Spas

All About Swimming Pool Tile

SignaturePools · Jul 30, 2009 ·

A great option to consider with your in ground fiberglass swimming pool is the addition of a tile perimeter around the pool. This feature can add a personal touch to any backyard water-scape, and will add to the beauty of your swimming pool design.

There are literally hundreds of colors, sizes, and styles to choose from when picking a pool tile. Whether you’re looking for something to match an existing deck, house color, or a natural element in the yard, tile can give the look of your very own Signature Pool. We partner with National Pool Tile Group for the majority of our pool tile needs. Their selection and quality of products has benefited our customers over the years.

Take a look at just a few examples of what a perimeter tile can add to your very own fiberglass swimming pool.

These two examples incorporate tile both around the perimeter of the pool as well as on a raised spa and water feature. The spa on the left blends the pool tile right into the spa wall, while the elevated water feature uses a contrasting tile color to accentuate it against the natural landscape in the background.

If you have questions or would like further information please call 630.845.1145 or visit us at:

www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io

Why is my fiberglass pool leaking?

SignaturePools · Jul 24, 2009 ·

As many consumers know, fiberglass pools have sky-rocketed in popularity over the past decade. Here at Signature Pools and Spas we have installed over 300 fiberglass pools for satisfied clients in the Chicago land area and all over Illinois. Part of being the leader in the midwest for fiberglass pool isntallation is our commitment to educating our customers on the ownership and operation of their very own Signature Pool!

This season we have received a few phone calls from concerned fiberglass pool customers because they believe there pool is leaking. Although this is a rare occurance, it is something that can happen from time to time for various reasons. If you are experiencing slow water loss turn off the skimmer valve to the pool, allowing only the deep end floor or wall drain to circulate water. This will allow the water to safely drop below the skimmer box without sucking air into the pump and harming other equipment.

After a few phone calls and a visit from our service team we have discovered some of the causes of water loss and would like to share this information with you.

You pool is TOO full! Yes, this can happen- if you fill your swimming pool above the center of the skimmer, water can leak out the back of the skimmer extension ring (between the concrete and the skimmer ring). To check, look inside the skimmer and see where the water has stopped. More than likely the water level stopped just below the skimmer extension ring. Filling the pool any higher will just cause the water to drain back to that point.

There is a gasket leaking by the equipment pad. Take a look on the concrete pad around your equipment. Leaky filters, pump lids, and gaskets all can cause a slow leak in the pool and will affect the water level. Tighten the filter plug, reset the pump lid, and check all other seals for failure. There is a gasket on the underside of the pump lid, a large ‘O’ ring between the upper and lower half of your filter, and gaskets on all the plumbing clean-out points. You can use a dab of Vaseline on the rubber gaskets to ensure a water-tight seal.

A water return line may be leaking. If you notice rapid water loss from your pool it may be caused by a leaking or detached return line. Water loss in this case is very rare but possible. The leak will usually be severe and happen very quickly (6″ or more per 24 hours). Shut off you pool equipment and contact a swimming pool service company to repair this problem.

A light niche may be leaking. Behind some of the larger pool lights is a ‘wet niche’ that allows the light housing to be removed for bulb replacement and service. The chord of the light runs through a small conduit opening in the back of the niche. Over time the sealant between the chord and the conduit can deteriorate and needs to be re-applied. As with the return lines, leaking lights are not all that common, but an easy fix if you do have a ‘slow leak’.

Water is evaporating. In summer months the water level in you pool can drop quickly from sunlight evaporation and swimmer splash-out. Keep in mind that every time the pool is used, some amount of water is splashed out and the sun evaporates water. When the pool is uncovered and being used customers can expect to ‘top off’ the water in their pool at least once a week.

Signature Pools and Spas is commited to our customers questions regarding pool ownership. If you have further questions or concerns about water loss in your pool, feel free to contact our service department at 630.845.1145 or visit our website at: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io

Fiberglass Swimming Pool Summer Maintenance

SignaturePools · Jul 20, 2009 ·

dirty-filters2

It’s that time of the year for Illinois swimming pools!- Signature Pools and Spas is in full swing with new construction, and many of our existing customers are reminded to clean out their cartridge filters and inspect their salt generator cells on the equipment. Although fiberglass swimming pools are the easiest in ground pools to maintain, it’s important to perform these tasks to get the most enjoyment out of your swimming season and keep your equipment running smoothly.

Dirt, leaves, suntan lotion and other debris collects in the pool filter and needs to be cleaned out every so often. Take a look at the pressure gauge on top of your filter to see if the operating pressure has risen to the ‘dirty’ mark. Even if the gauge has not, it’s a good idea to clean the filters several times a year. Low return pressure, heater problems, and chlorine generation is all affected when filters get too dirty. You can also extend the life of the filters by keeping them as clean as possible. This will save money in the long run by not having to replace the cartridges as often.

Another important maintenance tip is to keep your chlorine/salt generator clean. As the system breaks the salt water in to sodium and chloride, (the chemical make-up of salt), mineral deposits can collect on the generator cell and diminish its capacity to generate chloride and sanitize the pool water. Most chlorine generator manufacturers recommend inspecting the cell every month to insure there is no mineral build-up on the component. Using a mild acid wash will eliminate any build-up and enhance the performance of your equipment. Refer to you specific manufacturer’s instructions for further information on cleaning the cell.

By keeping these components clean, you are able to extend the life of your inground pool equipment and ensure water chemistry balance through the remainder of this season.

If you have questions about your fiberglass swimming pool, water chemistry, or maintaining your pool equipment, feel free to contact Signature Pools and Spas at 630.845.1145 to ask a question or schedule a service call. You can always contact via the website at www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io

Signature Pools & Spas will exhibit at the 29th Annual Rockford Home Show

SignaturePools · Feb 27, 2009 ·

Signature Pools Home Show Booth

We are excited to be a part of the 29th Annual Rockford Home Show! Stop by our booth (Booth # 750) to meet our staff and take a look at some of our exciting new products. The show hours are:

Friday, March 6, 2009: 4pm – 8pm
Saturday, March 7, 2009: 10am – 7pm
Sunday, March 8, 2009: 11am – 5pm

Indoor Sports Center/Expo located at:
8800 E. Riverside Blvd
Loves Park, IL 61111

For more information, contact us at 630.845-1145

We will be displaying some of the newest technology to hit the pool industry. We will also have various scaled models of our most popular fiberglass pool styles, shapes, and colors. Information on the incredible savings we are offering as part of our March Home Show Specials will also be available at the show. You will also have the opportunity to set up a time for your own in house pool consultation and estimate.

Signature Pools & Spas, Inc. specializes in fiberglass swimming pools, spas, custom water feature, and designer concrete patios. Signature Pools takes care of all aspects of your project from sales, design, permit acquisition, construction, final project walk-through, and continuing maintenance service. We have installed pools in over 70 communities throughout Illinois. Come check us out and see what Signature Pools and Spas, Inc can do for you!

For more information please visit www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io

Signature Pools Illinois at International Pool and Spa Expo

SignaturePools · Jan 15, 2008 ·

Todd Emmerson and Jim Gavula attended the Pool and Spa Expo in Orlando, Florida this past fall, and were able to meet up with many other industry professionals and suppliers. While at the Expo, they also saw lots of new products available to the fiberglass swimming pool industry.

Highlights from the trip included meeting with Composite Pools, Blue Hawiian Pools, and Leisure Pools USA representatives. They were also given an oppertunity to see some of the new robotic cleaning systems available from Dolphin by Maytronics. Many chemical distributers were also present at the expo, and shared insights into the specifics of chemical balance for inground fiberglass pools. Since chemical needs for swimming pools change based on region, the distributers were able to customize the information for the Chicagoland swimming pool market.

Overall, Todd and Jim consider the show was a huge success, and are now even more excited about the fiberglass swimming pool season here in Chicago. Here’s what Jim Gavula, permit and job coordinator had to say about the weekend. “It’s exciting to see people at the show that we work with all through the year, but don’t meet face to face until now. Getting together with like-minded pool industry professionals really fosters ideas and growth for Signature Pools and Spas. The expo is an important networking tool, especially for pool builders in the Midwest.”