Planning a Pool? Why Not Throw in a Spa?

Planning for a pool may sound like a great idea now that spring and summer are on their way, but that might not be the only thing you should be drawing up with pool builders. 

You should also consider designing a spa. With its hot water jets and smaller basin, a spa might sound counterintuitive to summer activities. Yet there are a few good reasons a spa would be a worthwhile add-on to your pool.

Warm days, cool nights

Spring and summer will give you enough warm days to content your Southern Californian heart; nowadays, even in Orange County, they’re also likely to come with more cool nights. A spa should come in handy once you want to take a late-hour dip. 

Besides, after a day of laps, water polo with friends, or chasing kids around a pool, doesn’t a quiet night soaking in your private spa sound appealing? 

Two projects in one job

Constructing a spa with your pool also figures to be cost-effective. After all, builders already have to excavate, install the plumbing, and source chemicals and materials as they work on your pool. 

Of course it would cost extra, and maintaining a spa’s hot water system won’t come cheap long-term. However, it could still cost less than having to heat an entire pool.  

In-ground vs. portable

But why should you have a spa built with your pool? Wouldn’t a portable hot tub be more practical? 

True, portable tubs are easier and faster to install. However, they come in fixed shapes and sizes, limiting your room for customization and integrated design. In-ground spas can be built to your specifications – and, along with your pool, make your yard and garden more stunning than before.

Going Green with Your Swimming Pool Equipment

These days, with rising public concern on environmental impact and decreasing natural resources, more and more homeowners are starting to make eco-friendly decisions especially when it comes to their home improvement projects. Take the construction of swimming pools, for example, wherein the USA Swimming and National Swimming Pool Foundation estimate that there are 10 million swimming pools in the United States and that the average backyard pool holds 25,000 gallons of water--a fact that can be a problem in areas suffering from drought.

This is why Orange County pool builders are taking an environment-friendly initiative by utilizing green technology to make sure that the pools they construct are energy-saving, ecological, and beautiful. Here are more ways to make swimming pools and spas less harmful to the environment:

Consider variable-speed pumps

Did you know that a well-designed variable-speed pump can reduce energy costs of running a swimming pool by up to 90 percent? It’s no wonder, therefore, that pool renovation projects to reduce energy consumption mostly focuses on finding the best pump. Unlike single-speed pumps that rely on one speed to do its job, a variable-speed pump can be programmed to operate in the right speed for the task at hand, such as operating waterfalls, spa jets, or suction-side pool cleaners. Your initial investment on a variable-speed pump can be recouped after two years.

Choose energy-saving pool equipment

The pool pump may be the biggest energy-eater in a pool, but there are more energy-saving pool equipment for you to consider. The filter, for one, have an impact on the pool’s energy consumption. Generally, cartridge filtration systems offer the least resistance to flow, saving energy in the process. You may also want to invest in digital automation systems to automatically schedule cleaning and filtration cycles.