The Great Pool Debate

The great debate of the pool industry has always been about pools built with serviceability in mind. Pool service pros are constantly saying that builders do not consider what a pool needs to be serviceable. They claim the builder only cares about the aesthetics of the design and cost. Are they right? In some cases the service pros are. However, there are quality builders who wish to produce an ideal product but run into obstacles, such as customer preferences, that make it difficult to do that. When I asked pool services pros on Facebook what they would like pool builders to consider for the pros coming to the job afterward, I received dozens of comments. Responses ranged from salesmen with claims that purchasing chemical automation and sanitization would eliminate the need for the service pros to the actual installation of equipment and plumbing.

The Great Pool Debate: Top 5 Complaints Service Pros Found In The Field

Communication with the pool owner about maintenance

In any project the biggest asset is communication. This is, also, important in the pool-building process. During the builder and homeowner relationship, it is important to educate homeowners on the maintenance requirements for their choices.

Recently, I was on a job site where the homeowner chose to use black tile on their infinity edge wall. Luckily, their builder had mentioned that using that particular tile can require regular cleaning from scale build-up. As time has passed, the homeowner has been comfortable with their choice and the maintenance needs associated with their material selections. This is not always a situation.

According to Peter Wiedermann in Perth, Australia, it is quite common for builders to tell their clients swimming pools only need to be serviced once a month since they have filtration and chemical automation. As the great pool debate rages on, maintenance professionals know, no matter what you have installed it needs to be monitored closely to make sure that components are functioning correctly. If there is a lack of education among homeowners, it creates mistrust between pool service professionals and consumers.

“Please stop plastering lights on the wall!!! Is this too much to ask??” commented Kathleen Maloney with Armadillo Pools in Sacramento, CA

When the pool service professional goes to replace pool lights, it is extremely common, especially when inch-and-a-half lights are used, for them to be plastered in. This is a problem because in order to remove the light and replace it with a new one, service techs will need to remove the plaster around the light. This causes higher replacement costs and additional concerns with the homeowner about how much damage might be done by removing the light.

Luckily, there are ways to avoid this from happening. You can wait to install lights until after the pool surface is completed. This may add additional labor costs for the builder because of the extra visit but is preferred with future maintenance in mind. If the extra visit is a concern, many light manufacturers include plaster caps you can place on lights prior to plastering. This can also help avoid plaster build-up on the fixture. In addition, there are nicheless wall fittings you can place on the conduit or pipe used for the lights. This provides a ring that the plaster installer can build the surface around in order to avoid contact with the lights.

“More than one skimmer, one shallow one deep, do it!” said Gregory Wilker

There should be one skimmer for every 800 sq ft of surface area on residential pools and every 500 sq ft of surface area on commercial pools. Ideally, placing them at either end or equally spread out their purpose helps to remove oil and debris from the pool. Pool designers and builders need to take into consideration the variety of elements in the area around the pool when adding skimmers.

As many pool service professionals have experienced, when there is a high foliage area, one skimmer cannot contain high amounts of debris in a short period of time. This becomes problematic and leads to more frequent visits. In turn, we ask customers to check skimmer baskets frequently between visits or risk the pump running without adequate water flow. Yes, adding additional skimmers adds additional costs but this is where communication between builders and service technicians can help homeowners understand those additional costs.

Understand the pool sweep line needs to be accessible

How many times have you walked into a yard with a beautiful natural pool design to find the pool sweep line access is blocked by a rock or unreachable from the deck due to a tanning ledge? Per manufacturers’ recommendations, pool sweep lines need to be six inches below the water level in the center of the pool for optimal cleaning. For builders, this can be a challenge when implementing this due to design or homeowner-specific requests. Ideally, pool service professionals want the builders to avoid placing rocks and/or landscaping being placed right above the pool sweep line. They would like to be able to access these lines from the deck without the need to physically get into the pool. The reason for promoting accessibility here is to ease future repairs and servicing of the pool sweep.

“Realize Everything they install will eventually need to be serviced or repaired.” Loren Jarvis at Pool Patrol in Cardiff, United Kingdom

Out of all the problems pool professionals have with pool builds, the amount of space for an equipment pad and the amount of space between pieces of equipment is without a doubt the the numer one complaint.

I know from my experience, that when I walk into a yard for a warranty call there are many times I think to myself as I turn the corner, “What the hell were they thinking.” When a builder is planning the equipment pad, they have a few obstacles. They have to look at the property lines, setbacks, and easements. They, also, have to consider clearance for heaters, walkways, and customer preferences. This can make it challenging to create the proper amount of real estate for the equipment pad.

From the service pro standpoint, yes, we would love spacious equipment sets, but we do understand its limits. What the pool service pro wants is enough room to open a filter, remove the pump without having to cut plumbing, and to be able to service the salt cell with some ease to name a few. They, also, want to have enough space in suction and return manifolds for repairs without having to cut concrete or requiring reconstruction of the entire manifold for a minor plumbing repair.

Ultimately,  service professionals and builders have the same mission. Creating a pleasing environment for homeowners and their families to enjoy. This can be achieved with consideration on both sides.