Pool Fun, Pool Toys and Games

Pool Toys and Swimming Pool Games Make the Most of Swimming Season

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Pool Toys and Swimming Pool Games

Make the Most of Your Backyard Swimming Pool

Backyard swimming pools can become a hub of summertime fun and activity when you bring pool toys and swimming pool games into the picture.  Pool toys and swimming pool games allow you to do more with your pool than just swim, float, and soak up the sun.  They add extra fun to neighborhood parties and family get togethers and allow you to make the most of the swimming season, which sometimes seems way too short.  A wide variety of toys and games for pools are available, from the more common basketball and volleyball sets, to the less common remote controlled boats and toss games.  Choosing the right toys and games for your pool depends only on your family’s preferences and on how much you are willing to spend.

Two of the more commonly known pool toys and swimming pool games are basketball and volleyball.  Swimming pool basketball games that float on the water’s surface are often the least expensive of the basketball games, and they are particularly fun for kids.  These can be inflatable or pop up, which makes for easy storage.  At the other end of the spectrum of basketball sets for pools are those made for the serious basketball enthusiast.  These come with sturdy bases which can be filled with water, a reinforced backboard, adjustable rust-proof metal rim, and regulation size ball.

Just like with the basketball pool toys, you’ll find volleyball sets for pools that range in cost based on the quality and number of features available.  Better quality volleyball sets are rugged enough to be used in both home and public pools.  All volleyball sets should come with sturdy posts, but the material out of which the post is constructed will be one feature that determines the product’s price point. Another feature that may help determine price is the net.  Some nets are adjustable in height and length so that they allow you to create a custom fit for your specific pool. If the net is not described as adjustable, make sure that its dimensions are right for your pool. For in ground pools, some volleyball sets come with weighted bases for stability, while others have heavy-duty plastic bases which, when filled with water, help keep the net from sagging or collapsing into the water during active play.  For above ground pools, volleyball sets will often come with special brackets that attach to the pool’s top rail.

Some of the less commonly known pool toys and swimming pool games include remote controlled boats and toss games.  Remote controlled boats are fun for everyone, regardless of athletic ability, and they can be controlled 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 the cleaning up of leaves and surface debris a much more interesting and amusing activity.  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.

Classic yard games, like ring toss and bag toss games, can also be enjoyed in the swimming pool.  These pool toys are a fun choice for swimming parties and small family gatherings, but they can also be played by a single person.  You can play while in the water, or you can toss the rings or bags onto the floating structure from poolside.  Ring toss and bag toss swimming pool games, as well as remote controlled boats, are generally less expensive than the standard basketball or volleyball sets for pools, but you should still be able to find any of these types of pool toys in a reasonable price range.

In short, you really can’t go wrong when choosing from the many types of pool toys and swimming pool games that are available if you make sure to consider your family’s play preferences as well as your budget.  No matter what you decide to get, the simple act of adding toys and games to your backyard pool allows you to make the most of the swimming pool season.

Pool and Spa Maintenance

Time and Money Savers-Let Robotic Pool Cleaners Do the Dirty Work

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Robotic Pool Cleaners

Swimming Pool Cleaning Made Easy with Robotic Pool Cleaners

It is shocking how technology is constantly changing our lives. We hope for the better and for ways of making our lives unquestionably more efficient. From computers to cell phones, to programmable thermostats to even robotic pool cleaners, people have saved precious time and money. Most people would like have a swimming pool in their backyard, but sometimes the maintenance that goes along with a swimming pool is extravagant. In the past, cleaning our pools has been a very time consuming activity on our part, or, if we could afford the luxury, a service we would pay a “pool man” to provide for us. These days, a pool owner can benefit from the automation technology that is now available. Cleaning your pool has not ever been this simple if you chose to invest in a robotic pool cleaner. It is amazing what these robotic pool cleaners are capable of doing. With the variety of quality robotic pool cleaners now on the market, you can finally spend more time swimming in your pool than cleaning it. Although these cleaners have proven to be very productive and efficient, many people have not been comfortable enough to actually purchase one. The main reason for the hesitation being that they are typically higher priced than other types of pool cleaners. As the technology of these units has improved, the costs have gone down significantly. That is great news for pool owners. The time you save is definitely worth the expense. These cleaners have so many advantages over other types of pool cleaners that make them the envy of pool owners everywhere. A robotic pool cleaner, once you put it in you pool and turn it on, will independently vacuum up all the debris, dirt, and green algae it comes in contact with on the bottom, walls, and the steps of your pool. It will even work around drains and ladders. The most current models are even designed to  detect the size and the shape of your swimming pool. Some even have internal memories, and after the first cleaning will be able to recall your pool’s shapes and curves rendering later cleanings even more efficient. Finally, many robotic cleaners have self-programming software that scans and calculates automatically the most effective pattern of cleaning that is required. To summarize, a Robotic Pool Cleaner is an effective and simple way to keep your pool crystal clean so that you have more time to enjoy your swimming pool. As a result, you will have time to spend afternoons by the pool with friends and family. Isn’t that the primary purpose we want to have a pool in our backyard anyway?

Pool Accessories

Practical Pool Gift Ideas for Owners of Swimming Pools

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Jet Net Remote Control Leaf Skimmer in Action

The Best Pool Gift Ideas to Save Time and Money

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.

Remote Control Pool Skimmers

Practical gifts for the pool owner don’t need to cost a great deal. Remote control pool skimmers, for example, make for useful and fun gifts that are also relatively inexpensive. Pool skimmers aid in maintenance by skimming the surface of the water and picking up floating leaves and other debris. Remote control pool skimmers make this necessary job more fun. Kids and adults enjoy steering the skimmer around the pool, and surface cleaning becomes less of a chore.

Swimming Pool Chemicals

Another practical and inexpensive gift idea for pool-loving people are swimming pool chemicals. While not the most romantic or exciting gift, swimming pool chemicals 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.

Leaf Nets

Leaf nets are another practical gift idea, especially for anyone who lives in an area surrounded by trees. Many pool owners have to deal with the chore of removing fallen, wet, sloppy leaves from their pool cover once autumn is over. Leaving that debris on the pool cover is not a good idea because wet, saturated leaves are heavy, and when they decompose, they become a nasty mess. Leaf nets prevent this, which makes leaf nets a welcome gift for anyone who has experienced this situation. Leaf nets are made of durable mesh material, and they are placed on top of a winter cover or safety cover before autumn leaves begin to fall. The leaf net, along with all of the leaves and debris collected on top, is easily removed before the first hard frost. Spring clean up becomes much easier for homeowners, and many wonder how they could have lived with a pool for so long without a leaf net.

Robotic Pool Cleaners

One of the ultimate gifts for pool owners is not only practical, but often highly desired. Robotic pool cleaners are on many homeowners’ wish lists of items they’d love to buy for the pool. Robotic pool cleaners are a little more expensive, though, and tend to be overshadowed by more pressing needs. Cleaning a swimming pool is an ongoing task, and one that is not always a favorite of pool owners, so finding the easiest and least time consuming method possible is a big deal. Robotic pool cleaners offer a solution. They can clean the sides and bottom of a pool automatically, and they “remember” the size and shape of the pool so that cleaning is always performed thoroughly and efficiently. Robotic pool cleaners save homeowners enormous amounts of time and energy, and what better gift could there be than one that gives back on a consistent basis?

Some people hesitate buying practical gifts for friends and family because practical may seem boring or lacking in creativity. Many would argue, though, that practical gifts are more welcome than frivolous or unusual gifts.  A present that can be used well and that serves a real purpose in the life of the recipient shows consideration on the part of the person giving that present. Making the lives of our loved ones easier, less burdened, is the best reason of all for choosing wisely with pool gift ideas are needed when these giving times come around.

 

 

Pool and Spa Maintenance, Pool Closing and Winterizing

Why Do You Leave Water in Your Pool for Winter?

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A lot of people who have pools are now starting to search for insight on how to close their pools correctly. Any pool closing checklist or resource will tell you to only lower the water below the skimmer level and the jets so that all of the plumbing lines are clear and don’t face the risk of freezing and bursting. Each of these different resources also tells you not to drain the pool completely unless you are taking it down for storage if it is a small pool that is easy to set up and tear down. What about larger pools, though?   Why leave water in them at all?  It will just be bad next spring, after all.

Actually, that’s not really the case. If you drain a pool entirely, you are putting the whole liner at risk for rips, tears, and other damage from debris throughout the winter months, not to mention that the liner will dry out, shrinks and crack.  With some water left behind, you at least have something to stop the pool from getting torn up regardless of the winter weather that you are experiencing.  The pool cover that you choose will impact how much water you leave in your pool beyond lowering it to the skimmer lines, of course, so that’s something that you have to think about, as well.

Clean Water Protects Your Pool

The main benefit of leaving water in your pool is that it will be protected from a variety of situations and elements. People who live in deep freeze areas feel like draining the pool completely is the best option so that it doesn’t freeze all the way, but the right winterizing chemicals added to the water will actually help keep your pool safe during the long winter months. That way, when you go to open it up in spring, it’s easier to reopen and the chemicals are easier to balance because you made sure they were balanced before you closed up shop.

You’ll add things like chlorine shock, stain prevention, and algaecide to your pool before closing it for the winter. This will ensure that the water is as clean and safe as possible so that you can have an easier time reopening it next spring. This clean water is going to keep the liner intact and protect it from rips and tears, as well.

How Much to Drain

The standard is to drain your pool below skimmer levels so that you can clean out the plumbing system to avoid frozen, burst lines during the winter. If you have an in-ground pool, that might mean more draining. If your above-ground pool has a removable pump and skimmer system, just take it out and drain a little water so that there is room for expansion and contracting throughout the winter and then place the cover on.

Some people use air pillows to create an area in middle of pool to minimize ice damage to liner walls and skimmer.  If you do this, you will need to leave more water in your pool than others. Additionally, if you have drained a lot of water, you might want to choose a tight pool cover so that it is less likely to collect water and debris. Having a lot of standing water on your pool cover can lead to stress, rips, and damage to the cover as well as debris and dirty rain or snow getting into the pool that you worked so hard to clean.

Owning a Pool is Work

So many people think it’s fun to have a pool. It most definitely is. It’s also a lot of work, however, and you have to know what you are doing so that you can protect your investment. This isn’t a cheap toy to have around and you will likely spend thousands on maintenance and operations in the summer months. If you take the time to do the work correctly when it comes to closing your pool, you will be able to protect your investment and make the money that you have been spending worthwhile.

Another benefit of properly draining and closing a pool is that you will have an easier time reopening it when summer rolls around again. There is nothing worse than closing up a pool poorly only to spend weeks cleaning it and getting it ready for summer. If you do a little of the work now and make sure that you do it properly, everything will work out better for you in the end. Take the time to learn about pool ownership, including closing the pool and proper draining so that you can get the best results from your winterizing.

Some Pools Need Put Away

If you’ve got a small enough pool, such as the ones that they sell at superstores for just a few hundred bucks, you’re probably going to be tearing down and putting away the entire thing for the winter. These pools are great because they’re affordable, but they’re also not made to be permanent fixtures. You’ll have to check the manufacturer’s instructions to figure out how to close the pool properly and whether it can be left for the winter or not. The last thing that you want to do is leave it out without knowing better and wind up ruining it or having to spend a fortune when it comes time to reopen your pool.

Pool maintenance in the winter is really easy if you close your pool right. Whether that means draining some of the water before you cover it or completely tearing it down and putting it away depends on the pool that you have. Either way, you will protect your investment and get more from your pool ownership if you spend a weekend doing things the right way. When you make the decision to own a pool, you’re making a commitment to take care of it properly. That means spending a day or two every fall getting things ready for winter, and the sooner the better. Now that you understand more about draining and closing pools, it should be easy to get the process taken care of.

 

 

Pool Closing and Winterizing

Save Money with Winter Pool Covers

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Winter Pool Cover

Winter Pool Cover (Arctic Armor)

Winter pool covers are designed to protect your pool from the elements.  There are, of course, many different elements that you might encounter over the course of a winter, depending on where you live and what type of weather you have.  Regardless, the purpose of winter pool covers is for protection in any environment.  There are different styles and types of covers for you to choose from, including different levels of durability and strength depending on what you need.  This is going to save you a lot of money on things like pool maintenance and repair because it will protect your pool during the off season.  This also gives you peace of mind in knowing that your pool is safe.

 Winter Pool Covers for All Pools

There are pool covers available for above ground and in ground pools alike, as well as all shapes and sizes that you can imagine.  If there is a pool, there is a cover for it.  You simply have to know the model of your pool, or at least its size and dimensions, so that you can buy the right cover.  Winter covers for in ground pools come in many styles, with various warranties,  which solid is the most popular.   There are also a variety of above ground pool covers, making it easy for you to protect your pool from the elements, no matter what you have in mind.  Make sure that you take the time to explore everything that you have to choose from so that you can find the perfect cover for your pool.

 How You Save Money

When you invest in a pool cover, you’re going to spend a decent amount of money.  That leads a lot of people to wonder how they are actually going to save money with a pool cover because they’re spending so much in the first place.  However, there are plenty of ways that you can put more cash back in your pocket with a pool cover.

  • Pool upkeep: When you use a winter cover, you will save your pool from damage and wear due to debris and weather.  That will decrease the amount of maintenance and repair work that needs done and help your pool last longer without the need for replacement parts or other work.  Therefore, in the long run, you’re saving yourself a lot of money.
  • You’ll spend less time and money reopening your pool in the spring if you make sure to winterize and cover it appropriately.  Leaving it uncovered or using the wrong cover means more time and money spent on cleaning, chemicals, and creating a safe, healthy pool when the spring rolls around and it’s time to open up shop again.
  • If you buy a good cover now, you’ll save money on replacements in the future.  A lot of people want to think cheap when they are shopping for a pool cover.  However, if you focus on buying a quality cover now, you’ll have less to worry about in the future.  Cheap covers will tear and break down faster, which means they need replaced more often.  Buy a high quality cover from the start and you’ll be able to keep it for much longer and save money on replacement down the road.
  • Shopping online.  Although this isn’t the pool cover actually saving you money, it’s a way to save money when you are shopping for a pool cover.  The internet has a lot more selection when it comes to pool covers and you can find better prices on just about everything.  You won’t be limited to the high prices of local pool specialty stores or forced to buy one of just a few models because you will be able to shop around and find the perfect cover, no matter what you have in mind.

 Get the Facts about Pool Covers

Before you buy anything, you should know what you are getting.  When you take the time to get the facts about different pool covers that you can choose from, it will be easy for you to get everything that you need.  Make sure that you take the time to explore all of the options that you have and learn about pool covers.  The internet makes it easy for you to find resources about winterizing your pool and learning about the different types of covers.  You should learn about in ground covers, above ground covers, various securing methods, and accessories that you can find to help with the winterization process.  That will get you informed about your investment and help you make the best decision regarding the pool cover that you need.

 The Bottom Line

Winterizing your pool during the off season isn’t just a good idea.  It’s something that you need to do, and need to do properly.  This includes taking the time to buy the right cover for your pool and make sure that you get all of the accessories that you need.  Fortunately, the internet makes that easy to do.  You can find winter covers, safety covers, winterizing chemicals, tie downs and water tubes to weight your covers, and so much more.  Just make sure that you take the time to get the inside scoop on winterizing your pool so that you can maximize your savings on pool closing supplies of all kinds.

It’s easy to get ahead of yourself and just start looking for the cheapest tools to get the job done.  That’s not going to save you any real money, though.  It might save a few bucks now, but in the long run, you’re going to wish you’d invested in better quality products because they’ll last a lot longer.  If you really want to get the best pool covers without spending a fortune, you need to make sure that you look around online and see what you can find.  It’s easy and you can do it on your own time, which means it’s convenient and offers more than your local 9-5 pool store.