How much does pool maintenance cost?

Keep your pool pristine and in perfect working order with the help of a pool maintenance professional. Pool maintenance goes above and beyond sweeping and leaf removal to ensure that the chemicals in your swimming pool stay balanced and that basic care is performed on an ongoing basis. The costs for pool maintenance can vary based on the size of your pool, the type of care it requires, and the frequency of services. Another key factor in cost is your location, as services have a higher price tag in regions with a higher cost of living and higher costs to do business.

When selecting a pool professional, always ensure they are qualified and experienced, hold any relevant certifications, and are properly insured. Reading reviews goes a long way toward finding the right fit for your pool maintenance needs. Whether you only need partial service (they do the chemicals, you handle the dirty work) or you’d like regular, full-service maintenance, here are the cost factors involved:

Monthly full-service maintenance

Most pool cleaning and maintenance companies offer a monthly price for their weekly services. You may opt for service each week or every two weeks; frequency will impact cost.

Services vary by company and can include skimming the pool, brushing the pool and steps, emptying skimmer and pump baskets, testing pool water and adjusting and adding chemicals as needed, vacuuming the pool as needed, cleaning debris filter screens for in-floor systems, unclogging pump impellers, unclogging vacuum cleaner turbines/diaphragm, and backwashing the pool sand filter when pressure is high.

Pool pros provided us with examples of their monthly costs and explained the factors that can increase these standard rates. "Pool size, amount of foliage around the pool, age and condition of pool equipment, and the location of house (if it’s in or out of our service area) can all impact the average monthly rate for services," explains Debbie Tyer of Humble Bee Pool Service and Repair in Mesa, Arizona. Here are a few examples—all of which include the cost of chemicals:

• Average monthly cost for full-service pool maintenance: $85-$120, depending on pool, from Humble Bee Pool Service and Repair.

  • Sand filters need to be backwashed every week in the summer and every two to three weeks in the winter. This service is included in the monthly fee.

  • Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters should be backwashed about every two to three months or when the filter pressure is high. This service is included in the monthly fee.

• Average monthly cost for full-service pool maintenance: $80 from Terrell Witt of Integrity Pool Care in Scottsdale, Arizona.

  • Includes 1 pound of granular chlorine and 2 chlorine tablets. Service for larger pools may cost more due to increased cost of chemicals.

• Average monthly cost for full-service pool maintenance: $90-$95, depending on pool size, from Kyle Bernard of Radiance Pools in Tempe, Arizona.

  • Weekly logs and photos showing services performed or chemicals added to the pool during maintenance are emailed to the client.

  • Bimonthly full-service maintenance: $50 average from Radiance Pools.

Chemical maintenance only

Homeowners can have a lower monthly maintenance fee if they opt for chemical-only treatment. This means the homeowner assumes responsibility for basic cleaning and maintenance, such as skimming and brushing the pool, emptying baskets, etc., and the pros handle all the chemical additions and adjustments. Here are some examples of chemical-only monthly maintenance costs:

• Monthly cost for chemical-only service: $65-$80, depending on pool size, from Humble Bee Pool Service and Repair.

  • The larger the pool, the more chemicals are required, increasing the cost.

Cleaning filters

Cartridge filters need to be cleaned out at least once a year, explains Tyer of Humble Bee Pool Service and Repair. They use a combination of muriatic acid and high-pressure water to get the filters clean, and charge $100 for the service. Bernard with Radiance Pools recommends cleaning filters biannually to have them working in peak condition. His company charges $80 per filter cleaning. "A dirty filter can cause a high backpressure, which makes the pump work harder and the water filter slower," explains Bernard with Radiance Pools. “ This can lead to equipment damage and green or cloudy water.”