Pools are fantastic places for relaxation, exercise and entertaining, but they also require a considerable amount of work and upkeep. One of the most important things pool owners have to keep in mind is pool heating, and that means deciding between heat pumps and gas heaters. These options both have their own advantages and drawbacks, and considering the differences between heat pumps vs. gas heaters in Los Angeles, CA can make the decision a lot easier.
Gas heaters
Gas heaters are fueled with natural gas or propane. These heaters are the most popular option for heating pools, and there are lots of different heater models out there to choose from. One of the reasons why gas heaters are so popular is because they cost less to purchase than heat pumps. While prices vary, many pool owners can get gas heaters for half as much as heat pumps. Unfortunately, gas heaters also cost more to operate than heat pumps, and those costs can add up over time. Another benefit of gas heaters is that they heat up pool water rapidly, cutting down on wait time. However, these systems also have a shorter lifespan than heat pumps, and they will likely require more frequent repairs.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps are electrically-powered heating units that extract outside air and generate heat through compression. These heating units are not as common as gas heaters, and they haven’t been used for as long, but they do offer a few significant advantages. For one thing, heat pumps use less energy over time than gas heaters. Heat pumps cost less to operate, and they aren’t as likely to have issues as gas heaters. These heating units also last longer than gas heaters, giving pool owners even more cost savings over time. In addition, heat pumps don’t produce any carbon dioxide and are more environmentally friendly than gas heaters.
Choosing an option
When you’re choosing between heat pumps vs. gas heaters in Los Angeles, CA, it’s important to keep your unique preferences and needs in mind. While there are lots of benefits of gas heaters, including lower installation costs and more rapid heating, heat pumps are the best option if your goal is to maintain efficiency and keep costs down over the long run. Because heat pumps last longer, tend to have fewer repair needs and use less energy, they can save pool owners a lot of money over the years. In most cases, the long-term cost savings far outweigh the greater upfront cost associated with heat pumps.
Heat pumps vs. gas heaters in Los Angeles, CA
If you’re still on the fence about whether to go with a gas heater or a heat pump for your pool, you can get professional advice from the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. No matter your vision for your new pool, you can feel confident that our team will provide you with design services that are tailored with your needs in mind. We will walk you through the whole process, from design through construction, so you’ll be able to get the most out of your pool installation. Contact us today to find out more.
Over the last decade, smart phone technology has advanced rapidly. Smart phones have been even further integrated into everyday life thanks to an increasing range of other smart home capabilities. Many people know about the use of smart phones for managing HVAC and lighting systems, for example, but fewer people are familiar with their role in pool and spa automation in Los Angeles, CA.
An automated pool system is designed to give homeowners the freedom and convenience to remotely adjust and control various pool settings and functions. These systems typically feature a main hub that collects information and interacts with settings and controls. This main hub is controlled using a smart phone app that can be fully integrated with other smart home technology. Smart phone pool control interfaces give you the ability to control many different things with the touch of a button, no matter where you are. Read on to find out more about the ways in which smart phones can be used to streamline pool management:
Adjust pool temperature: Maintaining the ideal temperature of your pool is essential for your comfort, but you don’t want to waste energy on heating your pool when it isn’t in use. With a smart phone pool control system, you can make adjustments to your pool temperature from anywhere. If you decide you’d like to go swimming when you get home from work, simply adjust your temperature settings so the water will be ready for you. This can help you save money on energy while ensuring you’re comfortable while you’re using your pool.
Activate jets: Pool and spa automation in Los Angeles, CA allows you to turn your jets on with the touch of a button on your smart phone. And if you forget to turn your jets off after you leave the pool, simply turn them off using your app!
Control lighting: Your pool lighting adds to the atmosphere of your space, and automated pool and spa controls allow you to adjust this atmosphere in a matter of seconds. Select the pool lighting and colors that suit your preferences to enjoy the best experience possible when using your pool. Automated pool technology also enables users to control dimmer settings, lighting timers and landscape lighting.
Pumps and filters: Automated pool systems control pumps and filters to regulate pool cleaning and water circulation. This makes the pool maintenance process a lot easier and enables streamlined management of water quality. Some automated pool systems detect water imbalances and automatically adjust filters and cleaning settings to keep water clean.
Pool and spa automation in Los Angeles, CA
For more information about pool and spa automation in Los Angeles, CA, reach out to Avanti Pools, Inc. For decades, we have been proud to provide services and products on the cutting edge of pool design and management. We can consult with you to design a pool that features all of the advanced technologies you’re looking for. Get started with a consultation and a quote for our pool design and construction services by giving us a call today.
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.
(818) 501-3759