Swim Suite: Swimming Pool Accessories

Nothing like taking a splash in your private pool to refresh yourself in the hot summer after slogging it out the whole day! As a pool owner, it is but natural to be aware of the different swimming pool accessories available. In fact, the key to having a great pool is to get a bunch of high quality pool accessories. Whether you are talking about water filters, dosing pumps or Ro purifiers, good quality machines can make the task of maintaining a clean pool easier. There are numerous of such products available in the market. While you can still use old school machinery, the newer technology and equipment offer a much better output in lesser time. Read on for a guide on the latest accessories in the market you can use for your swimming pool and how to select these.

Filters: The modern filters are built in fiberglass with the latest engineering technology. The winding design in the fiberglass equipment allows extra resistance and strength against damages due to corrosives and chemicals. These are the most recommended type of filters for water treatment in swimming pools. These are meant to carry out the basic activities of filtering (i.e. vacuuming and filtration), backwash (cleaning by reverse flow), automatic rinsing (to clean the filter after use) and recirculation of water. The fiberglass filters are available in many designs like top mounted, side mounted, cartridge filter, commercial filter etc.

•    Motor Pumps: The latest technology in motor pumps is the centrifugal motor pump. These ensure high levels of performance to maximize water turnover rate. Designed for effortless repairs and maintenance, the centrifugal pumps are easy to install and use.

•    Cleaning Equipment: These include leaves skimmer, wall brushes, water testing kits, suction heads, telescopic poles etc. Commonly available in all hardware stores, these are used for daily maintenance and cleaning activities. There are many varieties of cleaning equipment available in the market; however it is recommended that you purchase the good quality ones which will last you for a long time.

•    Underwater lights: You need to be extra careful while selecting underwater lights for your pool. It is extremely important that the wiring is water proof and the materials used are non corrosive to ensure safety. Remember that the lights are not just meant for beauty, but have a basic purpose of providing adequate light at nighttime. It is strongly recommended that you get a proper diagram and a plan drawn for light installation in your pool. Among the various products available, the LED lights are considered to be the safest and most economical in the long run.

The above mentioned tools are some of the basic ones required for installing a swimming pool. There are other above ground swimming pool accessories that you can install like heaters, ladders and alarms. Among heater, solar powered ones have become very popular as these are eco friendly and also reduce your electricity bills substantially. Although many of these swimming pools accessories have do – it – yourself installation instructions, it is strongly recommended that you call in experts to install and test the equipment for safety purposes. Whether you choose to go for an in ground or above ground pool, remember that swimming pool accessories that you choose to install will make a marked difference in your pool’s look and performance.

photo credit: Clintus McGintus

How to Maintain Your Swimming Pool Accessories

Overview
If you are looking for a good way to keep your swimming pool accessories maintained, then this article should help you. The best way to keep your swimming pools accessories in good shape is to have an effective way to clean and store them when they’re not in use.

Cleaning your Swimming Pool Accessory
When you’re not using your swimming pool accessories, it’s important to keep them clean. Cleaning them will have several important benefits. First and foremost is that this will help to extend their useful lifetime so that you will be able to get the most enjoyment from them.

Just as your above ground swimming pool has a liner that has been treated to withstand the effects of pool chemicals, your pool accessories will also be affected by those chemicals. So when you know that they won’t be in use for an extended period, be sure to rinse them off and make sure that they’re dry before being put away.

Cleaning them off before storage for the night or the week or the off season will also benefit you and your pool. When you go to use then the next time, they will still be clean, and so should introduce the minimum of foreign particles and bacteria to your pool, which will help keep the pool clean as well.

Storing Your Swimming Pool Accessory
The next best thing to do to help maintain your swimming pool accessories is to make sure that you have a covered storage area for them. When you’re not using them, if they’re not baking out in the sun, they will last much longer if they are not exposed unnecessarily to extra UV rays.

Plus as mentioned above, if you store them in a cabinet or locker, they will have less dirt and dust collecting on them when they are not in use. And having a place to keep your swimming pool accessories will help to keep the pool area looking clean and inviting, so that when you come home after a hard day at work, you will know where your favorite pool accessory is and you can jump right in.

Reaping the Benefits
Keeping your swimming pool accessories clean takes a bit of effort, but the benefits are definitely worth it. You keep your accessories in good shape longer. Your pool stays cleaner. And your pool area is more inviting.  Doing the maintenance regularly will keep your enjoyment level of your above ground swimming pool high.

photo credit: Stig Nygaard