First Time Pool Buyers

What to Consider When Deciding on a Pool

Choosing a pool is no easy decision - Radiant Pools offers options for everyone, including aboveground, semi-inground and inground pools. So how do you decide which works best for you?  Consider these four basic factors:

While these four considerations are a strong starting point, there’s much more you can learn by simply consulting an authorized Radiant Pool dealer.

What To Do Before You Purchase Your Pool

Check the code first

Be sure to check with your local building code enforcement office to determine what can (and sometimes cannot) be added to your property. Each township, borough or county will likely have restrictions on proximity to property lines, utilities, safety or zoning restrictions, and even mandatory green ordinances that could limit the size or style of your swimming pool. Knowing what your locality allows will help you define limits for your new swimming pool.

Research is key and information is free

Whether it’s on our website, in a showroom, or via literature and videos provided by a swimming pool contractor, there’s never been more information available about swimming pools and swimming pool installation. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the styles of pools and options available to you, the maintenance associated with those pools, and the general process of pool installation.

Will you need an installer?

Swimming pools are constructed on your property. Installing a Radiant Pool can be a quick and easy DIY job as with the Metric Series Round pool or a custom inground building project. As such, the degree of expertise and experience of your swimming pool supplier and contractor is absolutely essential. Be sure to check references by calling or visiting previous customers, and ask questions about your particular project. It’s your investment. Reputable pool contractors and pool suppliers understand that and should take the time to answer all your questions. Radiant Pools offers tech support to all its dealers.

Ask questions

1. What comes standard with my pool purchase?
2. What safety considerations should I make?
3. How much does yearly maintenance cost for the pools the supplier recommends?
4. What’s the difference between an aboveground and inground pool?
5. How long will the project take the builder?
6. Do you offer financing?
7. What guarantees or warranties does the builder offer?

Remember, the only truly bad question is the one that goes unasked. The amount of time you invest now in preparing to purchase a pool is returned to you over and over again each time you take a swim. It’s worth the longterm peace of mind so you can simply relax and enjoy your pool.

Information Regarding Salt Chlorination Systems

Properly installed and maintained salt systems are safe to use with Radiant Pools. 

Keeping your pool's water chemistry correct is very important for sanitation but is equally important to prevent pool wall corrosion.  Radiant Pool’s aluminum walls are extremely corrosion resistant, but all metals will exhibit corrosion over time if the pool’s chemistry is not maintained correctly.  

We have found that salt systems require much more maintenance than traditional liquid/granule chlorine systems to keep pool chemistry at the correct levels.  Improperly installed and maintained salt systems will accelerate the corrosion process on pool walls. 

If you are going to use a salt system, we recommend to test the ground for stray electricity, use a sacrificial anode, and test the water quality frequently.

Information Regarding Winterizing Your Radiant Pool

Your Radiant Metric Series pool is to be winterized in the same manner as other pools. With a Metric Series pool there are some specific steps you should follow:

1.      Make sure all ladders, pool cleaners, toys, floats are out of the water and stored.

2.      Make sure the water is clean, balanced, free of algae, and winter chemicals are added.

3.      Water is generally lowered to just below the skimmer to ease the plugging and draining of the hoses, pipes and skimmer.

4.      Return Inlet: Remove directional (eyeball) and insert rubber or plastic winterizing plug from the inside of the pool. We recommend a #10 rubber plug or a Hayward SP1022C plug.

5.      Make sure the filter and pump pipes, hoses are drained of water. Please follow pump and filter manufacturers’ specific instructions for winterizing.

6.      Skimmer: Remove basket and weir. Insert gizzmo or styrofoam and/or winterizing plate to prevent ice from forming a solid block that could damage your skimmer. If using a gizzmo, the standard size is recommended for aboveground skimmers. For inground skimmers, the super Gizzmo will work best.

7.      Install aboveground winter cover by inserting beading on cover into bead track of your Metric coping. The cover bead track on the standard 2” coping is located on the exterior of the pool. The cover bead on the 4” coping is located on the interior of the pool, above the liner track. Excess cover material should be inside the pool and resting on the water. Add a little water on the cover in windy areas to hold the cover down. No air pillow or flotation is required in the middle of the pool.

8.      Check the level of the water under the cover after about one week, a good test for a slow leak in your liner.  "Ice Drop" occurs when water is lost during the winter, causing the water level to fall below the ice cap, which causes the ice cap to drop into the pool as it thaws, thereby damaging the pool walls and/or compression seams.

For some of the specific “how to’s” it may be necessary to contact your local pool professional.