How much does pool service cost?
This depends on several variables: the region in which the customer lives (upper class, middle class, affluent and so on); the type of pool (simple rectangle, or complex geometric with lots of bells and whistles) and the type of service desired. For instance, do you just want cleaning and skimming, or do you want water balancing and sanitizing, too? Do you want the equipment pad maintained? Do you want pool opening and closing service?

Most of these services are itemized on the bill. Average monthly pool-maintenance bills can run from approximately $30 to $150 a month, depending on the types of services provided.

How often do you come out and clean my pool?
It depends on the type of service you sign on for. If chemical balancing is involved and the pool endures a heavy weekly bather load, then once a week is most common. On pools with lighter bather loads and covers twice a month, or every other week, can probably get the job done.

Suppose I am sensitive to chlorine?
Although chlorine is an excellent sanitizer and is perfectly safe if used correctly, some folks have an excessive sensitivity to the chemical. Fortunately, the industry now offers several viable alternatives to sanitizing with chlorine. Systems are available that use enzymes (such as biguanides) and minerals that have proven to be effective. Discuss these options with your pool dealer and your service technician, and they will set up a nonchlorine pool for you.

Wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper if I service the pool myself?
It might be cheaper in the short run, but it could cost you plenty in the long run. Most pool owners start out thinking they can handle the service — until they realize what goes into keeping a pool safe and clean.

As a pool owner, do you understand the relationship between pH and total alkalinity (TA) and how it affects your water balance? If the pool changes color, will you know what’s causing it — algae or precipitating metals? Do you know what the Saturation Index is, and its significance? Do you know how to get the most life out of a circulation pump and prevent cavitation?

Most service technicians today are well-trained, certified professionals who are experts in water chemistry, hydraulics, filtration, plumbing, electricity and sanitization. An improperly maintained pool can make you and your family sick and can even pose dangers if total dissolved solids (TDS) levels rise too high, making the water too cloudy to see the bottom. If you hire a good pool service company, the money would be well-spent for the peace of mind alone.

I only swim three or four months out of the year. What does that mean as far as my pool service goes?
Most pool service companies offer both openings and closings for their customers who live in regions with seasonal swimming. These procedures help get the pool ready for the summer swimming season after a long winter of hibernation, and prepare the pool to lie dormant during the freezing winter months. Techs often offer these services as part of an overall maintenance program (a contract), or homeowners can request them as needed (though it’s usually more expensive that way).