fiberglass pool illinois

Will an in ground pool fit in my yard? 3 Quick Tips

SignaturePools · Oct 29, 2010 ·

Are you thinking about building an in ground pool in your backyard? Are you planning on purchasing a new home and would like a new in ground pool when you move in? Unfortunately, every season we meet prospective clients who are unable to put an in ground swimming pool in their yard due to a number of restrictions. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about your backyard project:

1. Property Lines- Many municipalities require a swimming pool to be located a certain distance from a side or rear property line. Make sure you mark out the property lines at your home to make sure a pool will fit.

2. Utility and Drainage Easements- Similar to property lines, easements are areas of your yard that you cannot build permanent structures within. Utility companies can use this part of your yard to run underground electrical, phone, gas, and telephone lines for your home and the neighborhood. Check your plat of survey to see where the easements are located on your property. A swimming pool, deck, patio or equipment cannot be located in this area. Contact your local municipality for more information on building restrictions and easements.

3. Impervious Lot Coverage- Another restriction to consider is impervious lot coverage of your property. Several cities, towns and counties in the Chicago land area and across the Midwest are imposing restrictions on the buildable area of your lot. This restriction is in place to ensure rainwater and natural drainage is not disturbed or adversely effected by a construction project. Contact your local building department to find out if impervious lot coverage is an issue in your town.

As you can see, there are a few things to consider when planning out the design and location of your swimming pool. We at Signature Pools have helped hundreds of clients build their very own backyard escape, and we’ve see yards of all shapes and sizes. Many customers are surprised to see what can fit in even the most limited space. If you have questions about your specific property please feel free to contact us or give us a call at 630.845.1145

Do I Need A Building Permit For My Fiberglass Pool?

SignaturePools · Oct 22, 2010 ·

Yes!

We get this question a lot, and there are a few reasons that a building permit is not only required, but a benefit to homeowners:

1. Liability- Having a building permit in place protects you as the homeowner from a number of liabilities throughout the project. What happens if someone gets hurt while working on your property? A building permit requires contractors to be licenced, insured, and bonded in many cases. If an injury or property damage were to occur, your pool builder’s insurance will cover the costs.

2. Inspections- Most municipal building departments have an inspector visit your home during the construction of your pool project. The inspector’s role is to examine and verify that your pool is being built to national and local safety standards. Some of the inspections include: underground plumbing, electric, and gas line, electrical bonding, and final pool/barrier.

3. Piece of Mind- Working with a reputable pool installer who is licenced, insured, and bonded can be a great step towards knowing you are getting the best possible installation of your new swimming pool. Stay away from contractors who insist that you don’t need a permit, or ask you to apply for the permit yourself. Many times these companies are not willing to comply with industry standards of construction or do not have proper liability insurance.

If you have questions about building permits for your new fiberglass pool project feel free to contact us or give Signature Pools a call at 630.845.1145

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

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.