May is National Water Safety Month- Simple Steps to Save Lives

May is National Water Safety Month and just in time for the swimming season. Backyard swimming pools are made for fun but now is the time to go over water safety with your family to keep everyone swimming safe. These are some simple water safety steps that could help save lives this summer.

When children are around the pool, always be alert and staying close to the pool. Today's technology offers many distractions and staying attentive while around the pool is very important. Never leave small children unattended, no matter how short a time is needed. Before you and your family start swimming, go over basic water safety tips with them. Share basic safety instructions with family members and friends who will be using the pool too. Make sure a phone is nearby the pool area in case of an emergency.  

Get children acclimated to the water with swimming lessons.

Another step is learning and practicing water safety skills. Teach your children how to swim in the pool. Learning to swim can help keep children playing safely in the pool this summer. Be prepared in case there is an emergency by learning how to perform CPR. Learning CPR for both adults and children can help save a life in case a situation occurs. Once you learn CPR, be sure to update or refresh the skills regularly. It's also a good idea to learn and understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in in a pool emergency. Learning and practicing these key water safety skills can be the difference during a critical situation.

Fencing provides additional water safety.

Keep gates locked when pool isn't in use.

Lastly, having the appropriate safety equipment around the pool can help prevent an emergency from occurring. Start with making sure a four foot or taller fence completely encloses the pool. At entry points of the fence ensure that gates are self closing or self latching. Keep gates locked when the pool is not in use so that neighbor children can't wander in. If your pool has an automatic pool cover installed, be sure to keep the key inside and out of reach from children. Pools without an automatic safety cover can utilize pool alarms, which monitor undercurrents of the pool. For example if a child fell into the pool the alarm sounds both outside and in the house. You can also set up door alarms leading from your house to the backyard too. Finally make sure you pool equipment is up to date. Make sure drain and suction covers are in good working order and up to current standards. Keep a life saving ring and pole nearby the pool for quick access during an emergency.

PoolGuard Pool Alarm

Safety buoys

Nothing beats enjoying the backyard swimming pool with family and friends. Make sure you and your family is prepared for water safety while getting the most enjoyment from your pool. Talk with your local pool professionals if you have any questions about ways to prevent accidents or how to update your backyard. Be sure to check outhttp://www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org/ for even more safety tips for parents and children all season long.

What is the easiest way to keep my pool clean?

If you have a pool you know part of your summer is going to be spent cleaning and maintaining it.  Some people enjoy pool maintenance, a peaceful time spent outdoors enjoying the beautiful water.  On the other hand, some people would rather be doing anything else than cleaning their pool.  Whatever your view on pool care, everyone wants to know what is the easiest way to keep their pool looking great all season?

Dolphin Edge Robotic Pool Cleaner

Let's start with the easiest method first.  Robotic cleaners have become easier and more efficient, which can simplify your pool maintenance to pushing a button.  The Edge cleaner we offer is a full service butler to your pool surface.  It is designed to vacuum the bottom, clean the walls and even scrub the waterline!  The Edge is completely self contained, like a miniature pool filter system inside.  Don't have time to push the on button?  Set a weekly timer at different intervals and your cleaner will search out your pool from the deck to clean it.  Being remote control compatible, you can sit poolside sipping your favorite summer beverage while directing the Edge where to clean.  Maintain your pool by barely lifting a finger!

Dolphin Endeavor Robotic Pool Cleaner

Not quite ready for the full package yet?  Save some money with the Endeavor robotic cleaner, the little brother to the Edge cleaner.  The Endeavor cleaner focuses mostly on the floor of the pool.  It houses the same filtration system as the Edge, which is all self contained.  Set the weekly timing cycles to clean even if you're not home.  You do still need to brush the side walls of the pool down occasionally to prevent bio-film from building up.  All said, the Endeavor makes for an easy method of keeping your pool clean during the season.

Kreepy Krauly Suction Sided Cleaner

If a robotic cleaner isn't going to fit into your pool budget this summer, their are automatic cleaners available.  Take a suction sided cleaner like the Pentair Kreepy Krauly .  This type of cleaner takes over your manual cleaner by attaching to the pool skimmer with a vacuum hose.  Using the pools filtration system, the suction through the vacuum hose powers the vacuum throughout the pool.  This cleaner moves randomly across the pool bottom picking up debris and sending to your pool filter.  As the filter holds more dirt and debris the cleaner will slow down due to lack of suction, then needing to be backwashed.  The suction side cleaner works great, however can be limited to how well your filtration system works.

Volt rechargeable pool vacuum 

Not looking for a cleaner that moves on it's own?  There are cleaners available that work like underwater handheld dirt devils.  These cleaners turn on with a push of a button and can be held while in the pool or attached to a pole for cleaning from the deck.  While being very quick and easy to use, these type cleaners hold only small amounts of debris.  Homeowners find them to be perfect for steps, corners and small pockets of dirt.

The trusty manual vacuum head.

The final way to clean your pool is a good old fashioned manual vacuum.  Like the suction sided cleaner, you will hook a vacuum head to a hose and pole.  Using the pools filtration system you then can maneuver the vacuum around the pool picking up debris where necessary.  This method can be the most time consuming, especially if the pool floor has a lot of heavy debris.  Some homeowners prefer this method of vacuuming at the start of the season but can become tired of dragging out all the equipment every week.

No matter what option is best for you, regular pool maintenance is one of the keys to keeping your pool sparkling clear. These are some of the most common types of cleaners on the pool market.  You may find your local pool store has different varieties of these cleaners available.  Talk with your local pool professional for pricing and what cleaner may be best for you!

How long will it take to clear my pool after it's opened?

You are excited for summer and you know it's just around the corner.  You can see the pool parties and lazy Saturday's floating on your favorite raft in your near future.  Ready to get a head start on the pool season you get your pool opened up and running.  As the cover pulls back off the pool your excitement turns to disgust as you stare at what looks like a backyard swamp! What should you do?

Every summer we hear of homeowners opening pools hoping for crystal clear water, only to find the opposite looking back at them.  The first question we get from new homeowners is "how do I drain and refill the pool?"  Before you start pumping out your pool here is some advice you may want first.

Most of the time, and I can't stress the word MOST enough, you can clear up a pool much cheaper with chemicals and some elbow grease than with draining and refilling.  Every pool is a different situation, we've seen black, brown, green, and dark green all clear up using chemicals.  It is possible to clear it chemically!

Leaf Rake used to dip debris from bottom of pool.

Before any rash decisions are made on how to clear the pool, try and find out how much debris is in the bottom.  Take a pole with a leaf rake attached to the deepest part of the pool.  Push across the bottom and pull it back up.  You may do this a few times.  But this will help determine where to start.  If the leaf rake pulls up empty or just a few worms, breath a sigh of relief.  However if you have a full leaf rake that seems to weigh 100 pounds, you have some work ahead of you.


If you are going to chemically treat the water there are a few steps to the process.  First you need to remove as much debris from the bottom as you can.  We know you can't see the bottom, but the more you remove the less chemicals you will need to add!  So if there is a lot of debris, use your leaf rake to dip debris for some time and then let the water settle from stirring it up.  You could be dipping leaves and debris for the entire day to week depending on how bad it is.  Once you feel like there isn't much on the bottom, try to vacuum the pool.  Vacuuming is an easier way to remove the smaller dirt, worms and debris by filtering them out.  Vacuums can clog very quickly when lots of debris is present, so make sure you get all the big stuff with your leaf rake.

**Tip: This is a great time to utilize a flocculant.  A flocculant will settle suspended particles to the bottom of the pool.  After everything settles, you can then vacuum the pool to waste which bypasses your filtration system and removes it completely.


Now that the hard work is done and you feel confident the bottom of the pool is somewhat clear, it's time to start the chemicals.  If you are in a rush to clear the pool, you can always start balancing the pH and Alkalinity while you are working on clearing the bottom.  Once the pH and alkalinity are both in range adding chlorine to the pool will help turn the pool back clear by killing algae and bacteria.

Pool water lab with customer getting
help balancing their pool.

If you aren't sure how to balance the pool or how much chlorine to add, bring a water sample into your local swimming pool store for a water analysis.  How much chemical your pool will need to balance and clear varies depending on how much algae is in the water to how far out of balance the water starts out.  When in doubt, keep bringing in water samples and let the experts help!

So you made it through all that and are now second guessing opening up the pool knowing what work is in front of you.  There is always the option to drain and refill and have your crystal clear water without all the work.  Why doesn't everyone just drain and refill their pool when it looks like a disaster?

Pool being filled from a water truck.  Pool water delivered by
a water truck can have a pool filled within a few hours.

First reason, most people will need water trucked in from a water filling service.  Depending on how big your pool is this could cost anywhere from $600 to $1500.  In our area the average backyard pool costs about $1000 to have new water trucked in.

The second reason is you still have to drain out all the old gross water from the pool.  In an earlier blog we talked about why your liner floats or pool pops out of the ground.  If you drain the pool, you always risk floating the liner which can ruin it or even shrinking the liner if the temperature is to cold.  If draining and refilling the pool is your option, choose a time when it will be warmer and sunnier to help prevent shrinking.  It helps to have the new water scheduled so the pool isn't empty very long.  The longer the pool sits empty the greater the chance the liner shrinks, floats or needs replaced!

If you still aren't sure what the best option for your pool is the best thing you can do is consult with your local swimming pool dealer.  They are there to help get your pool ready for the summer!

Help! My pool liner is floating.

 Spring is around the corner and like most homeowners you can't wait to get your backyard in order and ready for summer.  Spring means rain, rain and more rain.  Usually after multiple rainfalls or one big rain we get a very common phone call.  Help!  My vinyl pool liner looks like it's floating!

Vinyl liner bubbling in from wall.

Vinyl liner floating.

First and foremost, this is a common occurrence in the Spring and your pool isn't the first to experience it.  Take a deep breath, the vinyl pool liner will eventually go back into place without damage.  So why is this happening to your vinyl pool liner?

Being located in Central Indiana, the water table underground can create hydrostatic pressure underneath your swimming pool.  Typically during the Spring you will see the ground water table rise due to snow melting and spring rain showers.  If your backyard or surrounding areas have some standing water or easily become swampy, your water table is very high.  This affects your backyard swimming pool because that high groundwater table or hydrostatic pressure is pushing up on the bottom your pool.

So hydrostatic pressure is created when the groundwater outweighs your pool water.  The groundwater will then push upwards to relieve the pressure. This gives your pools vinyl liner the appearance of floating, bubbling or a blister.  The upside to a vinyl liner in-ground pool is that after the groundwater resides and your liner drops back into place, it may leave you with a few wrinkles.  These wrinkles can be an eyesore but do not damage the integrity of the pool. If your pool was constructed with a concrete or fiberglass, the hydrostatic pressure could lift and break the concrete or fiberglass bottom, creating a major issue.

Pool coming up out of ground due to hydrostatic pressure.  

So how do vinyl liners survive hydrostatic pressure when concrete and fiberglass pools are damaged by it?  Vinyl liner in-ground swimming pools are typically constructed with a vermiculite bottom or base.  Vermiculite is a porous base that can keep its form similar to concrete.  But being porous allows the ground water to pass through it.  This helps keep your in-ground pools floor intact with no damage.

Owner, Tom Murr troweling the bottom of a pool with vermiculite.

So next time your vinyl pool liner looks to be floating, keep as much water in the pool as possible!  The more water in the pool, the more pressure to keep the ground water from rising higher.  Look into installing a sump pit if your liner floats multiple times a season and want to help alleviate the problem.  This can help ease the high ground water problem by moving the water away from underneath your pool.

Talk with your local pool builder professional about any issues, concerns or solutions you may have regarding a high water table in your backyard.

What's better? Vinyl liner or fiberglass pool?

When planning the installation of a new backyard swimming pool, one of the first decisions a homeowner encounters is what type of swimming pool should I install?  Being located in Central Indiana the two most popular types of pools are vinyl liner and fiberglass.  Discussing with your local swimming pool builder, typically whatever pool they specialize in is the best.  So which one is ideal for your family?

Like any major home project there are pros and cons to either choice.  So lets explore some of them:

A fiberglass pool being installed in backyard.

A fiberglass pool can look beautiful and bring years of entertainment for your family with minimal costs to the actual fiberglass shell itself.  Being molded in a factory allows your fiberglass pool to hold the same great shape year after year.  Installing a high quality fiberglass pool can typically come with a warranty for up to 30 years.  Be sure to research the quality of fiberglass so that your pool won't crack, blister or peel to quickly.  With advancements in technology, more options are available such as entry steps and benches to give your pool a little something extra.

Fiberglass pool coming apart from deck and lifting out of the ground.

One of the first downsides you will hear about a fiberglass pool is that it easily can pop out of the ground.  Depending on different variables, this could be a big con or not a problem for your backyard.  In Central Indiana homeowners can have a high ground water table.  If your backyard is on a hill or elevated, you typically don't have any issues with a high water table.  If not though you may have to deal with a high water table.  Simply put if the ground water during the spring (from melting snow and spring rain) rises and more water is underneath your pool than what is in the pool, the pressure can displace (or pop out) the pool.  Due to water tables, the majority of fiberglass pools are not diving depth safe either.  If your backyard ever has standing water or gets saturated during the spring, a fiberglass pool might not be the best fit.

When planning a fiberglass pool, don't expect a custom layout.  You are limited to what a manufacturer offers on size, shape and layouts.  Some pools have benches, steps or ledges but the placement is predetermined.  What you see is what you can choose from.

Custom vinyl liner pool.

A vinyl liner swimming pool allows a homeowner to design their dream pool (with a few limitations) for their backyard.  Technological advances now allow liner pools to add steps, sun ledges, or benches to the shape and size pool they desire, with thousands of configurations to choose from.  The options are endless and your family can have a custom pool without breaking the bank.   Does your family want to dive into their pool?  With a liner pool, you can configure it so that the deep end is safe for diving.  Get tired of looking at the same old thing after years?  Liners typically need changed roughly 10-12 years in the future, giving you the opportunity to update the pool and make it look brand new at a fraction of the cost of a new pool.

A big downside to fiberglass pools is the water table, but how does that affect liner pools?  Liner pools are constructed with a vermiculite bottom that is porous like sand, but sets up firm similar to concrete.  This allows any ground water to pass through it and not cause and structural damage to your investment.  On the flip side, the con can be as water passes through the vermiculite and push the liner up, the result can be wrinkles in the bottom of the pool.  Pro to no structural damage but con to having to look at wrinkles for the summer.

Wrinkles formed from ground water in a liner pool.

Even though you get to refresh your liner pool in the future, you still have to replace the liner eventually and homeowners can expect $3k to $5k for a liner replacement.  Because the liner is very valuable to your pool holding water, your family has to be careful not to rip a liner.  This isn't an everyday happening (yes, liners can be patched easily too), but being negligent to what you put around the pool can quickly lead to a costly repair.

When it comes time to price your dream pool, a liner pool will typically cost $10k - $15k cheaper than a fiberglass pool up front.  After 30 years and a couple new liners, the pools may end up costing the same depending on how you want to view your pool costs.

So what is better?  A vinyl liner or fiberglass pool?  You still may not have the right answer, but hopefully this gives you some quick pros and cons to either option.  Every backyard and situation is different and we encourage you to talk your local pool builder about any concerns you may have.  Don't be afraid to get a second opinion either.  We like most builders offer a backyard consultation to help your family find the perfect pool.

Direct vs In-direct cooking on the Big Green Egg

 To cook direct or in-direct on your Big Green Egg- that is the question.  After you've selected the perfect cut of meat and are ready to fire up your Egg, now is the time to explore which method of cooking is best. 

Direct cooking on your Egg is just like the first time you fired it up.  The coals are hot and the Egg is stable at the set temperature, so you place your food on the grate and shut the lid.  This is the direct method of cooking, whether the temperature is low or high, your heat from the coals are going direct towards your food.  

Direct method of cooking.  Your heat comes in direct contact with the food.

By placing the convEGGtor piece into the Egg after you start your fire, you've now switched from direct to in-direct cooking.  It's as simple as that.  So why would you want to cook in-directly on your Egg?  By utilizing the convEGGtor, you have now placed a barrier between the heat and your food.  This barrier turns your Egg into a convection oven.  Now you have the ability to cook anything that would normally go into your kitchen's oven into your Egg.  Warning- after you taste the food that comes off the Egg vs your oven, you may never want to cook inside ever again!  Using your convEGGtor will result in even more juicy, delicious and aromatic food.

In-direct method of cooking.  The convEGGtor plate is the white ceramic piece underneath the grate.

So when is the ideal time to cook in-direct on the Egg?  Anytime can be the ideal time to cook in-directly on your Egg!  Most Egg-heads tend to really use the in-direct method on low and slow cooks. But the great part of the Egg is anything can be cooked in-direct, just remember that this method will take longer than direct cooking.  

The fun is experimenting with both methods on the same recipes so you can judge which method is better!