Swimming Pool Wiring: How Much Does Electrical Hook-up Cost?

What does it cost to wire a swimming pool??

Every inground pool project comes with certain peripheral costs that need to be figured when calculating a budget.  In many cases, one such cost is electrical hook-up.  This article is a guide to provide inground pool shoppers with a "ball-park" idea of what to expect to spend to have an electrician wire all of the components of their pool.  Please keep in mind that swimming pool electrical hook-up cost may vary widely between regions.    

 

General Price Range

In the Virginia, Maryland, D.C. areas a standard electrical hook-up package for an inground pool will generally cost between $1,200 and $1,500.  This standard package would include:

• An electrical permit

• Labor and materials to wire standard pool components which include: pump, light, pump timer, and installing one gfci receptacle plug between 10'-20' from the pool.

• Bonding all necessary components

• Insuring all necessary inspections pass

 

Criteria of a "Standard Installation"

Most electricians consider an installation to be "standard" when:

• The equipment (pump and filter system) is located at the house and therefore does not require any trenching between the house and the pool equipment.
• The house has a standard crawlspace foundation.
• The house panel box has room for the additional breakers needed for the pool equipment.

 

Factors that will affect cost:

Obviously, there are many pool projects that do not fall within the parameters of a standard electrical hook-up package.  Here is a list of additional factors that will affect the electrical hook-up cost.

 

Filter system location

Locating the pool equipment away from the house adds cost for two primary reasons.  First, because the electrician now has to dig a trench across the yard from the house to the equipment and this trench has to be inspected by local building officials to verify that it is at proper depth.  Second, because it's a longer run from the panel box in the house to the equipment the amount of labor and material increases proportionately.

Additional Cost:  $500-$1,000

 

Pool Equipment

As I stated earlier a standard hook-up normally includes wiring the pump, pump timer, light, and a receptacle.  Each additional piece of pool equipment that needs to be wired will add some cost to the bottom line.  Here's a list of pool options and a general price to wire them.

• Salt Chlorine Generator:                  $150

• Heat Pump:                                   $500-$750

• Fuel Burning Heater:                       $300-$500

• Hot Tub                                        $500-$1,000

• Automatic Cover                             $500-$750

 

Basement or Concrete Slab Foundation

A finished basement or concrete slab foundation requires the electrician to run his wire out of the house at the location of the electrical panel box and trench around the entire perimeter of the house until he reaches the pool equipment.  In contrast, with a crawl space foundation (standard installation) the electrician can run the wire under the house and have the wire exit at the equipment location.  This additional labor and materials will usually cost an additional $500-$1000.

 

Room in House Electrical Panel

If the house electrical panel is full there are two options:

The first option is to have the electrician install a sub-panel which will simply provide the breaker space needed to accommodate the pool equipment.  This approach assumes that the existing service to the house can handle the load placed on it by the new pool equipment.  This approach is basically a means of re-distributing the existing electrical service in your home and will normally cost an additional $250-$500

The second option is to contact the electrical company and get what's known as a service upgrade which will increase the amount of electricity provided to your house.  This normally takes the electrical provider three to six weeks to install and can cost from $750-$1500.

 

Well, there you have it:  a cost guide for wiring an inground pool.  Please feel free to share any questions or comments below and we'll be happy to respond.   

5 Ways to Make Your Swimming Pool Project More Affordable

Ok, so rumor has it that the economy is currently not as strong as it was this time five years ago....And although I have not officially confirmed this rumor, I'll just assume that it's true, at least for the duration of this article ;-) .....

But seriously, just about every pool shopper has a budget. As a pool guy, I get this. And that's what this article is all about. After having personally assisted over 500 people in their inground pool purchase, the concept of meeting a budget but also being happy with one's decisions can be a fine balance. To meet this balance, I have listed 5 suggestions here to save money with your swimming pool purchase.

1.       Wait on the Heater: The most common option I've seen homeowners add over the years after having bought their pool is a heater. Adding a heater after having owned the swimming pool a season or more can be a great idea because pool owners can get a true gauge on just how much they need a heater, as well as what type of heater will suite them best. For example, most of our heater customers get heat pumps instead of a gas or propane heater. But  come in two options: With and without chillers. (A chiller is a component that will cool the water as well) After having owned a pool for a period of time, most people can determine which one of the two types of heat pumps is the better fit for their needs. Also, because heat pumps cost 4k or more, such a wait can save quite a bit of money initially.

2.       Add More Patio Later: In most cases, the most expensive option of a swimming pool project is the patio. This is why, when someone is on a very strict budget, getting only 3' of a concrete apron initially and then adding additional patio later is a great idea. When adding patio later, pavers tend to be the best option as they integrate well with older patio structures and offer unlimited flexibility.

3.       Size Isn't Everything: I've seen this over and over again. People (Dads in most cases) can get so caught up in the size of the pool that they end up not being able to afford the swimming pool at all. Such logic makes little sense considering most parents are getting the pool for their kids, and as we all know, children will use a swimming pool for hours upon hours no matter what size it is.

4.       Plumb for the Slide or Water Feature: Just like adding a heater later, slides and water features are easy to add to a pool down the road as long as the plumbing for these units is done during the pool's construction. Adding such options makes a lot of sense for those persons on a budget because a slide alone will usually cost 2k or higher installed. Same with certain water features. But having the forethought to install simple plumbing at the beginning of the project, pool owners can save thousands initially while enjoying the water feature or slide they always dreamed of down the road.

5.       Install the Cover at the End of the Season: This mainly applies to persons who purchase security covers (the ones that look like a trampoline). Because many people have their pool installed during the first part of the year, it makes sense in some cases to wait until the end of the season to have their security cover installed, as there is no use for the cover during the summer months. Considering that most security style covers cost over 1k installed, this expense can be delayed 3-7 months in most cases.

Although there are many more ways to make your pool project more affordable and budget friendly, this article hopefully has given you some helpful pointers in the right direction. To close, I want to reiterate one other point that I've made in other blog posts regarding pools, wants, and budgets-

‘Which would your children prefer-To enjoy a simplistic pool in the back yard or a dream pool that's in your head?'

 

As always, happy swimming in 2010 and don't forget to enter your email on the top of this page to receive future articles just like this one.

Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Marcus Sheridan, PoolSchool

Seasonal Savings and Swimming Pools: Is Fall/Winter or Spring the Best Time to Save on a Swimming Pool Installation?

Winter Pools Installations vs Spring Pool Installations: When is the best time to buy?

During this time of year, one of the questions I most often hear from customers is: "When is the best time to have my pool installed and get the best deal, Fall/Winter or Spring?"

Well the answer to this question, at least in most cases, is relatively simple. Also, with the economy in the state that it currently resides, the question is even more poignant than normal. The following is a case for each:

Advantages to Fall/Winter Inground Pool Installation:

• 1. Lowest Price: For a pool guy, staring at months of cold weather can be quite daunting, especially knowing that even though work might stop, the bills never do. This is why pricing is almost always lower during the fall and winter time periods.
• 2. Cost of Good Increases: With each New Year comes the annual ‘cost of goods' increase from suppliers. For example, before 2009 the prices we paid our fiberglass pool manufacturer for their shells had gone up every year. With the recession, prices, at least in most cases, went down in 2009, which is another reason why the Fall/Winter of 2009 will likely be a much better time to save money on your pool than the spring of 2010 will be. With inflation a likely occurrence next year, I expect cost of goods to once again shoot up and along with them, swimming pool prices.
• 3. Landscaping: September and October are great times in many areas of the country for planting grass. Because the installation of a swimming pool will always cause some damage to a yard, it will take some time to re-grow the grass/vegetation around the pool area. This is why it's typically better to give yourself 4-6 months for proper landscaping and vegetation growth versus 1-2 months in the spring.
• 4. Taxes: In many cases, the interest you spend financing your swimming pool can be used as a tax write-off at the end of the year.

Advantages to a Spring Inground Pool Installation:

• 1. Some Savings: Although prices are not as good as they were 4-6 months previous, one can usually find some excellent deals on inground pool installations the spring, especially during the Feb/March time frame.
• 2. Less time looking at the pool: Frankly, this is the only advantage I can honestly think of when debating over whether to have a Fall/Winter pool installation versus a spring installation. For some consumers, the thought of having to wait 4-7 months before they can use their pool after its completion is too much to bear. For others, the money saved makes the wait well worth it.

But for all of you who are contemplating a pool during these difficult economic times I can make you one promise:

Your risk will be rewarded with a ton of savings.

Good luck with your decision and as always, happy swimming!!

Marcus Sheridan

http://www.poolschool.us/

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How Much Can a Mistake Cost on a Swimming Pool Purchase?

 By Jim Spiess, www.riverpoolsandspas.com

 

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a swimming pool. First- Is the type of pool you will purchase, will it be an above ground pool, or an in ground pool? Let's look at above ground pools first.

How much will our above ground pool cost, and if it is an expensive pool does that guarantee quality and durability? Just because an above ground pool is expensive does not guarantee anything, for that matter most of your more expensive above ground pools are generally cheap pools that will cost you upwards to ten thousand dollars, and only last a few years. Beware of companies that advertise on television and show a beautiful pool with a ridiculously low price. If it looks too be true it probably is. These companies will do the same with magazine ads, only to do a bait and switch when they show up. There are many good above ground pools out there, Artesian Pools and Strong Pools make great pools, but beware of the riser pool made by Strong Pools, because it has its issues. These two manufactures have a difference of about one thousand dollars in their price; both have great warranties, and will not only last for many years of enjoyment, but will keep their look over the years. How many times have you seen an above ground pool get put up in the neighborhood and a year or two later they look twenty years old? An Artesian 24 foot round pool should cost you in the neighborhood of five thousand dollars with installation, the Strong Pool would be about one thousand more. How much can you lose on an above ground pool purchase? Up to ten thousand dollars if you make a bad choice. It is not a good idea to purchase an aluminum deck for an above ground pool. I recommend a wood deck or a composite deck, which is much more attractive, more durable, and will probably cost less too.

Now let's take a look at inground pools. Here we have really five types of pools to choose from: There is the natural pool which is filtered with plants and can even have fish in them, with a structure that is basically a vinyl liner pool. Initial cost can vary upon plants, type of fish, and stone work, but will generally run around thirty thousand. This is a great pool if you are more interested in a pond than a pool. Personally, I would not spend much on it because vinyl liners have a limited life to them, and it can be a mess to replace the liner on a large pond with vegetation, rocks, and fish. The cost is not that cheap because of the designing, planting, installation, and more, and your loss could be up to ten thousand after replacing liner and surroundings.

Second we have the vinyl liner pool. Its initial pool cost is around $25,000, and it falls into the category of a temporary pool. Liners today generally last between five to ten years, depending on how your pool was installed. If the pool did not have an over-dig and was put in exactly to specifications than that will increase the life of the liner. The problem is a lot of vinyl liner pool companies put the pools in fast and do a slight over-dig to make sure they do not get wrinkles in the liner. This causes the vinyl liner to get stretched and it has now had years taken off the life of the liner. Also, if the pool is put in out of square, it will shorten the life of the liner. We have people who call us to replace the vinyl liner in their pool, and they want to give us the spec sheet for the liner that came with the pool. We never go by that. We have to  measure the pool ourselves and it has not once come up to the measurements on the spec sheet of the customer. Replacing a vinyl liner will cost you between four thousand to six thousand dollars with water. This is also what will bring the value of your home down when you go to sell it. The problem with swimming pools and home sales is that three red flags come up when someone sees a pool. 1. How much maintenance is the pool going to take? 2. How much will it cost me to run that pool each year? 3. What are my future expenses on that pool? With vinyl, you have fairly high maintenance, more cost in chemicals with the pool, and future expenses. Home value can even go down ten to twenty thousand.

Third we have gunite pools or concrete pools. This is a permanent pool, which is high maintenance, high chemical cost, and elevated electrical costs. This pool will have to be resurfaced on average every 10 years, and that can cost from ten to fifteen thousand dollars depending on the type of surface. The price of gunite pools depends on the size and scope of the work, although there are large companies out there that are selling them very cheap because of the economy. My feelings on this is if you have thousands of pools that you have put in and you kept your customers happy then you should not have to cut your cost on your pools so drastically. Most reputable gunite company's pools range around thirty five to fifty thousand dollars. I would beware of the companies that are offering the same pool for ten thousand less. These pools can bring the value of your home down too, usually less than a vinyl pool, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss can be as much as twenty five thousand if resurfaced twice during your ownership.

Fourth we have the fiberglass pool wall with a concrete bottom. Initial cost around twenty to twenty five thousand. This pool is still a high maintenance pool due to the concrete bottom, and a lot of times I have seen these pools put in and the bottom painted with a waterproof paint, this can lead to disaster. The life of these pools is determined by the installer, but the bottom of the pool will need resurfacing at a cost of around five thousand dollars. The pool tends to look cheap and will take away from the value of your home, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss is around ten to fifteen thousand dollars.

Last we have fiberglass pools. There initial cost is around thirty five to fifty thousand dollars, around the same as a good reputable concrete pool installer. Maintenance is low, operation cost is low, and future cost is very low. Adds value to your home because of all the above. Your gain is extra money when you sell your home, and years of enjoyment without all the work and headaches. But going with the wrong manufacturer, or picking the wrong company, because you are basing your decision on price can cost you more than you save. For instance the pool you have chosen appears to be the same, but the cost difference between the two companies is around five thousand. Well, you could end up the loser when the concrete does not turn out right or the pool was installed improperly, etc. There are many things that could go wrong that will cost you more than the five thousand you saved. Maybe you picked the wrong manufacturer and save five to ten thousand and then find out that you really lost around twenty five thousand and now have a non functioning pool in your backyard. Pool choices are tough decisions, you are spending a lot of money, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that will cost you even more. For more information on fiberglass pool cost go to http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ or http://www.poolschool.us/

Is Now the Time to Get a Good Price on a Fiberglass Pool?

 By Jim Spiess, www.riverpoolsandspas.com

 

Finally, fiberglass pool costs are coming down. That is true with a lot of fiberglass pool dealers. But the question is: What is really a good deal on a fiberglass pool? As owners of a company that offers the best in fiberglass pools, with our Leisure Pool line and our Trilogy fiberglass pools, we have found that we are still installing a good amount of pools, but have come against some fiberglass pool companies that are pricing fiberglass pools at such low levels that they will not be able to survive. One only need to look at the car dealerships to see that cutting cost, without cutting anything else will result in financial collapse, and the last time I checked there were no government bailouts for pool companies. We at River Pools and Spas refuse to cut quality in any way or form, and that means we cannot cut fiberglass pool costs as much as the other fiberglass pool companies. Our manufactures at Leisure Pools and Trilogy Pools feel the same way. We have had people that we have visited say, they were more focused on quality rather than price if they had to choose between the two, and then after getting a few quotes, will turn around and focus on the price rather than the quality or service. It always amazes me that someone thinks in terms of two or three thousand dollars they are saving, when in reality it is 35 to 40 thousand dollars they are risking. When we sit down with the customer they already have a reference list of all the pools we have installed, which is well over 500 people, we do not pick and choose who goes on that list. In turn our competition will come in and offer a few references and a cheap price which always becomes a distraction from quality. I cannot believe that if a person is spending thousands of dollars on a fiberglass swimming pool that they would not demand a customer list, after all some companies boast that they only put in 20 or 30 pools a year so they can focus on the customer, great, have them give you that many names, so you can pick and choose who you want to call. These same companies will say that River Pools and Spas is focused on volume not quality, yet even with volume, you will see all of our customers on our reference list, dating back to when we started up in the swimming pool business, including our vinyl liner inground customers, and you will find if you take the time to call all of them you will get less than one percent negative feedback. Yet even with that we still are reducing the cost of fiberglass pool installations, just not as much as the companies struggling to stay in business, and that is why we will be around to service your fiberglass pool for years to come. And when you go to sell your home it will go up in value because of the beautiful fiberglass pool that you had River Pools and Spas install. Beware when the price differences start to hit over five thousand dollars. That is dangerous territory and do you really believe there is that much mark up on fiberglass pools? This is probably a company that is on its way out, and possibly with your money. Again I run into people who will still try the cheap swimming pool route, only to find out it was a disaster and they either spent more money than they intended too, or they are stuck with what they have, due to the fact that the ten thousand dollars or so they saved on the pool just will not fix all their fiberglass pool problems. For more information on fiberglass pool costs and prices visit http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/  and http://www.poolschool.us/  

Cheap Concrete Pools, the Economy, and Swimming Pool Buying Mistakes

 By Marcus Sheridan www.PoolSchool.us

Just this past week I got an email from a customer I had quoted a 16x40 fiberglass pool to. This is what it said: "Hello Marc, I just wanted you to know that we've decided to go with a 20x40 concrete pool. The price difference of 10k was just too much to overlook. Thank you for your time."......Obviously, such emails are always disappointing to read, but what's worse is that this was a person that wanted a low maintenance swimming pool that would last for many years without any major repairs down the road. Unfortunately though, what he did was allow for an ‘initial' saving of 10k to flush his swimming pool desires down the toilet. I'll talk more about this gentleman later, but I first want to talk about the state of the inground swimming pool industry.

As this summer has progressed and I've been able to watch and analyze the inground swimming pool market, I've noticed a few disturbing trends. These trends stem from the economic slowdown that we've all been affected by since last year. In times such as these, many businesses gain market share, while others suffer greatly. In the same light, many customers benefit from lower pricing, while others fall prey to poor decisions due to lower budgets.

In the past, concrete, or gunite pools as they're also called, were almost always more expensive or at least priced about the same initially as fiberglass pools. This makes sense considering the construction of a concrete pool is so much more intensive than a fiberglass pool. Because the two products were so evenly priced, pool consumers were left to choose which pool fits their needs the best without initial price being a major factor in the decision. This year though, as pool companies are struggling to pay their bills and support their infrastructures, I've been witness to some of the lowest prices offered on concrete pool installations in over 10 years. For example, on large pools, I'm finding that most concrete pools come in 5-10k less than a fiberglass pool. Frankly, the company I've seen with the most ridiculously low pricing is Anthony Sylvan. Sylvan has long been one of the largest concrete pool companies in the country. In the past, they seemed not so focused on having the lowest price but it appears their business model has changed. I now find their prices are usually the lowest of any concrete pool quote a customer of mine may receive. What bothers me though is that it appears their salesmen, as well as other, are so concerned about having a low package price that they are hurting the consumer in the long-run.  An example of this would be their pool finishes/surfaces. In the past, Sylvan actively promoted such high quality pool surfaces as Pebble Tec and others, but they now appear to be installing many more pools with plain white plaster. Considering the national average for a replaster on an inground concrete pool (white plaster) is about 10 years, most consumers have no idea that they'll be shelling out an additional 8-12k minimum only a decade after install. When one compounds this number over the course of 20-30 years, the cost to the homeowner is even worse. This doesn't even account for the fact that most pool owners are now using salt chlorinators with their swimming pools, a technology of which I am a huge fan of but has been shown to be more abrasive on concrete pool surfaces than regular chlorine.  This is also why I always recommend to my clients that decide to go with a concrete/gunite pool that they should go with a more permanent surface like Pebble Tec. You see, I always base decisions and recommendations on what is the best for the long-term, and not for the initial moment (price). What good does it does to save a few thousand dollars upfront on a swimming pool purchase if these savings will cost you thousands and thousands more in the long run??

Let's look at two examples of this. A pool shopper is torn between fiberglass and concrete. The cost for their 16x40 fiberglass pool, with patio, options, electric, etc is 55k. They've also been quoted a white plaster concrete pool (20x40) for the same package at a price of 45k. Because the 10k ‘is just too much too overlook' they go concrete. That same consumer ends up spending  $12,000 11 years later on the resurfacing of their pool after the roughness of the surface and water chemistry become just too much to bear. At this point, they are already regretting their near-sighted initial decision, but they are stuck with what they have and hope the next surface does better. Unfortunately, they again deal with the same problems over the next 12 years and this time the resurface costs them another 14k. By this point they are left with the decision to fill the pool in or spend the money, and at the pleads of their 5 grandchildren they decide to spend the money.....Now I submit this question: Did this person end up saving any money at all in the long run? Well we all know the answer is a resounding ‘NO', and in fact the consumer spent about $15,000 more over the course of 23 years then they would have had they invested more up front for a high quality fiberglass pool(I say high quality here because there are unfortunately a few not-so-high quality fiberglass pools in the industry today)....In another scenario, that same customer could have gone ahead and spent 4-8k more initially to go with a surface like Pebble Tec and would have had a surface that lasted about twice as long white plaster. Again, this would have been the wiser decision.

On a side note, I also feel the need to mention here my concern for companies that have priced their pools so low that they often end up cutting corners to turn a profit. All companies must build in enough margins in the pool pricing to fix any potential mistakes. The reality of any industry, whether it is pools, homes, retailers, etc is that those who have the cheapest prices will never be able to give the best service. That's just how it works, and it has been that way since the beginning of time.

So to close my thoughts here I do hope that the customer who went with the white-plaster concrete pool at the beginning of this article finds happiness with their decision in the long run. But at the same rate, I also wish he hadn't have mentioned he saved $10,000, which, as we've clearly demonstrated, is an initial justification for a long term expensive and costly mistake.

Cheap Fiberglass Pools: 4 Ways To Save Money on Your Fiberglass Pool!

Discount Fiberglass Pools:  4 Ways To Save $ on Your Fiberglass Pool!

by: Jason Hughes

http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/

http://www.poolschool.us/

 

Can you get a discount fiberglass pool from a reputable fiberglass pool dealer?  The answer is YES YOU CAN!  Do you have to sacrifice quality?  No you don't.  I'll show you 4 ways you can buy a top rated fiberglass pool from a reputable fiberglass pool dealer at a discounted price.  Here you go:

 

#1 Way to Get a Discount Fiberglass Pool:  Winter Installation

Any reputable pool builder can stay busy during the summer.  It's winter time they all lose sleep over.  Help them counteract the seasonality of their business by buying in the off season...or better yet, buying in the summer for a winter install.  A pool builder's hardest weeks to fill are Thanksgiving and Christmas, so make it clear that you're pool can be installed any time and your flexibility with scheduling may be well rewarded.

 

#2 Way to Get a Discount Fiberglass Pool:  DIY Packages (Self Installation)

You will save $8,000-$12,000 by buying the shell and installing it yourself.  Most fiberglass pool dealers will be more than willing to give consultation and even hands on assistance if you buy the shell from them.  Many will also be willing to give you the names of the electrician, concrete finisher, and fence company they work with to help you with the completion of the project.

 

#3 Way to Get a Discount Fiberglass Pool:  Buy Accessories

The more you spend the more leverage you have.   Most times, there's not much room to budge on the price of a standard fiberglass pool package, but adding accessories raises profit margins and therefore gives the consumer an opportunity to get a higher percentage discount off the total package.  Many pool builders know that they need to make "x" on a job.  Once that mark is exceeded, many will be willing to make significant concessions to insure they do the project. 

 

#4 Way to Get a Discount Fiberglass Pool: Complete the Project Yourself

A significant expense of an inground pool is associated with the many return trips required to complete a project after the patio is finished.  Grading the yard, cleaning the pool, etc. are all things that most clients could do themselves.  Throw this out as an option to the pool company and you may be surprised with the result. 

 

Good Luck!