Selecting a pool contractor can make the difference between having a functional pool installed in your yard versus turning it into the pool of your dreams. Whether you install a pool to practice laps for fitness or competition or you want a backyard oasis that will be the center of family activity for years to come, you need a pool contractor experienced in design and construction. Selecting a Pool Contractor Goes Beyond the Portfolio Your first concern might be whether the contractor can create the pool you want, as an in-ground pool will be with you for decades to come. You might look at a contractor’s portfolio to see if he has done pools similar to what you want in the past. However the appearance of past results are only part of what you should consider when you decide to work with a contractor. Installing the pool is a costly endeavor where missteps can increase the cost. You want to make sure that your contractor is both experienced and a good businessperson. To find this out, you should research and then talk to several pool builders (at least three) to find out: How long has the company been in business under their current name and ownership? Are they bonded and insured? Do they have their own crew or use subcontractors? Do they have unresolved complaints lodged against them from homeowners or suppliers with the Better Business Bureau? How long will construction take? What do others who have used the contractor say about their quality of work and timeliness? Your Contractor’s Design Expertise Does Matter Once you have determined that the pool contractor is fair, reliable, and dependable, you can once again focus on design. A good pool contractor can build a pool just about anywhere, but if you have a yard that  Read More

As cold weather approaches, it is time to winterize your pool and close it up until the next round of warm weather. You do not need to remove all the water from your pool, but you do need to manage the chemistry and water level of your pool in order to prevent freeze damage. How to Winterize Your Pool To begin “overwintering,” or properly preparing your pool for winter, make sure that you have the proper supplies on hand, which include a winter chemical kit, rubber plugs for return valves and skimmers, a pool cover, a set of water tubes, and a leaf net, before undertaking the following steps. Adjust the chemicals. Over the winter, your pool can develop a cover of scale and corrosion that you can prevent with the right chemical balance. You are concerned with three measurements that you want to make sure are properly balanced: PH desired level of 7.2 and 7.6Alkalinity 80 to 120 ppm (parts per million)Calcium hardness 180 to 220 ppm Clean the water. Using a pool skimmer, clean off anything floating on the pool. Clean the sides and bottom of your pool with a pool vacuum and brush. Add winterizing chemicals To kill all the bacteria living in the pool, fill a five gallon bucket of water with a shock product of at least 65% sodium hydrochlorite or a non-chlorine substitute, and pour it into the pool while the filtration system is running. Once the chlorine level has returned to 1 to 3 ppm over a few days, add an algaecide to kill algae and prevent more from developing. Both the shock and the algaecide should be stronger than what you would use during the year to keep bacteria and algae at bay. Remove pool equipment. After cleaning the pool, remove all pool equipment, including ladders, filters, hoses,  Read More