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!
Anyone who has a swimming pool in their backyard is always looking for ways to extend the swimming season each year so that they can get as much use out of their pool as possible. One of the most efficient ways to do just that is with a solar powered heating system. Take a look at five of the benefits that a solar heated pool can offer you after a pool designer in Los Angeles, CA installs one for you:
Improves dexterity and health: With a solar power heated pool, the length of your swimming season can easily be doubled, if not more, depending on your local climate. You will also have the benefit of swimming at unconventional times during the day, such as in the early morning or at night. This means that you will have the opportunity to swim much more frequently, which presents you with access to cardiovascular exercise that is not only more enjoyable than your typical workout, but less stressful on your joints.
Heating and cooling capabilities: Not only can a solar heating system warm your pool on chilly days and nights, but it can also cool your pool on the unbearably hot days as well. During the stretches of summer when the sun is beating down and you feel as if there is no relief, running your solar pool heating system at night can actually cool your pool down several degrees overnight.
Durable: No matter what type of climate you live in, solar heating equipment is built to last, and many solar heating systems are able to last 20 to 25 years. Although some solar heated pools cost more upon installation, they oftentimes begin paying for themselves in as little as three years, and the durability of the system makes them a much more cost-effective option than you might think.
Environmentally friendly: In addition to being one of the most cost-effective pool heating options available, solar heating systems are also the most environmentally friendly. Because your heating system will be using less energy overall, you will be able to reduce your carbon footprint without detracting from the comfort you are able to enjoy while in your pool.
Low-maintenance: Because your heating system uses the sun’s energy to heat your pool, there won’t be much that you need to maintain during the swimming season. Once your system has been installed, you will only need to have the panels shut off and drained when not in season. But other than that, your only real job will be to enjoy your pool!
If you are ready to let a pool designer in Los Angeles, CA extend your swimming season, contact us at Avanti Pools, Inc. For more than 15 years we have served the area with pool installations and constructions that have taken homes to the next level, and we’re ready to help you do the same as well. Give us a call today to schedule your consultation, and to learn about what we can do for you.
(818) 501-3759