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DIY Pool Maintenance vs. Professional Pool Service: Which Is Worth It?

Photo of a man standing over the shallow end of a light-blue inground pool pouring a yellow liquid into the pool. Behind the pool is a stamped concrete patio with chairs and a retaining wall. Trees can be seen behind the patio.

Ask any inground pool owner about owning an inground pool, and many will have great things to say. One may assume that an inground pool would require basic maintenance and care, but remember, these are luxury products and should be treated as such.

You guessed it, guys: owning an inground pool means regular upkeep. You may have known that already. If you didn’t, you’re probably wondering what inground pool maintenance requires. Will you have the time or energy to maintain it yourself?

You have an important question to ask yourself: Should I maintain my pool myself, or hire a professional inground pool service company to do it for me?

The answer depends. On a lot of things: your availability, comfort level handling chemicals, how much you’re willing to spend on your pool, and the specific challenges of maintaining the three main inground pool types (fiberglass pools, vinyl liner pools, and concrete pools).

At Royal Pools G2 Landscaping, maintaining inground pools throughout the swim season is one of many services we provide to pool owners throughout Northwest Indiana and South Chicagoland. We recognize that many pool owners would rather take care of their pools themselves, which is great. If you’re unsure of where to start, this article is for you. This is how DIY inground pool maintenance compares to professional service.

The True Cost of DIY Pool Maintenance

If you’re like me, you always want to try your hand at fixing a problem before asking for help. The burden of hardheadedness, one might say. Either way, you may be considering handling your own pool maintenance. I mean, how hard can it be?

Handling your own maintenance can save money, but it requires:

  • Weekly water testing and maintaining balanced pool water chemistry*
  • Skimming and vacuuming
  • Brushing walls and steps
  • Monitoring equipment performance
  • Backwashing or cleaning filters
  • Opening and closing the pool seasonally

Typical DIY costs:

  • Chemicals: $40–$100/month
  • Testing supplies and tools
  • Your time: 1–2 hours per week

DIY works well for homeowners who are consistent and willing to learn proper water chemistry.

*Balanced water chemistry:

  • Chlorine/Bromine: 1 – 3 PPM
  • pH: 7.2 – 7.8 (7.2 – 7.4 for fiberglass pools)
  • Alkalinity: 80 – 120 PPM
  • Calcium Hardness: 175 – 350 PPM
  • Cyanuric Acid: 0 – 50 PPM

What Professional Pool Maintenance Includes

A weekly service visit typically covers:

  • Skimming debris and vacuuming
  • Water testing and balancing
  • Filter and pump inspection
  • Equipment performance checks
  • Early detection of leaks or problems

Typical cost:

$80–$150 per visit in Northwest Indiana.

Professional service helps prevent:

  • Algae outbreaks or cloudy water
  • Equipment damage
  • Surface staining or liner wrinkling
  • Costly repairs

Our Inground Pool Maintenance Packages

Landscape photo of two men cleaning a blue inground swimming pool. The men are standing on top of a concrete pool deck, atop which sits a blue and black couch parallel to the pools deep end width. Beyond this is a black fence that stops two thirds of the way through the photo. Plants can be seen on the other side of the fence. Grass is beyond the plants. In the background of the image are large trees and shrubs. The man on the left side of the image is hunched over the side of the pool brushing the walls. The man on the left is vacuuming the pool floor.

We have three maintenance packages you can choose from. Each one of these packages comes with built-in discounted openings, closings, mid-season filter cleanings (for cartridge or diatomaceous earth filters), and cover cleanings.

The packages themselves are:

  • 1x Weekly Chemical Pool Service
  • Test and treat chemicals to maintain cleanliness, clarity, and balanced water chemistry. Provide chlorine (shock and chlorine tablets) and balancers (pH and alkalinity). The package does not include specialty chemicals (algaecide, clarifier, metal sequestrant, stain remover, salt, etc). Client receives a copy of the water test results.
  • 1x Weekly Chemical/Cleaning Pool Service
  • Test and treat chemicals to maintain cleanliness, clarity, and balanced water chemistry. Provide chlorine (shock and chlorine tablets) and balancers (pH and alkalinity). The package does not include specialty chemicals (algaecide, clarifier, metal sequestrant, stain remover, salt, etc). Client receives a copy of the water test results.
  • Brush and vacuum the pool weekly and clean the skimmer baskets.
  • 2x Weekly Pro Service
  • One chemical visit.
  • One vacuum and brush visit.
  • Test and treat chemicals to maintain cleanliness, clarity, and balanced water chemistry. Provide chlorine (shock and chlorine tablets), balancers (pH and alkalinity), and specialty chemicals as needed. Client receives a copy of the water test results.
  • Brush and vacuum the pool weekly, clean out skimmer baskets, and clean the filter as needed.

When DIY Makes Sense

DIY maintenance is a good option if:

  • You enjoy learning pool care
  • Your pool has simple equipment
  • You have time every week
  • You’re comfortable managing water chemistry

Many homeowners opt to DIY their pool maintenance during the season, and hire professionals for openings, closings, or more technical inspections.

When Professional Service Is Worth It

Consider professional service if:

  • You travel frequently
  • Your water chemistry is hard to manage
  • You have a saltwater pool or complex equipment
  • Your pool has equipment issues (leaking equipment, the automatic cover is malfunctioning, etc.)
  • You want the highest quality protection for a newer liner or fiberglass surface

In seasonal climates like here in Northwest Indiana, consistent weekly maintenance can extend the life of equipment and pool surfaces.

The Hybrid Approach (Most Popular)

Many homeowners choose a combination:

  • DIY weekly care
  • Professional opening and closing
  • Occasional service visits when the pool or equipment requires it

Not everyone can afford to pay a company to clean their pool every week. We completely understand. Using the hybrid approach will keep costs down while providing the professional expertise when you absolutely need it.

Conclusion

Whether you choose DIY or professional care, consistency is the key to keeping your inground pool clean, safe, and operating efficiently. Leaving your pool stagnant for a week is never recommended. Even if you’re not swimming in it, it is still important to test your water chemistry and inspect your equipment pad at least once a week.

If you ever feel overwhelmed or don’t know how to solve a problem, a trusted local swimming pool contractor can provide inspections, maintenance plans, and expert support throughout the season. If you’re in the Northwest Indiana South Chicagoland area and seeking inground pool maintenance for the 2026 season, check out the articles below. Thanks for reading. Have a great day!

Vinyl Liner Inground Pool Maintenance: How To Master Your Pool

Fiberglass Pool Maintenance: How To Master Your Pool

How Much Does Inground Pool Maintenance Cost in 2026?

Written by Logan Edgemon