City of Palms and pool days! Fort Myers recognized as best U.S. city to own a swimming pool
After experiencing the hottest summer on record, people across the country are either spending all their time in their pools or considering how to built one for their backyard.
Pool maintenance website Pool Gnome performed a study to find the best U.S. cities for those to own a swimming pool, with Fort Myers seeing the number one spot on the list.
Experts compared over 380 of the biggest U.S. cities based on four categories, considering access to pool installers and maintenance providers, costs, yard size, and even drought risk, among 15 total metrics. Here's how the Southwest Florida city earned its top rank.
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What is the best city to own a swimming pool?
Lucky for Southwest Florida residents, it's right here in our backyards.
Fort Myers earned the top spot on Pool Gnome's ranking, impressing with its top access to pool installers and maintenance and repair services. It earned an overall score of 66.36
Here's the rest of it's stats:
Share of Homes With Existing Pools: 37.58% (Rank: 12)Average Minimum Pool Installation Cost (as % of Income): 33.99% (Rank: 86 – TIE)Pool Installers per 100,000 Detached Homes: 573.22 (Rank: 1)Pool Maintenance and Repair Services per 100,000 Detached Homes: 973.87 (Rank: 1)Historical Average Number of Extremely Hot Days: 100 (Rank: 61 – TIE)
Did any other Florida cities earn a top spot?
Two other Florida cities nabbed a spot within the top ten cities to own a swimming pool. Boca Raton came in second with 58.14% and West Palm Beach came in seventh with 55.64%.
What are the top ten cities for owning a pool?
Fort Myers, FL
Boca Raton, FL
El Cajon, CA
Conroe, TX
Scottsdale, AZ
Tyler, TX
West Palm Beach, FL
Chico, CA
Vista, CA
Roseville, CA
What's the worst city to own a pool?
Diving all the way to bottom was Flint, Michigan, seeing a score of 23.95%. Pool Gnome said it received its low score not only due to the fact that pools are less affordable, but it also lacks spacious yards and access to pool professionals.
What are the worst cities to own a pool in?
Cities in the Northeast and Midwest dived to the worse end of the ranking due to a shorter swimming season, with less sunshine and chillier weather.
Flint, MI
Detroit, MI
Philadelphia, PA
Hammond, IN
Cleveland, OH
Jackson, MS
Providence, RI
Pittsburg, PA
Milwaukee, WI
Erie, PA
What tips do professionals have for new pool owners?
Gerald J. Wang, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering & chemical engineering and mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, said it was important to clean your pool regularly and test your pool water on a regular basis.
University of Texas at Arlington professor of finance and real estate Salil Sarkar further elaborated that an owner needs to be aware that their property tax, water bill, electric bill, and insurance bills are going to increase in addition to the cost and maintenance of the pool.
What is one unexpected challenge homeowners might face while building or planning a pool?
Wang said that a frequent cause of unexpected challenges is not investing in high-quality pool surfacing materials. He added that owners can save money in the short term, but it will cost more in the long run.
"A less frequent cause of unexpected challenges is malicious water spirits getting into your pool, " Wang said to Pool Gnome. "I have to emphasize that this is rare, but if you find yourself with a malicious water spirit infestation, let’s just say you’ll wish you’d spent more on high-quality pool surfacing materials."
What’s one potential pitfall homeowners should avoid while building or maintaining a pool?
Wang stressed that paperwork is important, adding that it's critical to take care of all relevant permits before beginning pool construction.
Who should and should not own a pool?
Sarkar said if the mandatory HOA provides a swimming pool and the home is close to the HOA swimming pool, one can avoid owning a swimming pool.
Wang also advised that if you have a house that you want to make a home, get a swimming pool; however, if you are in arrears with payments to your local water management district, think twice about getting a pool. Landscaping might be a better way to boost your home value, he told Pool Gnome.
How can I reduce my water and electric bills while owning a pool?
Pool Gnome experts explained the heat advisories over the summer have increased the need for a cool dip in the pool, which have worsen regional water stress levels and doubled water bills for residents.
Reduce your water and electricity bills as well as your pool’s impact on the planet with the following tips:
Keep your pool covered when not in use to prevent evaporation.
Invest in a solar pump.
Keep an eye out for leaks, and hire a pro to repair them ASAP.
Install a windbreak around the pool.
Don’t leave your pool pump running for long periods of time.
If you want to splash in warm water, opt for solar pool covers or a solar pool heater.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Swimming pool ownership in Fort Myers ranks best in U.S. on this list
