It’s That Time Of Year
It is that time of year where our main showroom returns to indoor activities and our second showroom becomes the center for outdoor furniture. This is also the prime time of year for our thrifty customers to look at the tremendous specials on one of a kind or closeout items. No matter what type of item you may be looking for, this is the time of year the item may be sold as demo or closeout for some deep savings. I welcome you into the store to find the items that you can’t live without at prices you won’t believe.
I Saw The Exact Same Thing At Walmart For One Dollar Less!
I would like to have a dollar for every time I have heard that, or that Kroger’s has liquid chlorine for 50 cents less per case. Lincoln proclaimed that “All men are created equal” and if this were the same for pool and spa chemicals then I would follow people to Walmart to get my chemicals as well. After working in the pool and spa industry for almost 15 years now I know that all chemicals are not created equal, and do have a definite shelf life. I also realize that the person who just put that gallon of algae remover on the shelf knows nothing more about that product than what is on the label. This is where we as pool experts working in a pool and spa retail store have the highest ability to accurately answer your questions. I though cannot answer questions about another product that was not purchased here. As I said previously all chemicals are not created equal and this comes down to concentrations, fillers, and composition. With the wide variety of chemical manufacturers on the market, and the different blends sold by these manufacturers it is impossible to know everything about every other company’s product. I think sometimes that customers feel we are not being helpful when they call in about usage of another product and we are not able to give them answers. Keep in mind this is kind of like calling a Ford mechanic and asking questions about a Chevy part, I understand that they are both car parts but there are enough differences that a question answered incorrectly could cause major problems, and be a source of much dismay.
How Can You Not Love Cincinnati?
With things like Graeter’s Ice Cream, Skyline Chili, Hudy Beer, and did I mention the weather. Where else in the world can you get at least 3 if not all 4 of the seasons in one week? Alright so seriously, the ability of the weather to turn on a dime is one of the most maddening things about this city, along with the traffic on I-275 north in the morning. It is however weather changes like this that make the need for a solar cover that much greater in this area. The mid to upper 80′s mid week to the 50′s at the beginning of the next, by using the solar cover the warmth that was created by the sun is trapped in the pool by the solar cover instead of floating off into the atmosphere. For those of you with heaters you are even more familiar with the need for the solar cover, looking out your window on a cool morning and watching the heat that you paid for to put in the pool rising off as steam. Granted adding a solar cover is not going to raise the temperature 20 degrees in a day, but you could honestly expect 3-5 degrees on a warm sunny day. This is where the high need of a solar cover comes in. The warm water is less dense than the cold water and rises to the top, and as such is what evaporates at night. By putting the solar blanket on it will trap that heat in your pool water. I realize solar covers can be bulky and difficult to be removed or put on by one person, and that is where a cover reel would come in handy. The ability to simply turn a crank and wind the cover up is kind of a dream come true. The other option is a liquid solar blanket which creates a “skin” on the surface of the water that cannot be seen, felt, or tasted but does prevent the evaporation of the pool water. I invite you to stop in and speak to one of our sale associates about which heat retention system is right for you. Hope to see you soon.
I Need How Many Pounds Of What?
This can be a common question this time of year, and is being asked quite a bit this year especially. The actual chemical is cyanuric acid, but it is known by many names, chlorine stabilizer or conditioner are the 2 most common. For those of you with a chlorine generator this is a annual addition to the pool at start up, but this year with all of the rain everybody is getting in on the fun. The only purpose for this chemical is to save you money, and now you are wondering how. What this chemical does is keeps chlorine active in the water longer, thereby reducing the amount of chlorine you need to use, and saving you money. The biggest thing to remember about chlorine stabilizer is that most home test kits, and strips do not test for stabilizer so for this you will need to bring a water sample in and we will get you squared away with the correct amount for your pool.
Ever Expanding Solar System
I am always in awe of our ever expanding solar system. Don’t worry, I am not going to start quoting Carl Sagan, I am speaking of the solar heat systems available for pools. When I started here at Eastgate Pools in 1997 there was only one real solar heating option with that being a solar cover. I have though during my tenure here seen many advances from chemicals that are added to the pool to provide a non-evaporation blanket, to panels and bubbles to harness the sun’s energy and convert it to heat. Openly admitting that I am the world’s largest coward as it pertains to cold water, water temperature is a huge factor on whether I will stick more than a toe into the pool. That being said I also am a fan of alternative energy sources, and when it comes to pool heating it gets no better than the sun. Just some food for thought for those that are cold water cowards like myself who want some warmer pool water.
Permits and Pools
One of the more commonly asked question I hear is “Where do I get my permits, and which ones do I need”? This is kind of a tough question to answer, because it does vary from location to location, and what type of pool you are putting in. For instance if you are putting in an Inground pool and live in Union Township, Clermont County you are required to get a zoning certificate from the township and an electrical permit from the county. There are so many nuances to the ordinances that vary from location to location that it is impossible for us to know exactly what is required in your location. For specific requirements for your area please contact your township or municipality of residence for all of the details required for your area.
Water Temperatures Are Rising
It is getting to be that time of year again. The birds are singing, trees are starting to get leaves, and the air and water temperatures are starting to warm up. As a kid this was the most exciting time of the year for me as this meant my dad and I were going to be going fishing again soon. As an adult I am just as excited about the coming of spring because I can now share the same joys and excitement of fishing with my children. For those of you who are pool owners, especially those of you who have mesh covers on the pool, this means something else. As the air temperature rises so do water temperatures in the pool, and this can be an issue if the pool is still closed. I know there are reasons that you as the pool owner do not like to open too early from trees around the pool that drop things into the pool, or just the fact that the water will not be warm enough to use the pool for another couple of weeks. I do however implore you to get the system up and running and chlorine into the system. As the water temperatures rise and the sun shine through the cover the odds of you having to clear a green pool at opening are dramatically increased. You can get the system up and running below the cover to keep debris out and still circulate the water to get chemicals into the system. If you have questions on how to do this please contact the store and we will be more than happy to guide you through the process.
Aqua Products Repair Service
As we celebrate our 10th year of partnering with Aqua Products, the industry leader in robotic cleaners, as a company we have decided to increase our repair abilities for the full Aqua Products line. In co-operation with Aqua Products, and the assistance of their Technical Service Department, we now have 3 factory trained certified full line Aquabot technicians on staff. We can now offer service to all residential, non-remote control units. If you have any questions in regards to the operation of your cleaner, or it is in need of repair feel free to give us a call @ 513-528-4141 or just bring it in to us.
Benefits Of Change
I love spring with the change of the weather, things starting to turn green once again. I also feel that change is needed from the gray overcast skies with cold temperatures, to brighter skies and warming temperatures. There was a decision made that a drastic change was needed to the store as well. From the pictures you can see from what we had, to what we now have. Everyone likes a new look, but I think this is more than that. This change by moving the chemicals closer to the water testing area will allow us to show you the specialty chemicals that you may need from the testing station. It also allows us to expand even farther our lines of alternative sanitizers to better serve you as the customer. I could go on and on about the benefits that just this re-adjustment of our showroom allows us to better serve you the customer, but I won’t. What I will do is invite you in to see the changes for yourself and let the benefits of these changes speak for themselves.
Turning The Corner To Spring
It seems like we may be turning the corner this winter. After not getting any warm days from between Thanksgiving and now it is nice to get a few degrees above normal. Then again as we all who have lived in the Cincinnati area for an extended period of time know this will be short lived. With this being said it is a great opportunity to get the water removed from the pool cover. The weight of the water and ice on the pool cover puts the cover under tremendous strain, and will if left untouched will cause the cover to prematurely fail. Just a friendly reminder to try to save you money and repair costs.
Reduced Prices!!!
It seems like the only thing constant is change. In the world of retail this couldn’t be more the truth ,and once again it is time to change. As we rapidly approach the spring sales season it is time to change the sales floor, and make room for incoming merchandise. With that being said we have reduced the prices on some of our floor model merchandise to make way for new items. Now is a great time to stop in and capitalize on great savings on billiard, and game tables from some of the top manufacturers in the business. At these prices the merchandise will sell quickly, either to you or someone else.
Where Did My Water Go?
It is inevitable this time of year. You look outside and realize the water level in your pool is lower than the level was when you winterized the pool, and the question is asked, “What happened?” This is a question that is asked to us every year through the winter. Depending on the pool type and how the pool was closed there are several answers that are possible. Independent of the pool type is there a possibility that there is a hole in the pool lining? Yes, this is possible and then the wondering begins, “How did I not notice this prior to closing the pool?” If you have a very small leak (i.e. 1″ per week) it is highly possible that you do not notice this due to normal evaporation and splash out. While the pool is closed however you are not refilling and in the 12 weeks the pool has been closed it has leaked at the same rate and you have lost 12″ of water. Just because you have lost some water does not necessarily mean you have a leak. Water on the pool cover will displace the water inside the pool and can cause the water to be pushed out. Another possibility is a slight breech in the pool cover, which is allowing water from under the cover to flow onto the surface. When this happens as you are trying to remove the water from the pool cover you are also pumping out the pool. Just a little food for thought, and reassurance that this is not a death sentence for the liner.
When Should I Close My Pool?
We get this question often here at the store. We have some customers who close their pools right after Labor Day, some that stay open until October, and even one who keeps his running year round without a heater (Swims Everyday. Even in the Winter). As long as the weather holds out like it has all season I say keep it open as long as possible. An open pool always looks better than one that is closed, and if it stays warm there is no reason to shut it down. I guess in the end it all comes down to personal preference but if it were me I would stretch the swim season as long as possible.
Back To School
It is that time of year again. Buying school supplies, figuring out schedules, what day is cheer practice, what is the bus number? These are all questions that every parent asks themselves this time of year, along with the other question “Where do I find the time to do all of this?” On top of all this there is still the pool in the backyard. Realizing that with the hectic schedules there will be very little time to use it, but periodic checks do need to be made. This will insure that the basket is not packing with leaves, or the pump is not running dry from the lack of rainfall and not dropping the hose in. As the old adage says ” An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Chris
Cincinnati Weather
It almost feels like that is what should be said about the weather in Cincinnati. Several days of high heat and humidity followed by some rain then a couple of cooler days. I know that on these cooler days the pool is not in the forefront of your thoughts. However don’t push the pool too far back in your mind. On the days where it is a little cooler, this was preceded typically by rain, and with that being said it drops a ton of organic materials in your pool. Make sure that there is an acceptable chlorine level in the pool, and if it is slightly low make sure to add shock. This will prevent the pool from turning cloudy, or green, and making you miss out on some prime swimming time.
