Customers

VGB Laws and Residential Fiberglass Pools: Is Your Pool Safe?

SignaturePools · Aug 10, 2010 ·

Lately I have noticed several articles printed in local newspapers and in online sources that talk about the Virginia Graeme Baker act of 2008 and how it relates to swimming pool safety. The law is intended to protect swimmers at a public pool from entrapment due to equipment suction. For details of this law and its requirements please visit HERE.

Many customers have asked about this law and how it relates to the RESIDENTIAL swimming pool industry. Here are are few things to keep in mind when considering the safety of your backyard pool.

The Virginia Graeme Baker act (VGB) does not currently apply to residential swimming pools at the national level. only public swimming pools are required to comply. However, some local municipalities may enforce portions of the law for backyard pools as well.

Is your swimming pool builder knowledgeable and up to speed on the requirements of the law, and can he provide your residential pool with the same safety systems now required for public pools? Signature Pools and Spas uses several ‘layers’ of protection to ensure a safe swimming environment for our clients. Dual wall drains have replaced single floor drains, approved safety covers are used on all of our suction outlets, atmospheric vacuum release systems and SVRS pumps are available on all of our pool equipment systems.

Here at Signature Pools we strive to educate our clients on all facets of their swimming pool project and industry developments as a whole. If you have questions about the safety of your fiberglass swimming pool or equipment, please feel free to contact us. Even if we haven’t built your pool we’d like to help. Call us today at 630.845.1145 to find out more or to schedule a consultation for your very own Signature Pool and Spa.

Do I need to hire a pool service company?

SignaturePools · Jul 23, 2010 ·

Very often customers will ask me if I think it’s necessary for them to hire a pool service company to maintain their fiberglass swimming pool and equipment. As with most things in life, the answer is not always short and easy. Your lifestyle, available free time and how you use your pool are all factors to take into account. Here are a few things to consider before making the decision.

1. How much time are you willing/able to put into your pool?

Some people think that as long as the water is clear, everything is working perfect in their fiberglass swimming pool. Daily chemical checks can get neglected if a homeowner is not aware of the necessary water chemistry balance needed. This process can take just a few minutes a day to test and adjust the chemicals in your pool water.

2. How often do you use your pool?

Are there always family gatherings and parties in your backyard and pool? If so, keeping up with routine maintenance is crucial. As more people get in the pool, so does the demand for sanitation and circulation of your pool water to stay clean and healthy. Conversely, if you are a homeowner who rarely uses their pool, or are not home very often, pool maintenance may be overlooked or ignored. Not only chemical balancing, but vacuuming and filter cleanings need to take place at regular intervals to keep your pool and equipment in perfect running order.

3. Do you have a salt water system?

If you are using a chlorine generation system, it is crucial that the cell be cleaned on a regular basis. Mineral deposits will build up on the cell over time and will eventually prevent the system from producing the chlorine necessary to sanitize your pool water. Manufacturers recommend acid-washing the cell every 3 months. Also, using a chlorine generator tends to make the pH of pool water drift higher, causing calcium buildup on the floor and walls of your pool. It is important to keep the pH within an acceptable range to ensure your equipment runs efficiently and lasts a long time. Check out this article for more information on adjusting the pH of your pool water.

How you answer these questions will determine if you really do need to hire a pool service company. For many customers it’s a matter of time and convenience. Signature Pools and Spas can help get you on the track to a worry free swimming season. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, and one-time ‘check up’ services. Rates vary by location and scope of services performed. Contact Signature Pools if you have any questions about pool service, maintenance, or have questions about caring for your pool.

Where should I put my pool equipment? 5 things to consider

SignaturePools · Jul 8, 2010 ·

So you’ve decided to get an in ground pool. Great! Now the fun part begins: Picking all the fun stuff to go with your pool. Slides, water falls, fountains, and jets are just some of the options available with your pool. But before any of that gets picked out, consider the location of pool equipment needed to circulate, filter, and sanitize the water. Many homeowners have a set vision in mind. They can already see where the pool is going long before considering the limitations of their property and municipal codes. Here are several things to consider when deciding where to place your pool equipment. Keep in mind that a basic equipment pad requires an area of approximatly 4′ x 8′ to accommodate a pump, filter, and heater.

1. Take a look at your Plat of Survey

The plat of survey is a document showing the exact location of your home, property lines, building setback lines, utility easements, flood plains, or any other special feature unique to your property. In general, you cannot install your pool equipment beyond any of these setback lines. If you’re currently in the research phase of buying a new pool it is essential that you have a copy of your plat of survey to give to your sales representative.

2. City, Village, or County Building Codes

As a general rule your pool equipment must be a minimum of 10’ from the water’s edge of the pool. If you’re installing a heater with your pool (98% of our clients in Illinois do) you need to consider the distance between any windows and the exhaust vent on the heater. Most municipalities require a 4’ minimum distance between the pool heater exhaust vent and any windows or window wells on the home. For any other specific codes regarding pool equipment location you can contact your sales representative or your local governing municipality.

3. Association Requirements

These days many home owners associations have specific requirements as to the location of the pool equipment. For instance, some associations won’t allow it on the side of your house. Other associations want to make sure it is a certain number of feet off of your property line. If you’re currently in the research phase of buying a new pool we highly recommend getting a copy of any association requirements prior to meeting with any sales representative.

4. Ease of Access

Make sure the equipment will be located in a place with easy access as well. If you purchase a remote with your pool you won’t be spending as much time at your equipment pad, but you will still want it to be in a reasonable place for maintenance and service. If possible we recommend keeping your equipment within the fenced area of the pool. This too will make it much easier to access your pool equipment. If it’s not possible for the equipment to be installed within the fence area we highly recommend adding a gate close to the pool equipment.

5. Think About Noise

When you are deciding where to place the pool equipment, keep in mind the noise factor! Even with new variable speed pumps or 2 speed pumps the pump noise can be a nuisance if you’re equipment is too close your pool or any entertaining area around you pool. If possible you also want to avoid installing the pool equipment right outside of a bedroom or any room of the house that is often used.

I know this information seems a bit overwhelming- but here’s the good news: Signature Pools and Spas has installed over 400 swimming pools in the Midwest and we are familiar with what works and what doesn’t…in all types of backyards! We are also familiar with local code requirements and municipal regulations and can help you determine the best location for your swimming pool and equipment. If you have questions or would like further information about pool locations, please feel free to contact Signature Pools and Spas at 630.845.1145

Fiberglass Pool Owner in Vernon Hills, IL Recommends Signature Pools

Todd Emmerson · Jun 18, 2010 ·

April 2010

In the Spring of 2009, we installed a fiberglass pool designed and built by Signature Pools. We moved from Los Angeles to Chicago several years ago. Our home in Los Angeles had a beautiful pool which served as a family gathering destination. Our children literally grew up in that pool and we missed having it terribly. After we moved to Chicago we tried in vain to recreate that family experience – at one point we installed a spa, but it was never the same. And now that our older children have grown, we have adopted two young children. Our younger children spent the entire summer in our new pool last year! We know in our hearts that we have finally recaptured that special focal point for our family.

Before we installed our pool, we researched several companies and types of pools. We selected a fiberglass shell because of its durability, beauty and ability to withstand the elements. During the proposal process, Todd Emmerson – Signature’ Sales Manager – was by far the most helpful to us as we considered various designs, styles and sizes. The Company and its staff were incredibly professional and helpful throughout the entire process – from design through permitting, construction and set up. The project was done on time and within budget. And Signature was great at communicating with us all through the entire process.

The actual construction went very smooth and much quicker than I had anticipated. One thing that caught me by surprise was the toll the installation took on our yard. I knew the yard would get torn up, but until you experience it firsthand you are not prepared. Regardless, Signatures’ crew was extremely careful, and the safety of my family was paramount to them. They also did an outstanding job cleaning up at the end of each day and made sure to put things back to its original state as much as possible upon completion.

Once the pool was installed, Jim Gavula spent a great deal of time teaching us how the equipment worked and how to care for our new pool. We called Jim several times with a lot of questions and he was always patient and very helpful.

Signature Pools and its staff were phenomenal! We love our new pool and expect to get many years of enjoyment from it with our children – and hopefully our grandchildren at some point in the future.

Very Truly Yours,

Ken Mooney
Vernon Hills, IL
Leisure Pools – Roman 19

Thanks Ken for your kind words. The team at Signature Pools takes pride in receiving such letters of recommentation from our clients. As an industry leading fiberglass pool builder we realize that our success is built one pool and one happy client at a time. If you’re currently in the research phase of purchasing a pool we invite you to read all of the testimonials on our main website SignaturePoolsChicago.com in the About Us section as well as on this blog. On this blog you can find additional testimonials under Customers or News and Updates. You can stay up to date with Signature Pools by subscribing to the RSS feed in the upper right hand corner of this page or by joining our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/SignaturePools. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Signature_Pools.

Pictures in this article: The first picture is a screenshot of the design that our client was able to see before construction of the pool began. The second picture is of the finished pool.

On a side note, this pool was also awarded by Leisure Pools as the Best Roman Model pool for 2010. You can read a little more about this project and the award we received here.

Fiberglass Pool Owner in Elmhurst, IL recommends Signature Pools

Todd Emmerson · Apr 20, 2010 ·

Spring of 2010

After spending an afternoon with Todd Emmerson (Sales & Design Manager) and going over all the many questions and options it was a very easy choice to move forward with Signature Pools. That was 4 years ago.

When I initially started to look at company options I was not going to be fooled by fancy marketing or a big name company. I was diligent in my approach and decision making. Not only did we want a specific plan/layout for our backyard but also specific color and design of acid washed concrete. I also wanted a company that cared about customer service and I have received that in spades from Tom McNelis (owner), Todd Emmerson, and the rest of the staff at Signature Pools.

Our swimming pool has been so low maintenance and has turned out to be something both fun and valuable for our whole family. Truthfully, Signature Pools has gone out of their way and continues to this day to make sure that we have a positive experience.

If you would like more information about my experiences please feel free to contact me at the numbers listed below.

Kevin Mann

Elmhurst, IL
Leisure Pools – Roman 23

Out of respect for our clients privacy we chose not to list phone numbers on this blog, but if you are currently researching for a swimming pool company to build your backyard dream our sales staff will gladly provide you with our reference list which includes Kevin’s contact information as well as hundreds of other clients who have made the decision to have Signature Pools build their pool. You can also read more testimonials on this blog under News and Updates or Customers as well as on our website. You can stay up to date with Signature Pools by subscribing to the RSS feed in the upper right hand corner of this page or by joining our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/SignaturePools.