Photo: tom@hk

When determining whether you should heat or not, consider the following:

How often will you use it

Regardless of whether the water is heated or not, if you live in a location where the winter months are particularly bitterly cold, it is unlikely any members of your family will want to peel off their clothes to hit the water, or leave the water for the cold air. So will heated water actually even mean it’s used more often? If on the other hand, you live in an area where winter is still luke-warm, perhaps heated water is just what is needed to make your investment in a pool worthwhile. Heating will cost you money, so consider the usage before you decide to heat.

Consider your options

Heating comes with a range of options that will give similar and completely different results. On the less expensive side, you can simply conserve water warmth, rather than worry about heating. If you live in a warm climate, this might be your best option. Talk to your pool store to get a good pool cover, if this is the option you choose.

If conserving isn’t going to work, your best two options are electric heaters and solar heating. When it comes to solar, you can use a solar heating cover, or a solar powered heater. The cover is generally made of a dark material that collects solar heat and transfers it into the water by conduction. While it is effective in its aims, the water may not be as heated as you want it. The next step up is a solar powered heater, which basically requires the water to be pumped through it in order to heat.

Similar to this, and sometimes more effective, are electric heaters. Keep in mind when considering electric heaters that the price of electricity is rising, while solar options will not have increasing costs. Head to your pool supplies store and talk to a professional about what you need, and what is best for your pool.

Cost

When considering heating your pool, cost is a big factor. A big point is to not only consider the upfront cost, but to also keep in mind that there may be ongoing costs. This may include anything from paying for electricity, to maintenance costs. So add up all your future costs to determine which option is most effective.

Photo: shoot on sight

Making your pool a stunning centrepiece will require some investment, but this investment will also transform your home and its value. It will give you somewhere to escape to and really make the most of your space. So what can you do to create your pool paradise?

• The pool itself

Firstly, if the pool itself is an eyesore, there is no point in creating a garden around it. Go to your pool supplies store to get what you need, and clean the pool thoroughly and fix any of the materials around the outside that me be deteriorating. If your decking isn’t something that looks appealing, consider talking to a professional to get advice and quote on recreating its look.

• Fencing

A pool fence is a legal requirement, so there’s no getting around it. Regardless of law, it ensures your kids are safe, which is incredibly important. When considering your fencing, you need to know what it legally required, and then work on what looks good and suits your space. You need something that is easy to upkeep, won’t age badly and adds to, rather than decreases the look of your pool and yard. Head online and have a look at what’s on offer and how it would look in your space or talk to a fencing contractor about your best options and help putting it up.

• The frame

Any stunning picture needs a beautiful frame to make it look its best. Consider the space around your pool and fence. Is it browning grass? Ageing, plain cement? Overgrown garden? To make your pool stand out as the centrepiece, it needs a clean, well presented frame. Consider simplifying the area surrounding the pool and fence, by introducing a plain, well-presented green turf, that is low in upkeep and maintained regularly.

Photo: Heinz Rookwood

• Getting to the pool

When the pool is the centrepiece, the rest of the garden needs to compliment this idea. After you’ve manicured the frame – the area directly surrounding the pool area, you need to look after the rest of your garden. Look into some landscaping, putting in easy-care natives, woodchipping, and complimentary furniture – such as garden chairs – and paths that lead around the garden, with the specific idea that these should all highlight and emphasise the pool area.

• Finishing touches

Finish off the new look of your pool-centred garden, by dressing up the pool area to make it more comfortable and luxurious. Consider a beautiful outdoor setting, and some shading. A built in barbeque area is a nice touch, and it encourages activity and family gatherings around the pool. Pool chairs and some tropical looking plants finalise the area so the entire garden is a paradise.

Photo: mw1.414

• Fencing. Strong summer temperatures and winds can damage your fence just as much as the weather in Winter. The Autumn and Spring months are perfect for making the repairs and changes you need. This should be your first area of concern. Replacing parts and fixing any joints on your colorbond fencing once a year, will be much more cost effective than letting it go un-checked. If you are using any wood, it must be treated, or it will rot in a short number of years. Check your concrete foundations are steady and don’t need strengthening. There will always be the issue with neighbors, and who should pay. It is better you make an early agreement and commit to contributing equally each year. May be you will need fast cash loans.  If you don’t fix your fence now, you could have even bigger problems when Winter storms hit. Now the weather is cooler, and you have a little time, start looking at what you need to do and make a plan of action with your neighbors – this could be quite a task considering most people will have 3 fences, and 3 neighbors do deal with.
• Stone. Both Summer and Winter can damage your pavers. Natural items will be more flexible than kiln-prepared pavers and bricks. You will probably find you have some cracks and other damage after Summer. It is better to replace these items before Winter rains come. Those cracks will mean water can penetrate the foundations, and this can lead to considerable damage in a very short period of time. Replacing individual pavers is always an option. Make sure you replace pavers with other pavers that have been stored outside. You could have trouble again in Winter with bricks and pavers that have been stored inside. Bricks that have been stored inside, are typically very dry – drier than bricks that have been in the ground and under the hot sun. This will mean they can soak up incredible amounts of water and be damaged easily as we head into Winter. It is always better to have some of the original pavers you laid, stored somewhere in your back yard. You can use them to replace the few weak ones, and they will not look brand new.

As always, the more preparation and maintenance you do, will save you in the long run. If you and your neighbors have discussions well in advance, it is less likely you will have problems. If you have not spent the time, and there is suddenly an issue, all parties might not want the same immediate solution.

Photo: missycaulk

• Indoors Or Outdoors. Pools with moving floors are not only for indoor situations but are also very useful in outdoor situations. Let’s say that you are having a children’s party and you want to worry less about all those children around your adult depth swimming pool. With these modern tech pools, you can raise the floor of the pool to create the desired depth you want. When you think about it, it is not really that difficult to construct. It just requires the right materials and the right waterproof machines that lift the floor inside the water. Make your pool 6ft deep or 1ft.
• Other Uses. Do you have limited space in your entertainment area? Whether you use the pool the most, or the floor the most, you will have both options in a matter of minutes. These systems employ electric and hydraulics to move the floor up and down. Water moves freely from around the slim gap between the floor and the walls. You either have a hidden pool for when you want, or a hidden surface you can use for anything when you choose. It is not necessarily a floor from your pool, it can be either way around. The end result remain the same — you have a dual-purpose space, and you can use it effectively for either.
• Other Potential Savings. If you have an indoor pool, outdoor, or a heated pool there are considerable savings by having it covered most of the time. If you pool is outdoors, you can keep it covered, without having to remove the cover – ever. Keeping your pool cleaner, and saving you money.
• Cost. Sure these pools are not cheap, but as with everything, this type of pool is expected to get cheaper as they spread around the world. If you are building a home, considering that you are getting a whole extra room on top of your indoor pool, the installation costs are relatively reasonable.
• Safety. Whether it is because you have reduced the depth for children or have the pool closed when there is no one around, you are making your pool a lot safer. You can have a key as a part of the floor movement system so that it cannot be tampered with.

Expect more homes to have these swimming pool features built in. Obviously there are advantages of installing this type of pool when you are working with the full budget of building your home. The cost compared to adding another whole room is more than effective.

Photo: Prowpatareeya

Cooling off
On a hot summer’s day there is simply no better way to cool off than by taking a refreshing dip in your own swimming pool. While other people are sweltering in the sunshine or are hiding indoors with the blinds shut and air conditioning on full blast, you can enjoy the summer heat for just as long as is comfortable, before plunging into the water and cooling off in a instant. Being able to stay refreshed in this way is not only pleasant, but it will help you be more productive and avoid the lethargy that prolonged hot spells can cause, making a swimming pool a wise investment in more ways than one.

Exercising
Swimming is a great form of exercise. It provides an excellent cardio workout and uses a wide range of muscles in the body. Best of all it does this in a very low impact maner, that reduces stress on your joints. Having a pool in your backyard makes taking exercise easy and will help you to maintain the motivation to stay fit and healthy.

Landscaping
A swimming pool does not have to be a simply functional item. With a wide range of materials and building methods available these days, it is increasingly easy to put your own design stamp on your backyard pool. This means that you can incorporate it into a wider design or landscaping vision, making your pool the focal point of a beautiful backyard.

Socialising and entertainment
Swimming pools are great fun to share with friends and family. Whether you choose to invite a lot of people over for a pool party, or just a few close friends to hang out with you, what could be more enjoyable than relaxing in the pool? It is also a great way of keeping your kids entertained.  If you make sure your pool is well maintained and you have a good pool cleaner, you will always have a great way to keep your children occupied during the holidays or at weekends.

Teaching your kids to be water safe
Swimming and general water safety is vital life skills; children should learn them as early as possible. There are organisations that offer swimming lessons for children and babies as young as just a few months or even weeks. It is a great idea to get your children learning as early as possible and you can complement the lessons they get by giving them the opportunity to practise their skills regularly in your own swimming pool. In this environment it is relatively easy for you to supervise your children as they learn, making it a safe way for them to develop these important skills.

Swimming Pool Chemicals

Photo: shas 988.com

When the weather begins to close in and the days are beginning to get a bit too cold, it’s time to start thinking about closing up your pool for the Winter. The following steps will have your pool staying healthy while it hibernates.

• Thoroughly clean and vacuum your pool, making sure you remove all leaves, dirt and debris. This should be one of the most thorough cleanings of the year and will set you in good stead for when you open up your pool for use again and give it the first clean of the season.
• Balance the chemicals in your water as exactly as you can. This will prevent algae and mould form building up around the edge of your pool. Shocking your pool with an extra dose of chlorine at this time is a good idea. If you own a salt water chlorinator then ensure your salt levels are alright to last the Winter.
• Backwash the filter and make sure your pipes are clean and free from stray leaves and dirt. If you’re planning on turning off your pump entirely it’s also a good idea to empty out the water from the pipes and perhaps remove the motor. Turning off the circuit breaker to the pool might also be a good idea.
• Store all of your chemicals in a safe, cool and dry place. The last thing you want is curious hands finding your chlorine.
• Cover your pool entirely using a cover made especially for your pool. Close up any gaps caused by ladders or the odd shaping of your pool.

The most important thing to remember is that you mustn’t simply ignore your pool all Winter. Keep an eye out for large pieces of debris and heavy rain. When the Winter’s over and your pool is ready to be pulled out of its slumber, there’s a few steps you need to take before taking the plunge.

• Check all of your chemicals for anything that may be perished or expired. Replace anything you’re in doubt of.
• Remove the pool cover and clean off of all the mildew and mould before rolling it up.
• Reassemble and reinstall your pump and anything else you removed. Refill the water (if you took any out) and ensure everything is powered on and working.
• Clean the pool thoroughly, equally as much as you did before closing the pool for the winter.
• Over the next few days test your pool water regularly until it has stabilised.

Time spent before Winter will drastically reduce time spent afterwards. Anything you can do to preserve your pool is worthwhile and you’ll thank yourself when you jump into cooling water for the first swim of Summer.

Photo By: Prowpatareeya

There are many water care products that you can buy, including balancing chemicals, sanitizes, chemicals to treat algae, stain treatment products, water testing kits, and saltwater systems. The more specialized tools that are used to clean swimming pools include leaf skimmers, leaf rakes, brushes, corner brushes, pool sweeps, grids and cartridges for the filter, motors and pumps, pool filters, and many more. Most of these accessories are a must have, especially for those who have trees around their pool.

Leafs in the water can be very annoying and distracting, and should be removed on a frequent basis. Normally, chlorine is used as a sanitizer, as it helps to get rid of and prevent any organic material that exists in the water. By using chlorine in your pool, you will greatly reduce the load that organic material puts on the filter. The regular maintenance of your pH balance and the right levels of alkalinity are also very important to keeping your pool clean. You should also make sure that you check your calcium as well. The pump that you use is also important, as it will prevent the waste of energy.

To make things easier on yourself, you can get an automatic pool cleaner that will do just about everything for you. To get the right amount of chlorine feed, you’ll need to use hand feeding or tablet feeding. This will ensure that you get the right amount of chlorine in the water. There are saltwater chlorine generators out there as well, which are one of the most popular ways to get the right amount of chlorine in your water. Chlorine is also important for protecting skin, although you should try not to swallow water that has chlorine in it.

Photo By: Prowpatareeya

Keeping your water clean is also healthy for your skin, and anyone else who gets in your pool. As long you use the proper cleaning supplies and products with your pool, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh and clean water whenever you decide to go swimming. You can get a pool testing kit for a little of nothing – which will more than pay for itself when you decide to check your water. You should always make sure that you have cleaning supplies on hand, and check your water on a frequent basis.