you do.   Although, you don't have to learn every aspect of these things, because an experienced contractor can help you figure out what will work best for you.  Just don't take it for granted.

Maintenance Costs

Take a few moments to estimate the maintenance costs.   The pumps run on electricity, and in Southern California, where we live, the electricity consumed by the pumps add about $150.00 a month to our bill.  These pumps must run everyday, in order to keep the water filtered and chlorinated.

If you're going to add a heater, and I don't see why you wouldn't, it will also add to your electricity costs as well as natural gas costs.  The heater is powered by electricity, but uses gas to heat the water.  In the summer you won't need to use the heater, but if you want to swim in the colder parts of the year, you will need it.  If you have a spa (Jacuzzi), you will need the heater.  On average, this will double your natural gas bill.

The pool also doubles our water bill.  Periodically, you need to add water to the pool due to evaporation.  Where we live, summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees for several weeks straight, and can suck a few hundred gallons out of the pool each day.  You cannot just drain the pool and leave it empty, or else that will cause the plaster shrink and crack under the hot sun.   You can get a pool cover which will greatly reduce evaporation, but takes away from the beauty the pool adds to your backyard.

Other costs include hiring a pool service, which currently costs us $75.00 a month, and includes weekly brushing of the Pebble Tec, vacuuming, chemical balance, and twice-annual filter cleanings.  You can actually do all this yourself, although figuring out how to keep the water in perfect chemical balance is tricky.

Don't forget the costs of all those swimming pool toys!

If you can afford monthly payments on a new car, you can afford to operate and maintain an in-ground swimming pool.

Safety and Regulations

Laws and regulations are different in each state and county.  In Riverside County, California, where we live, a county inspector must visit your home to make sure certain safety codes are enforced, before granting you approval to use your pool.

If you operate a day care service out of your home, the State or County may require you to erect fences and gates to keep children out.   Where we live, the county requires that swimming pools cannot be within five feet of fences and structures.  Thus, if you have a rather small backyard, your space may actually be too small to be practical.

A good contractor should know all these things, just don't forget to ask about them!

Next > Chapter 2 - Finding a Swimming Pool Contractor

Suggested Links

·  National Swimming Pool Foundation

·  Swimming Pool Energy Costs

·  PoolSpa WebCenter

·  Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies

·  Swimming Pool Buyer Beware