Blog | Page 8 of 13 | Sacramento Pools & Spas

An empty kidney-shaped swimming pool under construction or renovation showing the gray plaster shell, with visible plumbing fixtures and built-in steps, surrounded by concrete decking.

Is Your Sacramento Pool Surface Failing? Early Warning Signs That Save Thousands

by pooltime
Mar 20, 2025
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The wake-up call for a family in Elk Grove came during their annual pool party when they realized the "minor roughness" they’d been ignoring had become sharp enough to cut a guest’s foot. What they’d dismissed as normal wear for three years had progressed to a safety hazard requiring emergency resurfacing during peak season. The […]

Construction workers dig a pool area using a small excavator and hand tools.

Pool Construction Week-by-Week: What Happens During Your Sacramento Build

by pooltime
Mar 19, 2025
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When families call me asking what actually happens during pool construction, I can tell they’re trying to picture the process and understand what their backyard will look like from week to week. It’s exciting but also a little overwhelming to imagine your peaceful backyard transformed into a construction zone. After managing hundreds of pool builds, […]

A resort-style pool glows at dusk with fire pits and desert mountains in the background.

Pool Lighting Benefits Sacramento: Transform Your Backyard Into a Safe, Beautiful Evening Oasis

by pooltime
Mar 18, 2025
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When families call me about pool lighting, they usually start with one concern – either safety or aesthetics. But after installing lighting systems throughout Sacramento for over 30 years, I’ve learned that great pool lighting delivers both, plus benefits they hadn’t even considered. Sacramento homeowners have a unique advantage when it comes to pool lighting. […]

Pool equipment control panel labeled "Pentair Water EasyTouch" with digital display and blue control buttons, handwritten label showing "Pumps EZTCH GFI/Lights RPD" mounted on textured wall.

Equipment Dormancy Preparation & Monitoring for Sacramento Pools

by pooltime
Mar 17, 2025
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The most expensive monitoring mistake I ever saw cost a customer in Elk Grove $3,800 to fix. They thought their pool was "fine" running unattended through winter because Sacramento has mild weather. But their pump seal developed a slow leak in January that went unnoticed for six weeks. By the time they discovered it, the […]

Rectangular swimming pool with clear blue water, tan concrete decking, landscaped garden bed with plants along the back, and a concrete block wall fence in the background.

Green Pool Recovery Sacramento: Understanding Algae Types & Emergency Response

by pooltime
Mar 16, 2025
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The call comes in around 8 AM on a Monday morning: "Help! We came back from vacation and our pool looks like a green swamp!" It’s a scenario I’ve responded to hundreds of times over the past 35 years, and it happens more often in Sacramento than most pool owners realize. Our intense summer heat, […]

Swimming pool with curved shallow entry area featuring multiple water jets creating fountain effects, stone veneer wall with waterfall spillways, clear blue water, concrete decking, landscaped raised planter with purple flowering plants and shrubs, wooden privacy fence, and utility poles visible in background.

Choosing Professional Pool Service for Sacramento Winter Care

by pooltime
Mar 15, 2025
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After three decades in the pool business, I’ve learned that choosing the right professional service provider is just as important as choosing the right winter care approach. I’ve seen homeowners hire companies based solely on the lowest price, only to end up with green pools, damaged equipment, and repair bills that exceeded what proper service […]

Covered swimming pool with gray safety cover secured by straps, blue water slide in background, wet concrete deck, concrete block wall, palm trees and residential buildings visible.

Protecting Sacramento Pools from Winter Elements & Debris Management

by pooltime
Mar 14, 2025
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The most debris-overwhelmed pool I ever rescued had been abandoned for just six weeks during peak valley oak season. The customer thought they could "handle it in spring," but by December there was literally no visible water—just a solid mat of decomposing leaves three feet deep. The cleanup required a front-loader to remove debris, acid […]

Underwater pool view showing sunlight creating rippling light patterns on gray pebble-textured pool surface through clear turquoise water.

Budget Breakdown: Plaster vs. Premium Aggregate True Costs for Sacramento Pools

by pooltime
Mar 13, 2025
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The financial awakening came for a family in Fair Oaks when they calculated the real costs after living with both surfaces. Their first pool had traditional plaster that seemed like a great budget choice at $8,000. Over 12 years, they spent another $15,000 on two acid washes, constant chemical battles, and early replacement. Their new […]

Detailed view of blue pool surface with decorative white tile accent stripe running diagonally across the speckled blue pebble finish.

Premium Aggregate vs. Plaster Maintenance: Which Is Easier for Sacramento Pool Owners?

by pooltime
Mar 12, 2025
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The maintenance revelation came for a family in Roseville after they upgraded from deteriorating plaster to NPT StoneScapes Regular Pebbles. "The difference was like night and day," the homeowner told me six months later. "We went from adding chemicals twice a week and constantly fighting stains to testing once a week and just enjoying our […]