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.
Umbrella Forest Now At Eastgate
2010 umbrellas are now in-stock! We at Eastgate Pools and Spas are excited about 
the wide variety of Casual Furniture Umbrellas we are offering this year. Whether your old umbrella bit the dust over the winter during high winds, is showing signs of wear or you are just in the mood for something new, we have expanded our selection. (And if you don’t see what you like, we can always special order one for you!) Someone here commented that it looks like an umbrella forest. Come check it out.
My Sister’s New House
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!
Billiard Table Cloth
You can dramatically increase the life of your table’s cloth simply by changing ends when you break. Alternate ends when you break and the cloth will not wear as badly. Also, brush the table frequently. No only does this help keep the table clean, it restores the cloth’s pile or nap and keeps the balls running true. — Max
Why? . . . Because It’s Fun!
Sometime when you have some time to play around on the web, like after you’ve checked out the entire Eastgate Pools web site, do a search for Gatlinburg Chalet Rentals. Go to a few realtors’ web sites and you will notice a common theme. More and more rentals feature hot tubs, pool tables and game tables. Chalet owners know that prospective renters are looking for quality time to spend with their loved ones, and they are looking to have fun, as after all, the renters are on vacation. By providing these amenities, the chalet owner increases the likelihood of renting out their property.
This Gatlinburg phenomenon reminds me once again why Eastgate Pools & Spas’ motto is “Resort living …at home”. Vacations are great, but the same things that help make vacation fun can be enjoyed year-round right in your very own home.
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
Buying An Inground Pool . . . In The Winter?
That is right! We are here all year round, ready to help you figure out just the right pool for your backyard. All too often customers let the thought slip to the back of their mind because the weather isn’t that warm at the moment. As soon as the weather breaks the phone starts ringing…a lot! There is nothing I hate worse than having to tell someone that they will have to wait a few months to even start the pool because they waited just a little too long to make the installation list. Please don’t hesitate come in and sit down with us so we can help you build your very own backyard oasis. Even a rainy spring won’t prevent you from swimming this year, because you will be ahead of the curve. - Craig
Wow! Has It Really Been This Long?
Recently, as I was pausing to reflect about all of the things that I have to be thankful, I realized that one very large thing that I was thankful for was the fact that 2009 marked my 25th year working for Eastgate Pools & Spas. The 25 years hadn’t really crossed my mind up to this time. To have this many years working for the same company doesn’t seem to happen near as much anymore. I know that for me, I couldn’t have ever stayed anywhere if I wasn’t happy, so to my co-workers that help keep my job fun and interesting, thank you. More importantly, to all of the customers that have chosen Eastgate Pools & Spas over all of these years, a very sincere thank you to you, for you are the reason that I can reflect back on 25 great years.
Rack ‘Em Up
As I approach my sixth winter here at Eastgate Pools I’m excited to get back to talking pool tables. My background has always been in furniture and that immediately helped me to understand what goes into a good pool table. Buying a quality pool table is simple if you know going in to not let yourself get too caught up by a manufacturer name or a sales pitch. The most important things to look for in a quality table are solid wood top rails and aprons, a slate playing surface, and quality natural gum rubber cushions. If you have these three components you are well on your way to a product that will be with you for years and years to come. The rest of the details are just about what kind of furniture you want. Naturally, a solid wood construction is very nice and routing in the cabinet can be very attractive, but they aren’t necessary for the durability of the table. In other words, if you see a table here that you like you can buy based on the look and price you like. No matter what you choose you can feel comfortable knowing you bought a table that will play and last just as well as that brand X table your friend paid $5000 for. - Craig
A Frog You Want In YOur Spa
For users of the Nature 2 system, we now carry the Frog Stick. The Frog Stick is similar to Nature 2 in that they are both mineral disinfectant systems, yet the Frog is compatible with Bromine, Chlorine and Oxidizer while the Nature 2 system is not compatible with Bromine. If you are currently using the Nature 2 system you will be happy to know that the Frog Stick works in a very similar manner as Nature 2, you simply insert the Frog Stick into the filter cartridge core (or into the skimmer well of some spas) and allow it to go to work for the next four months. The Frog Stick works together with lower levels of bromine or chlorine for a much more enjoyable spa experience.
Casual Furniture In The Off Season
The colder it gets the less likely everyone is to think about spending time outside, but that doesn’t mean we have tucked all of our furniture away for the year. When the temperature starts to drop we switch over our two showrooms so that the more seasonal merchandise is in our larger showroom. While the scenery is different when you first walk in we still have an entire showroom of casual furniture, as well as some all weather wicker options in our main showroom. If you have the space to store it, or if you are looking for something unique as a gift idea you can take advantage of some very good off-season discounts. We have a tremendous number of demo sets, and still have quite a few Telescope Merchandise Mart buyouts. We are already filling our warehouses with new product lines for next year, so we have great prices on these one of a kind sets to make space for new product. Please feel free to stop by and we would love to help you find the right set for you! - Craig
The Battle Of The Scum Line
A constant complaint we hear from our spa customers is the issue of the never-ending battle against scum lines on their tub. The dirty truth is that YOU are creating that scum. Oils off your body, makeup, lotions…you name it, they all contribute to that beautiful scum line. Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can prevent it. First of all, shower off before you soak in the spa. By washing away many of the days dirt and grime, along with a lot of the oils on your skin, you can help reduce the amount of “scum” introduced in your spa. Second, check your weekly chemical routine for a clarifier. Oftentimes, clarifiers can actually make that scum line worse because of their oily consistency. If those two tips still don’t work then we have a couple products on our shelves that can help you out. The first thing is our SunSorb. This is a foam cutout of a sun that you can float in your spa. It will do a great job absorbing a lot of the oils in the water that create the scum. You can simply set it on the side when your tub is in use so it does not get in your way. The best thing about this particular item is that you can actually reuse it! Rinse it out really well with running water and throw it back in the spa for another use. Our other product you can use is called Spa Pizazz. This is a natural enzyme that, when added weekly, will do wonders for your spa water. Not only will it cut back on the scum line, it will actually keep your water clearer. A small amount added once a week will work miracles. Just remember not to add too much! A little will go a long way, and in this instance, too much can have the opposite effect that you want. Any of these tips should greatly help you win the frustrating battle against your scum line. -Stacey
Leaves On Your Winter Cover?
Here is a money saving idea for all pool customers. I know that this is not the time of year that you typically look at your pool but here is an idea that may save you some money in the long run. With the leaves off of the trees and if the weather is being co-operative, take a few minutes to remove the leaves from the cover. If you purchased a leaf cover this would be a good time to pull it back and get the lions share of this seasons leaves off of the cover. If there is no leaf cover on the pool you will need to use your leaf net. The advantage of taking the leaves off of the cover right now is that you will remove a significant amount of weight, and stress from the winter cover. By reducing the weight and stress you will lengthen the tensile strength of the cover, in the same fashion as removing the excess water from the cover surface. – Chris
Christmas?? Already???
No – but it’s just under two months away! If there is something you want to ‘lay-away’, we would be happy to help. Whether it is a new pool cue or a hot tub, come on in, pick one out, and we can hold it while you make payments. We’re pretty easy to work with. — Max