The Lure of a Pool
So all your friends have a backyard pool and you’re starting to want one too. Imagine the luxury of being able to slide into cold water whenever you want to! But when you slow down and start to really consider things, a backyard pool might not seem like such a good idea. Here’s 10 reasons why many people have reconsidered.
High Installation Costs
To put it bluntly: if you want an outdoor pool, you’d better be super rich first. Installing a backyard pool can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Excavation, materials, plumbing, and permits (don’t forget the permits!) quickly add up, driving some people to despair and some to financial ruin.
High Maintenance Costs
And once you’re done with building the actual pool, the costs don’t stop there. No, people spend around $115 to $353 a week on pool maintenance, and that builds up quickly. Some people try to do the maintenance themselves, but find themselves overwhelmed. After all, you need lots of know-how and various expensive chemicals to do it.
Increased Utility Bills
If you’re already worried about your utility bills, don’t even think about getting a pool. Pumps, heaters, and filters run for hours every day, costing you money as you go. Want a heated pool for the winter? Then be prepared to shell out even more.
Lower Resale Appeal
It’s true that a lot of people will go for a pool when buying a house – but a bigger portion of the population will not. People with young kids probably won’t, for a start. And a lot of folks simply don’t want to spend extra money on pool upkeep.
Pool-Related Illnesses
So many people get sick after swimming in their own pools, because they’re a breeding ground for germs. Or, in some cases, even the chemicals used to treat the pool can make you sick. Just because a pool looks clean doesn’t mean it is.
Insurance Complications
Homeowners insurance premiums often drastically rise with the addition of a pool. Some insurers require specific fencing or safety features to be placed around it, and others may refuse coverage altogether. The result? A lot of complicated paperwork.
Home Buying Complications
If you do end up buying a house with a pool, you need a separate pool inspector to sign off on it. That pool inspector will check for leaks, check the electrics, and so on… but they’ll put you back at least $350.
Algae and Pest Issues
Badly maintained pools quickly become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, algae, and bacteria. Even with regular care, a few hot summer days without treatment can cause problems, and suddenly you’ve got a disgusting green pool with insects sitting in the middle of your yard.
Reduced Backyard Space
Pools take up a lot of space, and some people don’t realize beforehand just how much. If you wanted a patio or a play area, tough luck – you’ve got the pool instead. And removing it will cost a tremendous amount of money… again.
Safety Issues
This is arguably the best reason of all not to install a pool. Pools are immensely dangerous for kids. They wander off, fall in the pool, and drown – sometimes even a fence around the pool isn’t enough to dissuade them. It’s thought that 379 children a year die this way, a sobering statistic indeed.
