Many pool owners have put off family vacations in recent years, opting instead to spruce up their yard with cool pool features, expanded decks or new flower beds. But what’s the fun of a beautiful pool or fancy yard if you don’t share it with friends?

Not only does July 4 mark the middle of summer, it’s also the perfect opportunity to gather loved ones for an afternoon of holiday festivities around your beautiful, sparkling pool.

But a Fourth of July celebration doesn’t have to mean a ton of work. All you need is a few simple refreshments, some visual touches to honor the day and a little advance planning.

• Create crafty patriotic themed invitations
• Set up game stations
• Beanbag toss
• Card Table
• Decorate with patriotic flair
• Offer patriotic punch and dessert
• Dive and Retrieve games in the pool

Iced tea and lemonade are refreshing, but consider offering a special Independence Day alternative. A simple, patriotic-themed punch will fit the spirit of the occasion.

In mild climates during the off-season, pool and spa operations should be maintained at all normal levels. These include maintaining the water level, continuing regular sanitizer schedules, and retaining proper pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels. Circulating unheated water through the entire system will generally keep the equipment reasonably free of problems, even during occasional freezing periods.

The entire system can be operated intermittently, or on a timer set for when the sun is down or the weather is cooler. Make sure that the timer can be overridden if there is any danger that the equipment might freeze.

Twice-a-month cleaning is recommended for optimum care; at least once a month is the minimum. Uncovered pools and spas must be kept free of debris, such as leaves and other materials.

Winterizing a Pool in Severe Climates

In climates where freezing temperatures are normal, a pool or spa should be completely winterized by cleaning, treating water (if left standing), and protecting the pool/spa and

equipment from weather-related problems. It is necessary to winterize the plumbing, equipment, and pool structure before they freeze. Check the structure and all equipment to make sure everything is in safe and proper working order. Have repairs made during the off-season.

Standard procedures for winterizing are provided below, but not every type of equipment is covered. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s product information.

1. Water Cleaning: Vacuum thoroughly. Vacuum wastewater to the appropriate location. If the filter does not have a “waste” position, vacuum on “filter” position only. Where appropriate, use a portable pump to vacuum directly to waste.

2. Water Treatment: Test the water. Balance the pH, calcium hardness, and total alkalinity.

Chemically treat the water with sanitizer, stabilizer, and algaecide just as you would at other times, or treat with a proper amount of special winterizing chemicals. This treatment is important so that water will not become corrosive when the temperature reaches the freezing point. Depending on the chemicals, some are added before draining, and some are added just before putting on a cover.

3. Lower Water Level: Here are suggested winter water levels for different types of pools, with or without solid material covers or mesh covers. Consult your cover manufacturer’s literature.

a. Vinyl-lined: 1 inch/2 cm below skimmer mouth, but lower in areas of heavy rain and snow precipitation.

b. Plaster finish with solid material cover: 1 to 6 inches/2.5 to 15 cm below the skimmer mouth or tile line, whichever is lower.

c. Painted or natural finish with solid material cover: 6 inches/15 cm below skimmer mouth.

d. With mesh cover or no cover: 18 to 24 inches/45 to 61 cm below skimmer mouth.

e. With automatic covers: water level should not be lower than bottom of skimmer mouth.

Hydrostatic pressure can destroy a drained concrete pool if proper precautions are not taken (e.g., leaving the bottom drain valves open). If in doubt, it is best to leave the pool almost full of water.

4. Piping and Valves: Drain and blow water out of all piping, and fill pipes with a pool-winterizing antifreeze solution. This includes skimmer and main drain lines, return lines, and lines to solar heaters, cleaners, chlorinators, and other accessories. The pump, filter, and heater will also be drained. To blow water out of circulation piping, use a tank vacuum cleaner on reverse flow or an air compressor. A non-toxic antifreeze solution of one part propylene glycol to two parts water should protect water from freezing to 10˚F/-12˚C and allow for possible dilution by water still left in the pipes. Never use automobile antifreeze.

Valves must be thoroughly drained and kept water-free. Be sure that any valves below the water level are sealed securely. Any lines below water level that are exposed to freezing but cannot be drained or filled with an antifreeze solution must be protected with an electric heat tape.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Accessory Equipment: Remove ladders, diving boards, and handrails. Rinse with clear

water. Store in a cool, dry place. Diving boards should be stored flat, if possible.

6. Lights: Remove pool lights from their niches if they have less than 18 inches/45cm of water over them. Either cover them with plastic and place on the deck, or weight them, if necessary, and lower to the bottom of the pool. Make sure that the breaker is turned off or that the fuse is removed so that the light cannot be turned on accidentally.

7. Pumps and Motors: Drain the pump by removing drain plugs provided for this purpose.

These plugs should be left out so that condensation cannot build up within the casing and

freeze in cold weather. Another method is to remove all water from the pump housing and strainer compartment using a wet/dry shop vacuum and add ½ cup to 1 cup/0.12 to 0.24L of antifreeze to the housing without removing the drain plugs. Then replace the strainer/pump lid.

Disconnect the power that leads to the motor if you are removing the motor. In northern climates, the motor is often removed from the pump housing and stored in a warm, dry location.

If there is a timer, be sure to remove the timer lugs and set to the “off” position. The circuit breaker should be turned off, or the fuses should be removed from the pool circuit. When winterizing cast iron pumps, coat all drain-hole threads with the proper lubricant to prevent corrosion during the winter.

8. Filters: In general, all filters should be thoroughly cleaned before shutting them down. Do not leave water in any filter, and make certain that the open valves cannot leak water into the filter.

a. Backwash sand filters three to five times longer than normal. This can be done as the water is lowered, but not while vacuuming. A sand cleaner can be used during this process. Remove the drain plug and open any drain cocks, as well as the air relief on top of the filter. Then put the multi-port valve in the “winter” position. Inspect the sand bed and complete repairs, if needed.

This requires removing the lid from the filter. Put the lid back on the filter, but do not seal it.  Leave the air relief valve open.

b. Backwash DE filters, drain them, take out the elements, and check them. These elements need to be soaked in a special cleaning solution. This cleaning process may reveal small tears in the fabric. After cleaning the inside of the tank, re-install the elements or store them indoors.

In either case, reassemble the filter body, and do not fully tighten the filter lid. This will relieve pressure on the gasket during the winter.

c. With vacuum-type DE units, the drain should be left partially open. For pools located outside hard-freeze areas, the filters can be cleaned in the spring since they will be used occasionally in the off-season.

d. With cartridge filters, remove the cartridge, clean it, and store it where it can dry out. Then drain the cartridge filter body (tank) and leave the filter cap loosely attached to the filter body. As an alternative, remove water from the filter body with a wet/dry shop vacuum, add ½ cup to 1 cup/0.12 to 0.24L antifreeze, and reinstall the cartridge in the filter body.

All filters should be drained completely after winterizing the lines and pump. Leave drain plugs out, but grease the threads with a heavy grease to avoid rusting or corrosion.

Winterizing an In-ground Spa

In general, do not leave an in-ground spa empty for the winter, as hydrostatic pressure in the ground can damage or destroy it. Following are normal procedures for winterizing an in-ground spa.

1. Drain the Spa Completely: Follow all regulations regarding disposal of spa water. Check local codes. Be sure to turn on the blower to get all water out of the air channel.

(You may have to use a wet/dry vacuum or sponge.)

2. Blow out all Plumbing Lines and Piping.

3. Non-toxic Antifreeze: Add a non-toxic antifreeze solution—such as one part propylene glycol to two parts water—to all pipes and blow lines until it appears at spa fittings. Never use toxic automobile antifreeze. Then plug the lines and install a quart-sized (liter-sized) bottle filled with sand or gravel in the skimmer. Fill skimmer body with antifreeze. Remove the weir.

4. Beware of Hydrostatic Ground Pressure: In-ground spas are not left empty in areas where hydrostatic ground pressure may pop an empty in-ground spa out of the ground. Place vinyl or black poly sheeting, at least 6 mils/15 mm thick, in the bottom of the spa to form a liner. Fill the spa with water to the bottom of the skimmer. This liner equalizes pressure and keeps water out of the pipes.

5. Drain Filter Pumps, Air Blower, and Heater: Follow the appropriate winterizing procedures for all equipment. Always check the manufacturer’s product manual. Remove and store in an area safe from freezing.

6. Keep Water Below Skimmer: If water builds up in the spa before freezing weather, pump it out to keep water just below the skimmer. If you will not be checking the spa periodically, leave the spa empty enough to accommodate some build-up of water.

Winterizing a Hot Tub

Following are steps for winterizing a manufactured hot tub.

1. Power off: Turn off the circuit breaker for the hot tub’s electrical line or, if possible, unplug the unit.

2. Drain the Hot Tub: Remove the cover and drain the hot tub. Use the hot tub drain line and/or a submersible pump to be sure you get all the water out. If you use a submersible pump, be sure to open drains you can find once the hot tub is empty.

3. Clean the Filters: Remove and clean the filters. Have the owner store them in his/her

basement or garage.

4. Check the Blower for Water: If the hot tub has a blower, turn it on when the hot tub is empty to clear out any water in the air channel.

5. Remove Standing Water: Vacuum or mop out any standing water. Use a wet/dry shop

vacuum to suck or blow any water out of the jets, skimmers, and suction fittings.

6. Use Non-toxic Antifreeze: Pour non-toxic antifreeze that does not contain ethanol into the skimmer, and try to get it into as many jets and suction fittings as you can. (Check the ingredients carefully—ethanol can damage rubber or synthetic seals, yet some swimming pool antifreeze products contain it.) You can use the wet/dry shop vacuum to blow the antifreeze through the plumbing.

7. Winterize the Equipment Area: Check the pumps for drain plugs, heaters, and any places water might gather. Loosen the unions of pumps and heaters. Remove any drain plugs that may be on the pump housing. If you are in a particularly difficult environment, you may want to remove the pumps for storage in a less-exposed place, such as a basement or garage.

8. Use a Cover: Cover the hot tub with the cover; strap in place. Check that the cover is in good shape and not leaking water into the hot tub. The cover’s surface should repel water, and its shape should slope toward the outside to shed rainwater or snow.9. Secure the Hatch Door: Close and secure the equipment hatch door. Vermin will often try to nest inside hot tub cabinets over the winter. If they gain access, they can chew wires and cause expensive damage. Products are available to discourage rodents from entering the hot tub enclosure.

To return the hot tub to service, simply reverse the winterization process, being careful to purge the plumbing lines in the process.

For reducing the number of pool repairs to a minimal, you should educate yourself on the availability of latest technologies. Pool maintenance happens to be a detailed program which is spread throughout the year. For continually offering the best solution to your pool, both you and the pool contractor require knowing the ways of using water chlorinators. This will be the product which could act as effectively as addition of chlorine to the pool.

You should make a note of the fact that, Chlorine plays a major role in keeping any pool free of bacteria. As found out in the records of pool services, the water chlorinators assist in converting usual table salt into chlorine for the purpose of sanitization of pool. Pointing out the advantages of this product, the pool builders said that this product helps the pool owner in reducing the necessity of him engaging in the buying and storing of these chemical products.

While speaking of pool service, the price of water chlorination may come as a shock to many of us. Though, it must be kept in mind that buying this product will save us from buying chlorine for the pool. In other words, this may be deemed as a ‘one-time-investment’. Pool owners say that the water chlorination will further allow you in adding the salt while removing water from the pool.

According to pool contractors, the operational cost of pool repair by salt chlorination is also very much affordable. Annual pool service may thus become an easy task for you with due assistance from pool builders.

Shedding a great deal of light on the matter, the pool builders say that Algae grows in stagnant condition of water. Their spread being directly assisted by sunshine and the warm condition offered by Sun. The case happens to be more prominent for that section of pool owners that are irregular in pool service. One more reason may be that the pump or even the filter of your pool has not been that much effective prior to the attack of algae. Any below par circulation of water, accompanied by reduced pool cleaning are the real dangers in such scenario.

According to pool builders, getting rid of any algae attack will have to be patient as pool owners may require waiting for several days. To deal with this in an effective way, the pool owners could utilize the chemical named as Algaecides. These products will easily destroy algae in your pool in a major way. Not only could the algae, floating spores even be taken care off by this chemical.

For the purpose of your pool repairing, the best alternative will always be to prevent the building-up of algae. For achieving this purpose successfully, one needs to use Algaestats. Other than utilizing the chemical, the pool owner should get engaged in regular pool service in the form of circulation of water through pump as well as the pool-filter condition. With the help o f your pool builder a steady dose of Algaestat in the initial part of the season will offer you one of the best results in having your pool completely free from any algae attack. Pool contractors, on their part, will scrub any spot for clearing off the debris in the water. By using chemicals in your pool service, the pool filters will be able removing the debris to be further circulated.

For choosing the pool builder, you may consult easily available resources such as yellow pages in the very first step. Later on, for more specific and precise searches you must avail the internet. To sift few names, which you found in search, you will need to have to compare the reputation of these companies. For gauging the reputation, you may decide to get in touch with some of their esteemed clients as have been declared in the profile of these pool contractors. Other than that you may be interested in ascertaining about the stability of the word done by these pool builders.

For ascertaining if the work done by these pool builders have any industry value, you will need to access the BBB report. This report will help you clarifying your questions by pointing out pool contractor’s record of registered complaints from their clients. This report will also allow you to understand structure of the pool contractor. In many cases, you will be having publishes records of available pool builders in your area.

In the next step, it will be the time for bidding. You must spend at least one month in comparing the bids. While doing so, you must avoid bids that do not speak directly about pool installation and maintenance. Pool service and pool repair must form some significant factors in your proposal prior to initiating the bidding procedure. Good quality pool builders will always come up with detailed list of features offered by them whenever placing their bid. Regardless of the suggestions offered by the experts, you must rely on your common sense in judging the professionalism of any pool contractor.

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Whatever may be the characteristics of the pool builder, he should definitely bring along the factors such as integrity and proven display of his past experience. According to experienced people, the pool contractor should bring along wide and varying knowledge in design of different pools as well as the construction of those. A good-quality pool builder will also offer his suggestion on types of pool that may be best-fit in your space. This suggestion must be taken after having a thorough examination of the available area in your house. This decision will help you in maintenance of the pool. In many cases, pool service becomes a difficult task and pool repair almost impossible due to unwise selection of pool products.

You should always search for a pool contractor who would be prepared for discussing the entire matter with you. These pool contractors will take their time out in discussing the aim which you are interested in prior to initiate their work. They will be happy to answer all your queries regarding their ability of coming up with any custom-designed pool perfectly suited for your surrounding. These pool builders will spend some of their most valuable times in understanding design of your house and thereby the available space. These are the pool builders who will ensure to offer best possible solution to you in your available space.

As already pointed out, wise choice of any pool contractor will assist you in availing services such as pool service and pool repair. For making that wise choice you may certainly be interested in considering the portfolio of the pool contractor of your choice. As always reference checking may yield some extremely effective result for you. It must be kept in mind that, any good quality pool builder never displays any uneasiness in shearing their past experience.

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Residential pool slides are available with most pool builders and pool contractors in a number of designs to help you transform your backyard swimming pool area to a personal water park. Before you get yourself a pool slide, it is essential that whether it is you own a gunite pool or a poured-concrete pool, or above ground pool, you need to make certain decisions that are rather important issues. As pool slides are the most looked upon accessory by kids, safety is the most important issue to look for while purchasing one. There are certain factors that when looked carefully while buying the pool slide ensure safety.
Most pool builders and contractors suggest purchasing pool slides that have rails to hold if they have a considerable height. It is also advisable that tube pool slides are opted for if they are going to be used by kids more often. The closed tubes ensure safety for the most adventurous kids in your family. Apart from the rails to hold on and the closeness of the slide, the other important aspect to check safety is the sturdiness of the slide. Pools need to handle weight of not just kids but teenagers and adults as well. If the safety of the slide is assured, your enjoyment is going to be certain as well.
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Pool builders often advise composite decking made from wood fiber and plastic that comparatively need less maintenance than that required for natural wood.  Another bonus that pool builders offer on composite wood decking is a longer lifespan. Often pool builders would notify you of the initial cost which is way above that of treated wood therefore, you need to be aware of the longevity of the composite wood decking.

Enhancing the deck is the best way to give that backyard a face lift. Apart from the design, materials play a very important role. It is therefore imperative to choose to go to your pool builder or contractor to decide over both the design as well as the material to be used. Composite decking has been the contemporary choice off late. However, it is essential to communicate with your pool contractor to analyze the materials. Composites have an upper hand over wood, but it is always better to know what can be offered for your deck by the pool contractor in terms of the choices available.

If you choose to select composite deck, you need to figure out the price per square foot and also the different types of composite wood products offered.  In order to help you with your choice of a composite deck over a wood deck, here are the pros and cons for a composite deck:
Pros:
- Neither warps, splits or cracks
- Annual maintenance includes sweeping and spraying with hose
- Comparatively easier to work with
- Less waste because each piece is manufactured with high quality standards
- The assortment of colors it is available in has a bonus of never fading
- It is a green option as recycled materials are used while manufacturing them
Cons:
- Comparatively more expensive than pressure-treated lumber
- Heavy as compared to wood
- It is not usually available in longer lengths
- It is necessary to often have special fasteners
- Flexibility is amplified in extreme temperatures

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