10 Steps to Maintaining a Clean Pool

from Guardian Pool Fence

If you're lucky enough to have a swimming pool and also lucky enough to have the sun to use it then keeping it clean is all important. You want a pool to be fresh and inviting for everyday use and so you can get the most from this refreshing pastime.

By taking a constant but thorough routine with pool maintenance you can cut down on the work in the long term and also save on a lot of money. It also means there's no need for last ditch attempts to sort something out when something goes wrong. So, here are ten tips to keep your pool sparkling clean and healthy.

• Maintain the pool by keeping an eye on the pool chemistry a few times a week in summer and around once a week in winter.
• Keep a close eye on the skimmer basket and clean it out weekly or even more-so if it needs such care.
• Keep an eye on the hair and lint filter. This will need to be emptied every few weeks and you should ensure that a build-up doesn't occur.
• Water levels are also something that need inspection and should be adjusted if needed. Ideally they should be at the center of the tile.
• The in-line chlorinator needs a weekly check-up and if it needs adjustment then you should do so. Check the chlorine readings and ensure they are in the unit to ensure adequate levels of chlorine.
• Clean the filters. These should be cleaned after a storm or every couple of months. The best way to remember this is to base it around something you do a couple of times a year. If you've extra elements this can be a lot easier to do, if not you will need to use chemicals to clean the filters. Make sure to use eye and glove protection when doing so and make sure the filters are rinsed well.
• The tile area on the outside of the pool should be cleaned on a weekly basis when the pool is in use or less so when it's not. This can be done by using pressure washing services and will help keep your pool spic and span from build-up.
• Always keep the chemicals you use stored in the dark and away from direct sunlight as this can cause issues with them.
• If you do not have an ozone system your pool won't need to be shocked. However, if you do need to shock it does it at night. People swimming soon afterwards should use a non-chlorine shock to clean the pool. Alternatively, it's possible to do so by running your pump for a full day and night with your ozone system. Just ensure you're on 24 hour circulation.
• Cracks can turn into bigger problems. These should be dealt with through silicone and as we all know prevention is better than cure.
• Keep vegetation and animals, as well as fertilizers away from the area as they will feed algae in the pool.

These tips should help you keep your pool clean and perfectly usable.

***

Jacob Ryan is a lover of swimming and the great outdoors and also enjoys fishing.

The Hot Tub – A Bubbling Bath of Positive Health Benefits

november 14, 2012 by shelly from Filbur Manufacturing

What's not to love about a hot tub? With its health, social, and home-improvement benefits it's a veritable hot pot of positives. Add to that the strides that hot tub manufacturers have made in energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, and one's hard-pressed to find a reason not to invest in what used to be considered solely a luxury item.

Health benefits are many, including relief for the 1 in every 3 Americans that suffer from arthritis. The heat, buoyancy, and massage elements exercise and relax the muscle joints, relieving pain and making daily tasks and movement in general more comfortable.

Relief for insomnia, which affects almost 60 million Americans, is another huge hot-tubbing benefit. The obvious stress relief it provides is a great sleep aid in and of itself, but there's more to it. According to a recent study in the scientific journal Sleep, a drop in body temperature can help to ease your body into a deeper, more relaxing sleep. Therefore, it is suggested that you soak in hot water (103° F) about 90 minutes before bedtime. This causes the body's internal thermostat to pull your temperature down, enabling sleep to set in with more ease.

Probably the most surprising benefit, though, is the effects in reducing blood sugar in Diabetes Type 2 patients. A study at McKee Medical Center reports that patients who spent 30 minutes per day in a hot tub recorded a 13% decrease in blood sugar levels, better quality sleep, and a great overall sense of well-being.

Even if you don't suffer from one of these ailments, a hot tub is a natural aid in stress relief, blood pressure, headaches, and the acceleration of the healing process. As with any type of therapy, it is important to consult a physician before soaking in a hot tub if you have health concerns.

OK, so there's got to be a negative, right? Well, the closest we could find is the maintenance of this bubbling tub of bliss...and that's even a stretch as far as negatives go. This does not have to be overwhelming or difficult. My friend in the industry, Matt Giovanisci, has created a great visual guide for easy hot tub maintenance and was good enough to share it with us. And, tomorrow I'll share it with all of you!

Is Your Pool Covered?

Posted by Leah Clark, Pool FYI

Swimming pool covers offer a variety of benefits to pool owners, but with several styles to choose from it's important to have the right cover to meet your needs. If you're thinking about adding a cover to your pool make sure you consider factors like climate, pool size and what you want the cover to accomplish. Below are the three most common types of pool covers.

Solar Covers

Solar covers or solar blankets as they are sometimes called are great for your pool, your wallet and the environment. They transfer heat from the sun into your pool water and prevent heat from escaping, which gradually raises the water temperature by up to 15 degrees. At the same time, solar covers reduce chemical and water loss from evaporation. All of these results save you money by lowering chemical, water and heating costs. Plus, they are easy to cut and shape to fit kidney, oval or irregularly sized pools.

Winter Covers

A winter cover is primarily used to safeguard your pool from winter weather, debris and other undesirable items that could possibly enter the water. With two main styles—solid and mesh—pool owners have a choice to make when it comes to winter covers. A solid cover blocks out the sun and prevents algae growth throughout the winter, but needs to be maintained to prevent build-up on top of the cover. A mesh cover doesn't block out as much sun light which means a little more water maintenance come spring, but it does allow rain and snow to pass through the cover for easier winter care.

Safety Covers

Protect your swimming pool, pets and family with a safety cover. These tough, long-lasting pool covers are strong enough to support people and pets, yet light enough to easily install and remove from your pool. They are typically held in place by deck anchors that, when the cover is not in use, recede flush into the pool deck for improved safety and appearance. Besides preventing access to your pool, safety covers have excellent winter protection making them a dual purpose cover. They can be found in solid and mesh to meet any pool owner's preference, but are usually the most expensive of the three.

For additional help or recommendations when it comes to swimming pool covers try our dealer locator to find a local pool professional.

CONSIDER THESE RESOURCES WHEN ADDING A POOL COVER TO YOUR POOL

Articles & Blogs:

Swimming Pool Covers Help You Save Money, Energy and Water

The Blue Goes Green: 5 Earth Friendly Solutions For Your Pool

May Is National Water Safety Month

Pool Priorities—Safety First! 6 Critical Layers of Protection

Have information to share about Pool Covers? Add it Now!

Video:

Do Liquid Solar Covers Really Work?

Automatic Pool Cover

Swimming Pool Cover Chicago

Have a video to share on Pool Covers? Add it Now!

Top Trends in Outdoor Decorative Concrete

Decorative trends that help create an outdoor retreat

by Anne Balogh, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist

Do you want to be on the cutting edge when it comes to using decorative concrete outdoors, and dare to go beyond a simple ho-hum driveway or patio slab? Creative contractors are always experimenting with new looks and applications for outdoor concrete, often in response to the desires and changing lifestyles of their customers. Here are some of the hottest trends we've been noticing at The Concrete Network, based on recent outdoor projects concrete contractors have shared with us. Hopefully, they will spark your imagination and embolden you to take on projects that rise above the ordinary and break new ground.

Creating Backyard Adventures

More people are taking "staycations" in their own backyards and using concrete to create mini theme parks, complete with faux-rock water features, concrete garden bridges, firepits, a sculpted concrete pool with water slides, and even a ship-wrecked concrete boat.

Going Back to Nature

With the growing concerns about our environment and preserving our natural resources, more homeowners are using concrete because it's a sustainable, eco-friendly building material. Plus, it also has an organic look and feel that can enhance and even mimic the surrounding environment. See these projects for ideas.

Concrete Mimics Natural Stone

Natural Pool Designs Brought to Life

Concrete Lava Rock Driveway

Custom Concrete Furniture

With its year-round weather resistance and ability to be molded into any shape, concrete is being used to create permanent backyard furniture, from patio tables and benches to outdoor concrete pool tables. This custom concrete furniture offers lasts a lifetime and never needs to be painted or refinished. See more examples.

Outdoor Fireplaces

Outdoor fireplaces continue to grow in popularity, with the trend in outdoor rooms fueling the fire. According to Scott Cohen of The Green Scene, homeowners are catching on to the fact that concrete fireplaces and other outdoor enhancements are a great way to add value to a home. And the cost of this outdoor ambiance is often more affordable than most people think. Learn more.

Videos: Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits

In this series of 7 videos, landscape designer Scott Cohen of The Green Scene explores all the options with outdoor concrete fireplaces and fire pits, including precast fireplaces for small spaces, custom fireplaces that coordinate with the existing landscaping, fire pit design choices, and even combining a concrete hearth with a waterfall for the ultimate backyard showpiece.

Platinum Pools installs EasyTurf Artificial Turf for Customer's Dog Run in Barrington Hills, IL

Platinum Pools, a chicago outdoor living company based in Wheeling, IL, is proud to offer EasyTurf for its swimming pool and outdoor living customers. EasyTurf is the industry leader in Artificial Grass in the United States.  

Platinum Pools and EasyTurf eliminated a bad problem for this homeowner by removing her muddy mess and installing a clean, comfortable dog run for her 4 Great Danes.

Why Easy Turf is perfect for Pets

Un-mark your turf today and save thousands!

Now you can have a dog AND a beautiful lawn!

EasyTurf artificial grass for dogs, with its revolutionary drainage capabilities, along with its realistic look and feel, make it the number one choice for pet owners. Because of its unmatched artificial dog grass durability, EasyTurf has proven to stand up to the most challenging of pets and its low maintenance features make keeping a beautiful, problem-free lawn all year long easy. Plus, over time, EasyTurf artificial grass for dogs saves thousands of dollars in maintenance and watering.

Here's why dog owners love EasyTurf artificial grass for dogs:

• MaxxFlow drainage makes dog grass clean up a snap

• Discolor and stain resistant grass for dogs

• Most dogs will give up digging

• Fixes dogs killing the grass

• Muddy paws and dirty pets are a thing of the past

• Non-toxic and hypo-allergenic artificial dog grass

• Eliminate water waste and fertilizing

Dog-friendly. With the pedigree to prove it.

EasyTurf artificial grass for dogs saves you money since little or no maintenance is required. Muddy spots and dog urine stains are gone. Dog waste and dog urine won't discolor or stain it; dogs can't dig through it and don't chew it. You spend less time cleaning your dogs since EasyTurf artificial grass for dogs prevents muddy paws and dirty pets, and helps you maintain a pleasant, safe environment for your pets. Your artificial grass is always available, no down-time for maintenance, watering or fertilizing. Relax, knowing this artificial grass for dogs has a 15-20 year life expectancy.

The difference is in the dog urine drainage!

Every inch of the MaxxFlow™ artificial grass backing drains freely with absolutely zero absorption. That means dog urine odor won't be a problem, and it even stands up to ALL pets, pet waste and dog urine. The backing also incorporates an integrated weed barrier which eliminates the need to purchase and install a separate one, saving you time and money. Remember...not only will EasyTurf artificial dog grass provide you with beautiful and useful artificial grass landscaping; it will also give the peace of mind that you have a clean, safe lawn for your pet.

Benefits:

• Drains clean: It requires no chemicals for dog urine odor found in another artificial grass or natural grass

• 100% permeable backing makes dog urine clean up a snap

• Most Realistic artificial grass for dogs

• Unique multi-color blades match the look of real grass

• Best Draining artificial dog grass – Drains better and cleaner than real grass

• Inherently antimicrobial and hypoallergenic dog grass surface

• Safe and non-toxic dog grass infill

• Artificial dog grass helps keep pets clean

• Artificial dog grass that is fertilizer and pesticide free

• Artificial dog grass dramatically improves water conservation

A comfortable dog is a happy dog!  This Great Dane loves his new EasyTurf which Platinum Pools installed for him in Barrington Hills, IL.

Other uses for EasyTurf

Artificial grass applications have expanded greatly since 2010. An artificial grass turf product that was once only used for sports fields and small front yards, has expanded into all facets of outdoor landscape and surfacing.

EasyTurf artificial grass lends itself to many surface applications because of the extraordinary advantages it offers over other landscape and outdoor surfacing options. EasyTurf has also expanded indoors now offering indoor golf, play and training surfacing, while bringing all the benefits of field-training indoors without the mess; all while standing up to the strict fire-safety standards.

• Swimming Pool Landscaping!

          Durable, Safe, Chlorine and Salt Water friendly pool-side landscaping

• Synthetic Grass For Commercial Landscaping

          Commercial-grade synthetic grass applications

• Artificial Grass Color & Design

          Outdoor living goes to the next level with colored artificial grass landscape designs

• Lawn Monograms – Artificial Grass Logos & Family Crests

          NCAA logos, family crests and more offer new ways to personalize your outdoor living space

• Artificial Turf for Tennis Court Surface

          Ultra-realistic simulated organic grass and clay court surfaces

• Artificial Turf Landscape Applications

          Realistic, beautiful water-conscious landscape

• Artificial Grass Green Roofs

          Low weight, water conscious compliment to green roof living and design

• Commercial & Home Golf Putting Greens

          "True-Roll" custom backyard home putting greens

• EasyTurf Grass Play Surface is Far Superior to a Rubber Playground Surface

          IPEMA Certified, Beautiful, safe, clean playground surfacing

About Easy Turf

EasyTurf is a professional synthetic turf company. We pride ourselves on offering the finest product and customer service in the industry. There are a variety of sources for synthetic turf landscaping, ranging from small turf companies to even your landscaper. Only EasyTurf offers the experience, quality and proven successful history to get the job done correctly the first time. Typically, other turf companies promote low cost turf that doesn't look as good, last as long or drain as well as FieldTurf.

EasyTurf, Inc. has been Southern California's exclusive FieldTurf® dealer for the residential and commercial landscaping market since 2000, offering the highest quality synthetic grass landscaping and golf green products and installations available. With over 7,000 installations in their region, EasyTurf is by far the largest synthetic grass distribution company in the country.

Besides offering the finest products available, the company's commitment to excellence and superior customer service has been the main driving factor towards their success and rapid growth.

EasyTurf has been an innovator of synthetic grass landscaping and has taken a leading role in educating consumers thereof. The acceptance of quality synthetic grass landscaping as a popular alternative to natural grass, and as a viable solution for problem lawns has also assisted EasyTurf's corporate growth and dominate market share.

Recognizing their market leading position, in May of 2010, FieldTurf, Inc. the industry dominant manufacturer and installer of sports fields worldwide, acquired EasyTurf to take charge of the development of the residential and commercial synthetic grass markets for the North American region. This development will allow FieldTurf to quickly become the major player in these rapidly growing and high demand arenas.

"Forming a partnership with EasyTurf will allow us to rapidly expand our already successful existing dealer network, accelerating our growth on a national level," said FieldTurf President Eric Daliere. "EasyTurf has been recognized for many years as the leader of the artificial grass landscaping industry which makes this joint venture a very exciting and historic announcement."

"Entering into this agreement with FieldTurf allows us to build off of the company's unparalleled reputation for product innovation, safety, and leadership in environmental responsibility," stated EasyTurf president David Hartman.

The Most Realistic Look and Feel

EasyTurf's monofilament fiber and color blends give it a natural look, unlike any other competitor's turf. Our newest Supra and Lush series artificial grass looks exactly like the real thing. Your friends, family and neighbors won't be able to tell the difference between your new EasyTurf lawn and an expensive, professionally-manicured natural lawn. It's so realistic, you'd have to see it to believe it!

Benefits of Replacing Natural Sod

Maintaining a natural sod or grass lawn can be a daunting task. From watering to fertilization, maintaining natural grass and sod lawns can be nearly impossible in Southern California. Recently, for these very reasons, synthetic sod grass lawns have become very popular. An EasyTurf artificial sod grass lawn requires little maintenance, no mowing or watering, stays green year round and lasts from 15 to 20 years, making it the ideal solution for problem plagued natural grass and sod lawns.

Being an Educated Consumer

No matter who you choose to install your artificial turf, you will be making a considerable investment. Make certain that you have done your research and that you make the choice that will serve you for years and years to come. EasyTurf invites you to do your homework. Contact the BBB and The California Landscape Association for references, and check out existing installations of the company's turf. Also, research the manufacturer of the artificial turf products you are considering. Please visit our Consumer Awareness page for more information about making the right synthetic turf choice for your project.

Be sure to check out the enclosed video from the San Diego Humane Society about EasyTurf

To learn more about EasyTurf, click here