However, there are some things that might be better left to the professionals. One of those tasks is pool maintenance and repair. Unless you are in this type of business, you may not have any idea how to re-plaster a pool interior, replace tiles along the inside pool edge, repair cracks, or to maintain or repair the mechanicals, such as the pool filter and pump.
If you have a pool service you have used before and are satisfied with the service that you received, hang onto them!
If you happen to be in the market for a pool maintenance/repair company, there are a few things to keep in mind before making your choice:
• It is good practice to hire a local company. If the company is not local and you have issues off season, there may be a problem getting the company to address your issues.
• The Pennsylvania Legislature Home Improvement Act, (HIC) requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year, in Pennsylvania, register with the Attorney General’s Office. Before you hire anyone, ask for their HIC number as well as their Certificate of Insurance or policy number. It is important to ask for their insurance policy number and to verify that it is valid since many pool service companies use subcontractors to do the work. You would need this information if any damage were caused by the workers. In the case of damage, you can contact the pool company’s insurance company and file a claim if you find that the pool company won’t make good on the damage.
We, at the Bucks County Consumer Protection/Weights & Measures department can assist you in finding a reputable contractor. Once you have narrowed down your search to a few contractors you are considering, call 215-348-6060. We will check our database to see if we have received complaints about a particular company, confirm whether they are registered as per the HIC act and do additional web searches to give you a better idea of who you are dealing with. Please have ready the following information: the company name and telephone number and where they are located. This information will allow us to do a more thorough search.