Did you know that a swimming pool is not only fun to swim and relax in? It is also a great place where you can have interactive games with your family and friends! All you need is a little creativity, pool props (ball, floaters, and rope), and people (including kids) – you’re all set.

Want to try something new, here’s a list of games that you can play next time you have a pool party:

Wet Sweatshirt Race – Teams should be set up depending on the number of good swimmers and sweatshirts (minimum of 2) that you have available. You can use the short length and shallow part of the pool in case you have kids joining in or there are weak swimmers. Each team will be given one sweatshirt. Have each team member line up. The first person for each team will then wear the sweatshirt. After the signal “GO” has been given, the person wearing the sweatshirt needs to swim across the pool and back. The sweatshirt will then be passed on to the next player, who in turn will wear the wet sweatshirt and do the same procedure. This routine will continue until the last team member has swum across the pool and back. Wrestling Team – Teams will be comprised of two players each. In the middle of the pool (or at least at a safe distance away from the pool ledge), a team member will sit on the shoulder of the other team member. Both team members sitting atop the shoulder will try to push the other off balance. The team that remains “standing” is the winner. Float and Race – Have two floaters ready for use. Build two teams. Equally divide the members of each team and have them stay at each end of the pool. In case teams are comprised of mixed adults and kids, allow the kids to begin the race. For example, if you have 4 members per team, instruct 2 of the members to go to the opposite side of the pool. Team member A will ride the floater and paddle it using their bare hands towards the opposite side of the pool where team member B will then take the place of team member A and paddle back to team member C. This routine will continue until it reaches the last member of the team. The first team that finishes is the winner. Water Tug – You’ll need a strong rope for this particular game. The mechanics of this game is similar to the Tug-of-War but the only difference is that everybody who joins the game is required to get in the pool. The kids can also have a go at this by making use of the shallow part of the pool. Just be sure that there is enough space between the team members and the pool’s ledge to avoid accidents. Whisper Is The Word – Set up two teams with as much members as possible. Provide both team leaders with one single word (write it down and have them read it silently). They in turn will tell their teammate what the word is but they have to say it under water. This will continue until the last team member is reached, who in turn will need to say the word out loud. Hold Your Breath – Two or more people will take a deep breath and dive at the same time. The last person to come up for air is declared the winner. Making sure that you take the necessary precautions (including keeping swimming pool chemicals under lock and key) will surely result in a MEMORABLE POOL PARTY!

By: Nick Scott

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If you have an in-ground swimming pool, you may want to consider getting a cover for it. However, there are a variety of swimming pool cover options that you have to choose from. You basically have four choices of swimming pool covers.

* Solar Swimming Pool Covers

* Leaf Net Swimming Pool Covers

* Winter Swimming Pool Covers

* Safety Swimming Pool Covers

Which pool cover you select depends mostly on the benefit you want from it. In fact, you might even want multiple pool covers to satisfy multiple problems or needs.

Leaf Net Swimming Pool Covers

Leaf nets are basically large nets that are meant to capture only leaves. They are not going to do a good job of keeping much else out. In my experience, very few people are ever interested in a leaf net, and the only people who want one are those who have large amounts of trees and need to keep the leaves out even during the summer. If you want to cover your pool for the winter, go ahead and look into a regular winter cover or maybe a safety cover.

Winter Swimming Pool Covers

Winter covers are essentially giant tarps that you use to cover your pool when you close it for the winter. You can purchase them in the size meant for your pool.

Keep in mind that the actual size of the tarp is larger than the size of the pool, so that you have a sufficient amount of cover on the perimeter to hold it down, either with water bags or some other sort of weight. The water bag type of weight can be a bit of a hassle and messy, but on the upside you don’t have to worry about what would happen if it fell in the pool.

If you were using cinder blocks to hold the cover in place, you’re running the risk of destroying a large section of liner if it got dragged into the pool somehow.

Winter covers generally do a better job of keeping the pool water cleaner than do the basic safety cover. However, if you have kids, keep in mind that winter covers are not the least bit safe, and can even potentially cause trouble for even able adults who might accidentally fall on such a cover. Such covers could potentially envelope anyone who fell onto it, and make it far more difficult to get out of the pool than it normally would be.

If you want to use one of these covers, be sure you’ve locked up the pool area securely to minimize the risk of accidents.

If you decide on one of these swimming pool covers, look for your size online and order it there. You will save a bit of money by doing so.

One last thing before running out and buying a pool cover. You need to consider if you need a safety swimming pool cover. If you have children (or pets) this might be a very wise decision — cause it might save their life.

Basically, the pool cover you choose will depend on your needs. If you want to keep leaves out, you need a leaf cover. If you want to enjoy the security in knowing that your pool is safe, you need a safety pool cover, and so on. There is a ton of information on the different kinds of pool covers and there are just as many places that sell them too. Just take your time, do your homework and you’ll be all set.

By: Bruce Dinger

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There are two main pool chemicals you can choose from to maintain the water in swimming pools today. They are chlorine and bromine. Without one or the other you risk having contaminated water not fit to swim in which can cause disease or infection. You could also begin to see some algae growth. However each chemical has its own restrictions and uses so let’s look at those and then we’ll discuss some less popular pool chemical supplies.

Chlorine is used most widely in private and public swimming pools. It is easy to use and highly effective in eliminating bacteria and foreign contaminants. It oxidizes the cells of organisms and then destroys them once they become vulnerable. However, it is harmless to humans as once the foreign organism is invaded it neutralizes the chlorine compound too. There are some people that can be a little sensitive to chlorine and will get itchy skin and red eyes but this is a mild side effect that goes away quickly.

Bromine has a higher temperature resistance than chlorine which makes it ideal in heated pools, hot tubs and spas. It is also less harsh on the skin and eyes than chlorine. It does have a chlorine base though. As far as how it works it does the same thing chlorine does but it lasts long after eliminating contaminants which makes it cost effective in the long run as you won’t have to add as much to the water like you do with chlorine.

Alternatives to these two pool chemicals are ozone generators which is a pump of sorts that infuses ozone into the water to sanitize it. Mineral sanitization is a copper solvent that kills bacteria via an ionizer. There are also catalytic sanitizers which use minerals and oxidation to sanitize the water. These are all environmentally safe alternatives to chlorine and bromine.

Regardless of the chemicals you use you need to balance that with a stabilizer. A stabilizer will help keep the water healthy and will supplement the job the chlorine or other pool chemical does. Maintaining the pH level in the water is critical to pool safety and will often tell you what kind of chemical would work best to balance the purity of the water. These stabilizers and chemicals can be in the form of algae remover should you find the water too alkaline and starting to produce algae. Enzymes have a similar effect.

By: Peter Flaherty

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Many pool operators are seeking methods of safely sanitizing the water in their pools and spas without the use of caustic and corrosive chemicals that harm pool equipment and irritate the eyes and skin of bathers. There are several methods on the market today, including ionizers, catalytic cartridges and ozone generators. Ozone generators are a method of water sanitation used worldwide, both as a stand-alone system and as a “booster” system, used in conjunction with another method, such as the chlorine generator. The ozone system cannot generally be used as a stand-alone sanitation system, so it is not a good choice for pool operators seeking a completely chemical free pool or spa.

Traditional chemicals such as chlorine and bromine are expensive. A chemical free pool uses only the equipment needed for sanitation. Chemical free maintenance should eliminate your dependency on traditional expensive chemicals. An alternative pool and spa treatment must be chosen carefully, so as to offer a true chemical free pool or spa. Ozone generators are alternative system, but do not lead to that sought-after chemical free environment.

Ozone is a very powerful natural oxidizer, and is lethal to bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, spores and cysts. It is a natural algaecide. Despite it’s effectiveness in purification of water, ozone is very gentle to pool equipment and to skin and eyes. It will not discolor hair or clothing. Ozone is colorless, odorless and tasteless and will leave no unpleasant chemical smells or tastes in the air or water. Foaming and scum lines are effectively eliminated, as is calcium scale, and it will not adversely affect the pH of a swimming pool or spa.

There are two types of ozone generators: the ultraviolet (UV) system and the corona discharge (CD) system. While the UV system uses fluorescent light to generate ozone, the CD system uses electricity, similar to the process of lightning creating ozone during a storm. The CD system may not be as effective in humid climates, since the air entering the chamber with the electrical arc must be very dry. There is often a separate piece of equipment, an “air-drying” section added to the generator. The pool’s pump must run constantly so that water is continuously running through the unit. Both types of generator inject the ozone gas they generate into the pool water as it passes through the unit, thereby sanitizing the water.

One drawback to using the ozone generator is that there is no residual protection in the water. Ozone reverts back to oxygen within minutes being injected into the water. Therefore, a low level of chlorine must be maintained in the water. Ozone generators are expensive and can draw a lot of electrical current, resulting in an increase in the pool operator’s utility bill.

There are many people who use a chlorine generator for their pool in conjunction with the ozone generator. The chlorine generator is used to provide the residual chlorine level necessary for adequate sanitation. Pool operators looking for a truly chemical-free bathing environment generally should look elsewhere.

By: Ben E. Anderson

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Are you looking for excellent accessories for your pool? This article will provide you some tips which will help you in finding the right cover for your pool. There are several accessories which are being sold in the market. One of the functional accessories is a pool cover. There are many home owners who keep the pool closed most of the times. The pool should be covered after draining the water. The covered pool is always protected from bad weather conditions, debris and leaves. Even the filled swimming pool should be covered. A covered pool decreases the risk of accidents. I have heard about many drowning situations at open pools.

A pool cover comes in different sizes, shapes and colors. The installation process is very simple. A swimming pool cover comes with an installation manual. It is a good idea to go through this manual before starting anything. You can also hire a professional who can help you in all the aspects of the installation process. Swimming pool accessories can be afforded by everyone as they are not so expensive. One of the most popular covers is made up of vinyl. Vinyl is a strong material which is helpful in many ways. It protects the pool from debris and dry leaves as well as keeps the water warm. Most of the covers come with wheels attached to them. It means that they can be installed and removed easily.

Are you planning to buy a cover for your swimming pool? There are many things which should be kept in mind while buying something new for your pool. It is a good idea to look for a wholesale store. A wholesale store always offers high quality products at reasonable prices. Always look for a secure website. The website selling accessories should be free of viruses and bugs.

It is a good idea to go through the prices of the safety covers and compare them with the prices of the local pool store in your community.

You should buy the accessories through online stores. Online stores offer significant discounts and gift coupons. Online shops offer discounts because they want to encourage users to buy through the internet.

There are many more benefits of online shopping. You can buy the accessories at the comfort of your home. There are many companies which offer free shipping. The product is delivered at your door steps. Always go through the guarantee and warranty of the product. Some good companies offer life time money back guarantee.

A beautiful home is incomplete without a swimming pool. A clean and tidy pool reflects the lifestyle of a person. Modern accessories not only enhance the beauty of your home but also increase the functionality.

So what are you waiting for? Fix your budget and start looking for a safety cover according to your budget and requirements.

By: Jitesh Arora

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Salt Water vs. Chlorine Pools

With many people switching to salt water pools, you may wonder what the difference in the cost of salt water pool maintenance may be. In general, it is more expensive to keep salt water pools properly balanced chemically speaking, and the start-up costs are higher too.

The salt water pool has a chlorine generator. This is usually in the form of a solid tablet that floats in a basket while the pool water runs over and through it. The salt tablet(s) that are in the pump of the pool must be constantly checked to make sure that the right amount of salt is being displaced into the water. If the level of salt in a salt water pool is too low, the amount of free chlorine that is formed will also be too low.

Similarities

Both salt water and chlorine water pools sometimes need to be shocked. This process involves systematically adding more chlorine in a raw form in either chlorine pellets or powder. Shocking a salt water pool is a much more delicate process.

The salt content must be carefully monitored as must the alkaline and chlorine content of the water. Salt in the water turns into free chlorine and it is a delicate balance to maintain this salt balance with elements such as rain water and a different number of people swimming and depleting the salt content.

Unlike the standard chlorine pool, UV rays have an effect on the amount of salt that is dissipated from the pool water. A stabilizer such as cyanuric acid must be used to keep the amount of salt at a stable and constant level. A salt water system will only produce chlorine when the pump is running as opposed to chlorinated water that relies upon the manual addition of chlorine and the pumping of the pump and filter to keep its chlorine levels up.

What is Needed for Salt Water Pools

When looking at salt water pool maintenance, you will find that not as many chemicals are needed to be added to the water. For example, no packaged chlorine is needed, no algaecides are needed, and no soda ash or baking soda is needed. Aside from the various stabilizers that can be used, all that a salt water pool rely needs is the salt. Many people feel that this makes the water softer to swim in, and the natural process of the salt turning into chlorine, is supposed to be easier on the skin and eyes.

The chlorine pool and the salt pool are both affected by the climate. The chlorine pool tends to grow more algae when the temperature creeps up and things are more humid. The salt water pool is virtually algae free but it loses salt content as the temperature rises. This is when a reliable salt stabilizer is a benefit to those who are concerned with salt water pool maintenance.

Even though salt water pool maintenance requires less chemicals than chlorine pools, it does require a lot of balancing (of chemical and salt levels) to provide you with a refreshing swim that is safe and comfortable.

By: Ben E. Anderson

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Excessive toy clutter upon a swimming pool deck or the areas around a built-in pool can lead to falls and serious injuries. Keeping the swimming deck areas clear will help reduce the risk of unnecessary falls. Children tend to pull out all of the pool toys then swap their preferences all day long. Moms and dads, doubling as life guards, have the constant job of tidying up while the kids play.

Wooden decks adjacent swimming pools are notorious for being slippery. With children getting in and out constantly, the pool deck can quickly become an ice skating rink. If the deck is also cluttered with multiple rafts, noodles, beach balls, ducks and float rings, the chance of slipping on the deck increases.

Many people choose to throw their toys over the side of the pool into the yard. The toys may be out of the way, but when the kids use them again, they bring grass and dirt back into the pool. An alternative to throwing the toys overboard is to somehow neatly store them near the swimming area.

If your deck is large, and you don’t mind giving up deck space, products are available both locally and online. A bench seat with storage underneath or a container product, similar to a cooler, both allow for storage of smaller toys and accessories. Larger toys such as rafts and plastic boats require a different storage solution. Decorative netting is now being utilized to hold pool toys of all sizes. The advantages of using a net are many. They save precious deck space. They are attractive and convenient. They are available in many sizes to accommodate large and small families.

Whichever pool toy storage solution you prefer, remember to teach your children to help keep the deck areas clear. This will help take some of the work off your shoulders and teach them valuable pool safety lessons.

By: Gregory Fort

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