When you install a pool, you’re instantly faced with two choices. Should you go with DIY pool maintenance or hire a professional pool service?
Both have their perks and cons. There isn’t a right or wrong answer, though.
It’s up to you to choose how you want to maintain your pool. While some pool owners love the DIY approach, others prefer to have someone else take care of it.
DIY Pool Maintenance
The most obvious benefit of DIY pool maintenance is it costs a little less. At first, it may seem like it costs much more since you’ll need to buy all the equipment to clean and maintain your pool yourself.
For instance, you’ll need a pool brush, vacuum, hose, test kit and chemicals. The good news is the only things you’ll need to buy regularly are chemicals and test kits. According to Home Guide, monthly chemical kits can cost anywhere from $20 to $100 per month.
Another benefit of doing it yourself is you choose the cleaning schedule and time. You always get to choose what’s convenient for you versus getting an appointment with a professional.
Now for the not so great parts of DIY pool maintenance. In most cases, it will take you longer than a professional to clean your own pool. This is because you’ll want to make sure you’re doing everything just right. At first, it’ll likely take you much longer as you learn how to do it.
The other issue is balancing your water. The right balance is crucial to the safety of your pool. It can be tricky at first learning how to do this, but once you master it, you’ll be able to do this part yourself too. However, some pool owners simply aren’t comfortable doing this part especially.
The DIY approach will save you money, but does require more time.
Professional Pool Maintenance
The most obvious benefit of professional pool maintenance is you don’t have to do it yourself. You get to sit back and relax while experts take care of cleaning your pool, checking the equipment and balancing the water. The best part is you’re not too tired to jump and enjoy the water when everything’s done.
You also benefit from years of expertise. Professionals tend to provide a much higher-quality clean because they’ve learned the most efficient and effective ways to maintain pools. As a result, they usually don’t take quite as long as if you were doing it yourself.
On the other hand, you do pay for this expertise. According to Home Guide, the national average is $122 per month, but this varies greatly based on where you’re located. For instance, costs tend to run higher in Hawaii.
According to Manta, the average monthly cost is $586, with a low range starting at $146. At Koko Head Pool Service, our prices start at $150. Pricing varies with every provider based on frequency of service and what you need done.
If you opt for a professional service, you also don’t have to buy much equipment. You’ll still want a skimmer to take care of debris floating on the top of your pool, though.
Professional pool maintenance is faster and more effective, but it does cost more.
Combination Approach
Some pool owners opt for a combination of the two. You can hire a professional service on a less frequent schedule for a deeper clean while taking a DIY approach in between professional visits.
This gives you the best combination of cost savings and clear, safe water. It also ensures your pool is being checked by professionals regularly for any early issues you might not notice.
In the end, it’s up to you to choose the best approach. For many, they love saving the time. For others, they actually enjoy maintaining the pool themselves.
If you’d like to spend more time in your pool than cleaning it, contact us today to set up a pool maintenance schedule today.