 Frequently Asked Questionsabout Pools |
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How do I prepare my pool for summer?
How do I prepare my pool for winter?
How often should I check my water?Hot Tub or Spa - water should be checked three time per week for those using chlorine, bromine or a mineral purifier. One time per week for those using a biguinide product such as BaquaSpa. A water sample should be taken to the dealer for analysis one time per month.Swimming Pool - During the swimming season the water should be tested daily or at least 4 times per week for those using chlorine, bromine or a mineral purifier. Those using biguinide products, such as Baquacil, should check the water one time per week. Because the water quality changes quickly on hot days it is important to not let it get out of hand or you may miss days of swimming because of dirty water. A water sample should be taken to the dealer for analysis two times per month. Back to Top What size heater is right for my pool or hot tub?The heater size you need is based upon several factors, such as the ambient temperature change at your location during a 24 hour period and if you use an insulating cover.Basically, how much heat is retained and how long you want the recovery time to be to reach your desired water temperature. Consider the following chart a guideline. Please contact one of our pool professionals at Classic Pool & Spa to answer further questions and discuss your options.
Helpful Hint: It is highly recommended that you purchase a solar blanket in conjunction with your new heater for your pool or spa. It does not allow your heated pool water to dissipate as quickly and is designed to utilize the sun to help to heat your pool through solar rays. A solar blanket will reduce your gas cost and keep you pool warmer - longer! Solar HeatingThere is no precise formula for figuring how many square feet of solar collectors are needed to heat a hot tub or pool. Weather conditions, site selection and the efficiency of collectors are variables which must be taken into account. A useful ratio for solar collectors is approximately 3 square feet of collector for every 4 square feet of water surface.
Over 80,000 BTU's of heat a day, will raise pool water temperature up to 10 degrees.Back to TopHow do I clean my filter?Cartridge type filter - Rinsed weekly, soaked in cleaner when water is changed, and replaced every two years.
How can I swim chlorine free?COME ON IN TO CLASSIC POOL & SPA...And experience all the pleasures of chlorine-free swimming and hot tubing. With BAQUACIL and BAQUASPA, you'll enjoy all the fun your swimming pool and hot tub have to offer, with none of the harsh chlorine-related side effects including: 
Red eyes BAQUACIL and BAQUASPA chemical structure makes it extremely stable. So, unlike halogen sanitizers like chlorine and bromine, BAQUACIL and BAQUASPA are not affected by: 
SunlightIf all these things sound good to you, please let us know, so we can get a start up kit sent out to you. Back to Top What is the difference between the various types of pools?Swimming pools come in three basic varieties: concrete, vinyl-liner, and fiberglass.Concrete is the oldest method and the most labor intensive on the site. These pools are completely built on the site with steel-reinforced concrete. This allows almost infinite design flexibility. Pool builders can use one of three methods to create a concrete shell: guniting, shotcreting, and pouring concrete. The most common - gunite and shotcrete - are pneumatically applied (applied with air pressure). The concrete is shot out of a nozzle and piled onto the earthen walls of the excavation and over the steel rebar reinforcement. Pneumatically applying concrete was not the first method used to create a concrete shell. Originally, concrete pools were made of poured concrete, meaning workers create a set of forms and pour the concrete into the form to hold it into vertical walls. Shotcrete and guniting became the most common methods of concrete construction because they don't require forms, making it quicker, less labor intensive and less expensive than pouring concrete. Like all concrete structures, these pools can last decades when properly constructed. Improperly constructed, however, they can crack from ground movement caused by freeze/thaw cycles, high water tables, hillside locations, or by seismic activity. The cost goes up in areas with these conditions because extra reinforcing is needed to prevent movement. Because these pools are constructed entirely on site, the quality depends on the job's craftspeople. Vinyl-liner (or package) pools are less time consuming and, in some regions, a less expensive method of construction. Installation of these pools requires assembling pre-manufactured wall panels and supports, then covering the hole with a vinyl liner. These pools are especially popular in cold-weather states because the panels have a certain degree of flex and hold up well under freeze/thaw conditions without extra reinforcement - or extra cost. Some people prefer the feel of the vinyl surface and believe the liners hold up to chemically treated water better than concrete. The components are pre-manufactured, which creates design limitations. But it also means that part of the quality controls is in the factory. Wall systems generally are made of steel, polymer and aluminum. The most common (steel) is the least expensive, but can be subject to corrosion. This problem is becoming scarcer because manufacturers offer galvanizing and other treatments to prolong the life, with some manufacturers even offering lifetime warranties. Polymer walls are more easily formed into unusual shapes than metal and are said to better withstand ground conditions, but are more expensive. Aluminum is a strong material and the panels are lighter, making them easier to install and less expensive to ship. These panels are said to hold up well under various ground conditions, except acidic soil. However, aluminum wall systems are rarely used because of their expense. Fiberglass pools are said to boast the benefits of concrete and vinyl - that is, the permanence of concrete, with the soft feel, flex, and chemical impervious of vinyl-liner pools. The nonporous material also is said to resist staining from algae or other factors. Its cost is comparable to, or higher than similar concrete pools. But manufactures and installers say the cost is offset by lower maintenance. Fiberglass pools are completely manufactured in a factory. This centralizes quality control, but it also limits shapes and sizes to those offered by the manufacturer. Fiberglass pools are the quickest and easiest to install because they come in or rarely two pieces that simply need to be set in the hole and plugged into the plumbing and electricity. Back to Top What is the process of shopping for a pool like?The duration of the entire process, from first appointment to final product, can take a matter of weeks, months, or years, depending on the complexity of the project. How long a consumer takes to "shop" among builders depends upon the consumer and how many builders they want to meet.The time required for design itself varies greatly. Some clients choose from a selection of previously designed (or template) pools. Others want a custom-designed aquascape and want to have input at every stage. In some cases, design continues during construction, whenever clients wish to make last minute adjustments or additions. Design time also depends on how the builder works. Some offer template pools or design the pool in front of the homeowner during their first meeting. Higher-end builders will meet with customers several times during the design process. Back to Top How long does it take to install a pool?Timelines depend on a number of circumstances, such as the type of construction (shotcrete/gunite vs. vinyl or fiberglass); complexity of the project; weather conditions; the number of clients already being served; and availability of subcontractors. On a project where a home or other building also is under construction, having to schedule around other trades may hold things up.Concrete (shotcrete, gunite, poured concrete) construction will take the longest because the entire product is created on site from basic materials such as concrete, steel rebar, and plumbing. A basic pool (rectangular, no water features) on a property with an existing home can be built in four to six weeks, depending on the region. This timeline also assumes there is no interruption, everyone is immediately available and there are no scheduling, delivery, weather glitches, or change orders (meaning the clients change their minds about something or decide to add on something extra). Completion may be delayed by rain or snow. Builders in cold-weather states generally try to complete construction before freezes hit. Sometimes, however, builders may have to stop construction midway until the weather warms up. Project complexity and scale also have a tremendous effect on the timeline for concrete pools. While a basic pool may take only a few weeks, more intricate, large-scale pools have been known to take months and even years. Every stage, beginning with excavation, will take longer than with a small, basic pool. Also, some materials require extra time: Surfacing a complete pool with glass mosaic tile, for instance, can take weeks on its own because it is such meticulous work. Vinyl-liner pools are assembled with wall panels made in a plant, so their installation generally happens more quickly. Under ideal conditions and without interruption, a basic vinyl-liner pool can be put together within two weeks after breaking ground. Fiberglass pools are the most complete product when they enter the site. They are completely manufactured in the factory and only need to be dropped into an excavation and hooked up to plumbing and electricity. Under ideal conditions and without interruption, one-piece fiberglass pools can be up and running within two weeks of arrival on the site. Back to Top How long will the pool last?This depends on several variables, including the type of pool installed, the quality of the installer, and the manufacturer. Properly installed concrete pools have lasted several decades. But this requires that the pool be properly engineered and built. Some package-pool (vinyl liner) manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on their panels, and fiberglass manufacturers say the fiberglass makes their product inherently permanent.Back to Top How long before I have to redo the surface?
How much does pool service cost?This depends on several variables: the region in which the customer lives (upper class, middle class, affluent and so on); the type of pool (simple rectangle or complex geometric with lots of bells and whistles), and the type of service desired. For instance, do you want cleaning and skimming, or do you want water balancing and sanitizing too? Do you want the equipment maintained? Do you want pool opening and closing service?Most of these services are itemized on the bill. Average monthly pool maintenance bills can run from approximately $150 to $300 a month, depending on the types of services provided. Back to Top How often do you come out and clean my pool?It depends on the type of service you sign on for. If chemical balancing is involved and the pool endures a heavy weekly bather load, then once a week is most common. On pools with lighter bather loads and covers, twice a month or every other week can probably get the job done.Back to Top Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper if I service the pool myself?It might be cheaper in the short run, but it could cost you plenty in the long run. Most pool owners start out thinking they can handle the service - until they realize what goes into keeping a poll safe and clean.As a pool owner, do you understand the relationship between pH and total alkalinity (TA) and how it affects your water balance? If the pool changes color, will you know what's causing it - algae or precipitating metals? Do you know what the Saturation Index is, and it's significance? Do you know how to get the most life out of a circulation pump and prevent cavitation? Most service technicians today are well trained, certified professionals who are experts in water chemistry, hydraulics, filtration, plumbing, electricity, and sanitization. An improperly maintained pool can make you and your family sick and can even pose dangers if total dissolved solids (TDS) levels rise to high, making the water too cloudy to see the bottom. If you hire a good pool service company, the money would be well spent for the peace of mind alone. Back to Top I only swim 3 or 4 months out of the year.
Most pool service companies offer both openings and closings for their customers who live in regions with seasonal swimming. These procedures help get the pool ready for the summer swimming season after a long winter of hibernation, and prepare the pool to lie dormant during the freezing winter months. Techs often offer these services as parts of an overall maintenance program (a contract), or homeowners can request them as needed (though it's usually more expensive that way). |
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