How To Clean Up a Green Pool.......

Cleaning up a "green" swimming pool takes time, lots of patience and may cost you some money. 

Have no fear, Hilltop Pools is here to help!

Here are some helpful steps to clean up your green pool!

• Begin by removing debris with a leaf net.  This step will make the water look worse temporarily.  Do not attempt to vacuum the pool if you cannot see the bottom or if you know you have lots of debris in the bottom of the pool.  You can damage your swimming pool system! 
• Use liquid shock in your pool.  You will need to add about 3-4 gallons the first day.  If you do not see results overnight, add 3-4 gallons the next day.  You may have to do this step consecutive days in a row.  You cannot add TOO much shock to your pool. 
• Adjust the pH and Alkalinity levels of the water using pH Plus, pH Minus and Alkalinity Plus. These levels must be within the proper ranges to help clear the water.  Make sure you begin this process when you begin shocking your pool.
• You will need to run your filter 24 hours a day until the water clears up.  Also, running the filter at this rate will quickly clog the filter.  You will need to keep your filter clean by backwashing the pool about 4-5 times a day.  This will help the water clear much faster!
• After the water is clear, remove the rest of the debris from the pool with your leaf net.  If you have small amounts of debris on the bottom of the pool, you can vacuum the pool.  If there is lots of debris on the bottom of the pool, we recommend you contact a pool servicing company to vacuum the pool.
• Take a sample of your water to the local pool store and they will instruct you on what other components should be added to your pool to keep the water clear. 

Note:
If your pool does not clear up in about 5-7 days, you may be having filter problems.  We recommend having your filter checked by a pool serving company.

Happy Pool Cleaning!

Your Friends at Hilltop Pools.

Opening Your Swimming Pool

Spring is officially here!  This means swimming season is quickly approaching.

What steps do you take when opening your swimming pool for the spring and summer season?

Do you have a cover on your pool?  You will either have a waterbag cover or a safety cover.

If you have a waterbag cover, you will need to drain the water off of the top of the cover and empty the water bags.  Before removing the cover, be sure to remove any debris.  You can drain the water off of the cover by using a sump pump.  Once the cover is removed, remember to clean the cover and lay the cover out to dry to prevent mildew during storage.

If you have a safety cover, you will need to drain the water off the top of the cover using a sump pump and clean off any debris before removing the cover.  You don't want to allow any debris to get into the water. You will use the special tool that came with your cover to unhook the cover from the deck anchors.  This normally takes 2 people.

Once the cover is removed........

You will need to reinstall all ladders and handrails in the deck.

You will need to remove the plugs and reinstall all of the fittings in the pool.

Add water to bring the water back up to a normal operating level, about 1/2 way up the waterline tile.

Start your equipment and let the system run for 24 hours for the first three days.

Set your timer for summer hours.  We suggest running the equipment about 8 hours a day.

Balance the water chemistry and monitor the water chemistry for about five days until the water stabalizes.

We will address a "green" pool in our next blog post. 

Remember, don't wait too long to uncover your pool or the nice, clear water you have under your cover could change quickly because algae LOVES to grow in warm weather. 

DON'T HAVE A POOL?   Not to worry, it's not too late to get one.  Call Hilltop Pools & Spas, Inc. today and ask about our current specials.   Call 770-471-3889 or visit us at www.hilltoppools.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May you always have...
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire.

"8 Irish Blessings - Irish Blessings for Luck." - Beliefnet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day from your friends at Hilltop Pools & Spas

 

Swimming Pools: The Importance of Having a Plat or Survey

WHY DO I NEED A COPY OF A PLAT OR SURVEY BEFORE A SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION CONSULTATION?

 

 

This blog post will be very informative to those considering the purchase of a home with the idea of installing a swimming pool in the future. Many potential customers ask for our assistance before purchasing a home to make certain their new home will accommodate a pool. We are here to help, but in order for us to do so, this is what you will need and the questions you should ask before purchasing a home:

  

• Is the home on sewer or septic tank? If the home is on septic tank, where are the lines and tank located? A copy of the septic drawing can be obtained from your local environmental health office. If the lines run through the backyard, there will be an expense to move the system. Ask LOTS of questions and if possible, hire professionals to assess the situation before purchasing the home. Most jurisdictions require no construction to be within 20 feet of the septic tank and lines. Also, you must have a reserve area if the system were to fail in its current location. We have seen instances where a system cannot be relocated even though the home buyer was told this was an option!

  

• You must obtain a copy of the survey or plat before purchasing the home. Your realtor should be able to obtain these documents for you. If for some reason the current homeowner does not have a copy of the plat or survey, a copy can be obtained from the tax assessor’s office in your county. Never buy a house without looking at the plat or survey and the septic drawing.

  

• Once you have a copy of the plat or survey, please be on the lookout for notations like drainage easements, build lines, flood zones, river corridors, wetlands, etc., especially in the back yard. All of these items could possibly prevent you from being able to build a pool. We can look at these professional documents as well and can advise you about building a pool.

  

• As mentioned in the opening paragraph, we are frequently asked to evaluate homes and home sites for potential purchasers. We cannot "guarantee" you can construct a pool without first seeing a copy of the plat or survey! We can look at a yard and believe that it is satisfactory for a pool, when in fact, there is an easement running through the center of the back yard that is not visible to the eye. We have seen this happen MANY times. Please do your due diligence and obtain these documents first to make your purchase as positive and accurate as possible.

  

• The items above can also apply to potential Hilltop customers looking to build a pool in their current home. We ask each customer if they can provide a plat or survey as this is essential for your initial visit.

 

Also, many of our current customers have learned this the hard way, so feel free to comment and provide your input. :-)

  

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Friends at

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc.
www.hilltoppools.com
770-471-3889


www.kudzu.com

Hilltop Pools Concrete and Vinyl Specials

Here are our March specials for St. Patrick's Day. 

Contact us today for these exclusive deals.  770-471-3889.

What Pool Builder Should I Use?

Many think that choosing a pool builder is the hardest part of the process of building a swimming pool, but if you do a bit of research you can become an informed consumer and find just the right contractor for your project.

One of the first things you should check is if the builder holds a business license in your area.  This always makes me think of the TV commercial showing the doctor using a jack hammer.  This is not good!  In this difficult economy there are those that throw a shovel in the back of their pick-up and call themselves pool builders.  You should be very aware of this.   Also, confirm that your builder has the proper liability and worker’s compensation insurances to cover you and his workers. 

A builder not only needs to know how to dig a hole and fill it with cement, but they need to know about permitting.  Every county has different criteria to obtain a permit for building a pool.   They need to know about pool design, the actual construction and the all important inspections. 

Be sure to check how long the company has been in business.  You will want to find a builder who has been around for a while, one who has a proven track record and customer references to back up their work.  Look for a builder who has a physical location.  Some where you can go to see photos of their work and to pick out your selections of tile, coping, interior finishes, etc.  You don’t want a company that only exists on the Internet.  As they say, brick and mortar stores are solid companies that will stand behind their work.  Not disappear into thin air or cyberspace.  Does the owner have strong ties to the area or can they take your money and run? 

You want a company that is both morally and fiscally responsible.  Check with your local Better Business Bureau to make sure that they haven’t started jobs to then disappear and start up under another name in another locale. 

Check out the warranties that the company offers.  Do they back them in writing?  Long gone are the days of handshake contracts, get it in writing!  When reading over the proposal, look at the proposed progress payments.  Many companies require vast amounts up front and run out of money toward the end of a job to pay their sub-contractors and material vendors.  Making them delay the finish till they get another contract.  This is like robbing Paul to pay Peter.  In the long run, the consumer loses. 

However, a good builder will be one who has a solid background, working under a constant ownership with all the proper licenses and insurances.  Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc. is that builder.  They have been in business since 1976 with the same name, owner and location.  Check out what their customers are saying on Kudzu.com.  Then call them for the best pool experience.

 

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc.

770-471-3889

www.hilltoppools.com

 

 

Happy Ground Hog Day!

Groundhog Day is approaching and if the cute little guy doesn’t see his shadow, pool weather will soon be here.

The East Coast has two very celebrated forecasters, Punxsutawney Phil who lives in PA and General Beauregard Lee from GA. But just how did these guys get their esteem positions? First of all they are simple mammals from the squirrel family (Marmota Monax).

The groundhog is thought to be an honorable ancestor of the Delaware Indians who settled in Punxsutawney, PA in 1723. In the 1700’s the Germans settled in this ventral area of PA bringing with them their holiday of Candlemas. This was the day the priest would bless the candles. Candlemas Day was celebrated half way between Winter and Spring. The weather was an important part of everyday life back then and various celebrations were held to ensure a good season for growing crops.

Starting in the 1840’s residents noticed the groundhog would emerge from his winter hibernation. If he was scared by his shadow he would scurry back into his burrow and winter would continue. The Northeast has Punxsutawney Phil. Phil lives in the local library in a climate-controlled home dining on dog food and ice cream. During recorded history Phi9l has seen his shadow 100 times, not seen it 16 times and was a no show 9 times.

His Southern cousin General Beauregard Lee has quite a different lifestyle. “Beau”, as he is lovingly referred to, resides in a beautiful white-columned Southern mansion nestled in the Yellow River Game Ranch of Stone Mountain. His home is said to also include a water fountain, granite monument, sundial, doormat and of course a mail box to answer all his fan mail.

Beau’s education is well rounded and he holds two degrees, one from UGA, DWP-Doctor of Weather Prognostication. The other a Doctor of Southern Groundology from Georgia State University.

He has made several appearances on television including the Today Show during the Democratic convention and Animal Planet. Despite all the fame and educational awards, Beau is quite down to earth. He is very sociable and loves to chat with those who speak groundhogese.

If you had the chance to sit and chat with him on Twitter and Facebook he would tell you how important it is to find the right pool builder. Just like many humans, he always gets online and checks out reviews on Kudzu.com and the Better Business Bureau.

Hilltop Pools and Spas, Inc. agrees with Beau in doing your research to insure you receive the best quality and workmanship for your money. Beau knows that not all pools are created equal and “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price.”

So be sure to do your homework, check out the others then check Hilltop Pools (www.hilltoppools.com).

Call them today to find out about their latest specials. 770-471-3889