House with pool in Houston (costs, law, shop)

[texsn95]

Originally Posted by gwarnecke

You must maintain your pool whether or not you're using it. Only gotta walk or drive to the neighborhood pool when you feel like going for a swim.

I used to rent a house with a pool and I spent a LOT more time cleaning it than enjoying it. If I actually swam several times a week, or if my neighborhood pool actually were pee- and perv-filled, maybe I could justify my own pool.

I'm a DIY guy, so maintenance is well worth the convenience. Chemicals, an occasional wall scrub and emptying of the Polaris and skimmer baskets, no big deal if it's done right. No doubt your chems out of whack, therefore the need to continuously clean it. Since it was a rent house more than likely it was overlooked. Once I got my water in check, I didn't have to scrub for a least a month through the end of July into the later part of August, which was the hottest part of the summer when algae is in full bore growth mode.

[texsn95]

Originally Posted by diggity101

but you're not paying $100-200/month to maintain the neighborhood pool. Economics for the win!

Whoever is paying $200 / month is grossly overpaying.

[gwarnecke]

FWIW, my old pool was pretty much a worst-case scenario. It was very large, about 18' x 40', and had trees overhead that seemed to puke leaves almost year-round. The skimmers and vacuum got maybe half of the leaves, I had to scoop up the other half. The pool was built incorrectly and cracked/leaked a few months after construction, my landlord was threatening legal action against the builder as I was moving out.

[texsn95]

Ouch, yeah I agree trees are a pain in the ass. My neighbor's live oak drops a constant supply of throughout the year, but never a huge amount.

[diggity101]

Originally Posted by texsn95

Whoever is paying $200 / month is grossly overpaying.

when you add up electricity, water and chemicals, you are easily spending $100/month. If you're paying someone to do it, $200 isn't high.

[texsn95]

It's obvious you're one of those "hands off" types of guys who would rather pay someone to do something that's easy to do. So be it.

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by texsn95

It's obvious you're one of those "hands off" types of guys who would rather pay someone to do something that's easy to do. So be it.

It's easily over 100.00 a month with the electricity with diy

[texsn95]

Sure, if you have a super high kw/h rate. No one who knows anything about pools spends $50 a month on chems and water. I use math to prove a point as opposed to "here's what I think it costs".

Using a rough average of 8hrs per day run time. More in the summer, less in the winter.

1.5hp pump rated at 19watts x 120v = 2280watts/1000 = 2.28 kwh x 8hr x .082c per kw = $1.50 per day x 30 = $45 per month.
3" pucks spread throughout the year is about $10 per month or $120...1.5 large tubs.
2 bottles of phosfree per year at $25 each = $4 month
Water - probably $30 every other year at once when I drain and refill half, otherwise I use alot less than the sprinklers so it's not worth tracking.
Shock - large bucket at $100, will last me probably 3 years.
Muriatic acid - never need it, as my pH balances out without my help.

I don't need algaecide, or clarifier, or any of that other crap the pool stores push. Remove the algae's food (phos free), keep your stabilizer from 50 - 90 (only done by draining and refilling after it gets high), keep your free chlorine about 3 and enjoy a minimal maintenance pool. Most people don't know the half of this, and wonder why their walls turn green every week, or they have to keep adding more and more shock and chlorine to keep the algae at bay. It's simple math and science.

Class dismissed.

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by texsn95

Sure, if you have a super high kw/h rate. No one who knows anything about pools spends $50 a month on chems and water. I use math to prove a point as opposed to "here's what I think it costs".

Using a rough average of 8hrs per day run time. More in the summer, less in the winter.

1.5hp pump rated at 19watts x 120v = 2280watts/1000 = 2.28 kwh x 8hr x .082c per kw = $1.50 per day x 30 = $45 per month.
3" pucks spread throughout the year is about $10 per month or $120...1.5 large tubs.
2 bottles of phosfree per year at $25 each = $4 month
Water - probably $30 every other year at once when I drain and refill half, otherwise I use alot less than the sprinklers so it's not worth tracking.
Shock - large bucket at $100, will last me probably 3 years.
Muriatic acid - never need it, as my pH balances out without my help.

I don't need algaecide, or clarifier, or any of that other crap the pool stores push. Remove the algae's food (phos free), keep your stabilizer from 50 - 90 (only done by draining and refilling after it gets high), keep your free chlorine about 3 and enjoy a minimal maintenance pool. Most people don't know the half of this, and wonder why their walls turn green every week, or they have to keep adding more and more shock and chlorine to keep the algae at bay. It's simple math and science.

Class dismissed.

Strange I had two pumps, spent more than 33.00 a year in shock and used more than 1.5 "tubs" of 3" tabs, I pay 1/2 cent per gallon so you only add 6000 gallons every other year? No de? No other Maintenon? I think someone is downplaying the costs

[ethanw]

I think your pool is green :-) U sure not color blind? Is way off mate

Originally Posted by texsn95

Sure, if you have a super high kw/h rate. No one who knows anything about pools spends $50 a month on chems and water. I use math to prove a point as opposed to "here's what I think it costs".

Using a rough average of 8hrs per day run time. More in the summer, less in the winter.

1.5hp pump rated at 19watts x 120v = 2280watts/1000 = 2.28 kwh x 8hr x .082c per kw = $1.50 per day x 30 = $45 per month.
3" pucks spread throughout the year is about $10 per month or $120...1.5 large tubs.
2 bottles of phosfree per year at $25 each = $4 month
Water - probably $30 every other year at once when I drain and refill half, otherwise I use alot less than the sprinklers so it's not worth tracking.
Shock - large bucket at $100, will last me probably 3 years.
Muriatic acid - never need it, as my pH balances out without my help.

I don't need algaecide, or clarifier, or any of that other crap the pool stores push. Remove the algae's food (phos free), keep your stabilizer from 50 - 90 (only done by draining and refilling after it gets high), keep your free chlorine about 3 and enjoy a minimal maintenance pool. Most people don't know the half of this, and wonder why their walls turn green every week, or they have to keep adding more and more shock and chlorine to keep the algae at bay. It's simple math and science.

Class dismissed.