Monthly Archives: October 2013

Water walking in a pool can provide an excellent aerobic workout. It is a great option for those with an injury, pregnant women, or for older folks who want to increase their activity level without putting stress on their joints. Water provides gentle resistance to your movements, which helps strengthen and build muscle. Over time, you can increase your endurance while enjoying this low-stress exercise.

Water walking is simple: stand in water that is at least waist-deep, with your abdominal muscles firm and flexed, shoulders back, and chest lifted in a neutral position. Walking in chest-deep water provides even more resistance and a more strenuous workout for those wanting to work a little harder.

You then walk as you would on land, placing your heel down first and following through with the ball of your foot. Try not to walk on your tiptoes, but instead walk normally as you would if you were walking on the street. Remember to keep your back straight and your stomach muscles tight. You can also walk backwards to work different muscle groups. Press your palms against the water to also work your arms.

While no equipment is necessary, there are some products that can assist you in your water walking workout. Poolsandstuff.com offers great accessories for water walking, such as The Underwater Walker. Constructed of durable PVC tubing and stainless steel swivel casters with solid rubber wheels, it's designed to assist the injured or elderly who need additional assistance walking and remaining upright. It also has armrest cradles that provide extra support and can be attached or removed. We also have an aquatic floatation aid (shown above) for adults who can support themselves in the water in an upright position but need assistance to walk.

If you have any questions about water walking, or are looking for products that can help you exercise this way, please contact us! We can get you in the water and working out in no time.

*http://spas.about.com/od/exercise/a/waterwalking.htm

Even though the temperatures are dropping across the nation, now might be the perfect time to start thinking about your new above-ground pool. By the time the weather begins warming up again, you'll be all ready to go and can get the pool installed in time to enjoy every minute of summer.

There are several important things to consider before you buy an above-ground pool. Consider the points below:

• Water and Electric – Both are nice to have close to where you would like to assemble the pool. For most pools, it works the best if you run an underground conduit from your house outlet to where the pump and filter will be located. This also makes sense if you want to add a pool light or cleaner, as you do not want to have cords running across the yard. You may also want to extend an underground water pipe if your pool will be more than 50 feet from the water source. That will give you a cleaner look than having a garden hose stretched out over the lawn.
• Visibility from the House – You might want to be able to enjoy the view of the pool from your house, especially if you have younger kids and want to keep a close eye on them. Do not leave small children unattended. Be prepared and safe with pool alarms and safety equipment. Conversely, you may want the pool to be hidden from view, in order to preserve the appearance of landscaping from the house.
• Level is Key – The ground beneath your pool will need to be absolutely level before you begin to assemble your above-ground pool. This is so important to ensure the structural integrity of the pool and to have a nice even water line when the pool is full. A badly lopsided pool is a safety hazard--at best, it could fall over and flood the backyard; at worst, it could fall over and injure a swimmer.
• Access to the Pool – You want to be able to jump into the pool quickly on a really hot, sweltering day, or run back into the house at rapid speed on a cold night. You also want to make sure there is quick access for emergency personnel, in case there is an emergency. You should also verify local government regulations for how far away a pool must be from the house. Keep a buffer zone around the pool so it is easier to walk around and clean once assembled.
• Let there be Sun – Finally, you really want to consider where in the backyard the sun and shade exists during different times of the day. You might prefer partial shade, or want to make sure your pool is in the sunniest part of the yard. If you live in a really hot location, the sun might make the pool too warm in the middle of summer. We also suggest not placing your pool under a large tree, as the leaves might make cleaning the pool a major challenge.

Poolsandstuff.com has a great selection of the top-brand above-ground pools. Check out our selection and contact us to help you determine the best option and style for you and your family.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulated that all public accommodations including hotels, resorts, timeshares, and more must bring certain elements of their facilities into compliance with the 2010 ADA standards as of March 15, 2012. Elements of these new standards include that any commercial pool under 300 feet must have a sloped entry or a pool lift. Commercial pools larger than 300 linear feet need two forms of access, one of which must be a sloped entry or pool lift.

Pool lifts come in all different shapes and sizes, and the options available to you depend on how large your pool is and if you have multiple bodies of water or just one. You can purchase a portable option like the Patriot Portable Lift or a stationary lift like the Pro Pool and Spa Lift. There are options for both in ground and above ground pools, while some lifts might be for one or the other.

You can also look into purchasing pool access wheelchairs or beach access wheelchairs to cater to those that need assistance. We also have flotation and training aides available.

If you want more details on the complete ADA compliance regulations, please visit http://www.ada.gov/.

PoolsAndStuff.com has a variety of options for ADA pool lifts and aquatic wheelchairs for all of your ADA compliance needs. Our qualified staff can help figure out the best option for your pool set up, as well as offer free shipping in the 48 states.

*http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm

Fall is here! Except in Montana, where it's already winter. : ) Everyone is throwing on their jackets and putting away their flip-flops. It's time to think about winterizing your pool and getting it ready for the cold winter months.

The first step is to balance the water chemistry of your pool. We suggest a pH of between 7.2 and 7.6, an alkalinity of between 80 and 120 ppm, and a calcium hardness of 180 to 220 ppm. You should also shock the pool with a chlorine or non-chlorine shock. You want to make sure the chlorine levels return to 1.0 to 3.0 ppm before adding any winter algaecide and putting on your winter pool cover, since the chlorine tends to break down both of these.

For the winter months, you also need to remove any skimmer baskets, cleaners, ladders and solar covers. You should store these in a safe and stable location during the winter. You should also lower the water level in the pool with a submersible pump to 12 inches to 18 inches below the skimmer for mesh covers, and 3 inches to 6 inches below the tile for solid, floating covers. You should also drain or blow out all pumping, filtering, heating, and chlorinating equipment so it doesn’t freeze and crack.

We also suggest lubricating the pump lid and push-pull valve’s o-rings. You should skim, vacuum, and brush the pool as well. The pool should be as clean and clear as possible before covering for the winter. You also need to winterize the pumping to and from the pool. For above ground pools, this means disconnecting the hoses to and from the pump and filter and plugging the wall outlets.

After you finish all of the above, you should add winterizing algaecide to the pool. You should never add algaecide and shock at the same time since the chlorine will just break down the algaecide and make it useless. Last but not least, you should cover the pool. A tight fit of the pool cover is essential to keep the pool clean and in good working condition. Mesh safety covers provide the highest protection and safety. Above ground pools use a cable device to secure the cover around the pool to prevent movement. Air pillows can also be used in above ground pools to absorb the expansion of ice inside the pool.

Don't have any of the supplies mentioned above? No worries! We have them all here at www.poolsandstuff.com. Prepping your pool for winter takes some work, but it's worth it in the end when your pool is in great shape next spring.