1. Pool Hygiene

Although indoor and outdoor pools are considered a must-have for every modern home, this luxury does not come without responsibilities. Recreational Water Illness is a term used for illnesses that are caused by swimming in unhygienic pools. Although, it is known that chlorine can kill most germs in pools, it is important to keep in mind some of more effective ways of combating this health threat. If the pH level in a pool is above 7.4 % it can cause severe damage and irritation of the eyes as well as mucous membranes. If it is below the healthy percentage, it can cause cloudy vision and skin irritations. The best way for one to control and maintain a hygienic pool environment is to consider more sophisticated alternatives such as various UV disinfection methods.

2. Indoor Pools

Indoor pools have become increasingly popular with modern day pool buyers. This kind of a pool offers you the luxury of enjoying your pool during the entire year and not just during summer. The installation process usually depends on what kind of a pool you want and how much space it is going to require. Ideas for these pools are limited only by the customer’s imagination and budget. The perfect time to start planning for the construction of an indoor pool would be before you make the blueprint for your new home where it will be built. Adding an indoor pool to a home that has already been built will only cause unnecessary problems and delay your enjoyment.

Indoor pools should be constructed so that the water slopes towards the pool so it wouldn’t move towards the walls of the home and cause damage. As far as construction materials go, this type of pool can be built from materials such as glass or ceramic. When you’re installing an indoor pool you don’t have to worry about the weather conditions as is in the case of outdoor pool construction. For indoor pools the only real issue is air humidity which needs to be maintained at 84 to 86 degrees as to avoid the appearance of mold and excessive damage to the walls. It’s therefore crucial to install plastic vapor barriers. Additionally, you can decorate the tiles of your indoor pool and add some interesting lighting.

3. Outdoor Pools

As opposed to indoor pools, outdoor pools require a lot more attention and care. In contrast, you don’t have to worry about planning like with outdoor pools because pool construction can be done any day of the year regardless of the construction of the house. Typically for outdoor pools, as opposed to indoor ones, you would want to build it so that the water slopes on the outside.

4. Outdoor Above Ground Pools

Above ground pools can vary in shape and size and it all comes down to what you want .You can set up small ones for small children, or tall and wide ones for grownups to enjoy. There are a few steps that should be followed when setting up a more complex above ground pool. First you would need to remove all the grass from the area that your pool will take up. It is important to rake the soil in order to remove excess weeds and roots, and to moisten it. Then outline the surface and create a wooden construction to hold the plates and covers together. Never forget to check if the pool is level, and for that purpose you would always want to keep a level at hand.

5. Outdoor In-Ground Pools

When it comes to outdoor in-ground pools the options are endless. These kinds of pools will never go out of style and are relatively affordable. The most popular kinds of in-ground pools are: Fiberglass, vinyl-lined and concrete. Depending on the preference of the buyer there are no significant differences between these materials. The rarest kinds are steel and aluminum-walled pools. Concrete pools generally take about 3-4 months to construct, but can last for decades – typically 30-50 years if it is on level ground.

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Many people dream of having their own swimming pool but few actually think to do anything about it. Why? Maybe it’s because they think it’s too much hassle and costs too much money. Well, it’s really not as expensive or disruptive as you might think.

These days you don’t have to have won the lottery or be a Hollywood movie star to be able to afford one. Nor do you have to put your lives on hold and turn your house into a building site for months on end while it’s installed. Truth be told, pool construction is a surprisingly simple process.

All you really need is a decent sized ground floor room or vacant bit of land adjoining your property, a little guidance from the pros and a spare bit of cash from the rainy day jar. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of a passion for construction, but don’t worry if you don’t – your involvement in the project is really down to you.

A Wise Investment

This may sound pretty obvious, but the advantages of having your very own swimming pool far outweigh the disadvantages. Although many people may disagree, installing a pool is a very wise investment. When you consider just how much value a swimming pool will add onto the price of your house, it’s practically paid for itself.

Another obvious benefit is the years of happiness and joy a pool will bring you and your family. We all know the kids will love it – that’s a given. The days of chauffeuring them to the overcrowded and overpriced local pool will be over. They can invite their friends round and have the time of their lives, all under your watchful eye.

Don’t be tricked into letting the kids hog all the fun though. Your own swimming pool gives you the perfect opportunity to stay fit and healthy all year round. After all, swimming has been proven to be one of the most effective forms of cardiovascular exercise there is.

It’s also a great way to relax – the soothing effect it has upon the body and mind has often been compared to yoga and meditation.

Things to Think About

It goes without saying that investing in a home swimming pool is a big decision and so there are a couple of things you might want to take into consideration before you grab your spade and start digging. You need to see what kind of budget do you have to work with and whether the pool will be indoor or outdoor.

Also you need to consider whether you have access to water, gas and electricity for it, whether the pool be used for health or recreational benefits, or both and do you need to get planning permission for the pool before construction begins?

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This is true for in-ground pools as well as above-ground models. You need to keep your pool safe for you, your family and your friends. If you can’t do it, consider calling in pool services to do it.

Here are the top five tips to maintaining a healthy pool:

1. Keep Track of Your Pool’s Chemistry

Checking the pH level especially is important. Make this a weekly task by purchasing a testing kit and setting aside a day a week to test pH levels. The ideal balance for pH levels should be between 7.2 to 7.6. If within this range, then chemicals added to disinfect the water work best. If pH levels rise over 8.0 chlorine becomes less active, so work hard to keep those pH levels in check. Also add chlorine at night as chlorine is less effective during the day. There are new technologies such as controllers that can do this for you, but it helps to know the manual process if anything goes wrong.

2. Check the Calcium and Solids

Check for total dissolved solids twice a year and calcium hardness once a month. These levels should be controlled to keep the water safe for swimming.

3. Clean Your Generator

For salt water pools it’s important to clean chlorine generators to prevent calcium buildup and corrosion. If left unmaintained, these generators will give out insufficient chlorine which, over time, will affect water safety.

4. Filter Cleaning is Important

Sand filters need to be washed to be cleaned effectively. Don’t back-wash too often as it’s a waste of water. Always check the pressure gauge first to see if it’s between 8 and 10 PSI. If it is, the filters need to be back-washed. Skimmer baskets should also be cleaned to get rid of detritus that could potentially clog the system. Clogged baskets can result in insufficient circulation.

5. Don’t Waste Water or Energy

It is very important for liquid to circulate for proper pool maintenance. Run the pumps depending on the liquid volume of your pool and the speed of the pump. For a 5000 gallon pool, which would most like be an above-ground pool and one of the larger in-ground pools, it can filter all of that water in just over 3 hours if the pump filters 25 gallons of water per minute. Running it less than 3 hours will lead to sub-par filtration, but running it longer than that will lead to energy waste.

Living With a Clean Pool

Follow these tips to see optimal performance in your pool and water. You will know something is wrong if the water burns your eyes or nose, water turns green or is cloudy, or water has a bleach-like smell to it. Then it’s probably time to call in pool services.

Take the time to do these things properly and on a schedule. Trying to fix a neglected pool is way more expensive than keeping up with a good one regularly.

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