BLOG

When a snowstorm is on the way, many people stock up on their favorite foods and drinks. Those who are pool owners will have to take an extra step. If a snowstorm is predicted in your area, there are some precautions you can take to keep others safe and your pool in top shape.

Here are a few tips to consider:

• Move any patio furniture closer to the edge of the pool. This will help you safely identify the perimeter when the ground is covered with snow
• Check the condition of your pool cover to make sure there isn’t any damage before it starts to snow
• Keep snow from accumulating on top of the pool cover by using a broom with a long handle to remove it
• Take photos of your pool before the storm just in case you need to make an insurance claim after the storm

Need more tips on caring for your pool? Contact us at (317) 650-5131.

My family is looking to buy a home soon with a pool in the backyard. What are some items we should look for during the process?

We’re excited to hear your family is interested in purchasing a new home (and pool). Many homeowners believe pools add value to their property and provide an outdoor space for families to make memories. 

While you’re on the hunt, here are a few things to ask:

– What was the estimate monthly maintenance charge for the pool?

– How old is the pool?

– When was the last time the pool has been cleaned/maintained?

– Is a pool fence required for safety?

Additionally, once you’ve discovered a home you’d like to put an offer on, you’ll want to find an inspector familiar with pool maintenance. 

A pool party can come to an end fast if bees show up uninvited. It turns out, most bees are attracted to pools because they want to quench their thirst. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to make sure they don’t crash the party.
Bring out the plants. While bees normally love plants, they aren’t friends with all of them – including mint and lemongrass. Feel free to plant these near your pool to act as a natural repellant.
Use dryer sheets. As mentioned before, certain smells can be a real turn off for bees. We use dryer sheets to give our clothes a fresh smell, but bees hate them. Place the dryer sheets in cups around the pool to keep bees away. Be sure to change them once they lose their scent.

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.

There are so many great reasons why swimming is good for your body. Here are just a few:
1. It incorporates both cardio and strength training into your workout, but it’s not hard on your joints.
Unless you’re cheating and touching the bottom of the pool during your workout, you have to be moving at all times or you’ll sink. Plus, because water is so much denser than air, it provides your muscles with constant resistance. Not to mention, you could have a crazy intense workout in the pool and be right back in the water the next day – because swimming is such a low-impact workout. So, not only is it good for injured athletes or those with fragile joints, it’s even great for those who want to work hard without feeling like their body has been through the ringer the next day
2. It’s great for your lungs, so it makes you a better runner.
Because we can’t breathe underwater, our body learns to use oxygen more efficiently when we’re swimming – adapting to take in more fresh air with every breath, and expel more carbon dioxide with every exhalation. This can allow for lower resting heart rates, lower blood pressure, and endurance capacity, which can make it easier to train for longer running exercises that require a lot of endurance.
3. It eases stress and makes you biologically younger.
We know that exercise in general produces endorphins that make you feel happy and energized, but swimming can boost your mood even more. When you’re underwater, you can’t hear or see much of anything, so the sensory overload that we experience on a daily basis is reduced significantly. Plus, according to a study done by Indiana University, even all the way up to your 70^th birthday, swimming can positively affect blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cardiovascular performance, central nervous system health, cognitive functioning, muscle mass, and blood chemistry, making frequent swimmers biologically up to 20 years younger than their actual age.