Making the decision to install an in-ground pool on your property is a big one. It’ll take no small sum of money, combined with construction phases and some serious planning to ensure you end up with exactly what you envision. And while many homeowners are stuck worrying about the cost or the construction-related disruption, it’s also important to consider the type of pool you want before everything gets set in motion.
Most don’t realize it, but there is no “regular” type of pool. The variables are broad and diverse when it comes to what you might need or want from your pool. And when you start speaking one-on-one with a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA, they’re going to ask you questions you might never have even considered about your family’s dream pool—starting with what type of pool you want.
Understanding Your Options
The “type” of pool you want refers to how the pool itself is constructed. You might know that you want a 12’ x 20’ rectangular pool or that you want an attached hot tub, but do you know what type of liner material you want or what construction material is right?
Choosing the ideal “type” of pool for you and your family means knowing the options and understanding each. Let’s take a look at the common three types of pools and which you might end up leaning towards:
Vinyl liner pools
These pools are the value pick. They cost the least amount of money to install and maintain, lasting a moderate amount of time to give you a simple, smart investment. Best of all, vinyl won’t limit your pool design. If you want curves or accents, vinyl can be conformed to them, for a seamless pool design that’s beautiful and effective.
The downfall? Vinyl liners need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years or they’ll deteriorate away. Vinyl can also look “cheaper” in comparison to other pool options.
Concrete pools
Also called “gunite” pools, concrete pools are strong, sturdy and value-additive to your property. They’re a great middle-of-the-road option because they cost more than vinyl, yet will stand the test of time. They’re also very diverse and easily customized.
The drawback of concrete, as any pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA will tell you, is the resurfacing process that’s needed every 8 to 10 years and the rough surface of the pool itself. They also take a long time to build!
Fiberglass pools
Fiberglass is a top-tier choice with a price to match. These pools require the least amount of maintenance and last for years without major service requirements. They can also be installed in a flash compared to other options. They look crisp and luxurious, and are absolutely a value-add for your property.
The chief downfall of fiberglass pools is that they’re premanufactured, meaning the entire pool needs to be transported to your property for installation! This can get tricky if there’s not a lot of space to maneuver in your yard. Cost is also a setback—expect to pay top dollar. Finally, you’re limited by design to what a manufacturer already creates.
Bring Home the Right Option
When you’re planning a swimming pool investment, look beyond the shape or size you want and think instead about the value you’re going to get for your investment. Consider the above three options for your family’s pool, so when the time comes to meet with a contractor, you’ll already have an idea of where you stand.
When you make an investment in something as grand as a pool, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. This doesn’t just mean negotiating for the lowest price or getting a great value for that price—it also means investing in something that’s going to be easy to care for, sustainable and enjoyable for years to come. There’s a lot to think about.
One decision many homeowners must make when they consider new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA is whether or not to invest in a solar heated option. This technology has been around for a while, but thanks to modern innovations, it has become a more than viable option for pool owners seeking the best possible value. Navigating the costs vs. benefits of a solar heated pool is definitely worth your while when it comes to getting the most out of your investment.
Why choose solar?
Solar heated pools offer you the best of many worlds when it comes to optimizing your in-ground residential pool. They touch on several valuable aspects of pool ownership, including:
The benefit of having a pool that’s heated
Lower cost of ownership thanks to natural heating
Sustainability that comes from solar
Easy maintenance that comes from not having a conventional heater
Ease-of-use in navigating heating controls
All of these facets combine to give pool owners a great option in getting everything they want from their pool: comfort, value, ease and, above all, peace of mind.
The chief aspect of solar heating that keeps most pool owners at bay is the upfront cost of solar. And while there’s a barrier in terms of the upfront cost of panels, wiring and setup, this cost is almost always justified by the long-term recoup of utility costs and longevity. There’s actually a return on investment with solar heating—not just a monthly money drain in the cost it takes to heat your pool!
A greener home
Something you might not be considering when thinking about new pool construction in Los Angeles, CA is how solar heating can add to your “green home.” This is, after all, a solar addition to your property, which means you’re using off-the-grid energy to heat your pool, thereby lowering energy consumption for your home overall.
Not only is this a great way to treat the environment, it’s also a lucrative option when tax season rolls around. Most states have tax rebates or energy credits that can be awarded to homeowners who make an investment in green technologies—solar heaters included! So, while you may pay $X upfront to install your solar pool heater, you may also be setting yourself up to reclaim $Y on your taxes, offsetting at least some of the cost.
A lot to love about solar
Solar heated pools are more than just a trend: they’re accessible future tech that makes owning and maintaining a pool easier and more efficient than ever before. Instead of having to worry about rising energy costs while you go for a dip, you can float around for hours knowing your heated pool isn’t costing you a thing.
Many pool owners choose chlorine to sanitize their pool to keep contaminants from spreading in the water and to keep the water clean and clear. But is chlorine really the best option? If too much of this chemical is used, it can cause skin and eye irritation in swimmers. Use too little, though, and it won’t treat the water properly. Luckily, there are several options available to pool owners who want a different pool water treatment system. Because not all systems have the same features, it’s important to read up on the maintenance, water quality, cost and health benefits of each.
Are you looking for a pool sanitation system that does not require chlorine? The following information from a professional pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA can help you choose between popular chlorine alternatives.
Salt water systems
Salt is the most popular alternative to using straight chlorine for your pool’s sanitation. This type of system was introduced in the 1980s and gradually gained popularity in the pool industry before pool owners discovered that salt made the water feel soft. A great thing about saltwater swimming pools is that they actually use salt to generate chlorine in such a way that the solution does not irritate swimmers’ eyes, dry out skin or give off an unpleasant odor.
When compared to chlorine systems, salt systems require less maintenance and have less harmful effects. But keep in mind that, although it’s a more powerful sanitation system, it can be a pricy investment.
Ozone
Ozone generators are designed to aid in the breakdown of organic contaminants that find their way into swimming pool water. Taking this route may lower chemical usage by as much as 60 to 90 percent, but an ozone generator cannot sanitize a pool by itself. It does reduce the amount of chlorine that’s needed and can be 10 times stronger than traditional chlorine systems, but to provide continuous sanitation, it also requires a residual sanitizer—like chlorine—to be in the water all the time.
An ozone system is a good but often expensive investment. Get it and you’ll enjoy soft, clean water to swim in, and little to no calcium scaling.
Non-chlorine shock
If you want a pool water sanitation system that is great for oxidizing organic pollutants—like sunscreen, body oil and urine—then non-chlorine shock is for you. But like ozone generators, a non-chlorine shock system cannot sanitize a pool on its own. It too needs an additional sanitation method like chlorine to sanitize your swimming pool.
Because sunlight naturally oxidizes organic pollutants and there is little sunlight indoors, non-chlorine shock is a great option for indoor pools and spas. Also, you can swim in it immediately after application.
Choosing the best water sanitation system for your swimming pool doesn’t have to be hard or confusing. Call us at Avanti Pools, Inc. to speak with an experienced pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA. We offer a wide range of sanitation options—including ozone systems and salt systems—and will be more than happy to answer all your questions!
Owing a backyard swimming pool is a dream come true for many homeowners. When installed properly and regularly maintained, you will get to enjoy your pool for many years to come. But what about additional pool features that provide safety and other benefits? Even if you don’t have children or pets, an uncovered pool can be dangerous for guests and local wildlife.
It’s important that you talk to your pool builder in Los Angeles, CA about every aspect of your new swimming pool, including the benefits of installing an automatic pool cover.
Safety
Whether you are planning to put in a new swimming pool or already have one, you should really consider the crucial role that a pool cover plays in preserving safety. Having a pool cover is one way to maintain pool safety and prevent accidents, but what is it exactly? How does it keep people and animals safe?
An automatic pool cover completely seals the pool along all its sides to protect your pool and reduce the chances of drowning accidents. Make sure to get a high quality cover that’s durable enough to withstand the weight of a person or animal falling on top of it without collapsing into the water. Automatic pool covers bring peace of mind—especially when you also have a pool fence—although they are not meant to serve as a replacement for supervision of children or pets.
Operating costs savings
Another benefit of installing an automatic pool cover is the savings. Pool owners will likely see dramatic savings in operating costs in a few areas:
Heating: Automatic pool covers are easy to use, and they ensure your pool is covered when not in use. Using a cover properly can reduce pool heat loss by up to 70 percent.
Chemicals: Covering your pool helps to keep the water chemistry in balance, which is especially helpful since pools lose chemicals through normal water evaporation. Reducing pool chemical loss is as simple as installing an automatic cover to seal the water in.
Electricity: Swimming pools need to be filtered, and they rely on electricity to run the pump and filter. Automatic covers reduce the amount of energy required for this action. An automatic cover also keeps debris and dirt out of your pool water, meaning your filtration equipment is needed less. You can save up to 50 percent on electricity!
Water: Pool water evaporation can be greatly reduced simply by keeping your pool covered when it’s not in use. As a result, you won’t need to consistently add water to the pool.
Convenience and less maintenance
One of the greatest advantages of using an automatic pool cover is the convenience of having to do less maintenance. The cover will close when you are not using it, therefore keeping the pool and pool water much cleaner. This also means you’ll spend less time skimming, tending to the filter and vacuuming and cleaning your pool.
From safety to convenience, automatic pool covers offer many benefits to pool owners. Contact the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. to talk to a knowledgeable pool builder in Los Angeles, CA about your options!
The benefits of self-cleaning pools are not talked about nearly enough, because most people assume that this added convenience will cost too much money. With help from a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA, let’s take a look at a few of the benefits this type of system offers. With luck, you’ll never have to worry about cleaning your pool ever again!
Save on maintenance costs
Hiring a pool cleaner for weekly cleaning could cost you anywhere from $75 to $165 a month for four visits. If you decided to take on the cleaning maintenance yourself, it would cost you around $100 every month for the chemicals, as well as the cost of any additional equipment you might need, such as test kits, skimmers and brushes. While these prices might not seem like a lot by themselves, when you add up all these costs at the end of each swimming season, they can easily take the joy out of pool ownership very quickly.
Efficient circulation
The cleaning that this type of system provides is important enough in itself, but it is just as important that the system also circulates the water in your pool to keep the water fresh and safe at all times for you and your family. Because the water on the top of your pool is affected the most by the sun’s rays, this part of the water is usually the most comfortable, and you might find that the temperatures below the surface are much different.
With the circulation afforded by a self-cleaning pool, the clean, warm water from the top of your pool will be circulated throughout the entire pool with greater frequency. This will allow you to run your pool heater less often during the cooler months, while also limiting how much money you have to spend on expensive cleaning chemicals.
Not nearly as expensive as you think
Not only is the installation of a self-cleaning pool system not nearly as expensive as most people might expect, but the money you will save over the lifespan of your pool will help pay for the installation costs in short order. You won’t have to worry about paying a pool cleaner to come to your house to get all of the debris out of your pool every week, nor will you have to worry about taking care of this maintenance yourself.
The cost-effectiveness and convenience of a self-cleaning pool system far outweighs the initial installation costs, and you will quickly realize how sound of an investment the system actually is. If you are ready to have a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA add a self-cleaning system that begins paying for itself with each use, contact the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. today. We have experience in adding self-cleaning systems to pools of all kinds, and we are ready to take the burden off of you and make sure that your pool is as clean and safe as it can possibly be. Get in touch right away to learn more!
(818) 501-3759