firms that perform them. We also include the “Average” price charged for the service as well as “High” and “Low” charges whenever possible:
Northern California
Responses from service firms in Northern California provided information on over 8,000 swimming pools.
These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 160 swimming pools and spas that are serviced each week.
Service firms from this area reported that pool finishes tend to be cementitious, 98 percent, with about 1 percent of pools made of fiberglass and 1 percent vinyl lined.
A summary of the services and labor charges for Northern California is as follows:
Acid Wash — 33 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer acid washes as part of their service package. The “Average” charge for an acid wash: $675; High $900; Low $450.
Pool Painting — Less than 1 percent of the participant in our survey reported that they paint pools. Results for this service were insufficient to be able to include it in this portion of the survey.
Winterizing — For this region of the country, the participants in our survey do not provide this service.
Spring Openings — 11 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer Spring Openings as part of their service package.
The “Average” charge for this service is $500.
New Pool Startup — 78 percent of survey participants from this region reported offering pool startup as part of their service package. The “Average” charge to start up a pool: $345, not including chemicals; High $500; Low $225.
For this next portion of the survey, we asked our readers to tell us how much they charge — in labor fees only — to do the following tasks: replace a pump motor; replace a pump; install a heater; install an automatic cleaner; install a salt cell; and replace a vinyl liner.
Pump Motor Replacement—
“Average” $206; High, $300; Low, $175.
Pump Replacement— “Average” $275, High, $375; Low, $210.
Heater Installation— “Average” $485, High, $605; Low, $400.
Cleaner Installation— “Average” $50, High, $85; Low, $0.
Salt Cell Installation— “Average” $235, High, $500; Low, $210.
Vinyl Liner Replace — Results on liners were insufficient from the region to be able to include it in this portion of the survey.
Southern California
Beginning at the border between San Diego and Mexico, continuing north to Bakersfield, Southern California makes up a huge share of the pool industry. Within Los Angeles County, alone, the latest estimate is that the region contains 250,000 swimming pools, high by any measure.
Survey participation from Southern California accounted for 21 percent of all responses received.
Responses from service firms in Southern California provided information on over 6,600 total swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 72 swimming pools that are serviced each week.
Service firms from this area reported that pool finishes tend to be cementitious, 95 percent, with about 4 percent of pools made of fiberglass and 1 percent vinyl lined.
A summary of the seasonal tasks and labor charges is as follows:
Acid Wash — 46 percent of survey participants from this region reported offering acid washes as part of their service package. The “Average” charge for an acid wash: $625; High $1,000; Low $500.
Pool Painting — 15 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer pool painting as part of their service package. The “Average” charge to paint a pool: $3,000.
Winterizing — For this region of the country, the participants in our survey do not provide this service.
Spring Openings — For this region of the country, the participants in our survey do not provide this service.
New Pool Startup — 77 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer pool startup as part of their service package. The “Average” charge to start up a pool: $500; High $900; Low $375.
For this next portion of the survey, we asked our readers to tell us how much they charge — in labor fees only — to do the following tasks: replace a pump motor; replace a pump; install a heater; install an automatic cleaner; install a salt cell; and replace a vinyl liner.
Pump Motor Replacement —
“Average” $245; High, $500; Low, $95.
Pump Replacement — “Average” $310; High, $1,700; Low, $150.
Heater Installation — “Average” $600; High, $1,200; Low, $500.
Cleaner Installation — “Average” $50; High, $500; Low, $40.
Vinyl Liner Replace — Results on liners were insufficient from the region to be able to include it in this portion of the survey.
Southwest
The Southwest includes the states: Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, and service technicians from these states comprise 21 percent of those responding to our survey.
Respondents of “average” sized service firms in the Southwest provided information on nearly 3,800 total swimming pools.
These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 63 swimming pools that are serviced each week. Service firms from this area reported that 90% of pool finishes tend to be cementitious, with about 2 percent of pools made of fiberglass and 8 percent vinyl lined.
The full breakdown of the responses received concerning seasonal jobs and labor charges is as follows:
Acid Wash — 54 percent of survey participants from this region reported offering acid washes as part of their service package. The “Average” charge for an acid wash: $600; High $895; Low $450.
Pool Painting — 8 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer pool painting as part of their service package. The data is insufficient to report an average charge.
Winterizing — 31 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer winterizing as part of their service package. The “Average” charge to winterize a pool: $310; High 325; Low $185.
Spring Openings — 56 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer Spring Openings as part of their service package. The “Average” charge to open a pool in the spring: $275; High $325; Low $90.
New Pool Startup — 69 percent of survey participants reported offering pool startup as part of their service package. The “Average” charge for a startup: $413; High $1,00; Low $250.
For this next portion of the survey, we asked our readers to tell us how much they charge — in labor fees only — to do the following tasks: replace a pump motor; replace a pump; install a heater; install an automatic cleaner; install a salt cell; and replace a vinyl liner.
Pump Motor Replacement —
“Average” $175; High, $795; Low, $95.
Pump Replacement — “Average” $275; High, $1,995; Low, $125.
Heater Installation— “Average” $500; High, $800; Low, $300.
Cleaner Installation — “Average” $62; High, $500; Low, $0.
Vinyl Liner Replace — Results on liners were insufficient from the region to be able to include it in this portion of the survey.
Florida
Florida captures a huge share of the pool industry and is thus treated as its own region, accounting for 15 percent of those responding to the survey.
Survey responses from service firms in Florida provided information on just over 4,000 swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 119 swimming pools that are serviced each week.
Service firms from this area reported 99 percent of pool finishes tend to be cementitious, with less than one percent each of pools made of fiberglass or vinyl lined.
The full breakdown of the seasonal services and labor charges is as follows:
Acid Wash — 56 percent of survey participants from this region said they offer acid washes as part of their service package. The “Average” charge for an acid wash: $1,100; High $1,500; Low $550.
