Swimming Pool Ladders

You can find a swimming pool ladder on almost all types of swimming pools. Ladders are essential to swimming pools, as they are used to get in and out of the pool. For both in ground and above ground pools, you can find a variety of different ladders to choose from. The materials used for the ladders are available in either vinyl, aluminum, plastic, resin, or stainless steel.

The choices of color doesn’t vary too much, although you shouldn’t paint them. To prevent slipping, some come with anti-skid materials. Almost all pool ladders are easy to assemble if you follow the instructions, and come with a warranty as well. You can find pool ladders on the Internet, or at your local department store or pool supply store.

The ladders used with in ground swimming pools normally include 1 - 5 steps. Depending on how deep the water is where you are using the ladder, the installation and number of steps will obviously vary. When you select your ladder, you should make sure that the shape and height is compatible with your pool. If your pool was formed with concrete, you may have had the ladder or steps formed during installation. If you have a fiberglass or liner pool on the other hand, you’ll need to properly secure the ladder at both the upper and lower ends.

Above ground swimming pools on the other hand, are a bit different. Most people who have above ground pools have a deck that surrounds the pool, then a ladder than leads down into the water. You can install your ladder off the deck, or simply position it solely on the pool. It’s easier to install the ladder running off the deck and into the water, although you’ll need to properly secure it to the deck to ensure that it doesn’t slide off or end up hurting someone.

The ideal swimming pool ladder for an above ground pool should have 2 - 4 steps. Most above ground pools are 4 - 6 feet in depth, although they can be a bit tough for kids to enter. The more steps you have on your ladder, the easier it will be for kids to get in and out of the pool. If you are using your ladder with a deck, you won’t need as many steps.

All things aside, a swimming pool ladder is essential for any swimming pool. Without a ladder, it would be near impossible to get out of the pool. If you have an in ground pool, adults and teenagers can get out from the side, although kids will need to use a ladder. Ladders don’t cost a lot of money, yet they help to simplify getting in and out of your pool.

Swimming Pool Accessories

Within the vast world of swimming pools, shopping can be pretty mind boggling. Choosing the type of pool and the type of accessories can be very stressful to say the least. There are decisions everywhere that you’ll need to make, which can be pretty time consuming. Although there are hundreds of accessories out there for you pool - you can save a lot of time and money if you know what you need.

An accessory that you simply must have for your pool is a cover. A swimming pool cover is ideal for keeping debris and people out of your pool, and protecting your water. During the winter season, a cover will keep your pool and water protected from the cold, wind, and even ice. Depending on the type of pool cover you select, you’ll probably need to use either straps or several heavy objects to ensure that the cover stays in place.

Another accessory that is very beneficial to you is a skimmer. A skimmer can help you pick up branches, insects, leaves, and other types of debris from the surface of your pool. The skimmer resembles a large badminton racket, and it can easily save you a ton of money with the maintenance of your swimming pool. If you use a skimmer each and every day to clean the surface of your water, your pool will stay nice and clean throughout the season.

If you have a concrete below ground pool, you’ll want to make sure that you treat the surface. If you don’t, it can be extremely hard on the skin. To treat the surface, you can use pool paint. Pool paints come in a few choices, such as water, rubber, or epoxy based. If you use the paint to treat the surface regularly, you’ll protect the surface of your swimming pool and you’ll also help to protect the surface from harsh elements such as the sun and chemicals from the water.

If you live in a colder climate, you should invest in some antifreeze. When you close your pool down for the winter, antifreeze can help you clean your pipes and pump. Once you have drained the water from your pool, pump, and pipes, simply pour the antifreeze into them and it will ensure that nothing freezes on cold days.

To enhance the look of your pool and provide room to relax, you’ll need to have some pool furniture. This doesn’t need to be anything basic, as even the most simplest of furniture will be good enough. You can decorate your pool area virtually any way you desire, even make it look like your living room if you wish. When you select your furniture, you should always make sure that you select furniture strong enough to withstand both summer and winter temperatures.

If you are on a budget, you can still get the accessories and supplies you need for your pool without having to spend a fortune. You can buy your supplies and accessories online at discount prices, or buy locally during a sale. Most won’t cost you much money, especially if you cut corners and buy only what you need at the lowest prices possible - which is normally during winter.

In the world of swimming pools, some accessories are just fun to have while others are essential to maintaining your pool. There are hundreds of accessories out there, which can actually be a lot of fun if you just look around at what all you have to choose from. Although it can consume a lot of your time and money - accessories are something that can actually make your swimming pool experience a heck of a lot better.

Swimming Laps At Home

Swimming, as we all know, is one of the best exercises you can do for your body. Swimming laps provides you with a great cardiovascular workout, and helps to keep your muscles toned. Swimming works every muscle in your body, which can also help you to burn calories. For many people throughout the United States, swimming is simply the best way to stay in shape and have fun doing it.

Although swimming is a lot of fun and a great way to exercise, it can be quite a chore going down to the local pool. The hours will vary from pool to pool, meaning that there are only certain times of the day and the week that you can go. To make matters worse, the lanes are normally crowded, making it hard to get a proper workout. Crowded lanes can make swimming a chore, especially if there are a lot of people around who are doing nothing but standing in the water.

If you like swimming laps but hate going to your local pool, you should look into getting a lap pool for your home. Lap pools are a great addition to your home, with the only difference in a lap pool and residential pool being the size and shape. Instead of the traditional kidney shape that home pools are known for, lap pools are long and narrow, giving you plenty of room to swim laps.

With the shape being long and narrow, you can easily keep track of just how many laps you have swam. Lap pools are normally just a few feet deep, meaning that divers shouldn’t invest in them. They are intended for those who love to swim laps, lacking toys such as diving boards and slides, as the water isn’t deep enough. Even though they are intended for hardcore lap swimmers, they are still ideal to jump in on a hot day and just cool off.

Lap pools are below ground pools, as you may already know. They require a lot of digging for installation, and can cost quite a few bucks as well. The prices will vary from area to area, although most top out around $30,000. This is very expensive to say the least, although if you swim every day, you can easily make your money back if you count how much you spend going to the local pool.

If you simply don’t have the money but want to swim laps at home, you should look into a swim spa. These spas resemble a hot tub of sorts, although you won’t have to dig up any of your yard to install them. They work almost like a treadmill, using an adjustable current that pushes you back, so you keep swimming in virtually the same place. You can get quite a bit of exercise using a swim spa, and it doesn’t take up a lot of room either.

Swim spas may be cheaper than lap pools, although they aren’t cheaper than traditional below ground pools. They are still relatively new, and can be somewhat hard to find. More and more pool companies are including them though, so it may be just a matter of time before they come to your area. You should contact your local company if you are interested, as they can be nearly impossible to maintain yourself.

With a lap pool or swim spa, you can swim as many laps as you like at home. These types of pools are ideal for swimmers everywhere, and they can keep you as healthy as you like. If you are interested in a lap pool or swim spa, simply contact your local pool company and get the ball rolling - you’ll be glad you did when you are swimming at home and not the local swimming hole.

Locating And Repairing Swimming Pool Leaks

If you own a swimming pool, it can be quite easy to notice a leak. Once you have opened your pool for the year, you can easily spot a leak by the water gushing out. Where the leak is coming from though, may be an entirely different story. Sometimes it may be easy to tell, although other times it can be a bit more complicated.

The first thing you need to do, is make sure that the water you see or notice missing is actually a leak. Even though you may think it’s a leak, it could be something else. Basically, there are three causes of water loss with swimming pools - plumbing leaks, shell leaks, and evaporation. You should make sure you know the cause of the leak before you go any further. Sometimes, what you think is a leak could be water lost from splashing - which can easily happen if you have a lot of people diving in your pool.

Evaporation is a common cause of water loss, and there is a way that you can determine if your loss of water is indeed evaporation. To find out, take a large container then fill it full of water and put it on the first pool step. Next, remove some water from the container sitting on the first step, so that the water in the pool and the container are the same level. Now, let the container sit there for a few days, with no one using the pool during the entire time.

When you check back in a few days, the levels should be the same. If they have gone down any, then you know that evaporation from the sun is to blame. If the water that you have in the pool has dropped a great deal more than what you have in the container, you’ll know that you have a leak in your pool.

If you think that the water is going down to a pool leak, you’ll first need to find where the leak is coming from. You should always start looking near the pump and the filter. Along the way, if you happen to notice any wet areas or damp areas, you should trace the water back and see if you can locate a leak. In most cases, the leak will turn out to be a connection with one of the pipes.

If it isn’t a pipe, then it could be a problem with the shell. If you have an aboveground pool, simple look for the hole where the water is coming out of and repair it. On the other hand, if you have a pool that is below ground, it can be a bit more complicated. You can try inspected the shell in the pool, or checking surrounding areas.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you look, it can seem almost impossible to find where the leak is coming from. Keep in mind that if it is the shell, you should always leave it to a qualified professional to fix the problem. Shells for underground pools especially can be very tough to fix, and even harder if you know very little about swimming pools.

In most cases, locating and repairing a leak with your swimming pool is more or less just eliminating causes until you find the right one. Once you have located the problem and know what is causing it, you can decide on whether or not to do the repair yourself or to call a qualified professional and have them do the repair for you.