Swimming pools blog

I am a novice and I just had a pool built and got ready for use. I live in a
Mediterranean climate and we can swim from the beginning of May to the end of
October. What should I do with the pool during the winter months? Frost is rare
and, when it occurs, only mild in our climate.
Members’ advice would be very much appreciated.
Best regards
Ernst
kirvale
–
Powered By Outblaze

Hi Folks! I hate to think about it but I’m afraid that it’s getting to be
about time to get the pool ready for winter, at least here in Central
Illinois USA!
I know that a few of you have gotten solar panels this year and I’d like to
tell you about the experience I’ve had with mine over the last few years.
To begin with, I’m very happy with the way they’ve performed and I really
think they’ve helped extend the season. But, I’ve found that they really
take a beating over the cold and windy winters that we have here and almost
every spring I’ve found that more tubes have sprung leaks and have to be
closed off, lowering the panel’s overall efficiency. I thought that I was
very careful to get all the water out of the panels every fall but I’m
guessing that I haven’t been as thorough as I should have. I’m actually
thinking of rolling the panels up and storing them in the house this year
just to see if it makes any difference come spring.
Jusat wondering if others have the same issue.
[Read more →]

Hi all,
We heard yesterday that it is just couple hundred dollars difference to
install a new pool pump than to repair our old one. They first
recommended a hydro whisper - but the same guy also mentioned a pump
with speeds, and I phoned about it. It is called a Pentair Intelliflo
4×160 pump. Does anyone have any input on this pump???
Or, does anyone have any suggestions for anything else? We live in WA,
and we run our pump year around - and I am up for anything that will
lower our power cost… they say it uses between 68-71% less energy to
run.
Anyone with experience with this or have recommendations for something
else???
We’ve only had this pool two years, and we put a new sand filter on a
few months ago, and now a new pump… so we should be in good shape for
a while I hope!!! It’s been an expensive year! (with crappy swimming
[Read more →]

Has anybody bought an XL 10,000 above ground pool? I believe it is
manufactured by either Branch Brook or Swim ‘n’ Play and is sold
through NAMCO. I am trying to compare it with the Atlantic sold
through the NAMCO also but it very hard to find info or opinions
online. I have been given different opinions by different salespeople
as to the quality of the XL10,000. I am wondering about the comparative
quality of these two pools.

We’re putting in a pool on a slope right next to where we want a fence
before the foreclosure next door goes on the market. First we’re
having major tree work done, but also need to buy the pool. We’re
having it installed in the fall (in New England) only because of the
digging in rocky terrain next to where we would like the fence to go it
soon. We don’t want the pool digging done after paying so much for the
cemented fence.
We’re considering and “Atlantic” or “XL10000″ 21′ from Namco. I was
told contradicting things from Namco and our installer about the gauge
of the steel. One is 20 and one is 24. Because of our slope and some
high, but strong branches should we pay the extra for the stronger wall?
Most branches will only hang over the deck.
Also, the pump. Hayward 1 HP vs. 1 1/2 HP. The installer said don’t
bother with anything bigger than 1, works too hard and Namco and some
of what i’ve read said the 1 1/2 HP is worth it and won’t run as long.
[Read more →]

I have over 200 Brand New pool and spa replacement cartridges that I
need to liquidate ASAP. They’re are all different brands from Hayward
to Unicel.
Email what you need and I’ll see if I have it.
Thanks!
Jenn

Has any one on this site used a electic resistance type heater “like
on a spa or hot tub” to heat their intex or above ground pool. I see
they do it quite often in the UK but not in the U.S. Anyone try
this. I can’t do gas for my pool and don’t want to worry about the
sun being up to heat my pool.

Hi,
I am having a leak problem and losing about 1″ of water a day. My efforts to
find the leak to
patch it have been in vain. Does anyone have any experience… pro or con…
with a product
called MARLIG FIX-A-LEAK. They advertise that you pour this liquid in the pool
and it will
seal any leak up to 1/8″ in a few days. The season is coming to an end soon and
I want to
get this resolved before it is closed for the year.
Any info or other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe

Greetings all,
This is our first year with a pool, and so far we have learned a lot
about care and maintenance. It’s pretty complex - 33,000 gal.,
in-ground, waterfalls, a spa and an island.
Recently we have been noticing D.E. getting into the pool, and from
what I’ve read it’s most likely a breach in the filter, so we’re going
to have to tear it down and inspect the grids and seals.
My main question today is whether the D.E. is dangerous to swimmers. I
know it’s a hazard in the air, I wear a mask when re-coating the
filter after a backwash, but is it harmful while in the water?
TIA,
Mike

Does anyone know of a website that will give step by step instructions
on how to close up a pool for the wintertime in Michigan?? This is my
first year single and he’s always done it..so I need something STEP BY
STEP. Thanks in advance, Kel