Many people avoid building a new pool or remodeling a current one because they are concerned about schedule and budget. It is true that every pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA is busy right now, but that does not mean that your project has to completely disrupt your budget or plans. You only need to know what to expect and plan along with it. Here are five tips for pool installation that proceeds on time and on budget:
Start with a good contractor: Pools are complex, and even an above-ground pool should be installed by a professional. That means finding the best pool contractor for your project. Check references, both those given by the contractor and those presented online, and confirm bond, registration and insurance status. If a contractor has several reviews mentioning that they finished construction late, failed to communicate or added unexpected fees, be wary—you could become their next victim.
Comply with local regulations: Excavating for a pool is extensive work, and it can become disruptive to utility lines and fencing. You also need to be sure that your pool does not require additional permits and complies with safety standards. Regulatory violations can delay construction and result in fines. Neither development is good for on-time, on-budget construction, so clarify with your contractor whether they navigate the permit process or if you need to finish that work on your own.
Communicate with your contractor: If you have landscaping you want left as undisturbed as possible or there are access issues with your yard, discuss that with the contractor when you call to schedule an estimate. Challenging issues can affect your estimate, so it is best to bring them to the forefront early. Otherwise, you may face bad surprises in the form of slower construction, increased costs and the destruction of the beloved landscape you wanted to preserve.
Design carefully: Even if you have a grand vision, your pool contractor and designer may see things differently. There is a chance that your plan for a pool and your yard, local regulations and lot boundaries are not compatible. If this is the case, follow the advice of your designer to get as close to your desires as possible. Delayed construction often results if plans are not possible or become more expensive than expected. Choosing a design that works for your ideas and your yard is an excellent way to stay within budget and finish on time.
Plan ahead: When possible, start inquiring with pool builders in early spring. Once summer starts, we become busy very quickly. If you are looking at a summer project, do not plan a large outdoor party two weeks after you book your consultation. Construction will take much more time than that, and you do not want to cancel a party and disappoint guests. Expect the best, but be realistic.
Avanti Pools, Inc. is your trusted pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA. We are here for you, from the design to the final phases of construction. If you seek to build or remodel a pool, contact us today to schedule an estimate.
Are you in the market for a new pool? Maybe you’re getting tired of your traditional chlorine pool, and you’re considering switching things up. Either way, it could be time to explore the benefits of a salt water pool. This increasingly popular alternative to traditional chlorine has a huge number of benefits. Salt water is gentler on your skin and eyes. A salt water pool costs less to maintain over the course of its life. Many homeowners also find saltwater more refreshing to take a dip in and more appealing to the eye.
The function of your salt water pool begins and ends with the salt chlorine generator. For those who might be wondering what a salt chlorine generator in Los Angeles, CA is, we’ve got your answer.
What does a salt chlorine generator do?
You may have heard the term “electrolysis” before as it relates to a stay at a day spa. The term refers to more than just skincare and hair removal, however. Electrolysis is the process by which an electric current passes through a specific substance and causes a chemical change.
In the case of your salt water pool, the salt chlorine generator uses electrolysis to transform dissolved salt into two cleaning agents: gentle hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite. Unlike traditional chlorine pools, your salt chlorine generator releases these sanitizing components on an as-needed basis.
Not to be confused with a salt water filter
What is a salt chlorine generator in Los Angeles, CA? It isn’t a filter. Nevertheless, a salt chlorine generator is confused with the salt water filter. However, that is a separate component altogether. The salt chlorine generator is responsible for making sure there is an appropriate level of salt content in your pool’s water.
What type of salt will my pool use?
Depending on the kind of salt chlorine generator you choose, you could be using one of three types of salt:
The purest form of salt is mined directly from the ground.
Solar salt is made from evaporated seawater; the inherent impurities often cause a salt chlorine generator to work harder than usual.
Mechanically-evaporated salt is made from saltwater heated in a machine (as opposed to dissolved by the sunlight). It is also considered slightly harmful for your salt chlorine generator.
Though that may sound cut and dry, the type of salt you use will depend on the size of your pool and the recommendation made by your contractor.
Get the best in Los Angeles
What is a salt chlorine generator in Los Angeles, CA? You don’t have to know when you enlist the help of the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. We have more than 60 years of combined experience helping clients throughout the Los Angeles area get the most from their summertime fun. Whether you want a salt water pool or you’re interested in a traditional chlorine pool, our talented team can help you make the right choice for your property and your budget.
Installing and maintaining a pool or spa doesn’t get much easier than it does when you’re working alongside Avanti Pools, Inc. Give us a call or visit us online today. We can’t wait to hear from you.
Now that the summer has arrived in earnest, Los Angelenos throughout the area are finally free to sink into their private swimming pools and soak up the California sun. Where a lot of homeowners opt for traditional chlorinated pools, however, more and more people are leaning toward salt water pools. Before you get your pool ready for the season or have a new pool installed, take a moment to consider the pros and cons of salt water pools in Los Angeles, CA.
Upkeep
Any pool owner can tell you that making sure your pool is in top shape requires work. You have to check chemicals and skim debris from the water. At least, that’s the case for chlorine pools. While there is undoubtedly a little maintenance involved in having a salt water pool, it is substantially less than owning a traditional chlorinated pool.
Safety
It’s worth noting that thousands of Americans own pools without harming themselves every year. However, some experts suggest that handling the toxic chemicals associated with a chlorinated pool could put pool owners at risk. Since there are no chemicals related to the maintenance of a salt water pool, the risk is much lower.
The price point
The most common question people ask themselves when considering the pros and cons of salt water pools in Los Angeles, CA concerns how much a salt water pool costs. When it comes to installation, a chlorinated pool is substantially cheaper than a salt water pool. That said, the average annual maintenance costs on a salt water pool are lower than those of a chlorine pool. In other words, while you might end up paying more initially for a salt water pool, you might end up saving money in the long run.
The DIY aspect
On a long enough timeline, a lot of homeowners become skilled at doing a significant portion of the required chlorine pool maintenance on their own. That’s not really possible with a salt water pool. These delicate bodies of water require professional attention whenever problems crop up. That may not be a big deal if you were planning on hiring a pool maintenance service regardless of your choice between chlorine and salt water.
Swimming in comfort
When you jump into a chlorine pool with a chemical imbalance, the water can be harsh on the skin, it can burn the eyes and generally make your soak in the pool unpleasant. That doesn’t happen in a salt water pool—the water is generally considered easier on the skin than the alternative.
Let Avanti Pools, Inc. help!
Still undecided? Let Avanti Pools, Inc. educate you regarding the pros and cons of salt water pools in Los Angeles, CA. We have more than two decades of experience helping our valued customers enjoy their own little backyard oases. Our talented team of experts can guide you through the entire process of installing your own pool or private spa.
Our professional pool builders have more than 60 years of combined experience that we can’t wait to put to work for you. Visit us online or give us a call today.
Even private pools suffer contamination. The only way to prevent it is to clean regularly, as scooping debris and filtering the water is often not enough to keep out harmful bacteria. Failure to do so results in Los Angeles, CA swimmers developing gastrointestinal symptoms, skin, ear and eye infections, diarrhea and even respiratory disease and neurological failure. Many ask, “How often should I clean my pool?” and the answer is generally once a week. But there are specific cleaning tasks that should be performed on a schedule. Here are five of them:
Spot cleaning: Do this as you see the need, which may be every day or once a week. If trees drop leaves in your pool or you see big balls of dog hair, scoop them up with a net before they enter your filtration system. Algae causes structural damage and slips and falls, so dig it up as you see. These tasks only take a minute when completed on a regular basis, and they will make pool maintenance much easier.
Shock treatments: Pool use and frequency determine the need for shock treatments. If pets use your pool often or you have large parties every weekend, add an extra shock treatment. This will turn your pool into a sanitary oasis rather than a disease vector.
Cleaning skimmer basket: Think of skimmers like you do your cat’s litter box—the longer you wait to clean it, the nastier it becomes. Your skimmer basket is the same way. You can likely skip a day if you do not have a lot of vegetation in your yard, but you still get the best results by cleaning it every day. Letting it sit too long results in a breakdown and an unsafe pool.
Vacuuming: Pool vacuums are one of the best items in your maintenance repertoire. If you cannot reach debris to hand skim it or dirt drifts to the bottom, the vacuum makes it easy to clean it out. Consider vacuuming at least once a week, or more often if your pool needs it. You will remove the dirt but also bring the water back to a good pH balance.
Cleaning pumps: You should clean pumps twice a season and after heavy use, add backwashing to that routine, too. Check pump specifications to be sure you do it correctly. Generally, if pressure rises into the 40s, it is time to backwash. This is often an involved job, and you must set aside time to open up the pumps and check pipes and clean out debris.
If this sounds overwhelming, you have another option: self-cleaning equipment. You can install a self-cleaning pool or contact a pool construction company about adding self-cleaning features. Another option is to reduce your cleaning demands by installing an automatic cover so you can cover the pool when it is not being used. This helps keep it clean and maintains your pool’s chemical balance better.
The answer to “How often should I clean my pool?” could be “Almost never!” if you hire Avanti Pools, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA. We are pool contractors who specialize in self-cleaning pools, but we also install automatic covers and sanitation systems for existing pools. Contact us today to learn more.
Dog hair can wreak havoc on your pool’s filtration system. The best way to prevent this is to keep dogs out of the pool altogether, but that is often too extreme for most dog owners. Fortunately, this issue is easily resolved with proper pool maintenance. Here are five cleaning tips for removing dog hair from the pool in Los Angeles, CA:
Groom regularly: Regular grooming and de-shedding reduces the amount of hair that ends up in your pool. Find a de-shedder blade that works for the coat type of your dog and use it at least twice a week. If you do not have a regular grooming schedule for your dog, and they need one, set it up now. While you will likely spend more for services and grooming tools, it will cost less than replacing your pool’s filtration system.
Use a pool sweep: When your dog steps out of the pool, hand skim the water to remove any visible hair balls. In addition, install a pool sweep. This device uses suction generated by the pool pump to bring in water and filter out the debris. There are also robotic options that run on electricity and scrub hard surfaces. To allow for additional filtration, place a skimmer sock over the collection basket. You can buy one or make one using a hair net or old nylons. Once the sweep runs its cycle, empty the basket immediately.
Acquire a pool vacuum: A pool vacuum is great for spot cleaning when you see hair at the bottom of the pool or find it floating just out of reach. Find a model with an internal filter. Pool vacuums operate independently from the filtration system, so you can use them anytime you see the need.
Upgrade your filtration system: If your dog swims often, or multiple dogs use the pool, you likely need a stronger filtration system. Every time someone uses the pool, it affects the chemical balance, and that includes both two-legged and four-legged swimmers. Better filtration allows you to worry less about this delicate balance, and if you miss dog hair during spot cleaning or running the pool sweep, it is less disastrous if your filtration system can handle these instances. Just be sure to continue checking your pool’s chlorine levels, and consider tracking them in an app.
Look into self-cleaning options: There are self-cleaning pools available. If you are looking to install a new pool and you have a dog, this could be an excellent option. It is also possible to install self-cleaning equipment in most pools so dirt and hair becomes less of a problem. This is a good idea for any pool owner who would rather spend time enjoying their pool than performing maintenance.
If you require cleaning tips for dealing with dog hair in the pool or need help with general maintenance, Avanti Pools, Inc. is here to help. Located in Los Angeles, CA, we offer pool construction services and features that turn your pool into a self-cleaning one. Call us today to learn more.
(818) 501-3759