Pool Safety

We’re sure getting our share of rain this monsoon season, aren’t we? We’ve got a way to go yet before it’s over too. If you live in an area prone to flooding—or even if you don’t—have you ever had to deal with a flooded swimming pool? If so, you may already know that screened in pools can flood too. However, if you’re someone who always looks for the positive note, at least there’s a bright side.

One of the reasons that homeowners install mesh screen pool enclosures is to keep storm debris from making it into the water. That’s because cleaning the pool after a big storm can be a huge undertaking. And, if the flood was caused by rising water rather than just an overabundance of rain—actually, the word “Aaaack!” comes to mind.

Was your reaction like-minded?

If so, you’ve probably seen pools that look like the one pictured—or worse! Providing we aren’t in the midst of a catastrophic hurricane, screened in pools can act as a huge filter and hold the debris washed along in rising flood waters at bay. Just make sure that the enclosure is anchored down tight so it doesn’t float away!

After the fact, there are specific steps to get things back to normal. Do you want to make sure you tick everything off the list?

Read on.

Assess the damage

After the storms pass and it’s safe to go outside, you need to see how badly the pool flooded and if there’s any damage to pool equipment. Take inventory of your pool pump, pipes, and filter for obvious damage. If there was any danger of your pool shifting within the ground due to the deluge of water being absorbed into the ground over a short period of time, you’ll want to look for cracks in the pool floor and walls as soon as possible too.

If this is the first time you’ve experienced pool flooding, you should take time to determine if the problem stemmed from your own backyard. When it rains, does the accumulating runoff drain from your yard or back up into your swimming pool? What about your home’s gutters? Where is that water heading? Should you see that the flooding was caused by either of these scenarios, you need to address the problem as soon as possible to prevent it from happening again.

Clean the deck

When it comes time to start physically cleaning, start with your flooded pool deck. If you don’t you’re just going to wind up cleaning the same debris over and over because it’s definitely going to find its way back into the water.

That could mean waiting for water to recede from your backyard and the ground to begin to dry out. Do that if necessary. You don’t want to find yourself exerting energy needlessly trying to clean out the pool only to have the debris and contaminants wash back in. You’ve got enough to do!

Brush the pool

The next step is to give your pool a thorough brushing. Yes, it’s hard work, but just imagine those bulging arm muscles after you complete the job! You want to stir every bit of sand, dirt, or silt from its hiding place. We recommend brushing the pool at least twice, more if necessary though. It all depends on how dirty your pool is.

Set your pool filter to run 24/7 during the brushing stage. It’s going to speed up the cleaning process.

Vacuum it up

You’re about to reap the benefits of all the vigorous brushing of the past few days! It’s going to be nice to slow down a bit—and slow and steady wins the race at this stage of the game. Here are some pointers for you:

• Turn on your garden hose and keep the water flowing in as you vacuum the dirt out. You don’t want your water levels to get too low.
• If you use a sand or diatomaceous earth (DE) filter, set the multiport valve to the “waste” function.
• Keep an eye on the pool skimmer as you vacuum. If the water level drops below the skimmer, take a break. You want to keep the water flowing continuously through the filter during the process.

Test and balance pool water

Once you’ve gotten most of the sediment, dirt, and debris cleaned out of the pool, it’s time to break out the test kit or strips. After such severe trauma, the water chemistry is likely totally out of whack. Even if there wasn’t any ground flooding and was strictly a rain event, rain water carries all types of pollution and contaminants.

Balance the pH and Total Alkalinity first, then check the Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid levels. Retest and adjust at least once more over the next few days.

 Remove phosphates

After you’ve got the pH, alkalinity, calcium, and cyanuric acid back to normal, it’s time to do a little chemistry. An overabundance of phosphates in the pool water causes problems because its a primary food source for algae. After heavy rain, especially one that caused your pool to flood, the phosphate levels are sure to be extremely high.

Check the phosphate levels and add an organic phosphate remover to normalize the levels and keep algae growth at bay.

Shock it

After you’ve vacuumed, got the water chemistry balanced and checked, and removed phosphates, it’s time to grab the shock and get the chlorine into the system. You want to raise the chlorine level in the pool to 30 parts per million (ppm). Continue brushing your pool surfaces in the morning and evening to loosen any remaining debris—it tends to be tenacious, doesn’t it?

Set your filter to run continuously over the next 72 hours. The chlorine is going to work to remove any staining that occurred on the pool walls as well. However, you can speed up the process by adding a stain treatment as well.

Enzyme and clarifier

If your water continues to look a little murky, use a water clarifier to get rid of any remaning organic material. That’s what’s causing your problem. If the condition remains, consider using a pool flocculant to do more heavy lifting. However, you’ll need to vacuum your pool again after using the product.

Clean your filter

The water is looking good by now, for sure! After all the filtering, it’s certainly time to give your pool filter some attention! You may want to just start fresh with an entirely new filter, but if not, give it a thorough cleaning and replace it.

That’s it! Mission complete. All that’s left to do now, is to pull out the floats, grab the family, and dive in!

One of the perks of living in a subtropical climate is that we open our pools earlier than the rest of the country. It can be as late as October before we close them down for the winter too. The secret to having sparkling blue water for over half the year has everything to do with pool maintenance. If you don’t stay on top of it, you’ll wake up one morning to water that’s turned murky or green. If it happens, it could take you a while to get things straightened out.

It can be easy to put off pool maintenance when your schedule is filled with ball games, family events, and other summer activities that your family enjoys. The problem is that many of us let it slip our minds that we put off checking the levels or vacuuming after the storm went through.

Pool maintenance tips that work

Pools come in all shapes and sizes, but the steps to maintaining your pool to be swim-ready all day every day don’t change. Many homeowners turn the responsibility over to a pool cleaning service. Others choose to handle pool maintenance themselves. It’s less costly and some people actually enjoy the calming effect of being near the water as they skim or vacuum debris.

The most important tip that we can give you is to schedule time for periodic maintenance and stick to it. If you fall behind, algae will undoubtedly take hold and once it does, being near the pool is likely to cause more frustration than relaxation until you get things back to normal.

Chlorine is essential

Plan to shock your pool once a week. More often if necessary. Conditions that warrant shocking your pool include:

• Accommodating a heavier swim load than usual is going to increase the amount of body matter in the water. Sunscreen gets left behind too.
• Increasing temperatures can cause chlorine to dissipate more quickly.
• Storms—or even gentle rain—can add contaminants to the water that promote algae growth. The excess amount of water can mess with the chemical balance of your pool as well.

Shocking the pool kills off any buildup of contaminants. Maintaining chlorine levels becomes much easier throughout the week.

Debris free

The general consensus is that you should brush, skim, and empty your filter and skimmer baskets once a week. However, most pool owners keep an eye out and jump in more often if necessary. And, if you have kids—we’re guessing it’s necessary.

If you allow debris to build up, it causes your chlorine to burn off more quickly. If the debris is left in the pool and the chlorine level drops, algae are likely to form fairly quickly. Getting debris out of the pool is a big step toward keeping your pool sanitized and clean. Some days the skimmer is all you need, but if you need to break out the vacuum—do it.

Pump it up

Your pump plays a huge part in pool maintenance. Water turnover is essential to keeping your pool water clean and clear. Proper filtration removes small pieces of debris by trapping it in the filter. Keep your filter clean. It allows your pump to work more efficiently.

You should run your pump at least 8 hours a night, longer if it’s abnormally hot or sultry out. Swim University actually states if you can’t run your pump 27/7, the minimum should be 10 to 12 hours.

Failure to run your pump long enough usually results in cloudy water. If this happens, shock the pool.

Testing, testing

It’s important to test the levels in your pool periodically. How often that happens depends on your overall swimmer load. Testing allows you to stay on top of any possible issues that may arise. You could also begin to notice trends, say, your pH levels rise after about a week, and adding a pint of muriatic acid brings things back to normal.

Test kits are available at pool stores, some department stores, and, of course, online.

Problem-free pools are possible

Again, the most important thing you can do regarding pool maintenance is to make a schedule and stick to it. When you do, you’ll discover that it’s not hard to keep your sparkling blue pool sparkling and blue. Others are going to notice it too.

And, then, they’ll probably start hinting around about getting in…

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began predicting the possibility of an active hurricane season in January with a campaign to make “resolve to be ready” a New Year’s resolution if you live anywhere near the coast. FEMA gave four reasons that it’s important for people to prepare early.

• Disasters are becoming more frequent.
• A plan can save the lives of you, your family, and your pets.
• Preparing can save you money.
• Preparing can better connect you with your community.

Each year since 2015, a tropical storm has been named before the actual start of the season. Moreover, many of them have formed near Florida. In fact, weather experts have discussed moving the official start of the hurricane season to mid-May.

That’s only a few weeks away.

Forming your plan

National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is concerned about the increased strength of recent storms because it can leave little time for preparation. “You can’t make plans during the storm. You have to be ready to go,” he said.

Know the evacuation routes in your area and have your escape route planned out in advance. If city officials are recommending evacuating, don’t wait until the last minute. Grab your family and go! The longer you wait, the more crowded the roads will become and things tend to slow down to a crawl.

Of course, since hurricanes form over the ocean, it’s unlikely that you would get caught without any advance warning. Still, having a plan in place ahead of time gives you some peace of mind. And, by preparing in advance, you won’t be scrambling to locate the supplies you and your family need as the storm draws closer.

Gather the things you and your family will need to weather the storm. Things like nonperishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, chargers, a first aid kit, blankets, clothes, personal items, and pet supplies. You’ll want to have activities and toys for the kids stored away too. Lastly, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand as well. ATMs won’t work if there isn’t any power.

Technology preparedness

FEMA suggests you download their app to get real-time alerts, safety tips, and to locate open shelters should you need to evacuate. You can sign up with your local Office of Emergency Management to receive text or email alerts about emergency situations in your immediate area.

Take photos of important documents in advance and save them online or in a secure place where you can access them during an emergency. Photograph your property too so you can use the images for inventory for insurance purposes if necessary. And, speaking of insurance, you’re more than likely covered if you live in an area in danger of flooding, but if not—it takes 30 days for flood insurance to kick in so get on it.

Also, if you don’t know how to shut off your water, electricity, and gas, it’s time to learn.

It’s also a good idea to set up some group text lists so you can communicate with neighbors, family, and friends at the same time. Take a current picture of you and your pet together in case it gets lost—things can get chaotic quickly.

Batten down the hatches

Hopefully, you’ll never experience the terror of losing your roof during a hurricane because once the roof goes, it’s likely that your entire home is going to be destroyed. Running a thick bead of construction adhesive—otherwise known as glue—down each side of the rafters where they meet the plywood roof deck can triple your roof’s wind resistance. It’s not hard to do. In fact, many homeowners tackle that job themselves rather than hiring a contractor to handle it.

If your home is older and you don’t have hurricane windows installed, you should consider doing so. The tempered glass used to construct the windows adheres to a sheet of high-tech polymer. The polymer holds the glass in place so it’s not going to fly apart if hit with flying debris.

Garage doors are another place you should consider reinforcing because it’s estimated that up to 90% of homes that are completely destroyed lose their garage door first. Once the wind gains entry to the home through such a large opening, it can do its worst in an incredibly short length of time.

If you can’t afford to install hurricane-resistant doors, you can reinforce your exterior doors instead. There are ready-made kits available at home improvement stores. Or, you can purchase brackets and metal rods that reach from above your door to the floor. Install the brackets on either side of the door and when a storm is imminent, insert the metal rods into the brackets and you’re set.

If you’re using the bracketing technique on your garage door, experts suggest that you drill holes in the floor of your garage to anchor the rods when you insert them into the brackets.

Pools and landscaping

Walk around your property to determine if you need to have your trees pruned or any branches removed. Heavy foliage can cause trees to blow over more easily. When you keep them pruned, the wind passes through them instead of the leaves forming a barrier. The force of the wind relentlessly pushing against the leaves coupled with the heavily saturated ground can equal disaster.

If you’ll be planting trees in the future, consider planting trees that better withstand storms. The University of Florida determined that sand live oaks are the most resistant to wind damage. Other trees that stand up to a storm and thrive here in Florida are the Southern magnolia and the bald cypress.

You can prepare your pool for hurricane season too. Don’t drain it though because when the ground becomes heavily saturated, it can float your pool right out of the ground! If your pool—or lanai—is enclosed, check to see that the tie-downs are tightly secured.

If a storm is coming your way, bring in any furniture and decor that are in danger of blowing away.

Safe and sound

Taking precautions now is the best way to keep you and your family safe this hurricane season. Remember, though, that if government officials suggest evacuating, you should heed their advice. Storms can change in an instant and you don’t want to discover that you’ve waited too long to get out if you need to get your family to safety.

Most people assume that swimming comes naturally to dogs, however, not all of them are born with that instinct. Labradors, Retrievers, Water Spaniels, and the Portuguese Water Dog are bred for water activity and rescue so they’re likely to take to the water instantly. Of course, there could be some who don’t follow the norm because that’s the way life rolls at times. As a rule though, if you want a dog that loves to swim as much as you do, one of these breeds could be your best bet.

Of course, you aren’t limited to those breeds. Most dogs can learn to swim even if they don’t instinctively start to paddle about the pool as soon as they’re introduced to the water.

No matter what type of dog you have, tossing them into the deep end is no way to introduce them to swimming. Start out on the shallow end of the pool so your dog is standing in the water. Their natural curiosity is likely to lure them out a little farther and, then, a little farther still. It won’t be long until you know if they are natural swimmers or not.

A helping hand

Small dog breeds, such as the Chihuahua or the Maltese, can swim and are, likely, to get those little legs moving immediately. They could be off and swimming like a pro immediately, but make sure and keep your eye on them because their small size compared to the vastness of the water could overwhelm them. They could panic and begin to flounder. There’s also a chance that they will just keep going until they become too exhausted to stay afloat.

Doggie lifejackets provide you with peace of mind when your pet’s in the pool no matter what size they are.

If your dog has the ability to swim, but just can’t work up the nerve to take the plunge, you can help them move past their uncertainty. You just need to take things slowly. Step into the shallow end of the pool and encourage them to follow you. Hopefully, they’ll bound right in! If not, tossing a favorite toy in the pool could do the trick.

Reward your dog for each new benchmark they make—even if it’s no more than sticking a paw in the water and gingerly pulling back again. As he gets more comfortable, he’ll go a little farther. Hopefully, as soon as he realizes the joy of swimming, you’ll find him bounding past you to leap into the deep end when he knows it’s time to head for the pool.

It’s never a good idea to force your dog into the water. It’s not the end of the world if they don’t take to it. They’ll be just as happy hanging out poolside—we know humans like that, too, right?

Breeds that can’t swim

Boxers, Pugs, Basset Hounds, and Bulldogs aren’t aquatic by nature. They just aren’t built for swimming. Their large, boxy chests, short hind legs, and short muzzles or snouts can make it difficult for them to breathe. Even if your dog loves to swim—and many small dogs do—never leave them in the pool unattended. They should be constantly supervised in the water.

Investing in doggy life jackets and even a pool alarm can help you maintain supervision and retain peace of mind.

Safety first

You probably have an outside water source for your dog already, but we’re mentioning this anyway because it’s important. While a bit of pool water won’t hurt your pet, chlorine and pool chemicals aren’t intended for consumption. Your dog shouldn’t think of the pool as their personal water bowl.

If you have a saltwater pool, drinking too much of the water can cause problems as well. Consuming too much salt can lead to diarrhea or electrolyte imbalances. That can become life-threatening. The salt balance in swimming pools is far less than that of the ocean, so it would take a pretty large volume of water to cause that reaction. Still, it can happen so we want you to be aware.

We live in Florida, so you probably have this tip down pat, but if it’s too hot for you to walk around the pool without burning your feet—your dog’s paws are getting burned too. Even if they aren’t swimmers, if his family is in the pool, Champ is going to be nearby. They’d sacrifice burning the bottoms of their feet to be as close to you as possible. Man’s best friend deserves some slippers if that’s the case! He may walk awkwardly at first, but give him a bit of time and he’ll adapt.

If your family lives in the pool, keep an eye on your dog’s nails. While trotting around the tiles is a great way to keep their nails naturally trimmed, too much tile time can lead to overdoing it. Bleeding or other issues can occur.

Medical care

It’s a good idea to know doggy CPR so if an emergency arises you can jump into action. The Red Cross provides classes if you’d like to be certain you know how to handle the situation.

The possibility of heatstroke is another issue you need to be aware of if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Dogs don’t sweat as we do and they’re covered in fur—that alone can make for a miserable existence in this climate! Dogs can only sweat through their nose and the pads on the bottoms of their feet. They pant to compensate because it exchanges hot air for cool. If they can’t pant quickly enough to keep up the exchange, they can succumb to heatstroke.

Signs of heatstroke

Catching the signs of heat exhaustion can literally save your dog’s life because once heatstroke sets in things go from bad to worse quickly. The signs are subtle though. Watch for increased panting, lethargy, and failure to follow basic commands.

Signs that things have advanced to heatstroke are:

• Vigorous panting
• Dizziness or disorientation
• Dark red gums
• Tacky or dry mucous membranes
• Thick saliva
• Lying down and unwilling—or unable—to get up
• Collapse and/or loss of consciousness

If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat exhaustion or heatstroke, take immediate action! Early signs warrant getting them to a cool place and offering fresh water to drink. Contact your vet if you have any concerns to see what steps to take next.

Do not give your dog ice or ice water in an attempt to quicken the cooling process. Extreme cold can cause blood vessels to constrict. That prevents the body’s core from cooling and your dog’s internal temperature can continue to rise. If it reaches 106 degrees, you’re in danger of losing your pet.

If you think your dog has progressed to a heatstroke, head for emergency care as soon as you can get them in the car.

We hope you never need to take a trip like that, but knowing what to look for and ways to avoid heatstroke should lessen the chances that it could happen. Our pets are part of the family and knowing what to do if there is a swimming emergency provides peace of mind.

Enjoy your summer—it’s nearly here!

That’s a good question to ask if you’re thinking of installing a swimming pool in the backyard this year. Actually, there are several contributing factors that determine your operating cost.

First things first though.

How big is your pool and how much water does it take to fill it?

Of course, once you’ve filled it that cost can be put behind you because, hopefully, once filled, always filled. Still, the initial cost to fill your pool is going to be a hefty expense. You can figure that amount by multiplying the amount of money that you pay per gallon of water times the number of gallons that your pool holds.

The following list may look daunting, but do-it-yourself (DIY) pool maintenance is going to save you about $1200 per year on average.  With the current focus on inflation and rising prices, lots of homeowners are going to be looking for ways to cut corners. People sometimes get nervous about the testing process and handling the chemicals necessary to maintain balance and avoid the negative aspects of pool ownership—as in algae growth and ring around the pool for example.

Pool maintenance isn’t rocket science by any means though. If you don’t mind putting in a little work yourself, you’ll cut your operating cost considerably. You may discover it’s kind of nice to have some time to yourself and imagine the tan you’ll be rocking this summer!

Determining the operating cost of your pool includes looking at these expenses:

• Maintenance
• Chemicals
• Test kits
• Running the pump
• Filters
• Cleaning devices
• Pool Cover
• Closing and start-up

Let’s take a closer look.

Heating

Traditional heating methods are likely to cost about $100 per month—again, that’s on average. Electricity or gas rates in your area coupled with local temperatures will cause a fluctuation in overall cost.

We have abundant sunshine here in Florida so we’d urge you to consider a solar heating system. The water is pumped to the roof and heated by sunlight then redistributed to the pool. It could cost you as much as $9k to install, however, once it’s in the annual cost could be as little as $50 to $100 per year to run your pump.

Maintenance

If you’re hiring a company to maintain your pool, they will most likely cover everything in this list. Still, you’ll want to keep a skimmer on hand at the very least and a vacuum is probably a good idea as well. You’ll want to be prepared in case something gets spilled into the pool.

Pool maintenance should be done on a weekly basis when in use. It normally takes no more than 45 minutes to an hour to go through the testing and adjusting process.

Chemicals

It’s a good idea to stay on top of skimming the pool because debris that winds up in the water begins to break down immediately. This makes your chlorine work harder, promotes algae growth, and could save you from having to adjust—and possibly readjust—the chemical balance to maintain clear, sparkling water.

• Muriatic acid—for lowering pH levels and preventing bacteria and mineral buildup
• Chlorine tablets—used for lowering pH levels and preventing bacteria and mineral buildup
• Soda ash—sodium bicarbonate raises the pH levels and fights excessive acid

The chemicals aren’t very expensive. You can pick up a gallon of muriatic acid for around $8.00. A 5 lb bucket of 3″ chlorine tablets sells for about $25.00. And, lastly, soda ash (otherwise known as baking soda) raises the pH levels and fights excessive acid. You can grab it at your local Costco or Big Lots in bulk for little cost.

Test kits

There are different types of water test kits available on the market. Some involve using liquids that are mixed in with a small amount of pool water. The cost of these kits ranges between $7 and $16.

Pool test strips are another water testing method that is extremely easy to use. Dip the strip into the pool and read the color-coded results. The average cost is between $13 to $52 for a container of 50 test strips.

Pool test kits check the levels of chlorine or bromine, alkalinity, and pH levels.

Running the pump

It’s advised that pool pumps run between eight and ten hours a day to allow the pool to completely circulate through the filtering system. The pump forces the water through the filtering system removing organic waste, such as sunblock, sweat, and even human waste, from the water. When left in the water, these substances bind competitively with the chlorine and prevent it from working.

The end result is sure to be an algae bloom—not something you want to see happen. If it does, deal with it quickly or it could get expensive getting your pool shipshape again.

Filters

Your pool filter needs to be replaced periodically too. How often depends on how heavily your pool is used.

Replacement cartridges range in price from about $30.00 to $90.00.

Cleaning devices

You’ll want to have a skimmer and a vacuum to clean the top of the water and the floor of the pool.

Skimmers are nothing more than a small basket attached to a pole. They are extremely useful for removing leaves and other floating debris from the water’s surface.

Robotic vacuums run across the bottom of the pool without guidance, however, they can get expensive. A manual vacuum operates by attaching a garden hose to the vacuum to use water as the driving force.

Pool covers

Again, the initial cost for a pool cover could seem rather high, however, they last for years.

Couple that with the fact that they cut down on the amount of debris that finds its way into the pool substantially.

The prices vary greatly in regard to pool covers. Shop around and compare the value to the cost to get the best deal.

End of season and start-up costs

The operating cost pertaining to closing and opening your pool is minimal.

When opening the pool yourself start-up costs are minimal. Bring the water level back up to normal, reinstall plugs, lights, ladders, and handrails. Vacuum the pool and shock it. You may have pool shock on hand from last season or have purchased more when stocking up for the coming year.

When it’s time to shut down the pool for the season, apply an algaecide to the water following the manufacturer’s instructions. Drain a portion of the water from the pool, cover securely and start looking forward to spring!

Is it worth it?

Most homeowners wouldn’t hesitate to say yes! Nothing compares to walking out your back door and diving directly into your swimming pool.

When you bump the operating cost up against the amount of joy it brings to you, your family, and your friends, you’re apt to decide it’s definitely worth the expense. Swimming pools and families go together. The memories you make there are going to last a lifetime.