The costs for swimming pool maintenance can vary based on the size of your pool, the type of care it requires, and the frequency of pool maintenance 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. The type of pool, such as above ground or inground pool, freshwater or saltwater pool can affect price as well. It's a good idea to get on the phone with a professional pool service company or two to walk through your specifications and needs to help them give you a clear cost estimate. They can help you consider the best service plan for your existing pool, or help you estimate costs for a new pool you're putting in.

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 both skimmer baskets 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:

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

Having a pool cleaning service company handle pool chemical maintenance only can help you cut costs while still ensuring the water chemistry stays where it should. This means the homeowner assumes responsibility for basic cleaning and regular maintenance, such as skimming and brushing the pool, emptying skimmer 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

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 back pressure, 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.”