Cut the Costs of Pool Ownership

A swimming pool is one of the best ways to cool down in our hot Texas summers, but most homeowners underestimate the costs associated with owning one. We’ve got a few tweaks and adjustments to help you cut the costs of pool ownership.

Reduce Your Chemical Use

Pool chemicals like chlorine, acid, antifungals and more are expensive, but there are a handful of more affordable alternatives available. A salt chlorine generator can transform ordinary salt into chlorine, saving you money and expensive trips to the pool supply company. If that weren’t enough to entice you, these devices are fully automated so they can eliminate the guesswork in treating your water. You’ll still need to have some chlorine on hand for an occasional shock, but the salt chlorine generator drastically reduces the amount of chlorine that you have to pay for.

Upgrade Your Pool Pump

The pump (or pumps) are the heart of any pool system, and if yours is outdated, its likely working a lot harder than it needs to to. New variable speed pumps are far more energy efficient than older single-speed pumps which are always running at one speed – top speed. Variable speed pumps though can adjust automatically, and by doing so reduce your electrical consumption by as much as 70 percent.

Install Solar Heating

Electricity costs for maintaining your pool can be excessive, particularly if you’re heating your pool during the cooler months. By installing a solar heater though, you can again reduce electric consumption. Can’t afford solar panels? Trim back any tree limbs that cast shade on your pool and expose the water’s surface to as much natural sunlight as possible.

Cut Your Insurance Costs

Owning a pool can cause your homeowner’s insurance to skyrocket. Because they consider them huge liability risks, insurance companies typically require increased liability coverage for your pool. There are a few things you can do though to help mitigate the risks. Install at least a six foot fence around the perimeter of your yard to keep your pool out of view. Install a secondary fence that is at least 4 feet tall and includes a self-locking gate around the perimeter of your pool. Diving boards and waterslides also increase liability, so consider for yourself how important those really are.

Reduce Your Water Costs

Wind plays a major role in water evaporation, but planting some hedges, building a fence, or creating some other kind of wind barrier around the pool, you can reduce the amount of water lost from evaporation.

Stay on Top of Basic Maintenance

Day to day maintenance, or at a bare minimum, weekly maintenance can help your pool run more efficiently and thereby save you money in the long run. A clogged filtration system and leaky pump basket can cause your pumps to work overtime. Simply by keeping your pool clean and the filters free of debris, you can dramatically cut the costs of running your pool system.