How to Choose the Best Commercial Pool Maintenance Companies

The responsibilities of owning a hotel, strata, gym and/or recreation building with a pool are different from most residential owners, and are not something they would ever consider. Good water quality, compliance with water quality standards and equipment uptime are not just desirable, they are the difference between an amenity that runs smoothly and one that is a liability. This is why it is crucial to choose the proper one from the many commercial pool maintenance companies firm. This is the criteria that should be used to make that decision.

Why the Right Maintenance Partner Matters

Backyard pools aren’t as heavily trafficked as commercial ones and therefore do not experience the same amount of stress. Chemical balance shifts more quickly, filters are more active and there is less leeway because you are not merely responsible for the safety of family members, but of guests, members or tenants as well. If the pool is not inspected or if the inspector is slow to respond to an equipment failure, the pool may be closed, you may have some unhappy customers, or even worse, a health and safety issue.

There is more to a good maintenance company than just the technical aspects; a good company will also help you save money. Preventive care identifies small problems like a worn seal, a failing pump, a drift in pH level before they cause severe problems and expensive repairs, or even a complete shutdown.

What to Look For When Comparing Options

There are pool service providers who are more competent and reliable than others, particularly if the pool is a commercial-sized pool. There are some things to consider before signing on the dotted line:

• Knowledge of commercial systems. Commercial filtration, heating and chemical dosing systems are more complex than a residential system. Inquire about the number of commercial accounts which the company services.
• Licensing and insurance. Check the company’s liability insurance and that their pool chemical handlers are licensed.
• Response times. Request what they will guarantee about their equipment failures and/or water quality problems, and if it’s included in the contract.
• Transparent pricing. Avoid having unclear scopes of work and instead have to guess what’s included in your monthly retainers.
• Similar properties’ references. If you’ve got a company who can provide services to a hotel or strata pool, they should be in a position to show you a similar client.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

It’s a good idea to have some questions ready before signing on the dotted line:

• Whose to say who is doing the service calls, in-house or subcontractors?
• What if one of the key parts breaks down after business hours?
• How many times will the pool be tested and serviced and can this be increased or decreased if needed based on usage?
• Are they able to do occasional repairs or renovations or only routine maintenance?

The final question is more important than they think. Many businesses find themselves having to deal with multiple vendors for maintenance, repairs and renovations. Having a company that is able to provide all three services could save precious time and eliminate finger pointing that occurs when things go wrong between contractors.

Red Flags to Watch For

As much as it is essential to know what to look out for, it is also significant to know what should make you hesitate. Be careful of those that are not willing to provide any written commitments regarding response time or scope of the work, as “soft” contracts cause trouble at a later stage. Be wary of firms that subcontract ALL of their work with no single point of contact, since there will not be accountability. Also, be careful of anyone that has a poor ability to articulate what they’ll do in case of a chemical imbalance or equipment failure outside of business hours as that is when things go wrong. Lastly, look for an unusually low price, relative to other estimates for a facility of a comparable size. True expertise is required with commercial pool systems, and rock bottom prices can mean there are some corners being cut somewhere.

Being located in British Columbia, it’s an advantage to work with a team that is already familiar with the climate, permitting process and commercial codes of the region. TDG Pools excels in this aspect. One of the more established swimming pool builders Vancouver properties turn to, the team does their own new construction, renovations, design and weekly maintenance, meaning there’s no gap between the people that built and/or renovated your pool and the people that will be servicing it week to week.

The flow of that is difficult to articulate. A company that also designs pools is well aware of the systems that they are maintaining at a level that can’t easily be matched by a maintenance-only company.

Making the Final Call

The best providers are those that are responsive, have technical expertise, and are easy to communicate. Look at price sheets, but also look at how a company will respond during an emergency, how well they communicate about the process, and if they have been involved in any emergency similar to your property.

At TDG Pools, the integrated service, design, construction and maintenance of a pool by one team is exactly what BC-based hotels, strata properties and recreation facilities are looking for, as it makes running a commercial pool a lot less stressful. When considering swimming pool builders Vancouver you can depend on for construction and long-term maintenance, it’s good to seek a quotation prior to the following service agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a commercial pool be serviced?

For most commercial pools, daily or nearly daily water testing and water chemical adjustment along with a more comprehensive weekly or biweekly test of filtration, pumps and safety equipment are required. Hotels, gyms or other places that have heavier traffic may require more visits per week than a lower use building.

What’s the difference between residential and commercial pool maintenance?

A commercial pool is vastly larger, more complicated and has far more traffic than a residential pool, and there are stricter health code requirements. It also usually involves certified technicians and documents of compliance and is a different standard as commercial properties are governed by a different standard to private homes.

Can one company handle both construction and ongoing maintenance?

Yes, and it’s frequently the best one! The provider who created and maintains pools knows what systems they put in place and generally will be able to diagnose issues more quickly, have fewer misunderstandings, and have one point of contact rather than a bunch of vendors for repairs, renovations and general maintenance.