Frank and Margareth Home

Services Offered By A Pool Service Company

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:02 +0000

A pool service company is a company that provides all types of service work to pools. Most of these companies also are skilled at designing and installing pools of all kinds. Most companies like this specialize in pools and hot tubs of all kinds.

Maintaining a pool is very difficult, especially for people who do not understand what it takes to keep it up and running, clean and with the right chemicals. Because of this, many people hire a company for these services. These companies understand everything there is to do with swimming pools and hot tubs. They generally only hire professional certified technicians for all repairs.

They will come to a person’s home and fix something that is broken on the pool, or they are hired to perform regular weekly service work. A company that provides weekly services will conduct several activities each week. When they arrive, they generally clean out skimmers and pumps, backwash filters, and vacuum it out. They may also clean the waterline tile and check all of the pools components to ensure they are functioning correctly.

One key aspect to hiring a business like this is that they will handle all of the chemical needs. You do not have to buy chemicals, which is extremely helpful because many people do not know what to purchase. They are experts in this field; therefore, they will add the correct chemicals to it, leaving it clean and safe. They also test the water chemistry each week. This is just another way to ensure that it is safe to swim in.

If a homeowner is having problems, the experts can troubleshoot the problems, diagnose them and repair them as needed. Several common problems that occur are motors or pumps going bad, piping issues and issues with poor water color or quality. They can also provide customers with accessories needed, such as covers, skimmers and floating devices.

Many pool owners have problems with green water. This problem is difficult to fix, and does not happen overnight. If a homeowner is not skilled in this area, he may never be able to eliminate the algae and obtain crystal clear water. Because of this, many people hire a company to come at the beginning of the season to get the pool clean, up and running and safe for everyone to go in.

The rates vary based on the services they provide and the quantity of services. Normally, weekly rates are not overly expensive, and are usually worth the price. Weekly services offer many benefits to homeowners; but the primary benefit is the ease of caring for it. The homeowner is free from worries and does not have to spend hours trying to fix it, clean it or determine how to clean it.

People interested in this should locate and call a pool service company. Eliminate yourself from dealing with the dirt, grime and algae, and let professionals do the work. It is definitely worth the money and will save you many hours of hard work.

Problems With Saltwater Systems for Hot Tubs

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:00:02 +0000

It has become all the rage, in recent years, to add salt water systems to pools and now: hot tubs! Customers and clients ask about them all the time. Personally, I enjoy them on a swimming pool and have had a lot of people tell me they love them. Less maintenance, worry free, etc.

When it comes to hot tubs, however, I would NOT encourage ANYONE to use a salt water system. For one thing, think about what salt does. Most of you reading this are in Iowa or surrounding areas… why do you try to wash your car so often in the winter? What are we protecting the metals of our car from? The corrosive power of the salt that gets put on our road! Hot salt water in your spa will do the same thing–it’s just what salt does!

Problem # 1: The metal components of your pumps, your heater, perhaps even your jets can be affected by corrosion caused by salt. You may not notice it for a year, or even two, but I am quite certain that you’ll be needing replacements and repairs before long. If you’re lucky, they will still be covered under your warranty, but who wants to waste the time with repairs and the risks of them being needed during the winter?

Problem #2: If you have any other extras on your hot tub, perhaps a stereo system or television, expect extra corrosion on the wires and connections with a salt water system, also. Often times, these electronic components (stereos, TVs) only have one year warranties, and there is a reason for that!

There aren’t a LOT of different problems with these systems, but they are catastrophic problems. Why would you want to put yourself at risk of needing to completely replace heaters, pumps, wiring, etc, for a system that really does, essentially, use chlorine or bromine, just like many other chemical systems? Sure, it’s salt water, but salt is sodium chloride, NaCl. The generator separates it into salt and chlorine, simple as that. When used up, the cycle starts again. The equipment in your spa should last you many, many years with regular maintenance. With a salt water system, it may last as little as 2-3 years.

Far less maintenance… until you have to start replacing things, and replacing things, and replacing things…

If you want low maintenance, there are a lot of great options out there, including Sundance’s SunPurity system, UV systems, Ozone, and more!

Swim Spas

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:32:02 +0000

Swim spas (sometimes called “swimming machines” or “endless pools”) are versatile pieces of equipment that can be used for exercise, relaxation, or simple enjoyment. Created in the 1970s as an alternative to full-size swimming pools, their technology was perfected in the 1980s and gave rise to the swim spas we know today. Much like a hybrid between a swimming pool and a hot tub with a size falling somewhere between the two, they can be used indoors or outdoors, heated or unheated.

One function of a swim spa is the resistance workout achieved from swimming against a current. Due to their limited size, this is accomplished through the use of water jets to accelerate water past the swimmer and thereby keep them stationary while they work on their strokes. Tethers are another method to provide resistance, holding the swimmer back as they swim against the pull. With a tether, however, it is important to control the waves created by the motion of the swimmer’s body. Both methods are frequently employed by professional athletes, as swimming in place provides more effective exercise than traditional laps. Because of its low-impact effect of the body, water aerobics are the preferred form of exercise for many people, especially those with joint problems.

Another function of swim spas is hydrotherapy. Achieved through the use of heated water and massaging jets, this popular pastime is not only relaxing, but physically beneficial for people suffering from muscle aches or arthritis. Pools made specifically for this purpose will often include built-in, molded seats.

The entertainment value of a swim spa is that of a regular pool or hot tub, and they are an easy way to foster social interaction and provide amusement. Parents of small children appreciate the shallower depths offered, which make the spas a safer alternative to traditional swimming pools.

There are many advantages to swim spas that cannot be matched by full-size pools. Their smaller size makes them more cost-effective to install, and if there is suitable room they can even be put indoors. Due to their smaller size, they are easier to clean and cheaper to maintain since, like a regular swimming pool, chemical additives are necessary to keep the water sanitary, especially in instances of multiple users. The most problematic feature is the cost of heating, which can be quite high in winter for outdoor spas. Ideal temperatures average about 95 degrees for hydrotherapy and 80 degrees for exercise.

Spas – The Perfect Destination to Revitalize Your Energy

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:51:02 +0000

Life today has become very busy and hectic. Long working hours, stressful jobs and constant travelling takes a toll on your health. In the middle of this constant rat race, one needs to stop, and think about ways to relax and rejuvenate one’s body, mind and soul. Spa is one such concept, which works towards pampering, anti stress inducing and wellness by offering a gamut of treatments and experiences in the most traditional yet modern way. There are several types of Spas – such as destination or health spas, resort spas, urban hotel spas, day spas, medical spas, hot springs spas, detox spas, inn spas.

Spa Heaters:

Spas need machines & equipments that are high on quality and are built in with the latest technology so as to provide peaceful and hassle – free treatments. One of the basic equipment required in every Spa is the Spa Heater. Spa heaters are primarily used to heat and maintain a constant set temperature of the water in the spa.

Types of Spa Heaters:

Electric Heater and Gas Heater are the most commonly used Spa heaters. Portable above-ground spas use electric heaters which require power supply of usually 110 or 220 volts. Gas heaters, which run on natural gas or propane, are preferred in in-ground spas. Electric heater is usually aligned with a heating element in a metal or plastic; whereas Gas heater generally looks like a large metal box which is found in the equipment area. Both these heaters are deployed on the discharge side of the pump. Spa heaters can be easily installed following few instructions.

Installing Gas & Electric Heaters:
Finalize a spot where heater needs to be placed and install it on the discharge side of the pump.Usually, other equipments like motor and pump assembly, and a filter are located at a safe distance away from the spa but are close to electric and gas supply. Fix the gas heater in an area where these equipments are placed.Identify the water line coming out of the filter and deploy the heating unit. This heating unit is a square shaped box which has a gas fitting, power hook up for switches & thermostat.The heating unit is now connected with inlet and outlet water pipes Using the wire nuts electric power supply for the controls box is connected on the heater.Crescent wrench is then used to connect the gas line from the gas supply to the gas fitting on the heater.In an almost similar fashion, an electric heater can be installed.

Troubleshooting Spa Heaters:
Appropriate amount of time needs to be provided for the heater to work.Ensure that both the heater & the pump are functional.Switch on the heater only after the tub is filled with water or else it will catch fire in seconds.

Spa treatments are not only refreshing, but also have multiple health and fitness benefits. All you need to do is lie back and enjoy being pampered. This very fact is the reason behind the immense popularity of spa massages.

Pool Solar Heaters

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:39:02 +0000

A new gas powered heater for your swimming pool will cost upwards of $3000 or more, and heating the pool in this fashion can cost many more hundreds on a monthly basis, so switching to solar heat for your pool may be the best financial option. All you need in order to install a basic solar heating system on your swimming pool is an area relatively close to the pool that is approximately half the square footage or more of the surface area of the pool. This area must be in direct sunlight for the majority of the day in order to realize the full potential of your pool solar heater.

The actual amount of surface area that you will need to cover with solar cells will depend on the size of your pool, howl warm you want the pool to be, as well as the amount of direct sunlight that that area receives. It will also be critically important whether you use a cover nightly on the pool. Without a cover nightly on the swimming pool almost all heat generated from the solar heater will be lost.

Manufactured solar panels are more efficient per given area then most homemade solar heaters. Mostly this boils down to surface area contact between the water and the heat exchanger itself. Manufactured solar heaters for swimming pools take the water from usually a 1.5″ pipe and reduce it down to one quarter of an inch or less. Most homemade solar heaters use half inch or 3/4 inch pipe at the least. The more surface contact area the water has with the heated source, the greater the effectiveness of the solar heater.

You can either build a solar heater from scratch or you can buy a manufactured solar panel to heat your pool. Usually if you buy a manufactured product you will need to buy multiple solar cells in order to heat your pool. The amounts of cells that you will need will depend on the size of your pool and the solar panels that you are buying will have this information.

Alternatively you could build your own solar heater out of ABS, PVC or copper pipes. All you need to do is run a grid of plumbing on a hot surface such as a shingle roof. The pipes should be small in diameter to increase the surface area contact with the heat exchanger. In this example the surface of the pipes themselves are the exchanger as the heat from the sun keeps the inside of the pipes well the water on the inside absorbs that heat.

To install the system you will need to tap into the existing circulation system for the pool. You would attach the pipes into the circulation system so that you remove water after it has been filtered to ensure that larger debris does not get stuck in your solar heater. It would also be a good idea to add any chlorine that you are adding to your system after the water as has been heated to avoid sending concentrated chemicals through the heater itself. By adding valves such as ball valves, you can achieve control over the amount of water that you are sending at any given time. This will also allow you to turn off the solar heater altogether as well as provide a point for drainage should you need to winterize your system.

Many solar heaters are installed as a part of a control system that uses either temperature or the time of day to turn on and off the heater. It is not a good idea to cycle water through a solar heater if there is no sun as this will actually reverse the process stealing heat away from the pool. Mechanical actuators are added to the isolation valves which achieve a level of automation. This can be controlled through timers or by manually adjusting the settings for your control system.

It is important to note the limitations of pool solar heaters in that they do not prolong the swimming season. A gas-fired heater can extend your swimming season up by a few months however solar heaters will not do this. They are simply not powerful enough to overcome the cold temperatures however they do make mid season swimming much more enjoyable.

The Different Types of Pool Cleaners

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:27 +0000

Pool cleaners come in a variety of options depending on the needs of your pool. Finding just the right one can get tricky. You should evaluate the needs of your pool and choose a cleaner that fits best.

Robotic automatic pool cleaners are the most convenient type of pool cleaner available. They are considered “smart” cleaners, as they have the ability to focus on tile lines or even learn the shape of your pool. They are electrically powered and preform a variety of functions–washing, scrubbing, vacuuming, filtering, etc.–all within one machine. With this cleaner, all you do is press a button and the cleaner will do its job. With brands like the Autobot, there are no hoses or connections to mess with. These cleaners use water jets to fight dirt on your pool’s floor and tile. The cleaners that use jet propulsion help circulate water. They will have a pump that vacuums debris using its onboard filtration system. This self-contained filter is easy to maintain and clean. Some of them can even be remote controlled which can come in handy if you want to focus on a problem area of the pool. These robotic cleaners have grown in popularity over the last couple of years because of how much more technologically advanced they are than side-suction cleaners.

Side suction cleaners are the cleaners that require a hose hookup to your pool. They are usually hooked up to the skimmer and you have to be careful and make sure this kind of cleaner works well with your skimmer. This kind of cleaner removes dirt by creating a suction on the underside of the cleaner.

Pressure-side cleaners attach to your pool’s circulation system and use the pressure created to create a vacuum that removes dirt and other debris from the pool. Sometimes, to achieve the necessary pressure, an additional pool pump is needed.

Keeping small pools and spas clean is a different matter. For spas and small pools that don’t require an automatic cleaner, there are brooms and vacuums available. Rather than using a plunger, as some use for spas, it is more effective to use these handheld brooms and vacuums. You can even find water drainers like the Quick Drain to vacuum the pool as you drain water for extra cleanliness.

Whether your are a new pool owner or replacing your old pool cleaner, considering a robotic automatic pool cleaner can save a lot of hassle.

Ten Reasons to Hire Professional Pool Service

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:27 +0000

Of course, hiring someone to do a job is always somewhat more expensive than doing it yourself, but in this case, the difference is often smaller than most imagine. The only way to really know if hiring a pool service is worth the cost in your particular situation is to get estimates. And consider the ten reasons to hire a professional pool service in Irvine (Irvine was incorporated in 1971. The city of Irvine has enjoyed consistent recognition as an economic, environmental and educational leader among cities across the nation.):

1. Professional swimming pool services will guarantee the work and swimming pool to function correctly.

2. Pool maintenance, while it appears simple, when you get involved either daily or burn through your time on the weekends devoted to cleaning your pool.

3. There is never enough time during the day to deal with daily life much less your pool.

4. The experience and training that your pool service has is vastly different from a one pool owner in the back yard. On average most pool guys visit over 60 swimming pools in one week and each one individually
unique.

5. Some retailers that sell pool supplies and chemicals may offer free services to get you to buy their own overpriced products that administer to your pool at their mercy. However not every situation is fixed from the desktop of a pool supply store. The staff is trained to give answers to particular problems and most have very little to no experience in pool service save for the maintenance they performed on the own family pool.

6. Water balance-clear water is not always balanced water. The clearest water is actually way out of water balance and is not inviting to any swimmer, their skin will itch, possibly welt up into have and bathing suits ruined. I know what most pool owners want it, is to see the bottom of the pool and no green algae.

7. Equipment- with out of balance water becomes costly repairs to equipment of filters, heaters, pumps, salt cells, and plaster.

8. For an extra fee, some pool maintenance companies will also close your pool at the end of the season for those who live cold climates and when the warmer weather returns will open the pool. Closing a pool requires is to add anti-freeze to the pipes, and then cover the pool. Opening the pool reverses the process, plus checking the circulation and filtration systems for the pool.

9. The pool service in Irvine come out on weekly bases and will come more frequently if it becomes necessary.

10. The maintenance crew will be professionals that will scrub your pool walls and steps, clean the filter and empty skimmer baskets and ensure that equipment is working properly.

There are many reasons to have a professional pool service in Irvine take care of the hard work it takes to keep up the maintenance of your pool, but the best reason of all is so that you can sit back and lounge at your pool and enjoy watching your family and friends have a great summer.

Swimming Pool Alarms Save Lives

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:00:27 +0000

For all of us that have, or have had, small children, we know all too well how quickly they can get themselves into trouble. One minute they are sitting on the couch watching tv, and the next minute they are getting into something possibly life threatening. Have you ever started doing something, thinking that your child was occupied for hours because you had his favorite show on, and then realize that the child is getting into something completely unexpected? Maybe you hear the front door open, or the bath tub running. You wonder how in the world they got the door unlocked, or the water running. Even worse, imagine hearing the back door open and knowing you have a swimming pool out back. You can’t get there quick enough.

Swimming pool safety should be taken very seriously. Make sure you have safeguards in place to protect your own children and others from the neighborhood. Most people have the obvious taken care of. They make sure their own kids can swim, install fences to keep other kids from wandering in, put high locks on the gates, and maybe even install door alarms so they know when their kids go out. But what happens when the unexpected happens, and a small child passes through all those safeguards you have put in place? All those safeguards are equally important, but don’t ever feel completely safe without adding a pool alarm as your last layer of protection. Most local codes departments now require them for new pool installations, but don’t require people with existing pools to go back and install them. Pool alarms electronically monitor the pool and sound an alarm when anything, including pets, enters the pool. When triggered, a loud pulsating alarm will sound at the pool and at a remote unit inside your home. Following are some very interesting and scary statistics to consider.

In 2004, there were 3,308 unintentional drownings in the United States, an average of nine people per day. (CDC 2006)

Fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years. (CDC 2005)

Children ages 1 to 4 years most likely drown in residential pools.

70% of children who drown in residential pools had been:

Last seen inside their homeWithin the last 5 minutesWith one or both parents supervising

It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are 1 to 4 nonfatal submersions serious enough to result in hospitalization. Children who still require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time they arrive at the emergency department have a poor prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering significant neurologic impairment.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Children under five and adolescents between the ages of 15-24 have the highest drowning rates.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Males are 4 times more likely to drown than females.

The Role of the Hot Tub Circuit Board

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:27 +0000

Most hot tub owners would probably agree on what it is the most depressing sound in the world. To be more specific, it is the lack of sound. Silence. After a long day at work, the owner comes home only to find that their beloved hot tub has broken down. They try re-setting the breaker, checking the connections, and yet nothing happens. Deep in their mind, they know exactly what it is. The circuit board is shot.

Hot tubs circuit boards are the “brains” of the spa controller, the device that controls the main functions of the unit, such as the pump or heating element. Unfortunately, when these devices burn out, it is usually more economical to replace the entire controller, rather than just the circuit board itself. Units these days can quickly be custom-made to fit particular applications, with little effort. Attempting to replace the circuit board itself is also often futile, as manufacturers seldom retain older units and technology. It just usually makes more sense to replace the entire control unit.

When it comes to replacement units, the consumer has basically two types to choose from: the electronic spa controller or the pneumatic spa controller. An electronic controller provides nice aesthetics; the LED displays are usually impressive to look at while relaxing. The operator can set the temperature for a specific temperature, for example, and be able to confirm that temperature via the readout. The drawback with these units, however, is that they rely on electrical connections to function, and can be damaged or short out quickly when exposed to dampness, from whatever the source. For a majority of people, the pneumatic controller makes more sense.

A pneumatic controller uses vacuum pressure to open and close connections without any electrical components. Without the digital control, the owner usually has to access the heater settings via an access panel on the side of the hot tub itself, requiring the user to exit the unit to adjust temperature. For most, this inconvenience is offset by the fact that the units tend to last longer than their electronic counterparts.

The good news is that if the hot tub is taken care of properly, it can provide many years of enjoyment. With proper maintenance, most shells and frames can last 30 years or more. In the case of a gently-used model, it makes a great deal of sense to upgrade to the new controller unit, and obtain many more years of happiness.

Swimming Pool Winter Covers

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:00:27 +0000

Over the last 40 years in North America tarp and water bag pool covers have been by far the most common choice. It used to be that instead of water bags it was sand bags which were used however water bags grew in popularity due to the damage that sand bags can cause if dropped into the pool. Removing a large amount of sand from the bottom of the pool is a difficult process that is best to avoid. Water bags do have their limitations though in that they are very prone to puncture from small animals claws walking across them. This means that it is uncommon to get more than a few seasons of each water bag before needing to replace them. Fortunately they are not too expensive in that they are usually between $5-$10 each.

When using a tarp to cover the swimming pool you want the tarp to have excess material inside of the pool to prevent the cover from dragging the water bags into the pool once the cover fills with snow and precipitation. A new cover costs anywhere from $80-$200 depending on the thickness of the cover and the size of your pool. Be sure to over size your cover for example a 20 x 40′ swimming pool would use eight 30 x 50′ cover. The main disadvantage of this type of cover is that you will have standing water and leaves rotting in the backyard all winter. When the spring comes and all of the ice melts it will not take long before you will be able to smell this stagnant water throughout your property. You will also be attracting mosquitoes to the standing water and there is growing concern over this due to the spread of West Nile virus. While a tarp and water bag system for winterizing your swimming pool is an economical choice it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the cosmetic value of your backyard.

A lock in style swimming pool winter cover is designed to fit exactly the swimming pool it was made for, and attach directly into the coping track in the same way that the liner for the pool fits into the coping track. The main advantage of this style of pool cover is that it does not use extra deck area around the swimming pool like a tarp and water bag or mesh safety cover does. The disadvantage of this type of cover is that it is very difficult to put on and take off of the swimming pool. Even professionals who may deal with up to 10 a day during busy seasons can have difficulty with this style of cover. The cost of a vinyl lock in cover will range anywhere from $6-$700 all the way up to a few thousand depending on the size and complexity of your pool shape. This style of cover needs to be stored in liquid during the pool season to keep it malleable. This can result in excessive bacteria formation and often leaves this style of cover smelling very bad. This is one of the biggest detractions from vinyl lock in pool winter covers. Another option for lock in covers are poly weave lock in covers. These lighter lock in covers do not require to be stored in liquid making them a better option for snow and also much easier to install as it does not have the tendency to sink like a vinyl walk in cover will.

Mesh safety covers, or spring safety covers as they are sometimes called, are the fastest-growing segment of pool winter covers. These safety covers have become famous from pictures showing them supporting vehicles and elephants over top of the pool area. Though this is not their every day design it is true that when installed these covers prevent virtually any possibility of something falling into the pool. Brass grommets are installed into the deck around the entire perimeter of the swimming pool. Using a special bar tool that comes with your safety cover you install the cover under spring tension onto the deck of the pool. It creates somewhat of a trampoline looking effect though using it in this capacity is not recommended. Mesh safety covers need to be custom measured for each swimming pool and cost anywhere from $1300-$3000 or more depending on the size and shape of your pool. They can be installed onto wood decks, concrete decks, natural stone, tile and even gardens or grass. Something unique about these pool covers is that they allow the pool to fill with water during the winter season and spring melt reducing the amount of water you need to add to the pool to start it up in the spring. This can represent a huge savings for people who need to pay to have water brought in.

The most expensive form of winter pool cover is an automatic safety cover. An automatic safety cover is just as it sounds. You turn a key and a cover mechanically rolls out over the entire swimming pool. This allows you to have the pool covered at all times when not in use and this is something that no other cover can do. These extravagant winter covers are commonly added to the pool design during the construction phase and this allows for a seamless incorporation into the pool area. Retrofitting an automatic pool safety cover requires surface mounting of some equipment which can be a visual distraction in some circumstances. That being said there is no safer option for covering your pool than with an automatic pool safety cover because you can use it year round not only in the winter. An automatic pool safety cover can cost anywhere between $8000 up to $15,000 or more so this is one of the larger options you can add to a swimming pool. It is worth noting that the increased safety of the pool area does have a positive reflection on the associated real estate value of your home.