Swimming at Night in an Above Ground Pool

There is nothing quite like taking a dip in your backyard on-ground swimming pool on a hot summer night. However, there are some things that you should think about before you step foot in the water. You want to be safe, and you want to be sure that you, your family, and any guests to your home are able to swim without any kind of danger.

To prevent any problems with people not being able to see in the dark, it is suggested that you get pool lighting installed. There are a number of different options available to you when it comes to choosing the best lighting for your above ground pool. 

Types of Lighting Available

Overhanging Lights

These are the most traditional option. They involve having a light kit hanging over the top lip of the pool. They involve installing a light attached to a plastic arm where wires will go down the bulb. These are used mostly in pools that do not have any kind of deck installed. These are likely the most affordable option.

Through-Wall Lights

These lights look more "professional," and they don't stick out of the sides of the above ground pool. They don't interfere with swimming by getting in the way. For installation, they will need to be mounted properly to prevent problems with leaks. They must be installed through the structural walls of the pool and the liner itself.

Floating Lights

These are used in both in-ground and on-ground pool varieties. They do not need to penetrate any walls or liners for installation, and they can be purchased in battery-powered varieties. This means that you also do not need to worry about any unattractive or dangerous wires running to your pool.

Magnetic Lights

These are attached to the sides of the pool. This is also a style that does need to penetrate the walls of the pool or the liner for proper installation. Another benefit of this variety is the fact that the light can be moved to wherever you want.

For More Information

If you would like to learn more about above ground pools, in general, or about all of the different types of accessories available to you, please visit us at Ambassador Pools. We serve New England, including all of Massachusetts, Hudson Valley, western PA, and parts of the Midwest, including Cleveland, Akron, and Canton in Ohio. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The Risks of Having a Salt Water Pool

There has been a lot of talk recently in the pool industry about making the switch from a standard filtering and chlorination system to salt water chlorination. But, before you do something like this at your own home, there are a few things that you should know about.

1. Chemical balancing - salt water requires a lot of maintenance

2. Draining - there are city rules and guidelines in place when it comes to draining your salt water pool

3. Galvanic corrosion - this is a complicated electrical process that could cause a lot of problems for your swimming pool

Chemical Balancing

When you add a salt water system to your pool, the chemical balancing process will change, obviously. Most swimming pools have a low pH while salt water pools have a higher pH due to the fact that chlorine is produced from the system. The problem here is that many pool owners think that if they buy a salt water kit, they aren't going to need to do as much maintenance. This is not true. If corrective actions aren't taken to keep the water's pH levels in check, it could cause a lot of problems, including the formation of corrosive scale.

Draining the Water

Typically, a traditional pool can have its water drained out to the curb in front of the home where it will flow down a sewer grate. With salt water, you may need to have the water hauled away or some other requirements may be in place depending on where you live. This can lead to additional maintenance costs for you to worry about from season to season.

Galvanic Corrosion 

This is the process where metals are submerged in an electrolyte mixture, creating a current that moves between metal components and the water in the pool. This means that the salt water in your pool may have a constant voltage, which will eventually lead to premature corrosion to the pool floor, liner, filter, and so on.

For More Information

To learn more, give us a call here at Ambassador Pools. We serve New England, including all of Massachusetts, Hudson Valley, western PA, and parts of the Midwest, including Cleveland, Akron, and Canton in Ohio.

Above Ground Pools vs In-Ground Pools

Sure, the weather outside right now isn't making you think about taking a dip in a brand new pool, but once the dog days of summer get here, you and the family are going to want a place to cool off. What better way to do so than from the comfort of your own backyard with a swimming pool? 

Ambassador Pools is a leading above ground pool provider in the New England area, including in Massachusetts where they are headquartered. We wanted to give you a few points to think about when it comes to making a pool purchase. Should you go with in-ground or above ground? What is the best value? What makes the most sense for your family's needs? Read on to learn more.

COST

This is likely the first thing that you want to know about. How much is it going to cost? Generally speaking, an in-ground pool, regardless of whether it is vinyl, concrete, or fiberglass is going to cost around $30-70,000. This is a wide range, definitely, but it is a true estimate of how much the job is going to cost you. 

You may have seen popular TV commercials or kits sold at your local home improvement store that say that you can have an in-ground pool installed for less than $15,000. This is nowhere close to being accurate. Sure, maybe the cost of labor will be this much, but this total does not include: the shell of the pool, the excavation and ground leveling work that will be needed, the pool deck that will need to be added around the water, the accessories you want, lighting, electrical hookup, and the fence that will be required around the pool if you live in an area where it's in the city code.

When purchasing an above ground pool, the costs are much less. You can get the entire pool set up, pool deck and accessories included, for MUCH less than $30,000! This is good news for any homeowner working with a budget, which let's face it, that's all of us! Also, when you get an above ground swimming pool installed, you won't need to worry about getting a special fence installed, and you won't have to pay any yearly taxes on it as is the case with the in-ground variety. 

MAINTENANCE

When comparing the two types of pools, in-ground pools require a lot of chemicals to be sure that the water stays clean and healthy for your family to swim in. Also, if there is a crack in the walls or floor of the pool, it can be difficult (and expensive) to have repaired, especially if the shell is made from concrete. With an above ground pool from Ambassador Pools, you get a practically maintenance-free pool. That is just how they are designed! It is recommended that you make sure that the filter is kept clean, and be sure that you also skim across the top of the water to remove any leaves, twigs, seed pods, or so on which may have gotten into the water between uses.

SIZE

Both types of pools are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. However, with above ground pools from us, you have the ability to get a versatile rectangular pool installed which will fit perfectly in the space allotted for it in your backyard. These pools are great for swimming laps and getting your exercise. They are also perfect for all types of water sports and games, including water volleyball.

LONGEVITY

Typically speaking, the average above ground pool will last for around 15 years with proper care and upkeep. The liner in the pool will last for about 5-9 years before it is going to need to be replaced. An in-ground pool's lifespan will vary depending on what type of material the shell is made out of. For most fiberglass pools, they should last for about 20 years. Vinyl pools will last for about that long, as well, but their liners will need to be replaced often. And concrete pools will last for a long time, but they are the most difficult to maintain because they can easily crack and chip.

CONCLUSION

As you can easily see, an above ground pool is a great choice if you are a family in New England wanting to get a swimming pool for your family for the upcoming spring and summer months. For more information, or to schedule a consultation in your home, please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-798-6039. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

How Much Do Above Ground Swimming Pools Cost for Massachusetts Homeowners?

One of the very first things that comes to mind when MA homeowners are considering buying a pool is,"how much is it going to cost?" We are a budget-conscious society these days, and we want to be sure that we are getting the best bang for our buck. There are many articles out there on the Web that will give EXACT numbers as far as cost as going to go, but we feel that this is inappropriate and there is no way it can be accurate.

For example, we sell different-sized swimming pools. The amount of labor needed to get your specific model is going to vary based on what the lawn is like - i.e., is any sloping or terrain work going to be required? Also, we offer a variety of accessories and add-ons, including pool decks that are not often included in the price of the above ground pool itself. This is why we feel that your best bet for getting an ACCURATE estimate is to call us for a consultation. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the price is going to be far less than having an inground pool installed! It is also going to take much less time to get one of our on-ground pools set up.

So, if you are thinking about getting an above ground pool installed in your MA home for your family to enjoy next summer, don't go by the pricing you see on the Web alone. Also, don't count on the price of the pool "kits" at the store to be anywhere near what the real thing is going to cost. Again, if you want a real and precise estimate for the cost of the pool as well as for the labor that is going to be required for the installation, you are going to need to give us a call for an estimate and consultation. Our number is 1-800-798-6039. 

We service all of MA, including: Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, New Bedford, Brockton, Quincy, Lynn, Fall River, and Newton.

It may be winter, but there is no better time than now to start planning for next spring and summer! Get your above ground pool plans in the works now so that you and your family can be ready to enjoy the cool waters when the temps get hot outside!