Last year I received a “Paradise Pool Discount” for bundling and prepaying my services. I do not see that on the forms this year. Is a discount still available?

Yes. We are offering a 5% discount when you bundle all three services: Opening, Weekly Valet, and Closing. You will be required to prepay the bundle of services. We can send an invoice, or you can call our office after you submit the service request forms. The invoiced amount for the valet service will be based on weekly service between the requested opening and closing dates on the service request forms. Please note the discount will not be applied to additional services during the season and the discount does not apply to any chemicals needed during the season.

Last year you automatically charged my credit card on file for services as incurred. Why can’t you do that this year?

We will no longer maintain your personal credit card information in our files. To stay current with best practices in confidential data management, we will not maintain or store customer financial information. We use a compliant third-party processor (QuickBooks) for all credit card transactions.

How do I access my portal in your swimming pool service management system?

When we process your request for 2024 service, we will send you an invite to the portal. You will sign in with your email and create a password. For the safety and security of your information we suggest you use a unique password. If you have any issues with the system, you may call our office and we can assist you.

Last year I was able to request a specific service technician. Can I do that this year?

While we can try to accommodate specific requests, we cannot promise a specific technician for any service due to route planning and/or equipment issues. Our new system provides more efficient routes for our technicians.

Last year I was able to request specific opening, closing, and valet days. Can I do that this year?

While we can try to accommodate specific requests, we cannot promise specific dates at the time of registering for 2024 services. Our system will be setting final schedules in the prior week for openings and will adjust schedules for valet services based on zip codes and proximity to other customers.

What should I expect when your service shows up to open my pool?

You should receive a call the day before with the approximate time of the team’s arrival. Please raise the pool water to the normal level before the team arrives. The team should call about 15 minutes before their arrival. Two or three team members will arrive in a van or truck with our logo on the side. One of the team members will ring the doorbell or knock on the door to announce their arrival and invite you to the pool with them. The lead technician will review the condition of the pool with you. They will remove the cover and fold up the cover for storage. Please let them know where you would like it stored. Handrails and ladders will be reinstalled. All pool equipment will be re-assembled as necessary and plugs and gizzmos removed. The pool equipment will be primed and put into operation. The heater will be test fired. Once the pool is running the team will check and balance chemicals. Balance chemicals manage your PH, alkalinity, and chlorine stability. We will add spring start up chemicals including algaecide, stain & scale remover, and shock. We will also add salt to pools with salt cell generators. Your invoice will be sent from our QuickBooks system the next morning. Your invoice will be sent from our QuickBooks system the next morning and future services will not be scheduled if payment is not received in full.

Why don’t you vacuum the pool at opening?

The time required to vacuum a pool at opening varies based on the condition of the pool when closed, the fit and style of the winter cover, and the condition of the pool upon opening. To maintain fair costs to most pool owners we have a separate charge for vacuuming the pool at opening. Please note that the initial opening and any vacuuming at opening may stir up a fair number of small particles that collected over the winter which will settle after vacuuming. You may need to vacuum again after our visit or set your auto pool vacuums in place. If you subscribe to our valet service, we will continue to vacuum each week and you will notice the pool cleaner with each visit.

Should I continue valet service in the fall when I am not using my pool regularly?

Fall in the northeast is a challenging time for pool owners. If you keep the pool open past mid-September, chemical usage will be reduced due to cooler temperatures. If you are keeping your pool heated, you will experience greater evaporation and still require chemical testing. You should also check your skimmer and pump baskets often to ensure filtration equipment can function properly. Leaves should be vacuumed off the bottom of the pool prior to closing your pool. Valet services during the fall months can assist you with these issues.

What should I expect when your service shows up to valet my pool?

You will receive a notice from our pool management system regarding the approximate time of your weekly recurring service. Please raise the pool water to the normal level before the team arrives each week. The service tech should call about 15 minutes before arriving. The service tech will arrive in a van or truck with our logo on the side and will enter the pool area to start work. You may meet with the service tech and discuss any issues you have noted since our last visit. The tech will skim the pool/spa surface and will vacuum the bottom of the pool. If the vacuuming requires over 15 minutes, you will be charged for the extra time at our stated rates. The tech will empty all skimmer baskets and the pump baskets. Filters will be backwashed if applicable. Chemical testing will be performed, and results will be available in the portal. Our tech will then add chemicals per NSF guidelines to ensure you have saved and healthy water for swimming. The tech will note in the portal any issues found during the valet visit. The tech will clean up all service equipment and waste from the service and will depart. Your invoice will be sent from our QuickBooks system the next morning and future services will not be scheduled if payment is not received in full.

What should I expect when your service shows up to close my pool?

You should receive a call the day before with the approximate time of the team’s arrival. Please have covers, cover pumps, extension cords, plugs, and gizzmos out and ready for the team. Our team should call about 15 minutes before their arrival. Two or three team members will arrive in a van or truck with our logo on the side. One of the team members will ring the doorbell or knock on the door to announce their arrival and invite you to the pool with them. The lead technician will review the condition of the pool with you. A service tech will skim the surface of the pool, but we will not vacuum the pool. Skimmer and pump baskets will be emptied and removed. The water level will be lowered to 2 to 3 inches below the tile line to protect the plaster while reducing potential freeze damage to the tile. Filters will be removed, washed down, reinstalled, or backwashed, if needed. You may opt to store your filter materials inside for the winter. Plumbing lines will be blown out and plugs and gizzmos installed. We will add the winter closing chemicals including algaecide, stain & scale remover, and shock. Cover/winter pumps will be placed, and the cover will be installed. Your invoice will be sent from our QuickBooks system the next morning and is due upon receipt. Future services will not be scheduled if payment is not received in full.

How do I arrange for a service visit if there is a problem with my pool?

Please call our office and we can discuss assessment options. One of our service members or our service manager can be dispatched to your pool for an assessment. We charge a flat fee for the first 30 minutes and then an hourly rate charged on 15-minute increments. Our service staff will review the issue with you and quote you for the repair. If you cannot be present for the service assessment, our tech will take and provide pictures in the service software portal. You will receive a work order for your approval on the portal. We will not start work without your approval as to the service provided and the estimated cost. Once the work is complete, your invoice will be sent from our QuickBooks system the next morning and future services will not be scheduled if payment is not received in full.

I think my pool is leaking. What can I do to verify the leak?

The evaporation rate for swimming pools can vary based on several factors such as ambient air temperature, water temperature, humidity, recurring wind speeds, spa usage, waterfall usage, and pool size. On average, a typical outdoor swimming pool may experience an evaporation rate of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch per day during the summer months. However, this is a general estimate, and the actual rate can be influenced by local climate conditions. It is important for pool owners to regularly monitor water levels and adjust them accordingly to compensate for evaporation. Using a pool cover when the pool is not in use can significantly reduce evaporation rates and help conserve water. Our first recommendation, if no obvious leak is noted, will be a bucket test that is simple to perform. If further investigation is warranted, our service team will discuss options including pressure testing, dye testing, and invasive leak testing performed by licensed leak detection companies.

I have used your service for many years without additional fees for distance. Why are you charging a surcharge now?

We have added a formal surcharge for service customers that are 20 miles or more from our office. Rising fuel costs, increased costs to maintain and service our fleet, and increased traffic have led to the need to add a surcharge for customers outside a reasonable travel radius. Pool technicians are often licensed and trained in pool water safety and management. We do our best to hire professionals and need to compensate them for travel time and time at the customer location. We do our best to schedule our services to minimize our travel times between customers and we appreciate your flexibility to allow us to set the schedules that will minimize our costs and maximize our services to our customers.

Why is your pricing higher than internet pricing for replacement parts?

Replacement parts purchased online from discounters often do not include any form or extremely limited forms of warranties. All parts that we sell will include any manufacturer’s warranties. Our team members are trained, and many are certified in pool management and pool service. Our technicians attend training provided directly by the manufacturers. We are licensed in PA and NJ for home improvement activities. We have appropriate contractors and pool service insurance. Parts that we supply are provided direct by the manufacturer or distributor and are stored in our warehouse or carried on our trucks so we can service your pool quickly. Our team can assess your equipment and provide diagnostic solutions. We will carefully remove and install the parts needed to ensure efficient operation of your pool. To maintain this service level for you we cannot match internet pricing.

What are “multiple filtration systems” and why do I pay more if I have one?

While many pools are set up with an integrated filter system for the pool and spa, some may be designed with multiple filtration systems. This is more common when the spa is not overflowing into the pool, or the spa is not attached to the pool itself. If the bodies of water are kept separate, you may have multiple systems. Each pump and filter system requires us to clean and service the systems separately, adding considerable time to our visit. This is important to maintain safe and healthy water in each separate water system on your property. Likewise, opening and closing these multiple systems requires significantly more time during our visit.

What is the extra charge at closing for a waterfall and/or water entry?

Free-form pools and today’s modern rockfalls, sheer descents, and waterfalls create the need for overly complex cover installations. Installing the cabling necessary for proper cover installation can extend the time to close a pool and require additional team members on site for the installation. In some instances, our staff may be required to wear a wetsuit and enter the pool water at cold temperatures to complete the cover installation. We need to charge extra for the services to be fair to pool owners with simple cover installations.

My pool is greater than 40,000 gallons. Why do I pay a higher price?

Our opening and closing chemicals kits are designed for up to 40,000 gallons. Larger pools require a second chemical kit. Larger pools also take longer to perform the basic valet and opening/closing services.