[l2ridehd]

I have a small pool about 12 X 28 I think. I have solar and gas heat for the pool. I use T&D weekly service to take care of the pool. I have a very accurate way to compare costs as I have a rental home with no pool about the same size as our home with a pool. There is a cost increase with electric, gas, and water. Also at least once a year some maintenance item to handle and painting the pool deck once every couple years. I budget $5000 a year for the pool. So far after 4 years I have never exceeded the budget. Usually actual costs are closer to $4000. Last year was the highest, but needed to replace the pool pump and with the new variable speed motor requirements that alone was $1500. When we are there I keep the pool around 87 degrees. So based on 4 years of cost, increased water bill, increased electric and gas bill, weekly pool service ($22 a week) and occasional maintenance items my 5K annual budget is very safe.

As to cost of pool installation it really depends on what you have. How big, number of water falls, how complicated the integrated falls and landscape is, gas or electric heater, size of birdcage, type of pillars and support structure, how much space your lot has to accommodate the various options, time of year you build it, do you also have a spa, and probably others I have forgot. I have seen costs as low as 25K and as high as over 100K. My guess would be the average for a decent size pool with some of the better options, but not overly extravagant, would be around 50K + or - 5K. Other more recent pool buyers may have more accurate install costs. My operational costs are very accurate, although I am sure there are those who would argue. But then they would argue about most anything.