Be Careful Who You Hire for Your Pool

 BUYER BEWARE:  IS YOUR POOL COMPANY LEGIT

The season is upon and with pools in high demand, we are seeing lots of new pool companies pop up around us.  As a business that has been around for over three decades, we often cringe at how easy it  is now for someone to call themselves a "pool company."  Anyone can create a fancy website these days and call themselves a pool company.  Unfortunately, those in the business are the ones who often get the calls after the fact when something goes wrong or the job does not get done.  So before you hire the first person who pops up in your web search, here is what you should be looking for before you hire.

1.  IS THE POOL COMPANY INSURED

There are many aspects of insurance that one thinks about with a company.  General liability, worker's compensation insurance, and even car insurance.  Is your company able to provide you proof of these insurances?  A reputable pool company will be able to provide you proof of all three insurance coverages.  Why is this important?  

Let's take general liability to start.  You hire a company to replace your worn liner.  In the process, they cause damage to your deck.  What recourse will you have your company is uninsured?  You will have to file against your own homeowner's insurance, pay deductibles, and watch your premium increase.  Perhaps your insurance company attempts collect against the "company" but will you get far if your company is only a company by name only? 

Maybe you are thinking, they are just doing weekly maintenance, how bad could it be?  What happens when their vacuum tears your liner or they add shock to your pool without checking for metals causing brown stains.  

What about worker's compensation?  Maybe you are thinking, not my problem.  But what happens when one of the workers from the "company" gets hurt on your property. If the company does not have proper worker's compensation in place, do you know that they can sue the homeowner where they got hurt?  

How about motor vehicle insurance?  What happens that company backs into your car when pulling out of your driveway?  You hope that everyone in Massachusetts driving a vehicle has car insurance, but it is always best to confirm. 

A reputable company will be able to declare that they are in fact insured for all three and they will be willing to provide you proof upon request.  

2.  IS YOUR COMPANY INSTALLING EQUIPMENT AN AUTHORIZED INSTALLER?

Many warranties are tied to the installation of equipment.  In short, if you are allowing an unauthorized installer to install equipment at your home,  you run a risk of losing your warranties.  So even if that liner or pump you installed is defective, you won't get far with the manufacturer if you weren't using an authorized installer.   This then goes back to insurance because if that unauthorized installer makes an error, you can be stuck with the bill.  

How do you know if they are authorized maybe a bit harder to find out.  The best way to do it would be to go to the website for the product and see if your company shows up in their dealer database. 

Again, there are a lot of companies out there that will get you the product but your pool is an investment and mistakes are costly.  Don't be afraid to ask your company about where they obtain their products from, a pump off the internet will not come with the same warranties as one from a legitimate supplier.  

3.  HOW LONG HAS THE COMPANY BEEN IN BUSINESS? 

You spent money to get a pool, you spend money to maintain a pool.  Pool companies are a dime a dozen, here one minute, gone the next.  There is a reason the ones who have withstood the test of time have done so.  A pool is a long term investment.  When you are choosing a company, you want one that will be there season after season.  Much like many other trades, a well established company can save a lot of headaches down the road if something goes wrong.  A good example would be a broken pipe over the winter.  It never fails that we will get the call from someone who hired someone to close their pool only to learn a pipe broke over the winter and now the company is out of business.  Reputable companies are there to stand by their work and warranty their closing.  

Whether it is Aquaknot or one of our longtime acquaintances, your pool is too important to just leave to anyone.  Be sure to shop smart for your swimming pools needs.

Backyard Oasis: The Alternative to the Expensive Vacation

Backyard Oasis:  The Alternative to the Expensive Vacation

Growing up in New England, I have many memories of my school summer vacations.  We were lucky enough to always have a week or two planned every summer in order to go away and I can remember some of the highlights of those vacations.  Rolling around in the back of the station wagon (because back then we could), breakfast at the Howard Johnson on the way down the east coast.  We had wonderful times visiting Hershey Park, Busch Gardens, and Disney World.  But the thing is, most of my memories of school summer vacations when I was a kid have nothing to do with the trips we took.  Why?  Because we had a pool and so every day was like a vacation.  I remember waiting hours for my mother to get us ready with sunblock and snacks etc. We would head out to the back yard (ok, so maybe it was more like 20 minutes but it felt like hours).  I remember my brother teaching me and my best friend how to dive in the deep end and wanting to be “cool” like my sister and her friends as they sunbathed in lounge chairs.  And the family parties!  Oh what a time!

Over the years, the trend of at home vacations seemed to fall by the wayside and be replaced with expensive trips to tropical islands.  Expensive and short lived, these trips may have given great photo ops and good memories, but also left behind little money and exhaustion from long airline travel.  In 2017, Forbes Magazine published an article that more than ever Americans are having to go into debt just to pay for a vacation.  On average, Americans who are taking annual vacations are spending 10 to more than 15% of their annual salaries on vacations.[1]  Given that Uncle Sam is taking approximately 30 to 35% of the average American’s paycheck that means that a person who is earning $70,000 per year is likely spending almost 25% of their income on vacations per year.

The fact is, if you want quality time with your family, relaxation by the water and a fancy drink in your hand, you can do all of that without leaving the house and without all of the hassle.

You may have heard the term “staycation” over the last several years.  It may be a newer term but the idea isn’t new, it just was lost for some time.  Recently, people are going back to the idea of staycations again.  This is due to many factors including the cost of travel, the state of unrest that many feel on planes and other public transportation, and a savvier generation of people realizing the money spent on one week of vacation isn’t always worth it. 

The trend today is not just throwing a hole in the backyard and filling it with water, it is so much more.  Today’s homeowners are turning their backyards into a place where they can vacation every day.  From gorgeous swimming pools with attached spas and features galore to outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and pizza ovens, the return on these investments exceed the financial, you just cannot put a price on family togetherness without the hassle of travel.  In fact, for many, the inclusion of a backyard oasis has become their own personal nightly therapy.  It has become a way to bring kids, grandkids, cousins, friends, and then some together.  Parents are realizing that they are creating a safe place where kids are excited to bring friends, and adults can socialize in a relaxed setting. 

While the upfront cost may be something of an eye popper, creating outdoor living space gives back financially over time, unlike a trip to Cabo, that money is recouped.  It is a true investment, regardless of whether this is your forever home or your “next ten years” home.  I recently spoke about the financial recoupment of investing in your backyard with Amy Farrell, owner of Amy Farrell Real Estate and a distinguished realtor specializing in home sales on the South Shore.  Amy often tells her clients “a well-planned backyard really adds to the value of any home.  When people can envision themselves using and relating there, it virtually adds to the living space.”[2]  Watch any show on HGTV these days and you will see that she is right.  With so many options and choices these days for outside embellishments, it is no wonder that dressing up your yard has become just as important as your kitchen. 

So the question is, what are you waiting for? 

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[1] Learnvest, “Most Americans are Taking Vacations They Can’t Afford,” Forbes Magazine (2017).

[2] Amy Farrell of Amy Farrell Real Estate, 781-929-2985.

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Aquaknot Pools, Inc. the South Shore's oldest family-owned gunite pool company.

PREPARING FOR FALL SWIMMING

JUST KEEP SWIMMING....

Let's face it, New England summers are short.  Plagued with a horrible spring full of rain and cold weather, the season was even shorter this year; so, do you throw in the towel and call it a year?  No one wants to see summer end so if you want to spend a few more weeks enjoying the big investment in your backyard, here are some tips on how to do it.

Splurge on a Heater

We know they are expensive but heaters in New England are almost a must have if you really want to get your money's worth, it is definitely the way to go.   Heaters can provide you with an earlier start in the spring and later swimming in the fall.  Today's heaters are energy efficient and heat water quickly allowing for less down time.  In those hot summer months, conserve by leaving it off.  It is your best bet to keeping the water warm well into October.  Another bonus to heaters, use it just when you need it so if weekdays are busy, then turn that heater on Friday night and jump on in on Saturday morning.  

Solar covers

Not able to splurge on a heater?  Leaving a solar cover on when the pool is not in use during the day will allow the heat from the sun to be trapped allowing for a subtle increase in the pool temp.  While you may not have 80 degree water from a solar cover, it can surely take the edge off when taking that plunge.  Another bonus to solar covers is that it reduces evaporation.  With cold nights and warm days, water evaporation increases causing your pool to lose more water.  Solar covers prevent that evaporation reducing the amount of water you have to add to your pool and less water added means less balancing of chemicals and reduction in pool expenses.

Smart Shield by Bioguard

Heard the expression, "strike while the iron is hot"?  Well, this is one you want to use while the warm temps are still upon us.  Want to keep swimming the month of September?   Add Smart Shield to your water at the end of August.  Smart Shield's special formula creates an invisible coating on the water's surface that creates a barrier which maintains pool temps and reduces evaporation for up to 30 days after application. Throw another bottle in toward the end of September to keep the effect lasting.  


At the end of the day, if you are the original pool owner, you have gone through the expense of putting in the pool, why not make the season last as long as possible and enjoy!  When you are ready to close up, give us a call.  

www.aquaknotpools.com

Aquaknot Pools, Inc.: MOTHER NATURE, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND

Aquaknot Pools, Inc.: MOTHER NATURE, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND: MOTHER NATURE, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND! Mother nature seems to be a little confused with the seasons this spring.  From cold and ra...

MOTHER NATURE, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND

MOTHER NATURE, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND!

Mother nature seems to be a little confused with the seasons this spring.  From cold and rainy for over a month (who has blue prints for the arch ready to go?) to blistering heat and humidity, this New England spring is giving all of us a run for our money.  I bet I am not the only one who hesitates putting the snow gear away.  Pool owners have been especially hit hard this spring with this crazy weather.  Rain that won't quit is causing balancing issues while the heavy pollen and hot sun is eating up chlorine as fast as it can be added.  Are you frustrated?  Of course.  90 + degree days after lots of rain = green green green and we have all had it.  

Does your pool remind you of this?  

Sooo... what can we do?

Well, if putting your pool indoors isn't an option, then let us give you our top four nuggets of advice for surviving the spring...

1.  When in doubt, chlorinate

Whether you are a salt pool or a straight chlorine pool, it doesn't matter on this one.  You need chlorine and you need a lot of it.  Why?  Because it kills algae which is the main cause of spring time problems with pools.  Regular shocking, add an extra stick to the basket, do whatever you can to keep the chlorine level ideal (1 - 3 ppm).  

A subset to this discussion on chlorinating is that not all chlorine is created equal.  We aren't naming names here but consider the sources and know that you get what you paid for.  Don't believe us?  Get small jug of cheap chlorine and get a small jug of a quality chlorine ahem Bioguard would be a good one, the first thing you are likely to notice is consistency.  Cheap chlorine will feel softer, maybe even crumble a bit in your hands.  What that means?  It will also likely disintegrate faster than its higher end counter part.  End of the day, you will spend just as much, if not more, for the cheap chlorine than the higher end because you will have to buy more.   

2.  Keep up with filter cleanings

Think of backwashing being the quick fix to clearing your filter on a daily basis.  The problem is that backwashing doesn't necessarily get all that gunky algae that sticks to the guts of your filter.  As time goes on that gunk gets thicker and covers the grids of your filter.  Before you know it, you are backwashing multiple times a day, the pool looks cloudy, and your returns are barely pumping out water.  What is happening is that your grids have so much algae and "gunk" that they are not filtering water through any more.  This can reduce your heater's efficiency, raise your filter pressure, cause water balancing issues, and make you pull out your hair when it comes to keeping your pool clear.  If this sounds like your situation, get out there and clean those grids.  Usually just hosing them off can work wonders.  If it is really caked on, see your local pool chemical dealer for cleaning solutions to get those grids good as new.  

3.  Brush, skim, empty, repeat

Tedious is a good word for this time of year with pool care.  Even if you are on a weekly service cleaning plan with a company, you are probably finding that you need to still do some work.  Maintaining the pool in the New England spring is NOT, I repeat NOT, a weekly job.  It is an everyday, maybe morning and night, job at this time of year.  At this time of year, pollen falls into the pool as fast as it can be scooped out.  Springtime flowers come with lots of extra debris, especially if you are a fan of the flowering trees.  Skimmers filled with pollen and flower petals block the chlorine from working and overload the system.   Algae grows on pool walls before you even see it and multiplies by the millions.  How many times have you gone to bed with a clear pool and woken to a green one?  Pollen, petals and leaves clog filters quickly, the more you can skim out before it goes into the skimmer the longer you will have between the filter cleanings.  

4.  Have you tried our Pool Complete?

Ok, so we are a pool company so we need to plug a few of our products :)  Pool Complete came out last year with a guaranteed satisfaction.  Not only does it pull phosphates (you know the chemicals often found in suntan lotions, lawn chemicals, etc), but has clarifying properties that leave your pool unbelievably crystal clear.  Don't believe us?  Check out this Pool Complete Drone Video

The good news

- The good news is that we are almost past the worst of it.  Soon the pollen will be gone, the trees all will have bloomed and pools will become more manageable every day.  As the old saying goes, "this too shall pass."   

So, what do pool builders do in the winter?

SO, WHAT DO YOU ALL DO IN THE WINTERTIME?

So, what do you all do in the wintertime?  That may be the most asked question from about mid-December through early March.  It is also a valid question when one works in a swimming pool business in Massachusetts.  I am sure that some pool companies shut down and head south, but we have other ideas.  

First and foremost, we continue to work five days a week (barring holidays of course).  We continue to get phone calls for service for spas and indoor pools and we continue to meet with new customers to discuss new construction and renovations.  With the exception of the week after Christmas, you can count on Aquaknot to answer the phones.  In fact, we encourage you to call us to schedule your openings as spring is just around the corner.

Secondly, we are working on bettering ourselves.  The winter is the time to learn about new products, what is working, what isn't working, and what does the future hold.  Many of our team members attend seminars and schools to help move our company forward, providing our customers with the latest in pool technology and products.  

Thirdly, prepare.  Right now, we are beginning the hiring process for the opening season.  Some of our employees have been with us for over a decade, but each year, we also welcome new people to our team as our company grows. 


Lastly, we plan.  As we wait out the winter, we know that as soon as a shovel can sink into the dirt, we will be out there in backyards working against weather conditions and deadlines.  Our goal for the spring is to have as many people swimming as soon as possible without compromising quality.  As we start to book openings and take on weekly service clients, we will begin putting together our "master plan" to be sure that our customers' needs are 100% satisfied.  We will also be looking for ways to improve our customer service as we feel that as a business, there is always room to improve.  

So, yes, we are not digging pools and our service is limited from December through March, but we continue our goal to grow and improve throughout the winter months to remain one of Massachusetts leading swimming pool companies.  

Trust the Professionals

INTERNET RESEARCH IS A GREAT WAY TO START BUT...

It is a running joke around here that if someone has a question, I will be the first to jump on google to get the answer.  This works when trying to find out if Brad Pitt is really reconciling with Angelina, or for how long to cook a 5 pound roast; however, when looking into building a custom gunite pool, internet research should only be your starting point.  

If I googled right now, "are chlorine pools better than salt," I would get a million and one answers.  I use this as an example because this is a very often asked question.  The irony of this example is that with a million and one answers online to this question, the answer from a professional is that salt water pools are chlorine pools.  The salt generates chlorine.  Why am I telling you this?  To prove my point.  You cannot just rely on what the internet tells you, but you already probably know that.

When we go out to your home and discuss a pool installation, we are always happy to hear that people have done some legwork, researched things they may want, and have an idea of what their goal is.  The problem is, that sometimes what you want and what will work are two very different things.  This is why you call in a professional.  Oftentimes, people want various extras or amenities when building a swimming pool but, as is the case with most electronics, the products have to be compatible.  Our salesperson has vast knowledge on the products on the market today.  She knows what works and how well it works.  As a family-owned business that has been installing custom gunite pools for thirty years, we have seen it all and we make a conscious effort to remain at the forefront of trends but to also know what is worth the cost and what is not.  Our business is built on trust and we are honest with our customers.  Other companies may push a high end product simply because it is popular and creates income.  We prefer that customers choose their products based on their wants of course, but also based on what will work properly with their overall project.   A lot of times we will come to a meeting and hear about the promises from another company about a "great product" or something that a potential customer's friend has or something someone found on the internet.  We believe it is our job to provide truthful information and to steer customers toward products that work and are compatible with what their overall desire is.  

So, please, continue to do your research, talk to friends, and present these ideas when meeting with our sales and design person but know that we will do our best to give you the pros and cons of these ideas as we feel it is our job to ensure not only that you receive the pool/spa that you so desire but one that will provide joy not extra money or headaches.  


Considering a project in the future, we continue to meet the needs of our current customers and future customers by maintaining operations all winter.  Call today to schedule an appointment to discuss a future product!

SALE SALE SALE

You didn't think we would end the year too quiet, did you?  We know we know, it is only November and I promise you, we respect the Turkey but with the season winding down, we hope you will forgive us for giving you a push on some early Christmas Shopping.   So... Beginning Monday, November 7, 2016, take 20% off all of our pool floats and toys.  So what if it is November and you aren't swimming, this is a perfect gift to remind everyone when the weather is cold and dark that there is sunshine around the corner, or perhaps a great gift to someone down south, or maybe someone heading on vacation to someplace warm.  Whatever the reason, come in between November 7th and November 30th to take advantage of this special end of season promotion.

Offer applies to our Lakeville Store only - 54 Main Street, Lakeville, MA.  

Here is a glimpse of what is in store!

ARE YOU THINKING OF A SWIMMING POOL?

The average homeowner waits well over a

year from first considering a swimming pool to actually taking the proverbial plunge.  This is due to the many options and considerations when deciding if a swimming pool is right for you and your family.  If you are thinking that you may want to dive in (Ok, I promise I will stop), now is a great time to start thinking about it.  I always think of Clark Griswold in the movie Christmas Vacation when I think about the time and effort it takes just to get to signing the dotted line.  Like most big decisions in life, adding a swimming pool to your back yard is a process involving many steps.

1.  Research types and price ranges

Pool installation prices range greatly between areas of the United States.  A gunite swimming pool will triple (or more) in price when you build it in the Northeast region verses the south.  This is in part because of the climate and the need to use heartier materials that can withstand a cold New England winter.  

When looking at what type of pool you want to get, it is good to have a general sense of what you can afford.  Pools range in price from a few thousand dollars for an above-ground to skies the limit when you go in-ground and start customizing.  

Also, consider your future.  Are you in your forever home?  If so, it may be worth it to go higher end if you are going to spend many years enjoying the pool.  If this is your "for the time being home," you want to consider whether your investment will be worth it at the end of the day.  In speaking with a local realtor, a swimming pool in a higher end eighborhood is considered more of a must have.  There are also buyers that would like a home with a pool already so that they do not have to put the time and effort into building one.  

In the northeast, you really have four choices:  aboveground, inground vinyl, inground fiberglass, and inground gunite.

Above grounds are ideal for someone who is maybe on the fence, wants something for while the kids are young, or does not have the means or the yard to go inground.  They can be up and running in a day and while some can cost you $15,000+, the majority are quite cost efficient. The downfall?  In our harsh winters, many above ground owners find themselves having to replace their pools or the liners when the weather gets extreme.  

Inground Vinyl Liners have come a long way over the last decade.  With the ability to provide more options than ever before, they are a more cost effective way to get the luxury of an inground pool without the larger price tag.  That being said, as with many updates in the 21st century, vinyl liners have a much shorter life expectancy than liners installed 10 years ago.  A homeowner should expect to have to replace the liner ever 7 to 9 years, more if a small animal or pet decides to go swimming.  Vinyl liner pools also require some caution when it comes to vacuuming equipment and chemicals so as to not accelerate the decaying process.  Additionally, while a vinyl liner can look great in your back yard, the options for what can be put into it are limited, but if you are looking for a simple pool, a discount in the price (although here in the northeast, vinyl liner pool installation costs have substantially increased) or maybe you just aren't in your forever home, then this is absolutely the way to go.

Fiberglass pools have started to pop up more in the northeast in the last few years.  I heard a great comment about fiberglass pools the other day.  It was during a discussion about water tables and the lack of a hydrostatic valve in a fiberglass pool and the person said to me "you are basically putting a boat in your backyard."  So for those of you who may be new to pool lingo, click on water table to learn more about what it is.  Basically, if a pool is installed and there is a high water table, there is no where for water to go.  This ultimately causes the water to go under the pool and lift it from where it sets.  In both vinyl liner inground pools and gunite pools, a hydrostatic valve is placed inside the main drain of a pool and it opens and shuts to allow water in and out to allow the natural water table under your pool to remain level at all times.  A fiberglass pool has no hydrostatic valve so if you are living in an area with a high water table, a fiberglass pool has a higher chance of lifting out of place.  Fiberglass pools are generally a "faster" installation than other types of inground pools.  The price tag is akin to a custom gunite pool; however, homeowners are limited in their imagination as the pools are generally made in specific shapes and sizes so not a lot of customizing. 

2.  So you have reached the stage where you know what you want, but how are you paying?

We all know that the housing bubble didn't just burst, it exploded.  Years ago, people were able to use equity in their homes as an extra bank account.  Some people may still be able to do this, but if you are not in this group, then you may be trying to think outside the box.  The short answer is, there are options if you cannot take a home equity line.  Aquaknot Pools has an exclusive agreement with Paramount financing to offer financing options to our customers.  A preapproval can be completed with a few clicks of the button and you will soon be on your way to designing.  Beyond our financing, we would recommend you speak with your, or a, financial advisor to determine the best way for you and your family to get the pool you have been waiting for.

3.  Know your limitations and your hurdles

So many site issues can arise when looking at building a swimming pool, from zoning to conservation to septic placement, it is always important to do your homework.  Oftentimes, our sales and design department's first meeting will be spent going over many of the hurdles and all pool talk will cease until such hurdles are overcome.  This may mean seeking permission from your local conservation department, moving septic, or bringing in an engineer.  Depending on your yard, a pool may also require a structural wall be created to maintain the integrity of the site.  All of this is good to know in advance so that you can be prepared for what extra hurdles, and maybe more importantly, what extra costs you need to think about.  

4.  You have your money, you know what you want, you know what you need to get it, so what then?

Here comes the fun part...really, I mean it.  Now comes the design phase.  Any pool company can give you a rough estimate of what a pool will cost but it isn't until a design has been finalized that you can have the true number.  If you are doing a vinyl or a fiberglass pool, this part will be less cumbersome to you as your options are somewhat limited.  If you are going for a custom gunite pool, then it is time to let your imagination lead the way (well, so long as you know your limitations).  Custom gunite pools come with so many options, it can be over whelming.  From general shape, to entries (stairs, beach walkin), to attached spas or waterfalls, there are so many ways to make your pool suit your needs. Today's pool customer can add in water tables, fire bowls, LED lighting, floor cleaning systems and so much more.  

Then, just like building a house, you will get the options of surfaces, tiles, decking, and coping.  A somewhat overwhelming task but one we are with you for every step of the way.

Other options to consider are whether you want a heater to extend the time you get to use the pool, do you want an automatic cover as added safety, what about salt?  There are so many decisions and it is crucial to get real answers so that you know what is worth the money and what you may want to leave by the wayside.  If you aren't getting the pros and cons from your pool designer, then you may want to seek second opinions.  

If you are an Aquaknot customer, by the time you sign to start work you have 3-D photos of your pool and how it will look in your backyard, you have a detailed proposal, and you have a price.  You are ready to sign and start moving on your dream swimming pool.  

Considering a swimming pool?  Call us today for a free on-site consultation and free estimate.

Aquaknot Pools, Inc.: Were You One of the Pool Owners Cursing This Sprin...

Aquaknot Pools, Inc.: Were You One of the Pool Owners Cursing This Sprin...: We all jumped for joy over the dry, almost snow free winter, we had here in the Northeast last winter; however, if you are a pool owner,...

Were You One of the Pool Owners Cursing This Spring?

We all jumped for joy over the dry, almost snow free winter, we had here in the Northeast last winter; however, if you are a pool owner, then you learned that it is not always good to have such a mild winter.  

Mild temps, little snow, and little rain meant swimming pools that could pass for a swamp.  Our beloved customers came into the store in droves threatening to fill in the pool if they had to clean the filter one more time.   Gallons and bags of shock passed through our doors at record speeds.  We sympathized with all of you during this time and we hated to give you the answer you didn't want to hear which is that you just had to let it filter, keep shocking and adding chlorine, and keep clearing the filter.  

Then, you finally got it perfect, right?  It was beautiful without a spec of algae in sight when mother nature struck again with one of the hottest summers on record.  Again, the battle ensued of shocking, brushing, and backwashing.  Let's face it, being a pool owner this summer was hard work.  Well, unless you used our weekly pool service and let us do the dirty work.

So, here we are now.  You are at the end of your season.  Whether you handle the closing the pool
on your own or you use a company, there are things you can and should be doing to maybe avoid what you went through last spring.  Here are the top ways to make spring 2017 a happy start to your pool season:


1.  OPEN EARLY

We are already booking openings for many of our customers for 2017.  It can take one to three weeks easily to clear your pool up following the opening.  Those customers that open early are often up and running faster.  The openings book up fast and so those that have already booked know they are getting opened early and will be swimming sooner.

Don't want to spend the extra money opening sooner?  Think of it this way, if you open later, then your pool equipment has to run longer and harder to keep up with the amount of algae growth that occurs as the result of a later opening.  All of this equals more chemicals, higher electric bills, and more man hours.  The difference between an April opening and a May opening can be drastic. Consider that most winter shocks and algae inhibitors last about 90 days, prolonging your opening another month means dirtier, greener water.  Of course if you do want to wait til May, there are things you can still do to "save yourself" and we will talk about those things soon, if you have the ability to open early, we say call us now!

2.  USE RELIABLE, QUALITY WINTERIZING CHEMICALS

We all know that it can be very appealing to hit the local discount store to buy chemicals for your pool but for off season pool care, now is not the time to tighten the wallet.  Winter chemicals are put into your pool at or about the time that the water stops circulating.  That means the chemicals will remain mostly stagnant in the water from about October through April (because you are going to take my advice).  There are so many reasons why it is important to buy quality products for wintertime, just like during the season.  Let's start with the fact you paid a lot of money for this pool and you don't want to have to resurface it or replace a vinyl liner due to poor water quality.  

But wait, there are more reasons.  Many of the discount brands are diluted, have less active ingredients, or can even be expired.  This means they are likely not going to do their job and if you are a true New Englander, you know our new motto is "DO YOUR JOB" so why buy a product that is not likely to work to its true potential.  You need a product that is going to last the maximum amount of time or it is not worth buying so while you may have to pull out a few more dollars, we promise it will be worth it in the long run.  

3.  CLOSE A POOL DIRTY, OPEN A POOL DIRTY


It is never advisable to close your pool without a good vacuum.  The best openings start with a clean closing.  Leaves and debris left at the bottom of the pool can cause staining over the winter.  While there are products that can lighten and erase those stains, the purpose of this article is to help you save time and avoid common problems, so heed our warnings, get the vacuum out and give the pool one last cleaning before the cover goes on.  


4.  A LITTLE LATE WINTER LOVE DOESN'T HURT

So, you know that you don't want the pool opened early or perhaps we get another warm winter.  Schedule a reminder for yourself to pull back the cover and add another bottle of algaecide and a gallon of liquid chlorine to your pool about a month before you are scheduled to open.  This will cover that final month when the winter chemicals have stopped working and it will get you ready for opening.  If you have a solid cover, this is also a great time to pump the water off the cover and clear the leaves that have accumulated.  

While we cannot guarantee that all of this will mean you will be opening up to a crystal clear pool, we can tell you that it will sure give you a great start to next season.  Remember, to call early for your opening as we start to book up in early March.  

Click here or call us today: 781-335-7705

Why it is Best to Leave Closing Your Pool to the Professionals

Whether you are a long time pool owner or fairly new to the process, one of the most important parts of your pool care is the care in properly winterizing your pool.  In Massachusetts especially, the harsh winters can cause serious damage to your pool, if not properly winterized.  Two years ago, in one of the harshest winters on record, I had our town water company at the home explaining to me that the underground pipes leading to my home were frozen solid and that even though I run my water throughout the day, when temps get as low as they currently were, there is not much you can do.  At that comment, I couldn't help but thinking of all those swimming pools out there.  Maybe if you are a pool owner, you thought about this a lot during that winter as well.  Well, when you weren't out searching for your shovel under six feet of snow.  So... reasons why it is best to leave pool closings for the professionals:

1.  Protecting those pipes

Winterizing a pool involves blowing any water out of the pipes filling the pipes with antifreeze and plugging them up after.  If not done properly, those pipes can freeze and crack and those cracks can be costly to repair.  Just consider the cost of a cracked pipe under your pool deck.  Not only will you have to pay to repair the pipe, but you will likely need to rip up a portion of your deck to get to it.  Aquaknot closes over 600 pools each year.  Our team is skilled in winterizing swimming pool lines and many of our team members have been doing it for over a decade.  It is in their blood, so to say.  While you or your spouse may be handy around the house, why not leave this job to the professionals. 

2.  Warranties!!!

A reputable  pool company (and I stress the reputable part) will warranty their closing.  That means if a pipe bursts because it wasn't properly winterized, the company will take responsibility for the repair. This is important to ask before hiring a person/company to close your pool.  There are a lot of people out there that will claim to have the knowledge to properly close your pool, but if something happens, are those same people going to stand by his/her work?  As mentioned above, an error in winterizing can be expensive, time consuming, and delay the start of your swimming pool season the following year.  Not only does hiring a professional take the stress and time off your hands in closing the pool, but it will give you peace of mind that if something does go wrong (not that anything should so long as you hire the right person),  you are covered.  

3.  It's the total package

I cannot vouch for other companies but when you hire us to 
complete a full (meaning we also put the cover on) closing, then you hire us to do it all.  Our closing includes removing baskets, breakdown and cleaning the filter, blow out your lines and winterize with antifreeze, secure your cover and put everything away for the winter.  Our regular customers also enjoy the knowledge that if there is an issue that will need to be resolved before or at the time of their opening, we will be ready to move forward with little disruption to our customer's pool opening.  

4.  Why do the work when you can pay someone to do it for you

There are better ways to spend your weekends in the fall months.  Why spend a morning winterizing and closing your pool when you can enjoy going to your child's soccer game, leaf peaking, or apple picking?  Let someone else close up shop for the winter and go enjoy yourself!

WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE SPRING

WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THE SPRING TO START A POOL

This summer has been hot, so very hot.  You may have been one of the people fighting the crowds for good sand space at one of the Massachusetts' beaches.  Maybe you are a beach person and were fine spending half a morning packing, paying to park, then trying to find some sand of your own and hoping that you will be able to get some good water time in before the high tide.  But maybe you had no choice so you fight the good battle.

Alternatively, perhaps you are like me, a pool girl at heart.  If so, maybe you are paying for a health club membership with pool privileges, or hoping that the neighbor will let you and the family take a dip. Now, after weeks and weeks of high humidity and blazing heat, you have decided that this is the last year without a pool.  The decision being made... when do you start the process?

So often, people think the right choice is to start fresh in the spring with constructing a pool.  The truth is... now is the time to act.

Why?  Well, for a few different reasons actually.

First, pool company schedules are a little more flexible in the fall.  In the spring, pool companies are inundated with construction, openings, and generally getting pools up and running for established customers.  If your pool company is not busy in the spring, you may want to question why that is.  Crews are limited as much resources are going into the service side of a company.  

Come September, many people are starting to close their pools which means less service which frees up crews for construction.  For those that are remaining open, the slightly cooler weather brings with it less difficulties with operation such as fewer water treatment issues and fewer filter cleaning service calls.  Again, all of this means less backlog for new construction.  

Secondly, and even more of an issue for spring construction is the New England weather.  Last year, we battled with having snow on the ground in May, while this year brought cold and rain well into the swimming pool season.  It is as the old saying goes, don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.  Unpredictable weather in New England, particularly in spring, makes swimming pool construction schedules somewhat of an Olympic event.  

While this doesn't mean a spring pool is not doable, it does make the timeline much more open to delays, so if you are looking to swim by a date certain, then you absolutely should consider starting the process in the fall.

It is now August and you're thinking that you are going to spend the next eight weeks writing checks and watching construction and then you will have to wait months before you are able to enjoy your pool.  Well, that is possible, but it is also possible with a warm fall and the help of a pool heater that you may at least be able to enjoy a few weeks of fun before the cold weather shows up.  Even if you aren't able to enjoy the pool this year, finishing the project before the winter months roll in still means that you will be able to opened and swimming as soon as the spring air comes to Massachusetts.  Wouldn't that be better than losing out on a whole two months of swimming time?

With fast turnaround for estimates, we can be breaking ground in your backyard before you know it. Call today to set up your free in home estimate.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WONDERING WHAT IS WRONG

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WONDERING WHAT IS WRONG

The whole world is in a tizzy this morning about what happened to the Olympic pool in Rio and we cannot help but chuckle because it took us all but a minute to figure out the problem.  Why, because we see it constantly and the call goes something like this:

 I woke up this morning and my pool is mint green.

Further inquiry and we soon learn that water was added then the pool was shocked.  So, why do we ask those two questions?  It's all in the chemistry.

See when minerals, such as copper or iron, mix with Chlorinated water, the effect is that the water turns green.  It is almost instant.  Don't believe us?  Check out this YouTube video of the reaction - click here.   So we can tell you exactly what happened.  The pool likely is being shocked with high dosages of liquid chlorine overnight so that it is sanitary for the swimmers come morning.  Water is also probably being added as well, but here is where someone dropped the ball.  No one added the a mineral bonding agent, such as our Pool Magnet, before shocking the pool.  Ergo.... Green Water.   If you are a blonde, I bet you are now shaking your head in understanding because you have likely had green hair at some point in your life.  

Still don't believe us?   We had a client who called us in a panic due to an impending pool party at his home.  He had added water and shocked the pool and woke up to find this! 

Looks pretty familiar, doesn't it?  So, how fixable is this and how quickly can it be done?  It is really all in the filtration.  For a normal size pool, it can take about 48 to 36 hours of non-stop filtration after treating the pool with Pool Magnet.  For an Olympic size swimming pool, our bet would be about a week.  Now, is it dangerous to the swimmers?  No, other than the danger of not being able to see the bottom, there is no health risk to water turned green by minerals in the water.  

IS IT POSSIBLE IT IS SOMETHING ELSE?

While we would definitely bet minerals have something to do with the green, there is an alternative theory.  It could be algae.  We have all heard the news saying it happened "so fast."  Well, here is the thing, if it IS algae (and we still don't think it is), it really didn't happen so fast.  Algae hides in cells and is generally present before it is ever visible.  Phosphates, like such may be found in skin products, and nitrates, which tend to build up when water is in constant use and not always balanced as well as it should be, can both exacerbate algae growth in a pool.  So even when water chemistry "appears" to be fine, it may not prevent algae growth.  Algae will cause water to turn dark green and cloudy, think of a pond.  You cannot test for algae, so it is a culprit that often is there without anyone knowing until one day POW you wake up to a green swamp instead of your blue sparkling pool.  Why do we think it is still metals?  It is all in the color.  Based on the photos shown of the pool, the green doesn't have that deep, dark swamp look to it.  It has more of the minty green color we see in mineral laden pools.  Also, it wouldn't take much to confirm that it is algae verses something else.  All one would have to do is brush the side of the pool and see what looks almost like a "puff of smoke" coming off the wall.

Other alternatives, there is always that possibility that there is something weird in the water, perhaps not something that we see here in the states, but to us, it looks like your everyday copper problem.  

So here at Aquaknot Pools, we will continue to watch the saga unfold and maybe send an anonymous suggestion that they get a few cases of Pool Magnet Plus sent to Rio.  

GO TEAM USA!!!!