When you get your own swimming pool, one of the biggest problems is having to do regular cleaning and maintenance. Many people, while enthralled at having this amenity, don’t have the time or even the knowledge to maintain a pool’s upkeep properly. So what do you do if you are in this position? If you can, you should probably use professional pool services.
With so many different pool service companies competing for your business, what can you do to pick the one that will best suit your needs, and is also affordable? When you are looking into hiring a service, there are some things you should ask right away. Ask if they are ISPE qualified, have liability insurance, and employee insurance, and are they local?
Some other important things to ask when choosing pool services for your swimming pool are how often will they come out and service the pool? Are they going to provide a complete service, use good quality chemicals, equipment, pumps, filter cartridges, heaters, and anything else you can think of? Do they have their own repair people in case something happens, and if you have a swimming pool emergency, are they on call?
There are a lot of details to also work out, like will they require a contract for their pool services. Even if they don’t require it, you should, for many reasons. Number one, it’s just important to get some kind contract then you know exactly what is covered, what isn’t, and the service company can’t come back sometime later charging more, or not doing their job. With a contract there is no conflicts about what is and isn’t supposed to be done.
There are many really good reliable pool service companies available, but look out for those that are not reliable. If you find anyone that asks for a lot of money in advance, and cannot answer all of your questions satisfactorily, steer clear. When setting up a contract, make sure everything is clearly marked, and is exactly what was discussed. If you don’t agree with anything, or something was included after the agreement, make sure these issues are taken care of BEFORE you sign anything.
If you have any local friends who own a swimming pool, it may be a good idea to talk to them and ask what pool services they use, and how reliable they are. While advertising helps businesses attract business, nothing beats a client that has been referred by an already existing customer. What ever you do, make sure that you take the time to research what each pool service company does and what is included and what’s not.
When contacting an individual company, make sure they offer free estimates. That way there are no commitments, and no fees just to have someone assess how much they are going to charge you. Bottom line is, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t use them.