Category Archives: Uncategorized

Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool and Spa Safety, Uncategorized

Considering a Safety Pool Cover?

Comment

An alarming statistic shows that drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and an extensive study performed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that “75 percent of the children involved in swimming pool submersion or drowning accidents were between 1 and 3 years old.”

It is no surprise that The American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM] F1346-91 (1996) standard requires that a pool cover hold a minimum of 485 pounds per five square feet to qualify as a safety pool cover.

One of the most crucial safety devices any swimming pool owner should have, though, is a Safety Pool Cover.  Please note that solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not safety covers.

Safety pool covers usually come in two varieties:  Mesh & Solid.   Both types of safety covers are anchored to a deck with straps that pull the cover taut over the pool; the straps usually attach to stainless steel springs and are anchored to recessed brackets in a deck surface.

Mesh safety pool covers are designed for long-term use, such as when closing a pool for winter. Mesh safety pool covers require little maintenance because debris that lands on them blows off the top, and rain and snow drain through the mesh panels; however, with the screen-like material of mesh, some silt and dirt may get through the webbing. On the other hand, because puddles cannot accumulate on the surface, having a mesh-style safety pool cover eliminates the risk of toddlers or pets unexpectedly coming in contact with shallow water.

Solid safety pool coverswork similarly to mesh covers in that they can be secured to a deck by anchors. Solid safety pool covers may not be best for use in areas that receive heavy rain or snowfall. Unlike mesh covers that allow water to drain through the cover, precipitation can accumulate on a solid cover, creating a puddle of water over the pool. The collected water may tend to sag the cover and present a hazard to any small children or pets who, if unsupervised, wander onto to pool cover. To combat this problem, some manufacturers incorporate drain panels into solid vinyl covers.

Safety Pool Covers

Safety Pool Covers

Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Uncategorized

Save the Planet – Go Green with Your Pool

Comment

Solar cover

“Going Green” means to pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations. With that being said, caring for the environment is our responsibility as consumers of it.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Swimming pools lose energy in a variety of ways, but evaporation is by far the largest source of energy loss. Evaporating water requires tremendous amounts of energy. It only takes 1 Btu (British thermal unit) to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree, but each pound of 80ºF water that evaporates takes a whopping 1,048 Btu of heat out of the pool.

Outdoor Pool Energy Loss

  • Losses to Ground and other 10%
  • Radiation to Sky 30%
  • Evaporation 70%
    The evaporation rate from an outdoor pool varies depending on the pool’s temperature, air temperature and humidity, and the wind speed at the pool surface. The higher the pool temperature and wind speed and the lower the humidity, the greater the evaporation rate. In windy areas, you can add a windbreak—trees, shrubs, or a fence—to reduce evaporation. The windbreak needs to be high enough and close enough to the pool that it doesn’t create turbulence over the pool, which will increase evaporation. You also don’t want the windbreak to shade the pool from the sun, which helps heat it.

Here are some suggestions to follow allowing for a more environmentally friendly swimming pool:

 First of all, use Solar Covers also called a solar blanket. Solar Pool Covers or Blankets resemble giant sheets of bubble wrap. The bubbles trap heat from the sun and transmit the heat to the pool, keeping the water temperature warm and inviting. The solar cover also helps to trap the heat of the water and prevents its escape into the cool night time air. Solar covers float freely on top of a pool without tie-downs or anchors to hold them in place. Solar covers are usually folded and stored or rolled-up on a large reel and wheeled out of the way. Solar Blankets are ideal for use in sunny climates because the more heat they can gather, the longer they can extend the swim season. Solar pool covers can raise water temperature by as much as 10-15 degrees.

Besides offering energy savings, pool covers also do the following:

  • Conserve water by reducing the amount of make-up water needed by 30%–50%
  • Reduce the pool’s chemical consumption by 35%–60%
  • Reduce cleaning time by keeping dirt and other debris out of the pool.

Using a Solar Pool Heater is another way that you can take advantage of the sun’s free energy.
How They WorkMost solar pool heating systems include the following:

Solar Heaters are extremely efficient, inexpensive to operate, and are the ultimate in environmental friendliness. When combined with a solar pool cover, Your Solar Pool Heater will maintain a comfortable water temperature well into the cooler months. 

A solar collector — the device through which pool water is circulated to be heated by the sun

  • A filter — removes debris before water is pumped through the collector
  • A pump — circulates water through the filter and collector and back to the pool
  • A flow control valve — automatic or manual device that diverts pool water through the solar collector.

Example of a solar pool heating system.Pool water is pumped through the filter and then through the solar collector(s), where it is heated before it is returned to the pool. In hot climates, the collector(s) can also be used to cool the pool during peak summer months by circulating the water through the collector(s) at night.Another way to save energy is by using a Pool Filter Timer.Installing and Operating a Swimming Pool Pump for Energy EfficiencyYou can save energy and maintain a comfortable swimming pool temperature by using a smaller, higher efficiency pump and by operating it less.

Automating a pool’s filter operation pays for itself in energy savings within the first month or two. Except for during times of heavy use, most pools only need to filter 12 hours per day. Pool Filter Timers save money on electricity and chemicals. Most Pool Filter Timers are rugged, weather proof and have up to 50 settings to allow you to make your pool turn on and off whenever you want. Most Pool Timers are easy to program.

  • Substituting a large filter (rated to at least 50% higher than the pool’s design flow rate)
  • Increasing the diameter or decreasing the length of the pipes, or replacing abrupt 90-degree elbow pipes with 45-degree ones or flexible pipes.
  • By decreasing the pool circulation system’s hydraulic resistance, you can reduce the pump’s electricity use by up to 40%.