Swimming pool water can be treated and disinfected without the aid of chlorine or other hazardous chemicals. This natural method of sanitizing the water of your pool is an innovation developed in order not only to keep the bathers safe without risking their health but also to cut their maintenance expenses significantly.

Although chlorine and its counterparts have been the standard disinfecting products used for many years now, research shows that these chemicals contribute a lot of risk among the bathers when given too much exposure when swimming on the pools. Even with all these reports, studies and proofs of medical conditions relating to pool chemicals, the use of chlorine never seems to wane from generation to generation of pool owners. Not to mention the annoying feeling of getting stings from the chemical reaction of chlorine on the skin when bathing on a swimming pool. Most bathers also find the odor of this chemical quite offensive which also sticks to the clothes and skin of all those that had contact with it through the pool water. Chlorine is a rather expensive chemical as it evaporates in the air along with all that it has gotten rid of in the pool water that is why constant use of this product adds up to the regular consumption of this chemical on pools. Total all that you had used for the whole year and you’ll get a more costly sanitizer than the natural chemicals.

Ionization is a new development in pool care which targets most harmful bacteria and bad organisms without using any type of chemical element at all. There are many types of ionization system used for naturally treating any type of swimming pools. There are also combinations of these ions developed for a stronger and more accurate effectiveness for cleaning and maintaining the pool water. Discuss with a pool expert in order for you to gain ideas on which ionization combination system will work best for your pool type if you are hesitant or don’t have an idea as to which is the right one for you. When you are choosing for the right ionization system, pick the one that will suit your needs and not your wants in order to get the best at the less cost. The average cost for these natural pool systems are around $250 to $1,650 although these may vary depending on many factors such as the store, place, promotional, and many more.

After you have decided on which system you prefer for your pool, purchase it and install it in your pool. Usually the ionized pool system is installed right beside the pool filter on most pools. You don’t have to be a pool expert in order for you to understand how easy this thing is to set up. You won’t need to hire a pool technician to install it for you as you can do it on your own. Follow the instruction manual which tells you to insert the electrode PVC-tee into the PVC line following the filter. Switch it on and watch how amazing ionization works wonders on your pool water.

I write about Pool Prodigy Sanitizer for PoolProdigy.com.

The question of cost and spa heating is one that we hear from our customers frequently. “How much does it actually cost to heat my spa or hot tub?”

The answer depends on several factors; where you live, the cost of your electricity, the size of the heating element, what voltage your heating element operates on etc.

Here are two examples:

Example 1

Let’s assume the following;

• You live in Southern California.

• The cost of electricity is 15cents/kwh

• You have a 1500w heating element, 120 volt power.

• You have a spa that is 3 years old (a high quality spa with outstanding insulation)

• In order to maintain the heat in the spa, you need to heat it 3 hrs per day (average)

• Your heating pump is 1hp, 120v.

The method to calculate your heating cost will be the following

The cost of the actual heater:

Cost of electricity in KWH x Size of heating element x Number of hours per day x Days in the month = cost

0.15 cent /KWH x 1500watts=1.5kw X 3 hours X30 days = $20.25 per month

The cost of the pump;

0.15 cent/KWH x 736watts=.736kw x 3 hours x 30 days = $9.93

Total heating cost in Example 1 = $20.25+$9.93 = $30.18

Example 2

Let’s assume the following;

• You live in upstate New York.

• The cost of electricity is 20cents/kwh

• You have a 5500w heating element, 240 volt electricity

• You have a spa that is 10 years old (with bad insulation)

• In order to maintain the heat in the spa, you need to heat it 4 hrs per day (average)

• Your heating pump is 0.5hp, 120v

The cost of the actual heater:

Cost of electricity in KWH x Size of heating element x Number of hours per day x Days in the month = cost

0.20 cent /KWH x 5500watts=5.5kw X 4 hours X30= $132/ month

The cost of the pump;

0.25 cent/KWH x 736watts=.736kw/2=0.368w x 4 hours x 30 days=$8.8

Total heating cost in Example 2 = $140.8

In the example above you see that heating cost vary greatly depending on all the factors listed.

If you are in the process of purchasing a new spa, please look for the following in order to minimize your heating costs

1. Buy a high quality spa. Typically the higher quality spa the lower the heating cost. If you had to choose between a $4,000 spa and an $8,000 spa. The $8,000 spa will most likely save you a bundle of money in the long run. We are not endorsed my any spa manufacturer, but if you contact us we can let you know what spas brands are the most cost effective.

2. Make sure your spa cavity is foam filled.

3. Make sure your spa cover is made from 2lb foam density or more.

Each spa manufacturer have their own calculations where they determine how energy efficient their spas are. Some claim to use independent testing labs to be accurate. Maybe so, but, in our experience, their numbers never correspond to that which the customer actually experience once the spa is hooked up in their yard.

The above examples will help you determine the cost of your spa, under your conditions. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us below.

Matts Elmstrom is a senior technician with Precision Spa in Los Angeles. He has extensive experience in helping homeowners minimize the cost of spa heater repair. Feel free to contact us regarding any spa heating questions.

Spas are getting popular these days. People spend more time visiting these places to ease their stress away. And true to the spa’s advertisement, many people really like their experience. That is why, they keep on coming back for the sake of relaxation.

One of the major hits in spas is hot tubs. Hot tubs have been the major talk of the town because many experts believe it has tons of benefits.

However, hot tubs are being sold separately in the market today. With so many people that are advocate for health and beauty, many homes have been installed with one. But some remain skeptical on whether they should own one for their homes.

So should you buy a hot tub? If you think it is practical and if you think you can afford it, why not? There are plenty of reasons to own it. Some of it you can find below:

1. It relieves a person from stress.

Hot tubs allow warm water to flow on one’s body. This mechanism results to the release of endorphins that allows the body to be relieved from stress. It also results to vasodilatation of blood which allows easy flow of blood to different parts of the body; hence, preventing the headache episodes and sleeping problems.

2. Promotes Healing

Hot tubs help promote healing. If you have observed, many athletes have gone for hydrotherapy to help them recuperate from an injury. If you have body, joint and muscle pains, hot water is the way to relieve it. Soaking in hot water helps increase blood flow and helps transport all blood components essential for repair.

3. Great way to entertain the family no matter what time of the year is.

Whether cold or hot seasons, you and your family can soak in this and elevate the level of experience when it comes to bathing. You can even invite guest over and conduct a Jacuzzi party and use these hot tubs as the main highlight for the day. Despite of it all, you can have a relaxing moment and share it with the ones you love.

4. It allows you to save money.

Believe it or not, hot tubs allow you to save money; that if of course you frequently visit spas for this. It also helps you save money from gas, because you do not have drive your car just to enjoy the warm waters. All you have to do is to get into your swimming gear, get out of your house, go to your backyard and dip into your own hot tub while drinking a glass of champagne and listening to music from your IPOD.

5. It improves the look of your backyard.

When you put hot tubs in your backyard, for sure you will add decks and improve your landscaping. The mere plan of having one, would lead to several other improvements that could contribute to a more relaxing environment.

So do you think these are enough reasons to get a hot tub? If you think they are, go ahead and grab one in the market. But always put cost into consideration (both acquisition and maintenance). Only after you have discerned properly that you really can afford having this luxurious item at home, can you really say it is for you to have.

Find more real estate tips when you visit La Jolla Ocean View Homes and Pool Properties in La Jolla.

A backyard swimming pool is one of the most enjoyable investments you can make, adding beauty, value an fun to any home. The downside, as the nominated pool cleaner of any household will tell you, is that maintenance on a pool can be a lot of work and money. If you want to get the most enjoyment out of your investment (and why wouldn’t you) it’s imperative you use a pool cover to help keep your pride and joy looking shmick. Here are the top three reasons you really need to get one-now.

Creepy Crawly

The ONLY creepy crawly you want in your pool is the mechanical kind that slowly vacuums the floor. All other eight-legged, winged, slithering or otherwise bug-like are definitely not invited to MY pool party, and investing in a pool cover can help prevent them from gatecrashing. Living in Australia, creepy crawlies in your pool aren’t simply a cause for squeamishness-they can pose a serious threat to our safety and the health of our family. Creatures like Redback spiders, Funnelweb spiders, centipedes and European wasps are no joke, so don’t give them the chance to set up shop in your pool!

Safety

While there are several mandatory safety features your backyard pool will need to comply with, you can;t watch children and pets every second, and a hard pool cover can add to the security of your pool (not to mention your peace of mind!). A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE HERE: Soft pool covers can be more dangerous than no cover at all if you are buying them for safety purposes. If a child steps out onto a soft pool cover the weight of the material can prevent them from being able to reach the surface or be seen, so a HARD pool cover that is guaranteed to hold weight if a child or pet were to step out onto it is best for this purpose.

Upkeep

Falling leaves and other debris are a never ending maintenance job and scooping the clutter out can be time consuming, and can also be detrimental to your pool pump. A cover will prevent leaves, sticks, dirt and dust from clogging your filter and dirtying your pool, which means more time for you to spend floating in the sunshine!

If you’ve got a backyard pool, you’re in possession of a valuable investment that will bring hours of enjoyment to your family. Take care of your investment and be sure that you get the most out of it by protecting it with a pool cover-you will reap the rewards for years to come!

Pool Express is one of the largest online pool stores in Australia. We offer amazing prices on swimming pool equipments and pool supplies. For more information or to view our products, visit Pool Cleaner.

If you’re considering owning a swimming pool but are perhaps a little concerned about the amount of time you’ll have to spend on upkeep, not to mention the cost of chemicals and constant cleaning, here’s some good news:

Salt water pools used to be a novelty, but now the tables have turned and they’re becoming the standard due to their cleaner running, cheaper maintenance and efficiency. Many pool builders site it a rarity to install an old-fashioned chlorine pool, and indeed the market for them has dropped off dramatically, resulting in more salt chlorinator parts and better technology being made available for salt water pool owners.

Contrary to popular belief, salt water pools are not chlorine free and they still require apool pump. The salt water pool system creates its own chlorine using a salt water chlorinator. This device works by pumping in water from your pool (in which you’ve deposited the correct amount of salt) and running it over an electrode plate. This plate forces the salt in your water to react and when the water is pumped back into the pool it contains just the right amount of a very pure form of chlorine.

The chlorine that is produced by salt water chlorinators is much more delicate. The burning skin, irritated red eyes and horrible chlorine stink that you may be used to after a swim are all actually caused by an excess of chlorine in the pool, a byproduct of the active chlorine. With a salt water chlorinator at work, the chlorine is produced exactly as required, almost eliminating this problem.

Salt water pools will save you a lot of money. The only ingredient you will need to buy is salt. That’s right Ordinary sodium chloride that you shake over your potatoes. And you will not need to by it that often. After your initial load of salt, the chlorine extraction can continue for up to two years before you’ll need another.

By only using salt, there is also no need to store potentially dangerous chemicals in your home. Chlorine is a noxious substance and if your house is home to small children there is a very real danger that they may cause themselves some serious chemical damage. On a more trivial but annoying note, getting chlorine on your clothes will automatically ruin them for life.

Time is the other factor that you’ll save on. Having a salt water chlorinator means you don’t need to worry about constantly making tiny adjustments in the amount of chemicals you need to inject into your pool. You’ll find that dunking your testing kit strip into your pool is more of a double check that everything is running smoothly. Very rarely will you need to make adjustments.

Having salt in your pool does not make it akin to sea water (so don’t go chucking any dolphins in). The salt level in your salt water pool is a fraction of the salt levels in the ocean. You will not notice the salt, and you’ll hardly notice the chlorine. All you’ll feel around you is pure water. Still, don’t drink it.

A salt water pool is the wisest investment to make if you want to provide a safe an fun swimming environment for you and your family whilst also cutting down on time and money spent maintaining it.

Pool Express is one of the largest online pool stores in Australia. We offer amazing prices on swimming pool equipments and pool supplies. For more information or to view our products, visit Pool Cleaner.

Swimming Pool pumps can sometimes give you problems. In fact, one of the broadest questions we’re asked is “how do I get my pump to work again? It’s not sucking water.” If your pump isn’t working you’ve got to go step by step in order to diagnose it. There are 2 general reasons for these problems: Mechanical or Physical.

The Mechanical reasons are pretty simple to diagnose. Does the pump turn on? If no, it could be one of several reasons. First make sure it’s plugged in. Make sure the circuit breaker is turned on and if you have a timer attached (good idea in order to save money), make sure that you are currently in the “ON” zone.

Next, check the wiring. If the wiring is somehow defective due to age improper installation, the pump & motor will not turn on. It would be well worth your while having a local pool service technician or electrician diagnose the problem. If the pump is more than 5 to 7 years old, it is coming to the end of its useful life and may need to be replaced. Electric motors do not last forever.

CAUTION! Whenever working on or examining the electric motor, be sure that it is UNPLUGGED and not just shut-off. You don’t want to be injured with an electrical shock.

If you turn the motor on and it hums, there are a couple of things to check. First off, when starting in the spring, it’s very possible that a little bit of corrosion has formed on the magnetic wiring. In this case, usually a simple turn of the motor shaft by either turning the impeller directly (motor unplugged with no electricity) or by removing the back plate of the electric motor and turning the shaft. After you have made sure it is moving freely and smoothly, plug the motor back in and turn it on. This cures 95% – 99% of this type of problem.

The Physical reasons are sometimes a little more time consuming to diagnose. Here the questions center around, “the pump won’t prime” or “the motor runs but the basket doesn’t fill up with water” or “the pump is operating but it’s not pulling anything.”

All of these issues can be relatively simple to fix and will most likely NOT require a professional service call. Follow the following steps:

1. Make sure there is enough water in the pool. If the water isn’t high, a “whirlpool” will form in the skimmer and air will be drawn into the system. While you’re in the skimmer, make sure the basket is free of leaves and debris.
   
2. Is the filter dirty or otherwise clogged? If so, backwash the sand, change the DE or clean the cartridge. If water cannot flow through the filter, the pump will not be able to draw water.
   
3. On aboveground pools utilizing blow molded hose, be sure there are no kinks in the hose.
   
4. On inground pools, it is possible that a larger object such as an acorn or wad of leaves or dead frog or mouse, has gotten past the skimmer basket and is clogging an underground pipe. In this case a pipe snake may be needed to remove the object (the most unlikely cause of all on this list).
   
5. Make sure the pump basket gasket is clean & well lubricated with a good quality silicone lube. Clean off any dirt or leaf particle. DO NOT use vaseline or petroleum jelly; either product will shorten the life of the gasket or O ring.
   
6. Make sure the pump basket cover is not cracked or misshaped. If so, it will not seal.
   
7. Make sure the clamps on the hoses are properly tightened (mostly on aboveground pools). Too loose & air will be allowed in plus you’ll notice leakage. Too tight & the hose will be pinched with the same problems.
   
8. Check any valves for leaks in general – air leaks in particular. On the suction side of the pump you will NOT have any water leaks when the pump is operating; when turned off, there may be a few drips. Change or replace any valve gaskets. At the beginning of each swimming season, be sure to lubricate the gaskets & O rings.
   
9. Put a bead of silicone calk around each pipe connection. Over time, some of the glued pipe connections can degrade allowing air to get into the system.
   
10. Take the pump apart & check to see if the impeller or diffuse (or both) are worn. Impellers and diffusers will wear due to normal erosion over time. Worn out impeller blades or veins will dramatically reduce the amount of water that a pump is able move.
    
11. While the pump is apart, remove any accumulations of debris from the impeller. Use a wire to clean out the areas between the impeller blades.  Bits of leaves, twigs, acorns and seeds, as well as hair will clog the impeller impeding the flow of water; even a couple of tablespoonfuls of debris will make all the difference. Do this check mid-season and at closing for continued good performance.

The most likely causes? Worn or dried out gaskets & O rings and clogged impellers.

http://www.parpools.com/Page/Help/Pool/Gen_filter_faq.html

Your thinking of putting a pool in your backyard and creating a fun and entertaining environment can be exciting and costly so you need to think about what you really want or do not want is a time consuming and thoughtful process.

Starting from a basic swimming pool and adding to it we will first talk about choices for the pool itself. First you have a choice of plaster or pebble tec finishing. Pebble tec will last many more years than plain plaster and may well be worth the little extra cost. It also makes the pool look more elegant. Size and shape are of course a consideration. you can choose from many different curved or kidney shaped type pools as well as fantastic straight lined rectangular pools.

Next you have so many choices of water features like rock water falls, wet pots with water spouts, negative edge, pillars with spill outs or other water features.  The water features are almost endless and can create a gorgeous setting or your pool.

You can build a table into your pool with benches around it to sit and enjoy a beverage or snack. A full step down Gazebo with a swim up bar with stools is very creative and creates a fantastic entertaining area. Whether you build a Gazebo or not you can still build a great barbeque area near the pool. 

There are so many different types of decking to choose from for around the actual swimming area.  You can choose from pavers, cool decking, flagstone, painted cement to look like flagstone or other types of decking. 

Putting bricking inside a raised area of the pool or choosing a beautiful tile are also a few choices you will be making. 

Deciding whether you will create a play pool or a diving pool possibly with a diving board or a curved slide for the kids  are also things to think about.

Positioning the pool for maximum usage of your yard or visibility from the inside of your home so you can enjoy the water feature and refreshing water is also important for many people. 

Knowing whether or not you want a typical chlorine pool or a popular salt water pool is another item that you will likely be asked from your pool builder.

Whether you choose to hire a pool company or a contractor to build your own pool without the middleman of a true pool company is completely up to you. You can save thousands of dollars doing it yourself and it does not mean you are doing any of the work, it is very simple, you just pay the contractors individually and save money.

Enjoy your pool all year if you decide to get a solar or gas heated pool or jacuzzi.

Nancy Niblett is a highly successful Real Estate Agent specializing in the Chandler area. She credits her success to hard work, integrity and honesty. Clients continue to refer her over and over again. Nancy is one of the most successful award-winning agents and currently with West USA Revelation. She was awarded the top 50 Individual Agents by Phoenix Business Journal for the past several years.

Find a top realtor or a affordable home in Tempe, AZ at Affordable Tempe Homes or in Chandler, Arizona at Cheap Chandler Homes

If you want to take the perfect bath in a swimming pool then the thing that must not be left behind is the accurate temperature of the pool. This can be only achieved by Wireless Pool thermometer which allows you to take the perfect reading of the temperature that could not be done before by the traditional thermometers. Previously the thermometers were not able to define the actual temperature of the pool which results in lots of diseases. The disease like cough, cold and the skin related problems that can never be left are caused just because of the inaccurate temperature. The cost of these analog thermometers is very less when compared to the wireless thermometers but if we talk about the effectiveness then the analog thermometers are very far away from wireless ones.

The costs of these digital thermometers are very high but are very effective and famous when we talk about their accuracy. The company is charging for the accuracy of temperature that can’t be given by any of the other thermometer. The cost of this thermometer is high but its workings is more then its price. You can find these wireless thermometers in hotel and restaurants where they provide the facility of swimming for their guests and the tourists that appear to their hotels.

There are lots of advantages that can be seen with this great device. One of them is the accuracy that can not be seen when talking about the other thermometers. The cost of this amazing device is around is 28 to 48 dollars. You would feel proud in investing on this great product after taking of its services and benefits. The working of this great product is very easy and is fast from traditional ones. Apart from all these there are many technical features that are associated with this device.

One of the other advantages of this device is that it operates on battery, hence allow you to take the reading of temperature even inside the water. As it works on battery therefore it has no effect of water on it, as the machine is designed in the manner that the water in the pool could not affect it.
The display that is attached with this instrument is appreciable because the appearance of the reading is very clear then the traditional ones. These thermometers must be handled with care as they are very delicate.

These are some of the benefits of this great product that can help you to enjoy with the exact temperature that you accurately want in your pool.

Find more info on different types of wireless Pool Thermometer and wireless digital floating pool thermometer.

When the filtering medium in pools is of cartridge type then they are comprised of a papery substance made of polypropylene or polyethylene. Such filaments are known to have very tiny pores that make it difficult for impure particles to find an escape. As dirt particles keep depositing on its surface, a huge stack of impurities get accumulated in the filter. This impure pack then needs cleaning from the filter cartridge and it is done by washing with water and using muriatic acid for releasing sticky substances.

There are more value additions of a Jacuzzi Pool filter part or a Harmsco Cartridge filters. Such filters help to maintain the pH balance, alkalinity and chlorine levels of swimming ponds. Chemical balances of water get disturbed when there is release of extra ions and molecules in the pool water. The extra ions and molecules normally are sourced from impurities that find way in the water. So, when the impurities themselves are restricted from getting released in pools, then there is no question of chemical imbalances. This is where cartridge filters play a very important role as they trap all extraneous particles that flow through their cartridge medium.

Then the replacement parts make the use of such filters very exciting. Now, with a replacement filter cartridge, pool users can avoid cleaning of cartridges or at-least procrastinate it for some time. The replacement parts fit in well and thus ensure continued use of the filters. So, their usage completely eliminates the danger of any sort of pool damage. Hence, users do not have to take up with expensive pool repairs. Their ponds remain safe from algae growth and other forms of contamination. Swimming pool care becomes very easy with the installation of such new filters. They are available at discounted rates and their latest information can be learned from internet.

For more information on pool filter cartridges parts and accessories, visit: http://www.poolfiltercartridges.biz/blog/

There is nothing better to do on a hot summer day than to sit in the back yard or pool itself and relax in a nice pool lounge or other outdoor furniture. It is a great way of completely relaxing and enjoying the sun and cool water.

In order to have a pleasing lounging area for your family and guests, there are several items that you will want to consider buying for your backyard. A pool lounging area should accommodate the varied ways that people spend their time when they are relaxing in a backyard to enjoy the sun. Some people do not hesitate to actually lounge in the sun. They hope to get a decent tan. They want to see loungers close to the pool. That way when they get too hot, they can just hop in the water.

Often a host or hostess offers drinks to those who are enjoying the poolside lounge. Therefore, those guests should have a surface on which to rest their glass when they are not drinking their chilled beverages. The host might want to place tray tables in an area close to the pool. Or the host might decide to invest in a rolling bar cart.

There are also floating pool lounges that you can lie in while floating in the pool. Many of these loungers also have cup holders to hold a cool beverage while floating around in the water. They come in many different styles, shapes and colors and are easily found online and in local stores for sale.

To find the best deal on a pool lounge, compare styles and prices from several sources. The internet makes it very easy for you to do some comparison shopping for pool lounges and other outdoor pool furniture to make your backyard comfortable and inviting this summer.

To find the best deals, reviews and tips on pool lounge chairs and other poolside furniture, visit pool lounge.