Swimming Pool Cleaning

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If you live in a warmer climate, a swimming pool is almost always at the top of your “must have” list when buying or adding onto a home.  You have two important decisions to make – A pool built into the ground, or one that is above ground.  Both have their own sets of features and benefits, and ultimately they’ll lead to the same goal (having a pool!) so how do you choose?

Above ground pools can be extremely cost effective if you’re just looking to cool off during the heat.  A basic above ground pool will cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars, up into the thousands, depending on what you’re looking for.  The ground of course needs to be nice and flat all around with plenty of room for the equipment and the toys & floats you’ll want to buy!  Also, invest in some good padding to put underneath the pool.  This will not only make it more comfortable to walk around on, but keep the ground from compacting in high traffic areas creating divots. Once purchased, you can either install it yourself or hire a pro.  Most pools will come with instructions – You’ll also have hundreds of written and video resources online to refer to when installing it.  Hiring a pro is always an excellent option if you’re not comfortable with doing it yourself.

In ground pools are of course, buried in the ground.  They’re usually more aesthetically pleasing, longer lasting, and much more durable.  They’re also more expensive, getting into the tens of thousands fairly quickly. You have a few options here as well – You can go with a fiberglass shell, a poured concrete shell and plaster, etc. Shop around, do your homework, and buy the best pool you can fit into your budget.  The adage ‘you get what you pay for’ definitely rings true here.  You’re going to be looking at it almost every day, you need to make sure the design is something you love.

Shop around for important accessories as well.  Having a good pool cover for the fall and winter is a fantastic investment, saving you hours of labor.  There are companies that offer solar blankets also which are great for the spring and early fall.  Depending on your climate and how many hours of sun your pool gets each day, you can see a difference of 8-10 degrees, extending your swim time by precious weeks every year.  There are heaters available for your pool as well, providing constant heat at the expense of energy (and money!).  You’ll want to consult with your pool professional for sizing a heater, but for a typical pool a 350,000 BTU heater is probably the lowest I would go.  Remember that solar blanket?  A heater mixed with a solar blanket is an extremely cost effective solution for extending the season by MONTHS!  Running a pool heater without a pool cover or blanket is like running your home’s heater in the winter with the windows open.

Swimming pools are an excellent source for low impact exercising and stress relief.  There are a variety of products for working out in the water, or you can simply swim laps.  Having that heater and solar blanket will help you shed those holiday pounds more quickly as well if you’re committed.

These days more and more people are staying home for their vacations.  Having that swimming pool in the back yard will certainly help you relax in better comfort.  No more dealing with the crowds at the local pool anymore!