Hiring a pool service or pool repair person in San Diego

Since my experience and expertise is related to the Southern California pool industry, I'll focus on what a homeowner should look for when hiring in this area.  However most, if not all, of the information will apply to other areas as well.

Your time is your most valuable asset.  For this reason, hiring the right person to do work on your home, especially on a continuous basis as with pool service, deserves some thought.

You'll want to evaluate both their personal qualities and professional qualities.

Some questions to answer regarding the candidate's personal qualities:

Do you like the way they handled the initial phone conversation?

Did they arrive on time for your first meeting?

Is their personal appearance and that of their vehicle and equipment acceptably clean and neat?  This speaks to their work habits!

Do they seem knowledgeable and comfortable when answering your questions?

Do you feel comfortable with this person?  Will you be comfortable with this person having access to your yard, perhaps even while you're away? {Always look for established, long-term professionals who do their own work-large companies with high turnover rates may be sending a new person every month, or every week, to your house}

Some things to consider regarding their professional qualities:

How many years have they been in business?

Are they licensed?

Have they done work for others in your neighborhood?  References are great, but references from a neighbor you trust are even better!  An experienced pool professional should be able to provide references from a customer nearby.

Do they have experience installing, repairing, or troubleshooting the type of equipment in your pool?

Are they qualified to handle repairs of all types, maintain your equipment, and spot issues with your equipment before problems become severe, or must they (or you!) call in someone else when a problem arises?

In the next article, I'd like to discuss how to gather quotes for repair and install work, and why the cheapest is almost never a good choice (but you already knew that, right?)

If you have any questions regarding your pool or spa, I would be happy to help.  


Feel free to call me, Ruben, at 619-957-8000.  I promise to call you back, show up on time, and bring my decades of experience with me ;)

Common questions for pool service in San Diego-"Can't I take care of it myself?"

The short answer is, sure you can.  If you're familiar with basic electrical/plumbing systems, you have the time and desire, and you don't mind doing a little research and reading the materials that come with your equipment, taking care of the basic service for your pool can be done by the motivated homeowner.

What are some reasons homeowners decide to service their own pools?  In my experience there are two main reasons: the desire to save money, or a recent retirement (or having a teenager you'd like to give some responsibility to) in the household.

If you're looking to save money by servicing your own pool, consider the option of twice-a-month instead of weekly service, or even just chemical service, with a pool professional.  For one,  it saves you the trip to the pool supplier for retail-priced chemicals.  The cost of pool chemicals is constantly on the rise, and you benefit from the bulk rate your pool professional gets.  It also prevents the cycle of algae growth and the need to "shock" your pool with lots of expensive, toxic chemicals that plagues many DIY-ers.  Water chemistry isn't as easy to maintain as it might seem!

But the biggest savings of having a pool professional periodically checking in on your pool is this:  they can catch a problem before it ruins equipment or becomes a costly repair, and they can help you with routine maintenance that prevents these problems and extends the life of your equipment.  These systems are increasingly advanced, sensitive, computerized systems that don't lend themselves to amateur maintenance.  Over the long haul, having a good pool professional servicing your pool should actually save you money. 

And when it's time for a system upgrade or some major repair, it's nice to have an established relationship with someone you trust.  Someone who will do exactly what needs to be done; no more and no less.

And if you simply feel that you now have the time and desire to maintain your own pool, it's still a good idea to have someone trustworthy and knowledgeable to call on when something is beyond your skill-level.  Scheduling a six-month checkup is a good idea.  Have your pool professional assess your major systems for issues and provide annual maintenance services.

And this brings us to another common question: What do I look for when hiring a pool professional? 

We will discuss this in the next article.

As always, if you're in San Diego County and have any questions regarding  your pool and/or spa, give me a call at (619) 957-8000 or contact me, Ruben, at atlantispools1@gmail.com

Owning a pool or spa in San Diego

Without a doubt, some of the best weather in the world is right here in San Diego.  Our outdoor spaces get a lot of use as places to entertain, excercise, and relax with our families.

But when the weekend finally comes, you don't want to spend hours cleaning the pool or repairing equipment.  Having a pool is enough of an expense, and you just want it to be there; clean and running and ready to enjoy!

With the right professional, the correct equipment, and the best maintenance schedule for your location and frequency of use, your pool can always be ready to enjoy.

I look forward to providing readers with the most up-do-date information on pool and spa maintenance and care, with a focus on energy efficiency that saves money and the environment. 

If you live in San Diego County and have questions about your pool or spa, feel free to contact me, Ruben Meza, at 619-957-8000 or atlantispools1@gmail.com