Installing a pool in your backyard allows you to enjoy the cool and refreshing experience any time you want. A backyard pool is also a great place to exercise and relax on a hot day. It will be a natural gathering place for your friends and family, too. Before the work begins, be sure that you have these four types of specifications so that your project will go as smoothly as possible.
Measure The Size And Dimensions Of The Property Or Lot
You might have an idea to install a large, deep pool that allows you to dive and swim long laps back and forth, but your backyard might not be big enough for it. Before you start planning your backyard swimming pool, it is important to find out the exact location of your property line. You will also need to know the size and dimensions of your backyard. The city code where you live might require any above-ground or below-ground pool to be a minimum distance away from buried electrical lines, telephone or internet cables, gas pipes, overhead power lines, and the neighbor’s property.
Determine The Capacity Of The Electrical Panel And Circuit Breaker
Swimming pools require a pump to move the water through the filter. Many custom swimming pools also have pool heating devices to keep the water at a comfortable temperature. You will need to have your home’s electrical panel and circuit breaker specifications before you go about having a pool connected to your electrical grid. It is best to have a licensed and bonded electrician do this for you. If your electrical panel cannot handle a pool pump and pool heater on their circuits, you may need to have the electrician upgrade your panel.
Find Out The Requirements For Plumbing And Drainage
Another specification that you will need to have in hand before installing a pool at home is the location of your plumbing and drainage lines. The pool will need to have its connection to your potable water supply. This might require digging to make a connection between the main water line and the pool. The pool will also need to be drained into your main sewer line. When you decide to empty the pool, the drain will need to handle a certain rate of water flow. Keep in mind that while filling or draining the pool, you may not be able to use large quantities of water within your home.
Obtain Work Permits From The Correct Local Authority
You will also need to have specific work permits from the local building authority. This is required before any digging can take place. If you have heavy clay soil or sandy soil with poor drainage, you may also need to have a civil engineer inspect the site and perform an assessment. A leak of your pool into poorly draining soil could flood your basement or the basements of your neighbors. Be sure to have the electric, natural gas, and phone companies come out and mark the locations of utility lines. When making new plumbing connections, some municipalities require that a representative of the water utility be on-site throughout the work.
Installing a backyard pool is a big project. By getting the right inspections, surveys, and permits in advance, you can help to ensure that there will be no unexpected problems when the work begins. It is also important that you work with a licensed, bonded, and insured pool installation service to protect yourself. Contact your homeowner’s insurance to ensure the pool is under coverage.
