Permits and Pools
One of the more commonly asked question I hear is “Where do I get my permits, and which ones do I need”? This is kind of a tough question to answer, because it does vary from location to location, and what type of pool you are putting in. For instance if you are putting in an Inground pool and live in Union Township, Clermont County you are required to get a zoning certificate from the township and an electrical permit from the county. There are so many nuances to the ordinances that vary from location to location that it is impossible for us to know exactly what is required in your location. For specific requirements for your area please contact your township or municipality of residence for all of the details required for your area.
So Long Winter!
I need Spring, sunlight and warmer weather. Thankfully Santa Clause is long gone and the Easter Bunny can’t come soon enough for me. I look forward to sure signs of Spring at the store. In a few weeks we will be seeing new colors and new styles of outdoor patio furniture along with our extensive selection of returning favorites. I am really anxious to see and try out the Amish made poly furniture made from recycled materials. The colors are bright and cheery and would add a splash to any back yard.
I enjoy talking to the swimming pool customers that are now coming through the doors. I get a chance to talk about a warm weather, summer fun item. It is fun to imagine that in about ten weeks they could be looking out the window and see an addition that is going to give them a whole season full of entertainment.
To anyone who is ready to get an early taste of Spring and Summer we extend a warm and friendly invitation to come and visit us.
As the traffic for inground pools is picking up here at the store, I’ve been reminded of one of the common questions that there isn’t always a great answer for. Customers frequently wonder what kind of financing we offer for our pools. The truth is there really hasn’t been any type of in house financing available since GE closed their loan division when the housing market dipped several years ago. With that in mind we have pursued several options through some of our local banks and we would always be happy to put you in touch with one of the loan advisors at these institutions. It is also always a great idea to explore financing options with banks you have worked with in the past, or possibly credit unions. While I wish there were more options out there, the reality is that banks like to see good credit and equity in the current market. When you are considering an inground pool this might help you to be as prepared as you can for getting the ball rolling and getting an installation in a timely fashion.
Craig
Spring Is On The Way
I need Spring,sunlight and warmer weather. Thankfully Santa Clause is long gone and the Easter Bunny can’t come soon enough for me.
I look forward to sure signs of Spring at the store. In a few weeks we will be seeing new colors and new styles of outdoor patio furniture along with our extensive selection of returning favorites. I am really anxious to see and try out the Amish made poly furniture made from recycled materials. The colors are bright and cheery and would add a splash to any back yard.
I enjoy talking to the swimming pool customers that are now coming through the doors. I get a chance to talk about a warm weather,summer fun item. It is fun to imagine that in about ten weeks they could be looking out the window and see an addition that is going to give them a whole season full of entertainment.
To anyone who is ready to get an early taste of Spring and Summer we extend a warm and friendly invitation to come and visit us. – Debbie
Power Ionizer
Eastgate Pools is excited about a new product for this upcoming swimming season. It is called the Power Ionizer.
Are you tired of high chlorine levels? Are you tired of a green pool? Have you heard of a salt system? Do you know the benefits of copper ions?
Well, this system has taken the benefits of salt and copper and rolled it into one all encompassing, hybrid, pool sanitizing system that sanitizes the pool eliminating 100% need for daily chlorine consumption. This system covers so many bases that it’s nearly impossible to have an algae outbreak.
If you want to save time and money, come in and check out this product!
Turning The Corner To Spring
It seems like we may be turning the corner this winter. After not getting any warm days from between Thanksgiving and now it is nice to get a few degrees above normal. Then again as we all who have lived in the Cincinnati area for an extended period of time know this will be short lived. With this being said it is a great opportunity to get the water removed from the pool cover. The weight of the water and ice on the pool cover puts the cover under tremendous strain, and will if left untouched will cause the cover to prematurely fail. Just a friendly reminder to try to save you money and repair costs.
The City Pool
As a young child growing up in a blue-collar middle class steel mill town we had very few extravagant things we could do. When the malls came in it was a huge deal and also showed what was to become of a great city filled with hard working men and women who loved their family, football, and country in that order. Ashland now stands as shopping Mecca for many in the Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia tri state area but some small reminders of what it was 20 years ago still remain. My friends who still live there have wonderful families and it makes me happy to know they are doing well. On crisp fall Friday nights many families still head down to Historic Putnam Stadium and show up 7,500 strong to root on the Tomcats. My fondest memory of those years were the many days spent at the local city pool about ¼ mile from my house. The pool was larger than life at about 300 feet long and ranging in depth from 6 inches to 10 feet. It was wonderful place to spend a summer day with more than enough activities to keep you busy all day. Its sad to say the have since filled in the pool and no longer operate any of the other city pools that existed when I was a child. Things have changed in Ashland but I still look back on it as wonderful place to grow up.
Thomas
Where Did My Water Go?
It is inevitable this time of year. You look outside and realize the water level in your pool is lower than the level was when you winterized the pool, and the question is asked, “What happened?” This is a question that is asked to us every year through the winter. Depending on the pool type and how the pool was closed there are several answers that are possible. Independent of the pool type is there a possibility that there is a hole in the pool lining? Yes, this is possible and then the wondering begins, “How did I not notice this prior to closing the pool?” If you have a very small leak (i.e. 1″ per week) it is highly possible that you do not notice this due to normal evaporation and splash out. While the pool is closed however you are not refilling and in the 12 weeks the pool has been closed it has leaked at the same rate and you have lost 12″ of water. Just because you have lost some water does not necessarily mean you have a leak. Water on the pool cover will displace the water inside the pool and can cause the water to be pushed out. Another possibility is a slight breech in the pool cover, which is allowing water from under the cover to flow onto the surface. When this happens as you are trying to remove the water from the pool cover you are also pumping out the pool. Just a little food for thought, and reassurance that this is not a death sentence for the liner.
When Should I Close My Pool?
We get this question often here at the store. We have some customers who close their pools right after Labor Day, some that stay open until October, and even one who keeps his running year round without a heater (Swims Everyday. Even in the Winter). As long as the weather holds out like it has all season I say keep it open as long as possible. An open pool always looks better than one that is closed, and if it stays warm there is no reason to shut it down. I guess in the end it all comes down to personal preference but if it were me I would stretch the swim season as long as possible.
Safety Cover Storage
I often get asked about what to do with the winter cover after the pool is opened. My suggestion would be to clean it really good, let it dry and store it in something dry if possible. I have seen people use garbage cans, and that seems to work really well. Whatever you decide, do not leave it outside. It can get wet, dirty and mice can get into it and eat thru the cover. By leaving it outside it will also shorten the life span of the cover. Over the years it will shrink and dry root. So when you are taking off that cover, don’t just throw it off to the side, give it the attention it deserves. – Tim
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
Like @&*t Through A Goose . . .
Okay – we get the calls every year. Ducks and geese have ‘fowled’ someone’s water (sorry for the pun), and they want to know what needs to be done to makes sure the water is safe. My recommendation is to vacuum the pool thoroughly, then shock the daylights out of it – about a triple dose. Don’t let anybody in for 24 hours while filtering continuously, then get in and swim.
Algae Infested Pools And Chuck Norris
…Continuing my movie and actor related blogs…
It is the time of year where we get some customers that come in to get water tested. (It’s a free service here at Eastgate Pools & Spas!) Unfortunately, some of our customers have pools that have algae in them and want to know how to get rid of it. Well, if the pool was maintained by Chuck Norris, he’d simply walk up to the pool, scare the %#@* out of the algae, and it would go flying off to the neighbor’s pool, thankful to still be alive and free of the “Wrath of Chuck”. But chances are, Chuck Norris isn’t available for an algae exorcism on your pool. So…just bring us a sample of your pool’s water and let us run it through our state-of-the-art testing station. We are happy to get you back on the right path to clean clear, sparkling water. –Max
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!!
To Change Or Not To Change . . .
As you prepare to open up your pools for the season don’t forget about that big tank full of sand. Sand should generally be changed every two to three seasons and this often gets neglected. When the sand doesn’t get changed your filtration will suffer and that can mean extra work for you in the form of a dirtier pool or everyone’s enemy…ALGAE! Sand is one of the least expensive products you need for your pool, but one of the most important. This is especially important in areas with high calcium content, because your tank can become a ball full of concrete. In that situation you may need to change a little more frequently. Just a friendly reminder.
