Pool Care Costs
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plaster · 15,000 gal

In-Ground Traditional Chlorine (Plaster) - 15,000 gal

traditional chlorine tabletsUnheated~20 yr life

Best for: Owners preferring manual chemical control; budget-conscious buyers; pools in areas without saltwater cell availability

10-year total$45,000–$80,000install + 10 years of running costs
Install$32,000–$55,000
Per year$1,300–$2,500chemicals, power, reserves
Per month$108–$208yearly ÷ 12

Typical annual maintenance: $1,200–$2,200 (mid $1,600). LA-area estimates, not quotes. See How We Estimate.

Where the yearly money goes

The light part of each bar is the low estimate. The full bar is the high estimate.

  • Chemicals$400–$800
  • Electricity$400–$700
  • Repair reserves$500–$1,000

What wears out, and when

  • Pump wear (8yr $1200-2500)
  • cartridge filter degradation (3-4yr $300-600)
  • plaster etching from low pH (5yr $500-3000)
  • calcium scaling (annual cleaning $100-300)

Your time and effort

  • About 200 hours of upkeep a year
  • Difficulty 3 out of 5
  • Q1 $200-300 (opening), Q2 $600-900 (summer chlorine heavy use), Q3 $400-600, Q4 $100-200. Daily chlorine management required.
Popular upgradesUpgrade to saltwater SWG ($1000-2500)automate chlorinationadd variable-speed pumpinstall robotic cleaner

Maintenance schedules

Related cost items

  • Annual Pump Operation (Variable-Speed, 1.5HP, 8 hrs/day): $400–$600
  • Chlorine Tablets (3-inch, continuous feeding): $150–$400
  • Shock Treatment (weekly): $20–$50
  • pH Adjustment (muriatic acid or soda ash): $30–$100
  • Alkalinity Adjustment (sodium bicarbonate): $20–$60
  • Cyanuric Acid / Stabilizer (annual or less): $25–$80
  • Algaecide (preventative or treatment): $30–$100
  • Filter Cleaning (professional service): $150–$300
  • Pump Replacement (variable-speed, 1.5-2.5 HP): $1,200–$2,500
  • Pump Motor Repair (capacitor, seal, bearing): $50–$600

Equipment and repairs

Calculators