Frequently Asked Questions

Our Most Frequently Asked Questions About Pools, Hot Tubs, Swim Spas, Saunas, Cold Plunge Tubs, Service, Maintenance, Repair, and More

After almost 50 years in the pool and spa business, we can safely say we have heard a lot of the top questions that people ask about home recreation and wellness amenities and products.

Some families come to Burton Pools & Spas knowing exactly what they want. Others walk through our doors asking, “Where do we even start?” Both are perfectly fine with us. From choosing your first swimming pool to figuring out why the one you already own suddenly has water that turned green, our team is here to help.

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions at our five Burton Pools & Spas locations. Can’t find what you are looking for?

Swimming Pool FAQs

Searching for an inground pool that makes your heart skip a beat? Start with how you want to use your new pool, what you want it to look like, and how much pool maintenance you want down the road.

At Burton Pools & Spas, we build four main types of inground pools: custom gunite pools, fiberglass pools, vinyl liner pools, and plunge pools. Gunite gives you the most freedom to create something completely your own. Fiberglass is a great fit if quick installation and easier maintenance are high on your list. Vinyl liner pools give you plenty of design flexibility at a more approachable starting price. And plunge pools offer a great space to take a dip and cool off.

There is no single best type of inground swimming pool. But there is a best one for your family, property, budget, and plans. That is what we can help you figure out.

A gunite pool is custom-built on-site with a steel-reinforced concrete shell, which means you are not choosing from a set group of manufactured shapes.

Want a tanning ledge? Built-in spa? Waterfall? An unusual shape that works around your house or patio? A custom gunite pool gives us tremendous freedom to design around the way you actually want to use your backyard.

If you are comparing a fiberglass vs. gunite pool, think about your priorities. Fiberglass usually means a quicker project and easier maintenance. Gunite is hard to beat when you want to make the design truly your own.

Inground pool cost can be different for different projects. Pool type and size matter, but so do excavation, access to your property, decking, equipment, electrical work, lighting, water features, landscaping, and the extras you choose.

Check out our pool pricing guide to start narrowing down the right options for your home. At your free consultation, we’ll talk through what you want and help you get a better picture of what is possible in your backyard. Schedule your consult today!

Fiberglass pool cost is in the mid range of pool pricing. Excavation, delivery, site access, installation, decking, equipment, electrical work, and optional features all contribute to the completed project cost.

Burton Pools & Spas is a certified dealer of both Latham Pools and Thursday Pools®, giving you plenty of fiberglass pool shapes, sizes, finishes, seating configurations, and features to compare.

One of the big advantages of this type of pool is speed. While every yard is different, our fiberglass pool installations are typically completed in about two to four weeks.

A smaller yard does not automatically take an inground pool off the table.

Thursday Pools® fiberglass plunge pools are made specifically for homeowners who want real pool time without giving the entire backyard to the pool. Their smaller footprints can work beautifully in compact yards and leave room for a patio, seating, landscaping, or simply some open space.

They still offer built-in seating, steps, and room to cool off during a hot Arkansas, Oklahoma, or Missouri summer. You are simply working with a smarter-sized pool.

Most vinyl liners last approximately 8 to 10 years, although good water chemistry and regular maintenance can make a big difference.

Fading alone does not necessarily mean you need a new liner. Tears, leaks, wrinkles, brittleness, or a liner pulling away from the pool deserve a closer look.

Burton builds vinyl liner pools and also handles vinyl liner repair and replacement, so we can help you decide if yours can be repaired or if it is time to start with a fresh vinyl liner replacement.

Pool liner replacement cost is approximately $5,000 to $8,000, with the actual price depending on pool size, liner thickness, labor, and the condition of the pool underneath.

Replacing the liner is also your chance to change the entire personality of the pool. New colors and patterns can make an older pool look dramatically different without rebuilding it. It’s a quick and relatively inexpensive fix with a big impact.

If your liner is leaking, torn, badly faded, or simply reaching the end of its useful life, our pool service team can take a look.

A semi inground pool sits partially below ground, giving you more of a built-in appearance without going all the way to a traditional inground pool.

Burton carries Doughboy® Hydrosphere semi-inground pools, which can be buried approximately 24 to 36 inches. We especially like this option for yards with slopes or homeowners who want to build decking and landscaping around the pool.

Semi inground pool costs start at approximately $18,000 to $35,000, depending on the pool and installation.

Doughboy® above ground pools are a fantastic investment, especially when you want more pool for a smaller initial investment.

Burton Pools sells and professionally installs Doughboy® above ground pools in round and oval designs. A well-maintained Doughboy® pool can last for decades, and you can build decking around it to make the entire space feel much more finished.

The upkeep on an above ground pool still includes cleaning, water balancing, filtration, and seasonal care, but the overall project can be much simpler than building an inground pool.

In many cases, yes, and the difference in how your pool feels and functions can be enormous. A pool renovation can go far beyond fixing one worn area. Burton Pools & Spas can handle pool resurfacing, vinyl liner replacement, tile and coping, decking and hardscapes, LED lighting, water features, equipment upgrades, automation, and other changes.

If you still love having a pool but no longer love your pool, talk to us first before assuming you need to start over.

A noisy pump, weak circulation, leaking water, inconsistent pressure, trouble starting, or a pump that keeps shutting itself off are all good reasons to have it checked out by a pool pro.

The pump is doing a lot of work behind the scenes. Waiting until it stops completely can turn a smaller pool pump repair into a bigger problem.

Burton provides pool equipment repair and service for pool pumps and motors, filters, heaters, salt systems, automation, pool lights, leaks, and other equipment.

Yes! If pool ownership has started feeling suspiciously like a second job, hand us the checklist.

Our professional pool maintenance can include skimming, brushing, vacuuming, water testing and balancing, pool chemicals, basket cleaning, pool filter care, pool equipment inspections, tile cleaning, salt-cell care, and more.

We offer weekly, bi-weekly, and vacation maintenance options. Burton also handles pool openings, pool closings, pool repairs, and pool equipment service.

Your pool should get more of your Saturday than your pool chores do.

Green water often points to algae. Cloudiness can be connected to water chemistry, filtration, circulation, debris, heavy pool use, or several issues happening at once.

Before you start tossing extra pool shock and other chemicals into the water, find out what the water is actually telling you.

Bring a sample into a Burton Pools & Spas showroom for professional pool water testing. We can test it, explain what the numbers mean, and help you choose the right water-care products instead of guessing, saving you time and money.

For many homeowners, yes. Pool automation can make any pool feel much more convenient and appealing.

Depending on your equipment, automation may let you manage pumps, heaters, schedules, lighting, water features, and other functions from one control system.

If you are interested in adding automation or your existing system is giving you trouble, Burton Pools & Spas provides automation setup, upgrades, troubleshooting, and repair through our pool service department.

Hot Tub & Swim Spa FAQs

Start with the people who are actually going to use it. Do you want quiet evenings for two? Room for the whole family? Strong hydrotherapy? A lounge seat? Salt water? Something simple and budget-friendly?

At Burton Pools & Spas, you can actually wet test different models, compare sizes, and talk through those questions instead of choosing a spa from pictures online. We carry Hot Spring® Spas in numerous sizes and collections. Explore our hot tubs and swim spas today!

At Burton Pools & Spas, our plug-and-play hot tubs start at around $4,000 to $7,000, while higher-end hard-wired models with more advanced features are approximately $10,000 to $20,000+.

Size is only part of the difference. Construction, materials, insulation, water care, controls, seating, jets, energy efficiency, and other features affect both price and the experience you get from the spa. Know what you want? Have no idea where to start? We help people at all levels of the journey find the spa of their dreams.

Every hot tub needs regular water testing, sanitizer, filter care, cleaning, and occasional draining and refilling.

The good news is that a little consistent hot tub maintenance is much easier than trying to rescue neglected spa water later.

And if something mechanical goes wrong, you do not have to become a hot tub technician overnight. Burton Pools & Spas also provides spa service and hot tub repair. You can request service online.

Both options are fantastic for your home. Consider choosing a hot tub if soaking, hydrotherapy, conversation, and relaxation are your main priorities. Look at a swim spa if you also want space for swimming and aquatic exercise.

Endless™ Pools Swim Spas combine a swim current with spa-style features, giving you more ways to use the water in a relatively compact footprint.

If you are researching swim spa cost or hot tub cost, come take a peek at the models in person. You can discuss your options and find the hot tub or swim spa that perfectly fits your needs.

Sauna & Cold Plunge FAQs

It comes down to the type of sauna experience you enjoy.

Traditional saunas heat the room to higher temperatures. Infrared systems work differently by using light waves to warm you from the inside out, and they generally operate at lower air temperatures. Hybrid models give you both options, and you can choose which one is right each day.

Burton carries Tylö home saunas, including traditional, infrared, hybrid, indoor, and outdoor sauna models. Come talk to us about your space, how many people will use it, and the experience you prefer. We can introduce you to the model that’s right for you.

Colder is not automatically better, especially when you are new to cold water immersion.

The Vigor™ cold plunge tub available from Burton Pools & Spas can cool the water down to 39°F, but your personal cold plunge temperature can be adjusted to your comfort and experience level.

If you are just getting started, ease into it rather than turning the temperature all the way down on day one.

Burton Pools & Spas Locations

Burton Pools & Spas has five convenient locations serving families throughout Northwest Arkansas, Southeast Oklahoma, and Southwest Missouri.

You can visit us in Fort Smith, Springdale, Greenland/Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Arkansas, or Joplin, Missouri. Our showrooms give you a place to see a wide selection of wellness and recreation products, ask questions, get your pool water tested, shop for supplies, and talk with the people who actually work with pools and spas every day.

Find addresses, hours, phone numbers, and directions on our locations page. Still have a question we did not answer? We’re here for you! Stop by your nearest Burton Pools & Spas location or get in touch with our team. From deciding what fun things belong in your backyard to keeping them running years from now, we are here for every step along the way.