Pool Environments Earns Top 50 Ranking Nationwide

Pool Environments was just notified last week that we have earned a ranking among the Top 50 Builders in the nation through Pool & Spa News. Additionally, Pool Environments earned a Top 10 ranking in a category just introduced this year, Customer Service. Rankings were determined through phone interviews with previous clients, as well as feedback from other industry colleagues.

Client Services and Marketing Director, Michelle Sparks, will have the full details of the exact rankings when they are released June 29th. Be sure to check back soon for the full story.

Turn A Small Outdoor Space Into An Oasis

Living in a city, like Dallas, often means we compromise certain things for other modern amenities and conveniences that come with urban living. One of the biggest sacrifices city dwellers make oftentimes is space. Although we may not always have the luxury of a sprawling backyard, Pool Environments has helped many Dallas area clients turn a smaller outdoor space into a sanctuary to escape and relax.

Pool Environments - Southern Living

Pool Environments - Southern Living

This outdoor living area, featured in this Southern Living article, in collaboration with Landscape Architect Harold Leidner, beautifully illustrates how to use every inch of a restricted space to emphasize design and maintain functionality.

If you are looking to take your outdoor area to the next level, but didn’t think the shape or size would allow for anything elaborate, we hope we have inspired you to look again. Our design experts would welcome the opportunity to share ideas with you and discover the best use of your unique space. Please do not hesitate to contact us!

Pool Owners – Be Cautious of Fire Ants

As summer quickly approaches here in north Texas, Pool Environments would like to remind pool owners to be cautious of those pesky fire ants which will inevitably begin building colonies in yards during the coming months. Not only are their bites painful to humans and our pets, they can also pose serious problems to electrical equipment, including your pool equipment.

There are several theories as to why ants seem to be attracted to electrical equipment – warmth, protection from water – but it is certain that they can go so far as to ruin your pool equipment altogether. When they bring soil in for nesting, it can create moisture which can be corrosive to your equipment. Plus, they can cause short circuits by chewing on insulation and wiring. If you notice ants beginning to nest around the base of your equipment, it is important to treat them with an insecticide/pesticide appropriate for the area as soon as possible to prevent them from fully entering the unit. If the ants have already entered your equipment, we recommend that you contact a professional to rid the area of ants. Remember to turn off all electric equipment before beginning any kind of treatment around the area.

Once the insects have have been removed, you can seal your equipment to prevent the ants from entering again. Additionally, you can apply an insecticide barrier inside the equipment for preventative measure. We hope you find this information helpful as you prepare your pool and backyard for another sunny Texas summer!

April 2012 AQUA Choice Winner – Pool Environments

April 2012 AQUA Choice Winner - Pool Environments

April 2012 AQUA Choice Winner - Pool Environments

Pool Environments is proud to announce that we have been selected as the April 2012 AQUA Choice winner! We appeared on the cover of the April 2012 issue of AQUA Magazine and you can visit the AQUA Choice website to view the full article about the award winning project. The design came from very unexpected beginnings and we are proud to share the details of it with you. Enjoy!

Using Your Mobile Device to Monitor Your Pool

Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine we would soon have the capability to purchase our morning coffee, manage a budget or create a presentation for work with a mobile phone device that fits in the palm of our hand. Although the pace of technology changes can seem overwhelming, many of these mobile devices and their applications have proved extremely helpful, and have forever changed the way we communicate and conduct business.

In fact, you can now leave home and still have the capability to monitor and change the pH levels in your pool as well as control the pool equipment and lighting. Pentair has developed an interface in coordination with their EasyTouch® and IntelliTouch® Automation Systems called ScreenLogic2™, which gives users the ability to remotely control pool functions. With the ScreenLogic2™ application on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, you can control your pool functions from anywhere. Both the EasyTouch® and IntelliTouch® systems allow you to set up operating schedules for all of your pool equipment. Plus, both include built-in sensors which alert you to equipment that needs to be serviced, and can turn on your pump automatically during freezing conditions. Perfect for the homeowner who is away from home frequently, especially during the usually unpredictable Texas winter months.

ScreenLogic2 pH Trend - Pool Environments

ScreenLogic2 pH Trend - Pool Environments

ScreenLogic2 Mobile Devices - Pool Environments

ScreenLogic2 Mobile Devices - Pool Environments

With ScreenLogic2™ you can turn on your spa heater as you leave the office, turn on your landscape lights while you’re out of town to appear as if you are home, or even view a history of your equipment operation to make sure everything is running as efficiently as possible. The ScreenLogic2™ application is a free download available in the Apple App Store to communicate with your existing EasyTouch® or IntelliTouch® control systems. An additional component is required to enable the system to communicate with the mobile device, and is part of the install system.

ScreenLogic2 Pool and Spa Temperature - Pool Environments

ScreenLogic2 Pool and Spa Temperature - Pool Environments

“Our clients lead very busy lives and have enjoyed the flexibility of these devices. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we continue to look forward to ongoing advances with technology,” said Marc Valentini, Service Manager at Pool Environments.

Marc Valentini - Pool Environments

Marc Valentini - Pool Environments

If you have questions about this technology, the professionals at Pool Environments would be glad to provide answers and suggestions. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

National Water Safety Month: May 2012

National Water Safety Month

National Water Safety Month: May 2012

In order to promote safe aquatic activities to the American Public, several organizations, including the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), the American Red Cross, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the World Waterpark Association (WWA) have teamed up for National Water Safety Month in May 2012. During this time, industry organizations strive to reach out and educate as many individuals as possible about the precautions that should be taken while enjoying aquatic activities at home, at the neighborhood pool or waterpark, while in a local lake, river or stream, as well as how to practice safety during a thunderstorm or flood.

On the National Water Safety Month website, consumers can find information on safety tips, downloadable safety brochures and activity books for children to educate them on water safety in an enjoyable way. Industry professionals can also access free resources that are available for download and use for educational purposes, along with tips on planning events to promote water safety in your community.

For pool owners in our local Dallas area, some key safety tips to note from the National Water Safety Month website include, but are not limited to:

  • Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible.
  • Maintain constant visual contact with children in a pool or pool area.
  • Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapment.
  • Keep rescue equipment poolside. Do not wait for the paramedics to arrive because you will lose valuable life-saving seconds. Four to six minutes without oxygen can cause permanent brain damage or death.

Our technician at Pool Environments, Jeremy Smith, is a member of the Regional Board for National Water Safety Month. If you have any questions about the program please feel free to contact us for more information.

Pool Environments Receives Thirteen APSP Region Three Design Awards at Southwest Pool & Spa Show

Pool Environments Team at 2012 APSP Region 3 Design Awards Gala

Pool Environments Team at 2012 APSP Region 3 Design Awards Gala

(PLANO, TX) Local pool design company, Pool Environments, entered thirteen swimming pool projects into distinct categories for the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) Southwest Region Design Awards this weekend in San Antonio, Texas. The Region Three Design Award winners were recognized Saturday evening, March 3, 2012 at the Southwest Pool and Spa Show Awards Gala. All thirteen projects won awards in all categories entered. Award levels ranged from Awards of Merit, Bronze, Silver and Gold level recognition.

“We created enough interesting projects last year, that we were able to enter thirteen unique categories this year. It was a pleasant surprise to win recognition in all thirteen categories,” said Chris Polito, Owner and Sales Manager at Pool Environments.

Region Three of the APSP includes chapters in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. The Region Three Design Award Program “recognizes installations of pools, spas and hot tubs that showcase the most beautiful and creative work in Region 3” and are open exclusively to chapter members of the Region at the Southwest Pool & Spa Show. Entries are judged on design excellence, craftsmanship, use of natural surroundings, as well as a written synopsis of interesting and unique circumstances that may have been involved, but are not photographically evident in the construction of any submitted project.

The APSP is the largest international trade association representing over 4,500 member companies in the swimming pool and spa industry.

Since 1990, Pool Environments has become synonymous with unparalleled quality in the Dallas swimming pool market. Founded by Tom Rozell, Pool Environments has made it their goal to engage in high-caliber design and construction management to create the best possible experience for the homeowner.

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Pool Lighting

Options abound in today’s market when it comes time to choose lighting for your pool. Although lighting is essential for pool safety at night, it is also a very important element in setting the mood for your outdoor living space. Lighting enables you to augment the beauty of your pool against the stark night sky and coordinate with the other illuminated areas of the space.

The latest technology in pool lighting utilizes light emitting diodes, or LED lights. Pool Environments uses the Pentair Intellibrite® 5g Color LED lights for many of our clients, which have color changing capabilities to provide the pool owner with even more options when illuminating their pool. For the energy efficient-minded consumer who is looking to save money long term, Pentair Intellibrite® 5g Color LED lights consume about half the energy of competitors’ LED lights and about 82% less energy than standard incandescent or halogen pool lights. Pentair also offers the Intellibrite® White LED lights which save roughly the same amount of energy as the color lights.

In addition to the energy savings, LED lights are brighter than standard lights and the lifespan of an LED light is typically years longer than incandescent bulbs. This saves the homeowner time, money and the inconvenience of changing out the pool light more frequently. While LED lights cost more up front, the savings over the long term more than make up for the front-end out of pocket cost. Pentair has an LED savings calculator on their website for pool owners to figure how much they would save by switching from a standard bulb.

Pool Environments specializes in new pool construction, renovations and water features in the Dallas, Texas area. Please feel free to explore our website for more photos and details about our company and previous work.

Meet Our Project Manager, Phil McEwan

Phil McEwan - Pool Environments Project Manager

Phil McEwan - Pool Environments Project Manager

Phil McEwan has over 41 years of experience in the pool industry, all of which have been dedicated to the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. From construction, service, electrical and retail, Phil has had his hand in all aspects of the business at some point in his career. Throughout these 41 years, Phil has managed some of the most intricate, complex projects in the industry. He currently serves as the project manager at Pool Environments where he coordinates every detail of the construction of your new pool.

Phil started working on pools in 1971 at the age of 14. In the late 1970′s, he joined Anthony Pools and worked in their construction, service and retail departments. He began selling and designing pools in 1980, and went on to focus exclusively on commercial projects in the late 1980′s. He started his own company in 1995 until about 3 years ago when he went to work for his “biggest competitor,” Pool Environments.

As project manager, Phil plays a vital role on the Pool Environments team. He supervises construction in the field, oversees the crews, decides the best way to build each aspect of the pool, and maintains direct contact with the client and other architects working on the project. When asked what to look for when hiring a company to build your pool, Phil highlights experience, honesty and customer service. “When the client is building a new pool for the first time, there are several things that come up that they may have never thought of – structure, drainage issues, small details. You need someone to help make educated decisions, and we know people have hired us to make the best decisions concerning their pool,” Phil explains. One of the advantages of having 41 years of experience is the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and turn them into great decisions in later projects.

In terms of changes Phil has experienced in the industry over the span of his career, he says standards have definitely progressed, specifically in the safety and energy efficiency categories. “Your pool builder should be in the forefront of this knowledge, especially safety. The Pool Environments team does research constantly and is committed to staying on top of these topics.” Association involvement is also critical to maintaining credible professional standards and collaboration with other industry leaders.

Phil McEwan and Pool Environments are committed to serving our clients, and we look forward to working with you on your next project.

Collin County Water Restrictions

If you are a Collin County resident, chances are you know all about the Stage 3 water restrictions we have experienced since November 1, 2011. Watering your lawns is only permitted once every other week, existing pools are not permitted to be drained and refilled, and establishing new landscaping is highly discouraged. Since the rain in late January and recent wet weather, the North Texas Municipal Water District Board of Directors has decided to keep the Stage 3 water restricitons in place through May 31, 2012 instead of moving to Stage 4 as early as April 1st, 2012.

Although the rain has been a welcome change during the usually dry La Niña weather patterns North Texans have experienced of late, it has not been enough to end the water restrictions. If residents continue to abide by the current restrictions, it is hopeful that Stage 4 restrictions can now be avoided. However, we are certainly not out of the woods yet with the still looming drought conditions across the state and probable long, hot summer that lies ahead. For residents, Stage 4 restrictions would mean no watering of your lawn and vehicle, with the exception of trees and your foundation. Especially important for residents in the process of building a new pool is the ban on permits for private pools. Once Stage 4 water restrictions go into effect you will not be able to receive a permit, but those who have already been permitted will be able to be filled with water. Obviously, this is extremely important if you are considering installing a pool this spring or summer.

 

Please view pages 13 – 16 in the District’s model for complete details about Stage 3 and Stage 4 water restrictions.