Estimating pool costs

[FastStache]

I'm looking for estimates on how much a pool would add in monthly costs.

Areas i can forsee
1. Home insurance
2. Electricity
3. Chemicals
4. Repairs
5. Capital Expenses

Anything I'm missing off this list? A lot of homes I'm looking at have pools just due to the area, and if the savings are sufficient in other areas I may consider having one. I just want to get myself informed.

[Insanity]

A friend of mine used to have a pool.  he estimated that the overall cost (we live in NE) was about roughly $1500 a season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) between chemicals, opening, closing, maintenance, insurance costs, electric, and water.

[ritchie70]

Our current house had a large (28-foot diameter round, very deep) above-ground pool when we bought it. I removed it two years ago when it was either do a bunch of work or get rid of it, and nobody ever used it.

I'd guesstimate that I spent $600 a season on chemicals but the last few years especially my goal was "nothing growing in it" not "swimmable." I never calculated out electricity or insurance. I needed a new pump motor once over the decade; that cost under $200 on Amazon. Aside from that there wasn't really any other repairs or maintenance.

[Another Reader]

Liability insurance and a proper pool fence with a locking gate.  Think multi million dollar lawsuit when the neighbor's 5 year old drowns.  Children under 10 and pools don't mix.

[Spork]

I've got friends/relatives that have them.  Most (but not all) say they'd never have a house with one again.  They seem to need constant repairs (chlorine just tears up stuff).  If you have any sort of vegetation around it (trees dropping leaves or acorns, small flower buds) they can cause havoc getting sucked into the pump. 

Most of the cleaning and basic repairs are home owner friendly if you're willing to tackle them, but will be expensive if you hire it out.

A liner pool will need a new liner every few years.  A gunnite pool will eventually need to be replastered.  These are less likely to be owner friendly.

[MustacheCowboy]

We had an in ground pool at our old house. Cost depends on how long you have it open too. We had roughly 4 month season with ~1200 in costs. Definitely need a liability policy. We had $1 million umbrella policy for about $150 a year. Surprising homeowners ins price was unaffected.

[FastStache]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

So Home owners may not go up, but I would need an umbrella policy.

I live in Florida so keeping it open all year long is not out of the question, but would likely require some sort of solar heater to avoid the huge costs.

Assuming I'd budget 2000-2500 a year, should be safe.

[zinethstache]

lined pools are 15 year if you get the thicker material. Our lined pool is on year 13 and it is going strong. We keep it from turning green in winter and use it June through August. It costs us what others have said, about 1500/year. This year we did not heat it and still used it, through September. We have a solar cover that warms the top couple of inches.  Our feet love the rubber lined pool over a gunnite pool.

We have an umbrella policy for it and our rentals.

The pool is fenced and locked. We get alot of use out of it and don't think we will ever tire of it. Its a luxury that you really have to "want" because of the high maintenance. We've maintained ours with only the pool liner installed by a pool guy.