Tag Archive for: pool

Who should perform swimming pool maintenance at the properties you manage?

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5 ways a pool service company in Orlando can help property managers

As a property manager, your job is to keep the property you manage in a safe and habitable condition. You likely keep a large network of reliable plumbers, electricians, carpenters, landscapers and other contractors on hand to make emergency repairs or perform preventative property maintenance. By hiring experts to perform the needed task around your rental property, you limit issues from arising and solve problems quicker.

 

Property investors in Orlando often buy properties with pools for the added value, higher renting rate and enhanced tenant appeal. But a pool can become a costly and legal headache if it’s not properly maintained—and the property owner is relying on you. That’s why if you manage a property with a pool, it’s important that you hire the right people to care for it.  

 

Why hire a pool service company?

Hiring a dependable pool service company in Orlando will do more than simply keep the pools at your properties clean. They will also help to: 

 

#1: Improve Safety

Pools that are not properly maintained can be harmful to the health and happiness of tenants or guests. A reliable pool service company in Orlando will maintain your pool’s chemical levels to help reduce the spread of harmful diseases.

 

#2: Reduce Cost

Property managers are responsible for managing a rental or vacation property’s budget. With a pool service company in Orlando regularly checking your pool’s chemical levels, you can actually save money by reducing the need for constant maintenance.

 

#3: Protect Against Liability

Experienced pool service companies don’t just work with different types of pools, but also different types of fences and gates surrounding the pools. They can inform you if there’s an issue with any of these safety measures, to help prevent potential pool-related accidents that you may be liable for.

 

#4: Maintain Guest and Tenant Comfort 

Pool service companies will often visit the same property multiple times a month, allowing them to be the “eyes and ears” of the property manager. A reliable pool service company in Orlando will communicate and make a note of possible issues that threaten tenant and guest comfort.

 

#5: Encourage Repeat Guests and Long-Term Tenants

A well-maintained pool contributes to the comfort of the people renting the property, and keeping them happy encourages long-term tenants and repeat guests. This eliminates the money and work needed in finding new people to rent your property—and ensures a steady, reliable source of income for the property owner who hired you.

 

Properly maintaining a pool requires expert knowledge and regular work. Whether you manage a single family rental property or a vacation home, the team at Fratelli Pool Service has what it takes to keep you, your renters, and the property owner happy. 

 

We’re fully certified, insured, licensed and experienced pool company in Orlando. In addition to servicing pools for rental properties and vacation homes, we also offer a variety of extra services like pressure washing, deck organization, and more. 

 

Contact us today to request a quote or schedule a pool cleaning.

What homeowners can learn at our pool care School Day

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Our school day service teaches you the ins and outs of pool maintenance

 

A hobby for some, and a chore for others, keeping your pool clean can be an intimidating task if you try to learn it all on your own.

 

Luckily, Fratelli Pool Service is here to teach you everything you need to know about maintaining a crystal clear pool! 

 

Keep reading to learn more about our educational pool care School Day.

 

What will I learn?

When you book our School Day service, one of our trained, licensed pool technicians will visit your home and give you an in-person lesson taking you through the right pool cleaning process step by step. 

 

You’ll learn important skills including how to: 

  • Correctly use your pool equipment (motor, pump, valves, heater, etc.)
  • Properly brush and skim your pool
  • Replenish your chlorine safely
  • Balance the pool chemicals 
  • Administer shock and algaecide 
  • Check, clean and change your pool filter.

 

Why should I sign up?

During your School Day session, our knowledgeable pool tech will answer any questions you may have and let you know how often you need to clean your pool in order to maintain a healthy swimming environment for your family. 

 

Consistently taking care of your pool stops bacteria and algae from growing and prevents damage from debris. You’ll not only learn how to complete these tasks, but you will also learn why these tasks are so important to keep your pool functioning perfectly. 

 

If you would like more information regarding our weekly pool service and what you will be learning during your school day, visit our services page here. 

 

Ready to book your School Day?

You can get in touch via our contact form or call us at (407) 267-0342.

 

If you’d rather leave the pool care to the pros, you can schedule a service consultation here.

 

We’re social! You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.

 

From green to great: How to clean a green swimming pool

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Learn why your pool might go green, how to clean it, and how to stop it happening again

 

It’s the start of summer, which means it’s the perfect weather to get outdoors and enjoy your swimming pool!

 

But what do you do if your pool is looking a little green around the gills? Keep reading to learn what causes a swimming pool to go green, how to clean it, and how to prevent it from happening again in the future.

 

Why does a swimming pool turn green?

Swimming pools can turn green for a number of reasons.

 

  • Chemical imbalance

An imbalanced pool is the most common cause of a green swimming pool. If your pool doesn’t have enough chlorine, algae can quickly begin to grow. It’s the rapid growth of this algae which causes the pool water to look green.

 

  • A dirty deck

When dirt enters your pool from the surrounding area, it can make your water look green. Grime and slime can build up on your deck’s surface as a result of rain or heavy foot traffic, and this gets transferred to the water when people jump in for a swim.

 

  • Lots of pool use

Pool parties are fun, but they can take their toll on your pool! When lots of people use your pool in a short space of time, the effect of your pool chemicals can wear off quicker. This gives algae the chance to start growing.

 

  • Use of pool heater

High water temperatures can cause your chlorine to be used up faster than normal. Again, this gives algae the opportunity to start growing in your pool.

 

  • Excessive rain

All those heavy Florida downpours add a lot of extra water to your pool! This excess untreated water can cause the carefully balanced chemicals in your pool to become unbalanced, fast.

 

  • Oxidized metals

The presence of certain metals, like copper, in your pool water can cause big problems. They can be introduced when the source water is acidic, through cheap algaecides or from metal components in your pool equipment.

When you shock your pool, the process can oxidize the metals in the water. If they are present in high enough quantities, they will turn your pool water green. If left untreated, these metals may stain your pool’s surface—and they can even turn your hair green if you swim in it!

 

  • Airborne pollen

Did you know that excessive amounts of pollen in the air can have a big impact on your pool? Airborne pollen particles can often be too small for your pool filter to remove, so they settle on the surface of the water instead. This can give your pool a green or yellow look.

 

Is it safe to swim in a green swimming pool?

A green swimming pool is not always unsafe, but it’s definitely a red flag that something isn’t quite right.

While most algae is not harmful to humans, be warned: if algae can grow in your pool, then other things—like bacteria—can grow there too!

Nasty bacteria that can make you sick can enter your body through even a small cut, or through your eyes, ears, nose and throat. Algae can also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.

Our advice is to get that green swimming pool cleaned right away!

 

How do I clean a green swimming pool?

The first step in restoring your pool is to use a chemical test kit to determine the extent of the problem. Once you know what your levels are, you must add more chemicals to rebalance the water.

Then, check the pool filter is working correctly, remove any debris, thoroughly scrub the sides and bottom of your pool, and add pool shock to kill the remaining algae.

Once it’s safe to do so, use a pool vacuum to remove all of the dead algae and re-check the chemical levels. If your pool is still looking a little green, you may have to repeat the process.

 

How can I stop my swimming pool turning green?

No one wants a green swimming pool! The secret to avoiding it is to keep your pool properly maintained.

You can prevent algae from growing in the first place by:

  • Making sure your pool’s chlorine and pH levels remain steady
  • Keeping your pool filter clean and in full working condition
  • Keeping the pool surface clean and free from debris.

 

How our Green Pool Treatment works

If your swimming pool is green, don’t despair. Give us a call and we’ll transform your pool from green to great in as little as two days!

We use commercial-grade treatments that act quickly and safely to destroy algae, kill bacteria, and restore your pool’s chemical balance.

With our Green Pool Treatment, your pool will be back to a sparkling clear blue in no time—all you need to do is dive in and enjoy a swim!

Here are the before and after photos of green pool treatments we recently did for two residential customers in the Orlando area.

 

 

 

Ready to book your Green Pool Treatment?

You can get in touch via our contact form or call us at (407) 267-0342.

 

We’re social! You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.

What should you look for in a pool cleaning company?

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Learn how to choose a pool cleaning company that ticks all the boxes

 

Do you find yourself spending more time taking care of your pool than you do enjoying it? If your answer is yes, it may be time to think about hiring a professional pool cleaning company.

 

In Orlando, the weather is always perfect for a swim—so it’s important to keep your pool pristine all year round! To help you decide who’s up to the job, we’ve put together a list of the 5 most important things to look for when hiring a pool cleaning company.

 

 

  • Choose a company that’s licensed and insured

When you’re researching a pool cleaning company, make sure you ask for their credentials. A licensed, insured pool cleaning company will uphold higher service standards than an unlicensed pool cleaner—plus, you’re protected if anything goes wrong when they’re servicing your pool.

 

Ask how many years they’ve been in business and how many pools they take care of. If they don’t have a website or social media presence, ask them to share customer testimonials and photos of the pools they’ve serviced.

 

 

  • Clear communication

You can learn a lot about a pool cleaning company just from the first interactions you have with them. Do they respond promptly and professionally to phone calls and messages? Do they take the time to listen to what you need? Do they provide a comprehensive quote that lists all of the charges upfront?

 

These first communications with a prospective pool cleaning company can tell you a lot about how things are likely to go once you hire them. If they respond in a timely manner, answer all of your questions and act professionally throughout, there’s a big chance they’ll do a great job taking care of your pool, too.

 

 

  • Comprehensive pool cleaning

Don’t hire a pool cleaning company that only does half the job! There’s not much point paying a professional to take care of your pool if you’ll still have to do some of the dirty work yourself.

 

Look for a pool cleaning company that offers more than just chemical analysis and water balancing. Comprehensive pool cleaning should always include:

  • Cleaning the pool walls, tiles and water line
  • Skimming the pool surface
  • Cleaning the skimmer and pump baskets
  • Cleaning the pool filter
  • Inspecting all pool equipment.

 

Regular inspection of your pool equipment can actually help you save money in the long run. Keeping everything well-maintained will help to extend the life of your equipment and may mean fewer costly repair bills in the future.

 

 

  • Read the reviews

Before hiring a pool cleaning company, check out their reviews on Google and Facebook. Pay close attention to what customers say about the quality of the work as well as the promptness, reliability and professionalism of the pool cleaning team.

 

 

  • Don’t forget the finishing touches

To help you keep the area around your pool beautifully maintained, an experienced pool cleaning company may also offer some great extra services in addition to weekly pool cleaning. These extra services may include:

  • Deep cleaning of pool tiles
  • Pressure washing the pool deck and screen
  • School day (educational sessions for homeowners to help them learn how to take care of their pool).

 

If you’re looking for a certified, insured and licensed pool cleaning company in Orlando, we’re here to help!

 

Fratelli Pool Service has been serving the Greater Orlando area since 2016. We take great pride in our work, helping both residential customers and property management companies keep their pools beautifully clean and perfectly maintained.

 

Our goal is to always exceed our customers’ expectations. We are CPO certified, licensed and insured for your protection.

 

Ready to request a quote?

You can get in touch via our contact form or call us at (407) 267-0342.

 

We’re social! You can find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Think about the pool’s filter as your pool’s kidneys

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Just as your kidneys are constantly working to remove impurities from your body, your pool’s filter is responsible for removing impurities from the water – think dirt, leaves, and even small toys.

Most of the time, the pool can be cleaned by turning off the filter, removing the filter cap located on the pool deck, lifting out the filter basket, and removing any debris before replacing everything. It’s best to clean out your filter basket at least once a week.

Once a month you’ll also want to clean out the pipes utilized by your filter system, which you can do by backwashing. To do so, simply set your filter to “backwash,” remove the leaf basket and clean it out. Then turn on your pump and let it run until the waste pipe ejects clear water.

A final note on turning the filter on and off: Doing so too often can cause the filter’s mechanics to crack. Set your filter on a timer and allow it to run for at least six hours a day.

How to Test Pool Water Accurately

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It’s important to learn how to test pool water, and do it at least once a week to make sure the pH and alkalinity are balanced, and to keep your sanitizer level in check (i.e. chlorine at 3 ppm).

What most pool owners don’t know, however, is there’s a right and wrong way to test your water, no matter what type of testing you’re doing. It all starts with the water sample.

You can watch a full video on how to test pool water, or read below (or both).

 

The Water Sample

There are 3 ways to test pool water:

  • Liquid test kit
  • Test strips
  • Taking your sample to a local pool store to have it professionally checked.

To take a proper water sample, use a clean cup or bottle (with cap if you’re taking it to the pool store) and hold it upside down so that the opening is facing the floor. Insert into the water elbow-deep and turn it right side up to collect the sample. Do not take the sample near any return jets or skimmer opening. If possible, take the sample from the absolute middle of your pool.

Now you can take this sample to your pool store or check it yourself.

Using Test Strips

For home testing, this is my personal favorite. It’s easy to do and very accurate – much more accurate than using a liquid test kit because of human error when it comes to matching up the colors and using chemical droplets.

Take your water sample and quickly dip one, dry strip into the water. Hold it still in the air for about 15 seconds (do not shake off the excess water). Then match up the colors of the strip to the back of the bottle to get your readings.

There are all different kinds of test strips you can buy that check for all sorts of things, but you really only need to check for pH, alkalinity and free chlorine.

Use test strips at least once a week. I like to check my water every other day. And bring a sample to your local pool store once a month to have it professionally checked – also when opening and closing your pool.

Using a Liquid Test Kit

There are very advanced liquid test kits, but for home use, just stick with pH and chlorine or phenol red and OTO. Phenol red is a red chemical you add to a small sample of water to check the pH. The redder the water, the higher the pH.

OTO is the chemical that tests for total chlorine. It’s a yellow liquid you add to your sample. The more yellow, the more chlorine.

With a liquid test kit, it’s hard to see the low end of the colors. Make sure you use a white background to examine the colors to be accurate.

Happy Swimming!

 

Font: https://www.swimuniversity.com/test-pool-water/