Salt Water Pool Maintenance Cost

Yearly Pool Upkeep Costs

The average yearly cost of pool maintenance is $960 to $1,800 per year. Total pool upkeep costs run $3,000 to $5,000 per year, which includes maintenance, minor repairs, electricity, and water. Prices depend on the type of pool you have , and the size of your pool.

From lowest to highest overall costs are fiberglass pools, vinyl liner pools, and then concrete pools. Also worth noting is the difference in chemical and electricity costs between the three types of pools. Between each type, the clear winner in terms of your cost of ownership is a fiberglass pool.

Yearly Pool Maintenance Cost

Add to that permitting costs, which could range between $500 and $2,000.

Cost To Convert A Chlorine Pool To Saltwater

Expect to pay between $500 and $3,200 to convert a traditional chlorinated pool to a saltwater system, depending on the size and type of pool you have. Above-ground pools are much cheaper to maintain and cost between $500 to $1,200 for a standard 10,000-gallon pool. A 50,000-gallon in-ground pool will cost between $1,000 and $3,200 to convert into a saltwater pool.

Cost factors for the conversion include:

• Saltwater chlorinator costs: The saltwater chlorine generator costs $100 to $2,500.

• Pump: Pumps cost between $300 and $1,200.

• Salt: A 40-pound bag of salt costs between $10 and $25 each.

• Filter: Filters for the pump cost between $30 to $1,600.

Average Costs to Convert a Pool from Fresh Water to Salt Water

Salt systems can feature self-cleaning and diagnostics, digital salt readouts, and the ability to control pool equipment. Lower-cost models will have fewer of these features than higher-priced ones. No matter which one you choose, you’ll want to hire a pool pro with plumbing expertise.

Cleaning Your Pool Regularly

The next part of maintaining a saltwater pool is cleaning the pool regularly. This is where things start to differ from cleaning a regular chlorine pool. Many popular tools and cleaning devices arent as durable in saltwater pools, so you need to make sure you get one designed for the environment youll be using it in.

You also need to pay attention to how the cleaning functions. Constant splashing from pool water could lead to high concentrations of salt on the outside of your pool liner, ultimately leading to significant damage over time.

Ideally, you wont have any water splashing outside of the pool during your cleaning, but this is probably inevitable, so consider using a hose and regularly spraying down the area to push salt back into the pool. This step should minimize the risk of buildups while ensuring adequate cleanliness in your pool.

You should not see salt crystals anywhere in your pool. If you see them starting to grow on anything, theres something wrong with your pool, so refer to the manufacturers instructions and address the problem as soon as possible.

Same as a traditional chlorine pool, make sure you keep your filter, pool pump, and skimmer clean.

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Gunite Saltwater Pool Cost

While people use gunite, shotcrete, and concrete interchangeably, theyre quite different. Gunite is created from finer particles, while concrete is made from larger particles. You can expect gunite saltwater pools to run from $50,000 to about $125,000.

They typically last longer than shotcrete or concrete, but they are more prone to cracking. Therefore, its not a good idea to have a gunite pool if you live in deep-freezing areas or areas with frequent earthquakes.

Salt Water Pool Maintenance

Salt water pool maintenance costs about $45 per month if you do it yourself, and $80 to $150 per month if you pay a cleaning service. You can save on this cost if you close the pool for a few months every winter for around $300. Your salt water pool will need to be cleaned regularly from debris that falls or blows into it, dust that settles in the water, and salt buildupsalt solids can collect on the bottom of the pool.

Depending on the price you pay, weekly services can include:

• Water testing and balancing
• Vacuuming the pool

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What Are The Drawbacks Of Saltwater Pools

Despite saltwater pools being generally superior to freshwater pools, there are various drawbacks associated with them:

• The possibility of corrosion on metallic ladders and internal pump parts from the mild salinity in the water
• Over time, salt can leave corrosion on stones or pavements, which may become hard to clean off
• Salt has been found to damage underwater lights or other submerged electrical circuitry
• The chlorine generator may increase your monthly energy bills, especially if you have a large swimming pool that is frequently used

Pool Water Delivery Cost

A 15,000-gallon pool will cost from $80 to $160 using your garden hose or $600 to $1,200 trucked in. While its entirely possible to fill your pool with a garden hose, it will take some time. A water tanker holds about 9,000 lbs. of water, and youll need a tanker and a half of water. It costs more to hire tankers, but it is much faster.

• City Water Having a pool can increase your water bill by about $4 to $20 per month, due to the 2 inches per week loss of water per day due to evaporation. The average price per gallon of water ranges from $0.002/gallon to $0.011/gallon .
• Well Water Well water isnt treated whereas city water is. The metals and minerals can stain your pool wall and possibly turn the water brown. You can filter the water before it goes into the pool with something like a Hayword Bobby filter on the end of your garden hose which filters out the impurities, or treat the water once its in the pool with a metal control treatment or water clarifier.

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Other Factors That Affect Cost

Different types of swimming pools require different equipment and methods to clean, which means the specifics of your pool will affect how much you have to pay for cleaning and other maintenance.

Well cover some of the biggest variables when it comes to swimming pools and break down the cost factors that come along with each one.

Salt Water Vs Chlorine Pool Costs

As mentioned, the types of chemicals you use can influence the maintenance cost of your pool. When is comes to upkeep between salt water vs chlorine pools, salt water pools tend to be cheaper, with an average cost of $70-$100 annually for pool upkeep and chemicals. Chlorine pools are quite a bit more expensive expect to pay as much as $300-$400 per year on keeping your pool sparkling clean.

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Saltwater Vinyl Pool Cost

For a vinyl saltwater pool, you can expect to pay about $35,000 to $65,000. The best thing about a vinyl pool is that theyre quick and easy to install. You can also choose different shapes, colors, and sizes! Although the downside is that you will need to replace the liner more often. Vinyl liners are not as durable as others.

Chlorine And Salt Levels

It is a common misconception that saltwater systems do not have . In fact, these systems are currently the most popular of the chlorine systems. A saltwater pool will have lower levels of chlorine than a traditional chlorine pool because the chlorine is produced at a steady level rather than added to the pool with chlorine sticks or tablets. Salt is added to the pool instead, and a saltwater generator produces hypochlorous acid for sanitation through electrolysis, which is the breakdown of the salt by passing electricity through the saltwater solution.

Despite the name of a saltwater pool, the salt content is approximately that of human tears, about one-tenth the salinity of ocean water. Swimmers can open their eyes underwater, and their skin feels softer after a swim.

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What Is A Saltwater Pool

First, lets make sure everyone understands what a saltwater pool is and how it works.

If youre thinking about buying a swimming pool, youll need this information, so stick with us. If you already understand the basics, then skip ahead to the next section.

A saltwater pool uses a salt-chlorine generator, which converts salt into chlorine. For the machine to function, youll need to add salt to it. This is different from a traditional chlorine pool, which requires you to add chemicals.

Contrary to what some people believe, a saltwater pool doesnt taste or feel like the ocean. Instead, the water has a very silky feel and a mild taste. The salinity of saltwater in a pool is about one-tenth of what youll find in the ocean.

Its actually closer to what you would find in contact lens solution or a natural teardrop.

Saltwater pools have less chlorine in them, which makes it gentler on the skin and eyes. If you have children in the home or you plan to swim for long periods of time, this is a major advantage.

The chlorine levels are high enough to disinfect your pool, but theyre not so high that you need to worry about it damaging your hair or fading your swimwear.

Considering all of these advantages, you might wonder why everyone doesnt use saltwater. Is it a lot more expensive or harder to maintain? Keep reading as we explore the answers to these questions.

Ladders And Diving Boards

You need ladders for your pool if you do not have stairs on both sides of your pool. Most of the time, the ladders are included in your total pool price. However, if theyre not, they cost about $70 to $200 each.

Diving boards are not recommended for fiberglass pools as these types of pools are not usually deep enough. If you want to add a diving board, they cost around $400.

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How Much Does A Salt Chlorine Generator Cost

It usually costs $600$2,000 to install a salt chlorine generator. It may seem like a lot upfront, but most folks feel its worth the initial investment because they dont need to purchase chlorine from a pool store.

A salt water system isn’t necessarily better because it’s more or less expensive. Different chlorine generating systems have different strengths and weaknesses, and the type of pool you have will always be the biggest influence over which system you choose.

A salt water pool typically costs $50$100 per year to maintain. Compare this to traditional chlorine pools, which cost $250$300 per year.

Replacing the cell unit costs $700$900 every 37 years.

Taking all the expenses into account, using a salt chlorine generator in your pool costs about the same as traditional chlorine.

Is Owning A Pool Worth It

Resale Value A pool can increase not only your social worth but also the value of your home. However, the increase is probably not as much as you think. According to HouseLogic, there’s no real guarantee that you’ll make your money back. In fact, adding a swimming pool may only increase your home’s value by 7%.

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Salt Water Pools Vs Chlorine Pools: Maintenance

Overall, pool maintenance is pretty much the same whether you have a chlorine or salt water pool

With both pools, you still have to:

• Skim, brush, and vacuum
• Empty the skimmer & pump baskets

That said, there are some small differences between the two.

You can set up salt water pools to regulate chlorine levels for you. This, of course, depends on the salt water generator system youre using. That said, most models offer this feature and can actively monitor chlorine levels.

Salt water pool systems also let you easily adjust the chlorine production rate, via the control panel. This makes managing pool chemicals use a lot easier.

Of course, a potential drawback of salt water pools is that pH levels tend to fluctuate a bit more. This is for two reasons:

• Salt water generated chlorine is unstabilized
• For the best results, add a stabilizer to your saltwater pool to boost chlorine effectiveness. Itll make the chlorine last longer and serve as a shield against UV rays

Which One Is Better

Determining whether a saltwater or freshwater pool is better ultimately depends on your individual preferences when it comes to initial costs, annual costs, and level of maintenance.

In the end, saltwater pools are the better solution. They are less expensive, are simpler to maintain, and have a smaller impact on your health. While the low initial costs of a freshwater pool are tempting, the overall cost of chlorination, the chlorine exposure, and day-to-day maintenance are less appealing. However, both will give you the cool relief and sweet summer memories that come with having a pool right outside your backdoor.

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How Much Do Pool Repairs Cost

Although hopefully not a regular occurrence, occasional repairs are to be expected for pool owners. Depending on the issue, the pool repair may cost as little as $10 or as much as $20,000. The average cost for pool repair is $900. If you are purchasing a home with an existing pool, have it thoroughly inspected in advance to avoid an unexpectedly costly project.

Some common pool repairs and their costs include:

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How Do Saltwater Pools Sanitize

Lets start with the basics, as the manner in which saltwater pools sanitize is still quite widely misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, saltwater pools are mainly sanitized by chlorine. Despite not adding chlorine directly to the pool water, saltwater pool owners still swim in a chlorine-sanitized pool.

While salt has some ability to kill bacteria, it is not powerful enough to take on pool sanitization. Saltwater pools employ the use of a salt chlorine generator to convert sodium chloride to chlorine gas. The electricity in the generator splits the molecules to create chlorine. The salt is converted back to NaCl and goes back through the process. Salt is simply added to the pool water and when that water runs through the generator the salt is converted to chlorine.

It is the cell inside the generator that does the conversion. Inside the cell are ruthenium or iridium coated blades. The control board portion of the cell sends a charge through the blades, which causes the reaction. The resulting chlorine gas dissolves and becomes HOCl or pure chlorine.

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How Can I Save Money

Talk with your local fire department. Some departments will actually fill up your pool for a small donation.

Most of the time, filling your pool with a hose is the way to go. If you call up your local water department, some companies may be able to cut you a deal. Since your sewer and water are going to be billed together, they may be able to waive the sewer usage for that day. Regardless of your pool size, the cost of filling up your pool will not be more than $10 to $35. To give you a rough estimate, a 20,000-gallon pool is about $40 to $55 worth of water. Because water delivery is so much more expensive than filling the pool with a hose, hiring this service is only done for convenience sake.

Some companies may offer discounts when you visit their website. Keep your eyes peeled for promotions or coupons.

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How Much Salt Does My Pool Need

The salt level should usually be 3,0004,000 ppm, but check your cells rating. Some salt chlorine generators have different ranges.

For a brand new pool, add 4050 lb. of salt for every 2,000 gallons of water. For a pool thats already done some duty with chemicals, test the water first.

You can use a calculator or chart like this one to figure out how much salt youll need to add to reach the ideal ppm.

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Inground Saltwater Pool Cost: Salt Cells Generators And More

Options and Accessories | Cost and Pricing

Well be upfront with you – a saltwater pool costs about as much as a traditional chlorine pool. If thats what you were looking for, feel free to exit this page.

If, however, youd like to learn more about saltwater pool costs, keep reading because were going to cover all angles of this topic.

At River Pools, we install fiberglass pools for customers across North America, and weve noticed an increased interest in salt systems over the years. If youre wondering how much pool salt, salt chlorine generators, or salt system parts cost, we explain all of this and more in the following sections.

Should I Install An In

Just like a chlorine pool, a salt water pool can be either in-ground or above-ground and if you choose the above-ground option, you can save some serious cash. These are often sold as kits, and handy homeowners can do most of the installation themselves. Expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,500 for an above-ground kit. That price typically includes all the materials you need, as well as a liner, a pump and a ladder.

There may be some additional costs for your above-ground salt water pool like, of course, the salt water chlorinator. You can learn more about potential above-ground pool expenses here.

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