fiberglass illinois

How to vacuum a swimming pool: 5 quick tips

SignaturePools · Sep 2, 2010 ·

Keeping up with maintenance on your swimming pool involves several things, including chemical balancing, equipment checks and cleaning of your pool. By far the most common way to remove dirt and debris from a swimming pool is to vacuum the steps, benches and floor of the pool. Here are a few reminders to consider the next time you vacuum your pool.

1. Turn off the heater: Most pool heaters require a high volume of water to be running through them in order to operate properly. Using a manual vacuum can restrict water flow and cause damage to your heater. Make sure the filter pump is primed and in high speed before turning the heater back on.

2. Fill vacuum hose with water: After assembling the vac head and hose to the pole, submerge the entire hose in the pool to fill it completely with water. Another easy way to do this is to hold the other end of the vac hose up to a return jet in the pool. Once the vacuum head stops bubbling air it will rest on the bottom of the pool. Now you can insert the hose into the skimmer line without sucking air through the pump.

3. Adjust equipment valves for better suction: On a typical equipment setup there is a valve on the filter pump that controls the amount of suction on both the skimmer line and floor/wall drains of the pool. Once you have hooked up the manual vacuum to your skimmer line you can adjust the amount of suction on the vacuum by adjusting the valve at the equipment. Make sure you don’t turn off the wall/floor drain completely. The vacuum will restrict water flow through the equipment and the pump will eventually cavitate if this happens. Only close off the wall/floor drain valve until your hear the pump start to hesitate, then back off just a little bit.

4. Work the vacuum aross the width of the pool: This may just be a personal preference, but I find that starting in the shallow end of the pool and vacuuming a section of the width of the pool rather than going the length is much easier. This way you can make sure you don’t miss any spots in the middle.

5. Remove the vac hose from the skimmer first: This is an important step that prevents sucking air through the skimmer and filter pump. Make sure to always keep the vacuum submerged in the water and never pull it out before first disconnecting from the skimmer first.

By following these 5 steps you will be able to vacuum your pool safely and efficiently every time! If you have questions about this or any other pool maintenance service, feel free to contact Signature Pools at 630.845.1145 or send us an email service@sigpoolschicago.mysites.io

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.

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.

Largest Freeform Fiberglass Pool from Leisure Pools is Nearing Completion

Todd Emmerson · Apr 14, 2010 ·

Several months ago we announced that Leisure Pools was working on a brand new pool model called the “Grand Riviera”. Our team at Signature Pools just wanted to take a few minutes to update our future customers who are looking for a deep end pool on the status of this new model as well as show you a few recent pictures of the progress. You can see the beginning stages of the pool by clicking here: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io/blog/2010/01/04/leisure-pools-announces-new-model-for-2010-the-grand-riviera.

The good news is that the plug for the pool is almost complete.

Upon completion of the plug the mold will be built and then finally the actual pool shells can be produced. As you can see from the pictures, the Grand Riviera will be one of the largest free form fiberglass pools ever produced. With dimensions of 40′ x 16′ x 8′ it will be one of the most innovative and stylish deep end pools in the industry and the only 8′ deep swimming pool in the United States available with the industry leading Aquaguard Gelcoat. The pool will also come with a modified version of the very popular family play bench available on the current Riviera models. Due to the size of this pool the steps have been moved to the center of the shallow end as opposed to the side of the pool. This small change gives the pool a truly grand entrance.

The lastest news is that the mold should be complete and be available for production by the middle of May 2010. If you would like additional information on this pool or any other pool models from Leisure Pools please contact our sales and design department at 630.845.1145 or visit us on the web at: www.sigpoolschicago.mysites.io Also, to keep up to date with updates on this pool, other news within the swimming pool industry, or status updates from our team at Signature Pools we recommend subscribing to the RSS feed of this blog by clicking on the orange square on the upper right hand corner of this page. You can also follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/signature_pools or join our fan page on facebook at www.facebook.com/signaturepools.

Another Fiberglass Pool Owner in Illinois Recommends Signature Pools

Todd Emmerson · Mar 16, 2010 ·

Fall of 2009

This past June one of the best things happened. I put in a fiberglass pool by Signature Pools. I have wanted a pool for a very long time and had done a lot of research on the type of pool I wanted. Once I decided it was going to be a fiberglass pool then it was a matter of finding the very best company to build it. After talking with several companies Signature Pools won my vote due to their knowledge, experience, confidence in their pools, and their consideration for my concerns. Todd Emmerson (Sales Manager) was awesome during the purchasing and planning phase. He listened very closely to my ideas and what we were looking for in the pool as part of the landscape plan and put it together and made it happen. The 3D computer program they used was unbelievable – it showed me exactly what my new pool would look like with our existing house and landscaping. Todd also did not just sell the pool and disappear. He was still available when needed to answer my questions.

Once the pool arrived and the crew started it was unbelievable how quickly things happened. Tom McNelis (President) and the whole crew are the greatest guys. Our yard is very important to us and tearing it up was very stressful but the guys are so good at what they do installing these pools that the mess was minimal. The guys really went the extra mile to help fix the mess that was made due to the three inches of rain we had three days prior to the start of construction. The process was so quick that within four hours the pool was filling with water and within twenty four hours the concrete decking around the pool was finished and most everything was ready to go. Within a few days Jim Gavula (Permit and Job Coordinator) had the pool crystal clear and swim ready. I could not have been more pleased with everyone on the Signature Pools team!

With the salt water system my pool has basically no maintenance. I love telling people who say pools are so much work – Not Mine! Just some vacuuming and water testing is all the work the pool has caused – little to none. Even if we cannot get in the pool just sitting by it is such a great experience. Our yard is back to normal and we now have the luxury of a pool in our own private yard. I don’t for one second regret any part of putting in a fiberglass saltwater pool and have told many people it’s the only way to go and that Signature Pools is the best at what they do!

Thanks So Much Guys!

Sincerely,

Heather Tesdal

Seneca, IL
Leisure Pools – Riviera 30

If you’re currently researching for your own swimming pool we invite you to Experience the Difference and see for yourself what separates the team at Signature Pools from any other fiberglass pool company in the mid-west. Our goal for every job is to earn a life long customer and nothing satisfies us more than knowing we’ve added another client to our long list of customers who are enjoying one of our fiberglass pools. If you’d like to read more testimonials you can find them on this blog under News and Updates or Customers as well as on our website. You can also 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.