Frequently Asked Questions
This is the most common question we receive when pool owners are exploring pool service for their pool
&/or spa. Every body of water is different AND every homeowner has varying expectations of what is or should
be included with service. Generally, we recommend weekly pool service, which includes 1 cleaning visit per
week in addition to our exhaustive water testing and balancing according to broadly accepted industry
standards (PHTA: https://www.phta.org/standards-and-codes/fact-sheets/water-quality/). We do offer other
options depending on the specifics of the pool and surroundings.
No, you do not need to be home. We will work with you to obtain any access codes or special instructions
prior to our first service date.
We are happy to schedule a special service visit in preparation for special events such as birthdays,
anniversaries, weddings, or any kind of celebration where your guests may use the swimming pool &/or spa
We love pools. That seems like a simple answer but one of the things that sets us apart is the fact that we
are NOT a franchise & are 100% family-owned and operated. We absolutely love what we do and our passion
shows through in our work. Your pool is our #1 priority when we are working for you. We are proactive in our
approach and often find potential problems (especially with new pools) before they turn into costly repairs. Our
technicians are trained to use the best equipment available for water testing to ensure the highest level of
accuracy in our approach to maintaining water balance and safety for you and your family & friends.
We do not include any chemicals & we fundamentally disagree with this business model. In the 12 years
spent the pool interior finish side of the pool industry (installing DiamondBrite, CLI, Stonescapes, Wet Edge
Technologies, & PebbleTec products), we learned that service companies who “include” chemicals are not
doing what’s best for their clients while only making their internal billing process easier. They typically are not
balancing water to LSI and are using very outdated ‘standards’ which don’t follow the science that has been
widely accepted since 1998. Be wary of any company giving a ‘flat rate’ for service or if they include “all”
chemicals to lure you away only to hit you with a bill in 4-6 months (read all the fine print!). Our average
chemical costs for customers who have pools that DO NOT LEAK are less than $40/month. One of the ways
we provide next-level service for our clients is to make sure their pool is well-maintained and high chemical
costs almost always indicate a leaky pool (or a customer who fell asleep after starting a water hose…).
: Yes. Cleaning and balancing your pool water should be done all year, especially during cold weather. As
water temperatures drop, pool water may look sparkly and clear BUT this water can be quite aggressive to
cementitious surfaces, often resulting in visible damage to these surfaces (grout, plaster, etc) when the pool is
opened in the spring. Also, pools allowed to catch debris (uncovered pools) that rots over the winter are much
more expensive to start-up in the spring; as a result of the unbalanced water and byproducts of organic
decomposition, the surfaces do not last nearly as long as pools that have the water properly maintained all
year. Ultimately this decision is up to the pool owner but we do not recommend ignoring the pool while your
family is not using it
ABSOLUTELY. However, we recommend all pets have supervision while using the pool as they can
become exhausted quickly and may panic if they can’t find the steps. We make sure all pools are safe for ALL
family members, especially the four legged babies. If your pet is a regular user of the pool, PLEASE make
sure your service provider is aware of the frequency of use so the proper sanitation methods can be utilized.
Risks associated with pets using your pool include the transmission of recreational water illnesses (RWIs) like
E. coli, giardia, Hepatitis A and cryptosporidium. Also, dog fur can get caught in the pool’s equipment, which
can increase maintenance of your pumps and filters, which is another reason to keep your service company
informed.
Yes we do. Salt provides an excellent form of sanitation when used in conjunction with a professional
service company. Salt systems require periodic maintenance and, in our experience, are often overworked
due to improper water balance (according to the LSI used by PHTA and other standards groups to measure
water balance). Overworking a salt system leads to premature cell failure, which is typically $1500 or more to
replace. We are here to help and we can make sure your system works optimally.
It depends…but now you have a true professional on your side. When in doubt, reach out. In all
situations, we kindly ask that our clients monitor their swim environment and act accordingly. For example, if
we service your pool as scheduled, then the next day there is a massive storm which causes leaves and tree
debris to stop up your skimmer baskets, in this situation we ask that the baskets be dumped so your filter pump
is not starved for water before we are scheduled to return (i.e. a filter pump that runs hot and dies is not a
warrantable item and usually costs over $2500 to replace)
No, we only use chemicals that we provide. SwimScapes purchases and uses only the highest quality chemicals and we supply ALL water balancing chemicals when we are hired for pool service. In fact, we typically ask our pool service clients NOT to add any chemicals as this may impact our ability to properly manage your water. We keep weekly records of every dose of every chemical that has been added to your pool, at least while you have hired
SwimScapes for your service. If there is a need for a specialty chemical addition, please speak with your pool
technician prior to adding to your pool.
TRUE or FALSE (q’s 1-7):
- If your pool smells like chlorine, you are using too much chlorine.
- If the water is clear, and the pool is sparkly clear, then the water is safe for swimming.
- One of the main causes of pool liner failure is chemical abuse.
- Mowing or fertilizing my lawn has no effect on my pool water chemistry.
- Extended periods of low pH can cause pool equipment damage, eye irritation, and pool liner/plaster failure.
- I should never shock my pool more than once each week.
- Cloudiness in my pool always indicates a need for free chlorine and/or high PH.
- Besides Chlorine and PH, other essential elements I should be testing my pool for include:
- Alkalinity, Phosphates, and Stabilizer
- Beers and Bratwurst and Nachos
- Oils and Lotions and Creams
- All of the above
- None of the above
- How long should I wait before swimming in a pool that I just shocked?
- A minimum of 8 hours, while the system is running continuously.
- An hour or two
- I don’t need to wait at all
- At least until next season
- None of the above
Pool School Pop Quiz Answers:
#1.) False!
It is a common misconception that burning eyes and a strong chlorine smell to the water is the result of too much chlorine. Actually, the cause is the breakdown of organic materials by chlorine which leads to the pool not enough chlorine!
A combined chlorine compound (CCL), called a chloramine, is produced when a free chlorine molecule combines with a nitrogen or ammonia molecule. These compounds smell bad, irritate the eyes and skin, and get in the way of free chlorine trying to do its job.
Shocking or super chlorinating the pool is necessary to oxidize, or break apart these molecules and remove the foul smelling chloramines from the pool water!
#2.) False!
Just because your water is clear does not mean your pool water chemistry is in balance. Your alkalinity, stabilizer, hardness, and/or pH may be out of balance. This is the reason we recommend testing your water at least once per week and more often during periods of high use or warm weather!
#3.) True!
Consistently unbalanced pool water will damage your pool’s interior surface, whether it is a plastered/pebble surface or a vinyl liner or the gel coat on a fiberglass pool. Using unpure products or maintaining excessively high levels of chlorine can cause vinyl wrinkling, plaster or vinyl fading, and many other issues.
#4.) False!
Lawn fertilizers, lawn clippings and other organic waste add phosphates to your pool. Phosphates are algae food! To prevent phosphate build up in your pool we highly recommend adding a non-acidic phosphate remover to your weekly maintenance routine.
#5.) True!
Water that has a pH below 7.0 (neutral) is called acidic! This acidic liquid will eat away at your equipment, grout, plaster/liner and can cause burning and stinging in your eyes, among other issues. Usually, to increase your pH, aerating the water using a water feature is a great way to increase your pH naturally. We advise against using chemicals to increase your pool’s pH as they can be detrimental to surfaces and the ensuing chemical reaction is difficult to control.
High pH (above 8.0) can potentially cause other problems if your water is out of balance according to LSI, including precipitating calcium scale (calcium carbonate) onto your plaster surface or inside your sanitizer/salt cell, thereby creating an ideal environment for cloudiness and microorganism growth.
#6.) False!
You need to shock your pool whenever it needs to be shocked. Once weekly is recommended for maintenance, but other times to shock include whenever the pool has experienced heavy use, after a heavy rain or long periods of hot weather, or whenever your tests show free chlorine levels at zero, or total chlorine levels at 0.5 or above.
#7.) “1” Alkalinity, Phosphates, and Stabilizer is the correct answer.
Things that will cause pool water problems other than low levels of Sanitizers and an unregulated pH include the water’s Alkalinity, Phosphate level and Stabilizer/Water Conditioner (CYA). Alkalinity controls pH fluctuations, phosphates are food for algae, and stabilizer protects your chlorine/sanitizer from the damaging effects of UV/Sunlight.
#8.) True!
Non-existent or super high Chlorine levels and pH levels can lead to cloudiness in your pool, ultimately caused by microbes like algae. However, if these levels are within the accepted range, there could be other suspects. If you are struggling with a cloudy pool, SwimScapes can definitely help. We will test your water for a variety of chemicals/elements standard test kits/strips don’t test.
#9.) “1” Ideally, 8 hours, with the system running is the most correct answer.
Ideally, for the safest and most effective method of shocking your pool, shock should be added after sunset, and your system should run overnight or a minimum of 8 hours prior to swimming. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SWIM WHILE YOU ARE SHOCKING YOUR POOL. The water should be clear and you should be able to see the bottom drains while standing on the pool deck. Do not swim if the water is still cloudy.
This privacy policy outlines how SwimScapes collects, uses, maintains, and discloses information collected from each user of the swimscapes.net website. We recognize that your privacy is important and strive to maintain your privacy.
Information We Collect
We collect personal information from you when you fill out a form on our website. The form may require your name, address, email address, phone number, and the source in which you heard about us. We may also collect non-personal information about Users whenever they interact with our website. Non-personal information may include the browser name, the type of computer and technical information about Users means of connection to our website, such as operating system and the internet service providers utilized and other similar information.
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We only use your information to improve our site and process the services you request. We will not sell, trade, transfer or otherwise share your information with other outside parties. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep your information confidential. We will share your information with our affiliates and franchisees, but only to the extent we require their help in providing services to you. SMS consent and phone numbers will never be shared with third parties or affiliates under any circumstances. SMS consent is not shared with any third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our website policies, or protect our or others’ rights, property or safety.
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We take appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to and disclosure of information we collect. We restrict access to information we collect about you to our employees, contractors, agents, and affiliates who need to know the information.
Changes to the Privacy Policy
SwimScapes, LLC has the discretion to update this privacy policy at any time. When we do, will revise this page and update the date at the bottom. We encourage Users to check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal and non-personal information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.
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Questions?
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, you may contact us through our website or at info@swimscapes.net.
This Privacy Policy was last modified on October 28th, 2024.
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With over 20 years of experience in building, renovating, maintaining, and repairing swimming pools, SwimScapes provides a service you can trust for all your pool maintenance needs.
