Are plunge pools right for you?

For those of you who dream of owning a swimming pool, you probably assume it has to be the dominating central feature to your backyard. But the truth is you don’t necessarily need a full-sized pool to have plenty of fun splashing around in your backyard. If you like having a pool for entertainment and relaxation but not a lot of room to work with, a small plunge pool might just be your answer!

Image by Narellan Pools

What are the characteristics of a Plunge Pool?

Plunge pools are small pools which are primarily designed for relaxation rather than serious swimming. Plunge pool size tends to range between 2 to 7 metres in length, by 2 to 4 metres wide. Depth-wise they usually come in around 1 – 2 metres (shoulder height), but they can also be adapted for additional depth if required. 

In order to assist with the relaxing experience, plunge pools also tend to have fairly large seating areas, such as wide bench seating, so you can sit comfortably and enjoy the de-stressing effects of the water.

What are the benefits of Plunge Pools?

1. Lower maintenance and running costs: Apart from the most obvious benefit of having a small pool that will fit into your small backyard. The smaller size of plunge pools also means that they are cheaper to operate with heating, filtration, and cleaning. 

2. Better for the environment: It uses less water and requires smaller amounts of chemicals to keep clean, making it more sustainable and safer for the environment. It also takes less energy and less time to heat. 

3. It adds a touch of luxury, making your property appear more desirable.

4. Great for young families: They can be ideal for people with young children, as the smaller size makes it easier to supervise the kids in the pool. Even with a small pool, safety fencing is of course still required!

5. Versatile water features: If you or someone in your family suffers from aches and pains, plunge pools with swim jets, heaters and seats can turn a regular pool into a therapeutic spa. Best part of it all? You can stay COVID safe and relax in the comfort and privacy of your own backyard!

How much do they cost to build?

How much your plunge pool costs will depend on a wide range of factors, such as the type (fibreglass or concrete plunge pool) and installation you choose, the shape and size of your backyard, and the range of features you want to include.

As plunge pools are smaller than regular swimming pools, many people assume they will be a lot cheaper to build, but this is not necessarily the case. The process is almost the same as a full-sized swimming pool, plus plunge pools are also often installed on smaller and more difficult sites, so this can also add to the cost due to the extra planning and effort.

The smallest sizes tend to start at around $25,000. Although the installation is not significantly lower than bigger pools, small pools can definitely be more cost-efficient to run and maintain, due to the smaller water body that needs to be heated, cleaned and circulated. 

Use our dealer locator to find a qualified builder to build your dream Plunge Pool.