Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 @ 01:44 PM
T
his article is the first in a two-part series I’ve done interviewing the winners of the prestigious Masters of Design Award given out by the pool industry’s leading magazine, Pool and Spa News. As you can see from the photo, this 16’x40’ model by Leisure Pools is no ordinary fiberglass pool, and major props to Signature Pools of Chicago Illinois for bringing this project to fruition. If you’re considering the purchase of a fiberglass swimming pool, this article is a prime example of a company doing things in the fiberglass pool industry the right way. Signature’s leading designer, Todd Emmerson, is the voice in the following interview:
Question: The homeowner could have chosen any type of pool for this project, what made them choose fiberglass?
“….. Vinyl was never an option for them because they realized it was a look that wouldn’t match the house as far as quality is concerned and they also realized vinyl wasn’t a good option with all of the trees on the property (twigs falling into the pool and tearing the liner). So it came down to deciding between fiberglass and concrete. Because of easements on the property they couldn’t fit a pool wider than 16’ so they weren’t opposed to the size of fiberglass pools. The client loved some of the pictures on our website and could see that we did quality pools so that helped me get my foot in the door. After we met and I explained the value of a fiberglass pool as being a life-long investment that would never need acid washed or re-plastered, and would also use less chemicals they were convinced. “
Question: Often time consumers worry that rectangles will look plain. Was that a concern here and how were you able to overcome that?
“The home is a very grand and formal home and from a design perspective it just made sense to go with a rectangle. From our first meeting I knew they wanted an auto cover to extend the swimming season and being a heavily wooded lot they wanted to keep as many leaves out of the pool as possible. I knew from seeing the house they would like nice clean lines and that an under guide auto cover was the only option to suggest.
We did three things to overcome the plain looking rectangle pool stigma:
- We used only high quality materials throughout the project including a natural stone deck around the pool.
- We softened up the rectangle look by adding a slight curve to a couple of the retaining walls and small portions of the patio.
- The job also had several different patio elevations with steps coming down from the back of the homes garage area as well as an existing patio off of the rear of the house. The large steps that we designed separating the main pool deck from the lower outdoor living area with the outdoor fireplace also helped make a rectangle pool look spectacular and elegant.”
Question: What was the most difficult element of design with this project?
“Two elements of the design were difficult with this project:
The yard had lots of slope to it and also had a few elements that we couldn’t change. The windows on the walkout basement room were at an elevation where we were forced to lower the patio height in certain areas as to create a beautiful view looking out the lower level house windows. On the far side of the property we needed to raise the pool as much as possible to create proper drainage around the pool. Where these two areas intersect we created the large expansive steps. So the large change in elevation between the two areas was necessary due to the elevation of the property and we were able to design them in a way where the large steps and different elevations added to the overall design. Good design is always going to take into consideration both good engineering and water flow drainage as well as the desire for a beautiful aesthetically looking project. As a designer you need to take into account the challenges of the property and then often times some of the design challenges on a project can be turned around and become a benefit to creating a stunning looking backyard. (Although the challenges can make the design look nicer it typically means higher costs to the client)
The other element of the design that was difficult was working within a heavily wooded lot. We knew we were going to have to lose some trees, but we wanted to save as many as possible to retain the natural looking setting.”
Question: Now that the project is complete, what are some comments you've received from the homeowner? Are they enjoying the pool? Do they like salt? Have they received comments from friends?
“The wife has hosted several events at the house including a large wedding rehearsal dinner as it is a great entertaining area. Her friends commented that they felt like they were at a Four Seasons Resort Swimming Pool. The pool has also been used for an end of school party for the family’s son.
Because of this job I am in the process of designing a pool for a neighbor of our client who has owned a concrete pool for the past 20 years. The neighbor is moving to a new property and would like a pool that requires less maintenance. The neighbor was excited to learn of the benefits of a fiberglass pool and should have her new pool installed this fall. All leads we receive are very valuable, but the most valuable leads we receive are personal referrals from our past clients and I’m sure in the years to come we will receive many other leads because of this job.”
Todd’s Bio:
Todd Emmerson is a nationally recognized pool designer who has been featured in many of today’s top pool design publications. His work has also been featured in advertisement materials for companies such as Leisure Pools, Fiberstars, Garden Prairie Pool Enclosures, Blue Haven Pools, and Composite Pools. Todd’s straight forward and honest sales approach has helped over 300 Chicagoland clients achieve their own signature pool. Todd is a native of Tucson, AZ and currently lives in Geneva, IL with his wife Sara and son Lincoln. (One more child on the way )
Tom’s Bio(owner):
Tom McNelis has been installing fiberglass pools for almost 15 years in the Chicagoland area. As a working owner he has personally installed well over 300 fiberglass pools and has also won a Masters of Design award. Tom lives with his wife and two children in Yorkville, IL. The McNelis family enjoys spending time together in their own signature pool – an Elegance 33 model from Leisure Pools.
Posted by Jason Hughes on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 @ 08:18 AM
...and you thought you were supposed to shock the pool, not the other way around!
Whether you are experiencing this in your own inground pool, or are in the process of researching for your future pool, this article will give a brief explanation of swimming pool bonding in non-pool guy terms.
The key phrase to become familiar with here is equipotential bonding, which is essentially a function of connecting various pool components together with a bare copper wire to make them the same potential.
What is Electrical Potential?
To understand potential, imagine how water flows through a pipe. It will naturally flow from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure. If both ends of the pipe have equal pressure the water will not move, regardless of the level of pressure. Electricity works in the same way. There has to be a difference in pressure (or voltage) to create a flow of electricity from one point to another. The purpose of equipotential bonding is to equalize the pressure around the entire pool so your body doesn’t create the circuit between areas of differing potential which would result in getting shocked. This is done by creating a “bonding grid”.
What components are in the Bonding Grid?
The bonding grid is established by connecting a bare copper wire to various components around the pool which include but are not limited to:
- All metal components within 5’ of the water’s edge of the pool including handrails, ladders, diving board jigs (the part that goes in the concrete), slides, pool lights with metal components, etc.
- The metal reinforcement used in the 36” of the pool patio surrounding the pool.
- At least 9 square inches of metal in contact with the water in the pool.
How are the connections made to these components?
All components such as handrails and ladders that have anchors recessed into the patio are bonded by connecting the copper wire to the side of the anchor. The reinforcing metal in the patio is connected to the bonding grid by fastening the copper wire to the metal with a bonding lug (picture) at multiple points around the pool. The required nine square inches of metal in the water can be satisfied through the use of a submersed metal pool accessory such as a light or ladder, or if no submersed metal component is used, through the use of a metal plate known as a “Bondsafe 680” installed in the throat of the skimmer. This is a wonderful product and is perfect for fiberglass pools.
What kind of “Shock” are we talking about here?
The good news is that in most cases the “shock” that occurs is somewhere between 1 and 3 volts, which is considered a nuisance voltage. This often results in a tingling or stinging sensation when a person touches the handrail, ladder, pool coping, or water from outside the pool. These sensations can become more perceptible when there is a cut or nick on the part of the hand touching the component or when the skin softens after spending a long time in the pool. Children are often more perceptive to this than adults and are often the ones who initially notice the problem.
How Can we Eliminate the Problem?
The first thing you need to do is contact your pool guy or a certified electrician to troubleshoot the problem. There is a chance the pool was improperly bonded if the pool was built before recent changes to the electrical code were enforced. The problem could also originate from your utility provider or from a wiring flaw outside of the pools bonding grid that is back-feeding electricity to the pool area. If the pool was bonded correctly there is a relatively good chance that the solution is simple once the problem is identified.
Well there you have it: Pool Bonding 101. Please feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments section. Thanks for Being Here!
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 11:04 AM
One of the greatest evolutions in the fiberglass swimming pool industry has been a concerted effort from many builders and manufacturers to add customized features to their products. And considering the biggest knock on a fiberglass swimming pool is its lack of customization, such an effort makes quite a bit of sense.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, one of the more ‘en vogue’ swimming pool features homeowners have been looking for is the addition of a tanning ledge/water feature to their poolscape. Because fiberglass pools have width limitations, such a feat is difficult unless the tanning ledge is modular (as offered by Trilogy Pools), or if the tanning ledge is built-in, just as it would be on a concrete pool.
The following video depicts a custom tanning ledge on a Leisure (Riviera Model) fiberglass pool. The tanning ledge is made out of regular concrete and is overlaid with a ceramic tile, specifically Aztec cobalt. Along with the ledge, you’ll also notice 3 bubblers that were built into the structure as well.
So if you are considering a fiberglass pool, and are worried you may not get as many ‘customized’ features as you’d like, make sure to check and see the limitations of your builder, as you may be very surprised just how customized these pools can really be.
Marcus Sheridan
Posted by Jason Hughes on Tue, Jul 13, 2010 @ 10:20 PM
One of the most challenging aspects of buying an inground pool is visualizing what the finished project will look like, and this is especially true on a sloping lot where retaining walls are needed.
This short video will give you a walking tour of a completed project that has two retaining walls complete with fence and landscaping to help you conceptualize what an inground pool with retaining walls might look like in your backyard.
This particular site had about four feet of slope from the front of the pool to the back; so the solution was to build two separate retaining walls, each two feet tall. The result was gorgeous....check it out for yourself.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 @ 09:54 AM
Although there are certainly many ways to dress up an inground swimming pool, I wanted to write a brief list showing 11 things (just about all of which are shown in the video) you may consider to dress up the overall appearance of your backyard ‘poolscape’. Keep in mind that as you read the following ideas they are just that-- ideas, and by no means a requisite to having a beautiful pool in your backyard. As I always say, it’s better to have a pool in your backyard without all the options you wanted, than it is to have a beautiful pool with every option you ever dreamed of......in your head……and not in your backyard.
But without further ado, here goes:
1. Colored Pool Finish: White pools, especially if you’re considering fiberglass or concrete, have gone the way of the dinosaur. And to this I say good riddance. Colors make swimming pools look more natural, inviting, and often times create that ‘Carribean’ feel so many are looking for.
2. Separate Coping Color: As shown in the attached video, installing a separate border around an inground pool not only delineates the pool, but it adds a ‘pop’ to the shape itself. Borders can be done in a variety of ways, with an 18” stamped concrete border w/extra cuts the most common method on a fiberglass swimming pool.
3. Decorative Patio: Stamped Concrete and Pavers are two of the most common ways homeowners dress up their pool patio, but there are also many more, like bluestone, CoolDeck/Spray Deck, etc.
4. Gravel Between Pool and Fence: You'll notice on the video that the homeowner layed a white gravel beteen the fence and the pool. This makes for a perfect transition and is also rather low maintenance in terms of yardwork.
5. Dress Up the Fence: As shown in the video, black aluminum combined with brick pillars is very, very pretty. It’s also very expensive, but if you have the additional funds, the elegant feel it brings to the backyard is significant.
6. Arched Gate: This one goes hand-in-hand with brick pillars, but an arched gate has an impressive feel adds a nice flare to the fence itself.
7. Flowers/Greenery/Shrubs/Etc: The homeowner in the video did an excellent job with his plantings around the pool area, especially in the pathways that lead to the pool. When done the right way and with the right selection, plantings can completely change the look and feel of a backyard.
8. Water Features: This is one of the few elements not shown in the video, but water features have a powerful effect on the backyard/swimming pool experience. Even simple waterfalls are popular these days because of their relaxing and tranquil impact on the pool area.
9. Multiple Seating Elevations: In the attached video, the homeowner achieved this with a nicely designed composite deck that had multiple levels, overlooking the pool. This can also be achieved by using landscape blocks to create steps, benches, etc.
10. Contour Your Patio: The homeowners did an excellent job of this in the video, as they put an arch in the concrete on the opposite side of the arch in the Moroccan (fiberglass pool by Leisure), thus accentuating the shape of the pool and adding further to the 'classy' feel of the backyard.
11. Landscape Lighting: It's a shame we couldn't do a night-time video of this pool as well, because all of the landscape lighting has an awesome effect on the overall ambiance of the backyard at night time.
Well I hope this little list and video helps you with further ideas to enhance the look of your backyard swimming pool experience. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave them below.
Posted by Jason Hughes on Thu, Jul 08, 2010 @ 07:52 AM
One of our goals with this blog is to nullify what we refer to as the “curse of knowledge” throughout the swimming pool industry. Pool professionals, and all professionals for that matter, often forget that the common customer lacks the depth of knowledge that they have taken years to acquire. What results is a breakdown in communication regarding products, services, construction processes, and an overall misconception of what exactly will happens in the backyard.
I’m certainly not immune to this, as I certainly make the same mistake from time to time with my clients. So the purpose of this article is to discuss one of the most common pool construction processes that fall under the dreaded “curse of knowledge”: Swimming Pool Excavation.
Here are 4 Questions You May Not think to Ask about Pool Excavation:
1. What if You Hit Rock or Water When You Dig?
Your backyard is like a box of chocolates. Without a soils test (which 999 of 1000 customers don’t get), pool contractors never really know what they’ll hit when digging in your backyard. Frankly, none of this really matters to you unless one of two things happen: your soil condition compromises the structural integrity of your pool, or it costs you more money to install the pool. The structural component will have to be determined by your pool contractor and is beyond the scope of this article. However, from a budget perspective, there two primary things a contractor may find when excavating that could result in an unforeseen cost to you: rock and water.
Options when hitting rock:
1. Move the pool to an area with less rock: This one is guess work. Just start digging some test holes and hope for the best.
2. Elevate the pool and keep it in the same location: Work with what you have. There could be extra cost associated with the elevation change (walls, additional fill dirt, etc.)
3. Hammer or blast the rock out and install the pool in the original location: minimum cost of $2k just for the hammer rental plus any additional labor the contractor may charge.
4. Fill the hole in, pay the contractor for his time, and install a pool at your next houseJ
*Note: We may encounter rock in approximately one in every fifty pools we install. If any contractor with more experience with rock would like to chime in, please feel free to contribute in the comments section.
Options when hitting Ground Water:
1. Install dewatering system (which is standard for us anyway), keep the hole dry until the pool is installed, and keep the pool where originally planned. This option works especially well for fiberglass pools because the pool is installed and full of water in a matter of hours after excavation, lessening the ‘fight’ required to tame the ground water. When encountering high water tables in conjunction with sandy soil, severe “cave-ins” may occur which increase the amount gravel backfill required around the pool. In our case, we will allow for one additional load of gravel beyond a normal installation, the customer covers the cost of any additional gravel beyond that. A load of gravel runs around $400-$500 in our area and it’s very, very rare that we require more than one additional load and have to charge the customer anything.
2. Elevate the Pool: same as when hitting rock.
Note: Don’t let these potential unforeseen expenses intimidate you. Of the 600+ pools we’ve installed, only around 1% have incurred any additional cost due to rock or ground water.
2. Exactly How Much Dirt Will There Be?
Part of planning every pool project is determining what to do with the dirt. Generally speaking, people have no concept of how much dirt actually comes out of a pool excavation……how could you know right? I usually tell people to imagine how much dirt they would expect and multiply it by 5 or 10. Your average pool excavation will generate a pile of dirt the size of about five garden sheds. So, this is significantly more than we can ‘lose’ in a typical flat yard. The best plan is to haul that stuff out of there so you aren’t stuck wheel barrowing it on the weekends or hiring someone else to come and get it.
3. What will happen to my yard?
We haven’t figured out how to haul dirt, gravel, water, and concrete by helicopter yet; so until we do, we have to move all that big heavy stuff in and out of your backyard the old fashioned way…..via the ground. And we do this with very large trucks. So the reality is that your access lane and yard may incur some damage. Say good-bye to most or all of the grass around the pool as well as a 20’x20’ area for piles of material and the entire access lane if through the yard. Hey, I’ve yet to hear any complaints about less grass to cut!
4. Do I really save $ by Digging My own Hole?
Many folks think they can save big bucks doing the pool excavation themselves and have the pool contractor do the rest. Actually, most pool companies would probably prefer to charge you at least double if you want to dig your own hole, but we’re not quite that generous:). Seriously though, it doesn’t save much money at all, maybe $500-$1000, because we have to bring our machine to the site anyway to lift and set the pool. It only takes a couple of hours to dig the hole so we might as well go ahead and do the pool excavation while we’re there.
Well, as you can see, there will be some major stuff going on in your backyard (which you can watch in a really cool video here). But how exciting is a pool....right? All of this stuff goes by the way-side the first time you and your family relax, play, and laugh around your awesome new pool. Good Luck!
Jason Hughes
Comments and questions welcome as always.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Sat, Jul 03, 2010 @ 08:56 AM
When purchasing a swimming pool, consumers are often curious as to how loud the pool's pump and filter will be. Such a question makes a good bit of sense, especially considering no one wants to be relaxing next to their swimming pool with the load roar of a motor just a few feet away.
There are 3 main factors that dictate how much noise a pool's filter system will put off:
1. Proximity: It's always a good idea to place the pool's filter system at least 20' or more off the pool. Not only does this benefit the general aesthetics of the scene, but it simply makes it harder to hear any noise coming from the equipment.
2. Cartridge Filter: Most consumers are not aware of the fact that cartridge filters are more quiet than sand filters simply because of the hydraulic design of each. Because a sand filter has a 'port' that the water has to pass through before reaching the filter, this naturally puts off more noise than a cartridge unit that does not need the additional piece of equipment to be effective.
3. Variable Speed Pump: Of all the factors that lead to a quiet swimming pool filter system, none has more impact than choosing the right pump-- one with at least two speeds. For example, all of our clients at River Pools get a Whisperflow 2-Speed pump made by Pentair. This pump is quite indicative of its name, as when it's on low-speed, it truly 'whispers', as shown on the video seen here. Along with making swimming pool operation much more energy efficient, mulitple speed pumps are a must based on their noise reduction alone.
Well I hope this helps everyone considering a pool to choose the right type of filter sytem for their back yard oasis. As always, happy swimming to everyone and have a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Jun 30, 2010 @ 07:24 AM
My business partner Jim got an email this week from a previous inground customer that gave me a little grin, mainly because it is such a perfect representation of a conversation we have when talking to potential customers the first time regarding Heat Pumps:
Dear Jim,
We know that we balked when you told us that we needed a chiller for our pool. We could not imagine the water ever getting so warm that we would require such a thing (and it kinda seemed like a waste of money, to be honest). We are here to testify that without that chiller over the last week of 90 degree plus days, every single day here in Northern Virginia, we could/would not have been able to use our pool. When the water temp finally hit near 90 degrees last weekend, Cynthia said, "Let's give that chiller a shot". What a lifesaver! Instead of getting in what felt like pretty un-refreshing bathwater, since then, the chiller has kept the water temp at a manageable and refreshing 84 degrees. Feel free to have anyone who is on the fence regarding chillers just give us a call - we'll more than endorse them.
Scott Conrad
Chantilly, VA
A special thanks to Scott for taking the time to write this note that addresses the question of whether to get a regular heat pump vs one with a chiller. Frankly, I'm always amazed when I speak to a customer that has received 2 or 3 quotes from other pool companies and no one has yet mentioned the potential need to cool the pool water as well. Frankly, when I see such a lack of teaching from other pool guys, I want to slap my forehead and the first thought that comes to my head is:
Are you kidding me??
Here the deal: If your pool is 6' or less in depth and receives good amounts of sunlight throughout the day, then you'll likely have need for a chiller at some time or another (obviously depending on your region).
If you follow that advice, I promise you that you'll make the right decision as to whether to go chiller or not with your heat pump purchase.
As always, happy swimming to everyone in this blistering weather!!
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Mon, Jun 28, 2010 @ 07:58 AM
This is one of those articles that may not win me many fans in the swimming pool industry, but I'm frankly OK with that. I write about subjects that are on my mind--subjects that I feel are true and have merit, and this is certainly a subject that I've been thinking much about as of late.
A few years ago I was driving through our town with my wife and we passed by a movie rental store called ‘The Movie Gallery', which, at the time, was one of the largest chains of its kind in the country. Notwithstanding, as we passed this particular store I told her with a slight frown that I knew they would be out of businesses within just a few years. And not only would The Movie Gallery be out of business, but so would Blockbuster and every other business that shared such an antiquated business model.
Fast forward a few years. The Movie Gallery has now closed all its stores. And yesterday, I read in the Wall Street Journal that Blockbuster would soon be no more.
I do not mention this little story here to infer that I'm any smarter than the average Joe. I only say it because the movie rental industry, because of innovations like Netflix, The Red Box, and Pay Per View, is no longer viable. It can't work the way it used to and that's just the facts-- which in many ways mirrors the swimming pool industry and brings me to the point of this article.
Times Have Changed
I love the pool industry. I really do. I love what it does for families and I've developed great relationships with many pool builders and retailers all over the country. Notwithstanding, when I take a hard look at the world as we now know it, I have a strong feeling swimming pool retail stores may soon be practically extinct, and here are five reasons why I've come to this conclusion:
1. Big Box Stores and Wal-Mart
One of the biggest hits swimming pool retailers have taken over the last 10 years has been the shift of consumers to do practically ALL their shopping at stores like Wal-Mart. Yep, despite their lack of service and knowledge, the Big Box stores are able to offer pool chemicals at prices that are often times 30% less than what a normal pool retailer could. For consumers, the choice between Big Box vs Joe's Pool Shop comes down to a debate between spend more and get much better help and service, or spend less and get no service at all. Sadly, especially with the difficult economy, Big Box often wins. Heck, I've had scenarios where customers came in our retail store to have their water tested and then drove directly to Wal-Mart to buy their chemicals....ouch.
2. The Internet
Just like Wal-Mart, online swimming pool stores have the ability to sell chemicals for much, much less than a normal brick and mortar store can. Despite the fact that online companies typically have practically no hands-on service, their growth over these last 10 years has been unbelievable, making it harder and harder for the mom and pop pool stores of the world to survive.
3. Salt
The popularity and rise of salt chlorine generators has scared some pool retailers for many, many years. In fact, there have been quite a few chemical manufacturers that have tried their best to hurt the image of salt water systems by spreading bogus claims regarding their negative impact on swimming pools. But regardless of this, salt chlorine users have almost no need for chemicals other than salt and a few water balance chemicals-hence the major concern of their introduction to the US market a few years back.
Despite all this, salt water systems have had a major positive impact on the swimming pool industry as well. Consumers are spending less time fooling with chemicals and maintaining their pool than ever before, which, in my opinion, is leading to a great and positive image shift for swimming pools throughout the world.
4. Increased Regulation
More and more, chemical manufacturers are having to deal with huge amounts of environmental and safety red tape from government agencies. With such red tape, the overhead for chemical production just keeps going up, forcing retailers to increase their prices and ultimately causing consumers to save money wherever they can.
5. Brick and Mortar Doesn't Equal Sales
When we opened River Pools and Spas almost 10 years ago, it was our goal to have as many retail stores as possible, which we figured would correlate directly with more inground pool sales. But within about 6 years, we realized two very important realities:
1. Inground swimming pool shoppers now do their research online, not by physically going store to store. Just look at the biggest inground pool builders in the country: Anthony Sylvan Pools and Blue Haven Pools. Neither one of these companies has much of a retail division at all, yet they have installed way more pools than any other company over the last few years.
2. It's extremely difficult to turn a profit in retail due to overhead costs, staffing, building expenses, etc
These two realities have forced us at River Pools and Spas to completely change our business model over the past 3 or 4 years. Today, we realize that consumers view a company's ‘store' as its website, not what's found behind actual brick and mortar. Also, our retail division, which once consisted of 2 substantial stores, is now being phased out.
The Future is Still Bright
But I do not write this article with a frown. Although I feel bad for the great mom and pop swimming pool retail stores that may not be around in just a few years, I also see this as a great opportunity for pool companies to make their businesses better, stronger, and more consumer friendly. I envision more and more companies investing the money they used to spend on retail and instead inverting it into their company websites, thus creating better content for consumers and a stronger learning environment for anyone considering ownership of this wonderful product we call a swimming pool.
But those are just my thoughts, and only time can tell us the real answers. Be rest assured though, as the trends in the pool industry make themselves more and more apparent we at River Pools and Spas will continue to discuss their happenings and do our best to keep the market informed.
Marcus Sheridan
Questions? Agree or Disagree? If you're a builder or retailer, feel free to leave your thoughts regarding what you feel the future of retail will be in the swimming pool industry.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Tue, Jun 22, 2010 @ 02:34 PM
Just how hard is it to clean an inground swimming pool???
Many swimming pool shoppers and owners question whether or not they need an automatic vacuum with their swimming pool. Such a question is quite valid, especially considering that homeowners in 2010 have enough to do and worry about beyond the rigors of swimming pool ownership.
But as we have discussed many times on this blog, technology like fiberglass pools, cartridge filters, and salt water systems have changed the paradigm of swimming pool ownership throughout the world from hard-work to simple and relaxing, which bring us back to the question of automatic vs. manual vacuums.
Of our 600 customers, the majority do not spend more than 30 minutes a week maintaining their swimming pool. Of these 30 minutes, about 20 of it consists of one good cleaning/vacuuming of the bottom of the pool. And despite the fact that many persons think (before they own a pool) that vacuuming is a major task, it certainly is not. In fact, I created the following video with the help of my wonderful son ‘JT' to show just how easy it is to vacuum an inground pool.
So there you have it. Not that difficult, is it? This is why many people, when purchasing an inground swimming pool, don't buy an automatic vacuum initially as they are very easy to add at a later date. So if you're debating on the merits of an automatic vacuum, you may just want to give it a try without one for a time and therefore you'll easily be able to tell as to whether or not it would be a good investment for you and your family.
Questions about how to manually vacuum a swimming pool? Concerns over pool maintenance? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts below as we appreciate any reader involvement.