What’s the Cost of Running a Pool?

With rising energy costs and the threat of another global financial crisis, you may be wondering if it’s wise to get a new pool or keep the one you’ve got. After all, if your budget is tight now, imagine what it’s going to be like in a couple of years. But before making a decision, it’s important to take a look at the real cost of running a pool* and if it’s an affordable option for you. 

In this article, we break down common pool functions – like circulation, heating, water balance, cleaning and servicing – and reveal how much you’ll pay for them over a year. Then we provide strategies to help you lower those costs and make your pool the affordable luxury it was meant to be.

What affects the cost of running a pool?

Many factors can affect the cost of running a pool, such as the pool size, sanitation system, features, frequency of use, climate and location. This can make budgeting for a pool difficult. However, there are six main costs you’ll face as a pool owner.

1. Running your pool pump

The circulation of water is critical to the health of your pool. On average, pool owners run their pool pump for at least 8–10 hours a day. Not only does this keep your pool water filtered, but it also helps circulate your sanitiser. Unfortunately, running a pump can use up a lot of electricity, particularly if you’re using a single- or dual-speed pump. 

According to hipages, operating a pool pump can cost you $80–$110 a month, depending on the size of your pool and how often it’s used. That can add more than $1,000 a year to your pool maintenance costs. However, if you use a variable-speed pump, this figure could shrink by up to 90 per cent. 

2. Replacing pool water

Just because your pool is full of water, doesn’t mean that water levels remain constant. If you live in a hot climate and don’t cover your pool, evaporation can reduce your water level by 3–7 mm a day. 

Water can also be lost through backwashing. Depending on the size of your filter and the media used, you could lose up to 5,000 litres of water every year. This means you’ll need to keep adding water to your pool (particularly if it’s not replenished by rainwater). 

But it doesn’t end there. Other factors like splashing, wind, water features, frequent vacuuming and leaks can also deplete your water levels. This means you can expect to pay an extra $100–150 per month on water bills, or more during the summer months. Of course, dilution with rainwater, pool covers and the use of glass media (which requires shorter and less frequent backwashing) can reduce these figures significantly.

3. Heating your pool

Depending on where you live, most pools have a heater to make swimming comfortable during the cooler months. However, swimming all year round can increase your electricity bills. Of course, final costs depend on the type of heater, how often it’s used and what temperature you set. In general, solar heating is the most affordable at $100–$200 per year, even though set-up costs are high and it may not be suitable for all homes or locations. Heat pumps will put you back about $250–$750 per year, while gas heating is the most expensive at $500–$1,500 per year. 

4. Keeping your water balanced

Keeping your water chemistry balanced is important for the health of your pool. However, the cost of keeping it sanitised will depend on the system you use. If you have a chlorine pool, you could spend $300–$800 on keeping your water sanitised. Again, this figure can increase or decrease based on bather load, stabiliser use and how often you cover your pool.

If you’ve got a saltwater or mineral chlorination system, your ongoing costs include the purchase of salts or minerals. Pool salt can cost $8–$20 for a 20-kilo bag, while minerals can cost around $35–$50 for a 10-kilo bag. The frequency with which you add these will depend on how often your pool is topped up (after evaporation or regular backwashing) or diluted by rainwater.

In addition to sanitiser, you’ll need flocculant, algaecide, phosphate remover and stabiliser, not to mention chemicals that adjust pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness. This can add hundreds more to your annual costs, depending on how well you maintain your pool!

5. Cleaning your pool

The cost of cleaning your pool can depend on your pool sanitation system and how often you use a pool cover. Mineral pools, for example, stay cleaner because magnesium is a natural flocculant (i.e. it helps bind together microparticles so they can be removed by the filter). And the use of a pool cover can keep bothersome debris out of your pool on windy days.  

However, dirt can build up and all pools need to be cleaned at some stage. If you use manual cleaners like a leaf skimmer and brush, it’ll cost you nothing but time. But if you have a suction pool cleaner, it can add to your energy costs, particularly if your pool attracts a lot of environmental debris. 

If you want to save money, consider using a robotic pool cleaner. While the purchase cost can be high, it works quickly and uses less power, saving you up to 82 per cent on energy bills compared to traditional cleaners. 

For those who prefer using a pool maintenance company, expect to pay $50–$130 a month, or more if your pool is large or particularly dirty. 

6. Servicing or replacing equipment

Every few years you may need to service or replace your pool equipment. Here is a breakdown of possible expenses:

• Pool shell. If you’ve got a fibreglass pool shell, the gel coat will need to be reapplied after 15–20 years. This can cost about $10,000, including purchase and installation. Vinyl liner pools will need vinyl replacements every 6–10 years, or sooner if they’re damaged by pets or bathers. Replacements can cost about $4,000, including purchase and installation. Concrete pools are more resilient, but you may need to acid wash them every few years to remove staining. This can cost  $500 or more, depending on the size of your pool and how discoloured the surface is. 
• Filter. Cartridge filters need to be replaced every 3–5 years, or sooner if they’re overworked. These can cost between $300 and $800, depending on the size. Media filters last longer, but you’ll need to replace sand media every 3–5 years and glass every 10 years. Sand will cost about $15–25 for 20 kilos and glass media is around $40 per 15 kilos.
• Salt cell. If you’ve got a salt chlorinator, you’ll need to replace the salt cell every 5–7 years. Replacements can cost between $200 and $900.
• General repairs. This may include replacing LED lights in your pool, fixing leaky pipes or troubleshooting a faulty heater. It’s hard to quantify these costs as it’ll depend on the problem and what parts need to be replaced. This could be anything from $200 for a pool light to $1,000 or more for complex plumbing repairs. 

How can you reduce pool running costs?

While pools can be expensive to run, there are plenty of ways you can reduce costs. Here are 7 ways to take the sting out of your quarterly energy and water bills. 

Use a pool cover

Pool covers are a great way to reduce evaporation and retain heat in your pool. This can help you keep energy consumption to a minimum and avoid unnecessary top-ups. Plus, if you use a solar blanket, it can increase the temperature of your pool by 8 degrees, minimising the need for a pool heater.

Switch to a variable-speed pool pump

Unlike single- or dual-speed pool pumps, which use induction motors, variable-speed pool pumps use a magnet motor that allows them to operate at lower speeds for longer. Not only does this improve filtration and keep your pool cleaner, but it can reduce energy consumption by as much as 90 per cent! The Viron XT Variable Speed Pump, for example, can save you $700–$1,200 per year. To find out more about variable-speed pumps, see this article.

Run your pool pump at night 

Most energy providers have off-peak rates between 10 am and 7 pm. Running your pump at this time can help you reduce your quarterly electricity bill. (Make sure you use a variable-speed pump so the noise doesn’t disturb your family or neighbours). Speak to your provider to confirm off-peak hours and rates. 

Close your pool in winter 

While it’s fun to swim all year round, closing your pool in winter can help you save on energy, water and chemicals. You won’t need as much sanitiser to keep your pool clean, and you’ll save electricity by not running the heater or pool cleaner as often. For tips on how to close your pool, see this article.

Switch to solar heating or a heat pump 

Solar heating can save you hundreds in heating costs every year. While set-up is pricey and not every house is suited to solar, it’s worth investigating if you want to pay as little as $1 a day for your heating. The next best option is a heat pump, which uses ambient air to heat your pool and consumes far less energy than a gas heater. If you want further savings, limit use to really cold days, use a solar blanket to attract or retain heat, and keep your water temperature at or below 28 degrees Celsius. 

Convert to saltwater chlorination 

Salt chlorinators use sodium chloride to generate chlorine in your pool. Not only does this eliminate the need for liquid chlorine, but it also keeps your pool cleaner for longer and minimises the use of automatic cleaners or other chemicals. For more information on how salt chlorinators work, see this article.

Summing up

The costs of maintaining a pool can depend on a few factors, like pool size, equipment, location and use. However, based on the figures gathered above, those costs can be anywhere between $1,000 and $6,000 a year. This doesn’t take into account unforeseen costs, like equipment repairs/replacements, algae infestations or damage from wild weather, which can increase those figures further.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep pool maintenance costs down, such as using a pool cover, upgrading to a variable-speed pump, switching to solar heating or a heat pump, running your pump at night and closing your pool in winter. Not only can these strategies save you hundreds of dollars each year, but they can also offset future energy and water increases.

Want to know more about the costs of installing and maintaining a pool? Check out our blog or contact one of our approved dealers. 

*NOTE: Costs in this article are estimates only. Final costs depend on your state/territory and market fluctuations.