Average Maintenance Costs?

[pauster]

We have a 16x32 vinyl pool on Long Island, NY.

We run our pump (1 hp) 7 hours a day. It is a 11 amp pump, x 115 V = 1.2656kw x 7 h per day = 8.855 kwh per day. At $.195 per kwh (including fuel surcharges) that's $1.72 per day. For 5 months, it is $260 per year.

Most smaller ( up to 1HP pumps) are in the same range.

If you use a two speed pump you can pay for the difference in cost in about 2-3 years.

To heat the pool you can use gas heaters, heat pumps and solar panels ... I have neither but in May and early June I wish I had )

Chemicals - if you regularly maintain the right level - and the friendly folks in this forum will help you - you should be able to spend less than $150 a year.

We open and close ourselves - it is quite easy. We only buy the non-toxic antifreeze at the pool store. I use a shop vac to empty the lines and pour in anti-freeze.

However, your grocery and beverage cost might go up with the effect of more and more frequent visitors !

If I may recommend something - go for high quality components for everything - they will last longer and be more pleasant to use. There is a ton of good advice on pool contstruction in this forum ...

[s6skuzy]

Pauster - Thank you for the breakdown - that helps tremendously. Can you suggest any high quality components that you refer to? The "sky" is not quite the limit, but now's the time to consider this and we are open to considering everything.

Bleach=Chlorine? - would you know the upfront cost differences between the heat pump and the furnace? What about long term?

Rollinrock - thank you for your feedback!

[mkelley]

If you are open to considering everything I'd *strongly* consider using solar to heat your pool.

We had gas and spent $1K one month to heat the pool (okay, not a real good example because it *was* January, but here in Florida the days were in the low 80's and at night it was in the 50's and I foolishly thought I could just heat the pool enough to swim for very little money). In any case, putting in solar has now enabled us to heat the pool for "free" (other than the initial cost there are no other costs as your pool pump provides the power and will be running anyway) and extend the pool season dramatically (solar can usually double your swimming season no matter where you live -- obviously more northerly climes will get less but the season is less to begin with, so you can still double it).

Not having solar put in when we first built the pool was the only mistake I made (doesn't matter too much as you can always add it, but I regret the time I didn't have it :>) If you are going to the trouble and expense for a pool (worth it IMHO no matter what <g>) you should get the most enjoyment you can out of it!

[s6skuzy]

So far, all three quotes have included solar covers - only one has included a solar reel. I had assumed it was the blue bumpy cover that you put over the pool to heat it and keep water from evaporating.

When you refer to having the solar cover "put in" - is this something different than what I described above?

Thanks...

[matt4x4]

Mkelly is talking about solar panels, not solar covers, solar covers are just a blue bubble wrap that floats on the pool, retains the heat over the night time, a reel is between 200 and 500 bucks - that just lets you roll the cover up neatly.
Solar panels are black sheets that your water pumps through and dramatically increases the temperature of your water without burning up any more electricity or gas, it uses the sun's energy to heat your pool - a great investment and return on investment. If you have the room to place them or a roof to put them on they are the best! I would not even consider a gas or electric heater, matter of fact, I was advised against them by everyone that has owned one since the operating costs are ridiculous. Solar panels cost less on innitial purchase cost than a heater would too, so you save right away.

[s6skuzy]

Thank you for that clarification! By any chance, would you be able to refer me to a website that would show what these panels look like? I live in the inside of a subdivision with some rules - and I guess, depending on the appearance or size, this concept might not be approved. Thanks again.

[matt4x4]

there are many available, most look like this:
these are mine - on the ground, then there are some you can customize in size length to suit your install...like the links to these other threads

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...4/100_2895.jpg

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3409

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...highlight=part

[mkelley]

We're also in a community with rules -- indeed, I doubt whether you could have *more* rules than we do <bg> (over 55 communities are just paranoid, I guess). In any case, not only is solar allowed, it *has* to be allowed (due to federal energy guidelines) so I would assume the case would be true with you as well (at least if you can put the panels on your roof).

Indeed, while we need to get permission to plant a bush anywhere on our yard, and can't have a flagpole or paint our house an "unapproved" color, folks here just go ahead and install solar without asking. I suspect if you start looking around at your community you will see that is the case, that there are homes with pools that have solar panels on the roof.