Swimming Pools

Posted on by

What could be better on a hot summer day than coming home and taking a nice refreshing dip in your own pool?  Swimming pools are a great addition to any home.  They come in so many shapes and sizes that it should be easy to find one to suit your needs.

The first choice to make is if you want an inground pool or one of the many types of above ground swimming pools.  Most people would prefer an inground pool because they think it looks nicer and offers more benefits like larger size and the ability to have a deep end for diving.  Unfortunately inground pools tend to be more expensive because of the much more involved installation process which involves excavation and installation of underground plumbing.

Many people don’t realize that with above ground oval swimming pools you can actually go pretty large.  And it is actually possible to excavate and install a deep end in your above ground pool if you’d like.  By installing a nice pool deck you can still have a nice clean finished look just like with an inground pool.  The added benefit of an above ground pool is that there is no underground plumbing so when you have to work on your filter or pump, it is much easier to access.

Another big choice is the type of liner you want to use for you pool.  Of course if you go with an inground pool you may not use a liner at all.  You may choose to go with a concrete or fiberglass pool.  If you choose an above ground pool then you will have to use a liner.  Above ground swimming pools liners are usually vinyl but come in a wide array of colors and designs.

Once you choose the type of pool you would like and your liner then you will have to decide what type of filter and pump to use with your pool.  Aside from choosing the correct size filter and pump, you will want to decide if you want a sand filter, a cartridge filter or a DE filter.  They all have their pros and cons so you will have to decide what works best for you.  For more information about filters, see our article about swimming pool filters.

These are just a few of the choices to make when shopping for a swimming pool.  It takes time to decide which components are right for you and the way you will want to use your pool.  Take you time and choose wisely so that you can look forward to a long future of enjoying your new investment.

Winter Pool Covers

Posted on by

If you are a swimming pool owner who lives in a temperate climate, then you are familiar with winter pool covers.  If you are thinking of getting a swimming pool then this is something you will definitely need.

It is a fair assumption that during the winter months of colder climates you will not want to use your swimming pool.  There is a winterization process that needs to be completed each season to close your pool for the season.  Perhaps the most important part of this process is to cover you pool to keep out leaves, snow and other debris.

There are a few types of winter covers available but when it comes to above ground winter pool covers, your options are a bit more limited.

Basic swimming pool winter covers are made of plastic.  It is a heavy duty material like a tarp which you put over your pool to protect it during the winter.  With above ground pools you wrap the cover over the top edge of you pool and put a cable through reinforced holes in the edge of the cover.  You tighten the the cable so that it keeps the cover firmly attached to the pool.  You can also fill gallon jugs with sand or water and hang them from the holes in the edge of the cover to help keep it tight.  With an inground pool, you stretch the cover over pool and then put sand bags all around the edges to keep it in place over the pool.

Safety covers are usually just for inground pools.  A safety cover is one that stretches tightly over the surface of your inground pool and hooks to small anchor points all around your pool.  The cover is stretched so tightly that it can actually support the weight of a child walking across it.  It kind of resembles a trampoline but without as much spring.  Safety covers tend to be more expensive than the standard cheap winter pool covers, but you can see where this would be much safer than a standard pool cover if you have children or pets.

Whatever type of cover you choose, you will want to protect your investment by properly winterizing you pool over the winter.  It helps to keep the pool clean and in proper working order so that you can enjoy your pool for years to come.

Swimming Pool Pumps

Posted on by

In any swimming pool installation, the most important piece of equipment in keeping your pool in working order is the filtration system.  Swimming pool pumps are the real workhorse of any pool filtration system.

The way a typical pool filtration system works is that you pump will suck water in via the skimmer basket on the side of the pool.  It pumps that water into your filter.  The water is forced through your filter and any unwanted debris or contaminants are kept in the filter tank while the clean water is pumped back out into the pool through your return port.  This process is constantly happening throughout the season.  That means that your pool pump is constantly forcing water from the pool, through the filter and back out.

The job is a little easier for above ground swimming pool pumps, because the filter and pump are usually mounted below the surface of the water so it is really just assisting the natural forces of gravity.  IN an above ground pool, the filter and pump are above the surface of the water and often have to pump the water a longer distance through underground plumbing to a pool house or shed.

The best swimming pool pumps are the one just just do their job without much intervention or maintenance.  In order to find the one that is right for you, you may want to consult your local pool shop for advice on choosing the right size pump.  You don’t want to wast money on an overpowered pump if you don’t need it, but you certainly don’t want to have an underpowered pump either. If a pump is underpowered then it will have to work harder to do its job and will be more prone to break downs.

Most makers of residential pool pumps also make a line of commercial swimming pool pumps.  The key difference is that most commercial swimming pools (i.e: resorts and hotels, schools, community centers) have pools which are larger than the average residential and accommodate more swimmers on a daily basis so they have higher filtration requirements.  Because the pumps for these commercial filters are more heavily used, they are built to withstand the heavier workload without breaking.

Whatever your needs may be, there is a great selection of swimming pool pumps available from a wide variety of manufacturers.  Remember that you don’t have to have the biggest one out there, just one that is sized correctly to do the job.

Swimming Pool Lights

Posted on by

Adding lighting to your swimming pool can be a great way to maximize your investment.  It allows you to swim at night with no problems.  It also can help add to the ambiance of your pool area.  With all the different styles and colors of lighting available you can make your swimming pool a work of art as much as it is a source of fun.

Swimming pool lights generally fall into one of three categories:

  • Niche Lighting – This is the most common type of swimming pool lighting.  The lights are permanently mounted into the walls of your pool below the surface of the water in a “niche.”  The bulb is sealed in a water tight housing which is recessed into the pool wall.  These bulbs will need to be replaced frequently and the only way to replace them is to remove the housing from the wall and bring it up and out of the pool.  Once outside the pool, you can disassemble the housing and replace the bulb.  Then you re-assemble the housing, making sure that everything is properly sealed before mounting it back in place under the water.  This type of lighting is generally only found in inground swimming pools.
  • Non-Niche Lighting – This is a great option for above ground swimming pool lights.  They are not permanently mounted to the pool wall like with niche lighting.  The plug is located outside of the pool and the light itself is suspended by a cord below the surface of the water and is clamped to the coping or rim of the pool.    They are easy to maintain and replace or even remove if you don’t like them.
  • Floating Swimming Pool Lights – As the name implies, these battery or solar powered lights are self contained units which actually float on the pools surface. They can be used in above ground or inground pool installations and they are the least expensive of the three types.  They also require the least maintenance.  However they are usually not as powerful or as reliable as the other wired solutions.

It can be a tough decision.  One of the downsides to electric lighting for your pool is that the bulbs in these pool lights don’t last long.  They will need to be changed frequently and this can be expensive and a hassle.  The bulbs in floating lights tend to last much longer but they do not throw as much light.  Electric lighting (niche and non-niche) will throw much more light and really just have a nicer and cleaner look to them than the floating lights.

Regardless of which type of installation you choose, another option you may want to consider is using LED swimming pool lights.  An LED or Light Emitting Diode, is much smaller than a standard incandescent or halogen bulb, runs much cooler and used significantly less energy.  They definitely cost more than standard bulbs but last much longer.

If you enjoy swimming at night or even if you just like the look of a pool with lighting installed, then what are you waiting for?  with all the options available, you are sure to find a solution that will work for you.

Choosing the Right Portable Hot Tub

Posted on by

Owning a hot tub can be great.  There is nothing like taking a nice hot soak after a hard day at work, especially in the cold weather.  Unfortunately, not everyone has the space or the budget to own their own conventional hot tub.  That is unless you want to try a portable hot tub.

Portable hot tubs are very similar to standard unmovable hot tubs.  They have most of the same features, but the difference is that a portable hot tub is entirely self contained.  There is no external plumbing or water source that you need to hook it up to.  The only hook up that you will need is an electrical outlet to power it.  They have jets and heaters just like regular hot tubs.

In order for portable hot tubs to be portable, they are generally smaller than a standard hot tub.  A small portable hot tub can easily be carried through a standard sized doorway and installed in almost any suitable room.  Although they are small you can still get a 2 person portable hot tub, but you probably wont fit too much more than that.

Portable hot tubs generally come in two different styles.  The first is an inflatable hot tub.  As its name implies, this type is made of a heavy duty flexible vinyl or plastic and inflated with air just like a beach ball or pool float.  With an electric air pump they are a snap to inflate and set up.  This is the most portable type of hot tub because it is so easy to inflate and deflate, and when it is deflated it can fit into a very compact space for travel.

The second type is a hard side portable hot tub.  This type actually has hard sides made of wood or other materials and uses a liner to contain the water.  Although it is not as simple to set up and break down as an inflatable hot tub, it is relatively easy and is completely self contained.

If you aren’t sure if a portable hot tub will work for you or if you just want to have one for a party or event, you may want to think about portable hot tub rental.  There are several places which will bring you a portable hot tub and set it up for you for a relatively small fee.

There are so many options available that there is no reason that you should not be able to treat yourself to the warm soothing jets of a nice hot tub.  It will help to melt away the stresses of your day pretty quickly.

Swimming Pool Solar Covers

Posted on by

Heating your pool water is a great option to consider which can extend your swimming season and maximize your investment in your swimming pool.  Unfortunately, pool heating systems can be expensive and cost money to operate. If you would like to heat your pool water but don’t have the budget for a pool heater, then you may want to consider pool solar covers.

Solar covers are far less expensive than pool heaters and they don’t cost a penny to run because they use the sun’s rays to heat your pool.  A solar cover is just a simple pool cover which is usually made of a form of UV-stabilized plastic.  One side is flat and the other side has a pattern of small air bubbles on it.  The cover works in two ways.  First it prevents the water from evaporating from the waters surface.  Normally when the sun’s rays hit the surface of the water, it heats it and cause it to evaporate.  By having the cover on the water, it traps this heated water from evaporating.  The second way that it helps to heat your pool water is with the bubbles.  The air in the bubbles is heated by the sun and is obviously trapped in that bubble.  By keeping those bubbles fulled of heated air in contact with the water’s surface it helps to keep the water warm.

A solar cover will not always work as well as an actual heating system because it is obviously dependent on the weather and is not as efficient as a standard heating system but a solar cover can raise the temperate of your pool water 10 – 15 degrees under best conditions.

In order to heat your water efficiently, you should make sure that your solar cover is on the water whenever you are not using your pool.  It is relatively easy to install because you don’t have to tie it in place or anything.  You just need to rest it on the surface of the water in a flat sheet.  It can be a a little more difficult with above ground pool solar covers if you don’t have a deck.  In either case, you can make the process much easier by purchasing a solar cover reel.  This allows you to simple roll up the the cover onto the reel and then when you are done swimming, unreel it back on to the water.  Of course reels are much easier to install for inground pool solar covers, but you can still get them for both inground and above ground pools.

Even though solar covers are much cheaper than a heating system, you still may not have enough extra cash for one.   Try searching the web for “discount solar pool covers” and you will find lots of online suppliers offering solar pool covers at prices much lower than the local stores.

With the low price of solar pool covers as compared to standard pool heating systems and all the benefits of having your water heated, using a solar cover is a great way to go.  Not to mention is is better for the environment than a heater that runs on propane or natural gas.

Pool Pump Motors

Posted on by

One of the most important pieces of equipment in your pool filtration system is your pool pump.  It is always on, and always pumping water through your filter.  The biggest and most important component in your pool pump is the pool pump motor.

Because pool pump motors are the workhorse of your filtration system, they are often the first major component to wear out and need repair or replacement. Because Hayward pool pump motors are such a popular brand, they are they most common when searching for replacement pool pump motors.

Be aware that above ground pool pump motors are different from inground pool pump motors.  Above ground pump motors are usually less powerful because they are below they are below the surface of the water.  Weather you are looking for inground or above ground model, the process for replacing it will be about the same.

The first step in replacing your motor is to identify the type of motor in your current system.  You will need to know its power rating, HP, SF, RPMs, Voltage and Amps.  You will also need to know it is a single or two speed motor and it is it one of the newer  energy efficient pool pump motors.  All of this information can usually be found on the pump housing near the basket assembly.

Once you have your new pump motor and are ready to replace the old one, keep these tips in mind.  The most important step is to turn power off to the pump.  Turning off the switch on the pump itself is not sufficient.  Some pumps plug into a standard electrical outlet and some are hard wired.  If it is plugged into an electrical outlet then you can simply unplug it, but if it is hard wired then you have to turn off the breaker in your electric panel.  This is very important, if you fail to do this then you risk an electrical shock.

When you remove the pump housing there is usually a rubber o-ring which seals the housing and prevents it from leaking.  Even if it is in decent shape, it is recommended to replace it.  There are several other seals and o-rings in your pump which should be replaced when you replace your motor.  You can buy them individually but its usually easier to buy something called a Go-Kit from your pool supplier which includes the shaft seal and all O-rings, gaskets and lubricant you will need for your pump.

If you keep these tips in mind when replacing your motor then you will have your pump back up and running in no time.  If you aren’t comfortable with the process then it may be best to contact a professional installer but you can save money by buying all the necessary parts ahead of time.

Pool Lounge Chairs

Posted on by

So you have a nice pool and a nice deck or patio for it and you think you are all set right?  Well, not quite.  Now you need to get some nice pool lounge chairs to spruce up your swimming pool and provide yet another great way to enjoy your swimming pool.

There are so many styles and varieties of lounge chairs for your pool that you shouldn’t have any trouble finding one to suit your needs.  Weather you are looking for high end quality construction or just a few cheap pool lounge chairs, it wont be hard to find what you are looking for.

The biggest decision you have is what type of chairs you would like for your pool area.  If you have a small deck for your above ground pool then you may just want to go with some small lawn chairs.  But if you have a little more space to work with then you may want to get something that reclines or better yet, a few pool chaise lounge chairs.  Chaise lounge chairs are meant to be enjoyed poolside and they are the type of chairs that you typically see by hotel or resort pools.  They are long and allow you to put your feet up and on most models the back is adjustable so that you can sit up, you you can put it down completely flat to soak up some rays.  They are really the best choice for pool chairs if you have the space for them.  They make you feel like you are on vacation when you are at home by your pool.

Even if you have a couple chaise lounge chairs, you may also want to have a couple floating pool lounge chairs.  Floating lounge chairs are great because they let you enjoy the sun but keep you cool at the same time.  It is really relaxing to be able to float around your pool and enjoy the sun.  If you get too hot then just dip an arm or a leg into the water of just hop off and go for a swim.  Floating pool lounge chairs are usually one of two styles.

Some are made of a durable fabric covered Styrofoam material.  These tend to be the most durable type and often claim to be unsinkable.  It is usually just the arms and back that are made of this material, the rest is a typical lounge chair so usually the lower part of your body is submerged a couple of inches into the water.  This is nice because you don’t get too hot on sunny days.

The other variety are inflatable pool lounge chairs.  They typically do not last as long and can be susceptible to rips or holes which would render them unusable.  Although they are not as durable, they key advantage here is that they are portable and easy to store.  If you don’t have a lot of storage space during the winter or when you are not using your pool, it is nice to be able to just deflate your lounge chairs and then they take up no space at all.

Whatever type of pool lounge chairs you choose (maybe you want a couple of each type), they are an essential piece of your swimming pool setup.  What fun is a swimming pool if you have not place to sit back and relax with a drink on a nice day.

Pool cleaner reviews

Posted on by

If you own a pool then you know that maintaining a swimming pool can be a lot of work.  One of the most dreaded tasks for a pool owner is vacuuming the pool.  It is a tedious process which takes time.  You have to be sure to move the vacuum head slowly so you don’t stir up dirt and on a big pool this can take a while to finish.

The good news is that you don’t have to do this anymore.  For as little as a couple hundred dollars you can get a great automatic or robotic pool cleaner which will do almost all this work for you.

There is a difference between inground pool cleaners and above ground pool cleaners.  Primarily, an inground pool cleaner will need to climb angled, sloped or curved walls, but most above ground pools have a flat floor.  Regardless of if you get an inground or above ground pool cleaner, it will fall into one of three categories.

Suction style vacuum cleaners are the most popular kind and often the least expensive.  With this type of cleaner, you connect a hose from the cleaner into the bottom of your skimmer basket and it sucks the water and debris into your pool filter where it filters out the contaminants and sends it back to the pool through the return.

Pressure side pool cleaners connect to your pools return port or to a separate dedicated port just for the cleaner in the pool wall.  This type of cleaner uses the pressure from the water and the booster pump to propel the device around your pool and direct any debris into its collection bag.

Robotic pool cleaners are the best and easiest solution for cleaning your pool.  They are electric powered and do not require the use of your pools filtration system like other solutions.  They are able to vacuum and scrub algae from the floors, walls, stairs and just about any other surface in your pool.  Because they operate independently of your pools filtration system they pose no risk to the filter and they even provide additional filtration of your pool water when they are being used.  These are the most desirable solution but they are also the most expensive.

When you are ready to purchase your automatic pol cleaner, you will definitely want to do your research.  The best way to do this is by looking at professional and user generated reviews on the Internet.   If you do a search for “pool cleaner reviews”, “automatic pool cleaner reviews” or “robotic pool cleaner reviews”.  You will find hundreds of reviews for the products you are considering.  Its always good to learn from other peoples experiences instead of taking a risk and ending up with a poor quality product.

Choosing automatic pool cleaner can be difficult but swimming pool cleaner reviews can be your best asset when you are trying to determine which one will work best for you.

Benefits of owning a lap pool

Posted on by

A swimming pool is a great addition to any home.  It makes for a great way to cool off on a hot summer day, a great gathering spot and just an all around good time.  It can also be a great way to exercise.  If you are more interested in using your swimming pool for exercise than leisure then you may want to consider installing a lap pool.

A lap pool is just a swimming pool which is typically narrow and long so that you can use it for swimming back and forth for exercise.  If you want to use your pool for leisure then a lap pool may not be for you, but if you would like to build muscle and cardiovascular fitness with a low impact workout then this may be just what the doctor ordered.

It used to be that you had to go to your local school or YMCA to be able to have access to a lap pool but now its very feasible to build a backyard lap pool.  They come in all sizes and configurations.  You can have lap pools in ground or above ground, indoors and out.  They even make portable lap pools.

If you don’t have a lot of space for your home lap pool then you may want to consider an endless lap pool.  You can think of an endless lap pool as a treadmill for swimmers.  It is a small pool which provides continuous current for you to swim against.  You can adjust the power of the current the proper intensity for your fitness level.  Its great because it allows you to reap all the benefits of swimming laps but without all the space requirements of a traditional lap pool.  Although you can custom order your endless lap pool to just about any size, the standard dimensions are 8 by 15 feet and 39 inches deep and this works for most people.  The nice thing about endless lap pools is that they can easily be installed indoors because of their small size.

Many professional athletes use lap pools  for their workouts because they are a great source of aerobic activity and it does not provide all the stress on your joints that you get with activities like running.  In addition, you woudl be surprised a t how great lap swimming can be for resistance training.

Lap pool have so many benefits.  They don’t have to take up a lot of space, they are often cheaper than standard pools and endless lap pools can easily be installed indoors.  If you are serious about your fitness then a lap pool might be perfect for you.