Opening a Pool Neglected for YEARS

5/17/2013 5:20:26 PM

How to renovate a neglected, abandoned pool. To drain the pool or not to drain? We cover both schools of thought, and discuss the advantages of each, as well as the risks of each. When faced with cleaning up a neglected pool, these tips are meant to make it easier - hopefully!

Pump & Filter Reassembly & Lubrication

5/14/2013 7:22:21 PM

Lubrication of your pool pump and filter, how and what to lube. What lubricant to use on pool o-rings? Use Teflon lube exclusively. This post hosts a video showing Rob Cox using Magic Lube on the inground pool pumps and DE filter - and other things, at Joe Coxes house in Chevy Chase, Md.

May is Pool Safety Month!

5/14/2013 5:54:32 PM

The most important thing you can do this month is to review pool safety tips and create a solid set of Pool Rules, and make every effort to make your pool as physically safe as possible, with as many Layers of Protection as you can make practical.

Pool Plumbing: Jandy Valves Replacement

5/7/2013 1:04:52 PM

How do you like the plumbing job featured left? It's the worst bit of pool plumbing I've ever seen! And to top it off - this was the finished pool pipe rehab! This DIY pool plumber has made a real mess of the pool plumbing, with unnecessary turns and twists, fittings and unions. And, what bothers me the most, is that he left the old brass ball valves on the return lines. Ugh.

Hot & Cool Pool Products for 2013

4/29/2013 7:29:03 AM

Here at Poolcenter we are constantly adding the latest and greatest in pool products and equipment. This year is no different as we have a fantastic lineup of new products from your most trusted brands. Be sure to keep an eye out for these hot new products coming live on our website, soon!

Sagging Wood Pool Fence Gate Repair

4/24/2013 12:28:38 PM

A pool fence gate that is sagging can be a real safety hazard - Why? Because a sagging pool gate won't self-latch as it closes, and could be left open, inviting a very unwelcome tragedy to your pool. For a new pool to pass the final pool inspections, a pool fence must be built to specific standards - and, the pool fence gate must be self-closing and self-latching.

Salt Chlorinator Installation and Start-Up

4/23/2013 4:06:25 PM

Now you can start up your salt chlorine generator. Hand in hand with salt you are going to need to maintain your stabilizer levels. Stabilizer is especially important with salt pools outdoors so that your salt generator can keep up with chlorine loss to the sun. Finally! Your salt system is installed and your levels are balanced. Now it’s time to start enjoying that silky water that salt pools are known for.

Cool Pool Tile Mosaics

4/19/2013 3:05:02 PM

Cool underwater swimming pool mosaic murals, done ini hand made and hand cut tile. Gallery of work from Robert Vogland, of Vogland.com, beautiful underwater tile murals for swimming pools.

Awesome Pool Fence Design Ideas

4/15/2013 3:27:03 PM

photo gallery of pool fence ideas and pool fence design. Ultra modern or traditional, pool fences look best when they are planned. Use these tips in 5 areas to design a cool pool fence around your pool.

How's Your Filter? The Trio - Part II

4/15/2013 1:06:25 PM

Today we look at Part II of the Trio, Circulation. It was pointed out last month that if you had the circulation of a rushing river, moving your water at say, 1,000 gallons per minute, you likely wouldn’t need filtration or sanitation. I guess algae can’t grow when it’s moving so fast. But our little pipes and little pumps just can’t handle 1,000 gallons per hour, can they?

How to Close a Mesh Covered Pool

4/15/2013 12:51:05 PM

Mesh covers are great - beautiful, safe, low maintenance, durable. But they do have the drawback of allowing algae growth - if you let it! Completely preventable - just simply add another $20 worth of chemical, at the right time, and you'll save time and money later.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

4/15/2013 12:38:50 PM

In the Fall of 2007, POOLCENTER.com contributed to helping the Chapin Family realize their dreams. Having been a fan of the award winning television series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," since its inception, everyone here at POOLCENTER.com headquarters considers it an honor to be mentioned as having helped such a loving and caring family like the Chapin's. The thank you card from them warmed all of our hearts and brightened an already great Summer. Thank you, Chapin Family, for being such a great asset to your community.

Mesh is Best ~ Avoid the Mess with Mesh!

4/15/2013 11:22:34 AM

Summary of the advantages of owning a mesh safety pool cover. Saves money in the long run by savings on labor, water, supplies, all while looking good.

Swimming Pool Algae ~ Identify & Destroy

4/15/2013 10:19:47 AM

The key to algae control, is prevention. If algae doesn’t get started, it won’t be an issue. My number one rule is chlorine. Chlorine to prevent the algae from starting, and if it does get started, chlorine to kill it. In most cases, it is very easy to prevent algae. Keep the chlorine level at 1-3 ppm at all times, keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.6 and shock the pool every other week.

Solar Heat Showcase

4/15/2013 8:44:47 AM

Solar is the free way to heat your pool and save lots of money. Sure, you have to pay for the solar heater, cover, or liquid blanket , but with the money saved you will recoup that in no time. There is no slowing down seen in the production and use of solar powered products. The pool industry has always been very friendly in the use of solar pool products.

Pool Community Featured in Inc.com Magazine!

4/15/2013 8:44:27 AM

In April of 2008 POOLCENTER.com launched the "Community Pool," a place for our customer's to interact, share information, fun stories about their pool, post videos, collaborate, and just keep in touch with other pool owners. In order to make this happen, POOLCENTER.com implemented "community software" which is actually a sub-domain. The sub-domain http://community.poolcenter.com features many categories and sub-categories for users to navigate and browse at their leisure. Back in 1996 (ol' 96) POOLCENTER.com posted some information up on the web for their service customer's associated with Cox Pools, the information was to help/assist residential pool owners with such things as testing water chemistry, how to clean a pool filter, how to "winterize" a pool, etc., and so "Pool Info" (i.e. POOLCENTER.com) was born.

Spa Filtration & Sanitation Tips

4/12/2013 7:07:19 AM

Spa care is different than pool care - it's not just a little pool! Hot temps and High Bather loads put a burden on your spa filtration and sanitation. Here's 10 tips for spa care, to help ensure clean and clear water in your spa or hot tub.

Organize a Pool Safety Event in your Community

4/11/2013 3:29:17 PM

April Pools Day events are staged all over America, to raise awareness to water safety. Here's tips on how to organize an April Pools Day event in your community, to spread the word about Pool Safety!

2009 U.S. Drowning Statistics

4/11/2013 12:42:42 PM

Let’s face it, children get into things and get into places they are not supposed to be in. The last thing you want is to have an unsupervised child around your pool. Hundreds of children die in pools every year, but this year, 2009, is different in that the number has doubled so far this year. Over 600 drownings! Please Read On!

Locating Your Above Ground Swimming Pool

4/11/2013 12:23:12 PM

Wherever you are considering placing your pool, it must be very flat and level. If you do not have such a surface then you will need to level an area up, to install it on. Any slope, even a slight one, will cause the water to un-evenly load the pool, which can result in a sidewall failure. Even an inch of slope from one side to the other will create problems. To check the level of the ground, place a carpenter's level on a long piece of lumber. Move the lumber in a circular fashion, to check level from all directions.

Saltwater Chlorine Generator Technology

4/11/2013 12:17:04 PM

Saltwater Chlorine Generators, also called Salt Systems or Salt Chlorinators are fairly simple to understand. You pour salt (NaOCl2) - into the pool, about 200lbs per 10000 gals of pool water and this salty water is pumped through a salt cell, or electrically charged metal plates. Fancy folk call the process an oxidation-reduction reaction. I call it chemistry! The salt breaks down into it's components and mixes with the H2O, or dissassociates, as expressed by the following equation.

The Therapeutic Power of Water Exercise

4/11/2013 12:05:25 PM

Water workouts with AquaJogger and Pool Noodles as water exercise equipment. Aquatic exercise is sweeping the nation as one of the best ways to strengthen your body and lose weight! Exercising in water gives you a greater range of motion to maximize your muscle toning results!

How's Your Filter? The Trio - Part I

4/11/2013 10:33:54 AM

I always like to use the analogy that - if you had a filter as “big as a house” you wouldn’t need worry about circulation and sanitation. Or – if you dumped in 5 gallons of bleach every few days, you wouldn’t need to filter or circulate much either. Or – imagine circulating your pool water so fast, like a rushing river – turning it over at a rate of 1,000 GPM (gallons per minute) that Sanitation (chlorine) and Filtration becomes unnecessary for clean and clear pool water.

Pool Caulking ~ time to Caulk your expansion joints

4/11/2013 10:31:26 AM

Pool owners often overlook caulking the joint between the pool coping and the pool deck. Because of the time needed to allow pool deck and coping to shift and allow proper curing time, pool builders often refrain from including caulking your pool when building operations are complete. When the expansion joint is not caulked you are at risk of damage.

Algae - the many hues and colors

4/11/2013 10:10:46 AM

Algae, bacteria and mold can present itself in your swimming pool in many forms and colors. Restoring your pool and getting back that healthy crystal clear blue water can sometimes become a task. The best remedy is of course prevention. Continually monitoring and adjusting your water chemistry is a must - but unfortunately an algae bloom can occur almost overnight.

Loop-Loc mesh pool cover repairs and replacement

4/11/2013 9:51:10 AM

Loop-Loc is the leader in the swimming pool safety cover industry. Backed by a 12 year warranty and fabricated with impeccable craftsmanship, Loop-Loc covers have become common in the backyard. The quality of Loop-Loc safety covers are undisputable - but like all covers, are not indestructible and are known to get a hole from a fallen tree limb or a hungry rodent trying to borough its way through the cover.

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