How to Compare Apples to Apples When Looking for a New Pool Service Company

 When you hire a new pool service you are entering into a long-term relationship with a company that is responsible for health and safety of your swimmers and the longevity of your pool equipment, surface and plumbing. How do you tell the best from the average? Here are some things to look for when considering a new pool service company. There are many things you can check before you even call to make an appointment.
1. Do they have a LA County Health Department License?  Not just the owner, but the service technician actually standing in your backyard adding chemicals to your pool water. This license is required only when servicing commercial pools, like for an HOA or at an apartment complex, and is not required to service backyard pools.  However, if a pool service company has this license, it at least demonstrates that they have taken some industry training and passed a test. A license is no guarantee that they understand water chemistry but having one is better than not having one.
2. Do they have a contractor’s license, which is required by law when doing any repairs?  You can go online and check at cslb.ca.gov. You can find out the name of the license holder, how long they have had a license, a list of any complaints filed or fines paid, and are they self-bonded or do they buy the bond. Self-bonded proves that the business owner has invested into their company and plans to be around for the long term. By law, the business must list the contractor’s license number on all paperwork and advertising so when you see that they say they have a license but they do not list the license number, it means they may not have a contractor’s license. If in the normal course of conducting business the pool service contracts without a license – a felony – you may wonder how honest they will be with you.
3. Do the owner and all workers have liability and auto insurance?  This is very important, as this insurance is for your protection. You get protection for little things like chemical damage from putting tablets in the skimmer or a heater leaking due to chemicals not being maintained correctly, to larger things like water damage from the pool servicer forgetting to turn off the water when filling the pool, to a catastrophic event like a drowning. In addition, liability insurance can only be bought for a worker if they are legally allowed to work is the U.S.  Did you know that if your pool service technician gets into an auto accident when leaving your house and driving to the next stop, and they do not have auto insurance, you can be sued for the damages?
4. Have the owner and all workers passed a background test?  When you hire a pool service company they will be going to your house every week and most of the time you will not be home. It would be nice to know if they have a clean record or if they have done time for robbing houses.
5. Do they have email, a website, cell phone, and office phone? How will you contact them?  Do they email or mail out the invoices or are they handwritten and dropped off on your porch?  If they have not been able to learn and use email how can they possibly understand today’s technology-heavy pool equipment? Do they ask to be paid up front or make you sign a long-term contract?  Do they ask for the check to be made out to cash or just their name and not a company name?
All five of these items are very important when choosing a new pool service company. The owner of a great pool service company should be proud to answer these questions.
Next time we will cover questions to ask when you meet a potential new pool service company at your pool.
For more information, call 661-263-7503 or visit www.poolsbyben.com.