California Aqua Pros Inc. provides a wide range of swimming pool and pond services for residential clients in Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties. In addition to handling everything from regular pond maintenance and cleanouts to pool construction and remodeling, the family-owned and operated company has the in-house capabilities to install water features like waterfalls and fountainscapes.
Operations Manager Jared Purkey says much of California Aqua Pros’ success can be attributed to its customer-oriented business practices. “Whenever we meet a new client, the first question we ask is, ‘How can we solve your problem?’ We share our customers’ passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces, so it gives us a lot of fulfillment when we can take care of their issues in a timely manner and provide them with high-quality results.”
California Aqua Pros prioritizes communication in every aspect of its operations, which Mr. Purkey says is crucial for establishing trust with clients. “It sounds simple, but we always follow up with our customers, promptly return their calls and periodically check in to make sure they’re happy with our work. Those things speak volumes about our dedication to customer service and remind our clients that we’re here to help.”
“Our company values are similar to our family values: When we say we’re going to do something, we do it the right way. Ultimately, the satisfaction of our clients is our top priority, so we focus on providing them with excellent value and bringing their dreams to life.”
Take simple steps to reduce the utility costs of maintaining your swimming pool.
Considering the amount of energy required to pump and filter thousands of gallons of water, it’s not surprising that a swimming pool can dramatically impact a home’s energy usage. In fact, research shows that the addition of a pool can increase a home’s electricity consumption by as much as 50 percent. Fortunately, a pool’s financial impact can be lessened by implementing a few energy-saving measures. Here are a few to consider:
Turn down the temperature. While the average pool’s temperature ranges between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s important to keep in mind that for every increase in temperature there follows an exponential increase in energy costs. For this reason, consider treating your pool’s heater like your home’s thermostat—keep it at the lowest comfortable setting to minimize energy expenditures.
Use a pool cover. In addition to keeping your pool warmer, a cover can reduce evaporation by more than 90 percent. Also, using a pool cover will cause your filter pump to work less to keep debris out of the water.
Install a variable-speed pump. While a one-speed pump ramps up energy costs, a variable-speed pump optimizes energy efficiency by alternating between slow and fast modes, which reduces electricity consumption by as much as 75 percent. In addition, utility companies often offer rebates upon purchase of an efficient pool pump.
Reduce pool pump runtime. Recommendations vary on how long a pool pump needs to run each day, but many pool owners run their pumps for longer than necessary. To avoid this expensive excess, set your pump to run at the minimum required runtime and taper up or down depending on your needs. Also, instead of running your pool pump continuously for the full duration, consider setting it to run at two or three different intervals throughout the day. For example, you could run it for two hours in the morning, two hours in the mid-afternoon and two hours in the evening.
Few swimming pool contractors earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise. Even fewer are also run by third- and fourth-generation pool experts, but that’s exactly the case for California Aqua Pros Inc. “My great-grandfather was the first in our family to start a pool service company, and he passed the trade to his son and then to my father, Greg,” explains Operations Manager Jared Purkey. “Our experience really sets us apart in this industry. From regular cleanings to million-dollar projects, we’ve seen it all and we know how to do things the right way.”
California Aqua Pros has been providing swimming pool and pond services for residential clients in Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties since 1993. The family-owned and operated company handles everything from routine pond maintenance and cleanouts to full-scale pool construction and remodeling projects, and it’s also qualified to install water features like fountainscapes and waterfalls.
Unlike less experienced pool contractors that promise too much and then charge too little to actually deliver, California Aqua Pros prioritizes quality and service while offering a fair price for its work. “There are only three things that a company can compete on: price, customer service and quality,” offers Mr. Purkey. “You can’t be the best at all three, so you have to pull back on at least one. We do customer service and quality better than anyone, so because we commit so much to those two aspects, our prices need to be a little higher. We’re still usually within the top three bids, but we have to charge realistically to be able to offer such high-quality service.”
Ultimately, Mr. Purkey sees California Aqua Pros’ responsive, proactive business practices as its most important attributes. “We always keep our clients updated with the next step,” he says. “Even if they’re not calling, we reach out and keep them informed every step of the way. From the designs and permits to the material choices and final walkthroughs, we make sure they’re happy and comfortable throughout the entire process.”