swimming pool openings

 Today's topic is the opening of your swimming pool . There are 3 main types of swimming pools . In ground ,above ground and in and above ground ( kayak, Olympic ponderosa ect . ) the principles are all similar And i will try to cover any variations as we go along .
 First we have to get the cover off . there are basically 3 types of covers . Solid which is held in place with weights on the deck (water bags ) or a cable (above ground ) .A  safety cover which is secured with stainless steel springs . The third kind is an automatic cover which rides in a track and uses an electric motor to move the cover back and forth .
 Back to getting the water off . Above ground pools can use a siphon pump to drain the water off the cover i sell these for 25.00 to 30.00 dollars . they hook to a garden hose and drain the cover slowly . you can also purchase an electric pump from Manny sources that will do this faster . Check the water level underneath when you pump but i do not usually loosen cables until i have most of the water off . I check this because if the cover has holes it will pump out the whole pool before it drains the cover .If this happens i do what i call a quick pull where i try to isolate the holes and get the bad water off as fast as possible . I use a gas powered pump that pumps @10000 ga. an hour .
 After i get as much water off as possible . I do what i call boxing the cover . we just keep the good water in the pool and the bad water on the cover making a smaller and smaller box until we have enough off to remove the cover without getting any in the pool . Sometimes i have to use milk crates strainer buckets (with holes ) or even post hole diggers ( with dull ends to not damage the cover )
 Do not let more than a little debris from the cover get into the pool . That will make your pool a real problem to clean . Or really expensive if i have to do it . On in ground pools a drain and clean is between 500.00 to 1100.00 dollars .
 Once the cover is on the deck the rest is easy fill the pool up to operating level . Remove plugs from the skimmer and returns install plugs for pump filter and heater and install eye fittings and skimmer baskets .
 with the covers i like to set them out for drying and use a leaf blower to clean . Then you can apply a cleaning solution if you like let dry and fold for storage .
 Once the pool is full to operating level prime and start equipment and put in start up chemicals and do initial vac . Make sure all of your nets vac hoses poles ect are in good repair . Then you can take a water sample to a local pool professional and have them test to see if you need to add anything . Thanks for reading this far . Please feel free to comment to poolguy4544@att.net
thanks
Gari Liacopoulos
Performance Pools
5851 secor rd
toledo oh 43623
www.swimctr.com
(419)474-4544

swimming pool inspections

 We have been receiving calls for pool inspections for this year for new home buyers . This reminded me to give you some simple tips to save you much heartache later . If you are purchasing a home and it is not pool season we recommend having the pool professionally inspected . If you are making an off season purchase get the home warranty and make sure it covers all aspects of the pool (liner plumbing tile plaster coping etc) or put an agreed amount in an escrow account . Speak with your legal council on that .
 O.K. here are some common sense tips to help you do this yourself . First look for the obvious leaks at filter , a wrinkly liner , concrete decking moving (plumbing might be leaking underneath ) tile falling off coping stones broken rough plaster . Are all the ladders handrails diving board slide still there ? Is the equipment all there ? was a heater there and now not there .( you will see a gas line going nowhere ) is there a cover on pool .I have seen a few pools with no cover at all . No cover is a red flag you will probably have to drain pool empty and clean it out . if it is a liner pool you wont want to drain pool completely you will ruin liner . When i receive calls about pools with no cover or a cover that fell in that is a minimum of  $500.00 and possibly $1000.00 to drain and clean .
  Some of the things i look for on a pool are . When running the pool for 24 hours does it lose any water ? If you can run pool with pump running for 24 hours and not lose any water it is unlikely there is an underground leak . Is the pump motor rusty noisy ? do the switches all work light , pump , does heater run ?
 During your walk around if there are any warning signs i recommend you call in a professional to advise you .the Realtor and owner want to sell the house use your own professional . I have had homeowners hand me letters saying everything was alright while i was standing next to leaky rusty equipment . Check out a b.b.b. or service magic pro to advise . They will be your best friend especially if this is your first pool . They can advise you on operations and what chemicals to use and what you may want to upgrade in the future .
Thanks for reading
Gari Liacopoulos
Performance Pools
5851 secor rd
Toledo OH 43623
www.swimctr.com

(419)474-4544

Safety cover problems

  I wanted to put out a brief note about in ground pools with mesh or solid safety covers . We had a service call today to repair @ 6 cover anchors . I am glad we went because this solid safety cover has had such a load of snow and ice on it it was shearing the tops right off the anchors . The repair was done by replacing the anchors and relieving pressure on the cover by loosening the straps in high tension areas . We relieved the tension to save the cover (it is 10 plus years old )and the springs and anchors . As the covers age they tend to shrink a bit so take a walk around your to check it out for yourself . We have had some warm weather in northwest Ohio so now is a perfect time to check and maybe pump off some water . Remember most manufactures recommend water to be drained no more than 18" from the top of coping to support cover . You can make these repairs yourself or call a professional . To replace safety covers you will need to spend 1000.00 to 2000.00 possibly more . We hope this helps
Gari Liacopoulos
Performance Pools
5851 secor rd
Toledo OH 43623
www.swimctr.com

(419)474-4544

How do i know when it is time to resurface my gunite pool .

We get this question often in our business.Here are some answers that can help you to decide .The first question i ask is do you have a problem with algae ? This is usually the mustard or black algae . The kind that sticks to a spot and the water is clear .Do the kids or you have abrasions on feet and toes ? This tells me the surface is rough and abrasive and makes a perfect breeding ground for algae .When was the last time the pool was resurfaced ? A good plaster job will last 10 to 15 years if proper water chemistry is kept and the pool is properly maintained .What can i do as a homeowner to help ? I recommend using a stain and scale product with your openings and closings .This will prevent many problems with mineral deposits calcium buildup and staining .You can also brush the areas with a pool metal brush just made for plastered pools ( do not use this brush on vinyl liner pools ) also take a plastic scraper to an area that seems rough . If the stuff comes off easily and is clear to white .this could be a calcium buildup and the stain and scale and some brushing will do a lot of good . We might be able to fix problems with a light acid chlorine wash to whiten up surface and do small repairs for a fraction of the cost of resurfacing . You can feel free to contact us with questions.
Gari Liacopoulos
Performance Pools
5851 secor rd
toledo oh 43623
www.swimctr.com

(419)474-4544

things to check before you call a hot tub repair tech .

Today we will discuss some simple things to check before you call for hot tub service .The first thing to check is there power to the unit is the display working ? Is the spa light working ? Do you have some features working and some not like the blower pumps ect. Is the hot tub tripping the breaker as soon as you set it ? Are there any codes showing on the display panel . Use the owners manual to see what they mean . If you dont have the book you should be able to get it quickly online with the brand and model number . The next most important thing is to be sure there is plenty of water in the spa to run properly and clean the filter . That is the cause of manny uneeded service calls . When you have gotten that far you can call in a pro . If you give them that much information they will have a good idea of how to troubleshoot and a head start of what parts to bring . This saves them time and you money .
Gari Liacopoulos
Perfromance Pools
5851 Secor Rd.
Toledo, OH 43623
http://www.swimctr.com/
(419)474-4544