Questions About Building a Pool? You're Not Alone

Every company and pool varies as to completion times.  We are typically building pools in eight to 12 weeks once construction starts.  However, this timeline is not guaranteed.  Factors that can impact the completion timing include specific project conditions, weather, the availability of materials and other factors out of our control.  You should always check with your pool designer and the construction coordinator to stay up to date on the timeline for building your pool.

        ◦ A company with a local physical presence

        ◦ A local licensed contractor at the company 

        ◦ A company that is insured, and

        ◦ An experienced company

We partner with several third-party finance companies who can assist you with financing your new pool build or remodel.  There are links to these companies on our website.

Mustard algae can sometimes be mistaken for dirt or pollen but often look like yellow, brown or greenish yellow dust or residue that clouds the water when brushed.  Mustard algae thrives in the shadier spots of pool floors and walls and while it can be brushed off easily, it returns quickly.  Proper treatment involves shocking your pool and then treating the pool with a specific product for yellow algae as well as thoroughly cleaning your equipment.

How and when to clean your filter will depend upon the filter type, model and external conditions (i.e., rain, pollen, high usage, etc.).  In general, you want to establish a weekly or biweekly habit of evaluating and cleaning your pool filter.  Regardless of the filter type, a good rule of thumb is that you should clean your filter if the psi shown on your filter gauge is +10psi above your regular running pressure.  You will also usually need to replace your filter cartridge, if you have one, every year to 18 months.  In addition to cleaning and replacing your filter, we recommend getting your water tested regularly by a pool professional, such as Gator Pools, Spas and Supplies, LLC. even if you have a pool cleaning service, to ensure your water chemistry is well balanced.

Water chemistry is half of the battle in keeping and maintaining a healthy, clean and attractive pool.  While physical cleaning is equally important, without the proper chemical balance your pool water is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, algae and similar concerns.  Even if your pool looks clear, if your water isn’t chemically balanced, large and expensive problems such as pool finish erosion and equipment damage can occur.  The key is having a routine, weekly or biweekly cleaning and chemical balancing routine.  In short, mechanical and physical methods of pool maintenance are only part of the whole system that keeps your water, pool, and equipment lasting longer and functioning efficiently.  Have your water tested regularly by a pool professional.

Ideally, your pool’s water level should be approximately halfway up the tile line or skimmer.  If you suspect that you have a leak, use a piece of painter's tape or a pencil to mark your pool’s water level.  After 24 hours, use a ruler to measure the distance from the mark to your pool’s then current water level.  If the distance is more than ½ inch, you most likely have a leak. Anything less than ½ inch is standard water loss due to evaporation, heat, etc.

By default, having a properly maintained and well-balanced pool will make things much easier to fix when they inevitably are thrown off by a hurricane. First of all, NEVER drain your pool in preparation for a hurricane, the lessened weight could have it literally pop out of the ground due to our high water table.  Make sure to trim as many branches as possible back to minimize debris falling into the pool.  Raise chlorine levels with appropriate pool shock in case of power outage or pump damage.  Make sure your breakers and electrical equipment are off.  And of course, store any loose items including toys, furniture, chemicals, etc. to prevent them from flying around and damaging other things or being damaged themselves in the high winds.  Do not store your furniture or any other items in your pool during a hurricane.

After the storm, make sure to inspect everything for damage first before even touching your electrical breaker. Make sure the deck and the ground you are standing on aren’t wet before turning the breaker box back on. Manually remove as much of the leaves, branches, dirt and debris from the pool as possible as this will make rebalancing your water chemistry after the copious rain easier and keep equipment from getting clogged. Have your water tested with us and we can recommend further steps to rebalance your individual pool following a major storm.