All good things must come to an end. After a fun summer season with your personal swimming pool, winter will inevitably arrive and along with it, the task of closing the pool for winter. It might seem easy enough to simply throw a cover over your pool and call it a day, but doing this will only cause further problems come next summer.
Here are three reasons why you should learn how to properly close your pool for winter.
During the regular swimming season, you were probably making sure that your personal pool was regularly maintained, including scooping out debris and occasionally changing a filter. During the winter months, however, maintaining your pool is a lot less rewarding when you have to brave chilly weather and aren’t able to utilize your pool. Closing your pool for winter will eliminate the need for regular maintenance during those winter months.
During the summer, having insects, leaves, or other debris fall into your pool wasn’t a big issue. Just a few minutes of work and you’re back to business as usual. However, during the winter months where you are less incentivized to maintain your pool, any debris in the pool will begin to rot, which will affect your pool’s chemical balance.
It might seem like a massive chore to properly close your pool for winter, and it many times is. But not winterizing your pool correctly will likely mean more money spent on cleaning parts and supplies, and more time spent getting your pool swimmable again. Learning how to correctly clean and close your pool for winter saves you time and money in the long run.
If you have any questions regarding personal pools, or you are looking into closing your pool for the winter, you can contact us today via our website! You can also learn more about custom pools on our custom pools page.
With summer gone and winter right around the corner, keeping your pool in tip-top shape isn’t likely at the top of your to-do list. However, by staying on top of your fall pool maintenance, not only can you make your workload much easier, but you can also have peace of mind knowing it will be in good condition come spring. Keep these four fall pool maintenance tips in mind when tending to your pool:
Trimming the trees, shrubs, hedges, and any other foliage around your pool will make your workload much easier and reduce the risk of falling branches that can damage your pool cover.
2. Clean the FiltersHaving clean filters at the beginning of the cooler fall months will help to ensure your pool stays as clean and debris-free as possible.
As you know, autumn brings falling leaves that can be a pain when it comes to pool maintenance. By skimming your pool on a regular basis, you can remove the leaves and debris. This can also make your workload easier come spring because it prevents the leaves from sinking and staining the bottom of your pool.
If you choose to use a pool cover during the fall and winter months, make sure to keep it clean and free of debris. Keeping the cover clean will help to keep the pool clean, too.
To ensure your pool is as clean as possible and to reduce your workload simultaneously, partner with the pool specialists at Robert Allen Pools and Spas. With years of pool maintenance experience, the friendly, trained professionals at Robert Allen Pool and Spa know exactly what it takes to meet your needs. Whether you’re interested in custom pool design or year-round maintenance services, Robert Allen has your back. Contact us today!
Having a swimming pool is fantastic fun for your entire family! It is great to have a space to relax and play on long hot, summer days, and it is definitely one of the best places to make special memories with your family and friends. However, with pool ownership comes the duty of making sure everyone stays safe. If you make a point to follow these 5 important pool safety tips, you should be able to enjoy your pool without any worries!
Putting up a fence or other barrier around your pool is crucial for child safety. Young children don’t understand the danger of swimming alone and a barrier keeps them out until an adult can be with them.
Whether in or even just around the pool, never leave a child without adult supervision. A child’s guardian should be the first person to safeguard their child, even if a lifeguard is present or your child has a floatation device.
Make sure the pool chemicals are at the proper levels and test them regularly.
Even after taking the above preventive measures (and more), make sure you know how to perform CPR on both children and adults. A lifeguard can’t always be there—especially in your own private pool.
Take the time and money to enroll your kids in swim lessons. They will have more fun and be safer overall if they know how to swim properly.
Follow these pool safety tips and do all that you can to keep your family and friends safe. And remember, if you have any pool needs or questions, please feel free to contact us directly at Robert Allen Pools and Spas. We are happy to help you out wherever we can!
If you are thinking about adding a hot tub or spa to your home, you have a lot of options available in Reno, NV. There are many designs to choose from, which enables you to find one that will fit your needs. Of all the choices you have, the first choice you will need to make is whether to opt for a hot tub or a spa. Of course, making that decision is easier if you know the differences between the two and the advantages of each that's why we're here to help at Robert Allen Pools & Spas in Reno, NV.
A hot tub is an above-ground spa that is completely self-contained in terms of its plumbing, pumps, and heating. Hot tubs are relatively portable as they sit on top of a pad like concrete and can be moved to another part of a property or to a new location altogether.
In addition to their portability, the main advantages of having a hot tub in Reno, NV is their relative energy efficiency and affordability. Hot tubs heat up quickly and hold their temperatures well. They also require little for their installation aside from a strong level pad.
At Robert Allen Pools & Spas, we offer only the best when it comes to spas. Spa tends to be used as a general term and can also be confused with the term day-spa, which is something else entirely. In reality, a spa is a body of water built into the ground, much like an in-ground swimming pool. They are often attached to a pool or near the house and are similar to what you would find in a gym or hotel.
The main advantage of our Bullfrog spas is the value that they add to a home since a spa is a permanent addition to a property. The disadvantages of spas include the higher cost of installation and their higher energy costs since they take longer to heat and do not typically hold their temperature as well as hot tubs.
If you are looking for something more cost effective, a hot tub is probably the way to go. If you want something more permanent to add value to your home, then you should opt for a spa. Contact us today to explore options for your spa or hot tub in Truckee and beyond. We offer the best service for hot tubs and spas in Carson City, Nevada.
Swimming pools are great additions to any backyard oasis. But most people don’t want just an ordinary pool, they want an experience. Robert Allen Pools and Spas offers all the amazing features you want to make your water feature ideas a reality. There is a pool accessory to fit every need.
If you have children in your life and want to up the fun factor in your pool, consider a slide. We’re not talking about one of those old-fashioned clunky models. We’re talking about a sleek design embedded into the rock so the slide blends in seamlessly with the pool. It’s a great way to bring more natural elements into your pool area. They are also a lot of fun.
Water features are a great way to add dimension and ambiance to your pool. Imagine relaxing poolside with the relaxing sound of a bubbling fountain or waterfall. We have waterfalls that can match any design, from sleek and modern to a gentle cascade down rock. No matter what kind of look you want, we have the perfect option.
Another water feature that is very popular is smooth water arcs. This water feature is beautiful to look at and fun to play with. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the smooth water arcs. These not only give you a beautiful water feature in your pool, but you’ll also be able to enjoy the trickling sound of water.
Natural landscaping is a great way to integrate your pool with the surroundings. Large rocks, native landscaping, stone, and gravel are just a few natural elements that can turn a pool from humdrum to fabulous.
When it comes to water features, natural pool landscaping, waterfalls, and smooth water arcs, there are a lot of things to consider. Luckily, the professionals at Robert Allen Pools and Spas are ready to help make your water feature ideas a reality as you create the pool area of your dreams. Contact us today and see what Robert Allen Pools and Spas can do for your backyard oasis.
Installing a swimming pool here in Reno can be a large investment, so it’s smart to use a checklist to make sure it will work out and bring you the results you want. Here are five key considerations.
If you want a pool for relaxing with children, it may be different than one used for doing laps—or you may just want it to look good in your yard. Having a clear purpose for your swimming pool from the beginning will make later decisions easier.
Get a geotechnical report or at least a soil test. Find out if you have a high water table or unusually rocky, sandy, or unstable soil. Consider whether your area has earthquakes, flooding, or stormwater runoff.
Find out if any building regulations limit how large it can be, where it can be positioned on your property, or how much fencing is allowed. Also, think about whether you’ll supervise children from inside the house, how much sun and wind exposure it will receive, and where guests will enter the area and relax.
Many homeowners enjoy the permanence of an in-ground pool, but excavating the soil can be costly or may not be possible. On a steep site or a location with difficult access, an above-ground pool with a deck can be an economical and attractive option, one that you can take with you to a new home if you move.
Concrete gives you great freedom to control the size and shape of your pool, and it can be customized with a concrete “beach,” marble plaster, and more. Vinyl pools are also customizable—and inexpensive at first—but may need to be replaced after five to nine years. Fiberglass pools come in a set shape, but they’re very quick and easy to install.
Swimming pools in Reno are perfect for our hot climate! Need help planning yours? Robert Allen Pools and Spas is happy to lend our expertise. Contact us today!
Congratulations on getting a custom built pool! Now it's time to choose which type of pool system you want to be installed, saltwater or chlorinated. Here is a list of pros and cons for each type, but regardless of which way you go, you’ll be joyfully swimming in your own backyard in no time.
For comparison, a saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean. It’s so low, that you can’t taste or smell the salt in your pool.
Pros:
Cons:
A chlorinated pool system uses the traditional method of daily testing and adding various chemicals to kill harmful microorganisms that can cause nasty health problems.
Pros:
Cons:
If you want more specific and personalized advice on which type of custom built pool system is the best choice for you and your family, contact Robert Allen Pools and Spas today!
One of the most important items you can buy for your pool is a high-quality pool cover, which leaves you with a choice: Which pool cover is best for your swimming pool?
Safety pool covers, unsurprisingly, are designed primarily around safety, which is why they are a popular choice for families with children or pets.
These pool covers are made to hold weight, which prevents kids and pets from falling through should they wander near the pool unsupervised.
You can choose between solid and mesh covers. Solid covers protect your pool from sunlight and debris, but you’ll have to pump out any accumulated water. Mesh covers protect your pool from debris, but sunlight and snow can seep through, which can lead to algae growth and dirty water.
Automatic pool covers offer a lot of protection and are exceptionally easy to use, which is why they also come with a higher price tag. These covers are usually made of vinyl, and they are designed to open and close with the simple flip of a switch or push of a button.
Automatic covers can be used all year long, and they create strong seals that prevent debris, people, or pets from falling into the pool accidentally. These covers also help keep the pool warm and reduce water evaporation.
The cons include the price of installation and replacement, and some people find that the covers can keep the pool a little too warm.
The winter pool cover, despite its name, does not have to be exclusively used in winter when the pool is not in use. However, because of its bulk and difficulty to remove and replace, it is often only used during the winter.
These covers are made from heavy-duty materials that protect your pool from the freezing temperatures of the winter months. They also help reduce evaporation and exposure to sunlight, which in turn prevents algae growth.
It usually has to be anchored, and it often does not bear weight.
Many people enjoy solar pool covers because they are both inexpensive to purchase and easy to install.
These covers are designed to float freely on the surface. They can help prevent evaporation and help maintain the temperature of the pool even overnight, but because they are free-floating, they are not the most effective option for preventing debris from accumulating in the pool. Water can also easily collect on top when it rains, and these covers cannot bear weight.
At Robert Allen Pools and Spas, we are dedicated to providing you with the best swimming pools, spas, and maintenance. Contact us today for more information.
So you’ve made the decision to put a pool in. Congratulations! Soon you’ll be turning your yard into your own little oasis, and increasing the value of your home at the same time. Putting in a pool is no small decision, and like most people, you probably want it done just right.
The first and most important step to getting the pool you’ve been dreaming of is finding the best pool contractor for your needs. Pool contractors execute your vision and run the show from start to finish, so you want to make sure this person shares your ideals. Here are a few guidelines to landing the right contractor for the job.
Looking for more information about pool services and contractors? If you live in the Reno, Nevada area, contact Robert Allen Pools and Spas for further help. We offer expert advice and services to anyone looking for pool installation or maintenance.
If you’re looking for a way to make the cold days of winter not so gloomy, why not start planning for the summer? And what better way to do that than to find new accessories for your pool? Here are 3 accessories your pool can’t do without this summer.
You have floats, toys, and dive rings for your pool, but do you have a place to keep them organized? Consider purchasing a caddy, bin, or other organizer to make storing your pool accessories easy, while keeping them accessible, and eliminating the clutter that usually covers your pool deck. Decluttering not only makes you pool area look nicer, but makes it a lot safer too.
What better way to accentuate your pool than with a water feature? Depending on the style of your pool, you can enhance the beauty of your space by simply adding a waterfall, a fountain, or even a lighting feature. Whether it is a statement piece, or something small and simple, a water feature can really define your space and give it character.
If you’re still using a brush to manually scrub the walls of your pool clean, consider upgrading to a robotic pool cleaner this year. These cleaners get the job done by themselves, eliminating the work and worry of having to do it yourself, saving you time in the process.
Planning for the warm days of summer is sure to help you forget about your winter woes, and at Robert Allen Pools and Spas, we can help. With the right pool accessories, you’ll feel those winter blues melt away in no time.
Call us today if you’d like to add a water feature to your pool!
