2025’s Best Cities to Own a Swimming Pool

What are your three best tips for new pool owners?

1. It is critical to clean your pool regularly.
2. It is important to test your pool water on a regular basis — don’t forget to measure nitrates.
3. It is easy to forget that pool ownership is a two-way street: Not only does the owner choose the pool, but the pool must also choose the owner. Both sides of this relationship must be cultivated.

What is one unexpected challenge homeowners might face while building or planning a pool? 

A frequent cause of unexpected challenges is not investing in high-quality pool surfacing materials. You can save money in the short term, but it will cost more in the long run. 

A less frequent cause of unexpected challenges is malicious water spirits getting into your pool. I have to emphasize that this is rare, but if you find yourself with a malicious water spirit infestation, let’s just say you’ll wish you’d spent more on high-quality pool surfacing materials.

What is the most important way to avoid a pool leak?

I might sound like a broken record at this point, but high-quality pool surfacing materials are seriously underrated, especially when it comes to avoiding pool leaks.

Does a swimming pool add value to a home? Why or why not, and if so, how much?

This is a tricky question, and the answer is ultimately “it depends.” In general, a well-maintained swimming pool improves home value: They are pleasing to the eye, provide hours of family-friendly entertainment, and even have a mild deterrent effect against animals with late-stage rabies. 

But your mileage may vary. I’ve heard from pool owners who have been struggling for years with malicious water spirits that have taken over their pools. A lot of them say the water spirits are a nightmare when prospective buyers tour the home. To be clear, most prospective buyers eventually make a full recovery. 

What are the top three factors that can affect the pool’s chemical balance?

The two most important factors that control pool pH are the hydrogen ion concentration and the hydroxide ion concentration. It’s a common misconception that pH is also affected by water spirits. Malicious or not, all water spirits are neutral pH.

What’s one potential pitfall homeowners should avoid while building or maintaining a pool?

Paperwork is important. It’s critical to take care of all relevant permits before beginning pool construction. This is especially true in states like California, where you should expect to deal with a lengthy permitting process at the level of the municipality, the state, and the local Council of Water Spirits.

Who should and shouldn’t own a swimming pool?

If you have a house that you want to make a home, get a swimming pool, and then you will have a swimming pool. But if you are in arrears with payments to your local Council of Water Spirits, think twice about getting a pool. Landscaping might be a better way to boost your home value.

What are your three best tips for new pool owners?

The property tax, water bill, electric bill, and insurance bill are going to increase in addition to the cost and maintenance of the pool.

What is one unexpected challenge homeowners might face while building or planning a pool? 

The easement rights already existing in the backyard may drastically reduce the available area.

What is the most crucial way to avoid a pool leak?

Keep the sprinkler system on year-round to keep consistent moisture in the ground around the pool.

Does a swimming pool add value to a home? Why or why not, and if so, how much?

It depends on the neighborhood: If the home is the only house without a pool, adding a pool will avoid the additional discount while selling. If the residents don’t care for a swimming pool, the property taxes would be low without the pool.

What are the top three factors that can affect the pool’s chemical balance?

1. The usage of the pool, if it is used every day or seldom
2. The number and the average age of children
3. Average sunlight on the pool

What’s one potential pitfall homeowners should avoid while building or maintaining a pool?

The size and depth of the pool as the volume of water depends on these parameters.

Who should and shouldn’t own a swimming pool?

If the mandatory HOA (homeowner’s association) provides a swimming pool and the home is close to the HOA swimming pool, one can avoid owning a swimming pool.