accounts@swimrightpools.com

480-600-8583

Follow Us

Get A Free Quote

Tag: arizona dust storms

Categories
Scottsdale Swimming pool chemicals Swimming pool service SwimRight | Scottsdale Pool Service

Keep your swimming pool summer ready

SwimRight Pool service contractors, serving Scottsdale, AZ, offer 5 pool ready tips

Summer is in full swing, and Arizona has already experienced some triple digit days. The pool service contractors from SwimRight Pools understand that you and your family are likely in the water as often as possible — day and night. If you’ve been swimming and have had your pool serviced already, you are already in summer-pool-ready mode, but here are a few things to keep in mind throughout the summer.

These are items you will want to discuss with your pool contractor if you’re uncertain whether any of these pool

Keep your swimming pool summer ready

 

issues are an issue at your home:

  1. Keep the deck clean. A swimming pool deck that isn’t cleaned regularly will be full of dust, dirt and debris and when the monsoon winds and rain kick in all of that debris can be blown into the pool. Make time to clean the deck at least monthly.
  2. Keep the pool cover clean. The cover should ideally be cleaned at least weekly. Take time to hose it off and clean it with a swimming pool safe pool cleaner.
  3. Keep the pool viable. Your pool contractor will inspect your swimming pool for any leaks in the structure or the plumbing when he pays a service visit, but you will want to keep an eye on the pool area for any suspicious puddles around the pool or on the pad or deck.
  4. Keep the pool water clean and the chemicals balanced. If you’re working with a swimming pool service professional your pool is already being maintained and the chemicals balanced, but if you’re doing it on your own, keep in mind that the chemical levels should be checked at least three times a week; ask your pool contractor to be certain. Even if you work with a pool contractor, he will advise that you check the chemical balances between service visits. You will also want to skim off any debris before it falls to the pool floor or gets into the filter. Diligent use of the pool cover will help
  5. Plan to refill the water semi-regularly. While you don’t want or need to drain and refill your swimming pool with any regularity, there will come a time when you will simply want fresh water.

The next time your pool contractor visits, you will want to spend a few minutes talking with him so you understand the “state of your pool.”

Categories
Swimming pool service contractor

How pool owners need to think about yard care

Did you know you need to think differently about yard care when you’re a swimming pool owner in Scottsdale, Arizona? You do. The swimming pool service contractors from SwimRight Pool Service & Repair have tips on how pool owners need to think about yard care.

Living in a drought-prone area like Arizona with its triple digit temperatures for most of the summer months — and sometimes even after what is traditionally considered summer means unique yard care for pool owners. These tips, however, are ideal for pool owners anywhere – because if you have a yard and you have a pool, you need this relevant information and advice.

Some pool owners will have unique and different landscaping installed as part of the overall swimming pool project. Your pool contractor will also help you determine the best type of landscaping for your pool area as well as ensuring there is no water run off that filters into the swimming pool itself.

The yard is part of the aesthetic appeal of your pool space and its aesthetic enhances the pool itself.

How pool owners need to think about yard care

Let’s talk about the yard space as you’re talking with us about your swimming pool maintenance. We can offer you a bird’s eye view on what your landscaping will look like as can your swimming pool contractor when he or she is planning your overall project with you.

Living in a desert means you will want to plant for extreme heat and drought and that means you may be looking at planting specific types of grasses and yes cacti! You can also use plants that are moveable and you can keep them both indoors and outdoors to enhance the yard space.

  1. As mentioned, choose drought-resistant
  2. Landscape with heat-resistant plants.
  3. Invest in plants that don’t shed leaves
  4. Don’t plant trees and flowers that will lure birds (you don’t want bird poo on the deck or in the water) Keep in mind that some plants will attract bees and you don’t want them in your pool space
  5. Plant trees with caution so long root structures don’t impact and damage the plumbing or pool structure or lure birds or bees to the pool area.
  6. If you’re planting trees, do so with caution because if the tree has a long root structure or if the tree is continually reaching out for water to survive, it can damage your pool equipment and plumbing.
  7. Use mulch or wood chips around the items you’re planting — this is important so you don’t have to keep watering the plants all the time.
  8. Keep the lawn around your pool thriving by giving up to an inch of water a week — that may add to your utility bills and that’s why you may opt for cacti for your landscaping. Use mulch when you plant flowers or shrubs and this will allow you to water the plants less frequently. Aerate the lawn and loosen hardened earth and make it more amenable to soaking up water when you give it to the lawn or plants.

Add moveable plants, rock, sand and cacti as these add to the appeal of your pool space and will also not impact the water chemistry.

Categories
Swimming pool service contractor

Getting to know the swimming pool plumbing

Pool owners think about what they can see. Swimming pool contractors from SwimRight Pool Service & Repair Scottsdale, Arizona think about what goes on behind what is visible. In this article, we are getting to know the swimming pool plumbing that keeps the pool working “behind the scenes.” A swimming pool is an intricate set of plumbing and electricity that keeps the pool operational.

Plumbing secrets — really aren’t secret to a pool contractor. One of the main reasons a pool owner thinks about the pool plumbing is when they are concerned there is a leak. Some pool leaks are very visible and lead to puddles of water lying around the pool. Other leaks may not be able to be seen because they are hidden and may be so small that the water evaporates before you notice there is a leak.

Getting to know the swimming pool plumbing

One rule of thumb for pool owners and DIY plumbers is to hand tighten the plumbing. When you torque on it with a tool you run the risk of snapping the pipe or making it so tight it is unable to be loosened if the need arises. Plumbing is designed in a way that lends itself to hand tightening.

If you are going to undertake any pool plumbing repairs you will want to test it before you close up walls and seal the plumbing back inside. Look for leaks. Look for standing water. Listen to hissing that will le you know there is a leak.

Many pool owners understand that unless they know the nuances of the pool plumbing they will leave plumbing repairs to a swimming pool professional. Don’t hesitate to call us if you suspect a leak in your swimming pool. If we come out to repair or address any plumbing issues, feel free to poke your head in and watch us while we work in case you want to see what goes in behind the walls.

Categories
Swimming pool chemicals

How to choose the best spot for your swimming pool

The swimming pool service contractors in Scottsdale, Arizona who work at SwimRight Pool Service & Repair understand that one of the first decisions a pool owner must make is where the pool will go. How to choose the best spot for your swimming pool will be discussed with your pool construction contractor but your pool service contractor also has advice to offer.

The decision on where to place the pool can impact the flow of the backyard space and the amount of usable area you have left in the yard. The placement of the pool, also, can have an impact on its cleanliness and how difficult it is to keep clean. The placement also makes an impact on the heat of the pool water — and that is something to consider when you have a swimming pool in Arizona.

How to choose the best spot for your swimming pool

One of the first things your pool construction contractor will determine and discuss are any zoning and setback requirements for construction. This means you cannot build your pool too close to the neighbor’s yard, for example. A swimming pool construction project will also require you to obtain building permits — something your pool contractor should help with.

Part of the swimming pool construction and ongoing safety of being a pool owner also requires the fencing, gates and pool alarms for the pool. Your pool contractor will let you know the size and regulations related to pool fencing and you can talk with him — or us about additional layers of safety with pool alarms.

In Arizona, weather matters when it comes to placement of the swimming pool. What is the pattern of the sun in your yard. How does the sun’s movement play with your house and any landscaping items you have?

What is the wind pattern in your yard? A lot of wind playing across the top of your pool can wreak havoc on evaporation of the water — when you add that with the evaporation that will occur because of the Arizona sun and you may be refilling the pool a LOT. This is something you want to avoid so place the pool in a space where the wind isn’t too strong, or look to landscaping to slow the rate of air blowing across the water. Using a swimming pool cover will also slow the rate of evaporation.

Where will you relax when you’re not in the swimming pool? Do you have a plan for an outdoor living space? If so, design that at the same time you have your pool constructed so you can help assure everything fits well together in the backyard space.

If you’re new to pool ownership or if you’d simply like to hand off the service and maintenance of your swimming pool to a professional give us a call. We can come to your home and perform a service inspection and give you an estimate for a service contract.

 

Categories
Swimming pool service contractor

How to hire a commercial pool company in Arizona

Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the swimming pool contractors from SwimRight Pool Service and Repair have been working with our clients to keep their swimming pool water clear and free of bacteria. How to hire a commercial pool company in Arizona is something we are asked about regularly.

When you’re the owner or operator of a commercial property like a hotel, apartment complex, public school or other public swimming pool, it is usually wise to hire a commercial swimming pool service company. This is true even if the person responsible for the care of the pool has his or her own swimming pool at home because a commercial pool and its care is a different animal entirely!

The task of keeping a commercial swimming pool free of bacteria and safe for all who swim in it is a major responsibility and not one to be taken lightly. When you’re choosing a commercial swimming pool service contractor you need to assure yourself and the property owner that you’re working with the best and most experienced pool contractor available.

What will your commercial swimming pool service professional do?

  1. Address all the cleanliness and safety issues with the water
  2. Pays attention to the myriad details necessary for maintaining a commercial pool
  3. Inspect, maintain and care for the pool equipment
  4. Assure it’s in compliance with federal, state and local regulations

How to hire a commercial pool company in Arizona

A guest may make a decision to stay at your hotel, motel, resort or apartment building or town house based on the amenities provided and one of those could be the swimming pool. It is imperative, that if there is a pool onsite that it is available for use at all times. Sure there may be those times when the pool is down for a brief time for maintenance, but for the most part, when a tenant wants to swim, he wants to swim.

Gather at least three estimates for the cleaning and maintaining of the commercial pool with which you’ve been tasked to clean and maintain. Compare the services, quality and references you receive about the potential pool contractor. If you notice major differences in pricing or work performed, ask for an explanation.

Don’t forget to ask for their emergency or on call services. Are they available 24/7 in case of a pool emergency? What is the cost for an emergency visit? Are there emergency or on-call hours built into the contract? How long does the contract run?

Will you have the same service provider for each visit? This could make a difference in service as having a steady contractor who comes to know and understand the nuances of the pool and its water based on swimmer load could prevent problems in the long run. Don’t pass over a commercial pool contractor simply because there may not be the same pool provider every time.

When looking for a commercial pool contractor, don’t forget to check references. Ask for an onsite visit and for an estimate based on what you have had in the past and take into consideration any changes the potential pool contractor may recommend. Here’s to a safe and happy summer!

Categories
Swimming pool service

How to get fit in your family swimming pool

If you’re in quarantine because of the coronavirus and live in Scottsdale, Arizona we bet you have been spending a lot of family fun time in the pool, right? If you have wondered how to get fit in your family swimming pool the pool service contractors from SwimRight Pool Service & Repair have tips to help you have fun and get fit!

Swimming pool service contractors have been considered essential service providers and that means if you have a pool, chances are you have been spending a LOT of time in it. Whether you’re in shape, want to get in shape or just want to find a fun way to get healthy, swimming provides all those benefits and more!

Why should you swim?

There are a myriad of reasons!

  1. What health benefits are you hoping for?
  2. Does it hurt your muscles and joints to jog or run?
  3. Do you want to build heart health in a low/no impact way?
  4. Does the idea of exercising in the heat of an Arizona summer day immersed in the cool depths of a pool appeal to you?
  5. Do you want to get fit in a way that doesn’t feel like exercise?

How to get fit in your family swimming pool

Regular exercise of any kind builds muscle strength, strengthens your heart and enhances all aspects of your life. Swimming can be used as part of a cross training routine, to jump start a regular workout and to have fun and get fit at the same time.

Did you know? 

Swimming burns calories at a rate of about three calories per mile per pound of body weight. If you weigh 150 pounds and it takes 30 minutes to swim one mile, you’ll burn about 900 calories in an hour. This is just an estimate and you may see different results based on many factors.

Once the quarantine is over you can swim as a social outlet. Take a water aerobics class or invite friends over to swim in your pool with you.

Swimming helps you to relax and even sleep better. To enhance these benefits, practice relaxation techniques while you swim. Focus on breathing and swim strokes. Let your mind wander and concentrate only on your breathing and the feeling of the water on your body.

Remember, in order to reap the weight loss benefits of swimming you may also need to change your diet and eating habits. If you eat a gallon of ice cream for each meal, even if you’re swimming you won’t lose weight — that is an extreme example, but we were making a silly point! Swimming, along with a healthy diet will help you have a healthier life.

Swimming is an excellent choice for those who are going from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one. Your doctor might just approve of swimming as a way to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle.

Give us a call and let’s make sure your pool is clean and that the equipment is working as well as it should be. Let’s enjoy this time home alone and let’s get healthy in the pool!

 

Categories
Swimming pool chemicals

How pool service varies by region

If you owned a swimming pool when you lived on the east coast and now you live on the west coast, did you know that pool care will be different from one region to another? How pool service varies by region is something the swimming pool contractors from SwimRight Pool and Service in Scottsdale, Arizona talk with their customers about.

Sunbelt pool owners and snow belt pool owners have unique pool care techniques. Your swimming pool contractor — regardless of where you live in the country — is experienced and well-versed in caring for your pool where you live right now.

How pool service varies by region

One of the major differences in pool care, and pool use, is that in some areas of the country, you may be able to swim year round! Other areas of the country only have limited amounts of swim time because the pool is closed for many months of the year when everyone is in hibernation because of winter.

Pool owners in the north east and mid west deal with the ground beneath the pool expanding and contracting with the freeze and thaw. This can cause issues with the pool unless it was constructed properly with the room for the expansion to take place.

Expansion and contraction is not a factor for pool owners in the south, but they do deal with drought, extreme heat and other weather factors. Evaporation and the potential for water rationing in some areas of the country may make swimming impossible if the water levels get too low. In that case, it is best to always use a pool cover when the pool isn’t in use as this will help slow the rate of evaporation.

If you were a DIY pool care person before you moved to a different location you may want to talk with a pool service contractor in your new region and get insight and advice on how to care for your new pool in your new home. If you’re new to Arizona, give us a call for an estimate on pool service and maintenance.

Categories
Swimming pool service

Easy maintenance tasks any pool owner can do

Swimming pool owners who work with a swimming pool service contractor from SwimRight, a Scottsdale, AZ pool service & repair professional may still want to do some light maintenance. Here are some easy maintenance tasks any pool owner can do and may want to do between service visits.

Performing simple maintenance between pool service contractor visits may just save money on your pool maintenance contract because the water will be cleaner, longer.

Easy maintenance tasks any pool owner can do

Ask us for information on these tasks and how to perform them quickly and easily

  • Always use the pool cover. If you have a hard time taking the cover on and off, it may make sense to invest in a pool cover device to make it easier. Using the pool cover will help reduce maintenance costs, allow you to use fewer chemicals and help provide an additional safety barrier.
  • Ask us to write the ideal operating pressure on the swimming pool pump and filter. If you notice changes, higher or lower, let your pool contractor know.
  • Make sure you know where all of the pool operating manuals and warranty information is.
  • Ask us how to vacuum the swimming pool. Ask us, also, about whether it makes sense to invest in an automatic vacuum.
  • Test the water chemistry. If you’re comfortable enough, you can add the necessary chemicals to keep water balances in line. Add chemicals a little at a time. Also, add the chemicals at night so you won’t miss any swim time and because the heat of the sun will evaporate the chemicals more quickly.
  • Make sure you’re running the pool pump the recommended amount of time — typically between ten and twelve hours per day.

When we pay a service visit we can explain water chemistry readings, let you know how long the pump and filter should run for your unique pool and help you with the vacuum set up, if needed.

Categories
Swimming pool service

How to protect your skin from the Arizona sun

Gone, for many, are the days of covering yourself with baby oil and baking in the sunshine. Golden tanned skin is now considered unhealthy by most and many people protect their skin when out of doors. How to protect your skin from the Arizona sun is something anyone who spends time around a swimming pool needs to consider.

The swimming pool service contractors from SwimRight Pool Service & Repair in Scottsdale, Arizona understand the importance of “shading” around the pool to make swimming more comfortable and to protect your skin and the skin of everyone who uses the pool from the harmful rays of the sun.

How to protect your skin from the Arizona sun

Sunscreen is your first line of defense from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. When shopping for sun protection you will want to look for a product that protects from ultraviolet (UV) as well as UVB rays. If you don’t protect your skin you could suffer from:

  1. Sunburn
  2. Wrinkled skin
  3. Sun poisoning
  4. Skin cancer

Shop for a sunscreen that you will use: gel, lotion or stick. Look for products specific to the face, body and for children.

Here is a primer on sunblock/sunscreen

  1. Look for a product that offers broad or full UV spectrum protection. A sunburn, especially one you get in childhood, can set the stage for long-term skin damage and susceptibility to skin cancer.
  2. SPF matters. The SPF is the sun protection factor of the sunblock or sunscreen you’re buying. SPF will measure how long your skin will be protected from the UV rays when you use it. The higher the SPF, the longer you can be outside in the sun without burning — remember, this is a theory and you should check yourself regularly to assure you’re not burning.
  3. If you’re going to be swimming, look for a water-resistant product. When you buy this type sunblock you can swim without worry about your protection washing off. HOWEVER, the lotion will get into the pool water and could upset the water chemistry. Even if the protect is water resistant, you should still reapply regularly.
  4. Buy a different product to protect your face and your body. Faces are typically more sensitive than your skin and that means you should buy a product that will protect it without causing any type of skin irritation to the delicate skin on your face.
  5. If you have children in and around the swimming pool, look for products specially designed for children. Their skin is more delicate and prone to burns and needs to be protected at all times. Kid-friendly products truly do make a difference.

When you’re sitting poolside, even on an overcast day, slather yourself with sunblock or sunscreen and enjoy the pool safely.

Categories
Swimming pool service

Equipment every pool owner needs

You’ve hired the swimming pool contractors from SwimRight Pool Service and Repair in Scottsville, Arizona and that means you don’t have to do any kind of pool maintenance, right? Well, not really! There are some tasks you will want to perform between pool service visits to help keep the pool water clean, clear and swimmable. We offer a list of equipment every pool owner needs to keep the pool water clean.

These tasks are quick and easy.

Equipment every pool owner needs

We have put together a quick list of pool equipment to purchase:

  • A pool skimmer. If you aren’t diligent in using a pool cover or even if you are there will still be debris that gets into the water. Skimming the pool is a quick and easy task. Skim off floating debris before it falls to the bottom of the pool.
  • A pool brush. Use the brush to brush down the walls and floor between service visits. This will loosen any bacteria or algae spores and get them moving out of the water and into the filter and out of the pool.
  • A telescoping pole. This piece of equipment will be used with the skimmer and brush AND as a piece of pool safety equipment. If someone in the middle of the pool gets into trouble, offer them an end of the telescoping pole to pull them out.
  • A water test kit. Buy one and test between service visits. Make notes of the readings and ask us for a lesson on how to understand what they mean and what chemicals might need to be added.
  • Pool vacuum. If you’re really motivated you may want to vacuum the pool between service visits. Ask us for advice on how to use it — or you can invest in a robotic pool cleaner that you can just turn on and it will move around the pool and help keep it clean between service visits.

Talk with us and we can give you insight into what pieces of equipment you need, how to use them and why you will want to between service visits. These tasks won’t take long but will keep the pool water cleaner, longer.