Dos: Mighty Hunter
Those of you that know Dos may not realize that you are in the presence of one of the most talented tracker/hunters this area has ever seen. She may look timid and playful as she just lies around, but inside lays an animal that cannot be controlled. Of course she has caught her share of mice and moles, and even taken down a rather large snake in our parking lot but she is much scarier to watch when it comes to one certain prey. She has her favorite table that she likes to lay on throughout the day and from time to time she stalks and attacks the umbrella hole. If the umbrella hole on the table had been a live animal it would have been a mess. It doesn’t matter if she goes after a live animal or an inanimate object she is a mighty hunter.
Thomas
Liners
We have many customers call us every year in a panic over their liner. If they get a small hole in the liner they believe it’s the end of the world when in fact it is not. A hole in your liner can easily be patched with the water still in the pool and anyone with a set of goggles can do it themselves.
We also have the customers that call in and ask about what the warranty of their liner covers. The liner warranty covers only seam separation or in their terms manufacturer defect. I have seen customers cut out a portion of the liner and bring it up for us to look at only to realize they have nothing more than a tear right at the seam. The manufacturer will not cover this under warranty and it can be easily patched.
Thomas
It’s Almost Time!
It won’t be long until we get to enjoy our beloved Cincinnati Bengals once again. Training camp begins on July 29th this year and I am excited to see the show they will be putting on. The team looks poised for a run at the championship and for those of you that doubt our team get ready to jump on the bandwagon. The first preseason game is August 8th and it is at the Hall of Fame in Canton. Since it is in Ohio we need to get our fans up there and make it feel like a home game. In the immortal words of Todd Rundgren “I don’t want to work I just want to bang on a drum all day.” WHODEY!
Thomas
Babies
It seems like every time we turn around these days someone at our store is having a baby. I’m not sure why this is happening all at once but I am proud to report that we have a new member to the Eastgate Pools & Spas family. His name is Brady Albers and I figure it won’t be long until he is working with his dad Tim back in service. He weighed in at 9lbs 2 oz and was 22” long. If any of you have met Tim you would easily see how Brady was so big when he was born. As for looks it seems he got lucky and got those from mom. If you know Tim ask him about the newest Albers and before you know it you will probably see Brady working here too.
Thomas
Memorial Day Party??
If you are playing host to the big pool party in the neighborhood, don’t wait till the last minute to get your pool looking great. Don’t take the cover off 2 days before and expect your pool to be perfect. I would recommend you open it at least 2 weeks before the big day. That way you can make sure everything is good to go for the party. Our service department gets several phone calls expecting us to work miracles, which we can do sometimes, but not in a 24 hour period. So if you notice that salt system, heater or pool cleaner not working, call us that day, do not wait till the day before to try and fix it!! If we can’t get someone out to fix it in a timely manner, than we can try to help you fix it yourself. Memorial Day should be a time of enjoyment, not a time of stress. So get that problem fixed today and you can sit back and enjoy a cold beverage of your choice!!
I’m Really Disappointed
Our anniversary sale is now over and all in all it was a success. The one thing that let the entire company down was the sub par performance of one Max West. Many of you know Max from our TV commercials and Max fancies himself some type of celebrity. He was tasked with one job on Sunday and that was eating hot dogs, brats, and metts. Customers were able to put their guesses in to see if they could win a $100 gift card. We came up with a winner in the end but Max only ate 5 total. We all expected so much more out of Max on the last day of the sale but he didn’t show up with his A game. It has made me lose most of the respect I had for him as a major league eater and I have a void in my heart that may never be filled again.
Thomas
Anniversaries
One of our salespeople is celebrating his 43rd wedding anniversary this year and when I look at the relationship he and his wife share I am amazed. We never really think about how long that actually is and how much of saint this woman must be. I know they aren’t celebrating their 50th but I want to congratulate them on something that is truly special.
Here at Eastgate Pools and Spas we are coming up on our 30th anniversary and we are happy to once again share this with our thousands of customers. We will have free hotdogs, brats, metts, and soft drinks from 12-4 April 23rd through April 25th. We will also be giving away prizes to the first 50 customers each day as well as hourly drawings and for the grand prizewinner there will be a $500 store shopping spree. Our family would like to share this great time in our company’s history and we urge you to stop in with the entire family.
When you do stop in please make sure to tell Dave congratulations because 30 may be good but 43 is impressive.
Thomas
Solar Covers
I know many of you may hate the fact that you have to drag your solar cover off every time you use the pool and put it back on after you are done. It can be dirty and many times you will also be wet. The one thing I will tell you about the process is that it will save you a ton of money. It will hold your heat in, which will make swimming more comfortable. It will cut down on evaporation and not mention how much you will save in chlorine. Take the time and save yourself some money this year.
Thomas
Here We Go Again!
It seems like that just a couple months ago we closed down the pools on our pool lot. Oh wait! We did! They are now all open again and there for your viewing pleasure. No longer will you be stuck with the view of the sidewall and depressing sight of a winter cover where your beautiful water should be. Watch in amazement as the automatic cleaners travel around the pools and let your imagination run wild as you envision the cleaners taking the shapes of animals and science fiction characters. When you stop in here please ask one of many trained salespeople to show you around and let the kid in you come out as you think of the many wonderful times you can have in a pool of your very own.
March Madness 2
We all know that March Madness has taken control of the country and it is no different here. People are talking about the big upsets and many of the amazing plays. Arguments ensue as everyone roots for their favorite teams and sometimes they can get a little heated. After the tournament is all over we go back to our normal jovial selves and get down to our own form of March Madness.
The swimming season picks up just after the tournament ends and for the next few months it is pretty crazy here. We all pull together as a team and we are able to keep everything running smooth. Sometimes we have a few hiccups during the season but when it comes down to pressure situations the team here really pulls together.
Thomas
Need A New Liner?
I know some of you have just pulled your winter cover off and have now noticed your water level is down low in the pool. Don’t jump to the conclusion that your liner has a hole in it or that you need a new liner. Sometimes the weight from the winter cover can force water 
out of the pool, or if you have a small hole in the cover you can sometimes pump water out of the pool when draining your cover. The first thing to do is fill it up and see if the water is still leaking out. If it is get your goggles out and go for a swim and put a patch on the hole. This will usually take care of any problem you think you might have but if you feel like you still need a new liner stop in and see us and we can get you squared away.
Thomas
Fun And Games With The Kids
I know that weather is getting warmer and it seems like the kids have more activities than we have hours in the day but we still have some items to keep them at home and spending time together as a family. We have many game tables still in stock and have pool tables on display as well. Just because the days are getting longer doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy some time with your family without going out and spending a lot of money. Some of the tables are very economical and would cost you less than taking the entire family out to one Cincinnati Reds game. You can still have quality time with your family without breaking the bank. Come see our full lineup of game tables and pool tables on display year round.
Mesh Safety Covers
I know a lot of people out there have a mesh safety cover on their inground pool. If you have had one for a while you probably know how to handle everything when you open up in the spring, but for those that are new to mesh safety cover I have some information that might be useful. The first thing I would tell you is to open the pool up as early as you can. If you do this you will cut down on the possibility of having a really green pool when for the start of the season. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that you need to watch the water level in your pool. If it gets to high it could cause problems. If it high undo a strap or two and pump some water out. When you do finally pull the cover off in the spring make sure you clean it well and when you fold it up store it in a dry environment away from mice. The last thing you need is to open your cover up in the fall and have it full of mildew and holes where mice have chewed through it. If you take a few precautions it will be a breeze when it comes to maintaining your pool.
Valentine’s Day
I was sitting at home the other evening wondering what a woman might like for Valentines Day, and I came up with a few ideas. Since I am a very thrifty person my thoughts drifted to some items here in the store. If you have a hot tub at home your wife or girlfriend would most definitely enjoy some of our wonderful spa scents. You could also pick up a decorative wine bottle holder that you could place her favorite vintage of wine. If you don’t have a color changing light in your hot tub you could always add one on and it would only a few minutes to install. Throw in some flowers and a little Marvin Gaye and I can almost guarantee your Valentines Day will be one that both of you will remember for years to come.
- Thomas
Winter Wonderland
The snow is falling and over the last week or so it has just kept piling up on the pool covers here at the store. The big thing to remember with heavy snow like this is to keep an eye on the level of water in your pool. As more weight pushes down on your winter cover it will force water out of your pool, and in turn add more stress to the cover itself. If the level of your pool is good you won’t have to worry about it but if you have had a slow leak over the winter you will need to take action. An aboveground pool is strongest when the water is at the proper level and if your pool level is below half of normal you may want to loosen up your cover. If the water level is extremely low in your pool you might want to think about dropping your winter cover into the pool. I know that this is a pain and when you go to open your pool in the spring it will be a mess, but it might just save your pool from collapse.
Thomas