Special pool features in Los Angeles include waterfalls, sheer descents, bubblers, fire bowls, deck jets and LED lighting added to a new or existing pool. Most need their own plumbing and often a dedicated pump, so they are easiest and cheapest to add while the deck is already open during a remodel.
Work is done by Ran Neuman, who owns Spear Pools, Inc. and brings 18 years of hands-on pool repair and construction experience. Licensed and insured under CSLB #1143895. Free written estimate, and most repairs are scheduled the same week.
“Our 32 year old waterfall pump was a challenge but he found parts for it, savings us big $$ if we had to get a new pump.”
★★★★★ Eric V., Los Angeles, verified Yelp review
Water Features
Moving water adds sound, movement and a focal point. The common choices:
- Sheer descents: a smooth sheet of water falling from a raised wall into the pool.
- Rock waterfalls: water spilling over stone for a natural, resort look.
- Spillways: water flowing from a raised spa down into the pool.
- Deck jets: arcs of water that shoot from the deck into the pool.
- Bubblers: low fountains set in a shallow shelf or step.
- Scuppers: spouts set into a wall that pour into the pool.
Fire Features
Fire bowls and fire pits by the water give the yard an evening focal point. They need a gas line run to each one, a safe distance from anything that burns, and in most cases a permit. Fire and water together, such as a bowl that also spills water, are a popular pairing.
Lighting
LED pool lights change color, run far cheaper than old incandescent fixtures and can be set to scenes from a phone. Landscape and step lights make the yard safer and extend how long it gets used after dark.
Lighting and controls fall under pool lighting and automation, which we handle with the features themselves.
“Richard is the most knowledgeable pool pro I have ever encountered. He was nice enough to spend some time answering questions and showing us how to properly work our equipment.”
★★★★★ Siouxe D., Los Angeles, verified Yelp review
Choosing Features That Fit the Yard
A feature should suit the size of the pool and how the yard is used. A tall sheer descent looks right on a large pool and overwhelms a small one. Moving water sounds relaxing on a patio but can be loud outside a bedroom window at night.
Wind matters too. Deck jets and tall falls lose spray on a breezy afternoon, so we place them where the prevailing wind carries water back into the pool rather than onto the deck.
What Features Need Behind the Scenes
A feature is only as good as what runs it:
- Plumbing: dedicated lines from the pad to each feature.
- Pumping: a separate feature pump, or valves that borrow flow from the main pump.
- Gas and power: gas lines for fire features, electrical for lights and pumps.
- Controls: automation so features turn on with a tap instead of a trip to the pad.
Water features also raise evaporation, because moving water loses more to the air. Plan on topping off the pool a little more often when they run.
Adding Features to an Existing Pool
Most features can be added to a pool that is already built. The easiest time is during a remodel, when the deck is open and the plumbing and gas lines can be run without cutting new trenches. On a pool that is still being designed, features go into the shell and plumbing from the start when building a new pool.
Deck jets and fire bowls need deck work. Bubblers on a shelf and new lights may need the pool drained. We tell you up front which features fit your pool as it stands and which are best saved for the next remodel.
Features and the Spa
A raised spa with a spillover is a water feature in its own right, and it often anchors the design. Spa jets, spillovers and other features share valves at the pad, so they are planned together. Automation can save scenes, such as spa heat with lights dimmed and the waterfall off, so switching is one tap.
Safety Around Features
- Fire features need clearance from overhangs, umbrellas and landscaping.
- Deck jets should arc into deep enough water, away from where people dive or stand.
- Raised walls and spillways need a surface that is not slick when wet.
- Children should be supervised around fire and moving water, like the rest of the pool.
What Pool Features Cost
Most pool water features run $450 to $5,000, according to HomeAdvisor, with the type and size setting the price. LED fixtures run $700 to $1,500 each.
| Feature | What it adds | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Water features (sheer descents, bubblers, spillways) | Sound and movement | $450 to $5,000 |
| LED pool lighting | Color at night, low running cost | $700 to $1,500 per fixture |
| Fire bowls and fire features | Evening focal point | Quoted per project |
| Waterfalls and rock features | Natural, resort-style look | Quoted per project |
Source: HomeAdvisor, 2026 cost data. Your price depends on the pool, access and what we find on site.
Our guide to features that add home value covers this.
“Hands down the best pool equipment repair company I have ever used. Mike in the office was great and Richard the technician was the best, knowledgeable and friendly.”
★★★★★ Paul L., San Francisco, verified Yelp review
Keeping Features Running
Hard water leaves calcium on sheer descent lips and jet nozzles, which breaks up the water pattern. Clean them regularly and keep the water balanced.
A feature pump wears like any other pump. Feature pumps are covered under pool pump repair, including older models where we track down parts.
Where Features Fit Best
Canyon yards suit height and water, so features on Agoura Hills pools are a natural fit. Estate pools carry the most, including Beverly Hills water features. At Spear, we design and install pool features across Los Angeles, working out of the west San Fernando Valley and covering the Valley, the foothills and the Conejo Valley. See every place we work.
Get a Free Pool Feature Estimate
Tell us which features you are considering and what the deck is like now. We plan the plumbing and pump before quoting.
Free visit. Written price. No obligation.
Want the pool to look and sound the part? Call (818) 719-9059 and speak to Ran.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a water feature to my existing pool?
Yes, you can add a water feature to your existing pool, including waterfalls, sheer descents, bubblers, deck jets and fountains. Most need their own plumbing lines and sometimes a dedicated pump, so the work is easiest during a remodel when the deck is open. Smaller features such as deck jets and bubblers can often be added with fewer changes. We plan the plumbing and pump size before quoting, so the feature runs properly.
Are pool water features worth it?
Yes, pool water features are worth it when you want the pool to look and sound more inviting, and many are affordable. HomeAdvisor puts most pool water features at $450 to $5,000, with the type and size setting the price. Simple bubblers and deck jets sit at the low end, while larger waterfalls cost more. Moving water also increases evaporation in Los Angeles heat, so features add some water and energy use.
What are the best features for a swimming pool?
The best features for a swimming pool are the ones you will use most, and for many families that means a variable-speed pump, LED lighting, a Baja shelf, an attached spa and automation you can run from your phone. Water features such as sheer descents and bubblers add sound and movement. Fire bowls and good lighting make the pool usable after dark. Planning them together avoids tearing up the deck twice.
What are some common swimming pool design mistakes to avoid?
Some common swimming pool design mistakes are making the pool too small or too large for the yard, skipping a shallow area for children and placing the pool where it gets too little sun. Other mistakes include too little deck space, poor drainage around the pool and equipment placed right under a bedroom window, where the noise carries. Planning features and plumbing before construction avoids costly changes later.
Still have a question about your pool? Ran will look at it and give you a written price, free.