The weather is warming up, and that means swimming pool season is nearly here! To be ready for the first hot day, plan on prepping your pool early to ensure the water is safe and clean, your pool equipment is working correctly and the area surrounding your pool is safe.
Here are five tips from expert pool contractors in Los Angeles, CA for getting your swimming pool ready to use this summer:
Leave the pool cover on: Basic swimming pool maintenance should be done early in the season, but leave the cover on while you’re doing it. This is especially important when trees and hedges nearby or hanging over the pool need trimming—the cover will keep cut plant debris from falling in the water. Also, remember to hose off all debris and pump away any water from the surface of the cover before removing it. Sweep away dry debris and clean the cover before putting it into storage for the summer.
Don’t drain the pool: Draining your pool is more likely to cause problems than solve them. The liner in a vinyl-lined pool can dry out and shrink, resulting in the need for a new liner. Fiberglass pools may pop right out of the ground without water to weigh them down, and gunite pools might crack when all the water is drained out.
Clear water still needs testing: While your pool water may look clear, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s clean or safe to swim in. Before you dive in for the first time this summer, make sure you test the water to be sure the pool chemicals are in balance—and salt water systems need the salt cell checked for cleanliness. Do it yourself or hire a professional to come check the pool’s pH, mineral content, alkalinity and chlorine level for proper balance. Correct any imbalance as soon as possible.
Perform a complete pool water check: It’s easy enough for homeowners to test their own pool water, but you can also hire a swimming pool maintenance professional if you want to. Simply collect a water sample and take it to a local pool store, provided they have a water testing system. This test can tell you exactly how much of what chemicals you need to add to your pool water.
Check all pool equipment: Finally, you need to make sure that all your essential pool equipment is working properly. Remove any plugs, and check the pump and filter for damage, like a pump leak. Repair damaged pumps sooner rather than later to keep the problem from spreading and avoid high replacement costs. Other things to check on your pool are the returns, ladders, skimmers, siding and concrete or other surfaces around the pool.
No matter what your pool tests reveal, always shock it at the start of a new season to get rid of algae and bacteria. Call Avanti Pools, Inc. today to speak with one of our professional pool contractors in Los Angeles, CA!
The preparation phase is the most important part of building a swimming pool, which includes working together with a pool designer, builder and contractor to help you decide on the overall look of your pool. But while you’ll have a swimming pool builder by your side to walk you through the design process, it’s can be very helpful to have a general idea of what you want going into the project.
The following are four good questions to ask yourself before diving feet-first into plans for new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA.
Why do you want a swimming pool?
One backyard swimming pool design may work for one person but not another. For instance, a swimming pool designed for exercising will look very different from a pool meant primarily for backyard entertainment. Or, if your goal is to have a pool to float around in to relax while enjoying your beautiful garden, you will want a personalized design. Looking for a design to accommodate water therapy? Consider a combination swimming pool and spa!
Who will be using the pool?
Here’s the thing—a pool designed to provide a romantic time for a couple is going to look quite different from a pool designed for a family with children. Homeowners who entertain guests often, but also want a pool that caters to them on all other days, should consider a pool design that is able to accommodate swimmers of all ages. For example, there may be a shallow area for small children, railings for the physically challenged, underwater speakers for general entertainment, underwater lights for night swimmers and a pool deck big enough for folks who want to lay out and tan.
Can your backyard accommodate a pool?
One of the first things you should do before drawing out a pool design or putting down a down payment on pool construction services is perform a soil test. This tells you if the area is suitable and safe for pool construction. Factors like sandy, rocky or expansive soil will stand out to pool builders, as these present serious building concerns, and a high water table can greatly increase construction costs. Additionally, your proposed site may be inaccessible to the heavy machinery needed to dig the hole for the pool.
Where do you want to install the pool?
First and foremost, contact your county or city and ask about pool building ordinances in your area—they can tell you all you need to know about the zoning and building laws that apply to your property. Out of concern for water runoff, there could be restrictions on how much of your yard can be covered in a material like decking and pools, as well as the direction it slopes. Local underground gas, electric, cable, sewer, telephone and water lines could also influence your pool’s location. You might also be required to install a fence around your pool.
Contact the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. for more information about new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA, or to schedule a consultation.
These days, you have a seemingly endless supply of options when it comes to building pools and spas. You can make custom choices about the construction of your pool, down to the very last detail. This gives you a lot of latitude to select options that meet your specific preferences and needs. Many people are choosing to forgo the old-fashioned incandescent flood lamp lighting in favor of modern LED lighting. LED lights offer superior lighting and are far more efficient than traditional pool lighting. You can enjoy several great benefits when you make the switch from traditional pool lighting to LED lights with help from a pool builder in Los Angeles, CA:
Savings: Everyone likes saving money, and switching to LED lighting allows you to do just that. It costs about a dollar a day to run traditional incandescent pool bulbs, compared with just about 10 cents a day to run an LED bulb. Over the course of a year, switching to LED lights may save you hundreds of dollars. Although it’s true that LED lights are more expensive up front than incandescent bulbs, the average pool owner makes up the difference in energy savings in just a year and a half.
Energy efficiency: Because LED bulbs operate with a significantly lower wattage than incandescent bulbs, they use less energy. If you are making a conscious effort to curb your energy consumption in the interest of eco-friendliness, making the switch to LED lighting is a no-brainer. Another benefit of increasing the energy efficiency of your pool is that it may be more appealing to potential buyers, should you choose to sell your home. Many homebuyers look for green features and appliances when they consider purchasing a given home.
Appearance: LED lights give pool owners the opportunity to completely change the appearance of their pool with the touch of a button. You can purchase LED lights that rotate through a rainbow of colors or select one color at a time depending on the mood you want to convey. LEDs also have less glare than incandescent lights, which produces much softer and more consistent lighting.
Longevity: When compared with traditional incandescent bulbs, LEDs have exceptional longevity. LED bulbs can last upwards of 30,000 hours, while incandescent bulbs only last about 5,000 hours. This means that you won’t have to replace LED lights as frequently, which saves you lots of money on bulb replacement over time.
At Avanti Pools, Inc., we understand how important it is to utilize new technology that offers superior function, efficiency and aesthetics, and we love helping our customers realize all of the benefits of LED lighting. We have nearly two decades of experience as a pool builder in Los Angeles, CA, and we are equipped to handle even the most challenging projects. Whether you want to have a brand-new pool built for your home or you want to make improvements to your existing pool, we would be happy to help. Give us a call to schedule a consultation.
Every time you make a change to your home, you get the opportunity to express your personal style with custom features and unique designs. Building a pool affords you the opportunity to create an amazing space where you can entertain guests and spend quality time with your family, and it also gives you the opportunity to design something that’s truly one-of-a-kind.
There are lots of ways that you can customize your new pool, including by selecting alternative pool finishes. Pools have traditionally been finished with plaster, but lots of people are choosing different materials that offer additional benefits:
Pebble Tec: Pebble Tec pool finishes are textured options made of real pebbles. Pebble Tec comes in a variety of colors, depending on your specific preferences, but they tend to deliver a more natural looking aesthetic. This pool finish is durable and lasts much longer than traditional plaster. In addition, it offers greater traction and prevents slipping. It tends to cost more than plaster, but lots of people still choose Pebble Tec because of its many benefits.
Pebble Fina: Similar to traditional Pebble Tec, Pebble Fina is made from natural pebbles, but it is made from smaller pebbles and has a much smoother texture. Pebble Fina comes in some natural-looking colors, but it can also be purchased in vibrant hues with a shimmering component that offers a lustrous sparkle.
Hydrazzo: Unlike pebble-based pool finishes, Hydrazzo is a polished finish with a smooth texture. It is a popular choice for new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA among pool owners who want to achieve a sophisticated, modern look. It’s resistant to staining, scratching and algae development, which makes it easy to maintain.
ecoFINISH: This type of pool finish is designed to be durable and long-lasting. It is a fiberglass finish that is easy to maintain and resistant to a variety of different kinds of damage. It comes in a number of colors, ranging from natural beiges to bold colors like black.
Tile: Installing a tile pool finish requires a significant investment of time and money, but this finish is also the longest lasting and one of the most beautiful options available. You can mix a variety of different tile designs and colors in a beautiful mosaic, or select natural stone tiles for an organic aesthetic.
With so many options to choose from when it comes to pool finishes—not to mention all of the other choices you’ll have to make about your pool design—you might feel overwhelmed by the process of new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA. Luckily, the professional team at Avanti Pools, Inc. specializes in helping turn our clients’ dream pool or spa into a reality. We have been in business since 1999 and we are proud to be locally owned and operated. We have a knowledgeable team made up of design and engineering experts who can plan and design a beautiful pool that is conducive to your space, preferences and budget. Call us today to get started on a brand-new pool or spa that you will be proud to show off to your family and friends.
One of the hot topics surrounding swimming pool design today is the installation of a solar pool heater instead of a traditional electric heater. Many people are shifting their focus to greener, more sustainable amenities—not to mention systems that require little to no maintenance and have quieter operation. Solar pool heaters fit the bill on all accounts!
When trying to understand how a solar pool heater differs from a traditional electric one, many homeowners will first consult with their swimming pool contractors in Los Angeles, CA. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of jargon that might be confusing, and it’s not always easy to understand the nuances of a solar collection system.
Breaking Down the Solar Heating System
To make it easier to understand, we’ve broken down a basic solar pool heating system step by step below and simplified it. If you’re interested in making this eco-friendly upgrade to your pool, take a look at the process of how a solar heater works:
Water is pumped out of your pool, where it’s run through a filter to remove any debris. Once it passes through the filter, it’s pumped to the next stage of the circuit where it will become heated.
Sunlight is collected by a solar panel array, generally located on your roof or other nearby sloped structure. Within the solar panel is a conduit, where water runs through the collection panels and becomes heated by the sunlight being absorbed.
Once heated, the water is returned to the pool. The process is cyclical, meaning water is always being pumped out and returned to the pool, creating a circuit of heated water that’ll keep your pool warm.
The process isn’t really as easy as 1-2-3, but the concept is. There are a lot of intermediate parts to consider as well, including a flow control valve that dictates how much water is being pumped out of the pool.
Additional Variables to Consider
There are also a ton of individual variables to consider with a solar collection system—each of which can have an impact on how effective the system is. For example, the tilt of your solar panels can determine how much UV light is being captured, just like the size of the solar panel can determine how much conduit is run and how long the water is heated. Even something simple like adjustment of the flow control valve can determine the flow rate of water being sucked out, which affects the temperature that it’s heated to!
All of this is to say that solar pool heating isn’t as easy as hooking up a few panels to a pump! It’s a complex process best left to swimming pool contractors in Los Angeles, CA, and one that needs to be adjusted based on the size and capacity of your specific swimming pool. Getting the most out of your investment in a solar heating solution only pays off when all of the variables are properly calibrated and coordinated properly throughout your system.
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