There’s no denying that a swimming pool is one of the best investments you can make for your home. From creating a soothing backyard oasis to entertaining friends and family, swimming pools deliver massive bang for your buck.
However, it’s only natural for savvy pool owners to want to protect their investments and save a bit of cash where they can. Luckily for you, our Chicago pool experts are here to help. If that’s the case for you, check out these 7 money-saving tips for pool owners.
1. Keep the Heat In
Whether you use a pool heater or let the sunshine do its thing, you’ll save a ton of money by retaining the heat in your pool. We recommend placing a solar blanket (sometimes called a solar panel) on top of your swimming pool.
Not only will this retain the heat within the pool, but it also attracts heat from the sun. If you set it up overnight, the pool will be nice and toasty by the next morning.
2. Take Care of the Pool Equipment
Taking proper care of your pool equipment significantly prolongs its lifespan. In fact, the main reason why people wind up needing to replace their vacuum heads is that the brushes flatten out or fall off. As you can probably guess, both of these occur as the result of improper storage.
To keep your pool vacuum in tip-top shape, store the vacuum head upside down and out of the sun. Also, keep it far away from chlorine and other pool chemicals.
3. Close Your Pool Yourself
An easy way for pool owners to save money is to winterize their pools themselves. While some people prefer hiring a local swimming pool professional, closing the pool requires just 9 easy steps:
- Add the closing chemicals to the water.
- Drain your pool 6 to 8 inches below the skimmer.
- Remove any hoses from the pool filter and pump.
- Remove the drain plugs from the pump and filter and store them inside the pump basket.
- Store your pump and filter in a safe place that’s away from the sun. (Skip this step if you have a sand filter.)
- Install a winter plug in the return line.
- Blow up the pool cover air pillow. Then, float it to the middle of the pool. If needed, this tool will help you keep it centered.
- Drape the cover over the pool and secure it using a cable and winch. You could also opt for winter cover clips.
- Add water bags to the deck to hold everything in place.
4. Don’t Let Water Sit on Your Pool Cover
Of course, winterizing your pool doesn’t mean forgetting about it until next season. As it rains and snows, don’t let excess water pool on top of the cover. Standing water eventually finds its way underneath, and when you open the pool in the summertime, you’ll be greeted by a moldy and mildewy mess. When that happens, you’ll have no other choice but to shock it.
Instead of letting the water pool, we recommend using a pool cover pump to drain it after every rain or snowstorm. Then, once the cover dries, use a broom to sweep away any debris. Not only does this elongate the lifespan of your cover, but you’ll thank yourself later.
5. Use a Robotic Pool Cleaner
Every pool owner needs to keep their pool clean, but why not let a robot do the heavy lifting for you? These self-contained, electric units drive around the pool — climbing up walls and over stairs — collecting debris in their mesh filter bags. The best part? They can clean a swimming pool way faster than most humans.
Of course, that’s not all. A robotic pool cleaner also filters the water via its filtration bags. (And it costs significantly less to run the robotic pool cleaner than the entire filtration system.) Therefore, opting to clean your inground swimming pool with a robotic pool cleaner saves tons of money in the long run.
6. Use Chlorine Stabilizers
When you add chlorine to your pool — either by shocking it or using a chlorine tablet — the chlorine is pretty unstable. What that means is that it won’t last very long underneath that blazing Illinois sunshine. However, adding chlorine stabilizer (also called cyanuric acid) prevents the sun from deteriorating the chlorine in your pool. This saves pool owners money by extending the lifespan of their chlorine and minimizing the need for replacement.
7. Conserve as Much Water as Possible
We probably don’t have to remind you that the world doesn’t have an infinite supply of water. (Nor do we have to remind you that pool water isn’t free.) However, the average pool wastes water via evaporating, leaking, splashing, and filter backwashing. While wasted water might seem insignificant at the time, it adds up to thousands of gallons – which costs hundreds of dollars.
To limit evaporation, cover your pool whenever it’s not in use. Pro tip: our automatic covers are permanently installed atop the pool and open/close at the push of a button. Additionally, install wind-blocking objects — like pergolas or landscaping — around the pool’s perimeter, as this will help prevent evaporation.
Next, figure out whether your pool is leaking. To do so, simply make a grease pencil mark at the water level on the skimmer. If the level drops significantly within 24 hours, you have a leak that needs to be fixed. When this happens, it’s possible to fix the leak using a link dye finder. However, you can always call in the pros.
Finally, learn how to backwash your pool properly. Backwashing for longer than necessary wastes water. Therefore, we recommend stopping as soon as the water runs clear. Also, minimize the frequency of your backwashing by maintaining a clean pool and filter system.
Save Money on a Fiberglass Pool Today
As we mentioned, fiberglass swimming pools are some of the best ways to elevate your outdoor space. If you keep these 7 money-saving tips for pool owners in mind, you can rest assured your investment will pay off.
As the leading inground swimming pool builders in Chicago, our team is here for any and all of your swimming pool needs. If you have questions about how to make the most of your fiberglass swimming pool, contact us today to chat more.
