Are you considering buying a pool?

Are you considering buying a pool? If you are new to the pool industry and are not sure where to start. Here are a few steps from The Association of Pool & Spa Professional's.

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m http://poolandhottub.apsp.org/pools/six-steps-toward-ownership.aspx


                                     
             6 steps Toward Owning a Pool!

1.  Ask how your pool and spa will give you what you'd most enjoy.
From a relaxing oasis to a place to play, the process begins with what you want. Small or lavish, modest or flamboyant, think not just about the pool itself, but the environment that meets your needs, suits your lifestyle, and counts most when you're slipping into the  water.
                                   
2. Consider affordability
    How much will you invest in your pool or spa? Your costs will depend on elements such as size, additions, hot tub, water features, heaters( gas, electric or solar) and deck or patio design. The cost of owning a pool is also determined by more than just size, shape and materials, so remember to consider such factors as quality of workmanship and design, underground strength, ease of maintenance, warranty and service.

3.  Think about the ideal pool type will meet your needs, budget and setting.

What size and shape is best? What materials will work? What's my budget for buying, installing, and creating the most enticing setting? 

4.Condiser equipment and other options.

 " Will I want fresh water, salt water, or another medium? Should the pool be heated? What kind of equipment will keep the water sparkling and my energy needs low?" A good  pump is essential, so ask about energy efficiency, capacity, quiet operation, warranty and of course, price. Which filter is best? From sand to diatomaceous earth (D.E) to cartridges, you local APSP member can help you make the best decision based on you location. 

5. Where should your pool go?

 There's a size, shape and type of pool for almost any environment! Speak with an APSP member pool professional to discover all the available pools capes and water features-and the best place to put them!  There are countless affordable ways to make your pool an inviting addition to your home. 

6. Find the right professional 

Qualified, APSP member professionals are on your side, answering your questions accurately and serving your needs with quality  performance, skill, professionalism and reliability!

The biggest thing to remember is that the pool is yours don't let some one talk you in to extra features that you don't want. At the end of the day this is you pool! You make sure you have the finally say it what features you have and don't have! 

Display pools test

Hey All!

 Today is the first day that all 4 of my display pools have been up and running.. On Monday morning when opening up I noticed that my back 24' round was cloudy.. So I tested it and found out I had no Chlorine and my pH level was at 8.6.. SO I put in 5 lbs of powered pH minus.. and loaded it up with tables... yesterday I added 20 oz of clarifier.

And this morning it was all clear!

To Shock or not to Shock

I recently found an article by Scott Downing, from AquaCheck about their new product call AquaChek ShockChek


"To Shock or not to shock", that is the question (real creative if you ask me ) that is on the minds of many pool owners when trying to determine when they should shock their pools and spas. Many retailers have reported that consumers do not shock enough simply because they do not understand the concept of why or when to shock their pool or spa. To help overcome this AquaChek, launched ShockChek in 2013, through SCP and SPP distributors.

ShockChek is a new type of testing for the consumer. It is designed to help the pool and spa owner easily identify when a pool or spa needs shocking. The test results simply indicate that yes, the pool or spa needs shocking or that the water is "okay" using the test strips will help the pool and spa owner maintain sparkling blue, crystal clear water and help the retailer increase shock chemical sales, and to have happier customers. Although the results may speak for themselves, the message should always be clear that shocking does not replace the need for continuous chlorinator.

Education is the key to successful pool and spa maintenance, and despite the industry's best efforts, most pool and spa owners do not shock often enough. And if/when they DO shock, they probably do not use enough shock products. Although it is recommended that shocking should be performed on a weekly basis, as water conditions change, shocking may be required more often.

Chloramines are formed by the reaction of free chlorine she organic substances. Chloramines, compared to free chlorine, are both less effective as a sanitizer and may be more irritating to the eyes of swimmers. Chloramines are also responsible for the reported "chlorine" smell of pools and spas.

The Decision to shock is both a qualitative and a quantitative one. If a pool or spa is cloudy or has a visible algae it is obvious that the pool or spa needs to be shocked. But when a pool or spa is clear, many consum
ers think the pool or spa does not need shocking. Clear pool and spa water can be deceiving and can have bacteria growing or combined chlorine present, thawing off the water balance. All other pool and spa test have specific quantitative measures and corresponding corrective actions. For instance, when the pH measures 6.4 it is fairly easy to determine how much pH increaser product needs to be added t bring the pH back into balance. That is not the case with shocking. As a result, pool and spa owners can become confused when determining when or when not to shock.

AquaChek  ShockCheck eliminates the guesswork with its unique testing procedure and results interpretation which provides for a very positive user experience. Instead of the consumer trying to calculate the difference between free chorine and total chlorine to determine combined chlorine, ShockChek does that for you and provides the consumer with a simple shock or no-shock results. In fact, the color chart on the ShockChek doesn't even include numerical values. If shocking is required, make sure you point out that the shock product label directions should be followed carefully.

Testing pool and spa water for free chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, etc. should be performed twice a week using AquaChek test strips. ShockChek test strips should be used twice a week as well. Pool and spa maintenance should not be difficult or complicated. Pool and spa owners bought their pool and spa for enjoyment, family togetherness, and the ultimate backyard vacation. By adding ShockChek to your customer' list of testing products, you will not only increase customer satisfaction but sell more shock as well. AquaChek helps the customer satisfaction but sell more shock as well. AquaCheck helps the owner enjoy their pool and spa more and work less. ShockChek is another addition to the AquaChek family of pool and spa water test strips!!!

How to test your Salt Water Pool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGYFFakYMO8&feature=plcp



On the link above is a great youtube video on how to test your Salt Water Pool with AquaChek Salt test strips ! ENJOY!

Can Swimming make Kids Smarter?

For years Australia had been ahead of the swimming curve. They take swimming very seriously down under. Also did you know that in Australia the leading cause of death of children under 5 is drowning?

Below is an article from the February 2014 edition of Pool & Spa New. This article is about a study done that shows that children who swim tend to be smarter!

Study Finds Swimming Grows Minds

By 

Nate Traylor

 

• 
  Credit: Chris Stacey

  Australian swim coach Laurie Lawrence was part of a research project that surveyed 10,000 swimming students throughout Australia over four years to determine whether swimming aids children's cognitive physical and emotion development.

Enlarge

Credit: Chris Stacey

Australian swim coach Laurie Lawrence was part of a research project that surveyed 10,000 swimming students throughout Australia over four years to determine whether swimming aids children's cognitive physical and emotion development.

Trying to sell a pool to a family that isn’t quite convinced? Hit ’em with this fact: Kids who swim are smarter.

According to a recent Australian study, children who participate in swim lessons at an early age reach significant developmental milestones earlier than their non-swimming peers. They score higher in tests and are generally better coordinated.

The research was conducted over the course of three years to validate or refute the popular belief in the aquatics industry that young, competent swimmers appear to be more confident, articulate and intellectual.

Now data is available to back up those claims.

In the first international study of its kind, researchers at Australia’s Griffith University surveyed the parents of nearly 7,000 learning swimmers under the age of 5 — including samples from the United States — to determine when their kids were reaching major physical, cognitive and emotional milestones.

That information was compared against common developmental indicators (counting, walking, talking, playing make-believe and the like) of nonswimming populations.

Knowing that parents have a tendency to exaggerate, researchers put nearly 200 children through a series of tests to validate the results.

The study yielded some surprising findings: Not only did child swimmers achieve physical feats faster, but they were more cognitively advanced. Test results found that these kids are months, even years, ahead intellectually. They’re able to read, write, count and use building blocks better than those without aquatics education.

One test group, with an average age of 3, was ahead of the curve by more than 15 months in understanding directions.

Children around the age of 4 were seven months ahead in grasping, and 3.5 months ahead in locomotion.

Kids just over the age of 4 were particularly strong in language (10 months ahead), oral expression (11 months) and math (6.5 months.)

A caveat: Young ones around 3 years old tended to fall behind in spelling, and in all cases kids weren’t as skilled in catching, throwing or kicking balls.

Lead researcher, Professor Robyn Jorgensen, theorizes that swim classes are stimulating environments where kids are exposed to detailed instructions, visual cues and rhyming songs, among other experiences that they can connect to the world outside the pool.

“Many of these differences will be of advantage to children as they transition into school or preschool settings,” Jorgensen concluded.

AUSTRALIA STRESSES WATER SAFETY

They take swimming seriously down under. As a gift from the federal government, every new mother gets a baby package — a starter kit of sorts — which includes a water familiarization DVD.

Also, water course instructors are eligible for certain tax exemptions.

In Australia, accidental drowning is the leading cause of death in kids under 5.

This article was taken from Pool & Spa News From February 2014

Tips For Salt Pool Owners

Facts and Tips for Salt Pool Owners

June 7th, 2013 | posted by HEALTHYPOOLS.ORG

As salt pools gain popularity in many areas of the country, we think it is a good time to provide some handy facts and tips for salt pool owners and operators.

Fact #1:

Salt pools generate chlorine for sanitation.
Salt pools obtain their chlorine residual by means of “chlorine generators” (electrolysis devices) that use electricity to produce chlorine from salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in the pool water. Chlorine in the water—whether added this way or by EPA-registered pool sanitizers–destroys many common waterborne pathogens within seconds, helping to keep swimming healthy. Without pool water sanitizers, swimmers are vulnerable to contracting diarrhea, swimmer’s ear and skin infections.
Tip: Salt pool owners can use pool test strips to ensure appropriate pool chemistry, including pH and chlorine level.

Tip: Salt chlorine generators are rated for the pool size and the average “bather load” or number of swimmers. Owners and operators should engage the “boost cycle¹” (which increases the chlorine level) to oxidize impurities on a regular basis according to manufacturer’s instructions or at least once per week. The boost cycle should also be used when anticipating an influx of additional swimmers. If the increased number of swimmers is very large (your child’s entire class from school or their sports team, or a pool party for example) the capacity of the generator may be overwhelmed—even in the boost cycle mode—requiring supplementing with a chlorine sanitizer product.
Tip: Saline water in salt pools may be diluted in the event of heavy rains, requiring additional salt to the pool system. Storms can also add environmental debris, requiring additional chlorination.
Tip: Adding chemicals to salt water pools could increase the level of sodium chloride salt in the pool because salt is sometimes contained in those products. It could be necessary, therefore, to reduce the amount of pool grade salt added to the pool system to account for salt’s presence in other pool chemicals.

Fact #2:

Salt pools require maintenance.
Just as there is “no such thing as a free lunch,” there is also no such thing as a maintenance-free swimming pool. Calcium builds up on metal plates in the chlorine generator and plates have a limited expected lifetime.
Tip: Clean plates at appropriate intervals to remove calcium build-up per manufacturer’s directions. Also replace plates at the manufacturer’s recommended frequency to ensure the unit produces adequate chlorine.
Tip: Saline water is corrosive, especially to metals, maintenance and replacement of metal parts may be required in the pool environment. In dry climates where evaporation rates are relatively high, corrosive salt deposits may form on fixtures around the pool. Improperly sealed mortar in stonework may also be damaged.
Tip: Always ensure that the filtering system for the pool is properly maintained and functions well, especially when bather load is heavier than normal (lots of swimmers in the pool). Properly maintained filters and sanitizer levels are critical in both salt water and fresh water pools.

Fact #3:

Impure salts added to salt pools can lead to unwanted substances and/or byproducts in pool water.
Only high-purity salts should be used in salt water pools to avoid harmful or unwanted substances in the pool water. For example, utilizing food-grade iodized salt could produce iodine levels in the pool of potential health concern. Salt containing high levels of calcium will coat the plates in the chlorine generator reducing the production of chlorine.
Tip: Add only “pool grade” salt to salt pools.
Fred Reiff, P.E., is a retired official from both the U.S. Public Health Service and the Pan American Health Organization, and lives in the Reno, Nevada area.

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¹The boost cycle refers to increased levels of disinfectant added quickly to pools (when swimmers are absent from the pool) to oxidize contaminants.

- See more at: http://www.healthypools.org/#sthash.SjqswD0v.dpuf



PLEASE VISIT HEALTHYPOOLS.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION! 

Pool Myth

Three Top Swimming Pool Myths

Post taken from HealthyPools.org

July 5th, 2013 | posted by Chris J. Wiant in Pools | 

If you spend time at the pool this summer you probably will hear conversations that reinforce a few persistent myths about swimming pools. We invite you to check out three of the most popular myths below and then get the facts so that you can dazzle your poolside companions with your knowledge!

Myth	Fact
If you pee in the pool, a dye in the water is activated, coloring the water around you.	Swimmers are on the honor system when it comes to peeing in the pool. There is no dye used to give them away, although based on a recent survey of 1,000 adults, about 52 percent think there is. Dye or no dye, peeing in the pool is a very unhygienic practice that uses up chlorine and produces nasty irritants. Taking the time to leave the pool and use the bathroom is a public health courtesy.
Chlorine turns blonde hair green.	Chlorine gets the blame but copper plays the game. Copper in the water comes from compounds added to destroy algae; it is also leached from metal plumbing in the pool. Fair-haired swimmers might consider donning a bathing cap or using a use a shampoo formulated to help remove copper .
Swimming is bad for people with asthma.	Doctors actually recommendswimming for patients with asthma. Swimming in a properly maintained pool helps increase lung function in asthmatics and is a healthy form of exercise for people of all ages

One more fact: The Water Quality & Health Council wishes you
a safe and healthy summer in and out of the pool!

Chris Wiant, M.P.H., Ph.D., is president and CEO of the Caring for Colorado Foundation. He is also chair of the Water Quality & Health Council.

- See more at: http://healthypools.org/#sthash.dV1yYmUT.dpuf