Innovative Solutions, Pool and Spa Maintenance

Updating Your Sand Filter

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Zeobest Sand Filter Media

Is it time to change the sand in your filter? If its has been longer than 5 years since your sand was installed, it definitely is. While replacing the media, why not consider switching to a powerful sand alternative? There are several products out there that offer filtering capabilities that are far superior to regular sand. Zeobest Sand Filter Media is one great option. Zeobest has nearly 9800 times more square footage than sand which it enables it to small particles down to three microns for exceptional water clarity. Sand usually filters down to only 30 microns. You also use only 1 lb of Zeobest for every 2 lbs of sand required. Half the product equals half the work! It offer longer cycles and is completely safe for you and your loved ones. It will be a great change for your pool!

Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool Closing and Winterizing

Not Too Soon to Prepare for Winterizing

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Yes, summer is still with us, and thinking about winterizing the pool right now probably seems premature.  But, now is actually the best time to make sure that your winter pool cover is in good shape and that you have all the necessary accessories to keep your above ground pool properly protected over the winter months.

Once the pool water has been prepared properly for winter and you are ready to top it all off with a winter pool cover, there are really only three winterizing accessories about which you should be concerned.

Air Pillows

If you live in a climate where winter air temperatures drop below freezing, the first accessory you’ll need is an air pillow. Air pillows absorb the pressure created by freezing water and protect your pool’s walls and liner. As the water in the pool freezes and expands, it will freeze inward on the air pillow rather than outward on your pool walls. Air pillows are placed under the winter pool cover on top of the water in the center of the pool. To ensure that the air pillow doesn’t move out of place over the course of the winter, you’ll want to use durable string to tie it to two sides of your pool wall.

Cover Pumps

Next, you’ll want a pool cover pump to drain the water that collects on your pool cover throughout the winter months. If accumulated water is not regularly removed by a cover pump, the weight of that excess water can damage your winter pool cover or pull the cover into the water below. Either way, you’ll have a messy situation to clean up. Cover pumps are available in manual models and automatic models. Manual cover pumps require that you monitor the pump’s progress and unplug it when the water is drained. Automatic cover pumps, often preferred by pool owners, sense and automatically start when water is detected on the cover and turn off automatically once the water has been drained.

Bags, Seal, or Clips

Finally, you’ll want to consider how to keep your winter pool cover from being blown around on breezy days, exposing your pool to the elements and ruining the hard work you put into winterizing. There are many options available for keeping a winter pool cover in place, including pool cover wall bags, winter cover seal, and cover clips. Pool cover wall bags are designed especially for above ground pools and are positioned around the inside perimeter of your pool, fastened to your pool cover’s cable. Wall bags should be filled only three quarters full with water to make room for the water to expand should it freeze. Winter cover seal is another way to keep your pool cover in place, and while it looks very much like a large roll of plastic wrap, it’s really a tough poly blend film packed with UV inhibitors. Winter cover seal is wrapped around the covered pool several times to create a tight seal, which prevents wind as well as dirt from getting under the cover and causing damage and premature wear and tear. Cover clips are a third option for securing your winter pool cover. Cover clips are exactly that — handy fasteners that hold your pool cover in place. They grip your top rail like a clothes pin and hold securely throughout the winter season.

Are you all set for winter?  Then, go out and enjoy the rest of those hot summer days in the pool!

Outdoor Entertaining, Pool Fun

What’s Your Favorite Pool Toy?

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Remote Control Pool Toys

Mine is a remote controlled boat.  Remote controlled boats are fun for everyone, they don’t require athletic ability, and they can be enjoyed no matter if you are hanging out in the water or lounging poolside.

A favorite choice among pool owners is the boat that doubles as a skimmer. Remote controlled pool skimmers make theRemote Control Pool Skimmer clean up of leaves and surface debris a fun activity rather than a chore. Additionally, it’s easy to create your own games with a remote controlled pool skimmer and score points with every bit of debris collected.

Another fun remote controlled boat resembles a flying saucer and squirts water at the touch of a button. You can surprise an unsuspecting friend with a stream of water shot from twenty feet away — just be sure your friend is a good sport.

What’s your favorite swimming pool toy or game?

Innovative Solutions, Pool Accessories, Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool Equipment Storage

Solar Saddle Is an Affordable and Effective Alternative to Solar Reels

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Solar Saddle Solar Pool Cover Storage

Removing and storing a solar pool cover each time you wish to use your above ground swimming pool can be a real hassle, especially if you don’t have a partner handy who can help you with the process.  Solar cover reels are a standard option for easy cover removal and storage by one person, but reels are often very expensive.  A simpler solution is the Solar Saddle, which is a much more affordable product that installs easily and works like a charm.

Using the Solar Saddle is easy.  To remove and store your cover, you simply pull the cover off of the pool from poolside, just like you would pull a sheet off from the end of your bed.  The cover lays in the Solar Saddle’s holders, folded accordion style.  Now your cover is stored.  To put the cover on, just reverse the process.

Simple, elegant, affordable — the Solar Saddle is a smart solution for above ground swimming pools.

Pool and Spa Chemicals, Pool and Spa Maintenance

How to Clean Your Pool’s Filter Cartridge

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The following directions will help ensure that your swimming pool’s filter cartridge gets a proper cleaning.

1.  Remove the cartridge filter from the filter’s housing following the manufacturer’s instructions.

2.  Use a garden hose to with a straight flow nozzle to wash down the filter cartridge.    Work from the top down, cleaning both the inside and outside.  Hold the spray at a 45 degree angle for best results.   Clean between all the pleats.

3.  Rinse and repeat until dirt and debris are completely gone.

4.  If the filter cartridge is still dirty or has been used in a spa or swimming pool where sun tanning lotions or oils are frequently used, then soak the filter cartridge for at least one hour (overnight is more effective) using one of the following options:

— A commercial filter cleaner,
— A solution of one cup of Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) to five gallons of water, or
— A solution of one cup of dishwashing liquid to five gallons of water.

5.  Rinse the filter cartridge again, and repeat steps 2-4 if needed.

6.  If the filter cartridge has a coating of algae, calcium carbonate (residue from calcium hypochlorite), iron, or any other minerals, soak the filter cartridge in a solution of one part muriatic acid to twenty parts water until the bubbling stops.

WARNING:  Failure to remove all oils and cleaning solutions from steps 2-5 above could result in the permanent restriction of water flow through your cartridge filter resulting in a partial or complete failure of the filter.

7.  Rinse the cartridge filter completely and replace it within the filter’s housing according to manufacturer’s instructions.

NOTE:  It is not recommended to use Diatomaceous Earth (DE) powder with any filter cartridge.   The powder particles will become trapped in the body and will shorten its life expectancy greatly.