Maintaining Your Pool & Spa
A private pool or hot tub is a luxury, and keeping it well-maintained and free of algae, scale, and debris is just part of the job for those who want it beautiful and sparkling. If you plan to do it yourself, there's lots to learn, like checking water quality with pH test kits, maintenance during swim season and winterizing. Also hot tub installation, filters, algaecides, and chlorinating systems.
Opening Your Pool for the Summer -- A DIY Guide to How to Open a Swimming Pool
The simplest way to open your pool for the season is to hire a pool service. But if you’re willing and able, you can do it yourself, and potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars, which you can turn around and spend on more DIY pool equipment.[br][br]Enlist some help from your home’s cohabitants and tackle the dirty deed.
The simplest way to open your pool for the season is to hire a pool service. But if you’re willing and able, you can do it yourself, and potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars, which you can turn around and spend on more DIY pool equipment.[br][br]Enlist some help from your home’s cohabitants and tackle the dirty deed.
Using a Pool Test Kit -- Checking Your Pool's Water Quality
How do you use an at-home pool test kit? If you want to check your pool's water quality, you will need a kit that tests basics like pH levels and alkalinity. Follow these easy instructions to use your pool test kit like a pro.
How do you use an at-home pool test kit? If you want to check your pool's water quality, you will need a kit that tests basics like pH levels and alkalinity. Follow these easy instructions to use your pool test kit like a pro.
DIY Swimming Pool & Spa Cleaning and Maintenance
When trimming your budget, you look to the money you're forking over each month to have someone else do something that you could potentially do yourself. While many don't like the idea of venturing into unfamiliar waters, it certainly is possible to clean and maintain your swimming pool, spa or hot tub on your own. There's a big world out there with pool test kits, vacuums, plumbing, circulation …
When trimming your budget, you look to the money you're forking over each month to have someone else do something that you could potentially do yourself. While many don't like the idea of venturing into unfamiliar waters, it certainly is possible to clean and maintain your swimming pool, spa or hot tub on your own. There's a big world out there with pool test kits, vacuums, plumbing, circulation …
Water-Saving Tips for Swimming Pools & Spas
There's a big source of water consumption in your backyard -- it's called a swimming pool. While the World Water Council is not asking you to replace that big pit with a vegetable garden -- not yet, anyway -- there are several ways you can practice water conservation with your pool or spa. Get smart -- water smart -- by learning more about your pool or spa and the preventative steps you can take …
There's a big source of water consumption in your backyard -- it's called a swimming pool. While the World Water Council is not asking you to replace that big pit with a vegetable garden -- not yet, anyway -- there are several ways you can practice water conservation with your pool or spa. Get smart -- water smart -- by learning more about your pool or spa and the preventative steps you can take …
How to Inspect for or Detect a Leak in Your Swimming Pool or Spa
Signs that a swimming pool or spa is leaking may or may not be obvious. If you suspect a leak, there are proven ways to inspect and detect. In the tome, The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance, author Terry Tamminen suggests several methods for detecting leaks in pools and spas. Some he considers easy do-it-yourself methods, others he suggests consulting a professional.
Signs that a swimming pool or spa is leaking may or may not be obvious. If you suspect a leak, there are proven ways to inspect and detect. In the tome, The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance, author Terry Tamminen suggests several methods for detecting leaks in pools and spas. Some he considers easy do-it-yourself methods, others he suggests consulting a professional.
Give your chosen t…
Pool Chemical Safety Don'ts
While pool chemicals are necessary to destroy pathogens and maintain a clean swimming environment, mishandled chlorine and other pool chemicals are the cause of thousands of injuries and emergency room visits each year. Learn how to avoid toxic disasters and keep your swimming pool and spa area clean, safe and the refreshing source of fitness and relaxation it's supposed to be.
While pool chemicals are necessary to destroy pathogens and maintain a clean swimming environment, mishandled chlorine and other pool chemicals are the cause of thousands of injuries and emergency room visits each year. Learn how to avoid toxic disasters and keep your swimming pool and spa area clean, safe and the refreshing source of fitness and relaxation it's supposed to be.
After reading t…
Pool Chemical Safety Do's
What are the do's
What are the do's
Pool and Spa Electrical Code Requirements
Pool and spa electrical connections must be done according to code in your area. In most cases, a licensed electrician will do the installation for you. Electrical codes for pools and spa are in place to protect those who are in and around these areas. Learn more about pool code requirements in this piece from About.com Guide to Electrical, Tim Thiele.
Pool and spa electrical connections must be done according to code in your area. In most cases, a licensed electrician will do the installation for you. Electrical codes for pools and spa are in place to protect those who are in and around these areas. Learn more about pool code requirements in this piece from About.com Guide to Electrical, Tim Thiele.
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFIC) Can Save Your Life
We’ve all heard the terms GFCI or GFI outlets, but what in the world are they used for? Why would we buy outlets that cost between $5.00 and $10.00 when regular outlets only cost a dollar or two? Seems silly, right? Not so fast. GFCI’s are specifically designed to save your life. They automatically turn themselves off when there is a short circuit or there’s an unbalanced load to ground.
We’ve all heard the terms GFCI or GFI outlets, but what in the world are they used for? Why would we buy outlets that cost between $5.00 and $10.00 when regular outlets only cost a dollar or two? Seems silly, right? Not so fast. GFCI’s are specifically designed to save your life. They automatically turn themselves off when there is a short circuit or there’s an unbalanced load to ground.
Preparing Your Pool for Hurricanes
Several steps can be taken to prepare and protect your swimming pool during hurricane season. Follow these suggestions to drain your pool quickly and prevent further flooding. From the <i>South Florida Sun-Sentinal</i>.
Several steps can be taken to prepare and protect your swimming pool during hurricane season. Follow these suggestions to drain your pool quickly and prevent further flooding. From the <i>South Florida Sun-Sentinal</i>.
Three Steps to a Clean Swimming Pool Filter
Just three steps is all it takes to properly clean a cartridge pool filter. Get detailed instructions for rinsing the loose dirt, soaking it in a cartridge cleaner, and rinsing again. This cleaning method also works well for diatemacous earth (DE) filters.
Just three steps is all it takes to properly clean a cartridge pool filter. Get detailed instructions for rinsing the loose dirt, soaking it in a cartridge cleaner, and rinsing again. This cleaning method also works well for diatemacous earth (DE) filters.
Cutting Down on Pool Chemicals & the Cost of Maintenance
Don't want to continue using harsh chemicals in your pools, but leery of the cost of installing or replacing filters? In this article from <i>The New York Times</i>, learn about two new options that won't be a shock to your budget.
Don't want to continue using harsh chemicals in your pools, but leery of the cost of installing or replacing filters? In this article from <i>The New York Times</i>, learn about two new options that won't be a shock to your budget.
Book Review: "The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance"
About.com Swimming Guide Matt Luebbers reviews the book <i>The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance</i> by Terry Tamminen. Is it a worthwhile read? Find out.
About.com Swimming Guide Matt Luebbers reviews the book <i>The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance</i> by Terry Tamminen. Is it a worthwhile read? Find out.
Removing Rust & Corrosion from Pool & Spa Hand Rails & Ladders
Spa and swimming pool hand rails and ladders are prone to corrosion and rust. Step 1: Remove them from your pool or spa. Read on for more steps in cleaning and maintaining your pool hand rails and ladders.
Spa and swimming pool hand rails and ladders are prone to corrosion and rust. Step 1: Remove them from your pool or spa. Read on for more steps in cleaning and maintaining your pool hand rails and ladders.
Winterizing Tips for Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs
Part of maintaining a swimming pool, spa or hot tub includes preparing it for those months when you won’t be using it. Also referred to as “closing your pool,” or “pool closing,” the time to tackle this task varies, depending on the climate or region in which you live.
Part of maintaining a swimming pool, spa or hot tub includes preparing it for those months when you won’t be using it. Also referred to as “closing your pool,” or “pool closing,” the time to tackle this task varies, depending on the climate or region in which you live.
Weekly Pool Maintenance
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