Category Archives: Pool Accessories

Outdoor Entertaining, Pool Accessories

Spruce Up Your Pool Side this Season with Resin Furniture…Seriously

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Pool furniture takes a real beating over the course of a swimming season. Wet towels, wet bodies, standing water, residue from sun tanning products, and harsh weather take a toll on standard variety furniture. Because of this, cheap, flimsy furniture for your pool is not the ideal choice. The kind of furniture you can obtain from your local big box department store or home improvement warehouse is usually fairly affordable, but it is also usually made poorly, not particularly comfortable or attractive, and lasts only two or three seasons before needing to be replaced. More and more, homeowners are choosing to upgrade to a better quality of pool furniture to take advantage of its long life, good looks, and real comfort.

One of the most desirable materials used to make high quality pool furniture today is resin, and two of the most popular types of resin furniture are molded resin and resin wicker. The molded resin furniture referred to here is not the same as you would find in the local discount store. Top quality molded resin furniture, unlike the cheaper variety, is constructed of a special mineral-reinforced polypropylene resin. This superior synthetic material absorbs the sun’s heat and resists fading, cracking, and yellowing. It is also not affected by weather conditions because it expands and contracts with the temperature.

Roma Pool Furniture Set

Likewise, the resin found in high quality resin wicker pool furniture is just as durable and weather resistant. The only real difference between molded resin furniture and resin wicker furniture is appearance. Molded resin furniture brings a more casual look and feel to the pool side. It is most often white with smooth surfaces and clean, simple lines, and it can be used comfortably with or without outdoor seat and back cushions. Resin wicker, on the other hand, brings a more sumptuously formal look and feel to the pool area. Available colors include rich and dramatic browns and blacks, but one can easily find white resin wicker furniture as well. Seat cushions made with beautiful and weather proof fabrics are the norm with resin wicker furniture.

Cosabella Poolside Club Chair Collection

In general, high quality molded resin and resin wicker pool furniture have many advantages over pool furniture made from other materials. They are both good-looking, durable, able to withstand all kinds of pool side abuses, and easy to clean and maintain. It’s hard to deny the value of high-quality furniture for your pool when compared to its cheaper, flimsier, and significantly shorter-lived competition.

Holidays and Gift Ideas, Innovative Solutions, Pool Accessories, Pool and Spa Maintenance

Unbeatable Pool Gift Is Practical, Fun, and Inexpensive

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Remote Control Pool Skimmer

Some would argue that the best gifts are practical gifts that serve a purpose and make the life of the recipient a little bit easier.  But, there’s no rule that states that practical gifts can’t also be fun.  Choosing a practical gift for your favorite pool owner that is not only fun but also inexpensive would be even better. 

Remote control pool skimmers, for example, make practical and fun gifts that are also quite inexpensive. Pool skimmers aid in pool maintenance by skimming the surface of the water and picking up floating leaves and other debris. Remote control pool skimmers make this necessary job more fun. Kids and adults enjoy steering the skimmer around the pool, and surface cleaning becomes less of a chore.

Pool Accessories, Pool Closing and Winterizing

An Essential Pool Winterizing Accessory

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Air Pillow for Swimming Pools

If you live in a climate where winter air temperatures drop below freezing, the first accessory you’ll need before covering your swimming pool with the winter pool cover is an air pillow. Air pillows absorb the pressure created by freezing water and protect your pool’s walls and liner. As the water in the pool freezes and expands, it will freeze inward on the air pillow rather than outward on your pool walls.

Air pillows are placed under the winter pool cover on top of the water in the center of the pool. To ensure that the air pillow doesn’t move out of place over the course of the winter, you’ll want to use durable string, cord, or twine to tie it to two sides of your pool wall.

Pool Accessories, Pool and Spa Equipment, Pool Closing and Winterizing, Pool Equipment Storage

Pool Storage Solutions for Fall and Winter

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Cedar Storage Shed for Pool Equipment

Store your pool equipment in a Storage Shed

Very soon, it will be time to close your pool for the season. You are probably already stocking up on pool chemicals, covers, and closing accessories. Another important closing season consideration – Where will you store your supplies? Pool floats, chemicals, and other pool accessories need a home for the off season. Below are several options that you can use to organize your pool area and have everything ready for next spring.

  • Raft, Float, and Towel Caddy – This handy tool is perfect for the storage of pool toys and floats. It is made of sturdy PVC and can be put together in minutes. It is great for rafts, “noodles”, toys, etc.
  • Pool Pantry – This organizer is so compact and efficient that you will wonder how you survived without it. It is lightweight and sturdy. It comes with a cover and accessory bag and holds multiple floats.
  • Pool Deck Box – Made of durable resins, this storage box will endure many seasons as it keeps your pool gear dry and out of the sun. Great for pool toys, chemicals, hoses, or even patio cushions in the fall. It eliminates clutter and features wheels for easy moving.
  • Looking for something bigger? A cedar storage shed is the solution. It will create the perfect pool side cabana to store everything! Floats, chemicals, cleaning equipment, and more can be tucked away safe, secure, and dry until next spring.
Pool Accessories, Pool and Spa Maintenance, Pool Closing and Winterizing

Preparing Your Above Ground Pool for Winter

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Above Ground Winter Pool Cover

The end of swimming season is near, and it’s time to begin preparing for winterizing the above ground swimming pool.  Here is a handy guide for preparing your pool for the winter season:

Step 1
Before closing your pool, make sure the water is chemically balanced. Adjust the chemical levels if necessary. Chemically balanced water protects the pool from corrosion or scale buildup that can occur while the pool is not in use. Your chemical levels should be as follows:

  • pH: 7.2 – 7.6
  • Alkalinity: 80 – 120 parts per million
  • Calcium Hardness: 175 – 250 parts per million
  • Chlorine: 1 – 3 parts per million

Step 2
Remove all deck equipment, including ladders, stairs, etc.

Step 3
Brush down the sides and floor of your pool and then vacuum.  This step prevents staining, which can occur if any dirt or debris is left to sit in the pool.

Step 4
Add winterizing chemicals by broadcasting them into the deep end of the pool.  These chemicals help protect water quality during the off season months.

Step 5
Clean the filter, skimmer, and pump basket. Remove all unused chlorine product from the chlorinator. Cartridge filter elements and D.E. grids should be cleaned and stored. If you have a sand filter, backwash it.

Step 6
Some people insert a skimmer guard into the skimmer and plug the return line. Others lower the water in the pool below the returns (where the water jets into the pool) and the skimmer. Either method is fine — the choice made is based on personal preference. NEVER COMPLETELY DRAIN A POOL! This can cause your above ground pool to collapse.

Step 7
If your pool is plumbed with detachable, flexible hoses, remove them and store for the winter. Remove all drain plugs from the pump, filter tank, and any other pool equipment. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific equipment. Place all drain plugs in the pump basket for storage.

If your pool is hard plumbed, use an air compressor or shop vac (attached to the blower side of the vac) to blow water out of the system by forcing air down the skimmer and through the plumbing.

Step 8
If you are using an air pillow, inflate it by using a shop vac. Tie the air pillow at two places and position it in the center of the pool. Tie strings to the pool wall so the pillow will not move during installation of the pool cover. Air pillows are commonly used, but not absolutely necessary. They are a good idea in colder climates in case the water freezes and expands. The water will freeze inwards on the pillow instead of outwards which can potentially damage the pool wall. Pillows are NOT used to create a dome-like effect to keep rain off of the cover.  Rain water will always settle around the pillow.

Step 9
Place an above ground pool winter cover over the pool surface, black side down.  Some homeowners who have children or pets prefer to cover the pool with a safety cover over the winter.

If covering your pool with a winter cover, place the cover over the pool, then thread the cable through the loops or grommets. Use the winch provided with the cover to tighten the cable.

If your above ground pool has a deck, place wall bags end to end around the edge of the pool. Fill the bags 3/4 full with water.  Do not over-fill because the bags could burst when the water inside freezes.  Never use bricks, concrete blocks, etc. to secure the cover because they can damage your pool cover or your pool.

Step 10
Place a cover pump in the center of your pool cover to drain excess water accumulation.  Too much water on top of the cover can cause the cover to rip, or it can pull the cover and wall bags into the pool.  Either way, you’re in for a messy cleanup effort.

Planning now for winterizing will help make the process go faster and easier once the time to winterize has arrived.  Until then, though, enjoy the remaining days of summer warmth in the refreshing comfort of your above ground pool.