Posts Tagged ‘water’
Winterizing a Swimming Pool
August 26, 2011 | 
Author When most people think of winter, their pool is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, knowing how to winterize your swimming pool is one of the most important things that you can do – although you won’t be using it as much during the colder weather, failing to winterize it properly can result in costly repairs when it is time to reopen the for swimming in the spring.
So how do I winterize a swimming pool? Although there are some differences in the winterizing process for an inground as compared to an above ground model, the process is basically the same:
Posted in Swimming Pools Spas | 
Tags: algaecide, Auto, calcium levels, Draft, drain, filtration system, ground model, Pool, pool chemistry, professional, sensitive components, Swimming, water, way | 
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Essential Supplies for Swimming Pool Maintenance
The swimming pool area of any house is the most fun place for both kids and adults. Regular swimming pool maintenance is a must to keep the pool waters sparkling clean, hygienic and safe for all.
For periodic upkeep and excellent pool maintenance, some essential supplies are required and such supplies are discussed below. If you have the time and inclination to maintain your own pool, you can save on a lot of money and it is not such a hard job after all.
Test kits:
Swimming pools are basically to do with water and water activities, so the single most element of pool maintenance has to do with maintaining the proper water quality to prevent water borne infections, rashes and disease. The water chemistry and Ph of the water has to be in balance to ensure a germ and bacteria free water quality which is also skin and people friendly. A water testing kit is one of the most essential supplies to periodically check on the water quality of the pool and take remedial measures after test results if required. At least test water quality every week and also soon after a downpour or heavy traffic in the pool.
Chemicals:
Chlorine is the most single most and widely used chemical in all swimming pools, be they commercial or for personal use. Chlorine level in the water should ideally be between 0.5 to 3 parts per million and you should take action if this range is breached either way. Proper chlorination prevents algae to develop and kills bacteria effectively. Overdose of chlorine is also very harmful, so be careful about the doses. Chlorine tablets on a floating chlorinator or hand fed manually ensures constant chlorination. Stabilizers for alkaline and Ph level are also necessary to maintain alkaline levels of eighty to one hundred twenty parts per million.
Also check for calcium hardness in the water, which should be somewhere in the range of two hundred fifty to five hundred parts per million. Stabilize the water with Cyanuric acid for chlorine presence.
Filters & pumps:
Everyday swimming pools attract dust, debris and other foreign objects like fallen leaves. Another essential gear for pool maintenance is the filtration and pump system which can constantly free the water of all such stuff. There are several types of filters like the most common sand filter, cartridge and DE filters. Sand filters use sand as trapping agent for debris floating in the water and prevents then from recirculation again. Cartridge type filters consist of fine mesh to trap the debris and can be easily cleaned by removing the filter mesh to clean with water hose and reattach the same again. By far the most efficient filters are the DE filters which have a fine fabric mesh coated with special powder to catch and retain even the tiniest debris.
Scrubbers and brushes:
To clean ugly spots and stains on the swimming pool floor and walls you need several tools like telescopic poles, brushes for corners, walls and floor for cleaning, skimmers for dust, bugs and leaves, tiles brush for scrubbing the concrete and walls of the pool.
Once you have all the essential pool maintenance supplies in place, you can do the job as well as any professional pool maintenance service company.
Posted in Swimming Pools Spas | Tags: Auto, calcium hardness, cartridge, Chlorine, chlorine tablets, Draft, floating chlorinator, Pool, pool chemicals, range, Swimming, swimming pool maintenance, water, water chemistry | No Comments »
Surface Options to Consider on Pool Renovation
Swimming pool resurfacing is necessary to have the pool in good condition without holes, cracks, discoloration etc. The deterioration happens over a period of time because of several reasons including the type of ground water you have around the pool, usage of chemicals, algae damage.
The commonly known surface options are mar cite (plaster), fiberglass, sprayed liquid vinyl, exposed aggregate, tile and coatings paint.
Pool paint is today considered to be not a practical solution as it doesn’t last long. With the unavailability of the lead based paints for environmental reasons, any type of paint for resurfacing is liable to run not long enough. This also necessitates frequent chemical cleaning.
Mar cite or plaster is also not a practical solution for resurfacing. Even if replastering is done after removing the old plaster by sandblasting and applying plaster coat, it is not free from the impact of ground water attacking it from behind if it is near the wall. The three options available are Fibre glass resurfacing Aggregate and Tile.
Tile
Tile is a very expensive option; however, if you take a long term perspective, it is not so expensive considering the fact that it lasts at least twice as long as any other resurface option. There are instances of indoor tile pools which are more than 30 years old remaining maintenance free.
However, as for outdoor pools, this may not apply and some experts warn against the lasting benefit of tile and possibility of the finish getting dull on account of improper water balance.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass coats over any existing pool surface. Fibreglass resurfacing is longer lasting than plaster. The option is less expensive. Cleaning is easier. The fibre glass shell is comparatively less susceptible to discoloration on account of staining, algae growth etc. If you look at the other pool resurfacing techniques from the point of view of pools shifting, you will notice that fibreglass is resistant to the same.
The tensile strength protects it from cracking by accommodating earth movement. What happens over longer periods of time is as yet unknown. The negatives include the delamination which may happen on account of severe and frequent changes in weather. It is also likely that the color goes off over a period of time and easily even when impregnated in the resin.
Aggregate
Aggregate refers to quartz aggregates or marble pebbles blended with white Portland cement. The finish which is gently rough give you the look of a composite piece where lots many very tiny stones are knitted together. There are many colour options with stones of varying shines, size and quality.
In terms of durability, the Aggregates have a longer life than plaster. The maintenance in terms of cleaning is easier. There is better algae prevention when the aggregates are very well polished and woven tight.
As for aesthetics, the aggregates offer more options not only in terms of color but also in the choice of appearances which you may like to create as the background under water as also on the sides in some cases. These give better depth perception for the users. These can be fade resistant
The major disadvantage is that this option is critically dependant upon the process of installation or application. There can be severe impact on the quality of the created surface because of the way the process of application is handled and the surrounding weather prevalent at the time. You may end up with stones which are shaky or those which are escaping out of the finish.
Posted in Swimming Pools Spas | Tags: algae growth, Auto, Draft, ground, outdoor pools, Paint, period, Pool, pool paint, pool renovation, pool surface, swimming pool resurfacing, type, water | No Comments »
Plumbing Service, Repair, and Replacement
Many people at one point or another will need the service of a plumber to help fix a leak, install a new fixture, or to replace something in their plumbing system because of damage or use. Most of these repairs and replacements tend to be very affordable, and they are very cost effective because repairing something early on will save money in the long run from having to completely replace something. When it comes time to replace something, you can trust your plumber to offer the best products to use, and trust that the installation will be professional and backed by a full warranty.
Many people fail to schedule regular maintenance on certain aspects of their plumbing system. Regularly servicing and up keeping faucets, pipes, and generally everything dealing with plumbing will help in the long run from having to make major replacements and repairs. Preventative maintenance is always easily forgotten when it comes to up keeping anything in your home. Maintaining your septic system is also very important because once a septic tank backs up, or needs repair work done to it, this can get very expensive, and very messy.
When it comes to plumbing repair, this can range from complicated and expensive, to easily done and very affordable. If you feel there is a problem with your plumbing, it is best to contact your plumber as soon as possible to have an evaluation done to see what might the problem be so that it can be repaired fast. You do not want a faucet or toilet slowly leaking water because this excess water will add up very quickly onto your water bill, or it can cause more damage in the long run. Repairing pipes and other facets of plumbing is always time sensitive, so as said before, never hesitate to contact your plumber when a problem arises, especially for emergency services.
Many people choose to remodel their kitchens, and the bathrooms of their homes at one point or another, which makes it a necessity to use a plumber to install new faucets and fixtures, or to move pipes so that you can change the layout of a sink. Most of this work is done with affordability in mind. Your plumber can recommend many different types of faucets and fixtures that are efficient in running water, and reliable fixtures can be offered to install that hardly ever need to be repaired. All of this work will be done properly by a plumber, and will be backed by a warranty of a specific length, depending on the work that was performed.
Posted in Plumbing | Tags: Auto, damage, Draft, excess water, fixture, maintenance, plumbing repair, plumbing service, plumbing system, septic tank, Service, water, water bill, work | No Comments »
How To Find A Good Local Plumber
Inevitably when you own a house the time will come when the homeowner has to perform routine maintenance and repairs to keep the house functioning properly. Plumbing in particular is one area of the home that is prone to break downs and leaks. So what happens when your faucet springs a leak or your toilet starts running water and won’t stop? Well if you don’t know how to fix your own plumbing chances are you’re either going to be calling the first plumber you find in the phone book and that’s the worst thing you can do…
Before you hire a plumber you want to at least check a few things out but things get a little harder when you have an emergency on your hands and you have to hire a plumber in an instant. You know like when you have water pooling around your ankles… Unfortunately you don’t have a lot of time to hire a plumber when you’re facing an emergency. The first thing you should do is ask your friends, acquaintances and family members for recommendations of plumbers they’ve worked with in the past. If you have enough time, you can also check out the local home improvement stores and materials suppliers in the area for referrals. If you happen to know one a general contractor could help here as well. What you want to do is put together a quick list of about 3-5 plumbers that you can pre-qualify in a short amount of time.
Once you put together a list of about 3-5 plumbers you can start to seek out feedback and reviews from past customers. The internet makes finding this kind of information quite easily actually. You can begin by placing the name of a plumber into a Google search. You’re not actually looking for the plumber’s website; you’re actually looking for reviews and feedback from past users. You can search for reviews on feedback on websites like citysearch.com, insiderpages.com and yelp.com.
Another thing you definitely want to check is whether or not the plumbers have a license. A license from the state isn’t a guarantee that you’re going to get a good plumber but it is proof that the plumber has been finger-printed, had his background checked and passed a competency test. It’s easy to check for a license online but I recommend you actually call your local state licensing board so you can also ask about any complaints that have come in. If you’re really short on time you should at least check online to make sure the plumber you hire has a license.
The state licensing board is one of the first places a homeowner will call to complain about a bad experience with a plumber so it’s an excellent place to check. Another great place to check is with the Better Business Bureau and online you can check at ripoffreport.com. The point is if there are “bad apples” in the bunch of plumbers you put together you’ll want to weed them out and exclude them from your list of finalists.
Prior to hiring a plumber and if you have time you may want to ask if they have any references they could provide you with. This may not be necessary depending on how big your job is but it’s always a good idea to speak with past clients who can vouch for the plumber.
Posted in Plumbing | Tags: Auto, check, com, Draft, friends acquaintances, google search, home, home improvement stores, homeowner, Plumber, routine maintenance, water, yelp | No Comments »