Much like building a custom home, you can plan the design and features of a custom swimming pool. You can take some time here and there to draw out your dream pool, and then enlist the help of a pool builder to turn your ideas into a realty. An expert will do everything in their power to ensure your project goes off without a hitch.
Here are some important things to keep in mind as you’re getting started on your custom pool design in Los Angeles, CA:
Find the best pool contractor: Make sure you hire a knowledgeable and experienced pool builder to take the lead on your dream pool project. This pool professional should also be reputable in the industry and respected in the community. Additionally, a local pool business that has been around a long time has likely earned the trust of the community over the years—this is the kind of pool contractor you want. Meet with a few local pool installers for estimates before choosing one.
Choose the right location: Your backyard might have limited space, or vast amounts of land going far back. Either way, it’s imperative you choose the right location for your custom swimming pool installation. Of course, you will need plenty of room for the size pool you want, but you should also factor in things like surrounding landscaping, outdoor living spaces and a possible covering extending from your home’s roof. Not only can a pool designer help you pick a good spot to build, but they will also analyze ground level and soil conditions.
Look at pool designs and shapes: Once you choose the perfect location for your new pool, you will have an easier time choosing its perfect size and shape. You pool designer will walk you through your options, including square, rectangle and oval. The shape of your pool should be geared toward the style of your home, how you want to use the pool and the general aesthetics of your space.
Plan for pool safety: Safety is one of the most important aspects of owning a private swimming pool, especially if you have children, neighborhood kids or pets. Ideally, you should take steps to ensure safety during the design process and into the installation phase, as well as for long-term use. Safety features include fences, covers, lighting and more. The depth of your swimming pool is also a safety concern. Your custom pool can be built as deep or as shallow as you like, but for households with family members who enjoy diving, a deeper pool is better.
Mull over extra features: Even though the construction process is a great time to select bonus features, there’s no rule saying you can’t wait until your swimming pool has been completely installed before adding on extra features. Regardless of when you opt to add extra features, a little investment in bonuses will pay off in the long run. You will get to enjoy your pool for years, not to mention the fact that your home’s resale value will increase.
When it comes to custom pool design in Los Angeles, CA, no one does it better and more beautifully than the experts at Avanti Pools, Inc. Call us today to learn more or arrange a consultation.
So, you’re finally ready for that pool you have always wanted. You’ve chosen a prime spot and looked at your design options, and now all you need to do is hire a builder to complete your dream pool project. Right?
Not quite. It’s important to note that knowing you want to install a swimming pool in your backyard is just one step of the whole process. In addition to this, and creating a budget, you also need to pick a construction start date. Considering your schedule is one thing, but there are some uncontrollable conditions that can get in the way of your pool being built within your desired timeframe—namely, the weather and pool contractors’ busy schedules during the most popular months.
Before deciding to move forward with in-ground pool construction in Los Angeles, CA, you should know the pros and cons associated with installation during each season. Read on to find out what time of year is likely to be best for you.
Winter
Installing a swimming pool during the winter months may yield discounts and good deals not usually offered during other times of the year. This is great for homeowners on a budget, or for anyone who wants to save a chunk of change on pool installation services. On the downside, wintertime around the new year is when pool manufacturers tend to increase their prices. Contact a pool builder before January to take advantage of sale prices and avoid delays caused by winter storms.
Spring
Of all the seasons, spring is the most popular time of the year to build an in-ground swimming pool. Many homeowners see spring as the ideal time since hot summer days are only weeks away. By the same token, the popularity of residential springtime pool installations keeps pool builders’ service calendars packed. Another downside of springtime pool construction is April showers softening the soil and flooding the ground. This can result in installation delays and having to wait longer to enjoy your pool.
Summer
Summer is the busiest season for swimming pool designers and installers. If you are absolutely sure that summer is when you want to build your pool, then schedule the job early for a midsummer completion date, or later in the summer when builders’ schedules begin opening up. Keep in mind that because building a pool takes time, a late summertime pool project means you will probably have to wait until the next year before you get to enjoy it.
Fall
A majority of the country encounters stable weather and drier conditions during the fall months, and these the ideal conditions for pool building. Drier ground allows for a faster, easier installation process. However, unless the weather is projected to turn, there’s no real rush to install your new pool, because you won’t get the chance to enjoy it until warmer weather arrives.
Within certain parameters, swimming pools can be installed during any season. For more information about custom in-ground pool construction in Los Angeles, CA, look no further than Avanti Pools, Inc. Call us today with questions or to schedule installation!
The water in a covered pool has a better chance of staying clean and healthy. Below are a few maintenance and care tips for automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA.
Daily maintenance
Some maintenance steps are daily requirements, but are relatively simple:
Close the pool cover: First, make sure the cover is closed. Since yours is automatic, the cover pump should be ready to go in the event that heavy rain or showers roll through.
Water level and water chemistry: If your pool is leaking significantly, the water level may have to be maintained daily (the water chemistry and chlorine levels, too). This keeps good water balance, and low chlorine levels can protect automatic covers from harm.
Salt system care: Automatic covers are not recommended for saltwater pools, because the presence of salt residues increase the chances of corrosion to aluminum parts and cover fabric. If you do have a saltwater pool and automatic cover, rinse the tracks, pulleys and reels often.
Weekly maintenance
Weekly care and maintenance needs are as follows:
Open the cover: Whether it’s swimming season or not, automatic covers should be opened for several hours once a week to air out. It’s especially important to do this after adding pool chemicals or shocking the pool.
Clean the pool cover: First, dry and remove leaves from the cover using a leaf blower. Take a hose with a nozzle and spray in eight-foot sections at a time, and use a pool brush to remove debris as you go. Repeat until the cover rolls up all the way.
Prevent water pooling: Either remove pooled water from the cover using an automatic cover pump or manpower. Never operate an auto cover that has water puddles on top.
Annual maintenance
You must do three things annually (or even a couple times a year) to protect your automatic pool cover:
Clean out the box: Keep the box clean to avoid debris build up and attracting pests. Use a leaf blower, a small broom or a wet-dry vac.
Clean the tracks: All sorts of things can clog the tracks, including dirt, sand, leaves, insects and more. Simply spray out the tracks with a garden hose.
Tighten and lubricate: Your automatic pool cover is either electric or hydraulic, both of which needs hardware to be tightened and lubricated. Drive chains, tracks and sliders should also be checked for tightness and lubrication.
Repairs and replacements
Along with daily, weekly and annual automatic pool cover maintenance is the inevitable need for various repairs throughout its lifespan. This is normal. And while swimming pool owners can learn how to care for and repair automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA, some tasks are best left to the professionals. Over the lifetime of the cover, you’ll likely end up replacing ropes, sliders and pulleys, the motor and the cover fabric.
Regular pool cover maintenance and cleaning can add years to the life of its components and reduce the overall cost of ownership. For more information about the benefits of installing automatic pool covers in Los Angeles, CA, call the experts at Avanti Pools, Inc.
Swimming pool owners have a lot of responsibilities. It’s up to you to keep the water and pool chemicals balanced, put in safety features and perform regular maintenance. If the thought of having to clean it all the time is holding you back from installing a brand-new swimming pool, then a pool cleaning system may be right for you. These systems are designed to clean on their own so you don’t have to.
Want more info? Read on for a better understanding of self-cleaning pools in Los Angeles, CA.
What are self-cleaning swimming pools?
A self-cleaning pool is powered by an in-floor cleaning system. It is an automatic and integrated cleaning system that’s built into the bottom of your swimming pool. The majority of these systems consist of a pump, pop-up rotating heads, a canister for collecting high volumes of debris and a main pool drain with another debris intake.
Here’s how self-cleaning pool systems work. Once activated, the rotating heads come up from the bottom of the pool and begin spraying jets of water. This pressure is needed to remove dirt, algae and other debris from the pool’s surface. Next, water circulates through the filter to remove contaminants from your pool. The final result is crystal-clear water to swim in.
Smart pools vs. traditional pools
The traditional way to clean swimming pools is the “eyeball and skimmer” method. This cleaning system pushes water across the top of your pool into a skimmer, which then feeds it through a filter and into a pump. Finally, the water is pushed back into your pool through the system’s eyeball return jets. While a traditional skimmer system can circulate a great volume of water in about eight hours, it may not circulate through the whole pool.
A more effective way to clean your pool is by installing a smart pool system. Self-cleaning pools in Los Angeles, CA offer a modern, less taxing way to maintain a clean swimming pool. Built into the bottom of the pool are in-floor nozzles that work to push water around your pool in a circular pattern. This ensures all the water in the pool is constantly moving, so water at the top is eventually circulated to the bottom.
The benefits of in-floor cleaning systems
Self-cleaning pools offer a host of benefits, including warmer water and the even dispersal of bacteria-killing chemicals and more:
Automatic cleaning: There’s no need to set reminders to clean your pool or take time out of your day for this task. The auto system remembers and does all the work for you.
Improved water circulation: In-floor jets circulate the water to ensure even chemical and temperature distribution.
No equipment: This type of system is installed inside the pool, which means no hoses, cords or equipment cluttering your pool area.
Not visible: The jets are virtually invisible because they’re flush with the pool’s surface.
If you want to learn more about self-cleaning pools in Los Angeles, CA, call Avanti Pools, Inc. Our pool experts are ready to answer all your questions!
If you enjoy using your pool throughout the year, you probably know that heating the water can get pretty expensive, especially when temperatures start to dip during the winter months. If you want to continue enjoying your pool throughout the year, but also want to save money on pool heating, you should consider solar heated pools in Los Angeles, CA. Read on to find out more about how these pools work and what benefits they offer.
Solar heated pool basics
The water in solar heated pools is heated with a solar energy collection system that’s mounted on the roof of a home, garage or pool house. This system contains a series of tubes, flow control valves and sensors that are all designed to ensure effective and precise pool heating. Pool water is pumped up into the solar energy collection system, where it is warmed using thermal energy. Flow control valves and sensors in the system keep the temperature of the pool water balanced as outdoor temperatures fluctuate.
Investing in solar heated pools in Los Angeles, CA
While solar heated pool systems require a sizable upfront investment, they can also save you a significant amount of money on energy over time. In addition, having a solar heating system installed can help boost the overall value and appeal of your home if you ever choose to sell. Transitioning to a solar heated pool system is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money on energy costs.
Existing pools can be outfitted with solar heating systems so that pool owners can save money and improve the energy efficiency of their pool. The cost of these systems can vary widely, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. For an accurate quote for your situation, you will need to consult with a pool construction contractor who specializes in solar heated pools in Los Angeles, CA.
Solar energy collection systems have to be designed with custom specifications based on the particular pool that’s being heated. The size of the system, as well as where it’s installed and its placement and orientation in relation to the pool, will all vary based on the unique characteristics of your property. To develop a solar collection system that works for your pool, you need to work with a contractor who specializes in designing, developing and installing these systems. They will be able to provide you with customized services that are tailor made to meet your specific needs.
Learn more about solar heated pools in Los Angeles, CA
If you’re interested in finding out more about solar heated pools in Los Angeles, CA, reach out to the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. We are a locally owned and operated business with decades of experience providing pool construction services, pool repair services and a full range of pool accessories. Whether you want to make improvements to an existing swimming pool or are interested in building a brand-new pool, our team is here to help you. Give us a call today to get started with a service quote.