Whether you’re planning to build a new pool by your backyard or if you’re looking to remodel an old piscina, the costs of your pool equipment are something you should never overlook. Amidst the various prices of tiles, plaster, pebble, and labor, pool owners should pay close attention to how much their equipment costs. Regardless if you’re pinching pennies or if you’re going all-out on your pool project, knowing the costs of building a good equipment system and how it will look like in your final bill is important. On that note, many pool owners take up pool loans to help them finance their pools. They also use a pool financing calculator found on various pages online to help them calculate the costs of their pool projects considering the prices of the pool equipment they’ll be adding to their pools.
To help us get started, let’s look at some of the common pool equipment and how much each of these components cost.
- Pool Pump
- Pool Filter
- Pool Heater
- Salt Chlorine Generator
1. Pool Pump.
Pool pumps are typically one of the most important components of your pool equipment pad. The actual pump is responsible for proper water circulation; it takes the pool water from the drains and runs it through your filtration and heating systems. There are different types of swimming pool pumps and each type will have its own sets of advantages and disadvantages, its overall cost included.
Pool pumps made and manufactured in the last decade are typically outfitted with single-speed generators and are aptly called single-speed pool pumps. They are typically cheaper, usually around $365.00 to $470.00. However, single-speed pool pumps tend to have higher operational costs and are known as power-hungry machines because the actual motor runs only at a single speed setting. On the other hand, more modern pool pumps are equipped with variable-speed motors and are capable of running through different speed cycles. They’re often customizable and feature digital controls allowing pool owners to easily set the speed setting of the pump. These pool pumps are also often Energy Star certified. That said, they’re more energy efficient compared to single-speed pool pumps. While variable-speed pool pumps have lower operating costs, they usually have a higher upfront cost at around $1,250 to $2,000 installed.
2. Pool Filter.
Like pool pumps, pool filters do come in different types. Some of the most common are cartridge filters, sand filters, and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters. The difference between each filter type, aside from the materials used on them, is their ability to filter the water. A cartridge filter will typically be 10 to 15 microns fine while a sand filter and a DE filter will usually be 20 to 100 microns fine. Cartridge filter prices will range from anywhere around $1,250 to $1,750 installed. A sand filter will typically be around $1,000 to $2,000 and a DE filter will generally be at a $1,250 to $1,750 price point.
Most pool owners decide which type of pool filter to get based on the make and model of their pool pumps as the pool filter is often seated inside the actual pump. Remember to take note of the size (microns) and the type of the filter you want to use in your pool as it will affect the overall costs of your pool project.
3. Pool Heater.
Pool heaters are also a vital component to your pool equipment system as it can bring the pool water to ideal temperature and even act as a way to help prevent winter damage to your pool. Pool heaters also come in various types, here are a few.
Gas or propane pool heaters are one of the most common types of pool heaters. They’re used on most residential swimming pools all around the States and are known for their ability to quickly heat your pool. As the name implies, they use gas or propane as the heating medium to quickly bring your pool to swimming temperature. Natural gas or propane pool heaters typically cost around $2,750 to $3,750. They are cheap and their fast heating properties make them ideal for backyard pools owned by families with children and seniors who may not be able to handle chilly waters past pool season. Nevertheless, gas and pool heaters may have a high operational cost that can range from around $300 to $1,000+/month depending on the size of your pool.
On the other hand, you can opt to have a heat pump pool heater installed in your pool. Heat pump pool heaters are energy efficient heaters with operational costs ranging from $50 to about $100 per month. That’s because instead of using natural gas or propane, heat pumps use the heat from the surrounding air to bring the pool’s water to swimming temperature. However, despite its efficiency, these types of pool heaters will cost you around $4,500 to $6,000. Furthermore, heat pumps need temperatures above 50° F to operate which means that they work well in places with warm climates but may not be a good idea if your pool is situated in an area with a cold climate.
4. Salt Chlorine Generators.
Slowly gaining popularity in the pool industry, salt chlorine generators or saltwater generators are one of the pool equipment that has enjoyed an increased demand in the past few years. It uses salt and converts it into pure chlorine to help sanitize your pool. Compared to traditional chlorinated pools, pools that run a salt chlorine generator will typically have a more suitable pool water. Because your pool will get only the amount of chlorine it needs, the water will not have the harsh effects of conventional chlorine. These include itchy skin, burning eyes, strong chemical odors, faded bathing suits, and other issues on your pool’s interior finish associated with a strong concentration of chlorine. Salt chlorine generators cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the brand.
