The Pool Professor · Homer, NY

Services & Pricing

Transparent pricing, certified expertise, and a pool that stays perfect all season. Listed prices apply to residential pools up to 25,000 gallons.

Service fees

How every visit starts

The Quick Check

$40

Every visit begins here. Includes travel, professional water testing, chlorine/pH/alkalinity evaluation, pump and filter inspection, circulation check, and chemical recommendations. The $40 fee is credited toward same-day services totaling $100 or more.

Chemicals and cleaning are additional.

Same-Day or Emergency Service Call

$69

Priority dispatch for equipment failure, dangerous chemical imbalance, or safety hazards.

Subject to availability.

Extended Travel

Disclosed before booking

Properties more than 20 miles from Cortland may include a travel charge disclosed before booking.

Pool cleaning & maintenance

Regular care plans

The Professor's Checkup

$69

Basic maintenance for a pool that is already clean and operational.

  • Professional water testing
  • Chemical balancing
  • Surface skimming
  • Emptying skimmer and pump baskets
  • Pump and filter inspection
  • Circulation check
  • Digital service report

Chemicals are billed separately.

Book this plan

The Weekly Lesson

$79 per visit

Complete weekly residential pool care.

  • Professional water testing
  • Chemical balancing
  • Surface skimming
  • Vacuuming as needed
  • Brushing walls, steps and waterline
  • Emptying skimmer and pump baskets
  • Routine sand-filter backwashing
  • Equipment and circulation inspection
  • Basic safety observation
  • Digital service report

Chemicals, repairs and filter disassembly are additional.

Book this plan

The Honor Roll Plan

Most popular

$289 per month

Includes four scheduled weekly visits. The most comprehensive ongoing care we offer.

  • Water testing and balancing
  • Surface skimming
  • Vacuuming as needed
  • Brushing walls and steps
  • Emptying baskets
  • Routine backwashing
  • Equipment inspection
  • Basic safety observation
  • Digital service report
  • Priority scheduling

Chemicals, replacement parts and repairs are additional.

Book this plan

Deep cleaning & pool recovery

When your pool needs more

The Deep-Clean Lesson

Starting at $119

Includes up to 90 minutes of labor.

  • Heavy skimming
  • Thorough vacuuming
  • Wall, step and waterline brushing
  • Basket cleaning
  • Water testing
  • Equipment inspection

Additional labor is $60/hr. Chemicals and debris disposal are additional.

Green-to-Clean Recovery

Starting at $249

Full recovery plan for neglected or algae-affected pools.

  • Initial inspection and water testing
  • Customized recovery plan
  • First shock treatment
  • Algae brushing
  • Filter and circulation inspection
  • One scheduled follow-up water test

Chemicals are additional. Additional recovery visits start at $69 each.

Pool safety & security

Safety services

Residential Pool Safety Check

$79

Customer receives a written safety checklist with recommended corrections.

  • Gates, fences and self-closing hardware
  • Pool covers and access points
  • Ladders, steps and handrails
  • Drain covers and suction points
  • Deck surfaces and trip hazards
  • Electrical equipment and visible bonding concerns
  • Chemical storage practices
  • Rescue equipment
  • Safety signs and emergency information

Pool Security Assessment

$99

Products and installations are quoted separately.

  • Fence and gate evaluation
  • Unauthorized-access risk assessment
  • Door and window access review
  • Pool alarm recommendations
  • Gate alarm and camera-placement recommendations
  • Chemical-storage security review
  • Child-access prevention recommendations
  • Written improvement plan

The Safety Scholar Package

$149
  • Complete residential pool safety check
  • Pool security assessment
  • Professional water testing
  • Equipment inspection
  • Emergency-readiness review
  • Customized written safety report
  • Follow-up verification visit after corrections

Pool Safety Orientation

$79

A practical pool-safety session for homeowners, families or caregivers.

  • Pool rules and responsible supervision
  • Preventing unauthorized access
  • Emergency communication
  • Rescue equipment
  • Chemical safety
  • Pump and drain awareness
  • When to close the pool and call a professional

Pool Safety Verification

$49

A follow-up inspection after recommended corrections have been completed.

  • Verification of previously identified items
  • Updated checklist
  • Certificate of Inspection Completion

CPO & certification services

Professional & commercial

Certified Pool Operator Inspection

$129

Performed by a Certified Pool Operator.

  • Water-chemistry evaluation
  • Circulation and filtration review
  • Equipment condition assessment
  • Chemical-storage inspection
  • Safety-equipment review
  • Operational-log review when available
  • Written findings and recommended corrective actions

Commercial Pool Operational Review

Starting at $199

For apartments, hotels, gyms, daycares, camps and other organizations. Pricing depends on facility size and complexity.

  • Pool-system walkthrough
  • Water-testing procedure review
  • Chemical-feeding and storage review
  • Safety and emergency-equipment review
  • Daily-log and recordkeeping review
  • Staff responsibility review
  • Written operational report

Pool Staff Safety Orientation

Starting at $149

Includes up to five participants. Additional participants are $20 each.

  • Routine water testing
  • Pool-opening and closing checks
  • Chemical-handling awareness
  • Emergency procedures
  • Documentation and daily logs
  • Recognizing unsafe pool conditions
  • When to close the pool and contact management

Certificate of Completion

A Pool Professor Certificate of Inspection Completion may be provided after qualifying safety inspections, operational reviews or staff orientations. This certificate confirms that the listed service was completed. It is not a government permit, code-compliance certificate, lifeguard certification, CPR certification or replacement for approval by the local health department or another authority having jurisdiction.

Filter services

Filter cleaning & maintenance

Sand-Filter Backwash$35
Cartridge Filter CleaningStarting at $69
Multiple Cartridge CleaningStarting at $99
DE Filter CleaningStarting at $119
Filter Inspection and Pressure Check$39
Filter Media ReplacementQuoted after inspection

Additional services

Everything else we do

One-Time Pool CleaningStarting at $99
Pool OpeningStarting at $249
Pool Closing and WinterizationStarting at $249
Vacation Pool Check$49
Equipment Inspection$59
New Pool Owner Orientation$79
Chemical Delivery and Application$39 plus chemicals
Storm CleanupStarting at $99
Pool Cover CleaningStarting at $79
Commercial Pool ConsultationQuoted individually

Current offers

New-customer special & referrals

New-Customer Special

Book your first Professor's Checkup for $49. Enroll in the Honor Roll Plan within seven days and receive $25 off your next scheduled visit.

Refer-a-Neighbor

Refer a new weekly customer and both customers receive $20 off one scheduled service after the new customer completes their first paid visit.

Important service information

  • Listed prices apply to residential pools up to 25,000 gallons unless otherwise stated.
  • Chemicals, replacement parts, specialty treatments and repairs are additional.
  • Heavily neglected pools may require deep-clean or recovery pricing.
  • The service-call fee reserves the appointment and covers travel, professional testing and evaluation.
  • Cancellations made less than 24 hours before an appointment may forfeit the service-call fee.
  • Additional work and pricing will be approved before service begins.
  • Safety inspections cover visible and accessible conditions at the time of inspection.
  • The Pool Professor does not guarantee that an inspected pool is free from every hazard.
  • Official regulatory certifications, permits and code approvals must come from the appropriate authorized agency.

The Professor's chemistry guide

Target water chemistry ranges

Balanced water protects your equipment, keeps swimmers comfortable, and makes every service visit more effective.

ParameterTarget Range
Free Chlorine1.0 – 3.0 ppm
pH7.4 – 7.6
Total Alkalinity80 – 120 ppm
Calcium Hardness200 – 400 ppm
Cyanuric Acid30 – 50 ppm
Total Dissolved Solids< 1,500 ppm

Not sure which service you need?

Start with The Quick Check — we'll assess your pool, explain exactly what it needs, and credit the $40 toward any same-day work.