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Spools
The Perfect Blend of Spa & Pool
Transform Your Backyard with a Compact Plunge Pool
A spool, a spa-pool hybrid, is the ultimate solution for small backyards or those seeking versatility without the footprint of a full-sized pool. This compact yet luxurious feature allows you to soak in warm, jet-powered hydrotherapy or cool off on a hot day, all in one beautifully designed space. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing retreat, a stylish focal point, or a year-round backyard escape, a spool delivers the best of both worlds.
At California Pools & Landscape, we specialize in custom-built spools designed for comfort, efficiency, and Arizona living. From heated hydrotherapy to a refreshing plunge-style design, we create a personalized water experience that enhances both your lifestyle and outdoor space.
What is a Spool?
A spool pool, also known as a compact soaking pool or plunge pool, is a versatile backyard feature that blends relaxation and function in one design. Typically ranging up to 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, it’s ideal for lounging, hydrotherapy, or cooling off without the footprint of a full-sized pool.
With built-in jets, heating, and seating, spools create a comfortable, year-round escape that fits seamlessly into smaller patios, courtyards, or urban spaces. Each design offers the comfort of a spa and the refreshment of a pool in a size that suits any Arizona backyard.
Popular Spool Features
Hydrotherapy Seating
Built-in benches provide a comfortable soaking area
Adjustable Water Jets
Create soothing or resistance-based water movement for relaxation or exercise.
Heating & Cooling Systems
Enjoy warm, spa-like water in the winter or refreshing dips in summer.
LED Lighting
Custom underwater and perimeter lighting enhances ambiance.
Waterfalls & Deck Jets
Flowing water features create a calming, luxury aesthetic.
Custom Designs for Any Backyard
No two outdoor retreats are the same, and these multi-functional pools are fully customizable to match your style and space. Whether you prefer a sleek, contemporary design, a natural rock-lined lagoon, or a resort-inspired soaking pool, every feature can be tailored to enhance your outdoor living area.
Material choices like concrete, fiberglass, and tile allow for unique design elements, while custom add-ons such as infinity edges, integrated fire features, or surrounding pergolas elevate your backyard into a truly stunning getaway.
Why Homeowners Love Pool-Spa Hybrids
Not everyone has the space or need for a full-sized pool, and not every homeowner wants the upkeep and expense that comes with it. Compact aquatic features offer the perfect balance of functionality and luxury, providing a versatile, easy-to-maintain solution that works for a variety of homes.
Low Maintenance & Energy Efficient
These backyard spools require less water, fewer chemicals, and reduced energy use compared to traditional pools. They heat up quickly and use smart filtration systems to stay clean with minimal effort. For homeowners looking to reduce water consumption and lower maintenance costs, this is a sustainable solution that doesn’t compromise on comfort.
Designed for Relaxation & Year-Round Use
Unlike traditional pools that are used mainly in summer, heated plunge-style pools provide four-season enjoyment. Use it as a soothing hydrotherapy spa in the winter or a cooling retreat in the heat of summer. Whether you want stress relief, muscle recovery, or a peaceful outdoor sanctuary, this custom backyard upgrade adapts to your needs.
All Great Builds Start With a Conversation
Whether you need an estimate, funding, or inspiration from our award winning designers, we're ready to roll our sleeves up and start building your dream space. If you're not quite ready... keep scrolling!
Superior Water Filtration
Even though compact plunge pools hold less water than traditional swimming areas, maintaining clear, balanced water is still essential. The right filtration system makes all the difference. Homeowners can choose between traditional chlorine, saltwater filtration for a gentler swim, or UV/ozone purification systems that significantly reduce chemical use while keeping the water pristine. With high-quality water management, maintaining your private retreat is effortless.
Efficient Heating & Cooling
One of the biggest advantages of a spa-pool hybrid is its seasonal versatility. With energy-efficient heating technology, you can enjoy warm, spa-like comfort in the winter and a cool, refreshing plunge in the summer. Gas and electric heaters allow for quick temperature adjustments, while heat pumps and solar heating provide long-term cost savings and eco-friendly solutions. Many homeowners opt for a combination of heating methods to maximize efficiency, ensuring their outdoor oasis is always the perfect temperature.
Smart Features for a Seamless Experience
These modern plunge pools are designed for convenience, and smart technology makes them even easier to maintain. With automated control systems, you can adjust temperature, lighting, filtration settings, and water features right from your smartphone or tablet. By scheduling heating and filtration cycles, you can minimize energy use while keeping water conditions perfect. Whether you want to turn on spa jets before arriving home or adjust LED lighting for an evening soak, automated systems make relaxation effortless.
Eco-Friendly Spools
Because compact pools use less water than full-size swimming pools, they’re already a sustainable option. But additional features can further enhance eco-friendliness. Built-in pool covers reduce evaporation, maintaining consistent water levels while also preventing heat loss. Variable-speed pumps keep water circulating efficiently while using minimal energy. By integrating conservation technology, homeowners can enjoy a luxurious backyard feature while making responsible choices for the environment.
All Great Builds Start With a Conversation
Whether you need an estimate, funding, or inspiration from our award winning designers, we're ready to roll our sleeves up and start building your dream space. If you're not quite ready... keep scrolling!
How Do Spools Compare to Other Small Pools?
Want the comfort of a spa with the flexibility of a pool? A spool (spa + pool) delivers heated relaxation, powerful jets, and year-round enjoyment. But how does it differ from a cocktail pool or play pool? Here’s the breakdown:
Cocktail Pools
A cocktail pool is designed more for socializing and aesthetics than therapeutic use. While both a cocktail pool and a spool are small in size, a cocktail pool is usually unheated and meant for lounging rather than hydrotherapy. If you want a sleek, stylish water feature without spa elements, a cocktail pool is a great choice.
Play Pools
Play pools are larger and designed for activity. Unlike a spool, they are not heated and focus on games, movement, and cooling off rather than relaxation. If you prefer swimming and playing over soaking and unwinding, a play pool may be the better fit.
See What Our Customers Are Saying
Ashley V.
Very easy to work with and they are fast and responsive at communicating and answering any questions you have through out the project. Their App was the best. It lays out timelines and updated regularly of every last phase of the project. Big shout out to Nadine Chapman, our scheduler! Also enjoyed working with Steve Dreher who made sure we were happy with our project. Mike Lillis was our sales manager and ultimately it was him that made us choose CalPools. We had bids with 3 other companies but he was so responsive unlike the other companies we felt most comfortable going with CalPools.
STEVE WALB
My 15 year old Hayward pool & spa heater went out. My pool maintenance person recommended a new heater for $5,000. I called CP&L on the chance they had references for techs for my Cal Pool. I was transferred immediately to Kathy, their service coordinator. Who knew? Kathy who handles scheduling the techs responded quickly and got me scheduled for a service call within a very reasonable amount of time, and her communication was excellent. She also worked well with me to accommodate my timing needs. The very experienced tech who arrived, Ryan, was able to diagnose the problem within mere minutes and as a result I will spend less than 10% of the original recommendation for replacement. What a great team, and a great Christmas present. Highly...HIGHLY recommend them.
Denise T.
We requested bids for a new pool build from 4 different companies and chose California Pools due to their professionalism and word of mouth reviews. They were very upfront with the timeframe of the build times and walked us through what to expect. Our project manager Christian Pierre and our construction manager Jordan Thrasher we're fantastic to work with. They were always prompt at responding to any questions we had and made the entire project run extremely smooth. Each phase of the project was completed on or before the estimated dates and the contractors that did work were always courteous and did an amazing job. We couldn't be happier with the pool and they did a top notch job! We couldn't have made a better decision by choosing this company to do our pool.
Deanna R.
My wife and I decided to put in a pool and after looking at many companies, we decided on California Pools & Landscape. We were very impressed by their showroom in Scottsdale and were excited to sit down and meet with Ryan and see our backyard transform into 3-D pictures with a gorgeous pool. They are correct that it is a stressful time because there are many things going on at once. However, we had many helpful people along the way that made the experience easier. Stephen and Cammy were so helpful whenever we had any questions and they explained in detail when there was an issue with permitting or something that may need to be changed. The scheduling department, Sara, was amazing with keeping us informed with what was going on. She returned our emails right away and was always on top of our schedule. We are very happy with our finished product and have already enjoyed the peacefulness of our backyard and cannot wait to go swimming this summer. We have attached two before and two after photos. We would recommend California Pools and Landscape to help transform your backyard.
Scott Stevens
Our rep presented a great plan for our build. Took the time to explain the details of the contract, warranties and the continuing aftercare for us and the work they preform. Heads above the rest.
David Dufner
Steve was awesome! He realized exactly what I wanted and worked with us to get it. Very positive experience!
T Antell
PERFECT POOL DESIGN. DI FRONT YARD REAR YD TROPICAL DESIGN. POOL AND EVERYTHING ELSE LOOK PERFECT. DO NOT HESITATE TO USE FOR POOL AND LANDSCAPE. SPENT $130,000 AND POOL AND HOME LOOKS LIKE A FIVE STAR HOTEL. MATT SAUER TOP OF THE LINE DESIGNER ,LISTNER, AND PROBLEM SOLVER. TRAVERTINE CREW PERFECT , LANDSCAPE PERFECT POOL PERFECT. EVERYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WAS CORRECTED BY SCOTT, OUR SUPERVISOR. TO ALL THE WORKERS AND THEIR CREW THANKYOU FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK. OUR DESSERT MARICOPA HOME LOOKS EXACTLY THE WAY I PLANNED IT AS A TROPICAL DESSERT OASIS. WHATEVER WASNT TO MY SATISFACTION WAS CORRECTED TO 100% IN THE END. I DON'T USE THE WORD PERFECT OFTEN, ONLY WHEN IT IS WARRANTED. YOU GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR. HIGHEST OF QUALITY EVERYTHING AND LYNDEE THE HEAD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND 100% COMPETANT IN HER JOB. TOOK LONGER THAN WE EXPECTED BUT GIVING TIME IN THE END, BEST CONTRACTORS I HAVE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING WITH. THE OWNERS CARE 100% THE LANSCAPE CREW OF JAMEN AND JUAN WERE THE BEST . THE TRAVERTINE CREW MATT AND THE REST WERE UNBELIEVABLE TALENTED AND HARD WORKERS. IF YOU BUY FROM ANYONE ELSE, YOU MISSED OUT ON THE BEST OF THE BEST ALL ROUND COMPANY! NICER THAN HGTV DESIGNS. COMPLIMENTS FROM !00% OF ANYONE WHO SEES IT. NEIGHBORS COMING TO SEE IT WITH THEIR POOL BUILDERS TELLING THEM THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT. TO ME CALIFORNIA POOLS IS THE BEST POOL BUILDER AND LANDSCAPER IN ARIZONA HANDS DOWN. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
Susan C.
I started looking for a pool company two years ago. California pools was the only company able to have a pool done by this summer. I am very glad I found them!! From the beginning (design) to finish it's been a great experience! I signed in August and they finished in June. My designer Brian went over the details with cost and created a beautiful design for the pool and decking. I have dogs so I let them know I need to be notified when someone is coming into the backyard so I can lock them inside. During the whole process ( except for one exception) they kept me updated on dates and the crew showed up that day or the next. Jordan the superintendent was very accessible if I had questions. He was super helpful with the city inspection! He made sure everything was going smoothly and being done correctly. He kept me updated on dates for construction as well. Everyone was very friendly and even when nothing was happening I received messages about what we were waiting for. All in all a great experience and I love my pool!
Stan Taylor
We were thoroughly impressed with California Pools. Vina and Matt were excellent and communicative through the process. They always got back to us in a timely fashion. Brian was the only designer of 4 pool companies that we talked with that found a solution for our pool equipment, notice it is not in the backyard!!! it is on the side of the house and keeps the pool/spa area quiet. And the Porcelain looks amazing. Was it perfect, no, but it was very good, and when there was an issue they gave me choices, suggesting the best for us long term. Thank you all, I would highly recommend CalPools Queen Creek!! Stan.
T B.
I would have CP build a pool any day of the week. Everyone was kind and helpful...always...even after they were paid. We had a couple minor things to attend to.after we closed and they happily attended to our concerns. Marc our first team member he was super helpful through the entire project...he was attentive to all our needs and how we were going to use our pool. At 6:00PM on a Friday he picked up his phone to answer a question that our landscaper had...could not be more pleased with the job the entire CP team did. Thanks CP!
Lora Kim
Joel Parron has been patient and wonderful to work with. The workmanship on our pool and mini golf green design turned out beautifully. We haven't had a chance to go into the pool yet since we had it built right before winter started, but he still comes around to make sure everything is working well and even addresses things he noticed. The design center has all the options you ever needed and the staff and everyone there have been so kind to interact with. Thank you, Joel and California Pools and Landscape!
Leah Hedgpeth
Brian McGrath. That is what you need to know. Brian McGrath. He has made our experience. We had done a ton of research finding a pool company for a new build and met with several other companies. After meeting BrIan for a consultation, learning about the pool options, and seeing his design, our choice was VERY clear. Brian has been there for us and is incredible! He does not shy away from all of the tough questions you may have. We have friends also doing a new build pool and recommendEd Brian. They also have went with him. I have seen their impressive design and happy they have Brian having their back. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cocktail Pools
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