Get matched with top pool and spa technicians in Carroll Valley, PA

"I recently had the pleasure of working with Erik from First State Ponds, and I can't recommend him enough. Erik traveled all the way from Delaware to Maryland to service my pond, which was having persistent issues with murky water. Before connecting with Erik, I had already been advised by another company to purchase a specific filter and pump. Thankfully, I found First State Ponds just in time. Erik took the time to explain that while the recommended filter might clear my water, it would require constant maintenance. He suggested a different filter and a stronger pump, but he was also willing to install the one I had already purchased if I preferred. After some consideration, I decided to take his advice and returned the original filter to have him install his recommended system. After struggling with murky water all summer, l admit, I was a bit skeptical. I wasn't sure that anything would truly work. But Erik's recommendation exceeded even his own predictions. Within just two days, the water was crystal clear! I didn't really think that was possible. There were a few challenges during installation and I admit this was 100% due to a few things I had set up prior to meeting Erik. But he handled them seamlessly, troubleshooting as needed. For the issues that couldn't be addressed that day, Erik provided me with helpful suggestions on how to finish the job myself. While I initially found the price a little high, after seeing the fantastic results, answering my many questions (including a few the following day), and delivering on everything he promised, I can confidently say he earned every cent. If you're looking for quality service, prompt responses, and impressive results, I highly recommend First State Ponds. Erik and his team are truly top-notch."

"The automatic pool cover business is dominated by a few large companies that become an effective monopoly after you’ve bought a cover from one of them and its exclusive local dealer. This manufacturer-dealer duo then has the opportunity to act exactly as you’d expect a monopolist would. In my experience, Solar Pool Covers took advantage of that power. The price for installing its equipment was good, and they did a good job installing it. But they have the option to get you on the repairs, where they have you over the barrel. On labor, they lowballed me on how much time they thought the repair would take and then worked slowly on the job (to be fair, it was a hot, muggy day). On parts, the manufacturer doesn’t disclose the price of parts on its website, except to its dealers. So Solar Pool Covers could mark up its parts price by a factor of five and then when I called them out on it acknowledge that they bundled the price of labor installing the part with the cost of the part. It was the first time I ever received a bill where labor and parts had separate line items (nothing unusual there)--but with the parts item including a hidden labor charge not in the separate labor line item. An additional part was also not listed specifically but under the larger more expensive system it was a component of, which effectively hid the name of the part that was replaced. After a service man does a job, I usually ask for a copy of the bill and then pay it then and there with a credit card. This dealer’s service man refused to give me the price of the job after it was finished, saying that he didn’t have time to fill out the bill and that time would need to be included in the bill. I’m giving them a C rather than an F because I had no problem with the work they did. The problem was the amount and way they charged for it."