Category Archives: Pool and Spa Equipment

Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool and Spa Maintenance, Pool Closing and Winterizing

Winterizing? Don’t Forget to Clean That Pool!

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Dirty Pool

Did you know that cleaning your swimming pool is one of the first and most important steps in winterizing it, but it’s often the step that gets overlooked or skipped?  Once swimming season is over, it’s natural to want to spend as little time as possible getting the pool ready for the winter months.  But, shirking the responsibility of cleaning your pool can invite problems.  When leaves, dirt, and other debris are left in a pool for an extended period of time, they can leave unsightly and permanent stains.  Additionally, the effectiveness of your winterizing chemicals is diminished when a pool contains debris.  Automatic Pool Cleaner

Preventing these problems means brushing down the sides and bottom of the pool with a wall brush, letting all that debris settle to the bottom, and then vacuuming it.  Automatic Pool Cleaners make the job of cleaning a bit easier, and there are a wide variety of automatic pool cleaners available for above ground pools and in ground pools.

Taking that little bit of extra time for cleaning your swimming pool when you winterize is well worth the effort.  You’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor when you reveal a clean, stain-free pool after the winter pool cover comes off next season.

Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool and Spa Safety

Pool Alarms Required By Law in 2011

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Pool Alarms

As of January 1, 2011, new residential swimming pools in Tennessee will be required to have a pool alarm. According to Senate Bill No. 3019, also known as “Katie Beth’s Law,” no swimming pool will pass electrical inspection if a proper pool alarm is not installed. And, as stated in the law, if a building permit is required for construction on a new pool as well as for any alterations made on an existing pool, that building permit will not be granted “unless the project calls for a functioning swimming pool alarm to be installed prior to the completion of the construction project.” Finally, the law requires pool suppliers to clearly post a sign that reads: “State Law Requires a Pool Alarm Be Installed.”

Katie Beth’s Law applies to any residential swimming pool which contains water that is more than 36 inches deep — this includes, but is not limited to, in ground pools, above ground pools, and non-portable spas and hot tubs.

Acceptable pool alarms do not include those that can be strapped to the wrist of a child. Rather, a proper pool alarm must be attached to the pool and must be able to detect when an object or person weighing 15 pounds or more enters the pool’s water. The sound of the alarm must be at least 50 decibels in strength to ensure that it can be heard from inside a home.

Even if you do not live in Tennessee where Katie Beth’s Law applies, installing a high quality pool alarm is an essential step in ensuring the safety of children and pets around the backyard swimming pool. Pool alarms are generally easy to install, and they can bring enormous peace of mind to homeowners.

Please note that pool alarms, or any other safety device, should not be expected to completely replace responsible adult supervision.

Click to read Katie Beth’s Law.

Pool and Spa Equipment

The Time Is Now For an Above Ground Pool

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Above Ground Pools

Did you know that the best time to purchase an above ground pool and have it installed is in fall and winter?  It’s true, and here are two major reasons why:

Off Season Sales

After summer, many companies who sell above ground pools have big sales on pools and pool supplies.  Some companies simply want to reduce inventory to make room for next year’s new products.  Many companies, though, have sales because business tends to drop off after summer, and keeping prices low means keeping customers around even during the off-season.

You can get an above ground pool and all of the pool supplies and gear you’ll need for much less money now than if you waited until spring or summer.

Lower Installation Costs

Above ground pool installations are more expensive in the spring and summer because that’s generally when homeowners think about having a pool installed.  Pool installers are much more busy in the spring and summer, and their prices and lack of availability reflect the demand.

But, just like companies who sell pools and pool supplies, companies who install pools tend to experience a drop-off in work after the summer months.  To keep work coming in, pool installation companies usually lower their prices in the fall and winter.

By shopping around, you should be able to find a company who is readily available to install your above ground pool for much less money than if you were to wait until spring.

While swimming pools and pool supplies may be the furthest things from our minds in fall and winter, it is actually the best and most affordable time to be thinking about them.   You can save a significant amount of money by planning ahead, and you can look forward to enjoying your new above ground pool as soon as the weather turns warm next spring.

Innovative Solutions, Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool Closing and Winterizing

Winter Cover Accessories Explained!

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 Cover Pump

If you own an above ground pool, you probably use a winter cover. With the abundance of options available with your cover, you might find yourself slightly confused about what to buy. I am here to help! Below is your guide to winter pool cover accessories for above ground pools!

Pool cover pumps are used to remove water that builds up on your pool cover. They are available in manual models, where you will have to monitor the pumps progress and unplug it when the water is drained, or in automatic models, which sense and automatically start when water is on the cover and cut off automatically! While cover pumps are not absolutely necessary, they will drastically reduce the amount of time it takes and the burden of removing your cover.

Air pillows are placed under the cover on top of the water. They absorb freezing water’s pressure to protect your pool walls and liner. They also reduce excess rain, snow, and leaves on your winter cover. Using an air pillow under your winter cover will make draining the water off the top of your cover much easier.

There are also several option available when deciding how to keep your cover in place. Pool cover wall bags are fillted with water and used to hold your cover in place during times of high wind. They are designed to lie on top of the cover around the inside perimeter of your pool.  Winter cover seal is very much like a large roll of plastic wrap. It is wrapped around the covered pool to keep wind from getting under your winter cover and causing damage and premature wear and tear. It is easy to apply and can be done by one person. Cover clips are handy fasteners that hold your pool cover in place. They grip your top rail like a clothes pin and hold throughout the winter season. The cover lock system is similar to cover clips, but more secure. It involves a two-part system that snaps together to ensure maximum hold, even in the highest winds.

With you understanding of these accessories, you will be thoroughly prepared to close your pool this season!

Innovative Solutions, Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool Closing and Winterizing

Protect Your Pool Skimmer from Freeze Damage This Winter

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 Pool Skimmer Guard

When water freezes, it expands by approximately 9%.  When this water is in your pool skimmer, that expansion is just enough to cause damage.  Instead of repairing or replacing your pool skimmer each spring, protect it with a Skimmer Guard when you winterize your in ground or above ground pool in the fall.  This handy (and affordable) little gadget is made to absorb the expansion that occurs during a freeze, so it protects your skimmer all winter from damage caused by expanding water.  Instead of expanding outward and cracking the skimmer, freezing water will actually compress the Skimmer Guard.

Skimmer Guard proves to be an easy and inexpensive way of saving yourself the hassle and expense of dealing with a damaged skimmer each spring.