It has been estimated that there are just over ten million residential swimming pools in the United States. Of those, over one million are found in California. If you’ve ever seen Joseph Lee’s, “Big Atlas of LA Pools,” you’ll know that there are forty-three thousand of those pools in the Los Angeles Basin alone!
With California’s multi-year long drought over, our state’s love for residential pools has re-exploded. If you’re one of the many locals interested in installing your own, brand new inground pool we don’t blame you! Turns out LA gets hot (surprise), and there’s nothing better for combatting that heat than a dip in your backyard pool. That said, there are important things to consider before you get a pool installed. If you’re considering installing a pool, here are eight questions you should learn the answers to:
Are there utility lines running under your property?
If you have access to your home’s building plans, check them out. You need to know if any water, sewer, gas, electrical, or other utility lines run through your backyard.
If you don’t have your home’s building plan, get in touch with the local records office or ask your real estate agent. It’s not always possible to divert utility lines to make room for a pool. You’ll need to find out if you’ll be running into utility lines before your pool installer starts digging.
Are there power lines running over your property?
According to the National Electric Code, power lines over pools must be at least twenty-two and a half feet above the water level to avoid electrical hazards. Some companies will not install pools under power lines at all depending on the location. Before you start installing your pool, find out if you have power lines above the area where you’re installing your pool. If you do, find out how high those power lines are.
What is your yard’s terrain like?
If your backyard is flat, you’re good to go. If you live on a hill, however, things get a bit more complicated. You may need to build retaining walls or other safety features to keep your pool from affecting the surrounding landscaping.
Safety features like these can drive up the cost of pool installation by tens of thousands of dollars. We recommend figuring out whether you’ll have to pay that expense well before you get started.
Do you have any natural aspects of your yard that prevent installation?
There are naturally occurring things that may prevent you from installing a pool in your backyard. If you live close to a large body of water, for example, the water table may be too high to accomodate an inground pool. If your home is within a wildlife or research protection zone, you may not be able to install a pool for legal reasons.
In some cases, you may need to submit a special request to your local government to install a pool. To find out what kind of approval process you’ll have to go through, get in touch with the local chapter of the U.S Fish and Wildlife service.
Is your home in a historic district?
If your home is in a historic neighborhood, you may not be able to install a pool. Research or get in touch with the city government to figure out if your neighborhood has any special restrictions.
What are the pool enclosure requirements in your neighborhood?
Certain cities have specific rules regarding enclosures for inground swimming pools. These laws are meant as a protection against pool-related accidents. You can find out what your local laws are by contacting city hall and asking about pool enclosure requirements.
What is your budget for a pool installation?
Inground pools are not cheap. Inground pools usually cost between twenty-five and thirty-five thousand dollars. This doesn’t take into account additional costs like fencing, maintenance, and accessories. Pool loans exist for individuals who don’t have the immediate cash for an installation. You’ll have to look into your options and find out which loan works best for you.
With a swimming pool comes a swimming pool plumbing system. There are pipes to bring water into the pool, valves to control water flow, filters, and other pieces. Maintaining that infrastructure is the job of a trusted local plumber.
If you’re looking into installing an inground pool in your California backyard, give Mike Diamond a call. We can make sure that the plumbing portion of your pool installation is issue-free.
