Hi Sambapink

We have a pool and never turn the heater on - no need in the summer. The water bill however does go up in the summer as you have to keep topping it up.

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I'd have thought it's a good time to buy in Ca right now.

Yeah it really is.. but we won't consider it until we have greencards - and even then we're still not sure if this will be long term for us.

My gas and electric bill was higher in the summer than the winter. Heating 17,000 gallons to 88 degrees a few times a month and running an electric water pump most of the day costs a chunk of change.

Add replacement parts, chemicals, opening and closing, winterizing, and it gets time consuming and expensive.

If it's not closed properly and the lines freeze/crack, you're looking at thousands of dollars to dig around it and replace the lines.

When not in use, spiders like to nest in it and their webs clog the heater and it won't stay lit. That's a service call unless you like tinkering with a natural gas heater right next to your home.

When it was closed, I had to put a smaller fence around it to keep the dog from swimming around on top of the cover.

If you're not around to take care of it while on vacation you either have to pay someone, or it might turn into a frog pond.

It might be cheaper to stay at a hotel when you want to swim or get a membership somewhere.

88 degrees? You cooking lobsters in it or something?

According to my husband it's bloody expensive and he does all the mainenance...as well as opening the pool up in the spring and closing it down in the fall. We have one of those auto pool cleaners so that helps. Our monthly gas for heating the pool is about $500/600 per month June/July/August (that was a few years ago...I haven't looked at the bills since. )...I like it at 90+ degrees...plus we have a large deep pool.

90 degrees?!! As I say the maintenance is included - but even just having to heat it is going to be alot of money!

It would get up to something like 108 or 112F if I cranked it. I came home to see a foot and a half of fog in the backyard. I wasn't looking forward to seeing the bill that month. It also wreaks havoc with their estimated billing.

we have an unheated pool here in TX. we pay $90 per month for a guy to come and clean the filters etc. (more if i want him doing it in a thong )
we're on a well so the water doesn't cost us anything and we haven't noticed much difference in the electricity bill.

We are in SE Tenn and the pool is 20 x 40 x 10' at the deep end, with a retractable cover. I normally open it in April, turn the heater on to get the temp up to 73. Last time it cost about $400. I open and close it each day it is in use, but unless we have a cold spell, I do not have to heat it again before we close it in the fall. I have to keep the cover on, and let the sun keep heating it until the temp is about 85, for Mrs R. to be able to go in.

I doubt you would ever need to run the heat much, living in CA.

Hubby's folks live in CA, their last house had a pool w/heater, they never used the heater, no need too. When we had ours in TX, I preferred it cooler, it was always nice to 'cool down' in the pool

A few years ago when we had one the water was great from Apr-Oct (ok a bit nip the first and last of the season but OK) and if anything was piss hot in the summer...could'a used a chiller in July/Aug!

Depends where you are in CA and how long you want to use it - I'd be surprised if you could get away with no heating. We have a solar heated pool and have been told we should be able to use it end March through to November. I think we need a few more hot days yet though as today the temp is showing as 67 degrees which is just a bit too refreshing for me

Heater are supposed to cut out at 104F