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Free Shipping On Orders of $50 or More At InTheSwim.com

November 29th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Heads up for free shipping deals! Image via WikipediaLooking for swimming pool supplies to close your pool? Wanna snag some pool toys and accessories for next season? Been scoping out portable hot tubs or spas for Christmas so you can relax like the folks at right? Don’t want to fight rowdy holiday crowds? You’re in luck. Online retailer In The Swim is offering free shipping on orders of fifty dollars or more on Monday, December 1st. Use coupon code I7CYBMO at checkout to get the discount. You’re welcome! Hope your Thanksgiving was joyful and fun. Now check out the free shipping at In The Swim.

Gazebo For A Hot Tub Or Spas Can Complement Your Swimming Pool

October 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

I love gazebos and outdoor shelters, and a gazebo for a hot tub or spa is one of my most treasured wishes. The cooler days of fall are here and nothing’s better than relaxing in a heated spa or hot tub while enjoying the outdoors. Don’t have one, you say? Well, here’s an article that may give you a few ideas for your new gazebo spa enclosure. I was surprised how reasonable prices have become on spas and hot tubs, especially portable inflatable spas; and the spa gazebo kits pictured are lovely. Given the right design plan, the gazebo could also double as a pool house.

Even if you don’t have room right now for a swimming pool, perhaps a portable spa sheltered by a portable gazebo may fit on your patio. Its advantage is that it can be moved at will depending on your space needs. Some portable hot tubs only require a regular household electrical outlet for operation and can be filled with a garden hose. Do research the hot tub’s drainage needs before buying. You don’t want to flood your yard or patio. And check your local laws and regulations; because hot tubs are generally more than 24 inches deep, you may be required to keep your hot tub in a fenced area with a locking gate for the protection of nosy neighborhood kids.  Enjoy the article. A gazebo for a hot tub or spas may be in your future. 

Looking For Ideas in Swimming Pool Designs?

October 6th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Then here’s an article for you courtesy of the Baltimore Sun that talks about the hottest trends in inground swimming pool designs. Whether you’re looking for a traditional or contemporary pool design, there’s something for everyone in this article. Vanishing edges, fire pits recessed in the deck or in bowls positioned to reflect in the water, waterfalls, fountains, tiki bars and colored lights all add to the beauty and enjoyment of swimming pool designs.

A concrete pool usually starts in the low $30,000 range (fiberglass and vinyl can cost less). Landscaping, hardscaping, gazebos, fireplaces, tiki bars and outdoor kitchens add to the price, making swimming pools a significant home investment.

Make no mistake, your enjoyment is as much visual as well as physical. If you’re serious about building your ultimate swimming pool, fall is a great time to plan the design or even to start your construction while the ground is still warm and able to be excavated. Here’s an additional list of swimming pool design tips to help get ideas started.

While a beautiful swimming pool design can certainly make your backyard into a utopian paradise, don’t expect it to add significantly to your home’s value.  The article cautions that homeowners who build pools should not expect to recoup even half their investment. Unfortunately, not all home buyers are interested in maintaining a pool; and today’s market conditions don’t help. Whatever you do in designing your dream pool, do it strictly for the pleasure of yourself and your family - you deserve it! Check the article out for great ideas in swimming pool designs.

Jump Right In - BaltimoreSun.com

New York State Swimming Pool Alarm Law Now Permanent

July 24th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

The state of New York (USA) now requires all pools installed or modified after 2006 to have a swimming pool alarm installed, making permanent a two-year-old emergency ruling. The new law applies to temporary inflatable pools as well as permanent inground or above-ground pools. Those caught without an alarm will be given a warning first time; but after that one can be fined up to $1000 a day until the alarm is installed. So if you have a pool and live in New York state, you’ve been informed.

Via NY Injury Law Blog

Eco-Friendly Swimming Pools: Tips to Manage, Maintain

March 15th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Speaking of eco-friendly swimming pools, this is a great story from the Orlando Sentinel (FL) on green standards for pools.  No, not algae - we’re talking about managing your pool in an environmentally sound and sustainable way.  The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), a nonprofit organization, has published a Green Home Standard Reference Guide (note: PDF link requires Adobe Reader or equivalent) that recommends standards for green home building in Florida and is a resource for builders and consumers. The first two pages of the guide recommend steps for eco-friendly swimming pool management.

Not surprisingly, the FGBC would prefer you didn’t have a pool or spa at all due to water evaporation, energy use and chemical use concerns.  However, if you want an eco-friendly swimming pool, or want to maintain and manage your existing pool in a more eco-sensitive way, there are four steps you can take to minimize the environmental impacts:

Install a sanitation system that reduces/eliminates chlorine use.  The constant use of chlorine liquid or tablets to sanitize and shock the pool is of primary concern. Chlorine degrades and evaporates quickly from the water, necessitating weekly replenishment. FGBC recommends using salt water pool systems, ionization or UV sanitation systems to reduce or eliminate the amounts of liquid or tablet chlorine used.

Eco-friendly swimming pools use pool covers. Swimming pool covers keep the pool cleaner, reducing chemical and filter maintenance costs. A pool cover also reduces the amount of water and chlorine lost to evaporation. And, covers help prevent heat loss, keeping your pool water comfortably warm, miminizing pool heater usage and possibly extending your swimming season.  FGBC recommends “transparent or lightly translucent [pool] covers” which allow the sun to warm the water.  Opaque pool covers are specifically recommended for Florida pools to minimize heat loss at night.

Use a more efficient swimming pool pump. FGBC estimates that a pool pump accounts for as much as 20% of a home’s electrical use. To reduce this energy expense, they recommend using a pump no larger that 1/2 hp (horsepower) per 10,000 gallons of pool water, paired with an oversized cartridge filter and 2″ diameter PVC pipes instead of the standard 1 1/2″.  For example, I have a 30,000 gallon pool and I need to replace my pump - it took a nasty shock during our last electrical storm (ugh!). So according to this, seems I’d look to replace my ailing pump with a new 1 1/2 hp model.

It’s recommended to put the pump on a timer and run it no more than 6 hours per day in summer, three hours in winter. Six hours is pretty long; unless you’ve got hordes swimming round the clock, you shouldn’t need nearly that.  I set my timer for four hours in summer; and the water’s beautiful. You might also consider putting the pump on solar power.

Use a solar pool heating system.  This would lessen electricity and gas dependence, and is definitely eco-friendly.  

With water shortages, drought and water contamination in the news, we need to look for ways to responsibly and sensitively manage our swimming pools.  While I can’t implement all of the FGBC’s recommendations (solar power is out - too many trees) I’m happy to know my salt water swimming pool is considered green. The pool cover is coming.  The pool pump is a must; and I’ll measure my pipes. Having an eco-friendly swimming pool is not without expense; but if taking these steps can help the environment I think it’s worth the price.

GA Swimming Pools Might Open This Summer Despite Drought

February 8th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you follow this blog you may know that I live and own a swimming pool in Northern Georgia, USA.  And if you read the news you’ll likely know that we’ve been suffering through the worst drought ever in history.  There is currently a ban on all outdoor water usage, since late September, which includes filling public or private swimming pools or washing your pool filters.  Fortunately it’s winter and pools were mostly closed when the ban took effect.  However our severe drought continues and local pool owners, operators, builders and swim teams have been anxiously waiting to know if pool operations would be allowed this year.  This week Georgia’s governor stated he would relax the water ban to allow pool filling and maintenance.  However this edict can be overriden by local governments, who still must meet strict water usage requirements.

As a pool owner I am faintly relieved.  I say faintly because I’ll bet that my county government will continue to ban outdoor water use. But I fear the governor’s plan fails to address the real issue here; which is rampant overdevelopment and lack of a sensible water management plan.

Note that while allowing swimming pool operations, the governor also allows for “hand-watering” of lawns - no auto sprinklers - three times a week between midnight and 10 AM.  Say what?  Let the lawn fend for itself - most are overwatered anyway.  And what sane person is gonna hold a hosepipe and water the grass at 1 AM after a long day of work?  Come on, Governor!…  An unwatered lawn is not a health hazard - an ill-maintained swimming pool is.  The lawn bit was solely to appease the landscape industry which has been taking a beating with the lack of rain.  I am appalled (but not surprised) that no action was taken to place a moratorium on building permits for large scale developments or new swimming pools until their impacts on water use could be studied.

In anticipation that water rates will be raised substantially this summer to help enforce lower usage, I’m looking into buying rain barrels to help conserve.  In addition to swimming I like to garden, and this will supplement my recycling of gray water (water from bathing and dishwashing) for ornamental, non-edible plants.  I’ll also be doing some research into more environmentally-sensitive ways to manage the swimming pool.  I’ll write about what I learn.  I’d really like to see the swimming pool industry design and build more eco-friendly swimming pools that conserve water.  The swimming pool of itself is not the problem. How we build and manage that pool can go a long way to help save scarce water resources.

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