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Going Green

stacey — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:00:48 +0000

These days many people are looking for ways to “go green.” As a science teacher, I am constantly trying to positively influence my students, and teach them ways to be environmentally friendly. The “3 R’s” are a great first step: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass is a great start. Did you know that glass will never “go bad?” It’s true. Glass can be melted down to form new glass containers as many times as we’d like. It will never break down, like plastics can. You can even recycle all of those old cell phones that are broken or that you no longer use (just take them to the Cincinnati Zoo and drop them in the bins by the gorilla habitat). You can help save wildlife so we don’t have to destroy their habitats looking for more of the minerals that go inside our cell phones. Recycling isn’t the only thing we need to do, though. A lot of times people will think “well, I recycle so I can use as much as I want.” Even recycling can produce toxic waste (albeit much less than normal garbage disposal processes). The other 2 R’s are just as important, if not more important, than the recycling step. We all need to try to reduce our usage (therefore reducing our amounts of waste). You can reduce the amount of electricity, fuel, paper, plastic, and metals that you use in order to help be environmentally friendly. Find alternative energy sources for your homes (solar power, wind power, water power, etc. Ask us about our solar pool heaters!) Form a carpool or take the bus to reduce fuel usage. Turn your computers off when you finish using them. Walk to the local store that is a mile away instead of driving. Turn the water off when you brush your teeth. Don’t run the dishwasher until it is full. Anything you can do to reduce the amount of materials you use is a good thing. Reusing is also an important part of reducing your carbon footprint. Work on both sides of the paper. Reuse the spaghetti sauce jar for canning vegetables or for an ice-cold beverage. Stop using paper plates and plastic silverware for small parties and use reusable dishes. There are so many ways that you can help our environment, you just have to be a little pro-active about it.

Now if your pool water is “going green,” that’s a different issue. Stop in to the store and we can help you get your water straightened out.

A Scientific Look At Algae And Carbon Dioxide

stacey — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:35:05 +0000

Most of us look at algae as a horrible, disgusting, pain-in-the-neck that can easily ruin a summer. While this is, at times, true, we also need to remember that it is just a plant. As a science teacher, I love to take moments like this to refresh our brains on some scientific processes. The one I’d like to focus on this time is Photosynthesis.

Water + Carbon Dioxide + Sunlight à Glucose (sugar = plant food) + Oxygen

Swimming pools have all three necessary ingredients readily available for plants to be able to create their own food, and therefore, live. Water? Check (duh). Carbon Dioxide? Check (thank anything that breathes for that). Sunlight? Check (hopefully!). Plants, like all forms of algae, use those things to create glucose, for their food, and produce oxygen as a wonderful and necessary byproduct. Now, if we remove one of the necessary elements needed for Photosynthesis to occur, algae cannot survive. A new product that we have on the scene will do just that. Our new Tri-Tech tabs, and other coordinating chemicals, contain Sodium Tetra-Borates. Basically, as you use these chemicals, the Borates will build up in your water, ridding it of carbon dioxide. Without the carbon dioxide, algae cannot thrive. What’s the best way to quickly build up your Borate level, you ask? Well, the best way to accomplish this is to use the Pro-Team Supreme! While the initial dosage of 2 lbs. per 1,000 gallons is a little overwhelming, once you add it to your pool water, it will only come out through dilution or splash out. Because Pro-Team Supreme is just straight-up Borates with no additional chemicals, it will immediately spike your level, leading to less of a need for chlorine and an algae-free summer! This stuff is so good, even Disney World uses it to keep all of their pools algae free (without having to use as much of that harsh chlorine). Stop into Eastgate Pools today to ask us more about this new product, and remember, science is all around you!

My Eastgate Family

stacey — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:32:01 +0000

After 4 ½ years of constant hard work and dedication, I can finally announce that I am graduating from college with a degree in Middle Grades Education (No, I’m not crazy). With graduation quickly approaching, I have been looking to the future and planning for what is to come (as much as I possibly can). As I think of my future, though, I can’t help but to think of my past.

I’ve now been working at Eastgate Pools for 4 ½ years, and I must say, it’s unlike any job I’ve ever had. What you have at Eastgate is a close group of people who genuinely care about each other. I’ve had the joy of meeting so many good people through this place—people I like to call friends, if not family. Like any family, we have our “up’s” and “down’s,” but at the end of the day, we all have each other’s best interests at heart. We celebrate each other’s birthdays. We celebrate the birth of new babies into the “Eastgate Family.” We mourn the death of loved ones passed. We party together at weddings. We lend each other shoulders to lean on, open ears to listen, and honest advice (even if it isn’t necessarily asked for). The best part of it all is that we extend the same care, respect, and honest advice to our customers. You treat us with kindness and respect, and you’ll never know a better company to work with. So, guess what Eastgate Family…I’m graduating!!! Time to celebrate with me and break out the checkbooks…that’s what family is for, right? (Just kidding) J

‘Tis The Season

stacey — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 15:51:17 +0000

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or is it? It seems like the older I get, the more and more the holiday season loses its luster. I become increasingly more aware of the lack of “Christmas spirit,” and the increase in Sinicism, in the people around me. Everyone becomes so consumed with the gifts they are going to receive, and the amount of money they are going to “have” to spend, that they forget what the holidays are about. I’m sick of people cutting me off on the road, or trying to beat me to a checkout line. People have turned this season of family and giving, into a season of “getting the best deal” and stepping on anyone they have to in order to get it. We need to all take a deep breath and think about what the holidays are all about. It’s about being thoughtful and kind. Spending quality time with the people you love. Taking an extra moment to enjoy the scenery. Most importantly, though, it’s about thinking about all of the things (and people) you do have, and appreciating them for what/who they are. (Yes, you have to do that on days other than Thanksgiving.) You never know when you may not have them anymore. So, this season, let’s relax a little and remind ourselves of what’s actually important (and PLEASE, take the time to instill the same ideas into your children). You’ll find the holidays to be much more enjoyable and satisfying that way.

pH vs. Total Alkalinity

stacey — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:37:16 +0000

I once had a customer ask me what the difference was between pH and Total Alkalinity. She was convinced they were the same thing, and that it was just a way for pool companies to make more money. First of all, I assure you this is not the case. To understand the importance of both of these components, let’s first look at pH (potential Hydrogen). The pH scale runs from 0-14 with 7.0 being neutral. A pH of 0-6.9 is acidic (more acidic as you get closer to 0), and a pH of 7.1-14 is basic (more basic as you get closer to 14). When looking at pool water, you want the pH to be slightly basic with the ideal range being 7.2-7.6. Problems can arise if your pool’s pH falls too low or gets too high. If your pH becomes too low, and therefore is acidic, the water could potentially:

- corrode surfaces and equipment (especially metal!)

- etches plaster and concrete surfaces

- lead to excess sanitizer use (chlorine burns off much faster!)

- irritate bather’s skin and eyes

If your pH becomes too high, and therefore is more basic, the water could potentially:

- allow scale deposits on surfaces and equipment

- become cloudy

- lead to poor sanitizer efficiency

- cause eye irritation

Obviously, keeping your pH where it should be is very important for pool maintenance and swimmer safety.

Now let’s look at Total Alkalinity. There are minerals in your pool’s water that act as buffering agents. Total Alkalinity is the measurement of these alkaline materials the help prevent changes in pH (which we now know is bad). The recommended range is 80-120ppm. If your Total Alkalinity is low, the pH will easily drift making frequent pH adjustments necessary (therefore more chemical costs) and will allow the water to have more corrosive tendencies. If the Total Alkalinity is too high, there are other potential issues that can arise. High alkalinity can keep the water’s pH rigidly fixed so that it cannot be easily adjusted when needed. If pH adjustments are necessary, you will need to use an unusually large amount of treatment chemical to correct the pH. With high alkalinity, you can also potentially have issues with cloudy water, scaling on pool components, and high pH and low sanitizer efficiency (since sanitizer…aka chlorine for most…is pH dependent).

So, like I said before, pH and Total Alkalinity are both very important components of your water chemistry. While yes they are related, they both have different jobs that are crucial in maintaining a healthy pool. With regular pool water testing, you can easily keep these levels in check and prevent many potential problems.

-Stacey

Chemicals – Is This Some Kind Of Magic?

stacey — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:36:29 +0000

The answer is…NO! This time of year is very difficult on pools, not to mention pool owners. Chemical levels are all over the place, algae is running wild, and some water just won’t get rid of that cloudy, murky appearance. After spending many, many hours back at the water test center over the past several weeks, I want to clarify something about chemicals: they aren’t magic. Chemicals take time to work. If you were to come in one afternoon to have your water tested, add the chemicals that evening, then come back with another sample the next morning, chances are we won’t be getting an accurate reading. Chemicals take time to completely work their way into the pool’s system (some longer than others). Cloudy water for instance- patience is key. A clarifier won’t typically work overnight to completely clear your cloudy pool water. A tip when using clarifier is to find a line of visibility somewhere in the pool (Example: I can see the top of the first step on my ladder). After you add the clarifier, let your filter run continuously, and instead of just waiting to see perfectly clear water, watch your “line of visibility.” You may notice that the next morning you can see clearly down to the third step of your ladder. With more time, will come increased visibility. So, like I said before, patience is key. Also remember that with chemicals, more is not better. Too much clarifier can actually do the opposite of what you want it to do. Too much algaecide at once can keep you from maintaining a chlorine level for several days, even weeks. Sometimes, more than one treatment is needed, but please consult a pool professional before doing so. Finally, please remember that while Chemistry is a science, pool water chemistry is not an exact science. There are so many other factors that contribute to your water chemistry that it is impossible to know exactly what to do that will work 100% of the time.

-Stacey

Happy Anniversary . . . To Us!

stacey — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:45:49 +0000

It’s almost that time of year again…time for our 30th annual Anniversary Sale! Can you believe it? …30 years. Man, we’re old. Of course, I’m completely joking, but 30 years is quite an accomplishment. Make sure you come out and celebrate with us the last weekend of April. As usual, we’ll have our free hotdogs and drinks, as well as some fantastic sale prices on the majority of our merchandise. Door busters, hourly prize drawings, free food…now just keep your hopes up for good weather, and it sounds like a great time had by all. We hope to see you then!

-Stacey

Sneaky Dangers

stacey — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:56:21 +0000

Spring is finally here and the warm weather is making an appearance. People are beginning to think about opening their pools and bringing out their patio furniture. However, don’t let the sunshine and 60+ degree temperatures fool you. Danger may still be lurking around the corner. Don’t be frightened, I’m only talking about freezing temperatures, but this is something that can be harmful to your pool or patio furniture. If the water in your pool is not constantly circulating, it could easily freeze in your filter or in one of the lines. Also, any water that accumulates inside the tubing of your patio furniture should be drained. When water freezes, it expands by 9% often leading to the cracking a splitting of your pipes. If water can expand to crack rock, I think it can easily crack PVC, plastic, or aluminum. Freeze damage is never covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, so please save a huge headache for yourself and keep an eye on the weather.

Spring Has Sprung

stacey — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:07:45 +0000

Spring is finally here, and boy am I glad. This warm weather and sunshine does wonders for my mood. Just ask my friends and family, I am much more pleasant when my teeth aren’t chattering. I absolutely love the feeling of my skin soaking up the warm sun. With good weather also comes fun times outside! We have a big stock of many of the things you need to create your outdoor party place. Our large assortment of pools, spas, and patio furniture makes it easy to find the perfect match for you and your family. Old Man Winter has finally made his way out, so go ahead and make your way in to Eastgate Pools and Spas and get a start on creating your warm weather hang-out. -Stacey

My Sister’s New House

stacey — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:46:43 +0000

My sister just bought her first house after months and months of waiting to see if the bank would accept her offer and go through with a short sale. Once they accepted the offer, she was given about 3 days to get it ready for the appraisal. Normally this wouldn’t be a huge stress, but since the owner walked away from the house (and she happened to be scheduled to work those 3 days) it was quite a daunting task. Have you ever walked into a house and walked out feeling dirty? Let me tell you, it’s quite the experience. Maggots in the fridge (that whole thing was promptly thrown away), cobwebs on every fixture and in every corner, 2 unusable bathrooms, clothes in the closet, and feathers and bird droppings all over the place (apparently the owner had a parrot)…and that’s not even the half of it! Needless to say, the place was a mess. However, under all the filth and bad flooring…and wallpaper…there is incredibly potential on a great little piece of land. As I was helping her plan out her room designs, I couldn’t help but think of all the great products that we have that could fill her empty rooms. I think a game room sounds like a fantastic idea…right sis? J We have some awesome pool tables at killer deals right now. She could get 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 card tables, air hockey, foosball, or possibly even a bar! I know she likes to tan sometimes too—she could even get her own private tanning bed or booth from us at some really good prices. I think I’m a great room planner, don’t you? She might be a little preoccupied with getting her bathrooms to work right now, but I’m thinking big picture here.

Next decision…pool or spa…or possibly both!