Elite Pools is proud to be featured in Aqua Magazine’s February Issue. The article features 3 high-end pool builders that use “graduate-level” pool building techniques to accomplish beautiful projects. Please click below to go to the digital copy of the February issue of Aqua Magazine. The article featuring Elite Pools starts on Page 54. www.alexa.com www.google.com
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Salt water swimming pools are increasingly popular, but how safe are they?
Salt or chlorine-which does a better job at keeping your pool clean?
Chlorination has been the traditional method of pool sanitation for decades-almost by default, since there were no alternatives for this crucial aspect of owning a swimming pool. However, for many pool owners, chlorination is an old and outdated pool sanitation method they’ve discarded in favor of maintaining a salt water pool.
CHLORINE
So what’s the problem with chlorine, anyway? It does exactly what it needs to-kills algae and bacteria, keeping the pool attractive and more importantly, a safe and sanitary place to swim. A pool that doesn’t get regular chlorine treatments will quickly become clogged with thick green algae. Depending on where you live, and especially in warmer months, an untreated pool can become a green, sludgy nightmare inside of a week-the chlorine is definitely important.
If you maintain a chlorinated pool, however, it’s not enough to dump chlorine in periodically and let the pool fend for itself. There are other chemicals to add too, as well as regular testing to keep an eye on water quality. For example, you must make sure there is enough free available chlorine (meaning chlorine that is active) in the water to keep up with sanitizing the water. This is usually done with the use of weekly chlorine tablets.
Another important aspect of this maintenance is PH levels-the acidity or alkalinity of the water. If the PH gets too high, the chlorine in the pool isn’t able to work as efficiently. However, if the PH drops too low, the water quickly becomes too acidic to swim in comfortably. Keeping the PH at the right level is somewhat difficult, because the range at which it’s ‘just right’ is very narrow and many factors, including rain, affect this.
Chlorine is important for sanitation, but for many people it’s also a source of irritation. The harsh chemicals that are added to pre-packaged pool chlorine irritate the skin and eyes, making swimming a highly unpleasant experience. It is important to note that it’s not the chlorine that’s the problem-in most cases it’s the chemicals which are added to the pre-packaged mix.
SALT WATER
The main advantage of a salt water pool isn’t that it doesn’t use chlorine. In fact, a salt water pool does use chlorine to keep the water clean. The advantage is that the pool owner doesn’t add chlorine to the pool-that means no pre-packaged chlorine, and less irritation for people who are sensitive to the added chemicals. Salt water tends to be much softer than chlorinated water, so it’s much more pleasurable to swim in, and is much less harsh on your skin. In addition, a salt water pool usually has a much lower concentration of chlorine than a chlorinated pool.
Another important benefit is more of a long-term one. In the short term, converting from chlorine to a salt water pool will involve some cash outlay, since there are a few system components you’ll need to by. It’ll run approximately $1400-$1800 to convert a traditional chlorine system to a salt water system. Over two or three years, however, the money you spend is recouped due to not having to buy extra chlorine for the pool. Just a bag of salt which is much less expensive.
Just to be clear though, salt water pools do in fact use chlorine to sanitize and the water. So if you are not adding chlorine tablets or shock, how does that work?
It works because of the chemical composition of salt, which is made up of chlorine and sodium. Within the salt water system is a unit called a salt-chlorine generator, which uses electrolysis to generate chlorine by separating the sodium and chlorine molecules in the salt you add to the pool. As the generator unit separates out the chlorine, it’s returned to the pool, where it keeps the water clean and sanitary.
A well-maintained salt pool is an absolute delight to swim in, with softer, more comfortable water that doesn’t irritate. It doesn’t taste salty, either, as you might think, because it has such a low concentration of salt that it’s officially considered to be fresh water! In the ocean, the salt concentration is between 20,000 to 35,000 parts per million, whereas in a salt water pool, it’s just 2,600 to 3,200.
Finally, don’t be fooled into thinking that a salt water pool maintains itself. It doesn’t. You still need to check PH levels and carry out other maintenance tasks. However,you’ll benefit from lower maintenance costs and a more enjoyable swimming experience, which definitely makes it worthwhile.
Who owns the business?
Is the company a local, regional or national company?
What is your position in the company and how long have you been
employed at this particular company?
These are tough questions but absolutely critical in selecting the right builder. It is real important to understand the dynamics of your potential pool builder. A national company may feel more secure considering their volume and structure. The downside is that you are generally just another number and the service is not always personal. Many large companies are not as flexible in modifying the project to your particular needs as they have a lot of guidelines. Turnover is generally high compared to smaller businesses. A lot of people like to do business with the owner of a particular business to have a direct line to the decision maker with little or no red tape. Also, your salesperson should be someone that will be there before, during and after the construction of the pool. If the salesperson has only been with the company for a short period of time this should bring up red flags as they may not be there if you have a problem. There could be a discrepancy that only the salesperson can verify and now he no longer works for this company. The bottom line is whether they are a large company or small… treat each candidate as job applicants.
How long have you been in business?
Pool companies that have been around a long time usually have a good reputation. Always ask for references. And if they have any pools under construction in the area, ask if you can visit the site and talk to the homeowner about their experience so far. Also make sure they are not involved with any pending legal disputes.
Have you been in business under any other names?
If they have, that could be a red flag that they changed their name because of bad reputation or BBB marks. Be cautious of this builder. Hire only licensed contractors. Most states require licensing, so don’t be afraid to ask contractors for their contractor license information. Check your state’s website for licensing requirements. You will have to call the commission directly at 410-230-6231 and request information about any complaints contractor and if the complaints have been resolved.
In Maryland:
Better Business Bureaus- http://us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=46a6a9cd-5402-454e-9476-e4df22e6f371
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/pools.html
How much and what types of insurance do you have in place?
You will want to make sure that any damage that occurs during installation – to property or people – is covered. Also, you may want to ask if the contractor is willing to issue a certificate of accord which also insures YOU – the homeowner is covered on the contractor’s policy. Also, make sure that the contractor has a minimum of $2M insurance, anything less would be unacceptable.
Are your warranties spelled out in writing?
If they aren’t, beware. Get a copy of the warranty and familiarize yourself with the exclusions and coverage. One of the things to specifically check for is “Acts of God” coverage that covers things out of your control, such as storm damage. Do not do business with any contractor that does not take responsibility for storm damage.
Do you provide service after completion?
This is important because there will be times you have questions regarding maintenance, and times you will need your pool serviced. You need a good local contact that can help you. The pool company you choose should stand by their service and their service team. They should have their own dedicated service team and not “subcontractors”.
Who applies for and obtains the permits?
Your potential pool builder should take care of all permits. There are several regulations when building a pool and if the permits are not in order it can be costly. Sometimes the local municipalities will force homeowners to abate portions of their project in order to inspect items. Who pays for this? Why even take the risk? Make your pool builder include this in their package.
On your last 5 projects, did any project have cost over runs and why?
It is important to know what you will finish the project according to the agreed upon price. All projects have surprises and these surprises should not have to come at your expense. In the beginning, it is important to discuss any and all possibilities upfront. Many times, you can get the pool contractor to agree to assume the risk of these unknowns should they occur. The contractor may be eager to earn your business and include these items for free. Ask for these specific references AFTER you ask about the cost over runs. Take notes and then call the references and ask about the over runs and this way you can see if your potential builder is credible.
