Frequently Asked Questions
Swimming Pool FAQs
How often should a swimming pool be professionally maintained?
How often your swimming pool needs maintenance depends on the time of year, how frequently it is used and the type of filtration and heating equipment installed. Regular professional swimming pool maintenance helps keep the water clean and correctly balanced while ensuring pumps, filters, heaters and circulation equipment are operating properly.
Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs provides both one-off pool maintenance visits and scheduled servicing, allowing the maintenance programme to be tailored to your pool and how you use it.
What is included in a swimming pool maintenance service?
A professional swimming pool maintenance visit can include water testing and chemical balancing, pool cleaning, filter maintenance, checks of the pump and circulation system, chemical dosing, equipment inspections and fault detection.
Regular servicing can also identify developing problems before they lead to more significant repairs or equipment failure. Unicorn can create a maintenance programme around the individual requirements of your swimming pool.
Do you offer swimming pool maintenance contracts?
Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs offers bespoke swimming pool and hot tub service contracts ranging from regular scheduled maintenance to less frequent seasonal servicing. Maintenance agreements can be tailored to include anything from routine cleaning and water care to more extensive pool maintenance requirements.
Do you offer one-off swimming pool maintenance visits?
Yes. You do not necessarily need an ongoing maintenance contract. Unicorn provides one-off swimming pool servicing as well as full maintenance and care packages, making it possible to get professional help with a specific problem, seasonal maintenance or general pool care when you need it.
Can you repair swimming pool pumps, filters and heating systems?
Yes. Unicorn provides swimming pool fault finding, repairs and equipment replacement. Problems with pumps, filtration, heating, circulation or other pool equipment can be investigated to identify the cause and determine the most appropriate repair or replacement. Unicorn also provides pool pump replacements and heat pump installations.
Can you find a leak in my swimming pool?
Yes. Swimming pool leak detection is one of the specialist services offered by Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs. If your pool is losing more water than expected, professional investigation can help determine whether the problem is associated with the liner, pipework or another part of the pool system.
How do I know if my swimming pool liner needs replacing?
Common signs of a deteriorating swimming pool liner include fading, brittleness, cracking, tearing or unexplained water loss. A damaged liner can allow water to escape and may eventually affect the pool structure if it is left untreated.
Unicorn specialises in swimming pool liner replacement and offers both custom-made bag liners and reinforced liners welded on site, depending on the pool and the required finish.
Can you open my swimming pool for the summer?
Yes. Unicorn provides swimming pool commissioning and spring opening services to help prepare your pool for the warmer months. This can include inspecting the pool and equipment, checking the filtration and circulation systems, testing water chemistry and ensuring the pool is ready to operate correctly before regular use.
Do you offer swimming pool winterisation and winter closing?
Yes. Unicorn offers winter closing visits for swimming pools and hot tubs. Preparing your pool correctly for winter helps protect the pool and its equipment during periods when it is not being regularly used and makes reopening the pool in spring considerably easier.
Can you install a heat pump for my swimming pool?
Yes. Unicorn provides swimming pool heat pump installation as part of its pool services. A suitable heat pump can provide an efficient way of heating your swimming pool and can help extend the period during which the pool can comfortably be used.
Why has my swimming pool water turned green or cloudy?
Green or cloudy swimming pool water can be caused by several factors, including incorrect chemical balance, algae growth or problems with filtration and circulation. Simply adding more chlorine is not always the correct solution.
Professional water testing and inspection of the filtration system can help identify the underlying problem before the appropriate treatment is carried out. Unicorn provides water testing, chemical balancing, filtration checks and fault diagnosis as part of its pool maintenance services.
How much does swimming pool maintenance cost?
The cost of swimming pool maintenance varies depending on the size and type of pool, its condition, the equipment installed, how frequently maintenance is required and whether you need a one-off visit or an ongoing service plan.
Unicorn offers bespoke pool maintenance packages, so the best way to establish the cost is to discuss your pool and the level of maintenance you require and request a tailored quotation.
Do you refurbish older swimming pools?
Unicorn provides swimming pool repairs and refurbishment for pools that are looking tired, have damaged components or need updating. Depending on the pool, refurbishment can include liner replacement, equipment upgrades, pump replacement, heating improvements, leak investigation and other repairs designed to restore the pool's appearance and performance.
Hot Tub FAQs
How often should a hot tub be professionally serviced?
The ideal hot tub servicing schedule depends on how frequently the hot tub is used, the water quality and the equipment installed. Because hot tubs operate at higher water temperatures and have relatively compact filtration systems, regular maintenance is particularly important.
Unicorn offers professional hot tub servicing and maintenance, including regular weekly or fortnightly maintenance where appropriate, as well as individual drain-down and servicing visits.
Unicorn offers regular weekly or fortnightly hot tub maintenance in suitable locations, as well as individual drain-down and servicing visits.
What does a professional hot tub service include?
A professional hot tub service can include draining and refilling the hot tub, deep cleaning, sanitisation, filter checks, inspection of jets and pipework, and testing and balancing the water.
Unicorn also provides comprehensive hot tub drain-down and maintenance services to help keep your hot tub clean, safe and operating correctly.
What do common hot tub fault codes mean?
Hot tub fault codes can indicate problems with water flow, heating, temperature sensors, circulation or other components. Some issues can be resolved with simple checks, while others may require professional attention.
See our guide to the most common hot tub fault codes and what to check.
General FAQs
Can you deliver swimming pool and hot tub chemicals?
Unicorn supplies a complete range of swimming pool and hot tub chemicals, including water treatment products for keeping pools and spas clean, clear and correctly balanced.
Free local delivery is currently available on orders over £50 within 10 miles of Unicorn's base on the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border, with other delivery areas available by arrangement.
What areas do you cover for swimming pool and hot tub servicing?
Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs provides swimming pool and hot tub maintenance, repairs and servicing across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. Areas regularly covered include High Wycombe, Thame, Wallingford, Chalgrove, Watlington, Princes Risborough, Naphill, Prestwood, Great Missenden, Aylesbury, Bicester, Long Crendon, Headington and Oxford, as well as Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross and surrounding areas.
Why choose Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs?
Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs has over 24 years of experience providing swimming pool and hot tub maintenance and repair services. The team includes ISPE-qualified personnel together with trade-certified gas and electrical expertise, and provides swimming pool maintenance, repairs, refurbishment, commissioning, liners, hot tub servicing and other specialist pool services.
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Why Unicorn Pools & Hot Tubs?
Just some of the reasons our customers use us
Over 24 Years
of Experience
Safe
and Insured
PADI & ISPE
Qualified
