BLOG

My family is looking to buy a home soon with a pool in the backyard. What are some items we should look for during the process?

We’re excited to hear your family is interested in purchasing a new home (and pool). Many homeowners believe pools add value to their property and provide an outdoor space for families to make memories. 

While you’re on the hunt, here are a few things to ask:

– What was the estimate monthly maintenance charge for the pool?

– How old is the pool?

– When was the last time the pool has been cleaned/maintained?

– Is a pool fence required for safety?

Additionally, once you’ve discovered a home you’d like to put an offer on, you’ll want to find an inspector familiar with pool maintenance. 

• Swimming can give you a full body workout
• Great way to destress as many believe the water has a calming effect
• A gentle swim can burn as many as 200 calories in 30 minutes
• Lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Increase energy levels
• A form of exercise that doesn’t require much sweating

• If you have an animal that requires outside time, you’ll want to install a fence around your pool to prevent them from entering at unwanted times
• Pets should safely enter the pool using a pet-safe ladder
• You may want to equip your pool with an alarm just in case your furry friend finds their way into the backyard without your knowledge.

If you’ve been a pool owner for any amount of time, you’ve been told to use a pool cover. Traditional pool covers help keep dirt, leaves and other unwanted items out of your pool.
There is also another type of pool cover that has gained popularity – a solar pool cover. Not only does it keep debris out of your pool, it also heats your pool without fancy cords or machines. Solar pool covers capture the energy of the sun to keep your water warm.
In addition, solar pool covers also help keep more water in your pool by limiting the amount of evaporation that occurs.
 This type of pool cover is recommended for those who live in a sunny area and want to save money.

A pool party can come to an end fast if bees show up uninvited. It turns out, most bees are attracted to pools because they want to quench their thirst. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to make sure they don’t crash the party.
Bring out the plants. While bees normally love plants, they aren’t friends with all of them – including mint and lemongrass. Feel free to plant these near your pool to act as a natural repellant.
Use dryer sheets. As mentioned before, certain smells can be a real turn off for bees. We use dryer sheets to give our clothes a fresh smell, but bees hate them. Place the dryer sheets in cups around the pool to keep bees away. Be sure to change them once they lose their scent.

If your goal is to reduce your pool operation costs and be kinder to the planet, you might want to consider installing solar panels to help heat your pool.
Solar pool heaters allow water to be pumped through a filter and then through a solar collector, where it is heated. The heated water is then pushed back into the pool. The $3,000 to $4,000 investment can be great for those who are able to install solar panels in an unshaded area to collect direct solar energy.
As an added bonus, the solar collectors can also help cool the pool during the summer months.

Pool safety for children is a major concern for parents but there are a handful of things you can do to keep your family safe.
Teach your children to swim. Expose your children to the water at an early age (with adult supervision) through swimming lessons and fun water activities. The more they are acquainted with the water, the less curious they will be about wanting to run into the pool when no one is looking.
Say no to drains. Show your children what a pool drain looks like and explain to them why they should not go near them. Many pools have strong suction that helps circulate water. Hair, loose items and swim suits can get stuck in the drain if you’re nearby too long. Be sure all drains are covered.
Find the best barriers and door locks. Pool fences and special locks should be installed near your pool and on the doors that help access the pool. This will keep children out when the pool is not in use.
Learn CPR. You never know when an emergency could happen. As an adult supervising children in a pool, knowing how to perform CPR correctly could save a life.

There is a good reason why everyone is throwing tennis balls into their swimming pools. Not only are they the star of the show during a tennis match, they can also help you clean your swimming pool.
Sure, you can use traditional chemicals, but tennis balls can help give your pool a little scrub when you’re not in the mood to do it yourself. The rough exterior of the tennis balls will soak up dirt and oil that don’t belong in the pool – like sunscreens, lotions and hair products that have made their way into the water.
All you’ll need to do is toss in a tennis ball or two and let them work their magic.

A wristwatch alarm is simply a safety device that your child or anyone else that might be in danger around your pool can wear. It’s one of many other precautionary measures you can take to warn you when something dangerous might be happening in or near your pool.
 
The wristwatch alarm is generally linked to a centrally located “base,” probably somewhere in your house where you can easily hear it. You will be alerted with an alarm when it comes into contact with water – i.e., when your child falls in and is in distress. The device is no bigger than a wristwatch and is a great preventative measure to keep your children safe around the pool. It’s not a replacement for a good eye as you should always watch your kids while they’re in the pool.

When you become a pool owner you must have your (figurative) safety goggles on at all times.  It is important to think in terms of having layers of protection.  Don’t assume that you can slap up a “Swim at Your Own Risk” sign and you’re done!!  Some important things to consider doing are:

1. Install a fence around your pool that is at least four feet high and has self-latching gates
2. Consider a power safety cover that can be used any time the pool is not in use
3. Be sure that you and everyone in your family know how to swim. It is also advisable that you be certified in CPR and first aid, as well as keeping rescue equipment and a phone near the pool.
4. Do not allow anyone to swim alone and do not leave an open pool unattended.
5. Be sure your homeowner’s insurance has coverage to protect you against lawsuits resulting from pool injuries

There cannot be too many layers of safety when it comes to your pool.