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Pool Startup Tips: Opening your Swimming Pool for the 2011 Season

SignaturePools · Apr 1, 2011 ·

Moroccan 38 inground fiberglass pool

Every year around this time customers all over the Midwest prepare to have their swimming pools opened for the season.  And, inevitably, every year we receive calls from customers asking questions on how to successfully prepare their pool for the coming summer.  From proper water level to auto-cover and chemical questions, people sometime need a ‘refresher’ on the in’s and out’s of opening and maintaining a beautiful swimming pool from year to year.  Here are a few pointers to get you started on the right foot:

1. Remove all standing water and debris from your pool cover.  As obvious as this might sound, we can’t count the number of times a customer has asked us to open their pool….and the cover is FILLED with standing water and leaves from the fall and winter months.  Before a pool cover can be removed (or retracted, in the case of auto-covers) it is imperative that all water and debris is first removed.  Our winter covers come with a permeable mesh that allows rainwater and melted snow and ice to drain through.  Leaves and branched need to be cleared before removing the cover.  Auto-covers do not have a permeable membrane.  These covers need to be pumped clear of all water before the cover will operate.  Leaves and branches must also be removed before the cover is operated.  If not, this debris will collect in the cover box and can damage the cover system.

2.  Bring the water level in the pool half way up the skimmer.  This is not a critical step but something to keep in mind, especially if you have an auto-cover.  The cover is designed to be supported by the pool water underneth it.  By having the water at the appropriate level, the cover can operate smoothly and easily as the pool is being started up for  the season.

3.  Even under perfect conditions there will be some sort of dirt or debris in the bottom of your pool.  If you have a winter cover, the snow and ice that collected over the winter has now melted into the pool, bringing with it a fair amount of dirt.  If you have an auto-cover with your pool, a few leaves may have blown into the pool through a small gap between the cover and pool wall.  In either case be prepared to spend a little time removing or vacuuming this debris once the water is circulating.

4. Initial chemical balancing for the season is not a particularly difficult process, especially with a fiberglass pool.  When your pool is first started up for the season you will most likely need to ‘shock’ the water in order to kill off any algae that has collected over the winter.  Once the first round of shock wears off, test your pool chemicals to see where everything is starting at for the year.  If you have specific questions about chemicals feel free to contact us or take a sample of water to a local pool store for analysis.

5.  If you have a salt water chlorine generator on your pool make sure to heat the water to 77 degrees before testing the salt level of the water.  The ideal level is 3500ppm (parts per million).  The sensor in your pool equipment is calibrated to read the salt level most accurately while at this water temperature.  A lower temperature will produce a false low reading and a higher water temperature will produce an inaccurately high reading.  For every 5 degree change from the 77 degree point, the salt level will read 200ppm different from actual levels.

For those fiberglass pool owners in the Illinois and greater Chicago land area, you can download a copy of the Signature Pools 2011 opening letter directly on our website at http://www.signaturepoolschicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Letter-for-openings-2011-Computer-Version.pdf

Five important steps to take after your fiberglass pool is opened for the summer…

SignaturePools · May 17, 2010 ·

In Ground Fiberglass Pool- Signature Pools ChicagoSo your swimming pool is open for the summer!  It’s time to grab those patio cushions out of the garage, put on your suit, and get the blender workin’ hard for the parties to come….

Not so fast!!  Before you jump in the water for the first time this season, there are a few things to check with the swimming pool equipment and water chemistry.  Here are some good tips to remember to ensure your swimming season is relaxing, enjoyable, and low maintenance. 

1. Clean Your Filters- when the pool is first started up for the season, there is plenty of debris in the water that is now being circulated through the pool equipment and cartridge filter.  By giving the filters a good washing at the beginning of the season, you will have clearer water more quickly, and allow for proper filtration of the water.

 2. Test Your Chemicals- this is an important step to remember.  Your pool was most likely ‘shocked’ with chlorine the day it was opened and started up.  This water treatment will sanitize the swimming pool for a short period of time, but you will need to make sure chlorine levels are maintained throughout the season.  Also make sure to check the pH, alkaline, and stabilizer levels of your pool water.  If you have a chlorine generator (salt system) make sure the salt levels in your pool water are at the proper levels.

 3. Vacuum Your Pool- this one might be a no-brainer, but keep in mind that debris in the water has settled to the bottom of the pool over the winter and needs to be vacuumed out.  Make sure to clean out the pump after every vacuuming to clear any larger materials that are caught in the basket.

 4. Clean Your Auto-Cover- use a garden hose to spray out the tracks and guides of your auto-cover.  This will help keep the cover operating smoothly.  You can also use a pool brush and water to lightly scrub off the vinyl cover material of any dirt or debris that has collected over the winter.

 5. Maintain Proper Water Level- this is an ongoing maintenance check throughout the swimming season, but it’s good to get in the habit of checking your water level right away.  Keep the water line about half way up the skimmer box on the pool.  If the water level is too low, you may be sucking air into the pump and could damage the equipment.  Turn off the skimmer and fill the pool to the correct level before turning it back on.

 Hopefully these 5 tips will help you enjoy your swimming pool this season.  Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about pool or equipment service this season – the team at Signature Pools is here to help! You can stay up to date with Signature Pools and the swimming pool industry 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.

All About Swimming Pool Tile

SignaturePools · Jul 30, 2009 ·

Signature Pools and Spas - Colonial - In ground fiberglass pool Chicago, Illinois

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.

 Composite Pools - Lexington Pool & Alexandria Spa - in ground fiberglass pools Chicago, Illinois

Signature Pools and Spas - Apollo Fiberglass Pool Chicago, Illinois

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

2009 Master of Design Winner!

SignaturePools · Jul 30, 2009 ·

signature-mod-pic

Signature Pools and Spas is honored to receive the 2009 Masters of Design award for fiberglass swimming pools.  Published in the July issue of Pool and Spa News, Signature Pools is featured along with an elite class of pool builders from around the country; companies all recognized for their outstanding designs and installations of in ground swimming pools and spas.  This nationally recognized award is issued just once a year- and published by an industry leader in swimming pool news, development and design.

Check out the full article here…

In the design and development of the project, Signature Pools featured a Leisure Pools Elegance 33′ fiberglass pool with many additional features.  Laminar water features, a sheer discent waterfall over the spa, and fiber optic lights are just some of the touches that gives this project the ‘Signature Look’. 

Signature Pools is proud and excited to receive the recoginition, but would also like to congratulate the other contributers and winners in the various catagories.

Swimming Pools and Cover Maintenance

SignaturePools · Jul 22, 2009 ·

Signature Pools Chicago- CPC Nantucket

One of the greatest benefits of being a Signature Pool’s customer is the ability to choose from so many options for their in ground fiberglass swimming pool.  From tile to concrete colors, water features to covers, there are countless ways to personalize a swimming pool.

An auto-cover system is a great way to add a measure of safety to the pool area, along with retaining pool heat and keeping the water free of debris.  But to get the maximum life out of an auto-cover, pool owners should keep a few things in mind when caring for the cover system:

  • Keep water and debris off the cover when it is closed.   Leave a pump in the center of your closed cover and direct rain water off the pool area and drain into the surrounding landscaping.  Too much water and debris can cause unnecessary strain on the cover material and components, and will shorten the life of the system.
  • Always keep the tracks clean.  Inside the cover track is a rope that pulls the cover open and closed.  If the tracks and ropes get filled with debris, friction can cause a rope to break or a pulley to fail.  Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle on the end to remove any dirt, leaves, or other debris from inside the tracks.
  • Never operate your cover if the water level in the pool is low.  The water underneath the cover helps to support its weight.  If the water is too low, the cover will strain to open and the motor can be damaged.
  • Clean out the cover box.  The area that holds the motor mechanism and cover roll can collect dirt, leaves and debris over time.  Check inside the cover box and clean out anything that may have collected over time.  Also make sure any ground water is properly draining from the box.

By following these maintenance tips, you can enjoy the benefits of an auto-cover system for years to come.  Contact us at www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io for more information and to build your own Signature Pool.

 

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