Why I’m NOT Removing My Pool This Year — And Why That Might Be The Smartest Decision You Make Too
Why I’m NOT Removing My Pool This Year — And Why That Might Be The Smartest Decision You Make Too
I know. The founder of a pool removal platform telling you not to remove your pool. Bear with me.
When I started ByeByePool I was in the middle of planning to remove my own pool. I documented Week 1 of the process — the decision, the contractors, the complexity of sequencing everything. Week 2 brought a gut punch — roofing, siding, windows, and a new deck came in at $80,000 to $100,000. The pool removal budget suddenly had a lot of competition.
This week I made the call: the pool stays this year.
And I think it might be the smartest decision I’ve made in this whole process.
The Reality Nobody Talks About
Pool removal doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s almost always one piece of a larger home improvement puzzle — and when you lay out the full picture, sometimes the sequencing just doesn’t work out the way you planned.
My roof needs to go first. It’s not optional. A leaking roof does more damage than an unused pool. The windows are next. Then the deck — which overlooks the pool — needs to be demoed and rebuilt anyway as part of the pool removal process.
Trying to do all of it this year wasn’t realistic. Something had to give. The pool gave.
What I’m Doing Instead — The Smart Homeowner’s Pause
Here’s my plan for this summer and I think a lot of you are in the exact same boat:
Step 1 — Shock it hard and cover it. A big dose of shock treatment, algaecide, and a solid cover. The pool goes into hibernation mode. No weekly cleaning. No chemicals all summer. No pump running constantly. Just sealed up and left alone.
Step 2 — Stop spending money on it. No cleaning service. No chemicals beyond the initial shock treatment. Electricity to the pump gets cut. I’m not heating it. I’m not opening it. It sits.
Step 3 — Take the summer off from the pool entirely. This is actually the most valuable part of the whole experiment. You find out very quickly whether you actually miss it.
The Test That Makes Your Decision For You
Here’s the thing about pool removal — it’s a big financial commitment and a permanent decision. You want to be sure.
Covering the pool and taking a summer off is the ultimate litmus test. By Labor Day you’ll know one of two things:
You didn’t miss it at all. The kids found other things to do. The backyard was fine without it. You didn’t once wish you could jump in. Decision made — remove it next year with zero doubt.
You actually missed it. Maybe more than you expected. Maybe the kids complained all summer. Maybe you realized you actually do use it more than you thought. That’s valuable information too — and it cost you nothing to find out.
Either way you’ve gained clarity without spending $15,000 to $20,000 to find out.
What You Save By Taking A Year Off
Let’s talk about the financial upside of just covering the pool for a season:
| Expense | Annual Cost | Covered Pool Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pool cleaning service | $1,200 – $2,400 | $0 |
| Chemicals | $600 – $1,200 | $150 – $300 (initial shock) |
| Electricity for pump | $700 – $1,500 | $0 |
| Gas for heating | $900 – $2,500 | $0 |
| Opening and closing | $400 – $900 | $200 – $400 (closing only) |
| Total savings | $3,800 – $8,500 | Save $3,400 – $8,100 |
You save thousands of dollars this year while you figure out your next move. That’s real money that goes toward the roof, the windows, or building up the budget for a proper pool removal next year.
This Doesn’t Mean You’re Giving Up On Removal
Covering the pool for a year isn’t admitting defeat. It’s being smart about sequencing. Here’s what I’m doing this year while the pool sits covered:
Getting the roof done. Non-negotiable. Protects everything else.
Planning the pool removal properly. I’m researching contractors, understanding exactly what the project involves, figuring out what goes in place of the pool, and getting design ideas together. When we pull the trigger next year we’ll be ready to execute fast and smart.
Saving money. Every dollar not spent on pool maintenance this year goes toward the removal budget next year.
Letting the decision breathe. If by September I don’t miss the pool at all — and I don’t think I will — I’ll go into next year’s removal with complete conviction. No second guessing.
The Honest Advice Nobody In This Industry Will Give You
Most pool removal companies want you to sign a contract today. Most pool maintenance companies want you opening and running your pool every summer regardless of whether it makes sense.
We’re not here to sell you something. We’re here to help you make the right decision for your home and your budget.
Sometimes the right decision is to wait a year. To take a summer off. To let the pool sit while you handle what actually needs to happen first.
If that’s where you are right now — you’re not alone. You’re being smart.
And when you’re ready — whether that’s next spring or the spring after — we’ll be here to help you find the right contractor and get it done properly.
What To Do Right Now If You’re In This Situation
1. Shock your pool heavily before closing — this keeps algae under control through the off season without ongoing chemical treatment.
2. Invest in a quality cover — a solid safety cover keeps debris out and reduces evaporation. Worth the investment if you don’t already have one.
3. Turn off the heater and reduce pump hours — if you’re going to use it minimally this summer cut your electricity costs significantly.
4. Document your decision — write down why you decided to wait, what the plan is for next year, and what needs to happen first. Having it written down keeps you accountable and on track.
5. Start planning next year’s removal now — get contractor quotes, understand the process, decide what goes in place of the pool. The more prepared you are the smoother next year’s project will be.
The Bottom Line
I built ByeByePool because I believe most homeowners with unused pools should remove them. I stand by that.
But I also believe in being honest — even when it’s not in my immediate business interest.
Sometimes the timing just isn’t right. Sometimes other priorities come first. And sometimes the smartest thing you can do is throw a bunch of shock in the pool, lay the cover back over it, and give yourself a year to make the right decision with the right budget and the right plan.
That’s where I am. And if that’s where you are too — you’re in good company.
I’ll be back with Week 4 when the roof work begins and we start seriously planning what next year’s pool removal looks like.
— Founder, ByeByePool
When you’re ready to remove your pool — this year or next — we’ll help you find verified contractors in your area and get free quotes in minutes.
