Pool Maintenance & Repairs

In addition to designing and building luxury pools for clients throughout the state of Virginia, JDO Pools & Spas also help both residential and commercial customers keep their pools in good working order with our comprehensive maintenance and repair services.

Whether you are looking for assistance with maintenance tasks like closing your pool, maintaining or replacing equipment or you need to refinish an older pool, JDO Pools & Spas can help you with our knowledgeable, friendly and reliable service.

Maintenance Plans

Our pool maintenance plans are designed to give you the peace of mind knowing that your pool is being maintained in a safe and responsible manner.  They cover everything from pool opening and closing, maintaining the correct balance of chemicals in the water, to routine equipment inspection and replacement, when necessary.

  • 16 Weekly Cleanings* (additional length contracts may be available)
  • Chlorine Sanitation and Shock Included
  • Pool Opening and Closing Included
  • 1 Free Emergency Service Call Included ($385 value)
  • Discounts of 20% off Repair Services and 10% off Equipment Purchases

*See Residential Pool Cleaning Service for complete cleaning details.

A signed contract is required for this service. Upon ordering, a contract can be e-mailed over. In cases where pool volume is under reported by the customer, the difference will be billed. Chemicals other than chlorine are NOT included.

The earlier you can get on the schedule, the more likely we will be able to accommodate your timeline.

This service plan includes:

  • Winter cover will be inspected, removed & stowed for winter storage. Cover will be inspected, removed & stowed for the season.
  • Removal of expansion device’s (e.g., Gizzmo’s from the skimmers)
  • Removal of any closing plugs from the pool’s return lines.
  • Inspect and install fittings, skimmer baskets and re-install jets and eyeballs.
  • Reassemble and install pumps, heaters and filter plugs on pool equipment.
  • Re-install any deck equipment (e.g., handrails and ladders)
  • Prime / start & check pool equipment plumbing / functions (i.e. only if water level is up)
  • Cleaning of deck area and pool surface associated with cover removal.
  • Vacuum pool (pool bottom MUST be free of leaves and large debris) and add shock

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOMEOWNER PRIOR TO JDO ARRIVAL

  • RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOMEOWNER PRIOR TO JDO ARRIVAL

    • Customer should bring water up to acceptable level (ideally mid-skimmer).
    • Having accessories out by the pool area (ideally pool deck). If items are not by the pool area and stored in a different location, please advise the service department. An additional charge may apply to the basic opening package.
    • Removal of water and leaves from cover prior to arrival. See Additional Services if you would like this included with your opening package.
    • Providing access to water supply and power for the pump and equipment.

In some circumstances, some pools may require an additional fee for the opening. Examples include, but are not limited to extremely large pools, multiple covers, and/or attached spa. This additional fee will not be added without notifying the customer before the work is started.

This service plan includes cleaning, up to 60 minutes.

If you are looking for a more comprehensive plan, check out our Full-Service Maintenance Plans.

  • Net any leaves out of the swimming pool
  • Brush surfaces (pool walls and bottom)
  • Thoroughly clean and vacuum the pool
  • Empty skimmers and pump baskets
  • Backwash or clean the filter when necessary
  • Test and balance the water chemistry as needed*
  • Check sanitizer levels and add as needed*
  • Add preventive or treatment algaecides as required*
  • Monitor equipment and report any damages or failing equipment
  • Lubricate fittings, valves, o-rings, and plugs, as needed
  • Add chemicals, as needed

* Chemicals not included in hourly price. This service is not available for above-ground swimming pools. If you are looking for more comprehensive maintenance, check out our Full-Service Maintenance Plans.

** Pre-Season cleanings may take multiple visits to get the pool to a clear state. The condition of the pool at opening is very dependent on several factors, including but not limited to, how the pool was closed, the chemistry of the water at closing, the "harshness" of the winter and when the pool was opened.

Given the harsh climates that the Virginia, we recommend that most pools closed for the winter. Improper closing can lead to extremely expensive repairs. So having a professional close the pool is an option that many of our clients choose.

CLOSING SERVICE:

  • Drain and plug lines
  • Drain all pumps, filters, heaters and chlorinating equipment
  • Blow lines (if needed)
  • Remove skimmer baskets, cleaners and wall fittings
  • Add chemicals (must be purchased separately)
  • Check for any failing or dangerous equipment
  • Remove and stow ladders, handrails etc. next to pool (off-site will incur an additional charge)
  • Install cover
  • Adjust water level
  • Perform water chemical test and shock pool

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOMEOWNER:

Please note: We only add chemicals provided by JDO Pools & Spas.

  • Notify us of any special requirements your swimming pool may have
  • Have your pool cover available at the pool deck
  • Pool should be clear and free of debris (leaves and other large objects)
  • Please note: If we are adding closing chemicals, we only add chemicals provided by JDO Pools & Spas
  • The home owner should provide at least 48 business hours’ notice in the event of a cancellation.

Sand Filter Cleaning

What's included:

  • Up to 350 pounds of filter sand is included. Units over 350 pounds are considered commercial.
  • We will remove the current sand from your filter (we can dump the sand in a designated spot or you can choose for us to haul-away the sand at an additional charge).
  • We will inspect the laterals, and recommend changing them if deemed necessary (you need to provide us with Make and Model to ensure we bring the correct items).
  • We will service and lubricate the filter multiport valve and o-rings.

Please note: We cannot do sand changes when the sand is frozen, typically in the months of January and February

Pleated Filter Cleaning

What’s included:

  • Sanitize and power wash pleated filter
  • Lubricate o-rings and clean filter housing
  • Check pressure gauge for proper operation

Pool Refinishing Services

Pool finishingMost concrete pools finished with cementitious based finishes (such as plaster) will need to be refinished as often as every 5-7 years.  Thanks to our partnership with ecoFINISH®, JDO Pools and Spas can not only extend the life of your finish, but also make the process quick and easy.

Typically, refinishing a pool is a time-consuming and laborious process that involves manually chipping away layers of plaster, applying new plaster, and then waiting for the finish to cure.  The entire process can take over a month, during which time the pool can’t be enjoyed.

With the aquaBRIGHT™ premium thermo-polymer finish from ecoFINISH®, we can refinish a concrete pool in as little as 2-3 days, after which the pool will be ready for immediate use.

In fact, aquaBRIGHT™ comes with a 10 year warranty—meaning that it’s minimum life expectancy is greater than or equal to the maximum life expectancy of plaster finish!

Pool Repairs

Pools are complex systems involving many parts.  Although properly built pools can go up to 10 years without needing any repairs, eventually some of those parts are going to need to be repaired or replaced.  From simple repairs like replacing a burned-out light to more complex repairs like fixing a leak in a return pipe, JDO Pools and Spas can get your pool back to fully operational status in a timely manner.

Emergency calls will be responded to within 24 hours of placing the request. Call includes up to 45 min of onsite repairs and maintenance as required. Additional time will be billed at a rate of $125 / man hour.

There’s nothing wrong with a little pool water loss. In fact, a healthy pool can lose on average a 1/4 inch a day or 2 inches per week depending on environmental conditions, normal pool use, water temperature and even backwashing the filter.

Problematic water loss should be addressed immediately, as extensive damage can occur if not, and that’s where we come in. If you notice your pool water drops more than 2 inches in a week, see puddles forming underneath pool equipment, have air in your system or notice cracks forming in your pool’s foundation, it’s time to give us a call.

  • We use state-of-the art equipment and extensive repair knowledge to determine the origin of the leak and how much water is being lost. From there, we are able to establish a repair plan and cost estimate to return to a trouble-free pool.
  • Since time is of the essence when it comes to pool leak repair, it’s important to begin work immediately. If a leak is left unfixed, it can cause more damage and ultimately be a more costly repair than initially determined. Contact us today so we can determine the source of the pool leak and fix it quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.

Here is a quick summary of a few of the most common types of pool repairs we handle for our customers.

Replacing burned-out pool lights

Many older pools with lighting in or around the pool used halogen lights or high voltage lights.  When customers call us to replace those burned-out lights, we recommend replacing them with 12-volt LED lights which are not only longer-lasting, but also safer.  In addition, LED lights have the ability to change colors! The federal ban on incandescent light bulbs took effect on August 1, 2023. We only install/repair LED light fixtures.

Replacing pool light niche

The second most common repair is replacing pool light niches.  In past years, it was common to use metal niches to hold the lights in pools, which rust over time and can lead to leaking.  When that occurs those niches need to be replaced with a new niche and a new light.

Repairing leaks around penetrations in the pool

Anywhere you have penetrations through the wall of your pool, such as the skimmers, any of the return pipes, any of the drains, lights or any other penetration, over time, you can actually get leaks on the edges of those penetrations. 

Fixing those types of leaks may require draining the pool, removing some material, reinstalling hydraulic cement around the penetration to create a hydraulic plug, and then refinishing the pool.  At JDO Pools & Spas we have certified divers that can perform these tasks underwater, eliminating the need to drain the pool!

Repairing the beam of a pool

A less common but very critical and costly repair is fixing the beam of a pool that was either not installed properly or is starting to fail.  The beam is the band of concrete that goes around the very top or edge of the pool, and which prevents water from going down along the edge of the pool and corroding it over time.  If the coping seal is not properly maintained you can experience some major problems, so if there are any issues with the coping you should have it repaired promptly.

Common Pool Maintenance Mistakes

While we encourage clients to participate in our pool maintenance program some people prefer to do all the maintenance themselves.  Usually this does not end well, and results in critical details being overlooked.  Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to pool maintenance. 

Improper closing procedures

Although the winters in Virginia tend to be mild, pools still must go through a closing process to protect the equipment from harm during cold weather.  If you don’t plan on completely shutting down your system, there must be a minimum volume of water running through the pipes all winter to prevent the pipes from freezing.

On the other hand, if you do shut your system down completely, the pipes must be blown out with compressed air so that components don’t rust and/or pipes freeze and crack over the winter.

Whichever method you choose, you must follow all of the steps in the process to avoid damage to the system. 

Improper chemical balance

Another common problem people have with their pools is not maintaining the correct balance of chemicals.  

With pools that have a plaster finish, this can result in minerals being pulled out of the plaster (pitted) or deposited on the plaster (rough to the touch / bumpy).

In either case, the result is a finished that is very rough.  In extreme cases, a chemical imbalance could ruin a new plaster finish within months. In addition, chemical imbalances will reduce the life of your plaster significantly.