Please take the time to read and educate yourselves about the following code/law changes and how they can affect you, your family and friends. As the owner of AquaSun Pools & Spas, Inc and also a parent, I understand how important it is to ensure that our own pool is as safe as possible. I also understand how important it is to ensure that all of our customers and future customers swim safely in their pools.
Ignorance is NOT an excuse !!
Please also understand that the VGB (Virginia Graeme Baker) Safety Act currently requires all public pools, not just NEW pools, but ALL public pools to conform to ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 performance standards.
What does this mean for my residential pool ?
This law actually does not impose any penalty to a homeowner whose pool does not conform. See www.poolspanews.com (Sept 12, 2008 issue Shoreline Pools article)
However, we strongly suggest you take the time to contact us to help assist you in the proper decision to retrofit your pool with the proper drain covers OR an SVR system to protect you from tragedies.
What can I expect a new residential drain cover to cost ?
We use Hayward products whenever possible.
If your pool has round drain covers 8” diameter…………55.00 each
9” x 9” square ……………70.00 each
12” x 12” square………….100.00 each
Installation rates can vary, if we need to dive into your pool and make the change underwater you can expect the total labor rate to be 325.00-375.00* for the pool.
Making the change in Spas will be 90.00*
*this is without any modification to the existing drains to accept the new drain lids. Some older pools may require some additional work to accept the new code compliant drain covers
What can I expect an SVR (safety vacuum release) system to cost ?
The Hayward Stratum SVR unit will be 1075.00. The Stratum is effective in monitoring the suction pressure in single or multiple suction outlet / drain systems, which share a common suction line. It features an automatic restart after certain activations and is programmed with an internal check system that performs diagnostics on its performance during every start-up.
The labor to hookup the Stratum can run from 375.00 to 525.00 depending on your specific system and electrical panel.
The Vac-Alert SVR unit is a mechanical device that is plumbed into your existing suction intake lines just prior to the pool / spa pump(s). the Vac Alert unit will cost approximately 800.00 and require an average of 110.00 to install. The downside to the Vac-Alert is that if / when it trips you must manually reset the unit. It has no electronics to self monitor or reset.
AquaSun Pools & Spas, Inc has installed over 65 Hayward Stratums and over 15 Vac-Alerts prior to December 19, 2008. We expect to install another 200-300 units in the next 3 months. We prefer the Stratum (www.haywardnet.com) because it is substantially easier to use and eliminates the need to manually reset. AquaSun Pools & Spas, Inc is also and authorized Hayward service center and will warranty the Stratum for 3 years from date of installation.
If your pool or spa has a single bottom drain OR a side vacuum suction line we can only STRONGLY SUGGEST that you make the update to your pool as you are in the highest risk category. This probably means that your pool is at least 10 years old, but the age of your pool / spa is meaningless IF it has a single bottom drain.
Again, the link is www.cpsc.gov/pssa.pdf please take the time to review. Thank you, the staff at AquaSun Pools and Spas, Inc.
