Costs, Savings, & You
Time is Money: Should You DIY or Hire a Pool Maintenance Service?
Pools, like many things worth having, require some basic attention and have costs measured in time and money. Before building a pool, it’s a good idea to think about how you plan to spend your time and money on maintenance – this exercise can help inform your building plan and ensure that you protect the investment in your property for years to come. There are advantages and disadvantages to either decision, but knowing a bit about DIY pool maintenance and professional maintenance services can help you make the best choice for your household.
No Matter What Choice You Make…
All pools need chemical balancing, equipment checks, routine cleaning, and occasional minor repair work (think cracked plastic skimmer basket at the end of the season). Someone, you or a professional, needs to get out there every week to stay on top of the pool’s condition and make adjustments when necessary. Regular maintenance is essential to prolong the life of your pool’s surfaces and equipment.
The Ups and Downs of a Professional Pool Service…
- Saves you time
- Helps save money on bigger expenses
- Cleans faster with professional equipment – after all, it’s their specialty
- No chemical storage on your property
- Chemicals are often included in your service charge (check with potential providers for specific price breakouts or tiered services), along with labor (that labor is time saved for you)
- Water testing is quick, simple, & adjustments are made right away
- You’re paying for the labor
- Need to look for a licensed, insured, and possibly certified company to protect yourself and your property
- May get behind during monsoon season with emergency visits (and you’ll still need to get outside and skim debris after a storm)
The Ups and Downs of DIY Maintenance…
- You get a little extra exercise sweeping/vacuuming, skimming, emptying skimmer baskets, brushing walls
- You can address storm debris immediately & not wait on a backed up service
- Get fresh air outside & have pride in a job well done
- Water testing may require multiple trips to the local pool supply store, especially during monsoon season
- You’ll need to buy the correct chemicals, treat the pool, & retest the water to correct imbalances
- Need to research exactly what needs to be done (check with your pool builder for a checklist to start with)
- Costly to buy the wrong chemicals, have to correct water balance often, have leftover chemicals go bad, cause damage to surfaces/equipment from over/under-correction
- Need to safely store chemicals away from heat, pets, & kids
- Have to be outside working, instead of splashing
Evaluating Costs & Savings is Personal
There’s no avoiding it – pool maintenance requires some time, some money, and some attention. The good news is there’s more than one way to keep your pool clean and sparkling. You know yourself, how you want to spend your time and money, and what you’re willing to DIY or hire out. Whatever you decide, Caribbean Pools & Spas wishes you a long and clean swimming season.
