Pool Safety – The Basics Are Free!
We encourage everyone to keep their pool area safe and there are a few simple, easy, and often times FREE things that you can do to keep your pool’s access secure.
- If your pool is fenced and gated, make sure the gate is kept closed AND locked. A simple combination padlock is the easiest option-something like a bicycle lock. Too many people leave their gates unlocked, especially if they have a service technician or meter reader coming and nobody will be home. Leave them the combination and ask them to relock it when they leave.
- Put an inexpensive contact alarm on doors that lead to the back yard, including ones on sliding glass doors that make almost no noise when opened. These are the alarms that set off a loud alarm when the two contact points are separated.
- If you have an above ground pool, make sure the outside ladder swings up and is locked into place. Don’t leave it in a ‘down’ position.
- Never, EVER use extension cords to power the pool’s motor. Make sure all lines are GFCI secured. And never allow electric devices to operate in close proximity to the pool. I have personally seen an electric radio on the edge of a wooden deck, about a foot from a pool loaded with swimmers. DUH?
- Consider an alarm system for your pool. We carry several different models of pool alarms and while they aren’t free, you can’t put a price tag on safety.
If you have other cost efficient safety means or tips, please post them here. The more the better. — Max
Is Your Swimming Pool Bubbling?
We get lots of phone calls from people telling us their return lines are bubbling and there is lots of air going into their pool. In most cases, it is not a serious problem but it can be an annoyance. Here are the likely causes. One, your water level is too low and the skimmer is pulling air into the plumbing. Two, you may have a hose clamp that needs tightened. Three, if your vacuum hose is attached, you may have a small pinhole in the hose. Four, there is a union or ball valve that is loose or needs to have an o-ring replaced. Lastly, and most likely, it is a deteriorated or pinched o-ring on the wet end of the motor, where the plastic basket is located. Look there first and see if there is a lot of air visible beneath the clear plastic lid. If there is, the air HAS to be pulling in from the skimmer to that basket-no doubt. If your water level is okay, the basket o-ring is your most likely culprit. Turn off the system and check to see if it is deteriorated, pinched, or if there is dirt on it. If it’s bad, when you rub your fingers across the o-ring, it will almost disintegrate and your fingers will get blackened. If you need a new one, we should have it here at the store. –Service
Do I Have A Leak Or Is The Water Just Evaporating?
We get quite a few calls from people that think they have a leak in their in-ground pool. Remember that evaporation rates change during the year so if you experience a quicker loss of water than you believe is normal, it does not necessarily mean that you have a leak. There is a simple way you can test this yourself. First make sure that your pool level is normal. Take a 5-gallon bucket and fill it with your pool water. Then place the bucket on the 1st or 2nd step of the pool so that the bucket AND the water in the pool are at the same level. (If you have a vinyl liner step, make sure the bucket does not have a rim on the bottom that could leave a ring mark on the step. The bottom of the bucket needs to be smooth. You can always put something smooth under the bucket but make sure it will not disintegrate and that there is no print or ink on it that could stain the liner.) Twenty-four hours later, check the levels and see if there is a difference. If you can’t tell, check back again in another twenty-four hours. The pool and bucket will have the same rate of evaporation but if the pool’s level drops below the bucket’s level, you know you have a leak in the pool. –Service
Swimming Pool Opening Tips
It is time to get the winter cover off and the pool ready for another fun summer of swimming.
A couple of helpful tips to make things a little easier. First, when you are ready to start the old sand filter always start it up in the backwash position, after backwashing always rinse the filter before going to the filter position. Remember to stop the pump each time you change the position lever. Always start the season with a clean filter, be it Sand, Cartridge, or D.E.
Second, shock the pool with liquid chlorine before vacuuming the pool. It will make it easier to vacuum. When the water is this cold as it is in the spring use liquid chlorine, as the powder shock may not dissolve before hitting the bottom of the pool. This could leave bleach marks on the liner.
Third, after this is all done and the pool has run for at least 72 hours bring us a waster sample. This time gives the old water and the new water a change to get mixed together so we can get accurate readings to properly balance the pool for a carefree summer. This time frame is really important for those with mesh safety covers and salt pools. These pools generally need salt and stabilizer to get things running smoothly.
Hopefully these few tips will make your opening easier. If you have any questions, please call the store and we will be happy to help you. – Chet
Pool ARE What They Are All Quacked Up To Be!
Several years ago we had a mother duck that decided our pool lot would make a great home for her and her little ducklings-to-be. It was a lot of fun checking on the nest every day and then the blessed day occurred—the hatching of eight cute little ducklings. The trouble was it naturally happened on a busy Saturday and when they mistook our in-ground pool for a pond, we had ducks everywhere that couldn’t get out of the pool. We ended up building a ramp from a couple 2 by 4’s but one of the poor little guys actually drowned before we got the ramp done. Since then we’ve told the story many times and found many of our customers have had the same experience with ducks, dogs, cats, rabbits, and a host of other small critters. Somebody came up with an invention called the Skamper Ramp and it can save your pet’s life. If you want to see one in person, let us know and we’ll set one up for you here at the store. If you check out our earlier post about this seasons ducklings you will notice that we had no fatalities. We did use a Skamper Ramp and it was successful.
Having Trouble Keeping Chlorine In Your Pool?
There are several reasons why pools tend to burn through chlorine and fortunately, most are easy to identify and correct. First, cyanuric acid (stabilizer) holds chlorine in the water. It’s easy to add, inexpensive, and it stays in the water well once added. Secondly, keep you pH in check. A low pH (acid condition) oxidizes chlorine much quicker than pH that is in proper parameters. In other words, if your pH and stabilizer levels are off, plan on using up to three times as much chlorine as needed. For further help go to our website: www.eastgatepools.com/chem/eastchem.htm.
–Drew
On Moles And Crayfish
I used to build above ground pools for a living. I gave up when I decided I was a) getting too old and lazy and b) it was too hot in July! But once upon a time I got a call from a gentleman that I had built a pool for and he was none too happy. He told me I had done a lousy job as his liner had several spots where there were big sinkholes. When I looked at it I decided he was probably correct. There were four depressions that were about three inches deep and three or four inches across. I agreed to redo the liner but when I took the old liner out, there was a dead crayfish under each depression. The good thing is that it wasn’t my fault. The bad thing was that it was a problem for the pool owner. I started research and found that it wasn’t that uncommon of a problem. Crayfish tend to live in wetter areas that hold water and their presence is conspicuous by the little mounds they leave in the yard. This does not mean you can’t have a pool! Usually, they leave when the pool is built but there is one thing you can try to minimize the risk of crayfish or moles causing problems. Once the sod is removed, spread lime over the bare ground and wash it into the soil. Make sure it is covered well with sand or vermiculite when the pool is built. This tends to ‘sour’ the soil and while I am not guaranteeing that it is a sure-fire remedy, it usually drives the unwanted critters away.
You can further minimize the crayfish likelihood by putting the pool in an area that tends to stay drier (higher ground). Stay as far from drainage ditches as possible as they hold moisture and attract crayfish.
Once a pool is built, you can also spread a little more lime in the dig area around the pool. Wash it in and make sure not to get it onto the frame or wall. Then cover with a layer of dirt or stone. This tends to work pretty well with moles. Lastly, moles feed on grubs so if you get rid of the food, you generally get rid of the moles. There are lawn treatments that can rid you of the grubs. –Max
Trouble-shooting Your Automatic Pool Cleaner
When it comes time to open pools in the spring, we get lots of calls from customers saying that their automatic pool cleaner is not working properly. More often than not, the cleaner seems to get stuck in a pattern where it only cleans part of the pool. Here’s a helpful hint: when you store you cleaner for the winter, don’t roll up the hoses if you can avoid it. If the hose is actually a series of small hoses that slide together, separate them and keep them straight. If you have a single hose, try and avoid rolling it up. If you have to, unroll it in the spring and let the sun warm it before rolling it back up the opposite way. Pool hoses are a lot like your garden hose-they develop memories and if they aren’t given a case of pool amnesia, they won’t let the cleaner go everywhere. Cold water contributes to the stiffness so the cleaner always works a little less than perfect in cold water. Lastly, remember that an automatic cleaner is designed to keep a clean pool clean, not to clean a filthy pool. If you had a cover disaster and your pool is loaded with debris, vac it out by hand first. It will extend the life of your automatic cleaner and in the long run, your pool will get straightened out quicker and with less hassle. -Stacey
Spring Has Sprung
It is time to get the winter cover off and the pool ready for another fun summer of swimming.
Here are a couple of helpful tips to make things a little easier. First, when you are ready to start the old sand filter always start it up in the backwash position, after backwashing always rinse the filter before going to the filter position. Remember to stop the pump each time you change the position lever. Always start the season with a clean filter, be it Sand, Cartridge, or D.E.
Second, shock the pool with liquid chlorine before vacuuming the pool. It will make it easier to vacuum. When the water is this cold as it is in the spring use liquid chlorine, as the powder shock may not dissolve before hitting the bottom of the pool. This could leave bleach marks on the liner.
Third, after this is all done and the pool has run for at least 72 hours bring us a waster sample. This time gives the old water and the new water a change to get mixed together so we can get accurate readings to properly balance the pool for a carefree summer. This time frame is really important for those with mesh safety covers and salt pools. These pools generally need salt and stabilizer to get things running smoothly.
Hopefully these few tips will make your opening easier. If you have any questions, please call the store and we will be happy to help you.
SPRING IS A TIME WHEN A YOUNG BOY’S THOUGHTS TURN TO….MOWING!
Okay – maybe not, but like it or not, the green stuff will soon be sprouting and the mower will be out soon. One suggestion: When you mow around your above ground pool, blow the grass AWAY from the pool wall. A mower can whip small stones and sticks against the wall and can effectively crack the sealants on the wall. This lets moisture in to the steel core and can lead to premature rust.
And never, EVER use a weed-eater to trim against the wall. The cord will totally destroy the coatings of any pool and it will rust out-guaranteed.
POOLS THAT MAKE THEIR OWN CHLORINE!
To those that we built a pool for last year: If you have a chlorine generator on your pool, don’t be surprised if the water goes a little cloudy when you turn on the pool for the first time this spring. When the water is still cold, it is common for the chlorine generator to produce a ‘milky’ look. This is normal and it will clear on it’s own without any specialty chemicals. Save your bucks for the fun things, like floats and toys. If you do have questions call us. Not sure what a chlorine generator is? Definitely call us! -Max
Your Above Ground Pool-Keep the Cover Pumped Off
It is VERY important that when excess water collects on the cover that you pump it off. Some people use a siphon hose and some choose to buy one of our electric cover pumps. Either way, it is imperative you get as much water off the cover as possible when the thaw occurs. On a standard size pool, one inch of water can weigh between one and two tons and the stress placed on top rails is tremendous. Don’t be surprised if your water level seems to drop in your pool too. This can be from two sources: One, displacement from water on the cover will force water out of unplugged skimmers and returns. Then when the cover is drained off, the pool is lower. Secondly, if you have a small hole in your cover, you will actually pull water through the cover from underneath. In effect, you are pumping your pool dry without realizing it. If this happens it might be time for a new winter cover. -Service Department
