Email Mike Email
Residential Real Estate
Mar 20, 2017

Preparing The Pool For Summer

Sponsored Content provided by Mike Stonestreet - Founder, CAMS (Community Association Management Services)


Spring has arrived, which means swimming pool season is just around the corner. 

Pools are an attractive and important amenity for a lot of condominium and community associations, since it is a facility used by so many residents - infants, retirees, families, fitness seekers, sunbathers, couples and individuals alike.

As winter comes to a close – and before the summer heat is fully upon us – it’s time to get the swimming pool ready.

Since most pools in our area reopen around the same time each year, the companies that clean and service them can get extremely busy, extremely fast. Failing to contact them early may mean you have to keep the lock on your swimming pool gate closed a little longer than expected.

Even though your swimming pool is in a residential community or condominium complex, it is considered a commercial swimming pool and therefore is subject to federal, state and local laws and guidelines. Commercial swimming pools must also pass an annual inspection and be permitted, both of which are handled by your county’s health department. 

Things for professional community managers and association boards of directors to keep in mind during the inspection process are the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requirements, making sure gates, latches and perimeter fencing are in working order, repairing shifting sections of concrete decks equal to or greater than one-quarter inch in height and/or length, and ensuring the pool and equipment are properly grounded.

It is recommended that a licensed electrician certify proper grounding. And it’s good practice to have an annual inspection performed on the concrete deck sealant to be proactive about potential washouts under the decking.

Hoping to save money and avoid chlorine, some associations have, in recent years, converted to salt water swimming pools. But many have discovered that salt water swimming pools are not totally chlorine-free, and operating costs may actually be higher, not to mention the up-front investment of converting a pool to salt water.

Salt water swimming pools have generators that convert the salt solution into chlorine. If you are switching to a saltwater swimming pool, be sure to purchase a commercial-grade chlorine generator, not a residential one.
Residential chlorine generators may not produce enough chlorine to keep chemicals properly balanced.  

Some associations that made the change to salt water have since reverted to chlorine pools because of the higher-than-anticipated operating cost. Chemical monitoring equipment may be the best solution for keeping costs lower, as well as improving water quality and maintaining a safer chemical balance.

When preparing a swimming pool for the summer season, it is also important to inspect and make any needed repairs to furniture, slides and other structures. There are many local companies that can refurbish and re-strap pool furniture to avoid the cost of full replacement.
 
Mike Stonestreet is a 28-year veteran of the professional HOA management industry who has achieved one of the highest education-based designations in the field, that of Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM). Community Association Management Services (CAMS) has been a leading association management company since its inception in 1991. CAMS is a trusted provider of management services for more than 265 associations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. To find out how CAMS can benefit your community, call 910-256-2021, email [email protected], or visit www.CAMSmgt.com.

Other Posts from Mike Stonestreet

Gwbjbizmaginsightsblockad300x250px
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Untitleddesign4 212391244

Firing With Compassion

Andy Almeter - Leath HR Group, LLC
Untitleddesign12

Supporting Early Career Mental Health: A Guide for Employers

Mcwhorter 0005

Telling the Story Behind Startups – Tailoring your Pitch Deck for an Audience

Heather McWhorter - UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Trending News

Apartments Might Be Down The Lane For Former Bowling Alley Property

Staff Reports - Nov 8, 2024

Palliative Care Clinic Opening On Shipyard Boulevard

Staff Reports - Nov 7, 2024

Unofficial Local Election Results Show Narrow Margins, Incumbent Support

Emma Dill - Nov 6, 2024

Avelo Starts Florida, Connecticut Nonstop Flights From ILM

Staff Reports - Nov 7, 2024

In The Current Issue

Bankruptcy Can Lead To New Chapter

The choice of Chapter 11 (of the Bankruptcy Code) is specifically to let a company reorganize so they can stay in business, a local attorney...


At 80, Merritt Still Has Work To Do

Merritt has been and done many things in his life, and he’s comfortable talking about it, the successes and the failures. A commercial real...


State Health Talent Alliance Going Strong

North Carolina faces an estimated shortage of nearly 12,500 registered nurses and slightly more than 5,000 licensed practical nurses by 2033...

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2024 Power Breakfast: The Next Season