The potential cost of ignoring pool maintenance

Owning a pool is a luxury that brings joy, relaxation and even adds value to your home. But with that luxury comes responsibility - in particular when it comes to maintenance.

It's often considered that a delay or even skipping regular pool servicing can bring a bit of financial reprieve - and it's not hard to see why. However, ignoring pool maintenance can lead to much bigger headaches and costs down the track, costs that often outweigh the short-term savings.

A restored pool showing signs of long term neglect.

At Sydney Pool Cleaners, we've seen it all and we know just how costly neglect can be. We often see pools that have skipped only one service with a resulting increase of $200 or more to the next service visit.

That's why we cap our recurring services fees so you can easily forecast the cost of your pool and know that it'll look at its best all day, all year. Learn More

Here, we'll run through some of the hidden (and not-so-hidden) costs of ignoring pool maintenance both short term and long term.

1. Algae and Bacteria Growth

When water chemistry is not balanced your pool becomes a breeding ground for algae and harmful bacteria. These can make your pool water cloudy, cause unpleasant smells, become wildlife sanctuaries or more seriously, they can pose serious health risks to swimmers or passers-by. Treating a severe algae outbreak can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars (we've seen it!) and multiple visits to fix - not to mention the time your pool is out of action.

2. Damage to Pool Equipment

Filters, pumps, and heaters are all sensitive to poor water chemistry. If your chemical levels are out for too long, your equipment may corrode, clog, or break down entirely. Replacing a pool pump (designed to last up to 7yrs) or pool filter (designed to last up to 10yrs) will cost thousands - a preventable expense with regular servicing.

3. Surface and Structural Damage

Imbalanced water can eat away at your pool's surfaces. Over time this can lead to cracks, discolouration and costly resurfacing or restoration jobs before they're due.

4. Increased Utility Bills

A poorly maintained pool system often has to work harder and longer to achieve the same results. This inefficiency leads to increased electricity and water usage which adds up fast on your bills, as well as puts extra strain on your pool system.