Pools are great for relaxing, staying active and having fun with family and friends. However, they take quite a lot of time and energy to maintain. Without the right mix of cleaning and chemicals, your pool can easily become overrun with bacteria and algae that can make you and your family sick after swimming.
Chlorine is one of the most commonly used chemicals when cleaning pools, but many people are starting to avoid using such harsh chemicals because of their effects and price. Fortunately, chemicals aren’t the only way to keep your pool clean.
Instead of using chemical treatments to clean your pool, consider working with a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA to install a sanitation system in your pool.
Different types of pool sanitation systems
There are a lot of different options when it comes to selecting a sanitation system for your home’s pool. Some are chlorine-free, while others are not. Speak with your pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA to see what kind of systems they offer and which will be right for your pool:
Titanium oxidation with copper ionization: Ionization-oxidation systems use metal ions like copper and zinc to sanitize your pool of bacteria and algae. The system also oxidizes the water, which helps further break down and remove organic waste in your pool water. This system can operate entirely chlorine free.
Ozone with tablet feeder systems: The compound ozone is very effective at killing bacteria and other pool water contaminants. It is perfectly safe for use in the pool and can drastically reduce the amount of chemicals needed to treat your pool.
Saline/salt systems: Saltwater systems utilize the compound of salt, which is made of sodium and chloride atoms. Saltwater systems introduce much lower levels of chlorine by breaking down salt in water, resulting in a sanitized pool.
Benefits of sanitation systems
There are numerous benefits to relying on pool sanitation systems instead of chemical treatments you have to add yourself, such as:
Saving money: Chemical treatments you have to purchase at pool supply stores can add up over time. You will also occasionally need special chemicals to treat specific cleanliness problems in your pool. On top of that, think of how many chemicals can get spilled or wasted due to improper use. All of these things can get costly over time, compared to an investment in a sanitation system that can reduce costs in the long run.
Spending less time cleaning: You’ll love hanging out next to the pool to relax, but taking extra time to measure and add chemicals and clean your pool every day can get tiresome. Sanitation systems are extremely low maintenance, meaning you can spend less time cleaning and more time actually enjoying your pool.
Using fewer harsh chemicals: High levels of chlorine in pools can result in irritated eyes, dry skin, brittle hair and damage to swimwear. Many pool owners have complained of chlorine’s negative side effects, so minimizing the need for harsh chemicals can mitigate these problems and let you enjoy swimming that much more.
If you’re interested in adding a sanitation system to your pool, call Avanti Pools, Inc. We are a premier pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA that can design and build your ideal custom pool. Call today to learn about our additional services and pool features.
Once you’ve made the decision that you’re going to build a pool on your property, how do you choose which contractor you’ll work with? Here are a few tips to help you make the decision about hiring a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA with confidence and get one step closer to being a new pool owner:
Ask for referrals: If you have friends or family who have had pools installed at their homes, ask who they went with. The people you know will never want to mislead you as you search for a contractor, so their referral will mean a lot in helping you choose which pool contractor you’ll hire.
Browse online reviews: If you don’t have anyone who can directly refer you to some contractors, you should do a quick search online and see what comes up for pool contractors in your area. Review their websites and try to find pictures of their work to check and see if they build designs that appeal to you. In addition, you should look for reviews on sites like Google, Angie’s List and Yelp to make sure customers have been satisfied with the work they’ve had done.
Look for certifications: Any contractor you work with should have a certified pool builder on staff. This is a designation that can only be awarded to individuals, not companies, but having these people on staff shows the company cares about hiring workers who have gone through extensive training and testing for pool building. The builder should also be covered with liability and worker’s comp insurance and have a state contractor’s license.
Get quotes and promises in writing: Chances are you’re going to talk to quite a few salespeople while searching for your ideal contractor, so you should make sure to get any quotes, promises or claims that would affect the purchase, building or warranty of that pool in writing. Any reasonable builder should be more than okay with backing up the claims they make.
Don’t rush: While you might want to get your pool installed as soon as possible to start enjoying it, this isn’t a process you should rush into. Take your time comparing contractors to make sure you’re getting the best company for the job.
Pay attention to personality: Some elements of your decision will have to be based on your gut feeling. Does your builder give you good or bad vibes? Do they treat you fairly? Do they listen to your concerns and ideas, and understand the dream you have for your pool and property? Pay attention to the kind of feeling you get in speaking to the contractor. If you don’t think you’ll have a good relationship, it might not be worth forcing it.
Price: Finally, any contractor you hire should be able to get the job done within your price range, or very close to it. You shouldn’t have to completely blow up your budget—if a contractor is going to cost you far too much money, there will be other choices.
For more tips about hiring a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA, contact Avanti Pools, Inc. today.
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!
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.
Building a pool on your property is an exciting prospect, and it is an investment that is certain to bring years of enjoyment for you, your family and your friends. Even though kids and adults of all ages can enjoy swimming pools, whether they’re swimming laps or sunbathing in a lounge chair, the kind of pool you construct should be based on the needs and preferences of your family. The problem is that deciding what kind of pool you want can be a challenge, especially when you are confronted with an overwhelming number of features and options to choose from.
To simplify the process, start out by asking yourself some key questions to help guide you when you meet with a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA to begin the process of designing a swimming pool:
Who will be using the pool? You should think about the ages of the pool’s main users and how they will likely be using the pool. If you have one or two young children, you probably don’t need a huge pool. In addition, you should factor the ages of the children into the depth of the pool. A gradual decline in depth can be a great compromise that offers a shallow area for the kids and a deeper end for teenagers and adults.
What features do I want around the pool? Installing a swimming pool can add so much more to your home than just a place to cool off. Think about the features that you want in the area around your pool, like a new deck or a grilling area. This will have an impact on the amount of space you will need for construction, as well as your total costs.
How much space is available for pool construction? The constraints of your space will have a big impact on the design of your pool. If you have an expansive backyard, you have more freedom to install a large swimming pool. If, however, your yard is on the smaller side, you will need to be more creative with your design to ensure that you are making the most out of your space. Your swimming pool should be proportional to the space that you have.
How many people should the pool accommodate? If you want a pool that’s exclusively for your immediate family’s use, you probably don’t need a gigantic pool. For entertaining guests, though, you will definitely want some additional room in the swimming pool.
It can be difficult to determine exactly what kind of pool you want—and that’s why you should get assistance from the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. We have been helping create the perfect pools for our clients for years as a pool contractor in Los Angeles, CA, and we continue to deliver quality in all of the services that we provide. Take a look at our website to see some of the work that we’ve done, and then give us a call to get started with a consultation.
