While tipping your pool guy isn’t customary in many parts of the world, Americans have made it popular in the United States to tip for pool services. Pool installers and maintenance workers, like many other outdoor service workers, perform their jobs in some unfavorable conditions. So, they would greatly appreciate a small tip for keeping your pool in top shape for dinner fun.
You should tip your pool service guy (or gal) about $10 to $20 per person working on your pool, sometimes more. There’s no rule of thumb as there is for tipping your waiter or waitress. However, most pool professionals aren’t expecting a tip from the homeowner for doing their job.
Summer is all about fun in the sun and in the pool. Without a pool professional to help you out, pool play may be limited or non-existent because it’s not easy keeping up with the maintenance. This article will explore tipping your pool service professional and what all entails in keeping up with pool maintenance to better understand why many people tip their pool professional.
Tipping Your Pool Professional
Many homeowners have grown accustomed to tipping the professionals that regularly service areas of their homes, especially when service exceeds satisfaction. When you have a professional caring for your pool, it’s no different.
After all, their work isn’t easy, and you are the one that gets to enjoy the benefits of having a sparkling clean pool to use during the hot summer days.
How Much You Should Tip
Tipping your pool pro shouldn’t be expected, but if they go above and beyond, it would be appropriate to swing an extra $20 as a thank you. Some people have tipped as much as $50 per person servicing their pool. When people are tipped as a thank you for a job well done, it lets them know they and their work are greatly appreciated by you.
How Often You Should Tip
Having your pool maintained during pool season can entail weekly or monthly maintenance, depending on your pool size, type, and how often it’s used. You can choose to tip your pool guy each visit, once a month, or give them an end-of-the-year bonus. Again, this is entirely up to you because it’s certainly not required for them to return to clean your pool.
What Your Pool Guy (or Gal) Does for You
When you’re thinking of tipping your pool pro, consider everything they do for you to have your pool always looking crystal clear and clean. Keeping up with a pool can be a lot of work. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be paying someone to do it for you, right?
Vacuuming your pool and removing all the debris on the water surface is not the only thing your pool guy is doing.
Weekly Pool Maintenance
Keeping your pool clean and safe to use means it has to be kept up weekly, or bacteria and algae may take over. Slacking on weekly maintenance may cause the water quality to deteriorate to the point where you won’t be able to enjoy your pool after a long week of work.
Tasks that should be done every week are the following:
- Vacuum twice a week.
- Remove all of the leaves and other debris in the water.
- Scrub the walls of the pool.
- Scrub the pool stairs.
- Inspect all equipment to ensure they’re working properly.
- Check the filter.
- Check the water level.
- Check the chemical balance.
Pool Repairs Needed
Don’t forget the unexpected happening. Your pool pump can fail, or one of the kids may accidentally create a tear in the liner, which can be a costly part of maintenance. However, your pool professional will be there to fix it for you, so you won’t have to worry about installing a new pump or patching up a liner.
After you’ve had your pool for an extended period, your equipment will inevitably start to fail. But having your pool pro regularly maintain your pool and equipment will prevent any downtime for you and your family.
Why Regular Pool Maintenance Is Imperative
Keeping your pool cleaned and maintained is not just to keep it looking nice and inviting. A dirty pool can cause serious health issues for anyone swimming in it due to the algae, bacteria, and viruses forming in your water from poor maintenance. Your pool liner and equipment will also deteriorate more rapidly if the pool and water are not kept up.
Dirty Pool, Dirty Health
Slacking on pool maintenance can cause the microorganisms in your pool to go into overdrive. You’ll start to notice green hues around your pool walls and floor–that’s algae. Your pool will turn into a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. This will cause the water to be unsafe to swim in because the contamination will cause you and others to fall ill.
Some of the illnesses caused by dirty pool conditions are the following:
- Diarrhea
- Ear, nose, and throat infections
- Respiratory infections
- Inflamed eyes
- Rashes
- Inflamed lungs
- Fever from infection
The Damage of a Dirty Pool
Sickness isn’t the only damage a poorly maintained pool can cause. The following will happen when your pool isn’t continuously maintained and kept clean:
- Your pool equipment will have to work overtime to attempt to clean the dirty water, causing the electricity bill to increase.
- The more your equipment is used excessively, the sooner it’ll need to be replaced or repaired.
- The liner will also suffer damage from the algae and mold forming from the bacteria build-up in the pool water, and they are expensive to replace.
- Water that isn’t kept clean with balanced chemicals is a breeding ground for frogs and insects like mosquitoes.
Final Thoughts
While having a pool can make the summer more enjoyable with others, a lot goes into keeping it clean and maintained. A pool professional will keep your chemicals balanced, equipment working, and the pool sparkling clean. Whether weekly or monthly maintenance, they will work hard to keep your pool fully functioning and safe.
Tipping your pool guy for all the hard work is not uncommon. Some tip $10 to $20 each time they come out, and some give an end-of-the-year bonus tip. It’s certainly not required, but your pool pro will know you greatly appreciate their service.