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Category: Inground Pool Cost

Ask the General: How Do I Control Heating Costs in My Pool?

Posted on by John Wigand

Pool tips and tricks; controlling heating costs Dear General;

I absolutely LOVE my new inground fiberglass swimming pool. What I’m not sure I’m going to love is my pool heating bill. Do you have any tips and tricks for controlling swimming pool heating costs?

Signed– Don’t Want My Dollars Going Down the Pool Drain.

Dear Dollars;

I hear you. No one wants to see their hard-earned money going down the swimming pool drain. Let’s take a look at the various kinds of heaters and ways you can save your money for more fun things.

______________________________________________________________________

Four types of heaters

First of all, pool heaters are NOT the most energy efficient appliances you’ll ever run across. The most popular options are electric and gas. Some folks also use solar or, in rare cases, wood burning. Which is best? That depends on who you ask. Let’s break it down.

Electric

Electric heat pumps use electricity to capture heat and move it from one place to another. In other words, they take the ambient heat surrounding your pool and transfer it into the pool. The electric heat pump manufacturers report that they are the most efficient.

Gas

Gas pool heaters use either natural gas or propane. As the pump circulates the pool’s water, the water drawn from the pool passes through a filter and then to the heater. The gas burns in the heater’s combustion chamber, generating heat that transfers to the water, and that water is returned to the pool.The gas heater manufacturers report they are the most efficient.

Solar

Solar heating units take the heat from the sun and introduce it to the water. They involve a solar collector — the device through which pool water is circulated to be heated by the sun. A filter removes debris before water is pumped through the collector. Then, a pump circulates water through the filter and collector and returns it to the pool. Solar heat manufacturers report they are the most efficient.

Wood burning

Wood burning heaters also use a heat exchanger (similar to gas units) to heat the water. Cold pool water is pumped from the pool via a submersible pump into a coil of copper pipe mounted above the fire, inside the fire pit or grill. By the time the water makes it out of the pipe, the fire has heated the water. This is similar to how a standard hot water heater works.This system is most often used in rural areas. The wood burner manufacturers report they are the most efficient. (Have you noticed a pattern here?)

So which one is the best and most efficient? Well, that’s a tough question to answer. It really depends on pool heating costs in your area and what you already have in your home. Regardless of the heating option you choose, here are some tips and tricks to save money on your pool heating costs:

  • Cover it up. When the pool is not in use, close it off with an automatic safety cover or a solar blanket.
  • Limit run time. Water features like fountains, waterfalls and bubblers are wonderful, but you really only need to run them when you’re in the pool. Turn them off when you get out.
  • Maintain your landscaping. Trim trees and bushes that restrict sunlight from your pool.
  • Block the wind. Install barriers, such as fences or shrubs, that will keep wind from hitting your pool surface and cooling the water.
  • Mind your thermostat. Keep the temperature set between 78-82°. Each degree over that adds about 10% to your pool heating costs.

Maintenance is Key

Ultimately, the key to successfully and efficiently heating your swimming pool is to be proactive with your heater maintenance. You also need to keep your water balanced for optimal performance. Have a certified technician give the heater, along with all your pool equipment, a health checkup every year. Most pool companies will perform a thorough check when they open your pool (or at regular intervals if you live somewhere where your pool is open year-round.) Whether you choose a large service or a one-man show, make sure they are honest, on time, established, insured, heater-certified, knowledgeable and professional. Ask for a checkup report, just like the one you get from the company that services your furnace and air conditioner. They come in handy when you’re dealing with a manufacturer’s warranty.

Now, it’s time to grab a float, relax and enjoy the pool.

Until next time…

The General

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Who is The General?

The man, the myth, the legend….we just call him The General. His organized, systematic approach to pool installations over the years had his crew members calling him “The General” and it stuck. The General has over 30 years’ experience in the pool and spa industry, working for one of Pool and Spa News’ “Top 50 Pool Builders.”

Over that time, he designed, sold, project-managed and installed over a thousand inground swimming pools. As a pool owner himself, he’s the perfect authority to give you the inside scoop, with amazing tips and tricks to make pool ownership a breeze!

Resolve to Spend it Wisely

Posted on by John Wigand

We’re closing in on the end of the first month of the new year. So it’s a good time to circle back around and check in on our new year’s resolutions. Have any of them stuck? January is great time to assess our goals and plans. Whether your plans are large scale (like going on vacation or getting a new fiberglass pool in your backyard by summer,) or small scale (like stashing away enough money each month to get some new lounge chairs for the patio by Spring,) minding your pennies now can add up to a big deal later. The secret is in keeping track.

None of us really likes to document what we do every day, whether it’s how many cups of coffee we drink, how many cookies we’ve eaten, or how much money we spent on things that weren’t in our budget. But accountability is key to staying on target with any goal you’re working toward. If you want to end up with more money at the end of the month, you need to know where your money goes every minute of every day. You’ll be surprised at how much you can actually hold onto if you track it.

Mint.com  is a great site for managing your day-to-day finances, and there’s an easy to use mobile app for managing your money on the go. There are also investment tips and analyses of the best bets for interest-free credit cards, banks and IRA rollovers.

If that’s too high tech for your taste, you can at least get a good idea of where and how you’re spending your hard-earned dough by reading your credit card statement thoroughly at the end of the month. Most of them at least break down your expenditures by category.  

Remember that cash can be a friend or an enemy. If you’re in a good habit of spending only what you have, that’s great. But taking cash out of the ATM just to have some “walking around” money can get you into trouble. If, at the end of the day, your pockets are empty, you might not even be able to remember what you spent it on.

So, would you rather have a week’s worth of nothing you can remember? Or would you like to have a lifetime of memories with something wonderful for your family, like a new backyard oasis with an amazing, new fiberglass pool?

The choice is yours. Resolve to spend it wisely.

 

Try Our Pool Cost Calculator

 

This is the Year You DO It!

Posted on by John Wigand

get a fiberglass pool
The new year is here. We’ve all got plans for how we’re going to make 2018 our best year yet. Does your plan for the new year include a big new purchase, like an outdoor playground or fiberglass swimming pool?

You can make 2018 the year that you actually DO these things instead of just dreaming about them. The difference lies in your approach.

One way to achieve your goals is to write them down, and break them into manageable chunks. Post them where you can look at them daily, and get your whole family on board.

If you’re thinking of getting a fiberglass pool this year, post a picture of the pool you’ve chosen on your refrigerator and refer back to it every time you’re thinking of making an unessential purchase. Keep your eyes on the prize! If you’re not sure which pool might be the best fit for your family, check out this handy pool selector tool.

Productivity gurus also like to talk about the SMART principle. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-bound. It’s a tried and true way to define your goals and finally achieve them.

If, for example, your goal is to save the money for a down payment on a new fiberglass pool, and you decide to set aside $100 per week, your budget might look like this:

Eating at home one night per week instead of going out= a savings of $75.00 per week

Giving up that daily latte: $5.00x 5= a savings of $25.00 per week

Using these criteria to quantify and delineate your action plan to work toward your goal can make all the difference in whether you’re swimming in your beautiful, new fiberglass pool in your outdoor paradise by the time the summer heat kicks in or sitting on the patio with a popsicle in front of a fan.

This is the year you DO it!

Wondering how much a new fiberglass pool might cost? Check out this article.

How Much Can an Inground Pool Cost?

Posted on by cargo

After looking into  inground pool shapes, one of the most common questions for prospective pool buyers is, “How much do inground pools cost?” Determining the cost of an inground pool involves several factors. You might start with the pool type—vinyl-liner, gunite (concrete), or fiberglass—as each has unique pricing structures and associated installation and maintenance costs. Ballpark estimates for initial costs should consider pool type, shape, size, and features.

Inground Pools Material Types

  • Fiberglass Pools average between $30,000 and $85,000. They are pre-manufactured and quick to install but offer limited customization compared to concrete pools.
  • Vinyl Liner Pools average between $25,000 and $65,000. They have a lower upfront cost, but the liners need replacement every 5-10 years, adding to long-term expenses.
  • Gunite Pools average between $50,000 and $120,000. They allow for custom shapes, features, and finishes but require higher maintenance and can take several months to complete​.

 

 

Inground Pool Cost Comparison

Pool Shape

Shape Adds Cost to Vinyl Liner Pools. The cost depends on the pool shape because the vinyl liner must be custom-fitted to the specific shape of the pool. Simple shapes like rectangles are easier and cheaper to line than complex shapes like freeform or kidney designs, which require more precise measurements and installation efforts. Custom liners can add significantly to both material and labor costs.

Shape Adds Costs to Gunite Pools. Concrete pools offer the most customization in terms of shape, size, and design features. Each pool is custom-designed and hand-shaped using rebar and concrete, allowing for unique, intricate designs. However, this flexibility comes at a higher price since complex shapes require more labor, additional materials, and longer construction times. The more complex the shape, the more it will cost due to the detailed work necessary to form and finish the pool correctly.

Shape Does NOT Add Cost to Fiberglass Pools. The shape of fiberglass pools is predetermined during production, as they are manufactured as one-piece shells. Since the manufacturing process uses molds, the cost of producing a different shape does not significantly vary once the mold exists. Therefore, fiberglass pools generally have a fixed price for each model regardless of shape. The installation process is also straightforward, further stabilizing the cost across different shapes.

Pool Size

Size Adds Cost to Fiberglass Pools. Larger fiberglass pool shells are more expensive than small shells because they require more materials and excavation. However, since fiberglass pools are typically limited to specific sizes (usually up to 16×40 feet), options for oversized pools are not available, which naturally caps the cost variation.

Size Adds Costs to Vinyl Liner Pools. The cost of vinyl liner pools scales more directly with size because the liner needs to be custom-made to fit the pool’s dimensions. Larger pools require more liner material, increasing the cost of the liner itself and the labor needed to install it. Additionally, larger pools require more structural support, excavation, and backfill, contributing to higher costs.

Size Adds Costs to Gunite Pools. Gunite pool costs can increase significantly with size. Larger gunite pools require more materials (rebar, concrete, plaster) and significantly more labor hours for excavation, shaping, and finishing. The more extensive customization and longer installation times for bigger pools also contribute to higher costs. The size also impacts the ongoing maintenance costs, as larger pools require more chemicals, cleaning, and potential repairs.

Features & Options – Fiberglass

Built-in Steps Add No Additional Cost to Fiberglass Pools. Most fiberglass pools come with built-in steps as part of the shell, so there’s no additional cost for steps. However, the overall pool price might be higher if you select a model with more elaborate step designs. Any upgrades, such as non-slip surfaces or custom shapes, can add a few hundred dollars to the base price.

Tanning Ledges Are Available in Many Fiberglass Models At No Additional Cost. Tanning ledges are a common built-in feature of fiberglass models. With this feature integrated into the mold, there is no additional cost for the pool shell.

Beach Entries Add No Additional Cost in Specific Fiberglass Models. Beach entries are highly desirable in fiberglass pools. The gentle sloping zero-entry is built into the mold for models such as the Thursday Pools Grace and Sandal Beach Entry pools. 

Features & Options – Vinyl Liner Pools

Steps Add $200 and $2,500 to Vinyl Liner Pools. Steps in vinyl liner pools are often a separate installation, typically made of plastic or fiberglass, and then, sometimes, they’re lined with vinyl to match the pool’s aesthetic. 

Tanning Ledges Can Add $2,000 to $3,000 to Vinyl Liner Pools. Tanning ledges in vinyl liner pools are custom-built with additional structures covered by the liner. These ledges are less expensive than gunite but more costly than fiberglass due to the need for precise fitting of the vinyl liner.

Beach Entries Add Cost to Vinyl Liner Pools. Finding information about the cost of a beach entry in vinyl liner pools is challenging. That’s because while it’s possible to create, builders and installation experts recommend concrete or fiberglass if a beach entry is an important feature for a buyer. 

Features & Options – Gunite Pools

Steps (Some Designs) Can Cost to Gunite Pools. Custom-built steps are standard in gunite pools and integrated during the pool’s construction. The cost for steps is a part of the overall price, but intricate designs (like curved or multi-level steps) can add cost to the project.

Tanning Ledges Cost $2,000 to $4,000 in Gunite Pools. Gunite pools offer the most flexibility for tanning ledges, allowing customization of any size, shape, and depth. Costs for tanning ledges average around $2,000 to $4,000, but can be more depending on the complexity, finishes (like tile or stone), and additional features such as bubblers​.

Beach Entries Add $5,000-10,000 to Gunite Pools. Gunite pools provide realistic and customizable beach entry options but are also the most expensive to construct. Costs for beach entries can start at $5,000 and go up to $10,000 or more, depending on size, shape, and finish options like pebble or tile surfacing. Beach entries require careful grading and finishing, which adds to the overall cost​.

 

Connect With a Pool Builder for a Detailed Estimate

Purchasing an inground pool is a significant investment. For many, it’s one of the most important purchases outside the cost of their home. Onsite evaluations help determine initial costs. Find a pool builder near you that offers a complimentary assessment and estimate for more insight into your pool options and help you make informed decisions. 

If you need more time to contact a pool builder, consider using tools like our fiberglass  pool cost calculator, an estimator designed to give you an idea of costs based on your specific project preferences.