can u live w/o pool in phx? (rental car, how much)
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Ponderosa, thanks for your cost estimate. It would be interesting to see a chart done by the electric company showing us actual cost comparisons and the average cost of having a pool. Please know I believe your cost estimate; I just don't know how to explain the cost differences we've found when discussing costs with our neighbors.
We first thought the $200-$250 difference between our neighbors' bill and ours was high also when we talked with one of our neighbors and thought that maybe there were other factors affecting it. Then, we met another neighbor in another neighborhood section with the same electricity bill difference. Both of these neighbors have very similar square footage and electricity use patterns as we do; the only difference is they both have a pool and we don't. The neighbor that had the $800 bill was one that has a home that is smaller sq footage.
The neighbor that had the $800 bill was one that has a home that is smaller sq footage.
Yikes. Keep in mind that if they are heating the pool in the winter, that does cost a lot more. Again, fighting physics. Heat rises so it's a constant battle. If it's 45 degrees at night and they want the pool to be at 85 degrees, it takes a lot more energy. You'd pretty much have to keep the water heated nonstop, or else it would dip to 40-something, so it's akin to running your AC all night and day, wether you are home or not. It's not like a bath where you can turn on the hot water to heat it up quickly. It would take hours if not days to warm many thousands of gallons of water 30+ degrees. In the summer you're not heating - simply circulating.
There can be other factors as well. Some people heat their homes to 90 during the winter or cool them to 60-something in the winter, which elevates their overall power bill.
Ponderosa, thanks for your cost estimate. It would be interesting to see a chart done by the electric company showing us actual cost comparisons and the average cost of having a pool. Please know I believe your cost estimate; I just don't know how to explain the cost differences we've found when discussing costs with our neighbors.
We first thought the $200-$250 difference between our neighbors' bill and ours was high also when we talked with one of our neighbors and thought that maybe there were other factors affecting it. Then, we met another neighbor in another neighborhood section with the same electricity bill difference. Both of these neighbors have very similar square footage and electricity use patterns as we do; the only difference is they both have a pool and we don't. The neighbor that had the $800 bill was one that has a home that is smaller sq footage.
Something is wrong here. I don't pay that much ($250) for my entire electric bill on an average monthly plan and I have both a pool and an electrically heated spa. Maybe they have water features so they run the pump(s) 24/7? That's a bit of a problem in that cheap rates are at night but the waterfalls, slides, fountains and other junk on today's pools are best enjoyed during the day when no reduced rate plans are available.
We are moving to nw phx with 2 kids. Any opinions on choosing a house with a pool vs. one w/o? The kids are 8/9 so can swim. I'm just wondering if we could survive for one year w/o a pool. Also, any negative issues to living on a man-made lake? Thanks.
but it is easy enough to have one built for you; that way you can get thelatest technology which is very important
How confused are you now after reading the posts on this thread?? LOL, some swear by them, some do just fine without them. Personally, we moved from Washington State and knew we would especially need one our first year as we acclimated to the temperature difference. We get a lot of use out of our pool as our backyard oasis is where we entertain and relax. If you opt for a pool, you may want to look into a salt water system. Very low maintenance costs and the water is soft and buoyant rather than hard and eye burning. Best of luck to you in your decision.
AA
Salt systems do not create soft water, they use slat disolved in water to make chlorine. Salt is Na Cl. A good, large cell salt sytem will have a cell separating the Na fro the Cl to manufacture chlorine. It is NOT soft water!
Pools are expensive; both upfront and maintenance costs. If you plan to stay in your home a long time, then I might consider getting one. But, even then, I would still weigh the positives and negatives. Most people we know spent over $50,000 for theirs (that's a lot of fun vacations!). We didn't install one because our development has a water park with three pools, water slides, and a dancing water fountain for the kids to play in...as well as being close to Lake Pleasant. Some of our neighbors installed them. Some use theirs more than others. I find it interesting that all of them used their pools much more during their first summer here, and since then their use has been more infrequent. I think it's like any new toy; you play with it a lot when it's new and then not as much later.
You get most of your pool investment back when you sell the home...
Ponderosa, thanks for your cost estimate. It would be interesting to see a chart done by the electric company showing us actual cost comparisons and the average cost of having a pool. Please know I believe your cost estimate; I just don't know how to explain the cost differences we've found when discussing costs with our neighbors.
We first thought the $200-$250 difference between our neighbors' bill and ours was high also when we talked with one of our neighbors and thought that maybe there were other factors affecting it. Then, we met another neighbor in another neighborhood section with the same electricity bill difference. Both of these neighbors have very similar square footage and electricity use patterns as we do; the only difference is they both have a pool and we don't. The neighbor that had the $800 bill was one that has a home that is smaller sq footage.
on the type of equipment you invest in; do a pool on the cheap and the maintenance will run over $100 per month plus repairs that can start pileing up in 4-5 years; build a low maintenance quality pool with a great warranty and you can sty in the $50 per month range. A great pool will cost over $30,000. Don't believe those cheap ads you see. Thos companies are usually here today gone tomorrow...
Location: 5 miles from the center of the universe-The Superstition Mountains
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Originally Posted by Ponderosa
Something is wrong here. I don't pay that much ($250) for my entire electric bill on an average monthly plan and I have both a pool and an electrically heated spa. Maybe they have water features so they run the pump(s) 24/7? That's a bit of a problem in that cheap rates are at night but the waterfalls, slides, fountains and other junk on today's pools are best enjoyed during the day when no reduced rate plans are available.
I have to go with Ponderosa on this one. I've never run my filter 10 hours a day though. I used to run it 8 hours per day, but cut it back to 6 hours a couple years ago. I haven't experienced any difference- the water is just as clear, no algae, only a savings on electricity and a longer life for the pump. From about mid-May until sometime in September, I'm in the pool every day. I have SRP electric and during the months I use the pool, the off peak hours are from 8pm until 1pm, so if I use the waterfall in the late mornings/early afternoons it isn't an issue. The salt system saves quite a bit on chemical costs. We also have a large spa on the patio that we keep at 97 degrees. The house is a little over 1700 sq. ft. Even with all that, our electric bill is only $153 per month. Of course you can live here without a pool. You could also survive here year-round in a tent. But why would you do either?
You get most of your pool investment back when you sell the home...
Really? That's not what the AZ realtors told us when we talked with them when we were deciding whether or not to put a pool in our backyard. We've learned either people here want them or they don't as there is not a return on investment like upgrading kitchens are.
Please know I'm not saying people shouldn't get/have pools. If a person wants one, then get one.
Last edited by Great Joy; 11-08-2007 at 11:35 AM..
Something is wrong here. I don't pay that much ($250) for my entire electric bill on an average monthly plan and I have both a pool and an electrically heated spa. Maybe they have water features so they run the pump(s) 24/7? That's a bit of a problem in that cheap rates are at night but the waterfalls, slides, fountains and other junk on today's pools are best enjoyed during the day when no reduced rate plans are available.
Sorry it doesn't make sense. Maybe some additional detail may help. We all have APS here (maybe that's the reason?). We all have ~3,000 sq ft homes. We all have same family sizes, are at home similar times, and have our thermostats set at the same temperatures. None of us are on a yearly average monthly plan; we're all on plans in which we pay exactly what we use each month. Our normal summer month non-pool bill is around $200. Our neighbors' normal summer month pool-included bills are $400-$450. Hopefully this helps. I'm just sharing what is actually happening with us here.
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). We didn't install one because our development has a water park with three pools, water slides, and a dancing water fountain for the kids to play in...as well as being close to Lake Pleasant. Some of our neighbors installed them. Some use theirs more than others. I find it interesting that all of them used their pools much more during their first summer here, and since then their use has been more infrequent. I think it's like any new toy; you play with it a lot when it's new and then not as much later. 
