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 Tue, Aug 04, 2009 @ 02:54 PM
By Jim Spiess
My business partner Marcus Sheridan has done pool comparisons on other blogs, this one is a fiberglass pool comparison, but on a little bit of a different scale. As a business owner and as a person, I believe that what makes you successful is not how much money you make, but how you conduct yourself as a business and an individual. Because Viking Pools is so upset with Marcus Sheridan for pointing out their flaws in his popular ebook found at www.poolschool.us , they have stooped to new lows with such websites as www.riverpoolsvirginia.com and other similar sites. Essentially, Viking has made it their main priority to affect River Pools' business in a negative manner. An interesting way of solving their own deficiencies but so be it. So with a new competitor in the Virginia market, I will attempt to compare the two companies in this article. I will also admit right up front that I am biased in my opinions of the two companies, because I own one of them, but just because I am biased, does not mean I am not telling the truth.
Category 1: Innovation
Because Viking Pools have been around so much longer than River Pools and Spas, they were able to be one of the main innovators in terms of the fiberglass swimming pools in the early years of the industry here in the United States. They were one of the first companies to have colored finishes and they did a great job integrating benches, ledges, etc into their pool molds. In the last year though, River Pools and Spas has found two other pool companies, Leisure Pools and Trilogy Pools, that have done a better job with color and one of the companies can customize benches and seats to better suit the customer. Essentially, Trilogy has been the first company to specialize in modular fiberglass customization. In other words, one can take a ‘fusion' model and change the steps, add tanning beds, spillovers, etc. To understand this further, see their website at http://www.trilogypools.com/fusion/the-fusion-advantage. Simply put, Trilogy has set the tone for the future of fiberglass swimming pool customization. Leisure Pools has set the bar with their color process and all American swimming pool companies have been trying to figure this process out, because when a Leisure pool is repaired it blends in so that it cannot be seen, therefore you do not even know that there was a repair. To learn more on this visit Leisure's website at http://www.leisurepoolsusa.com/ Simply put, Leisure leads the industry in color finishes for fiberglass pools, which when you add the two together, River Pools and Spas has the best color finishes available and the best innovation of fiberglass pools available.
Category 2: Shapes and Sizes
Both Viking and River Pools and Spas have a very large amount of pool designs to choose from, especially if you count Viking's multiple lines that they offer with Composite Pool Corporation and Crystal Palace Pools, and then you look at the fact that River Pools carries two lines with Leisure Pools and Trilogy Pools. In terms of sheer numbers, Viking does have an advantage, with more models to choose from. In terms of elegance and classiness though, Trilogy and Leisure dominate when one looks at such models as the Grand Elegance and the Moroccan by Leisure Pools and the Hyperion and the Regalus by Trilogy Pools, which are in my opinion four of the classiest large pool designs in the fiberglass pool industry.
Category 3: Warranty
Marc has spoken heavily on this subject regarding fiberglass pools(to see his now famous blog regarding Viking's color problems, go to: http://blog.riverpoolsandspas.com/blog/bid/22092/Why-is-Viking-Fiberglass-Pools-Trying-So-Hard-To-Discredit-Marcus-Sheridan-s-Swimming-Pool-eBook) , with his emphasis always being placed on the Surface / Finish Warranty of the pool shell and not so much on the structure warranty of the shell. In terms of structure warranty, both Viking and Trilogy boast a lifetime warranty on the structure. Leisure however boasts a 35 year stated structure warranty. But where one will find a significant difference between manufacturers is with the finish warranty, especially now that all manufacturers are using colored finishes, and not just white, with their pools. Viking has a 7 year warranty on their finish, but if one actually reads the warranty (which as far as I can tell is not listed on their website) they will find that the warranty is only 3 years full and 4 years prorated. Trilogy, on the other hand, displays their entire warranty on their webpage (http://www.trilogypools.com/about-trilogy-fiberglass-pools/warranty ), which shows a 10 year, non prorated surface warranty. Leisure has a 15 year finish warranty and Leisure's warranty covers fading and yellowing. It is because of Leisure Pools' aquaguard gel coat finish that they are able to offer such an exceptional warranty. For more information on Leisure Pools warranty visit their website at www.leisurepoolsusa.com.
Category 4: Website
Both http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ and http://www.vikingpools.net/ are great websites. Both have quite a few videos, but River Pools and Spas has more blogs and more information on pools then Viking does. Both websites have a lot of pictures and a pool styles to choose from. Viking has their models directly on their site, and with River Pools and Spas you need to go to their links to see the different models. River Pools and Spas has a testimonial on every page and also have a page related to testimonials.
Category 5: Owners
Viking boasts that they have the benefit of a big corporation with the benefit of a small family business. Such a statement is an oxymoron. Viking is owned by a big corporation, River Pools and Spas is a small family business that strives to maintain that personal feel, which is why every customer is on their reference list.
Posted by Marcus Sheridan on Wed, Jul 29, 2009 @ 03:23 PM
By Jim Spiess, www.riverpoolsandspas.com
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a swimming pool. First- Is the type of pool you will purchase, will it be an above ground pool, or an in ground pool? Let's look at above ground pools first.
How much will our above ground pool cost, and if it is an expensive pool does that guarantee quality and durability? Just because an above ground pool is expensive does not guarantee anything, for that matter most of your more expensive above ground pools are generally cheap pools that will cost you upwards to ten thousand dollars, and only last a few years. Beware of companies that advertise on television and show a beautiful pool with a ridiculously low price. If it looks too be true it probably is. These companies will do the same with magazine ads, only to do a bait and switch when they show up. There are many good above ground pools out there, Artesian Pools and Strong Pools make great pools, but beware of the riser pool made by Strong Pools, because it has its issues. These two manufactures have a difference of about one thousand dollars in their price; both have great warranties, and will not only last for many years of enjoyment, but will keep their look over the years. How many times have you seen an above ground pool get put up in the neighborhood and a year or two later they look twenty years old? An Artesian 24 foot round pool should cost you in the neighborhood of five thousand dollars with installation, the Strong Pool would be about one thousand more. How much can you lose on an above ground pool purchase? Up to ten thousand dollars if you make a bad choice. It is not a good idea to purchase an aluminum deck for an above ground pool. I recommend a wood deck or a composite deck, which is much more attractive, more durable, and will probably cost less too.
Now let's take a look at inground pools. Here we have really five types of pools to choose from: There is the natural pool which is filtered with plants and can even have fish in them, with a structure that is basically a vinyl liner pool. Initial cost can vary upon plants, type of fish, and stone work, but will generally run around thirty thousand. This is a great pool if you are more interested in a pond than a pool. Personally, I would not spend much on it because vinyl liners have a limited life to them, and it can be a mess to replace the liner on a large pond with vegetation, rocks, and fish. The cost is not that cheap because of the designing, planting, installation, and more, and your loss could be up to ten thousand after replacing liner and surroundings.
Second we have the vinyl liner pool. Its initial pool cost is around $25,000, and it falls into the category of a temporary pool. Liners today generally last between five to ten years, depending on how your pool was installed. If the pool did not have an over-dig and was put in exactly to specifications than that will increase the life of the liner. The problem is a lot of vinyl liner pool companies put the pools in fast and do a slight over-dig to make sure they do not get wrinkles in the liner. This causes the vinyl liner to get stretched and it has now had years taken off the life of the liner. Also, if the pool is put in out of square, it will shorten the life of the liner. We have people who call us to replace the vinyl liner in their pool, and they want to give us the spec sheet for the liner that came with the pool. We never go by that. We have to measure the pool ourselves and it has not once come up to the measurements on the spec sheet of the customer. Replacing a vinyl liner will cost you between four thousand to six thousand dollars with water. This is also what will bring the value of your home down when you go to sell it. The problem with swimming pools and home sales is that three red flags come up when someone sees a pool. 1. How much maintenance is the pool going to take? 2. How much will it cost me to run that pool each year? 3. What are my future expenses on that pool? With vinyl, you have fairly high maintenance, more cost in chemicals with the pool, and future expenses. Home value can even go down ten to twenty thousand.
Third we have gunite pools or concrete pools. This is a permanent pool, which is high maintenance, high chemical cost, and elevated electrical costs. This pool will have to be resurfaced on average every 10 years, and that can cost from ten to fifteen thousand dollars depending on the type of surface. The price of gunite pools depends on the size and scope of the work, although there are large companies out there that are selling them very cheap because of the economy. My feelings on this is if you have thousands of pools that you have put in and you kept your customers happy then you should not have to cut your cost on your pools so drastically. Most reputable gunite company's pools range around thirty five to fifty thousand dollars. I would beware of the companies that are offering the same pool for ten thousand less. These pools can bring the value of your home down too, usually less than a vinyl pool, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss can be as much as twenty five thousand if resurfaced twice during your ownership.
Fourth we have the fiberglass pool wall with a concrete bottom. Initial cost around twenty to twenty five thousand. This pool is still a high maintenance pool due to the concrete bottom, and a lot of times I have seen these pools put in and the bottom painted with a waterproof paint, this can lead to disaster. The life of these pools is determined by the installer, but the bottom of the pool will need resurfacing at a cost of around five thousand dollars. The pool tends to look cheap and will take away from the value of your home, around five to ten thousand dollars. Your loss is around ten to fifteen thousand dollars.
Last we have fiberglass pools. There initial cost is around thirty five to fifty thousand dollars, around the same as a good reputable concrete pool installer. Maintenance is low, operation cost is low, and future cost is very low. Adds value to your home because of all the above. Your gain is extra money when you sell your home, and years of enjoyment without all the work and headaches. But going with the wrong manufacturer, or picking the wrong company, because you are basing your decision on price can cost you more than you save. For instance the pool you have chosen appears to be the same, but the cost difference between the two companies is around five thousand. Well, you could end up the loser when the concrete does not turn out right or the pool was installed improperly, etc. There are many things that could go wrong that will cost you more than the five thousand you saved. Maybe you picked the wrong manufacturer and save five to ten thousand and then find out that you really lost around twenty five thousand and now have a non functioning pool in your backyard. Pool choices are tough decisions, you are spending a lot of money, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that will cost you even more. For more information on fiberglass pool cost go to http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ or http://www.poolschool.us/
Posted by Marc Sheridan on Wed, Jul 08, 2009 @ 02:46 PM
By Marcus Sheridan: www.PoolSchool.us, www.riverpoolsandspas.com
Posted by Marc Sheridan on Fri, Jun 26, 2009 @ 09:19 PM
By Jason Hughes: www.PoolSchool.us, www.RiverPoolsandSpas.com
View the following video to learn about swimming pool filter systems:
Posted by Jason Hughes on Mon, May 04, 2009 @ 05:39 PM
One of the first questions asked by pool clients is where they should locate their pool equipment. Before we answer that question let's cover some basic information about a pool filter systems.
A basic filter system consists of a pump, filter, and a sanitation system such as a salt chlorinator, ionizer, or erosion fed chlorinator (chlorine tablets).
- This basic equipment usually takes up an area approximately 4'x4'.
- It is usually located within 40'or 50' of the pool, but could be further away if needed.
- Pool heaters, when purchased, are usually located directly beside the filter system and take up another 4'x4' area.
Here's a picture of a standard filter system with a pump, cartridge filter, and salt chlorine generator.
Now back to our question: Where should you locate your pool equipment?
HERE ARE 5 GUIDELINES to help insure you find the right spot for your pool equipment. Remember that these are only guidelines and many projects cannot accommodate one or more of these suggestions.
1. Pick an inconspicuous place
Your pool filter system is no different than any other equipment around the house: the more hidden, the better. Some ways to accomplish this are to put the equipment around the corner of the house or behind a shed. Sometimes this is not possible at all, so screening the equipment with lattice or shrubs is a great alternative.
2. Locate equipment at the house if possible
Try to keep the filter system as close to the electrical panel as possible. Because pool equipment is commonly wired to the house panel box, locating the equipment at the house will usually reduce the length of wire runs and trenching which will keep the wiring cost down. Many times this is not possible or isn't compatible with the design layout. This is fine, but if the option is open; why not save the money?
3. Try to keep the equipment at the level of the pool or lower.
Placing the filter system above the water level in the pool puts more strain on the pool pump. Inground pool pumps are built to handle minor lifts of two or three feet, and high head pumps that have much more capacity are available if required. But it's good practice to keep the equipment close to pool level or lower if possible.
4. Stay close to the pool.
If circumstances allow, stay close to the pool. Shorter pipe runs = less work for the pump which extends the life of the pump and uses less electricity. Our projects typically average a distance of 20'-40' from the pool to the equipment, but as stated earlier, much longer runs are sometimes required.
5. Have a gate close by.
If your pool equipment is located outside of the pool fence, make sure a gate is installed in the path from the pool to the equipment. Otherwise you'll be shaking your head every time you have to take a nature hike to get to the filter system.
Many people are also concerned about the amount of noise generated by pool equipment. Pool pumps are relatively quiet. Two speed pumps, when running on low speed, are so quiet you sometimes don't know they are running. Pool heat pumps are about as loud as a normal house heat pump. If you are concerned about noise outside a bedroom window, remember that timers are available that would allow the use of the pump during daytime hours only. But the most important thing to remember is that pools are fun and that will be the case no matter where you put your pool equipment! For more information about inground pools stay with us here at http://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/ or visit http://www.poolschool.us/ where you can find my information packed ebook "6 Steps to Pool and Patio Success".
Posted by Marc Sheridan on Wed, Mar 04, 2009 @ 06:42 PM
Proper Filtration: The Heart of Your Pool's Water Clarity
By Marcus Sheridan
When we consider the different aspects of keeping our pool water sparkling and crystal clear throughout the summer, one of the most often over-looked aspects to water clarity maintenance is filter cleaning. When a pool's filter is not working up to capacity, its water will obviously suffer, with cloudiness and algae being the end results. This article will discuss the two main types of filters used by our customers and the proper cleaning for each medium.
Sand Filters:
Sand is probably the most popular filter medium throughout the state of Virginia. Although sand is not the most effective type of filter for water clarity, it still works very well in most cases, especially under proper care. What many customers don't realize is that it is a good idea to replace the sand in your filter every 1-3 years. I recommend once every year for those using Baquacil. This is because Baquacil, which tends to coagulate waste while it sanitizes, causes the sand in the filter to "gum up" quickly, rendering the sand less and less effective over time. This is also why it is recommended that Baquacil users soak their sand in a filter cleaner twice a season so as to break-down any coagulation or clumps that have formed within the filter. For chlorine and salt users, changing your sand every 3 years will usually suffice, considering chlorine's stellar ability oxidize and remove waste. When replacing your sand, there are a few steps to remember.
- Drain water from tank and remove filter head. Scoop or "Shop-vac" out the old sand. (This can be a little time consuming)
- Fill The tank up to the half-way point with water
- Add pool filter sand(not just any sand) to the tank(try not to let sand get into the center tube of the tank). The proper amount to add is usually listed on the tank's front side.
- Re-attach the filter head and then backwash the water for 30 seconds.
- Return filtration to "filter" mode and make sure there are no leaks.
Cartridge Filters:
Cartridge filters are becoming more and more prominent throughout the country. What makes these filters so appealing to pool owners is that they act as a better filter medium (they catch smaller particles) then sand and there is no need to backwash. The main maintenance required on a cartridge filter is a cleaning typically done with a pressurized garden hose. This process takes somewhere between 5-10 minutes. I have found that most pool owners need to clean their cartridges off once every 4-6 weeks, although this number can vary depending on a number of factors. Another type of cartridge cleaning is done with an actual chemical soaking of the cartridge. This chemical can be purchased at your local pool store and is usually added to a bucket of water and the filter is allowed to soak in this bucket over a 24 hour period. The process is especially necessary when a pool has had algae, and the algae has become imbedded in the filter's pleats. Not completely killing this algae will just lead to more in the future. Most cartridge filters should be replaced once every 1-2 years and typically cost $75-$125.