Swimming pool advice

Jack, when we first moved in and I had to learn all about pool maintenance, I put together a document on the subject. It contains more information than you should need, but if you want it then send me a PM with your email address, and I'll send you a copy.

Petes  post sums it up for us. We bought a lock and leave but I am there every school holiday except Xmas (too cold). However  I couldn't justify the annual running costs of a pool. My Com Fees are buttons and we have a lovely pool and outside space. Paying to maintain a pool I wouldn't use for 6 mths tipped us away from one. However if I moved out here permanently I would consider a property with its own pool

We have a a very large swim hot tub at home, which has similar maintance as to a pool. The chemicals you add can be expensive the more people who use the pool will need more chemicals. In heavy use like in mid summer you will need to do basic chemical treatments of a nighttime. Otherwise the chemical balance will shift and may make you itchy or increase risk of ear infections and the like.

The age of the pump and pool equipment is critical pumps with lots and lots of hours may need lots of maintenance or repairs. The issue of empty pools or really filthy pools are well described above. We wouldn’t have a pool for a holiday home but for to live here we would want a pool.

We are used to the maintance, the chemical mix becomes easier and you do it by eye and sense as you get used to it. The issue of electric charge and water charge is one to consider as the running cost in the U.K. is expensive so out here you need to make sure Your come in sufficient as not to be a drain.

We have ours at home services annually which costs us £450 not sure of Spain costs though.

Hope it’s useful not sure if it adds to the other posters 

Many thanks to everyone for the advice!

Don't be put off by the time and cost to maintain it. We've only got a 6 x 3 metre pool, and even if I vacuum it every week, I spent less than an hour a week looking after it. Similarly, the chemicals cost is quite low. I don't keep a note of what I spend in a year, but I'd guess less than €50. These would obviously be higher if we had a larger pool.

As regards other costs, in twelve years, I've had to do a couple of epoxy patches to cure a slight leak, had the experts in to replumb the return piping from the skimmer bucket (because the original installer was lazy and used flexible concertina piping, which got blocked due to ground movement), I've just had it re-grouted for the first time, and I recently had to replace the time switch.

Your water bill will go up in summer, when the water level can go down about a centimetre a day due to evaporation, and if you're in an exposed location, then a breeze blowing across the pool also increases evaporation.

The forum doesn't allow attachments to posts or PMs, Lena, so send me a PM with your email address.

Good evening Jim,

Just read your post and we are in the process of purchasing a property .Could you please send me a copy of your manual ,as we too are considering having a pool installed .All information is glad welcome at this stage .Regards Janet