Pools are a big investment so you want to ensure you keep it healthy for years to come. Regular maintenance is required to keep your pool clean, keep chemicals balanced, and to prevent long-term damage. There are pros and cons to both DIY and hiring a pro for your pool maintenance. When it comes time to decide whether you are going to hire a pro or conquer the quest yourself, you’ll want to take into consideration these three factors: Costs, Quality, Time and Effort. Read on to learn more about how these factors can impact your decision.
Costs
One of the main differences between hiring a pro or tackling this task yourself is the cost. The required equipment for cleaning your pool can be costly, but it is only a one-time purchase. However, things such as chemicals, testing kits, and filter replacements are required to be replaced over time and can become costly. You can read more about the costs of pool supplies here.
If you hire a pro to maintain your pool, the costs of tools and other equipment required may be calculated into the maintenance cost. This means you would not have to buy the materials yourself. If you are planning to maintain your pool on your own, you will have to buy all the necessary equipment and tools to keep it clean, which can become costly over time.
Quality
The quality of maintenance and cleaning can vary depending on if you hire a pro or DIY. Other factors such as the quality of the company that you hire, or even your own personal skills, understanding, and tools required to clean your pool can alter the outcome of the result as well.
If you have minimal knowledge of how pools operate and how to properly clean them, there are resources available to help learn, but hiring a pro is a great alternative. Pros have the knowledge and proper equipment to maintain and clean your pool in minimal time. They also know how to properly keep it usable and safe for your family and friends.
On the other hand, if you understand how a pool operates and know how to manage and balance the chemicals, understand how to clean and use your pump to backwash and filter, then maintaining your own pool is totally doable — but, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort.
Time and Effort
You may have the knowledge to maintain your pool but may not have the time or energy to do so regularly. Owning a pool requires a lot of effort on your part already. You must open and close properly according to the seasons, clean it regularly, and update any damage to ensure it is functioning properly and to extend its lifespan.
If you’re able to clean your pool yourself, you’ll need to dedicate at least one hour (sometimes longer) per week to cleaning. This time does not include chemical balancing or updating/fixing equipment. It’s important to conduct regular maintenance and cleaning, especially if you’re actively using your pool, to keep the water safe and clean.
Hiring a pro to help maintain your pool will take a lot of stress away from you while giving you time and energy in return. Hired pros, with their extensive equipment and experience, can complete the same task in under an hour, giving you more time to enjoy the pool. While it comes at a cost, it will be less time and energy-consuming on your end.
The main difference between DIY and a pro lies within these three factors. Keep in mind that one is not necessarily better than the other, in fact, whichever one suits your lifestyle the best, it should be the one that you decide on. The important thing to keep in mind is that your pool is getting the maintenance that it requires. If you do decide to go with a pro, simply click on the banner below to get quotes from companies in your area.
