An above-ground pool wouldn’t be an above-ground pool without water. However, pool water cannot directly touch the outside walls of an above-ground pool. Water just sitting against the metal pool walls would cause rusting quicker than one would expect, and additionally, the chemicals present in the water supply would speed up the process of weakening the walls.

To prevent rusting and decomposition of the walls, the water in an above-ground pool is held in place by a liner. Liners are large pieces of vinyl material that are installed during the initial pool construction and attached to the inside walls of the pool. The liner’s vinyl material is smooth enough to be soft to the touch when swimming around or standing inside the pool, but still strong enough to prevent water from breaking through to the pool’s walls. Unfortunately, if the vinyl liner becomes ripped or torn in any way, water will leak through and begin to eat away at the walls of the above-ground pool, slowly and surely. In addition to added pressure from the chlorinated water, the liner can also become weakened due to overuse by swimmers and pool playtime accessories scraping and rubbing against the walls and floor of the pool.

Luckily, a leak sprung in a pool liner is an easily-fixed problem. All of the best pool supply stores and pool accessory web sites have replacement liners in their catalog, with a wide variety of colors and sizes to pick from that match the size of your pool and the style of your yard. As soon as the source of the leak has been located, drain the pool water and clean the inside of the pool to prevent the walls from remaining wet and damp. Detach the torn liner from the pool once the water has drained. Place the order for a replacement liner. When it arrives, reapply the new liner the same way that you did when the pool was installed. Devices like a pool filler can refill the water level can temporarily relieve the leak problem by refilling the water that’s leaked out of the main pool area, but cannot patch the hole in the vinyl liner, so a full replacement of the material is the only sure way to prevent the rust and decomposition.

As an owner of an above-ground pool, one of your primary responsibilities will be to maintain a steady pH level for your pool’s water supply. Keeping the water’s pH level at safe and average levels of around 7.5 (on a scale of 0 to 14) is a task that requires constant supervision and testing to prevent the pH levels from going to extremes. This process requires a balanced amount of chlorine or bromine added to the pool’s water supply and filter. Adding too much or too little chemical to the water will lead to disastrous results. If your pH level in your water supply is too low, closer to 0 than the median, then your pool water is too acidic, and will likely lead to irritation of the skin and eyes, and will make your above-ground pool unsafe to swim in. However, if the ph in the water becomes too high, closer to 14 and above the median, then the water in your pool has become too basic. Base liquids have a high level of alkalinity, and if the water supply in your above-ground pool is among them, you must work quickly to reduce the pH and make the water fit to swim in once again.

When the pH in your pool is too alkaline, the water will be negatively affected in multiple ways. The levels of calcium in your pool’s water supply will be altered more than anything else. In overly alkaline water, the calcium present in the water supply and filter will begin to carbonate, leading to calcification on a grand scale. You won’t need a special test or pool expertise to see when this problem is occurring. As a result of the increased calcium levels, the pool water will become cloudy and too translucent to see the bottom of the pool floor. In addition to the clouds, the cloudy water will become overrun with traces of dirt and other outside contaminants, and your filter and chemicals will be unable to penetrate and dampen the overwhelming amount of calcium. It isn’t a pretty sight, so desperate measures must be made to counteract the calcification.

Lowering the pH and alkalinity levels in your above-ground pool’s water supply will require the use of more chemicals to counter the chlorination and build-up. Before you add any “miracle” products to the pool, however, it is recommended that you drain and clean out the filter in your pool before proceeding, as you won’t want overly alkaline water from remaining in the filter system after the calcium purge. After the cleaning has been completed, you will require the use of dry acid, a granular form of acid that can be added directly to the pool’s water supply and filter. The dry acid is specifically designed to break though base traces in liquids, and after time has passed, the dry acid will have broken up the cloudy water brought on by the alkalinity and calcification. During and after the process is complete, it is wise to give the water time to return to safe levels before allowing others to swim in the above-ground pool. 24 hours after the dry acid application should be a sufficient period of rest. Alternatively, if you want to be on the truly safe side, there is always the option of draining and dumping the entire water supply found in the pool and starting over, brand new. This, however, is a solution that should only be carried out in extreme cases.

To prevent future outbreaks of calcium and alkalinity, you can track the alkalinity levels in your above-ground pool with advanced pool testing strips and equipment. Keeping the presence of acid and alkaline in check is critical to preserving the life of the pool, so any protective measures that can be made should be made.

Evaporation is defined in the dictionary as “changing from a liquid or solid state into vapor”. The process typically occurs when solar energy hits bodies of water such as oceans, lakes or even puddles. The rays from the sun cause the water to turn into vapor, which rises up to the sky and forms clouds. The clouds then rain water back down to Earth, which will be evaporated by the sun once more, completing the water cycle. While evaporation is a naturally occurring event, the sun’s rays will convert all forms of water on the ground to vapor. This includes water found in above-ground pools.

The water in your pool will experience some degree of evaporation during the hottest days of summer. The sun’s rays will be beating down stronger than ever, and your pool will be a prime target. Typically, under the warmest conditions, your pool will see about 1 inch of water disappear in a week. Evaporation of pool water is an entirely normal process and will not directly harm your pool or its water supply, but water should be restored to the pool at the earliest possible opportunity. A slowly, but surely disappearing amount of water will eventually be noticed by the swimmers who frequent your pool area. You shouldn’t rely on the great water cycle to refill your pool with the appropriate amount of water. Start measuring the water levels in your pool once the temperature rises past 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to mark where the water surface originally was before the warm weather began. If the water in the pool has started to lower, use your nearby garden hose to slowly add water back into the pool. Make sure you add an appropriate amount of chemicals to the water to match the new water levels added. The last thing you need in scorching hot weather is a pool with an unsafe pH level.

It should be noted that the presence of a pool filter in your above-ground pool will fix the uneven levels of water caused by evaporation. A pool filler, placed against the pool wall and halfway under the water, will monitor the water level to make sure the it is still at normal levels. If the water level has been reduced, the pool filler, hooked up to a nearby garden hose, will refill the water to its appropriate level before anyone would ever know that evaporation has occurred. Keep in mind that the filler can also restore water that has been removed from the pool due to excessive splashing of water outside of the pool rim, or due to a malfunctioning filter keeping excessive amounts of water in its processing center, not just evaporation. Evaporation is a natural occurrence and is inevitable in the summer months, but it is an easily solved problem.

An above-ground pool can be a fantastic addition to your backyard this summer, and swimming can lead to instant relaxation excitement, and physical fitness. However, you must know before you decide to buy that daily maintenance is an absolutely critical part of owning an above-ground pool. Pools, no matter the size, shape, or design, are easily susceptible to infection from outside sources. In order to preserve your pool’s cleanliness, you will need to add chemicals (such as chlorine or bromine) to the pool water and install a water filtration system to circulate the chemicals throughout the pool’s water supply. A potential pool owner may have some concerns about adding chemicals to the pool water for various reasons: a fear of skin irritation, limited knowledge as to how the chemicals work, etc. Even with these concerns, however, the fact remains: using pool chemicals and a filter will assuredly keep your water safe.

During summer months, the water in your pool is constantly exposed to foreign particles and contaminants from other swimmers or from nature. Adding chlorine granules or bromine tablets to the water supply will strengthen the water’s resistance to outside contamination. Without chemicals like chlorine or bromine in the pool water, outside bacteria will contaminate the pool water. Harmful particles such as algae will begin to form on the surface of the pool water: swimming in a pool with algae will lead to sickness. Chlorine and bromine fight bacteria present in pool water by affixing themselves to the bacteria particles, killing the harmful particles and making them easily vacuumed away. Note to concerned swimmers: if you are worried about skin irritation, bromine is far less acidic than chlorine, and, in effect, is safer on the eyes and skin.

You will also need a filter system present in your above-ground pool to compliment the chlorine/bromine chemical. Without a filter system, the traces of chlorine you added to the pool will become stagnant. Unfiltered, still water is still easily susceptible to outside contaminats, even if you have added chemicals to the pool water. A pool filter will suck up and dispose of both visible debris, such as algae and microscopic bacteria. The chemicals must also be circulated in the pool water to avoid clumping in one area of the pool (adding all the granules to one section of the pool and neglecting other areas). Make sure to run the filtration system at least 10 hours per day to keep the pool water safe for swimmers of all ages.

Having an above-ground pool in your backyard can be great for summer fun and relaxation. Installing it, however, can be a completely different story. The installation of an above-ground pool is a job that will take time and help from others to finish safely and correctly. However, like everything related to above-ground pools, there are options you can take to make the process easier and more user-friendly.

If you choose to install your above-ground pool by yourself (or, rather, with the help of strong friends and family members), it is obviously a doable task, but be aware going in that it will take time and effort to finish the job correctly. Typically, self-installation of an above-ground pool will take around 1 day, but can stretch to as long as two. As a result of this, and the schedules of those helping you, weekends are typically the best days to start the process. Get help from other people whenever you can. The construction of an above-ground pool, from putting the pieces in place, screwing and drilling them together, laying the foundation and framework for the pool site and countless other tasks cannot be carried out by one person alone. Typically, above-ground pool customers carry out construction among 3-5 people, but more may be needed depending on the size of the pool. The installation process takes so much time and effort, but for good reason. An above-ground pool is a complicated, intricate entertainment device. So many pieces and planning go into its construction, and because there are so many potential risks to the safety of the pool and your yard (leaks, bacterial infection, etc.), building the pool strong from the beginning is the easiest way to secure a longer lifespan for the above-ground pool and the accessories that accompany it.

If you or your friends have little or no expertise when it comes to construction, it may become necessary to rent the services of an above-ground pool construction crew. There are several different companies dedicated to helping you put your above-ground pool into place and ready to go in time for that upcoming heat wave. In addition to pool installation, many pool installation companies can also install replacement liners or new heating systems, if either of those begin to malfunction in the future. A simple search through the internet or a phone book will bring up a list of local installation companies. Most above-ground pool installers work with or near local pool supply stores, so feel free to start your search there.

There may be some above-ground pool owners that have no local pool installation company or pool supplier store near their house (this could likely be someone who ordered an above-ground pool and accessories over the internet or by phone). Even in this situation, there is no need to worry. Even if you don’t know it, help is always nearby in this day and age. If you used the internet to purchase an above-ground pool, use the internet to seek out help to install it as well. Use the phone book if you ordered the pool by phone. There are some local construction companies out there that have training in pool installation, but do not advertise that fact. Ask local construction companies for help.

One thing that spas have in common with above-ground pools is the necessary sanitation measures an owner must take on a frequent basis. Keeping the water in your above-ground pools and spas is a high priority. It can help prevent skin/eye irritation and possible infection amongst the swimmers, as well as stop internal rusting from occurring inside the pool or spa. As previously mentioned in this blog, bromine is the most common chemical used in spas to maintain pH levels and to keep water sanitary, with chlorine as a second alternative. However, there are additional chemical products one can use to keep a spa safe from infection and decay.

Typically, when looking for chemicals for your spa filter, you will find that bromine is typically sold in tablets, while chlorine is typically sold in granules. This is the standard for how these chemicals are distributed, so it’s honestly a matter of preference as to which you should use for your spa. For what it’s worth, the chlorine granules will dissolve faster when added to the water, while the bromine tablets dissolve more slowly and, in effect, last longer, although the chemical happens to leave behind a stronger scent. Bromine can also be a safe alternative to any swimmers with allergies to chlorine.

When you are reactivating your spa in the springtime, you will find that the process is very similar to starting up an above-ground pool for a new season. Just like you need to “shock” the chlorine present in an above-ground pool at the start of spring and periodically throughout the year, you will need to shock either the bromine or chlorine present in your spa in the same manner and frequency. This will give the bromine/chlorine new strength against foreign particles in the pool water, and will prevent the water and chemicals from becoming stagnant and ineffective. Spa chemicals, either bromine tablets or chlorine granules, are simply added to the spa skimmer weekly. Be sure to only add the amount required on the labels of your selected chemical, as an excessive amount will lead to an undesirable, dangerous pH level. There are even certain special spa chemicals like the Renew Shock and the Blue Wave Go Brom that, when added simultaneously to the spa skimmer, work in conjunction to keep foreign particles out of the pool water.

With summer months arriving before you know it the time is right to consider adding either an above-ground pool or a spa to your backyard. Unfortunately, in the interests of space and costs, you will likely only be able to purchase and install one of the two. The decision of pool or spa is up to you. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with either choice. Both an above-ground pool and a spa will be fantastic additions to your yard, and great sources of relaxation and entertainment. Ultimately, the decision of pool vs. spa will depend on various factors in your life.

Above-ground pools are more geared to an owner with an extensive collection of friends, many family members (specifically kids), and a desire for parties and events at their place. The dimensions of an above-ground pool can stretch anywhere from 12’-30’ diameter, with a depth as deep as 5 feet! These measurements simply mean that the above-ground pools are designed for use by many different people at once. Each above-ground pool has a wide variety of additional accessories, activities, and games that can be added to enhance the pool experience. Products like inflatable rafts or water basketball have been specifically designed to attach to an above-ground pool rim, and the size and quantity of these accessories could never fit in the smaller dimensions of a hot tub, nor would they really ever be appropriate. If you have (or are planning to have) kids, or just have a wide variety of friends looking for an exciting time, an above-ground pool is the optimum choice.

Spas (also referred to as hot tubs) are typically designed for use by adults. A spa’s primary goal is to provide comfort and relaxation to users, hence the presence of water jets located under the water’s surface, as well as the water temperature. The temperature of the water is typically kept at a high level, and younger children likely will not be able to handle the extreme temperature. In addition, the significantly smaller size of a spa will restrict a kid’s ability to freely swim, limiting their creativity and increasing their boredom. No matter how large you decide to go, a spa (or hot tub) cannot fit as many people as an above-ground pool can. Parties can still be held with a hot tub, but only a limited number of people could be relaxing in a spa at a given time. Another way you can tell spas are made with adults in mind is the accessories that are sold alongside the pool. Potentially installing a bar and barstools around your product is not an inviting feature for children. Always consider that an above-ground pool is perfect for kids and large, extended families and friend groups, while spas and hot tubs are more designed for a more limited number of more mature people.

Once again, neither a pool nor a spa would be a bad addition to your yard. Both will be fantastic sources of relief and relaxation during the summer months. Just keep in mind the audience you will most likely be catering to with this summertime addition. Always remember that once you install an above-ground pool or hot tub, it’s not like you can trade it in for another model.

Your above-ground pool will be a fantastic source of relaxation and escape from the heat and humidity during the coming summer months. No matter where you live, the sun’s UV rays will become stronger than ever during the summer months. To decrease the risk of sunburns, it would be wise to consider adding an umbrella to your pool side. Having an umbrella at your poolside will help to protect against ultraviolet rays from the sun and to and increase the amount of shade, leisure, and rest this summer.

People are more frequently using umbrellas during the summer these days. This is not to protect themselves from rainstorms of course, but to protect themselves from the sun’s ultraviolet rays out in full force during summertime. The sun’s rays can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere and are highly effective at burning unprotected, bare skin. Adding sunscreen and sunblock to your skin before going outside on summer days will block the rays from the sun on a short-term basis, and are a valuable tool in fighting skin disease and burns. Failure to protect your skin from the ultraviolet sun rays will in all likelihood lead to sunburns, and prolonged frequent exposure to these rays can even lead to skin cancer. The severity of the burns and the probability of cancer depend on the amount of time spent unprotected under the sun. While applying sunscreen can fight these dangerous rays, a worthwhile investment for an above-ground pool owner would be a sun umbrella.

Sun umbrellas are used by swimmers and tanning enthusiasts during summertime. Due to the materials used for the fabric, the sun’s rays cannot easily shine through the umbrellas, making them a great companion to sunscreen for summer protection. Sun umbrellas can vary in size, from handheld parasols the size of standard rain umbrellas, to giant canopies designed to cover entire portions of yards and decks. The Island Umbrella is one such umbrella.

The Island Umbrella, and other giant poolside umbrellas like it, has been tested and approved to be top-quality when it comes to protecting you, your friends, and family from ultraviolet rays. The Island Umbrella is a giant canopy umbrella that swimmers can rest underneath to protect themselves while not in their above-ground pool. The fabric used to construct Island Umbrellas is a compound called olefin fiber, similar to polyester and nylon. The olefin fibers are highly adept at shielding human skin from harmful ultraviolet rays; as a result, resting under 100 square feet of the material can be considered worthy summertime protection. The umbrella is balanced upon a strong aluminum pole, allowing for tilting and slanting, allowing for pool owners to rotate and move the Island Umbrella depending on the location of the sun. All Island Umbrellas have an area of 10’ x 10’, and come in a variety of tones to match the mood of your above-ground pool or yard.

There are two major types of pools one can have in their yard: an above-ground pool or an in-ground pool. The presence of either in your yard will give you easy access to relaxation and peace of mind, but there are still advantages and disadvantages present in either design. One advantage an in-ground pool owner seemingly has over an above-ground pool owner is the option of having a deep end (one area of the pool’s floor deeper than the other) for their pool. However, this is no longer necessarily the case. To the surprise of many, it is now possible to install a deep end in your above-ground pool during its construction.

If you are going to have a deep end in your above-ground pool, it must be part of the initial installation process. To begin the installation, you will need to dig into the ground where the foundation of the above-ground pool will be (even though it will be an above-ground pool and not an in-ground when complete, the foundation still needs to be built and rest upon a base of dirt and sand). When you have dug the outline of the pool’s frame (and overall space), dig slightly deeper into the ground at one end of the pool. Make sure that when you are digging the deep end and the rest of the pool floor that you leave a ledge around the deeper hole with a slope/slant running to the bottom. As a result, the floor of your above-ground pool will have a smooth slope when finally constructed. There will also be no chance of the floor breaking open and beginning to leak due to a rough, jagged floor. Keep in mind that the deep end should not be a pit, either; keep the deep end around 6 inches deeper than the rest of the pool floor. You will be adding sand to the foundation ground to strength the base of the above-ground pool. The sand will take up space of its own. Make sure you remember than when digging and leave enough space for there to be a recognizable deep end. When you have dug the appropriate amount for your deep end, add the sand to the ground. Smooth it out, and continue with the rest of the construction procedure, as designated by the instruction manual or a local pool construction company.

Taking all this into consideration, however, make sure that you have weighed all the options and are positive you want a deep end for your above-ground pool. Once you have dug the sand and finished the construction, it will not be possible to change the structure and layout without completely tearing the pool down and starting from scratch, costing you thousands of dollars in the process. The ultimate decision belongs to you, the (potential) pool owner. You’ll find that the decision to install a deep end is not that different from choosing to buy an above-ground pool in the first place.

Keeping a filter running in your above-ground pool can extend the lifespan of your pool, and is vital in keeping bacteria and other harmful contaminants out of the water supply. However, your filter may still become erratic in the effectiveness of its cleaning and basic functions. This can be a result of an older filter or a filter that has been overworked due to constant cleaning and filtering becoming necessary. To stay in control of your filter, it may become necessary to automate, or manually set, the operation of your pool’s filter supply to maintain control over the pool filter’s effectiveness. This can be achieved through the use of advanced technology, in the form of an automatic filter time clock.

The Adjustable A/G Automatic Filter Time Clock, or Filter Time Clock for short, is a device that allows you to regain control of your pool filter and effectively counter-attack bacteria, algae, and other foreign contaminants from nature. The Filter Time Clock allows you to manually set how often your filter is active, and lets you control the specific filtration hours and patterns. The versatility of the Filter Time Clock allows you about 50 different filter patterns and combinations! Typically, pool filters, regardless of being above-ground or in-ground, should run 12 hours per day in order to keep bacteria neutralized and out of the main water supply. It’s up to the pool owner to decide when those twelve hours are in effect.

The needs of every pool owner are different. You could program the pool filter to run at night, allowing you to swim freely during the day. You also have the option to set the reverse; if you’re a nocturnal sort of person, or have a lot of parties at night, you could set the filter to run during the daytime. Set the filter to run in 3 or 4 hour increments, if you want. The decision is entirely up to you. By giving yourself a greater amount of options, you’re allowing yourself more control over the effectiveness of your filter and leaving nothing about your above-ground pool’s condition to chance.

When you have the filter timer running, you don’t have to worry about keeping a constant watch on the filter system and its inner workings. You will have constant confidence in the filter, knowing that it is working perfectly due to your direct control and programming. The Filter Time Clock is quite easy to use and operate, only requiring a simple plug and outlet to operate.