Why I Stopped Paying for Pool Care and Started Doing It Myself in Oviedo
A personal story about saving money and keeping my pool crystal clear without all the expensive add-ons they try to sell you.
When we moved into our house off Lockwood Boulevard a few years ago, the first thing I did was hire a pool service. It felt like the responsible thing — I didn't know the first thing about pool chemistry, and I figured pros would keep it looking like a resort. And they did, for a while. But after a few months, I started noticing the little things: a charge for 'extra algaecide' that I never asked for, a note about 'phosphates' that needed a $40 treatment, and a monthly bill that kept creeping up.
One day, I decided to look up what I was actually paying for. I found out that most of the stuff they were selling me — phosphate removers, clarifiers, enzyme treatments — were things I could easily skip. So I fired them (nicely) and started doing it myself. Turns out, keeping a pool clean in Oviedo isn't rocket science. It's just a bit of routine and knowing what to ignore.
The Truth About Pool Chemicals in Oviedo
Our water here comes from the Floridan Aquifer, which means it's hard as a rock — literally. That's why you see white scale buildup on your tile line. The pool stores will try to sell you expensive sequestering agents and stain removers, but honestly, a pumice stone and a little elbow grease works better. I scrub my tile line once a month, and it looks fine.
As for chlorine, I just use liquid shock from the hardware store — 10 bucks a gallon and it lasts me two weeks. I test the water every Sunday with a 5-way test kit (not the strips, those are less accurate for chlorine). I keep my pH around 7.4 and free chlorine at 3 ppm. That's it.
The Great Pump Debate: Do You Really Need 12 Hours?
When I first started, I thought the pump needed to run all day like the pool service did. But that's just so they don't have to come back on a different schedule. In reality, you only need to turn over your pool's volume once per day. For an average 15,000-gallon pool, that's about 6-8 hours on a single-speed pump, or 4-6 hours on a variable-speed.
I run mine from 10 AM to 4 PM during the summer when the sun is highest — that's when the chlorine gets used up fastest, so the pump helps circulate it. In winter, I cut it to 4-5 hours. My electric bill dropped by about $30 a month after I stopped running it 12 hours.
Hiring a Pool Service vs. Doing It Yourself
| Category | Pool Service ($150-$200/mo) | DIY ($30-$40/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| Chemicals | Includes markups on everything | Liquid shock + tablets, $20/month |
| Time per week | 0 minutes | 15-20 minutes |
| Knowledge needed | None | Basic (takes 30 min to learn) |
| Surprise costs | Frequent 'recommended' add-ons | None, you control it |
Why I Ignore the 'Phosphate' Scare
Every time I walk into a pool store, they test my water and show me the phosphate number. They say phosphates cause algae and I need this $25 bottle of remover. But here's the thing: phosphates only matter if you're already having algae problems. If your chlorine is maintained, phosphates are harmless. It's like selling someone a fire extinguisher when there's no fire.
I stopped testing for phosphates altogether. My pool is clear, no algae. I save that $25 every few months. If you ever do get algae, just shock it with a higher dose of chlorine, brush like crazy, and it'll clear up in a day or two.
The Best Cheap Tool I Ever Bought
A leaf skimmer on a pole — like $15 at the local hardware store. We have alot of oak trees and those little flowers that fall in the spring, and if I let them sit, they turn into a brown sludge at the bottom. I skim every other day, takes 5 minutes. It beats using the vacuum cleaner which takes 45 minutes.
I also bought a cheap pool cover for winter, but honestly, I only use it when the oak leaves are falling like crazy. Most of the time, the skimmer does the job. Don't let anyone tell you you need an automatic pool cleaner unless you have a ton of debris 24/7.
The One Thing I Do Pay For: Professional Opening and Closing
Look, I'm not a total cheapskate. I still hire a guy to open the pool in March and close it in November. He charges $150 each time and handles the tricky stuff: putting in the winterizing chemicals, blowing out the lines, and storing the pump. I tried doing it myself once and almost broke a pipe. Some things are worth paying for.
But during the season, I'm hands-on. I spend maybe 15 minutes a week on it, and another 15 on the pump and filter maintenance. That's it. The money I save on monthly service pays for our family's monthly pizza night at Fratelli's.
Find it on YouTube → “how to maintain your own pool cheaply”
Questions folks ask me
Do I really need to backwash my filter every week?
No. I check the pressure gauge and only backwash when it's 10 psi above normal. In Oviedo, that's about every 2-3 weeks during summer, less in winter. Over-backwashing wastes water and chemicals.
My pool is cloudy after a rainstorm. What did I do wrong?
Nothing — it's the pollen and dust. Just add a little extra shock and run the pump for a few extra hours. It'll clear up. Don't buy a clarifier; it's just a waste.
Is it true I need to drain my pool every few years?
Only if your calcium hardness gets over 500 ppm. Ours stays around 200-300 because of our hard water — actually, it's fine. Draining is last resort; you can use a stain remover or just live with a little scale.
Can I use bleach instead of pool shock?
Technically yes, but it's weaker and has additives that can foam. Stick with pool-specific liquid shock — it's cheap enough.
Look, I'm not saying you should never hire help. If you travel alot or have health issues, a service makes sense. But for most of us in Oviedo, doing your own pool care is totally doable and saves a ton of money. Plus, there's something satisfying about knowing exactly what's in your water and not being upsold on stuff you don't need.
So next time your pool guy leaves a note about 'elevated phosphates,' just smile, nod, and keep skimming. Your wallet will thank you. And if you see me at the Ace Hardware on 434 buying shock, say hi — I'll be the one with the pumice stone in my cart.
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- My honest newcomer's guide to moving to Oviedo, FL
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- Why I keep going back to Black Hammock (and why you should too)
- Oviedo vs Winter Springs: where we almost bought, and why we chose Oviedo
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