Swimming Pool Blog
Tips on Operating, Care, Installation & Maintenance
Poop Happens — How Long Before It’s Safe to Swim Again?
We love our kids and pets, but they often find the most curious ways to make more work for the adults in their lives. Take the backyard swimming pool, for example. We spend countless hours every month ensuring that the pool stays clean and safe for our family and friends. We clean the filters, we test the chemical balance in the water and adjust the pool chemicals as needed, we scrub the sides and bottom of the pool regularly to remove dirt and debris, and more. So, when one of our beloved children (furry or otherwise) decides to use the pool as the drop zone for their poop, we understandably freak… Continue reading
Prepare Now for Safe Summer Swimming
The best time to prepare for a safe swimming season is before the season ever begins. Two of the most important pieces in the pool safety plan can be accomplished now — swim lessons and CPR certification.
Swim Lessons
Children and adults should not only feel comfortable in the water, they should successfully complete basic swimming and water safety training before entering a swimming pool. Even better, swimmers should continue with swimming lessons throughout the season and beyond to increase ability and strength. Your local Y or community center may offer year-round swim lessons. Alternatively, you can contact your local Red Cross to find locations that offer swim lessons.… Continue reading
Residential Pools May Have Hidden Danger
That hidden danger could be unsafe drain covers in pools and spas. Why are pool and spa drains so dangerous? Because if the drain cover is flat, any object or body part that covers that drain can become trapped by a powerful suction from which escape is difficult, and sometimes impossible. Luckily, the Pool and Spa Safety Act, also known as the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, was signed into law in 2007. This law requires that every public pool and spa in the U.S. be “equipped with anti-entrapment devices or systems that comply with the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard, or any successor standard.” Flat pool drains are assumed to be a thing of the past… Continue reading
Pool Alarms Add Another Layer to Accident Prevention Plans
Even if you have safety fencing installed around your in ground or above ground swimming pool, you should seriously consider adding pool alarms to your swimming pool protection plan. Protecting against accidents in and around the pool requires the implementation of multiple safety devices.
What to Look for in a Pool Alarm
Pool alarms may come with many more features than are presented here, but the following is a list of recommended features to look for when deciding on a pool alarm for your own backyard swimming pool:
- Easy installation
- Tamper proof
- Includes a remote receiver with a range of up to 200 ft or more
- Low battery indicator on alarm and on receiver
- Recommended for the size… Continue reading
Above Ground Pool Ladders That Can Save a Life
Anyone who owns an above ground pool knows that getting into and out of one requires a safe and sturdy pool ladder. When swimming is over for the day, though, do you remove your pool ladder? To help prevent access to your above ground pool when a responsible adult is not around to supervise, it’s essential to remove your pool ladder from the pool after each use. Yes, pool ladders can be heavy and awkward — removing and installing them each time you wish to use the pool is not always convenient. Fortunately, safe alternatives exist.
Choosing a pool ladder that has safety features built-in is the best way to prevent… Continue reading