Above Ground Swimming Pool Covers

One of the easiest things you can do to protect your pool and keep it looking great for many years, is to invest in a quality swimming pool cover. It is a relatively low cost item, that can save you money and a lot of pool maintenance in the long run.

If you own an above ground pool, you will probably want to invest in two different types of covers. The first type of cover will be used during the warm months, whenever you are actually swimming in your pool. This type of cover is commonly known as a solar cover. The way it looks is sometimes compared to an overgrown piece of bubble wrap. It works by not only keeping debris out of the pool, but also by trapping in the heat accumulated by the water during the warm daylight hours. It is usually placed on the swimming pool in the evening when everyone is finished swimming for the day. This type of cover floats freely on the top of the water and can easily be put on or taken off by two people. One person can complete the task with a little bit more effort, but they will most likely end up getting rather wet.

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The second type of cover you will want to own is a winter pool cover. As an owner of an above ground swimming pool, you'll find that this type of cover is absolutely necessary if you want to keep your pool free of debris. These large, heavy duty covers are generally made of some type of very durable synthetic material that can resist whipping winds and unforgiving winter weather. Most of these covers drape over the entire pool and are strapped down or weighted down along the outside wall of the pool.

Both types of pool covers mentioned here, cost no more than fifty or sixty dollars for most above ground pools. The time and hassle that they save pool owners is well worth the expense.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Covers

Above Ground Swimming Pools - Easy to Set Up and Affordable to Maintain

When it comes to easy setup and affordable maintenance, nothing beats above ground pools. In recent years, above ground swimming pools have rapidly grown in popularity because they are relatively inexpensive compared to in ground pools. In addition, the flexibility of swimming pools above ground is unparalleled. They can be removed more easily and can even be moved. In the past, many home owners had reservations about above ground pools because they felt they were not as durable as in ground alternatives. However, recent developments in the construction of above ground pools mean that they can usually last between 15 and 20 years so long as you keep up proper maintenance and replace the liner every five to seven years. Intex above ground pools are an excellent example of a durable above ground pool that will provide your family with years of swimming entertainment.

Above Ground Pool Setup

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Generally speaking, installing an above ground pool will require a few similar steps. Keep in mind that whatever above ground swimming pool you ultimately purchase will vary some with regards to installation but these guidelines should provide you with a sense of the work involved. For example, smaller above ground pools can usually be inflated or installed directly on your lawn while larger pools may require sod removal and site leveling. Still, the basic steps involved with setting up your new above ground pool will be discussed.

First, choose a suitable place to put your pool. Although this seems obvious, there are some careful considerations you should make. Pick a place where the ground is level and void of large rocks and stones. Also, make sure you have access to an outdoor electrical outlet. Your pool should be in an area of your yard with sun exposure and away from trees and bushes which tend to lead to excess debris in your pool.

Next, it is recommended that you level an area that is larger than your pool size. For example, if you have chosen a 12 foot pool then your base should be closer to 15 feet in diameter. You can level the area using a straight 2x4, which can be purchased at your local building supply store, and a spirit level. Above ground pools with an inflatable ring can usually be set up on the grass but installing metal frame above ground pools would require that you remove the sod. Still, lay the 2x4 on the ground with the spirit level on top and ensure that the bubble is centered. Turn the board 90 degrees and check the level again. You should repeat this process over the entire area of the above ground swimming pool base. Should the area not be level, you can add soil to low regions.

Once you have created a level base for your above ground pool, you can start setting up the pool. Every above ground pool is not the same with regards to setup so you should follow the manufacturer's instructions. Generally speaking, you would assemble the side walls, insert the liner, and connect the top rails. This is an extremely simplified explanation of above ground swimming pool assembly because not all pools are the same. Still, once you have the structure of your above ground pool set up you can begin to fill the pool with water. Ensure that the water depth is equal around the pool, as uneven water levels can cause excess stress on the walls of your above ground pool. Finally, you'll be ready to install the filter system and other extras for your pool by following the manufacturer's instructions.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Maintenance

Although maintenance for above ground swimming pools tends to be more straightforward, it is still important that you take care of your pool. First of all, you should check the chlorine levels daily to ensure that your pool is safe for swimming. You can purchase chlorine floaters that regularly administer chlorine to your above ground pool. Also, you should keep your above ground swimming pool covered when not in use to prevent debris from building up. This day to day maintenance means that your above ground pool can be enjoyed without stress.

As far as closing your pool is concerned, it is recommended that you follow the manufacturers' instructions for proper winterization.

Above Ground Swimming Pools - Easy to Set Up and Affordable to Maintain

Review of Large Portable Above Ground Swimming Pools

Summer is almost here and it looks like it is going to be a hot one. So I am here to give you a review of large portable above ground swimming pools. There is a wide selection of popular pools so here they are.

One of the most liked and popular is Intex Ultra Frame Pools. These are large and feel like a regular pool and not a portable outdoor pool. These pools are very easy to set up. It does not require a lot of work to install them. They all come with the DVD set up manual so you can watch to see exactly how it is done. Also, make sure you get the package pool, with the pump, deluxe cleaning kit, cover and liner. All pools need to be cleaned. What is good about Intex pools is that they have full customer service available to you Monday through Friday.

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The second best pools is the Ellipse lap pool. These pools are oval shaped and also feel like regular pools. They come packaged together with all the supplies such as pump, cover and liner. Same as with the Intex Ultra Frame Pools, these come with installation DVD so they are easy to set up. These pools are large portable above ground swimming pools, but they need strong people to move them.

There are 2 more different models of the large portable above ground swimming pools. The easy set and Intex Frame. The easy set is rated 2-3 stars because some of those are very easy to push on the side, making the water leak. However, the Intex frame pools are the other good option because they are a lot more sturdy and very easy to put together.

Overall, any pool you decide to get, make sure you get the pump, cover and the liner for it. Make sure you measure the area very well. And since these are very large portable above ground swimming pools, make sure you have a help to be able to move them.

Review of Large Portable Above Ground Swimming Pools

Swimming Pool Covers

A swimming pool can provide families with hours of entertainment and the opportunity for healthy recreation. However, unless care is taken, swimming pools can prove very dangerous. The sad fact is that it takes just thirty seconds for a child to drown. It is for this reason that pool covers can be so valuable.

Swimming pool covers provide many useful functions, such as maximizing the benefits of the pool-heating system, thereby cutting back on the portion of the energy bill devoted to keep the pool temperature perfect. Hard-top swimming pool covers also function as a backup to a pool fence (an absolute safety necessity), ensuring that if a little child wanders onto a covered pool, he or she will not get entangled in a flimsy cover, which is a drowning hazard. Warmer environments only require simple plastic swimming pool covers -- just to keep the pool clean and protected from airborne dust, dirt, and leaves when not in use. The choice of the type of swimming pool cover is determined by what the particular necessities are.

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Swimming pool covers come in a variety of choices: net pool covers, mesh pool covers, vinyl/in-ground pool covers, etc. They adapt to rocks and waterfalls and don't obstruct views. A mesh pool cover has a tight-fitting safety barrier, and it prevents unwanted entry, reduces maintenance, keeps pool free of debris, and reduces evaporation. A vinyl pool cover boasts an outstanding safety barrier, and it operates with the turn of a key, seals out dirt and leaves, insulates and retains heat, and reduces chemical loss. All-Safe and Katchakid are two of the many manufacturers of swimming pool covers.

The mesh swimming pool covers serve dual purposes: safety and protection of the pool from leaves and debris. Mesh covers are used extensively throughout the U.S. to close down or winterize pools. The fabric of the swimming pool cover is a unique blend of polypropylene and is impervious to chlorine and mildew. Most swimming pool covers provide an adequate level of safety if properly cared for. However, care should be taken to choose a pool cover that is high in quality and one in which the mesh pool cover straps go completely across the cover on both the top and bottom of the cover. Also, the spacing of the straps on the mesh pool covers greatly affects the overall strength.

Swimming Pool Covers

How To Find And Repair Most Swimming Pool Leaks

It's not uncommon for pool owners to notice that water seems to be leaking out of their pool after opening it for the year. But where is the leak coming from? Let's take a look and see how to find and repair swimming pool leaks.

First of all, you have to make sure that it really is a leak in the first place. What do you think is a leak, may be something else. There are actually three main causes of water loss from swimming pools and they are:

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1. Swimming pool plumbing leaks

2. Swimming pool shell leaks

3. Normal evaporation or excessive splash

So before you go any further let's rule out number three in the list above. It's important to do this, because actually the sun can evaporate quite a bit of water from a pool on a daily basis without your realizing it, and swimmers can splash a lot of water out of a pool too..

To find out for sure if the water loss is due to evaporation or not, take a fairly large container and fill it with water and place it on the first step of your pool. Then remove enough water from the container so that the water level in the pool and in the container is exactly the same. Now leave the container there for a couple of days to see what happens with no one using the pool in the meantime. If after a couple of days the water level in the pool has gone down, and the water level in the container has gone down the same amount, then you know that the water loss you are experiencing is most likely just evaporation due to the sun.On the other hand, if the water in the pool has gone down farther than the water in the container, then most likely there is indeed a leak in your pool somewhere.

To find a pool leak, the first place to inspect is around your filter and pump. Do you notice any water spots or damp areas there? If so, try to trace back where the water is coming from. Very often, it will be a connection on one of the pipes in this particular area.You may need to turn on the pump for a while and observe it to see if any leaks develop while everything is running. If the leak begins to show, and you feel comfortable with repairing the pool plumbing, then this is a job that you may wish to do yourself. However, for most people it will be a job that is best left to a pool professional.

If no obvious leaks can be found in the plumbing, then perhaps the leak is in the shell of the pool itself. And in this case, it's almost always advisable to leave any of this type of work up to a well-qualified professional.

As you can see, finding and repairing swimming pool leaks is usually just a matter of eliminating possible causes until you find the real problem. Once the problem is found, your final decision is whether to fix it yourself or pay someone to do it instead.

How To Find And Repair Most Swimming Pool Leaks

Why You Need to Invest In Above Ground Swimming Pool Heater

Do you have a swimming pool in your house? Now that you have spent quite of lot of money buying an above ground swimming pool, you and your family and friends would definitely love to spend a substantial amount of time in it. But this is not always possible owing to a number of reasons. The most common determining factor is the constantly changing temperature of the water in your swimming pool. Swimming is real fun be it in the bright sunshine or even in the rain or mist. It hardly matters what the weather is like outside. What really matters is whether the water is warm enough or not. Now in order to maintain the temperature of the water in the swimming pool, you need to get an external heater meant to be installed with an above ground swimming pool.

The heater has a component called the thermostat. What happens is that when you set the thermostat at a temperature of about 22 to 25 degree Celsius, the temperature of the water remains constant for a long time thus ensuring that you can enjoy more time inside the pool. If you reside in that part of the country where the climate is relatively warmer, you may just consider raising the water temperature by 2 to 3 degrees and that is enough for you and your companions to swim comfortably.

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If the surface-area of your pool is big, then the water will lose a large amount of heat very soon. So you might need to cover your pool with an insulated cover to retain the warmth of the water. This will ensure that you do not have to heat the water too often and in the process you will be able to save some money in your electric bill also. Nowadays, swimming pool heaters come in a variety of sizes. You will need a heater which will suffice for your needs. There are gas powered heaters which run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG), while some other models may run on electricity. Gas powered heaters may seem like a little expensive to run because of the amount of gas you have to buy for the purpose. However, remember that the heater will also warm up the water pretty quickly, after which you can turn off the heater, or at least lower the thermostat, thus saving precious fuel.

If you need to purchase an above ground swimming pool heater, then you should try running a search on the Internet. You are sure to find a number of reputable online stores that way, which can provide high quality items priced well within your budget.

Why You Need to Invest In Above Ground Swimming Pool Heater