[Altavia]

If serviced, get a test kit and check your water. We were sent an in experienced guy who left the chemistry worse than when he came.

Chlorine odor and burning eyes is a hint things are not right.

[eeroger]

We have our 15x30' pool serviced once/week for $120. Well worth the cost. It sparkles and is a joy to have, especially the past 2.5 years. After dumping T&D - Patriot - what ever name they now have - last year we couldn't be happier.

[BaileyMom]

My dad used to say the same thing about his boat on Lake Michigan. I'm not sure he meant it as a joke.

Originally Posted by MartinSE

Pool: n. A hole in your yard you throw money into.

It's a joke, it is only a joke

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Have you watched what they do on a service call. Think you could do that?
It’s really not rocket science……

It's like anything else, some people have no desire to do their own pool maintenance, and will happily pay. Is it hard to do, no, but it does take some work. I don't use the at home test kits (other than for chlorine and pH, and prefer to make a trip to the pool store every week to 10 days.

It's like the people who disdain paying a cable company each month for service, and use other means to watch shows. For me, I don't mind paying for service, with the convenience of having one source to watch my shows/sports.

[Villages Kahuna]

In periods of lots of rain, weekly might not be often enough. If your pool turns a light green, or even darker green, weekly isn’t enough.

[justjim]

This is not for everybody - but I actually watched as a neighbor down the street had his pool filled in ( not here in TV) so he didn’t have to “mess” with it anymore and “we can just go to the community pool three blocks south of here.” That’s exactly what he told me. I do wonder if you have to get permission to do that here in The Villages? Fore.

[PoolBrews]

Check out the Trouble Free Pools (TFP) website (Home - Trouble Free Pool | Trouble Free Pool). It's a site run by a number of former pool professionals whose only goal in life is to show folks how to properly maintain a pool.

They have a complete section of articles and videos under pool school that explain each measurement that affects your pool water, and how to measure and add whatever is needed.

You don't need 90% of the chemicals a pool store sells you - they are in business to make money. Many of the chemicals that they sell contain additives that make it unique to their store, but are bad (or useless) long term for your pool.

Using TFP, my cost for maintaining my pool (including chemicals) went from $100/month to less than $10/month. My pool is far clearer and cleaner than it ever was using the pool store guys.

I check my pool twice a week - most pool service companies check once a week, and over add chemicals to ensure it's still good when they come back. Sometimes I don't have to add anything for several weeks, but checking lets me know where everything is at. Checking literally takes 10-20 minutes. TFP even offers a pool app for $8/year. You enter in your specs (plaster, vinyl, size, salt, chlorine tabs, etc.) one time for your pool. When you check, you enter in the readings in the app, and it tells you exactly how much to add for each chemical to balance your pool. Super easy.

Here in Florida, you really need to check after a big rainstorm, or after a big pollen dump.

[remc47]

Put in a salt water system. Very low maintenance and save bundles on chemicals.

[Proveone]

Once a month or better yet, do it yourself. Very easy. Try youtube for demos on how to take care of it.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by remc47

Put in a salt water system. Very low maintenance and save bundles on chemicals.

Definitely the way to go with a pool IMHO.

[Two Bills]

How did we ever survive swimming/playing in rivers, canals, disused quarries, local ponds etc. as kids, and not a cleaner in sight?

[Grill Meister]

I have experience with Pinch Penny as well as T&D, and I found them expensive and lots of personnel turnover. I now have one of the finest pool service companies that you could find. Get in touch with Latonya Marshall.......TOUCHED BY ANGEL POOL AND SPA SERVICE....(352) 304-3447. Guarantee you will be more than satisfied and happy with her service....very through and very complete. She'll also save you a little money compared with the others.

[chenault55]

Who is your pool cleaner if you don’t mind telling me?

[Just jimmy]

Originally Posted by monsegur

I have a swimming pool and would like to know how often I should have it serviced. Right now, it's being done weekly and its very expensive. I'm the only one that uses it. Any recommendations on how often and typical cost to have it serviced.

10 minutes once a week is all it takes. We do it ourselves

[zendog3]

We used our pool a lot the first year, a little the second year, and not at all since. It looks nice in the back yard, unless you put a pool coverer it. Its only value is when grand kids come to visit, but its cost is constant. If it had any guts, I would put dirt in the bottom and turn it into a koi pond. That would be far more pleasant than a swimming pool, less hassle and minimum expense.

The hundred-plus a month is only the beginning. You have to pay for filters, pumps, motors, heating, etc. A pool is only worth it if you have money to burn.