Owning a pool is constantly a balancing act. You must balance the time you spend caring for your pool with the time you spend enjoying it. Spend too much time on maintenance, and there's no free time left to have fun in your pool!
That is just one of the many advantages of fiberglass pools: the lowest-maintenance in-ground pool available on the market today.
Concrete pools have porous surfaces, and it's easy for dirt and algae to embed themselves in those tiny cracks and crevices. And while vinyl liner pools aren't porous, they do have welded seams that can gather dirt and give algae a place to start from. These surface characteristics can present challenges when performing weekly maintenance tasks or dealing with things like algae. Fiberglass pools, on the other hand, are smooth, offering fewer hiding places for the yucky things you're trying to keep out! You can thank the gelcoat surface for this.
Let's look at what goes into maintaining a fiberglass pool, and then we'll discuss ways to keep down regular pool maintenance, giving you more time to enjoy that beautiful, clear water!
Regular Maintenance of Fiberglass Pools
1. Test the Water Regularly
No good cook goes willy-nilly with the salt shaker before tasting a dish. Similarly, you don't go pouring chemicals in your pool like a rogue alchemist without testing the water.
You will test for chlorine levels, pH balance, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid (CYA), and total alkalinity. Yes, this is the same for all pool types.
The good news is that fiberglass pools are relatively easy to maintain in terms of water chemistry once the ideal ranges and water balance are achieved. The gelcoat surface is the hero again here, because its inert characteristic means it will not interact with your water's chemistry like a concrete pool will.
In fact, a fiberglass pool utilizes a set of ideal ranges that differ from those of the rest of the swimming pool industry. To get a sense for what those ranges are and to see tips on how to successfully manage water chemistry for fiberglass pools you can check out our dedicated pool maintenance tutorial center.
2. Clean Regularly
Armed with a good water test, you know exactly what to do. It's important to always pay attention when you're buying, so you get chemicals formulated for your fiberglass pool.
There is less brushing and tinkering with fiberglass, but that doesn't mean none. You'll need to skim out leaves occasionally, too.
Using a skimmer and automatic pool cleaner significantly reduces the amount of time you spend brushing and scooping in your pool.
Most pools, fiberglass or otherwise, will need a pool shock treatment at some point. Testing your water chemistry will indicate when this is necessary, but when shocking is required, we recommend using only liquid chlorine to perform this task with a fiberglass pool.
3. Run the Pool Pump/Filter
Most fiberglass pools typically require only one circulation of water through the filter each day. That means that the entire body of water should pass through the filter once every 24 hours—the actual turnover time is usually about 8 hours. Many fiberglass pool owners report planned downtime for their pump and filter system, saving both time and money on those energy bills.
The length of time this takes depends on the size of your pool and the type of pump you have. We use this formula to determine how long to run each individual pool:
pool volume ÷ filtration rate = hours to run the filter
For more info on the pump/filter run time for your pool, check out our article How Long Should I Run My Pool Pump?
4. Refill the Pool When Necessary
Water evaporates, and your pool water, unfortunately, is no different. Water also leaves your pool during those memorable bouts of rambunctious play.
It's important to keep the water level midway to two-thirds of the way up the skimmer, or your filter system can't work properly.
The time of year, the amount of rainfall you get, the temperature and humidity, how much water the kiddos splash out while playing...There are numerous factors that affect how often you'll need to add water to your pool.
Take note that if it is necessary to remove water from your pool, perhaps after a heavy rainstorm or the occasional " I forgot to turn off the hose " moments, the water level should never go lower than the bottom of the skimmer. This could lead to potential damage to the structure of your pool shell. We point this out to say that you have room for error when filling your pool, but not so much when lowering the water level. Monitor the process closely!
Ways to Keep Maintenance Work Down
Maintenance comes with pool ownership, just like owning a home, car, boat, or anything else.
But just like gutter guards and a good mechanic can lessen home and auto maintenance, a savvy pool owner can do several things to keep down the time and effort it takes to maintain a fiberglass pool.
1. Get a Pool Cover
Perhaps no other investment pays off like owning a pool cover.
Sit in your backyard for an afternoon, picturing where your new pool is going in, and you'll observe things you never noticed.
Your neighbor Bill's maple tree sure does drop a lot of leaves. Wow, there sure are a lot of birds flying overhead. Look at the bugs! Did you ever notice how much dust and debris clouded over the fence when Sam mowed his yard?
Covers keep all this out of your pool. That's less stress on your pump and filter, less wear and tear on your automatic cleaner, and less work for you! Not to mention the savings in energy and chemicals.
Plus, pool covers are your safety net if someone sneaks in when you aren't looking.
A wandering toddler visiting your next-door neighbors. Those wild and crazy teenagers down the street. Your cousin's child with cognitive challenges. A pet who gets lost and strays by. There is literally no telling how many lives—both human and animal—are saved each year by a good pool cover!
2. Invest in an Automatic Pool Cleaner
We've mentioned this a couple of times here, but it's worth mentioning again.
If you have to manually clean your pool all the time, it's going to seriously hamper your enjoyment of your pool, as well as the time you have to enjoy it.
Get. An. Automatic. Cleaner.
You'll thank yourself every day you own your fiberglass pool.
3. Don't Get Cheap Pool Chemicals Online
"But we save so much money!" they say.
"Why is our pool green?" they ask.
The cheap, discount, and/or generic pool chemicals sold online and in big box stores contain the exact same chemicals as the brand names carried by reputable pool dealers. So what's up with those prices?
The cheap stuff is often watered down. Therefore, it takes more of it to do the same thing.
So you really aren't saving if you have to use twice as much to get half the results.
The "expensive" stuff generally has a higher concentration and is usually backed by some sort of guarantee. You use less. It works better. Win-Win!
4. Hire a Maintenance Service
So, you've read this article, and it still seems like too much effort. That's okay. You can hire a service to test your water and do regular maintenance on your fiberglass pool.
Most services offer a variety of packages, such as opening and closing your pool for the seasons, water testing, adding chemicals and cleaning the pool, changing filters, etc.
Most also offer different frequencies, such as weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.
Be sure you understand how frequently they will come and what is and isn't included in the service. For instance, they may charge extra for whatever chemicals or other products they have to use. Filters will also be extra.
Also, be aware that maintenance plans do not usually include service calls. If something is broken or there is a problem, that will probably be an extra service charge that is not covered under your maintenance plan.
How much time does it really take to maintain a fiberglass pool? If you're rigorous about it, a few minutes per week is all it takes! Fiberglass is reported to be easier and cheaper to maintain than either concrete or vinyl liner pools.
About the Author: Jason Hughes, Professional Fiberglass Pool Installer and Genesis Instructor
With over two decades in the fiberglass pool industry, Jason Hughes has seen firsthand what makes pool ownership enjoyable—and what can turn it into a chore. As co-owner of River Pools® Virginia and an instructor with Genesis by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, and a fiberglass pool owner, Jason has helped countless homeowners understand the practical side of pool ownership and maintenance. His mission is to empower families with clear, honest information so they can spend less time maintaining their pools and more time enjoying them.
From the Manufacturer
At River Pools, we manufacture premium fiberglass pool shells designed for long-lasting beauty and ease of maintenance. One of the biggest advantages of a fiberglass pool is how little effort it takes to keep it clean and clear, thanks to the smooth, non-porous gelcoat surface.
While every pool requires some care, we fully endorse best practices that help homeowners spend more time swimming and less time skimming and scrubbing. From using a quality cover and automatic cleaner to understanding the right chemicals for your fiberglass pool, we’re here to help you protect your investment—and enjoy it for years to come.
Up Next:
The Ultimate Guide to Inground Swimming Pool Maintenance
Inground Saltwater Pool Cost: Salt, Cells, Generators, and More
Editor's Note: This article was updated June 30, 2025
