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The information and illustrations contained within this website have been obtained from the National Swimming Pool Foundation 2002, 2005 & 2007 Certified Pool & Spa Operator Handbooks, the Center for Disease Control website and various other industry sources.Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneral QuestionsWhat is a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO)? Why does your service cost more than other pool companies? Who are the pool service providers? Why doesn't Arizona Pool Pros use liquid chlorine? Why doesn't Arizona Pool Pros use Chlorine Gas? Why is it important to perform preventative maintenance on the pool equipment? What does a Monsoon Cleanup include? When chemicals are added to the pool, how long do I have to wait before I can swim? What factors influence water balance in a swimming pool? What is the Calcium Saturation Index & Why is it important? What are the Health Code Standards for Swimming Pools? Why does chlorine need to be tested regularly? Why is Total Alkalinity important? Will softened water damage my pool? How often should I drain my pool? How much does it cost to refill the pool with water? Why does my pool have a Chlorine odor? What causes the "ring" around my pool's tile line? What is the easiest way to remove the calcium line around my pool? What problems are caused by algae or a green pool? Do high levels of chlorine cause bathing suits to disintegrate? Service QuestionsWhy does my pool still need service in the winter? Does Arizona Pool Pros Offer Bi-weekly Service? What service does a D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth) filter need? What service does a Cartridge filter need? What service does a Sand filter need? When is a good time to do an acid wash? Does my pool need an acid wash? Does my pool need a chemical wash (chlorine bath)? Do you offer one time cleanings and vacation service? Building a Pool QuestionsWhich pool builder does Arizona Pool Pros recommend? Is a salt pool better than a chlorine pool? What type of filter is the best? Are pop-up cleaners better than a pool vacuum cleaner?
What is a Certified Pool Operator? The Certified Pool Operator (CPO) has knowledge and is familiar with:
Why does your service cost more than other pool companies? Here at Arizona Pool Pros everything we do is done to the highest Quality standards. This is true for every aspect of our business and our daily lives. Simply put, We're Raising the Standards of Residential Pool & Spa Care!™ Ø We Employ Certified Pool & Spa Operators (CPO) who are Certified by the National Swimming Pool Foundation, therefore only highly-qualified technicians will be working on your pool. The majority of CPO's in Arizona specializing in Residential Pools & Spas are just the owner of the company and NOT the actual technician providing the service. Ø As a Certified Pool Operator with multiple years of experience, I strive to provide Superior Quality customer service and keep clients informed and educated in pool operations. Ø Arizona Pool Pros is Owned & Operated by Joshua Wiles. Ø Our pricing is for 100% Complete weekly care! Ø We DO NOT Tolerate Hidden or Undisclosed Charges! Ø We Provide Guaranteed Algae Prevention (If your pool starts to turn green we will fix it at NO additional charge*) Ø Our pricing includes ALL chemicals and any other items needed for 100% Complete Weekly Care! Unfortunately MOST pool service companies will quote a low price, only for you to find out that many chemicals and services (i.e. vacuuming, brushing, netting, etc.) are an additional charge. Ø Our price is a 100% Complete Price …NOT a “Starting At” price! Ø We maintain your pool water according to the Calcium Saturation Index & Health Code Standards. Most pool service companies ONLY check the chlorine and pH weekly. o The Calcium Saturation Index is a method of determining whether your pool's water is "Corrosive", "Balanced" or "Scale Forming". The Calcium Saturation Index incorporates the five balance factors: pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, Temperature and Total Dissolved Solids. If the pool's water is not balanced according to the Calcium Saturation Index, chemicals will become less effective (i.e. Chlorine won't kill contaminants in the water). By maintaining your pool water in accordance with the Calcium Saturation Index we will reduce the formation of scale, keep swimmers safe and prolong the life of your pool equipment. Ø We perform weekly service on the SAME day Each & Every week. In the rare event that your service visit needs to be rescheduled (holiday, illness, vehicle repair, etc.), we will contact you personally to schedule the service for a different day. Ø Arizona Pool Pros is fully committed to our clients so we will NEVER sub-contract out or sell your account at anytime! Ø In order to maintain Superior Quality, we limit our weekly service to 70 clients per Certified Pool Operator. Unlike most pool service companies that will schedule 80 to 120 or more clients per technician per week.
Myth: Pool service is 100% profit. Fact: A common myth or misunderstanding about pool service companies is that what the client pays for service is 100% profit for the company. Just like any other company, a pool service company spends about 75% of what the client pays each week on expenses (such as chemicals, insurance, postage & supplies for billing, uniforms, vehicle fuel & maintenance, etc.) while the remaining amount is taxed.
Myth: Your (Arizona Pool Pros) prices are higher because you have a website. Fact: Our website is one of the lowest priced expenses that we have as a company. We do all the design and writing of the website by ourselves and we host the website through GoDaddy.com. In all, the website only costs us about $45 per year. Who are the pool service providers? The providers are everyone involved in making sure the proper care and maintenance of a pool is performed at the needed intervals (service company, service technician & homeowner/client). Why doesn't Arizona Pool Pros use liquid chlorine? We don't use liquid chlorine for a few reasons. First, liquid chlorine breaks down quickly when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures. Second, the percentage of available chlorine varies greatly, basically you never know exactly what you're buying. And finally it has a very short shelf life. This summer you may see other pool service companies driving around with stacks of yellow crates filled with white bottles (liquid Chlorine) in the back of their trucks. If the chlorine has been in the back of their truck for more than two days it's pretty safe to say that the chlorine has broken down and is useless, especially since most of the wholesale pool supply distributors (where pool guys buy stuff) keep their liquid chlorine inventory outside stacked on pallets. Twice a year the Arizona Department of Agriculture spends a week sampling chlorine and having it tested to determine if you're getting what you pay for. Click on the following links for more information: May 2005 Press Release; Pool Chlorine Questions & Tips; Chlorine Test Results Why doesn't Arizona Pool Pros use Chlorine Gas? Chlorine Gas Pros & Cons: Information compiled March 2005 The following information was obtained from these sources: National Swimming Pool Foundation (www.nspf.org) Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Handbook 2005 Edition, CPO Handbook 2002 Edition, Maricopa County Health Department, Arizona Department of Transportation Hazmat Division, Hills Brother’s Chemical Co. of Tucson, AZ. Pros for the service company:
Cons for the service company:
Pros for the homeowner:
Cons for the homeowner:
Why is it important to perform preventative/regular maintenance on the pool equipment?
What does a Monsoon Cleanup include? A monsoon cleanup is simply brushing the steps/bottom, netting debris and test & adjust water chemistry of the pool/spa after a monsoon or other storm. Vacuuming the pool/spa will be done at our discretion. To have a monsoon cleanup done on your pool you must contact Arizona Pool Pros within 24 hours following the storm this allows us to add your pool to our schedule. Monsoon Cleanups are performed Monday through Friday ONLY and cannot be substituted for your regularly scheduled service. Each client receives 2 monsoon cleanups per calendar year. All additional Monsoon Cleanups will be charged at $75 each and will be invoiced separately from your regular service. When chemicals are added to the pool, how long do I have to wait before I can swim? With the exception of super-chlorinating (which requires waiting until the chlorine level drops back to normal levels), you can generally use your pool when the chemical is dispersed throughout the pool. We typically recommend waiting a minimum of 30 minutes before returning to the pool. If a longer wait time is needed we will advise accordingly. Dogs and other pets should NOT be allowed to swim in the pool or spa. A single dog in a pool is equivalent to 3 or more people, it will raise the pH and quickly consume the pool's chlorine. Animals ALWAYS have small particles of fecal matter stuck in their fur. This fecal matter WILL contaminate the pool's water aiding in the transmission of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI's) such as E. coli, Giardia, Hepatitis A and Cryptosporidium. Besides the affect on the pool's water chemistry the fur of a dog will get caught in the pools equipment resulting in more frequent service and/or replacement of parts and higher service and maintenance costs.
These cartridges were cleaned just one month before this picture was taken. You can see the dog fur that has quickly clogged the filter, resulting in more frequent filter service (cleanings). What factors influence water balance in my swimming pool?
pH pH range: Acid (0)-------------------Neutral(7)--------------------Base(14)
CALCIUM HARDNESS
Calcium Hardness - The ideal level for calcium hardness (as measured by CaCO3) is 200 to 400 ppm. Calcium levels below 200 ppm will cause pool/spa water to become increasingly more aggressive or corrosive to plaster or concrete. When the calcium hardness approaches 1,000 ppm, it is essentially impossible to maintain water balance, and the pH and total alkalinity in the proper ranges. As calcium hardness exceeds 500 ppm, extreme care must be taken to maintain lower total alkalinity and pH levels to avoid scale, especially in hot water environments. - Source: 2005 & 2007 Edition of NSPF Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Handbook
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) - All dissolved matter added to pool/spa water contributes to TDS, including salt, bather waste, algaecides, metal and stain control chemicals, clarifiers, defoamers, enzymes, wind-borne debris, and water balance chemicals. It is commonly recommended that the TDS should not exceed 1,500 ppm higher than the TDS when the pool was started up. In the case of a salt pool the TDS should not exceed 1,500 ppm higher than the recommended ppm of salt needed to operate the salt chlorine generation system. As TDS level increases above 2,000 ppm, there is a greater probability of galvanic corrosion when there are dissimilar metals within the system. For example, if a pool has a copper heat exchanger and other metals in the plumbing, light fixtures, or metal pump impellers, then galvanic corrosion can occur. Galvanic corrosion would be observed by the discoloration of metal parts in the water. Excessively high levels of TDS will cause the water to look dull or "tired" and may exhibit a bad or salty taste. Hot water facilities such as spas or pools in hot weather climates develop high TDS as a result of evaporation, excessive bather load, and chemical use. A program of planned water replacement is a good management tool to use to maintain proper TDS levels in pools and spas. - Source: 2005 & 2007 Edition of NSPF Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Handbook CYANURIC ACID (CYA)
Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) - Cyanuric Acid functions as a stabilizer for free chlorine helping to prevent the chlorine from being broken down by sunlight and heat. For optimum chlorine protection, the Cyanuric Acid level should be maintained between 30 to 50 ppm. (Arizona State Health Code limits Cyanuric Acid to not exceed 150 ppm.) Excessive levels of Cyanuric Acid may lead to an increased risk of algae. The ONLY feasible method of reducing Cyanuric Acid concentration is to dilute the water and replace it with fresh source water. - Source: 2005 & 2007 Edition of NSPF Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Handbook What is the Calcium Saturation Index & Why is it Important? The Calcium Saturation Index is a method of determining whether your pool's water is "Corrosive", "Balanced" or "Scale Forming". The Calcium Saturation Index incorporates the five balance factors: pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, Temperature and Total Dissolved Solids. If the pool's water is not balanced according to the Calcium Saturation Index, chemicals will become less effective (i.e. Chlorine won't kill contaminants in the water). By maintaining your pool water in accordance with the Calcium Saturation Index we will reduce the formation of scale, keep swimmers safe and prolong the life of your pool equipment. What are the Health Code Standards for Swimming Pools? First off please note that the state of Arizona DOES NOT regulate nor do they monitor Water Quality and Disinfection Standards for Residential Pools and Spas. This is why Arizona Pool Pros applies the Public and Semipublic Swimming Pool Standards to each of our clients pools. By applying these standards to our clients pools we're able to provide each of our clients a clean, clear, healthy, safe and professionally-maintained swimming pool ready for all to enjoy. Below is a copy of the Health Code Standards as written by the state of Arizona. R9-8-803. Public and Semipublic Swimming Pool and Spa Water Quality and Disinfection Standards
B. An operator of a public or semipublic swimming pool or spa:
C. An operator of a public or semipublic swimming pool or spa using chlorinated isocyanurates or cyanuric acid stabilizer for disinfection and stabilization in the swimming pool or spa shall ensure that the water in the swimming pool or spa maintains an oxidation-reduction potential equal to or greater than 650 millivolts and that cyanuric acid levels, whether from chlorinated isocyanurates or from the separate addition of cyanuric acid stabilizer, do not exceed 150 ppm. D. An operator of a public or semipublic swimming pool shall ensure that the water in the swimming pool meets one of the following chemical disinfection standards:
E. An operator of a public or semipublic spa shall ensure that:
Chlorine kills germs in pools – but it takes time to work. Therefore, it’s important to make sure chlorine levels are always at the levels recommended by the health department (usually between 1.0 – 3.0 ppm for pools and 3.0 - 5.0 ppm for spas).
Why does chlorine need to be tested regularly? All sorts of things can reduce chlorine levels in pool water. Some examples are sunlight, dirt, debris, and material/waste from swimmer’s bodies. That’s why chlorine levels must be routinely measured. However, the time it takes for chlorine to work is also affected by the other member of the disinfection team, pH. Two reasons, first, the germ-killing power of chlorine varies with pH level. As pH goes up, the ability of chlorine to kill germs goes down. Second, a swimmer’s body has a pH between 7.2 and 7.8, so if the pool water isn’t kept in this range then swimmers will start to feel irritation of their eyes and skin. Keeping the pH in this range will balance chlorine’s germ-killing power while minimizing skin and eye irritation. Also, pools with pH values lower than 7.2 or higher than 7.8 can cause etching, staining or other damage to the pool’s walls and steps, which can result in costly repairs. However, to maintain proper pH the Total Alkalinity in the pool water must be properly maintained. Why is Total Alkalinity important? Total Alkalinity is the measure of the ability of water to resist changes in pH. In other words, Total Alkalinity is like an anchor for keeping pH where it should be. If the Total Alkalinity is not properly maintained then the pH will become increasingly difficult to keep in the recommended range of 7.2 - 7.8. When this happens the water can become out of balance, affecting chlorine's ability to kill bacteria and causing corrosion, staining, scaling, and eye/skin irritation. This is why we maintain all pools according to the Calcium Saturation Index. Will softened water damage my pool? No, as long as the pool/spa calcium hardness level is properly balanced at 200 ppm at startup and kept above 200 ppm at all times. Water softeners simply replace calcium ions with sodium or potassium ions. The main effect this will have on a pool is raised TDS levels and possibly shorter intervals between pool draining due to the higher TDS levels rather than high calcium hardness levels. How often should I drain my pool? You should change the water in your pool every 2 to 3 years. Arizona has very hard water and due to our high temperatures we evaporate 10 to 12 feet of water each year. Only the pure water in your pool evaporates leaving behind lots of minerals which build up to undesirable levels. As the hardness and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) build up, it becomes increasingly difficult to balance the chemicals. High calcium hardness and TDS levels can also cause staining on the pool's plaster or galvanic corrosion when there are dissimilar metals within the system. Galvanic corrosion would be observed by the discoloration of metal parts in the water. For more detailed information on why it is necessary to drain your pool follow this link to What factors influence water balance in a swimming pool?. To see our pool draining price and procedures view Pool Draining on our Regular Maintenance page. Below is a graphic showing hard water levels throughout the U.S. (1 grain per gallon = 17.1 parts per million) (City of Mesa East Zone Water Hardness is 17.4gpg or 298ppm) To view your cities Water Quality Report please visit the EPA Consumer Confidence Report (www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.html)
How much does it cost to refill the pool with water? As of November 1st, 2008 the City of Scottsdale charged $1.74 per 1,000 gallons up to 12,000 gallons (based on a 1" meter) and $3.24 per 1,000 gallons for every 1,000 gallons over 12,000 gallons up to 75,000 gallons excluding Taxes and other fees. For instance if you had a 15,000 gallon pool you would be charged ($1.74 x 12) + ($3.24 x 3) or $20.88 + $9.72 = $30.06 for the water to fill your pool. Please be advised that the City of Scottsdale calculates your monthly sewer bill using your average water consumption during the months of December, January and February. Why does my pool have a Chlorine odor? It is a common misconception that red eyes and a strong chlorine smell from the water is the result of too much chlorine. Actually, the cause is not enough chlorine! The combined chlorine compound, called a chloramine, is produced when a free chlorine molecule combines with a nitrogen or ammonia molecule. These compounds smell bad, irritate the eyes and skin, and get in the way of free chlorine trying to do its job. Shocking or super chlorinating is necessary to oxidize, or break apart these compounds. However, the chlorine level must be ten times the normal amount to achieve "breakpoint chlorination" the threshold which will break apart the chloramine bonds. What causes the "ring" around my pool's tile line? The ring around the pool's tile line can be caused by 2 different things. The first is calcium buildup (white ring) caused by calcium carbonate. This calcium scale is more likely to occur at locations where there is water evaporation or high temperatures. The warmer the water the less soluble calcium is in it. The result is scale forming on pool surfaces and inside pool heaters. If you are interested in reducing the amount of build up that occurs we recommend the installation of a Nature Soft or MPulse 3000 unit. However, here in Arizona we have very hard water so there is nothing that can be done to 100% prevent scale from forming. The second is known as a scum line (brown, grey, green, blue, etc.). A scum line is usually caused by skin fragments, suntan or skin oils, debris in the water, cosmetics, detergents and other materials. In hard water regions scum lines may be largely due to calcium scale as oils and debris may attach within the protection of the scale ultimately causing algae to grow. The best way to prevent a scum line from forming is to prevent suntan oils, etc. from getting into the pool by rinsing your body off with fresh water before going swimming. What is the easiest way to remove the calcium line around my pool? The easiest and most cost effective way to remove a calcium or scum line from your pool is to have it glass beaded. This process quickly removes the line and restores your pool's tile to a like new condition. Please contact AZ Pool Tile Cleaners (480) 987-3680 for more information and prices for glass beading. There are other chemicals that can be added to the pool to help remove the calcium or scum line however these chemicals require multiple doses and several weeks to show any visible improvement, in the end the cost is near that of glass beading. What problems are caused by algae or a green pool? PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ALGAE
Do high levels of chlorine cause bathing suits to disintegrate? Actually clothes washed in a typical washing machine are exposed to much higher levels of chlorine than bathing suits worn in a swimming pool. Most commercial pools maintain free chlorine levels of 1.0 to 10.0 parts per million. Adding two ounces of typical laundry bleach to a wash load raises the chlorine level to approximately 83 parts per million. Why does my pool still need service in the winter? Your pool still needs to be cleaned and have the chemicals checked and adjusted weekly just like in the summer. Most of the damage to a pool happens in the winter when the pool is being neglected. Protect your investment, trust me, it gets more expensive to fix when you let it go. This is why consistency is the key. If you stop adding acid to your pool in the winter because you think it doesn't need it, or you never vacuum the pool in the winter because you aren't going to use it, well guess what, this is when you get the nice calcium buildup around the pool, the dirt stains the bottom and the pool turns green. That adds up to $300+ to have the calcium line removed, $295+ to have the stains removed and another $285+ to have the green pool cleaned up. Does Arizona Pool Pros Offer Bi-weekly Service? Arizona Pool Pros does NOT offer Bi-weekly Service for the following reasons. Myth: If my pool is only serviced once every two weeks (Bi-weekly) then I will only have to pay 1/2 the price. Fact: A pool that receives Bi-weekly service will only notice a slight reduction in service price with a maximum being roughly 1/3 of your total monthly service cost. The factors listed below will help to explain this.
What service does a D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth) filter need? Diatomaceous Earth pool filters should be backwashed when the operating pressure rises 8 - 10 psi above the filters baseline pressure. D.E. filters should also be carefully disassembled and thoroughly cleaned every year (more often on pools with heavy usage; pets, parties, high foliage/debris levels, etc.). We inspect the grid fabric and structure, the manifold, the air relief screen, the tank clamp and o-ring, and the air relief assembly. Please refer to our Regular Maintenance page for pricing. What service does a Cartridge filter need? Cartridge filters should be carefully disassembled and thoroughly cleaned 3 - 4 times per year or when the operating pressure rises 8 - 10 psi above the filters baseline pressure. Cleaning will be needed more often on pools with heavy usage (pets, parties, high foliage/debris levels, etc.). We inspect the fabric and structure, thoroughly clean the elements and re-assemble the filter. Please refer to our Regular Maintenance page for pricing. What service does a Sand filter need? Sand filters should be backwashed when the operating pressure rises 8 - 10 psi above the filters baseline pressure. Sand replacement should be performed every 5 years or when the filter consistently runs at high pressures. Suntan lotion, body oils, dirt and chemical residues cause the sand to become thick or clump together with buildup which prevents the sand from efficiently filtering the water. When this occurs the sand filter will usually operate at a very high psi level and/or algae will form. Please refer to our Regular Maintenance page for pricing. When is a good time to do an acid wash? An acid wash should be performed when the air temperature is consistently below 85 degrees F. When temperatures are higher than 85 degrees the plaster can delaminate and crack. Does my pool need an acid wash? If the pool has stains, dark and light spots on the plaster, then yes it needs an acid wash. Staining on the pools plaster occurs when the water is out of balance (high pH, calcium & TDS levels). If your pool water hasn't been drained every 2 - 3 years as recommended then an acid wash is a good idea. Acid washing is basically taking a very thin layer of plaster off to remove staining and make the pool look new again. An Acid Wash can also be performed on Pebbletec and other brands of pebble pool surfaces to remove stains, deposits, etc. and will have the same revitalizing effect as when done to plaster pools. Please refer to our Regular Maintenance page for pricing. Does my pool need a chemical wash (chlorine bath)? The only time your pool should need a chemical wash is if the pool is or was green. If there are traces of algae in the pool, then a chemical wash is the best choice, since the chlorine will kill and destroy the algae. You can't just do an acid wash on a green pool since the algae will not be affected. You must first do a chemical wash to kill & remove the algae and then the acid wash to remove the stains. Do you offer one time cleanings and vacation service? YES, Arizona Pool Pros does offer one time cleanings and vacation service. If your interested please email or call us at (480) 986 - 6858 for pricing. Which pool builder does Arizona Pool Pros recommend? Notice: Arizona Pool Pros does not recommend any one particular pool builder. However, prior to you choosing your pool builder we highly recommend that you read the following questions and apply them to your search for your pool builder. Important Questions You Should Ask Every Pool Salesman! If you are an existing homeowner, a new homeowner or designing your dream home and you’re looking to create a relaxing environment to escape the summer heat, or if you just want to entertain family and friends then please take a few minutes to learn a few simple questions to ask the pool salesman that will help you build a pool-without the hassles, worries, frustrations or commonly associated problems that occur within the swimming pool industry. 1. Do you have complaints registered with the Registrar of Contractors, and can I have your contractor’s license number to check your status? Often pool builders and their salespeople will make claims and promises that they are unable to fulfill in order to get a signed contract. The problem arises as the pool is being built and it becomes obvious that they never had the intention to deliver on their promise. As a result, many disputes occur between the customers and the pool company either by an unfulfilled promise that was made by the salesperson or just due to poor workmanship. Every one of these complaints are registered and you as a consumer need to be aware of the companies past performance. Before you sign any contract with any pool builder you should first check their complaint history by visiting: www.azroc.gov/clsc/AZROCLicenseQuery Please be advised that many pool builders operate under several licenses so be sure to check each and every license held by the builder and their sub-contractors. 2. As a salesperson, will I see you during the construction process to make sure I’m getting what you sold me, and how often will I see you after the sale? Most pool companies and their salespeople are only interested in “selling you” a pool, rather than designing and building a pool. Once you sign the contract, the salesperson moves onto the next sales lead, and you’ll never see the sales person on the build site again. Now the responsibility to deliver on the “promises” is up to the superintendent, who you have never even met, let alone was a part of the original discussions. 3. Is the price you quoted the final price, or are there any potential add-ons or hidden costs that can take place that you are not telling me about right now? Some pool companies may come in at a lower bid on a project knowing full well that they will make-up the money through additional add-ons once under construction. For example, a “hard dig,” where the ground underneath the surface is rock or a harder material, takes more time and is wearing on the equipment. The company may present this to you for the first time only after they have already begun the digging. Other such costs include removing landscape, moving air-conditioning units, or fixing sprinkler lines that are in the way. All utilities also need to be located before you sign the contract because there is a possibility they will have to be moved too, which adds to the cost. One of the most costly mistakes is when a pool is built under power lines and during the inspection it is noticed; fines are then assessed accordingly so make sure it is delineated in your contact that the pool company pays for such an expense. 4. As a salesperson, what qualifies you as a pool designer? How much experience do you have in design, (were you a car or shoe salesmen a year ago)? Most salespeople have little, if any, experience in the field of design or mechanical drawing. They may lack the experience on construction sites to know whether or not what they are designing can actually be built. They know the basics: the width, depth and length of a free-form pool; where to put the steps to enter, and they know the pool goes some place in the backyard. If they want to get really creative, they’ll add a pile of rocks at one end or the other calling it a waterfall. They operate in a vacuum and will usually not take into consideration the other critical elements that go into building a quality product, which insures a quality experience. For instance, the most common oversight is where they place your skimmer (the piece of equipment responsible for removing leaves, dust and other floating debris from the water). Most sales people will just place the skimmer at the shortest run to your filter and other equipment because this is the cheapest method. What they won’t take into consideration is the fact that the wind in Maricopa County and at your house most often blows out of the west. Therefore, the skimmer needs to be placed on the east side of the pool in order to catch all the debris, regardless of where the equipment is located. While they may save you a little money upfront, in the long run you will have a worse experience because you will have to spend more money to clean your pool more often. 5. What are the names of the people that will actually be building my pool, specifically the names of the “sub-contractors?” How long have you known & worked with them? Most pool companies hire independent contractors to build your pool. The problem is that not all sub-contractors are created equal; you have those that do quality work and are considered to be specialists and then you have those that just punch a clock and make money by doing mass volume. Salespeople hate this question, because they can never answer it. 6. Will you provide me the names and numbers of your last 3 customers as references? If a sales-person says, “We have been in business for 24 years,” ask him how long “He” has been selling pools. Have him provide a list of the last three customers that he sold a pool to, and ask him if YOU can contact them. Obviously his most recent customers are the important ones to contact. Are those customers happy, did the company deliver on what was promised? 7. Are you locked in with an equipment supplier, like Hayward? Does your company get a kick back for selling their equipment, even though there might be better equipment available to me? Many pool companies will make deals with pool equipment suppliers and get a “kickback” from those companies for selling their equipment. The equipment may use more electricity per hour than other equipment that is offered, but the pool company’s salesperson is restricted to only sell that one type or brand of equipment. Since the company is getting a kickback on the equipment, certain equipment may be cheaper, for example a motor. You may think that you are getting a good deal initially due to the lower price but in reality you could end up spending $200 more for electricity each year - plus the motor will not last as long and you will have to pay for the replacement. 8. During construction, who is responsible for removing excess debris and cleaning up my yard? Most companies have few or no policies when dealing with the tidiness and cleanliness of your yard or your neighbor’s yard; they tend to be very sloppy during construction. To top it all off, if you live in a community with an Home Owners Association (HOA) you may get fined because of the mess. Is a salt pool better than a chlorine pool? Myth: Salt pools do not use chlorine. Fact: The truth is that salt pools are in fact chlorine pools. The primary difference is that the salt pool does not use chlorine tablets to sanitize the water. If you have ever purchased a salt system you probably have heard the salesman say "just set it and forget it" or "virtually no maintenance required" or "salt pools don't use chlorine" while saying this the salesman is not technically lying but they are definitely not giving you the whole story. In reality salt pools require just as much maintenance as a chlorine pool. Salt pools tend to have a higher pH level than a typical chlorine pool. The higher pH means that in most cases you will need to add a greater amount of muriatic acid weekly. Salt pools use a chlorine generator to convert the salt (sodium chloride) into chlorine gas and a byproduct called caustic soda which is the cause of the higher pH. As the chlorine sanitizes the pool it reacts with bacteria to convert back to sodium chloride (salt). Chlorine gas is not a stabilized form of chlorine and will be quickly broken down by sunlight (UV rays) and heat, so the addition of cyanuric acid (stabilizer) is required to promote the killing of germs, bacteria, etc. Also additional salt will need to be added as water is splashed out or carried out of the pool by swimmers or backwashed from the filter. Myth: Salt pools cannot turn green. Fact: Salt pools that are not properly maintained can and will turn green. The chlorine generator used by salt pools is only effective as long as the water chemistry is properly balanced. In addition to balanced water the majority of salt systems will not produce chlorine if the water's temperature is too cold (usually less than 55 to 60 degrees F.) or too hot (above 95 to 100 degrees F.). When the water temperature exceeds these ranges the pool can easily turn green. Myth: Salt pools need less maintenance than a chlorine pool. Fact: The truth is that salt pools require just as much maintenance as chlorine pools. In fact some might say that a salt pool requires more maintenance since the chlorine generator needs to be taken apart and given and acid bath every 2 - 3 months on average. The acid bath is done to remove calcium buildup from the plates within the chlorine generator. So as the calcium hardness in your pool rises the chlorine generator will need to be cleaned more frequently. If you fail to perform this cleaning process you will find that the chlorine generator is unable to produce chlorine and it will eventually need replacement which can cost $300 to $1,000 depending on brand and model. What type of filter is the best? All filters have advantages and disadvantages. Here are the common filters and some advantages and disadvantages of each. Please be advised that there is a current trend taking place with pool builders. Many pool builders are now telling customers that it is illegal in the customers city or against the customers Home Owners Association (HOA) CC&R's to install anything other than a Cartridge Filter. In almost every case this statement is either completely false or a serious misinterpretation of the truth. PLEASE check your CC&R'S or call your city's Building & Permit Department before taking the word of your pool builders salesman. In most cases the pool builders are telling their customers this just so that the pool builder can charge a premium usually $200 or more than what the cartridge filter would normally cost. Below the filter descriptions is an illustration that should help to explain the differences between the filters. Sand Filters are nice since all you have to do is backwash the filter when the pressure increases 8 to 10 psi above normal (baseline) pressure. Sand in sand filters should be replaced every 5 years or so, this and servicing the backwash valve 1 to 2 times per year is pretty much the maintenance of a sand filter. Sand filters while being the easiest to maintain are the worst of the three filters in filtering capability. (i.e. The average 350 pound sand filter will require approximately $525.00 of service over the first 5 years of use. According to our Arizona Pool Pros Service Pricing.) Diatomaceous Earth Filters (D.E.) should be backwashed when the pressure increases 8 to 10 psi above normal (baseline) pressure. However, after each backwash of a D.E. filter, you must add D.E. back through the skimmer. If you don't put D.E. back in, the filter pressure will go up quicker since dirt particles will clog up the fiberglass grids causing the filter to experience abnormally high pressures. Eventually the high pressures will damage the grids. The most common complaint about D.E. Filters is that when backwashing is performed on a D.E. filter the D.E. and dirt coming out of the filter will build up in your yard creating an unsightly mess. This can however be prevented simply by burying the backwash line and having the waste water fill an underground backwash pit. D.E. filters need to be disassembled and completely cleaned, inspected at least once a year as well as service the backwash valve 1 to 2 times per year . The biggest benefit of a D.E. filter is that it is able to remove the smallest size debris of any filter. The average life expectancy of the grids in a D.E. Filter is 3 - 5 years at which time they will require replacement. (i.e. The average 48 square foot D.E. filter will require approximately $1,000.00 of service over the first 5 years of use. According to our Arizona Pool Pros Service Pricing.) Cartridge Filters also have more surface area over sand filters. Unfortunately, you can't just backwash a cartridge filter, you have to open the tank, take them out and pressure wash them. This process usually takes 1 to 3 hours depending on the size and number of cartridges. Cartridges also need to be cleaned when the filter pressure increases 8 - 10 psi above normal (baseline) pressure this usually equates to every 3 - 4 months. Again, if you don't clean them often enough damage can occur to the cartridges and you'll be replacing the cartridges prematurely. The cartridges do however need to be replaced every 2 - 3 years due to normal wear and tear. (i.e. The average 425 square foot cartridge filter will require approximately $3,300.00 of service over the first 5 years of use. According to our Arizona Pool Pros Service Pricing.)
Are pop-up cleaners better than a pool vacuum cleaner? Pop-up cleaners can be very effective at keeping a pool clean but this is only if the pop-up system was properly designed. Most homeowners decide to spend more money on how the pool looks rather than how the pool works. This is a bad idea if you are installing a pop-up system since poorly designed pop-up systems will result in dead zones (where dirt settles) or pop-ups being placed too far apart from each other to effectively clean the pool. I am often asked which I would install if I were building a pool. This question unfortunately is affected by literally dozens of variables such as how many and what type of trees, bushes, etc will be around the pool; is the home located near an open field, desert, or construction area; will there be rocks or grass around the pool; and so on. In most cases I would install a pop-up system but I would make certain that the pop-ups are not spaced more than 8 feet from each other and that all pop-ups are properly located on steps and benches. I would do this even if this setup required additional plumbing or additional pop-up gear boxes. This setup gives the pool the best and most efficient cleaning system possible and the result is a very clean pool. Don't forget that the spa also needs to be cleaned and should also have its own set of pop-ups and preferably an automatic valve for the spa drain that will suck the dirt/debris out of the spa. Again this setup will cost more but what is the point of a good looking pool/spa area if the bottom of the pool and spa are always covered with dirt. In the event that your pool will be surrounded by trees or other plants with large foliage amounts then I would recommend that you install a Polaris Dust & Vac system as this setup will provide you with a very efficient and clean pool that will be able to handle the high debris loads.
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