Warm Weather Gifts for Year Round Fun

Not everyone lives in a climate that requires closing the backyard swimming pool at some point in the year.  In fact, many of our southern friends are probably reading this blog poolside while soaking in the warm rays of the sun.  Before you step away from the computer to top off your iced tea or fruity beverage, consider adding a couple of sure-to-please pool gifts to your holiday giving plans this year.  Your pool-loving family and friends will get the pleasure of enjoying them right away, and you’ll be done with your shopping all the sooner.

Here are just a few ideas that always bring big smiles and even bigger fun:

1.  Remote controlled water soaker

Remote Control Water Soaker

2.  Floating basketball game

Floating Cool Jam Basketball

3.  Mermaid swim fin

Mermaid Swim Fin

4.  Starfighter pool float

Starfighter Pool Float with Squirt Gun

Even if you don’t live in a warmer climate and you’re reading this snuggled up by the glow of your fireplace, you will still bring a thrill to your pool-loving friends and family members with these gifts.  They can look forward to using their new pool gear when swimming pool season rolls around again, and the anticipation might just inspire them to help you with pool-opening tasks this time.  An unexpected gift for you, too!

Dress Up Plain Pools with Simple Elegance

Expensive Swimming Pool Design

With enough money and creativity, swimming pools can be constructed in any shape or design you can imagine.  Builders can add multi-level waterfalls, fountains, decorative landscaping, rock formations, and more to create a luxurious backyard escape.  For those of us, though, who chose to have a traditional swimming pool installed without the fancy features, dressing up our existing pool is still a possibility.

Spruce up your poolside landscaping with luscious potted trees and other greenery, or install colorful and easy-spreading ground cover plants that require little maintenance and look great all season.

Decorative Plants for Poolside

Visit your local garden center or scour your own property to find eye-catching stones to place around the pool as decorative focal points.

Attach an elegant pool fountain to the side of your pool to bring the gentle and soothing sound of flowing water to each swimming experience.

Swimming Pool Fountain

Using your own creative instincts and choosing a few inexpensive, yet high impact, features will allow you to add charm and character to a once plain poolside.

An Unusual But Welcome Gift for Pool Owners

As pool owners already know, owning a swimming pool can be a costly affair. Everything from installation to daily maintenance during swim season requires homeowners to dig deep into their pockets. So, when it comes to gift giving times, the best gifts you can buy for a pool owner are the most practical ones. Sure, it is fun to receive a new game or an amusing sign to post poolside, but the gifts most appreciated are those that help to relieve some of the financial burden involved with the operation and maintenance of a swimming pool.

One practical and inexpensive gift idea for pool-loving people are swimming pool chemicals. Yes, swimming pool chemicals.  Certainly, this may not seem like the most romantic or exciting gift, but pool owners see it differently.  Every pool requires chemicals, which are essential for safe swimming. The pleasure of receiving swimming pool chemicals comes with the knowledge that this is one less item to be purchased when swim season arrives again.  Saving money on necessary expenses is something any homeowner can appreciate.

Swimming Pool Chemicals, Hot Tub & Spa Chemicals

Fix-A-Leak the Fast and Inexpensive Way!

Fix-A-Leak

Hopefully, your pool is now protected for the winter and properly closed (unless you are one of the few lucky enough to live in a tropical location year round). If you DID have a winter time disaster, such as frozen pipes, do you know how to solve to problem come spring? For cracked pipes or leaking pools, excavation can be extremely expensive. Try Fix-A-Leak first. a blended concentrated material designed to seal leaks in virtually any material. It works extremely well on all types of plastics, from spas to plumbing. Fix a leak forms a permanent seal on holes up to 1/8″ in diameter. It is perfect for leaks in the walls, floor, or shell of a pool or hot tub. One quart works on up to 22,000 gallons and cures in 48 hours. At under $30.00 a quart, it will save hundreds or even thousands of dollars versus excavation.

Choosing Between Carbon and Ceramic Heaters in Infrared Saunas

Infrared Home Sauna

Infrared saunas for the home are rising in popularity as availability increases and cost declines. Selecting which sauna to bring into the home may seem like a simple decision initially — most are beautifully constructed wood enclosures with comfortable seating, sound systems, and other luxurious extras. The choice of heating element, though, is where most homeowners get stuck. Infrared saunas are available with either a ceramic heater or a carbon heater. What’s the difference? Both have their advantages and drawbacks, but understanding the basics of each heating option should provide homeowners with enough information to make the best individual decision.

Warm Up Time and Distribution of Heat

In general, ceramic heaters are quicker to heat up than carbon heaters, but with ceramic heaters, more intense warmth tends to be concentrated closest to the heating elements. With carbon heaters, the heat is more evenly distributed throughout the sauna and provides a body with even heat exposure. Heat that is not as evenly dispersed will warm the body unevenly, but it can be an effective way to focus the more intense heat on specific areas of the body that may need more attention.

Some homeowners prefer carbon heaters for larger saunas because uneven heat distribution is more noticeable. Some, however, prefer the subtle variations in temperature in a sauna that uses a ceramic heater because it allows for a less intense experience.

Durability

An important consideration when comparing home saunas is durability of the heating elements. Both ceramic and carbon heaters are considered durable. Ceramic rods, though, can be fragile, so carbon heaters are generally able to endure more abuse. The durability of the sauna’s construction should be considered, too. A well-constructed sauna will help provide safe a sturdy housing for the heating elements, so they can remain in good condition over many years.

Energy Efficiency

Infrared heating, in general, is very energy efficient, so it should come as no surprise that ceramic and carbon heaters both score high for energy efficient performance. Either choice would provide homeowners with a sauna that operates at a low cost. Carbon heaters, though, are usually more efficient than ceramic, which means operation costs would be even lower than with ceramic heaters.

Cost

The overall cost of home saunas is certainly a consideration for homeowners in the market for one. Saunas that use carbon heaters are usually more expensive to purchase than saunas that use ceramic. Before making the final decision, though, homeowners should weigh all of the different characteristics of carbon and ceramic heaters to determine which offers the best fit for the individual. Homeowners should also compare other sauna features, too. Quality of construction, ease of assembly, size, and creature comforts can make a significant difference in final cost.

Understanding the main differences between ceramic and carbon heaters for infrared saunas is crucial for making the most informed purchasing decision. When the desired heating components and sauna features match the homeowner’s expectations and desires, the result is a more rewarding and satisfying experience.