We're looking at buying a home with a swimming pool - how much would it cost to run?

We're house hunting in our local area and have found a four-bedroom home with a pool in the garden which is roughly 20ft x 13ft, with a deep end of 6ft.

This £700,000 house ticks many boxes for us, but a swimming pool wasn't a box to be ticked.

We have two young children, so a swimming pool might be a good feature – but we're worried about running costs.

How much would it roughly cost to run all year round in terms of heating and regular maintenance, such as being chlorinated and cleaned?

It also doesn't currently have a cover. How much roughly would it cost to have a top-of-the-range automatic cover so we could use it all year round?

The other option would be simply to fill it. Would that be a wise move, or would it instantly devalue the home?

We're also not sure what that entails or how much it would cost to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

Jane Denton replies: You have shown me the house you are looking to buy in Essex and it does look rather fabulous for the price. 

However, taking on a house with a sizeable pool, particularly when you have two young children, is not to be taken lightly. 

If you plan to buy the property and keep the pool, as you rightly point out, there are multiple maintenance costs to consider. Swimming pools can be money pits. 

Taking just some examples, an appropriate pH and chlorine level has to be maintained, the floor of the pool will need vacuuming and the filtration system needs to be checked and serviced regularly. 

Skimming would become part of your daily vocabulary. 

There's also the additional energy and water costs of running a swimming pool to factor in, which can be substantial.

Safety will be paramount, so it's sensible that you don't plan to scrimp on a decent automatic cover.

Another possibility would be, as you state, to get the pool filled in. 

You'll need to carefully assess how much the pool would realistically be used all year round and consider whether or not the benefits would outweigh the costs and hassle involved. 

Pete Simpson, of Pete The Poolman in Surrey, says: Buying a property with a swimming pool can be an exciting prospect. They are appealing and, in theory, make a great addition to a home. 

However, once you've moved in and lived with a swimming pool for a while, the reality isn't always quite as good. 

As a starting point, before you buy the house it would be a good idea, if the seller agrees to it, for you to get an expert to take a look at the swimming pool. 

They will be able to tell you whether, for instance, there are any leaks, if the electrics comply with required standards and the condition and type of heating equipment on site. 

Getting problems like this sorted out can be expensive. 

Finding and repairing leaks can cost thousands of pounds. It's worth knowing what you are buying before taking the plunge. 

In terms of future costs potentially involved, having a swimming pool is like owning a boat, only the water is on the inside.

Heating a pool of the size you are looking at with a modern gas heater for a season without a cover would cost approximately £100 per week, but this would be considerably less with a cover fitted. 

Heating costs vary depending on the outside temperature and the required pool temperature.

Getting a heat pump is another option. These can be pricey and cost thousands of pounds to purchase. 

They require the pool to be covered and ideally need an ambient air temperature of 12 degrees or more to work effectively and reach a comfortable swimming temperature. 

On top of heating costs, running the electric pool circulation pump for a summer season would cost approximately £1,000. 

Some pool owners choose to run the circulation pump for limited spells of time. However, I don't think this is a good idea. It's false economy. 

First, the heating can only operate with the pump running, so you lose precious heat during the pump's downtime. Second, the pool would require more help from chemicals to retain water quality. 

The swimming pool that comes with the house you are considering buying doesn't come with a cover. 

A good quality 'walk on' hydraulic automatic pool cover could potentially set you back as much as £25,000 for a top-of-the-range one, though some less expensive alternatives are available. 

A manual roller or blanket cover could cost a mere £2,000 or so, with the latter offering good heat retention, but, in my view, no safety for children or pets. 

Pools need chlorinating and cleaning regularly. 

Depending on your choice of sanitiser, you should allow at least £100 a month for this. 

The pool would also need to be closed up professionally for the cold winter months and opened in the spring in the same manner. 

If you choose to keep the pool, a good weekly routine service and maintenance schedule would be the best way forward, and maybe a a pay as you enter turnstile for all the new friends you acquire when the mercury rises.

Weekly service charges vary from company to company, but anything from say £55 to £75 per week, excluding chemicals, would be reasonable.

You may decide that the best option for your family would be to get the pool filled in. Prices vary, but getting this done can cost thousands. 

For a start, the pool would have to be broken up at the bottom and along the sides. 

The walls would have to be taken down over a metre to allow for landscaping. A rough guide for the pool with the home you are looking to buy would be around £20,000 and possibility a lot more if there isn't access for machinery.

In essence, a pool is an expensive toy that will be enjoyed for a handful of days in the summer and is a wonderful garden ornament which will impress any guests.