5 Reasons to Renovate Your Pool in the Winter

As the weather cools down, it’s easy to put your outdoor home improvement projects on hold, however, it may surprise you that the fall and winter months are actually the best time to renovate your in-ground Pool. All contractors have busy seasons, and the summer months are the most busy for swimming pool contractors.

Here are five benefits to renovating your in-ground pool during the less busy months:

 

Scheduling Flexibility

 

With less people requesting a pool renovation, you will be able to schedule your project for a time that is most convenient to you.

 

Less Down-Time

 

When renovating your pool in the summer months, you are giving up valuable and limited swimming time. Opt instead for the month you use the pool the least, and the down-time will seem quite negligible.

 

Yard Accessibility

 

Depending on the magnitude of the renovation, your backyard may be completely off-limits for quite some time. This makes it difficult to trim your lawn and maintain your landscaping, which isn’t as much of a concern in the winter months.

 

Dust Control

 

When renovating a pool, you can expect to have some noise, debris, and dust. It’s important to keep your windows closed to ensure the inside of your home stays dust-free, which is much easier to do in the winter.

 

Water Prices

 

While you can call a water delivery service, most homeowners use their faucet water to refill their pool. The water rates in the summer are much higher than the rates in the winter, which will save you money. Additionally in the cooler months, the water won’t evaporate as quickly, allowing less water to be used.


If you are in the Austin area and have been considering renovating your pool, now is the time. Crystal Clear Pools & Spas can handle every job from a simple resurface to a complete overhaul. Contact us today for more information.

Invest in a Swimming Pool Cover

Not only will a pool cover minimize time spent outside cleaning debris under the sun, swimming pool covers cut down on evaporation and help maintain healthy water levels in your swimming pool. Many swimming pools in Texas have optimal standards pertaining to water levels in order to maintain the integrity of pool walls, tiles and mechanical systems.

If that isn’t enough motivation, Texas drought water restrictions require 25% of any non-public pool to be covered when not in use. Restrictions are also put on the amount of water, and method, you may use to fill your pool during the higher stages of drought. Best to keep what water you have in the pool now lest ye find yourself ankle deep without a hose.

Snap on pool covers may run you around $3,000 or so. Automatics go up from there. If you need help finding the right pool cover, give us a call — we can help you out.

Crystal Clear Water The Easy Way

The Clean & Clear Plus filter combines top-end filter performance with low maintenance. This dependable design uses special filter elements to strip tiny particles from your pool water…particles as small as 20 microns (an average grain of beach sand is 1,000 microns). Our four-cartridge design provides maximum filter surface area to capture more dirt and extend time between cleanings. And cleaning is a snap - open the top, remove the cartridges, hose them off and the Clean & Clear Plus filter is ready to go again.

We’ve maximized cartridge surface consistency to block and trap the maximum amount of solids, plus we use the most durable materials to extend cartridge life. The Clean & Clear Plus filter delivers commercial-grade performance that keeps pools clean and sparkling, day in and day out.

•    Four-cartridge design traps more dirt and extends time between cleanings.

•    Cartridges are easy to remove and rinse.

•    Clamp ring allows easier access to cartridges and internal parts to speed service routines.

•    1½” drain is easy to access and located to ensure complete draining during winterization.

•    Fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene tank is strong and corrosion resistant for extra long life.


An Eco Select® Brand Product

The Eco Select brand identifies our“greenest” and most efficient equipment choices. Water flows very efficiently through the Clean & Clear Plus filter, often allowing the use of smaller pumps or lower pump speeds to minimize energy use. And when you rinse cartridges rather than backwash, you can significantly reduce water use, too.

Pool Renovation Austin Style

At Crystal Clear Pools & Spas in Austin, we do more than maintenance and repair – we also offer complete renovations for both commercial and residential pools. For over 15 years, we have specialized in:

-Plaster and aggregate surface renovation
-Modifying design and layout
-Deck removal and replacement
-Adding lighting, diving boards, and slides.
-Plumbing and equipment installation
-Tile renovation

 Check out our amazing crew hard at work at our most recent swimming pool renovation in the beautiful Hill Country of Austin:

 

The pool is now as spectacular as the view!

We understand that your pool is more than just a place to swim – it’s an extension of your home and the center of your entertainment. There is no job too big or too small for us to handle, and we take great pride in making sure we handle your renovation better than anyone else in Austin.

 Contact us today to see just how affordable and simple your pool renovation can be!

Don’t Overheat During Summer

It’s August in Austin, which means daily temps above 100 degrees. Spending time in your inground pool is really the only way to enjoy the outdoors this time of year. However, even in the pool, spending time in this heat can also be extremely dangerous if you aren’t taking the proper measures to avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion. At Crystal Clear Pools and Spas, we want you to have a safe summer by recognizing the symptoms of both heat stroke and heat exhaustion, as they are each treated differently.

Heat exhaustion typically occurs when a person hasn’t been properly hydrated in extreme heat, and can be exacerbated when engaging in physical activity. Often times when hanging out at the pool, we don’t feel thirsty and tend to overlook staying hydrated.

Here are some symptoms of heat exhaustion:

• Weakness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Accelerated Heart Rate
• Pale or Clammy Skin
• Profuse Sweating

Here are some ways to prevent heat exhaustion:

• Stay hydrated. Drink Gatorade or some other electrolyte replacement beverage. Drink often, even if not feeling thirsty.
• Refrain from drinking alcohol in extreme heat
• Avoid strenuous exercise in extreme heat
• Dress in loose-fitting and light colored clothing
• Wear a sun hat
• Go inside when feeling overheated

Here are some ways to treat heat exhaustion:

• Lay down in an air-conditioning room or shaded area
• Drink non-alcoholic fluids
• Loosen clothing

It is extremely important to monitor the heat exhaustion symptoms as it may turn into heat stroke, which is far more serious. Heat stroke can occur when your body gets too hot or when heat exhaustion goes untreated. The treatment differs from that of heat exhaustion, which is why it’s important to understand the difference.

Here are some symptoms of heat stroke/sunstroke:

• Confusion or loss of consciousness
• Temperature above 105
• Red or flushed skin with no sweating
• Dizzy or nauseous

Here are some ways to treat heat exhaustion:

• Get inside immediately
• Do not give any fluids (this is different than treatment of heat exhaustion)
• Sponge or spray warm or slightly cool water all over the body.
• Call a doctor

Knowing these signs can prevent what could potentially be a very dangerous condition, and will allow you to continue enjoying your Pool this summer. Enjoy your swim!

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5 Reasons to Hire a Pool Professional

I take pride in knowing a little something about everything – I’m definitely a self-proclaimed “do it yourselfer”. However, there have been times when my pride got in the way, and I ended up trying to fix something that I had no business trying to fix. In the long run, my mistakes cost me much more than if I had hired a professional to do the job in the first place. We all know that owning a pool requires maintenance, and while you could tackle some of it yourself, here are five reasons why you should hire a professional instead:

YOUR TIME IS IMPORTANT

Here in Austin, we are lucky to have many months of beautiful swimming weather. You should be spending that time swimming in your pool– not cleaning it. While cleaning a pool is something a “do it yourselfer” can do relatively easily, things like removing surface debris, vacuuming the bottom, and cleaning out skimmer and pump takes a lot of time, not to mention all of the trips you will need to take to the supply store.

IT GETS COMPLICATED

Your Pool Professional is more than just a cleaning service – they are also equipment specialists and water chemists. Terms like pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, dissolved solids, and cyanuric acid, are enough to make your head spin. At Crystal Clear Pools and Spa, our technicians are trained to balance the water chemicals so you don’t have to – no head spinning needed.

EARLY DETECTION

When you hire a professional, they are trained to notice issues early on. They can potentially detect and repair leaks, control system failures, motor and pump issues, and electrical problems before they turn into much bigger problems, which could save you a lot of money and headache in the long-run.

CONSISTENCY

With weekly maintenance packages, you can rest assured that your pool is well cared for and swim-ready at all times. At Crystal Clear Pools in Austin, we consistently arrive at our appointed times, and you can always count on us to provide the same high level service with each visit. We will even leave you with a detailed door-hanger to let you know we were there.

PEACE OF MIND

The equipment used to maintain a pool is very sensitive and truly should be left to the professionals. Even though your “DIY Pride” wants to read the equipment manual and just figure it out, if you end up breaking something, you are on the hook for that repair. Whereas if something should go wrong when being serviced by a professional, you will have the peace of mind knowing that they will be liable instead.

Contact Crystal Clear Pools and Spas in the Austin Texas and surrounding areas to learn more about our full maintenance and repair services.

When it Rains Cats & Dogs

It was raining cats and dogs last weekend – is there a cat in your Pool? After one of our infamous Austin rainstorms, it’s important to immediately remove all debris, as well as check your chemical levels. Here are some things to consider before jumping back in the pool today:

First, grab your skimmer to begin cleaning out the large debris, such as branches, leaves, and garbage. If there is just a small amount of debris left on the bottom of the pool, use your own pool vacuum system to take care of it, otherwise, contact Crystal Clear Pools and Spa in Austin to have it professionally power vacuumed to ensure debris doesn’t get stuck in the pipes or wear out your filter. While we are there, we will also check your water level to make sure it’s at an appropriate level.

In addition to debris, a significant rainstorm can bring with it contaminates, which can lower the alkalinity levels or cause a pH rise. Adjust these levels using pH Plus, pH Minus, and Alkalinity Plus. This can be intimidating if you’ve never done this before – just make sure to carefully follow the directions on the chemicals or have Crystal Clear Pools come to adjust your chemical levels. Our experts are certified licensed professionals and will restore your pool back to perfect swimming health.

If you haven’t shocked your pool in a while, this would be a good time to do it to clear any bacteria or algae that may have already been accumulating. Shock is available in both liquid and powder forms, but liquid typically works quicker.

However, if the storm left you with more than just a few leaves, or you still haven’t cleaned up your pool for the summer, let Crystal Clear Pools in Austin take it from this:



To this:



Now all you will have to do is remember where you put your sunscreen!

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