Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act Presentation
Posted on 08. Mar, 2010 by admin in Blog, Pool Safety, Pool Tips
We know this isn’t the most exciting topic in the swimming pool industry, but it’s something that doesn’t get discussed enough. We’ve attached a presentation from the Consumer Product Safety Commission discussing pool and spa entrapment and tips to avoid swimming pool hazards.
Pointless Swim Fact – Mind Blown
Posted on 21. Jan, 2010 by admin in Pool Tips
This is one of those posts that will make zero difference in your life, but this morning I realized that the word “Swims,” is the same word if you look at it upside down. See….I told you it was pointless. Hopefully someone else will be as blown away by this realization as I was.
Current Pool Trends in the Lake Nona and Southeast Orlando areas
Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by admin in Pool Tips
With the vision of the Lake nona Medical Center on the horizon, the area has seen continued growth and home construction, while other areas aren’t as fortunate. More homes being built means more pools being built, and we always find it interesting to study new trends in the pool industry.
Over the past few years, we have noticed a trend moving to smaller swimming pools being built with a focus on safety, versatility, and “green” benefits being demanded by the homeowner.
Drowning and accidental injuries taking place in pools has become a common topic in the news, and homeowners are actively looking for ways to reduce or eliminate this risk. We’re seeing automated pool covers and various fencing options to address this concern, but very few products offer the aesthetics that some homes require.
“Green” is the new black. Homeowners are embracing ways to be conscientious consumers when it comes to our planet’s limited resources. They are looking at ways to reduce water, chemical, and energy usage and of course save money at the same time. More and more, consumers are demanding real green solutions, especially when it comes to their swimming pools. There are many changes coming to address these concerns, and it will change the way people view the purchase of a residential swimming pool [more info on this in the VERY near future].
Lastly, due to the long term trend of new homes being built on small lots, homeowners are looking to get the most versatility from their backyard investments. They are looking to create as much versatility as possible with the limited space that they might have, as well as trying to create long term value when they are ready to sell their home in the future.
Warmer Weather in Lake Nona – Adjust Your Timers
Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by admin in Pool Tips
For the past two weeks, the Lake Nona area, and most of Orlando has suffered from hard freezes. We’ve been asking everyone to run their swimming pools through the night to avoid damage from ice forming in the pipes and pump. Well, it looks like that’s all behind us now. If you set your times to run through the night, you’re now free to change it back to run during the day. We will be getting another cold front pushing through, but it will be nothing like what we’ve faced the past two weeks. If you have any questions, call us at 407-243-8383.
Freezing Weather Challenges Swimming Pools in Lake Nona Area – Pump Tip
Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by admin in Pool Tips
If you’ve stepped outside this morning, you’ve no doubt noticed the chill in the air. For those of us in Orlando, we haven’t seen a cold snap like this in over 10 years. And now that kids are back in school, and the holidays are over, you probably haven’t given much thought as to what this cold weather can do to your swimming pool pump.
The biggest problem we see during freezes is water freezing in the pump. This causes the few cups of water that sits in your pump to turn into a solid block of ice, and when the pump starts in the morning, there’s no water to prime the pump. Eventually, the water will thaw, and the pool pump should operate as normal, but anytime your pump runs dry, you run the risk of the motor burning out – which could be a costly repair.
So how do you avoid this problem? It’s actually very simple. If you know there is going to be a freeze, run your pump through the night. The running water won’t be still long enough to freeze, so there is no risk of damaging the motor.
If you have any questions about this, ask us in the comments section below. We’ll be happy to answer.
Free and Easy Way to Find And Repair A Leak In Your Swimming Pool
Posted on 12. Nov, 2009 by admin in Pool Tips
Discovering you have a leak in your swimming pool is always a frightening discovery. You start to wonder if you’ll need to drain your pool, destroy the surface of your pool, or have expensive pool plumbing work done. The good news is, most pool leaks are fairly easy to detect, and just as simple to repair.
Determine if You Have a Leak
First you need to figure out if you even have a pool leak. The easiest test for finding this answer is the “Bucket Test.” To perform the bucket test, fill a bucket with water from the pool and set it on the steps of your pool with the top of the bucket above water level. This will keep the water in the bucket the same temperature as the pool. Now, wait several days, and compare the water loss in the pool to the water loss in the bucket. The longer you wait, the better. If you see a difference, you have a leak.
Finding the Leak
This step is easy. Make sure your pool is filled to a decent level (about half way up the skimmer). Now mark the level of the water with duct tape, and turn your filter on for 24-48 hours. Make a note of the water level. Now, fill the pool back to the original level, and turn your pump off for the same amount of time you ran it with the pump on. Again, note the water level.
If you are losing more water with the filter system running, the leak is on the pressure side of your plumbing somewhere PAST the impeller of the pump. If you are losing less water with the filter system not running, the leak is on the vacuum side of your plumbing somewhere BEFORE the impeller of the pump. Please note that in this case, most of the time the pool only loses water when the system is off and not when it’s on. If the water loss is the same, then your leak is in the structure of the pool and not in the plumbing.
Dealing With a Leak in the Plumbing
Let’s deal with a leak in the plumbing first. We will assume that there is not an obvious leak (one that you can see) on the filter system. Did you check where your backwash line comes out? There are two ways to find this leak. First, you can pressure test the lines, then dig, following the leaking line till you find it. You can also call in your local leak detection service. We would highly recommend the latter, unless you like to dig. Professionals will use “geophones” to listen for the leak and only dig where necessary!
Dealing With a Leak in the Structure of a Concrete Pool
You will need some food coloring for this, and you will want to turn off the pump at least an hour before you do this. In a concrete pool, any cracks in the shell are usually obvious. By squeezing out the food coloring near the crack, you will see the crack pull the food coloring in. That will show you where the pool is leaking. Yes, you may have to get in the pool to do this, but isn’t that why you got the pool in the first place? If there are no visible cracks, you will want to squeeze out the food coloring around any of the items that pierce the shell of the pool (main drain, returns, lights, etc.). Be sure to check the “mouth” of the skimmer where the plastic of the skimmer meets the concrete. This area is very susceptible to movement and often separates causing a leak.
Once the leak is found, it is easy to fix using a patching material. Most of them will work under water. After patching, check again with your food coloring to make sure you plugged the leak. Please note that if you patch near a fitting, you will want to leave the pump off while it cures, so the flow of water doesn’t wash the patch away.
Hopefully, these steps will lead you to a leak-free pool. If you find you still have a leak in the pool, contact your local pool service company, or give us a call for a few more steps.