FAQ
Do you have questions about Dream Team Exterior Solutions, or our services we provide? Here is a great way for you to search the FAQ to get those common answers to your questions, but please feel free to simply give us a call to have all your questions answered immediately. Separated into categories of Pest Control, Pool Maintenance & Cleaning, and Pressure Washing. Servicing the greater Indianapolis, IN area.
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Pressure washing can quickly become a science project without proper experience. The surface, cleaning product, pressure and type of pressure washer you’re using all play a vital role in how clean your surface will get. More importantly, for how long they will stay clean too. With over 20 years experience, Dream Team Exterior Solutions understands what it takes to clean even the most difficult surfaces. From vinyl siding, to concrete, decks and paver stones, we have the products, equipment and insurance to guarantee you a clean surface, every time.
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All Dream Team Exterior Solutions products are VOC compliant and we make a strong effort to ensure the use of only “green” products. The surface you need cleaned will determine what chemical will be used. How dirty your surface is will determine how much chemical will be used. Our power washers allow for variable pressures to keep minimal pressure on a particular surface. Cleaning vinyl siding with our soft washing technique uses a mixture of eco-friendly chemicals and very low pressure. For some concrete cleaning jobs, we do not need any chemicals. Just good ole fashioned water pressure and a flat surface cleaner designed specifically for concrete cleaning. The deck cleaning chemicals we use depend on the type of deck and staining application that is currently being used.
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House washing services are recommended every 2 years to keep built up dirt and grime from burrowing into your property. Dream Team Exterior Solutions has perfected the art of the house wash. We use the highest quality home-safe chemicals and a clean house washing that will last. All Work is Guaranteed and you can feel safe knowing a trusted and fully insured technician is at your home making your house sparkle again!
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Yes, high pressure can wreak havoc on your home’s surfaces. Without proper training, you can rip the siding off a home, etch a deck causing permanent damage or injury can be caused if high pressure touches skin or clothing. Our fully insured and skilled technicians will deliver the perfect care to your home. Dream Team Exterior Solutions uses only safe and tested methods for pressure washing.
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Concrete cleaning is as much protection as it is aesthetic. Pressure washing concrete removes built up dirt and grime. Pressure washing and cleaning concrete can also help prevent a slippery surface. Concrete can become a breeding ground for mildew. This is especially important around swimming pools, fountains, and ponds.
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Concrete and pavement should be a lifetime investment. Having DTES seal your concrete or driveway is a great way to insure your investment. We use ChemTec ONE to seal all concrete and Seal’n Lock sealer on pavers. Both are state of the art and VOC compliant in all 50 states. Sealing concrete is the only sure fire way to prevent cracking and deterioration.
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Anyone can purchase a pressure washer. Simply owning a pressure washing machine and advertising that you offer a service doesn’t mean you can operate it effectively. A pressure washer in the hands of an unskilled operator can cause a great deal of damage such as damaged, plants and lawn killed, siding blown off, paint peeled from house, and even concrete cut and etched.
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ABSOLUTELY-NOT! We use our soft low pressure method when spraying your house. The tools and techniques, including low pressure and soft washing, used by Dream Team Exterior Solutions are more effective cleaning at low pressure than the low cost, less than professional, companies that use more pressure. We use a well thought out technique that both cleans and protects your property.
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Yes, mold and mildew on and around your home create unhealthy conditions for those with asthma and allergies. Through our safe methods in pressure washing and soft washing, we can safely and effectively remove organic growth (mold, mildew) from any exterior surface. This will help keep you and your family safe and healthy. And it safeguards your property from much more costly repairs.
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Even though most pools are equipped with an automatic pool cleaner, most won’t scrub, especially not thoroughly. Brushing your pool can help remove algae or any other small particles from the pool’s surface.
Pay special attention to spots where water circulation is a problem (behind ladders, loveseats and corners). Brush the walls, benches, floor, loveseats and all other pool surfaces once a week.
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We recommend that you don’t drain your pool, especially during the winter. Keeping water in the pool during the winter can actually protect the bottom of the pool from cracking during freezing temperatures. We do, however, recommend a pool cover during the off-season to protect the pool from debris and cold temperatures. To extend your swimming season, consider a pool heater.
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A dirty or clogged skimmer basket restricts water flow. If water can’t flow through your skimmer, your pool can’t circulate properly and that could cause problems down the road. The same is true of your pump basket. If water is restricted the pump can overheat. Clean skimmer baskets daily and inspect for cracks, replacing if needed.
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The nature of a saltwater system is that it actually converts ordinary salt into chlorine. There may be an occasion that you might need to super chlorinate the pool or “shock” the water. Saltwater pools are a great option for those who are sensitive to chlorine. Chlorine generated pools, or “saltwater pools” have softer water and can be gentler on eyes, skin and hair.
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To stay on the safe side with chemical water treatments, we recommend using your pool eight to 12 hours after administering a treatment. The best time to shock a pool is during the evening, to let the system run over night. If you use a non-chlorine shock you can swim within 30 minutes of the pool treatment.
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Pool chemicals typically last if kept in the proper conditions. Dry chemicals have a 7 year shelf life before expiring. Liquid pool chemicals will last just as long, but if the chemicals freeze we recommend replacing them. Pool chemicals can separate if they freeze and thaw too many times, so make sure you keep your pool chemicals stored in a warmer place during the winter to ensure a safe and clean pool.
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There could be a few contributing factors that can lead to cloudy water. The most common causes are, inorganic contaminates, poor filtration, or possibly high pH and/or Alkalinity.
Inorganic contaminates can be anything from swimmers leaving behind sweat, shampoo and sun screen to birds and debris. Take a water sample to your local pool professional and have your water tested to determine whether your pool needs to be shocked.
Poor filtration is often caused by a dirty filter. You may need to backwash and replace the filter media, or remove and clean your cartridges. It is very beneficial to remove the grids or cartridges from the filter and degrease them with a cartridge/filter cleaner at least once mid-season. Just spray on the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes before hosing it off. The cleaner acts as a degreaser, helping break down the coating of oils from sunscreen, shampoo and swimmer oils that can coat the grids/cartridges. The filter system may also need to run longer to make sure the pool water is completely turning over. The system should run between 6 and 12 hours at a time, depending on the time of year and water temperature.
When pool water becomes out of balance it is necessary to make the proper adjustments.
High pH and Alkalinity can lead to cloudy water. Take a water sample to your local pool professional at Anthony & Sylvan to have your levels checked and make the proper adjustments.
Of course you can always call us.
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You sure do. Even salt pools have to. The purpose of shocking is to remove the chloramines and “dead” stuff clothing around unseen in the water. When chlorine kills something it binds to it and becomes ineffective but a huge problem. Shocking removes that ickiness. Do you want to be swimming around with that? Yuck!
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Well that question is a little variable. Every backyard is different and every pool size and shape is different and at that every homeowner has a different set of tools. Typically it could take you 5 minutes to test the water and add the chemicals and 30 minutes to brush the pool or vacuum if needed. It could be more if you have a lot of trees and a lot less if you have a robot. That being said the pool could use some in between love too. But that you could do from within the pool.
If you are spending more than that you need to go back to the Pros and get a different routine. Options Options!
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In the cold seasons, a winter cover will not only catch leaves, it also provides an enhanced protection barrier from unwanted branches and other material that can harm the pool liner. The use of a winter cover also decreases the chemicals required for the spring start up. Covers are not required but we highly recommend them.
The aboveground enviro cover is our top pick allowing the water to pass through without the mess. An inground safety cover provides all the above and safety for pets, kids, and wildlife. It’s not a necessity, but still the Mercedes of pool covers.