Heat Pumps—there is no downside!
I’ve been working at Eastgate Pools for a very long time and when I first started, there were two constants.
- Dinosaurs were present on the earth.
- When people wanted a pool heater, they purchased a gas-fired heater (natural gas or propane).
While dinosaurs are now extinct (are they really?), gas-fired heaters are approaching the same status. Heat pumps have become the rage and for good reason. Even though they cost more up front, they offer several advantages.
- They cost less to run. For example, if you had a 200,000 Btu propane heater, you would burn over two gallons of propane every hour it is on. At $2.75/gallon, that 200,000 Btu heater would cost you approximately $6.00 EVERY hour it is fired up. (1 gallon of propane generates approximately 91,500 Btu). A quality heat pump will operate for about 10-15% of that. Natural gas costs are not as high, but the estimated savings are still well over half.
- A gas-fired heater operating in a pool with low pH will quickly get damaged or destroyed by the acidic water, and the copper that etches out of the heater can stain your pool’s liner. Remember that big rainstorm that dropped your pool’s pH from 7.4 to 6.7 seemingly overnight? That’s a doubly-whammy! Hello heat pump! Low pH will not affect the heat pump in the same way. While we always recommend keeping your pool in balance, heat pumps are a lot more ‘forgiving’.
- Environmentally, the heat pump will have a less significant impact and is considered a ‘green’ product. Mother Earth will appreciate your consideration.
We are proud to sell Aqua Pro heat pumps. We’ll stack them up against any system on the market and our customers seem to agree as our sales on these double every year.
Now…about the dinosaurs. Yes…they still are around. They are called ‘birds’ and scientists generally agree that birds are indeed ‘living aviary dinosaurs’. As Casey Stengel said, “you can look it up.” Now there’s another old-timer. –Max
Thank You !!!
Wow—another Anniversary Sale has come and gone. Many thanks to all of those that came out to see us and braved some less than perfect weather! It may sound a little corny, but every year we look forward to seeing many of our old friends that stop in once a year to get all their supplies for the season. Some go back to the early 80’s when we were just getting started. But for most, we will see you again this season. As always, we appreciate your business and your trust, along with your friendship. –Max
Hot Tub Alert!
We bought more hot tubs! You’ve seen our ads touting our “7 truckloads of Liquidation specials”. Well, the response has been so good that we couldn’t stop so we bought more! Three more loads and this time there is a twist. Not only did we buy more liquidation models, we also had the manufacturer make us two custom models—7’ hot tubs with either one or two pumps. At the prices we have on these, that would be enough for most as the prices are just ridiculous. But we finagled (and that is a real word!) a couple of special ‘add-ons’ that make the deal even sweeter. Each of these custom models has an iPod docking station AND specialty color lighting.
This is a limited buy and when they are gone, they’re gone. Check them out. But check back soon as I have a couple other irons in the fire and there may be some more specials coming! –Max
Lengths We Go To . . .
We get a lot of calls from people out of state, looking to buy product from us. Sometime they are WAY out of state. We service Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana, as well as Southwest Ohio. Some of our Internet customers inquire about us building a pool for them in New York or California. Simply put, we don’t do it. But if you need an aboveground pool, we can ship it. We just can’t build it. But for most products, we cannot ship because of the likelihood of damages in transit. My recommendation is this: If you are interested in a particular product, email me at max@eastgatepools.com. I can tell you if it is something we can ship and if it is not, I may be able to direct you to a dealer in your area. We are a member of the SPARCO buying group and have members located throughout the eastern United States. If we can’t help, perhaps they can. But no matter what, we do appreciate your considering Eastgate Pools & Spas for that special item. –Max
Recent Storms
Sometimes we find ourselves feeling guilty for being lucky. The deadly storms and tornados that passed through our region were tragic and we all experienced different feelings. Here at the store, we followed the path closely and eventually closed our front gate and took shelter. We were lucky here as it missed the Eastgate area. I then personally continued to watch the storm path and it was projected to move through Williamsburg and then on into southern Highland County. These two communities represent where I now live and also where I grew up. My sister still lives there and the weather map looked like an arrow pointed right through those two areas. Then something happened. The storm ‘turned’ and missed both places. I was relieved, but then I learned of the utter devastation and loss of live in other communities. Again, a feeling of relief mixed with guilt for being one of the lucky ones to be spared.
I lost a few shingles and a couple of branches. Others lost everything. I don’t pretend to understand how and why these things happen, but for those that experienced tragedy, you are in our thoughts and prayers. –Max
Need a New Hot Tub Cover?
Some covers just wear out. When you look outside and see water pooling up or steam escaping out the sides, you know it is time. We can help. We special-order a couple hundred spa covers each year and about half of these come from people that bought their hot tub elsewhere. Just bring us the dimensions of the hot tub, along with how you want the fold (if the spa is rectangular). We also need the dimensions of the corners. Simply put a piece of paper over the old cover and draw the corners. If you prefer, we have a template on our website that you can use. Go to the ‘tips’ section, then scroll down to ‘spas’ and print it out.
If your hot tub came from us, we have about 95% of all covers on file so you probably won’t need to do anything. Just stop in or give us a call and we can let you know if it is in our file. –Max
The Changing Face of Shopping
I started selling pools 17 years ago, after building them for 12 years. (Kind of gives away my age a little, doesn’t it?) In that time, I have seen a major shift in how people shop for the products we sell—hot tubs, pools, casual furniture…just about everything. It’s called the Internet. Hey—it’s where you are now so I must be onto something here. I’d like to invite you to check EVERYTHING out while you visit our site. We strive to provide you with enough information to make your search fruitful and we even link you to many of the manufacturer’s sites. But remember that pictures and words don’t replace putting your hands on the spa or pool table you are considering, and until you actually experience the high-flow motors we put on both our above ground and in-ground pools, pictures just aren’t adequate. Plus, our expert sales staff can answer any questions you might have while you are here.
So look over our web site, pick out some goodies, then come in and see them in person. –Max
So How’s The Economy?
Judging from our recent sales, things are looking up. We’ve had the best year EVER in early hot tub sales. Maybe it is because of the 50+ specials we bought direct from a manufacturer. As these are model closeouts, home show demos, and factory specials, the pricing is very low. Maybe it is just people capitalizing on a unique opportunity for enormous savings, but I hope it is really a sign that the good times are returning.
And above grounds? Very strong too! I am very confident that we are going to have a substantial backlog of pools to build once the weather breaks. If you are considering an above ground pool for this year, I’d recommend picking one out and getting on ‘the list’. This is a good list to be on, as these people will not miss real swimming time this year while awaiting an installation date. –Max
EdenPURE or Infinity Heater?
What one should you choose?
It’s pretty simple—take your pick. They are both great heaters. Lets look at the similarities.
- Both are infrared heaters. They don’t rob your home of moisture like traditional coil heaters.
- Both are totally safe to use and cannot start fires.
- Both are lightweight, allowing you to easily move them from one room to another.
- Both are economical and operate for about 6-8 cents per hour (depends on your supplier’s rate).
- Both are easy to use.
So what are the differences?
- Infinity offers a digital read-out
- Infinity offers a ‘sleep-timer’ feature, where the heater will automatically shut off after a length of time you determine.
- EdenPURE Gen 3 is manually controlled and the USA1000 units have a remote. Infinity has a remote.
- EdenPURE has a black, plastic, molded frame. Infinity has a furniture grade wooden cabinet.
- EdenPURE warranty work must be performed at the factory. Save the box and send it back to them. Trained Eastgate Pools Service department personnel service Infinity heaters, in-store.
I own one EdenPURE and I love it. I’ve had it five years and it still works great. I have since purchase two Infinity heaters and they both work great. I chose Infinity because I really like the digital read-out. Ultimately, it’s your call but I don’t think you can go wrong with either heater. –Max
Pool Cues And Supplies
You may not think of Eastgate Pools when you think of pool cues and billiard playing accessories . . . but you should! We have a great selection of pool cues from such well-known manufacturers as McDermott, Dufferin, Viper and Mikerak, and Minnesota Fats, as well as, several others. We even have a very nice selection of NCAA approved college logo cues. So whether you need a cue for under $10 or are looking for one that costs several hundred dollars, we have a wide variety to choose from. And we’ve got all the goodies that go with them, from soft and hard cases for your cues to tip sharpeners and chalk in just about any color you can imagine.
- Max
Chlorine Tablets Make Great Christmas Presents!
Imagine the joy that special someone will feel when he (or she) unwraps that beautiful package to find . . . Chlorine tablet! For the pool owner, it’s usually the number one expense for the pool every year, so why not get a gift that’s not only lovelt, but practical! And right now, Eastgate Pools has all remaining buckets of chlorine tablets on sale.
So whether it’s birthday or anniversary time, the recipient will be impressed with your thoughtfullness and will appreciate the gift that keeps on giving (until the bucket is empty).
And for Christmas? Add some alkalinity and pH controls and you’ve got shopping covered. Stop in today and we’ll help you complete that list.
- Max
Watching It Rain…
waiting for it to turn into snow.
Ugh. I’m not one of those people that “just love winter”. Personally, give me an inch of snow on Christmas day and I’ll then be happy with 60 degrees and cloudy the rest of the winter. I heat my home with propane and I do not look forward to the monthly re-fill and the subsequent bill that mysteriously and magically appears three days later! I think that if you look up the word ‘sucks’ in the dictionary, there will be a picture of my propane tank right next to it. But I have found a way to keep the bill down a little. Actually a lot…and I can still stay warm. I use two of our room quartz heaters in different areas of my house. I have an Infinity heater in my bedroom and an EdenPURE in my son’s room. This lets me turn my thermostat way down at night and everyone is still comfortable while sleeping. They pour the heat out and operate for about 6-7 cents an hour. We know that is correct as we have a meter set up here at the store and have done the calculations. That’s half of what my ‘95% efficient’ propane furnace costs me. It’s easy to figure: “95%” means only 5% of the gas is not being used to generate heat. At $2.50 a gallon, 5% is 12.5 cents.
Save some money—get an EdenPURE or Infinity quartz heater and turn your thermostat back. –Max
Super Hot Tub Deals!
If you’ve been considering a hot tub purchase, you should stop in as soon as possible. We just made a special purchase of hot tubs from Four Winds Manufacturing. These are display tubs from Home Shows and State fairs. They are all brand new and carry full manufacturer warranty. There may be some small cosmetic scratches on the cabinet or a mark or two on the shells, but these are some great deals and you can save thousands on some models. Priced in lower to mid-range price points, these are pretty much upper-end spas—big, with lots of options such as backlit jets, digital perimeter lighting, stereos, iPod connections, and water show fountains and waterfalls. Each is unique and each is a one-of-a-kind.
Stop in before your neighbor stops in and gets your hot tub! –Max
Super Hot Hot Tub News
If you’ve been considering a hot tub purchase, you should stop in as soon as possible. We just made a special purchase of hot tubs from Four Winds Manufacturing. These are display tubs from Home Shows and State fairs. They are all brand new and carry full manufacturer warranty. There may be some small cosmetic scratches on the cabinet or a mark or two on the shells, but these are some great deals and you can save thousands on some models. Priced in lower to mid-range price points, these are pretty much upper-end spas—big, with lots of options such as backlit jets, digital perimeter lighting, stereos, iPod connections, and water show fountains and waterfalls. Each is unique and each is a one-of-a-kind.
Stop in before your neighbor stops in and gets your hot tub! –Max
The Stock Market, Gold, and Silver
Like most people I have followed the ups and downs of the stock market with great interest. Equally interesting is what has happened to gold and silver prices. New highs almost every week on gold, and the stock market itself reminds me of a roller coaster at Kings Island. So how do you make sense of it all and what can you do to help secure your financial stability for the future. Well, I have an idea.
Inflatable pool floats and toys. Talk about the investment potential! No, I’m not talking about investing in the companies that make them. I’m talking about what we sell—what’s right here on my shelf. For example, I have an inflatable raft that normally sells for $12.99 that is on sale for $7.00. WOW! The great savings is overshadowed only by the investment possibilities. Personally, I’d recommend buying all of them I have. Like gold bullion, plastic might be the next goldmine. Imagine their value when plastic prices start to soar like silver has. Buy everything I have and you may be setting on a fortune down the road. I smell early retirement.
Don’t miss out on what I am sure is the next market boom. –Max
