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The first few months of the year are great for setting personal and professional goals. If you’re a pool owner, you can add some care goals to the list as well. Maybe you promise to take better care of your pool this year, or maybe you’ll decide to hire help. 

Here are some examples of pool care-related goals to add to your New Year’s resolutions list:

• Enjoy your pool more – dedicate one day a week (if not more) to pool relaxation
• Host a pool party – or two!
• Hire a team of professionals to care for your pool on a weekly basis
• Make an appointment at a pool installation facility to learn more about caring for your pool
• Read books on pool maintenance 
• Add/change up the landscaping or patio furniture around your pool

There are plenty of goals to choose from. If you’re in need of more pool care education, give Mud Slingers Pool & Patio a call at (317) 650-5131.

If you’ve been a pool owner for any amount of time, you’ve been told to use a pool cover. Traditional pool covers help keep dirt, leaves and other unwanted items out of your pool.
There is also another type of pool cover that has gained popularity – a solar pool cover. Not only does it keep debris out of your pool, it also heats your pool without fancy cords or machines. Solar pool covers capture the energy of the sun to keep your water warm.
In addition, solar pool covers also help keep more water in your pool by limiting the amount of evaporation that occurs.
 This type of pool cover is recommended for those who live in a sunny area and want to save money.

A wristwatch alarm is simply a safety device that your child or anyone else that might be in danger around your pool can wear. It’s one of many other precautionary measures you can take to warn you when something dangerous might be happening in or near your pool.
 
The wristwatch alarm is generally linked to a centrally located “base,” probably somewhere in your house where you can easily hear it. You will be alerted with an alarm when it comes into contact with water – i.e., when your child falls in and is in distress. The device is no bigger than a wristwatch and is a great preventative measure to keep your children safe around the pool. It’s not a replacement for a good eye as you should always watch your kids while they’re in the pool.

Routine maintenance of your pool is critical to the enjoyment of your pool. Even if you employ a service company to maintain your pool, there are steps that you need to take to ensure your pool is swim ready at all times:

1. Skim the surface: This should be done every few days. When debris falls to the bottom it can be harder to remove, so be sure to remove debris before it sinks to the bottom.
2. Empty the baskets: This will help lower the need for chlorine, thus saving you money. This task should be performed at least once per week and it may help to spray out and scrub the basket as well.
3. Maintain the water level: A lot of water is lost from your pool regularly. Whether it is due to evaporation or splashing and swimming, it is important to check the water levels regularly so they don’t get to low and compromise the pump. If levels do get low, you can quite simply use your garden hose to fill it back up.
4. Scrub the walls: Be sure to scrub the walls regularly to prevent calcium deposits and algae buildup. The kind of pool you have will dictate what kind of brush to use. For example, a stiffer brush can be used with a concrete pool, but if you have a fiberglass pool you should use a softer brush.
5. Check the pH: Make sure the pH in the water is between 7.2 and 7.8 to ensure safety for swimmers and that sanitizers are working.

Like many kids, your daughter loves the pool. She’s a blonde and you can’t seem to keep the green tint out of her hair. There could be two reasons this is happening – one is easily fixed, and more common, and the other is a more difficult (but luckily, less common) issue. Let’s start with the more common of the two – the presence of copper in your pool water.
Some people believe it is because chlorine is green and that it only happens to those with blonde hair. Neither of these beliefs is actually true. Pool water contains high concentrations of copper compounds that chemically interact with chlorine and can then bind to hair follicles. These copper compounds do not seek out or favor blonde hair. In fact, the compounds bind to hair of all colors. It is easier to see on blonde hair because it is so light.
One cause of copper buildup may be the corrosion of copper in your pool heater, if you have one, which can come up if you use chlorine or bromine to treat your pool. There is a solution for this. After testing your water for copper and once you know exactly how much copper is in your pool, you can treat your water with a double dose (for each 1 ppm of copper) of a quality mineral treatment. Something like phosphate-free liquid METALTRAP will do.
Another possibility as to why your child’s hair is turning green is the chlorine is reacting with his/her hair and/or hair products being used. Simply using ¼ to ½ cup of baking soda mixed with enough water to form a paste can be applied to the green areas of the hair, then rinse with clean water. Then, shampoo and condition as usual once her hair is free of the baking soda. This should help bleach the green (without damaging her hair) and return her hair to its natural color.
However, not all situations are equal and will be treated with these two solutions. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

There is no single perfect temperature for pool water. The perfect temperature truly depends on what you are doing in the pool – whether it’s recreational or competitive – who is in the pool and even the air temperature. Typically, somewhere in the 80°F to 90°F range is comfortable. Something to also keep in mind is that algae and bacteria will thrive in warmer water, so it is important to ensure that you have a good balance of chemicals and temperature.

Public pools in Indiana are open Memorial Day through Labor Day but when is the right time to open your personal pool?  The quick answer is once temperatures are consistently 60° and higher, which typically happens in April. Some may think that the longer it is open the more work and the more cost but don’t discount the fact that the longer the pool is open the more time there is for fun and memories! So…if you haven’t opened your pool yet…it’s time to enjoy!
Have a question? Please use the “Contact Section” to submit a question about your pool or hot tub.

Pull out your color wheel and channel your inner artist while you create a custom lighting scheme for your pool. That’s right. Now you can blend different LED pool lights. Add a fresh and fun look to your new or existing pool that shows your style. Be one of the first families to transform their pool into a unique and colorful oasis.
Here’s an example…

Transform your pool today. Contact us: Sales@mudslingersinc.com or by calling 317-650-5131.