5 Things to Check Before Swimming in a Public Pool

November 21st, 2019 Posted in Pool Safety
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You may take excellent care of your own swimming pool at home but never assume a public pool is kept at the same safety level. Pools at hotels or in public areas are exposed to many more people and not all are kept as clean and safe as needed. Before you and your family head to the local pool when you are on vacation, here are five things to check before you jump in the water.

  1. Check the pool’s latest inspection results. Most public or commercial pools need to be inspected regularly by the local health department. Check online or on-site for the latest inspection results.
  2. Is there a lifeguard on duty? A good sign of a safe pool is a lifeguard on duty. This means the establishment cares about pool safety and has a staff for the pool area.
  3. Check the water clarity. You want clean, clear water in the pool. You should be able to clearly see the bottom of the pool.
  4. Are the drain covers in good shape? While checking the clarity of the water, look at the drain covers on the bottom of the pool. Are they well-secured and in good shape? Damaged drain covers can be dangerous, especially to small kids.
  5. Check the pH balance of the pool. Yes, you need some chlorine strips to check the pH balance but these are a good thing to bring with you when heading on vacation. Make sure the pH level is between 7.2-7.8 before you decide to enter the pool.

These quick steps can ensure when you swim in a strange pool that it is safe. Keep these safety tips in mind for your own pool at home. Hiring a pool service to maintain your pool water and equipment can protect your swimming pool from failing inspection.

Posted on behalf of:
Somar Pools, LLC
6538 Collins Ave, #42
Miami Beach, FL 33141
(305) 767-7755

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Is Your Pool Water Green?

May 15th, 2018 Posted in Pool Service
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If your pool water is green, you most likely have an algae problem. There are a few ways to remedy this situation. Algae is one of the factors you want to prevent in your pool water by keeping the right chemical balance, filtering and cleanings. If you have green pool water, you need to address the following issues to kill and remove the algae to restore your swimming pool to a healthy water balance.

Check the Chemical Balance

Keeping a perfect chemical balance in your pool can be challenging, and if one of the perimeters is off, you can have algae growth in your pool. Make sure the pH is between 7.4-7.6 and check the alkalinity, calcium, free chlorine, combined chlorine and phosphates as well.

Shock Your Pool

It may take shocking your pool to get rid of the algae problem. You can buy pool shock and chlorine to rid your pool of your algae problem, just follow the instructions based on the size of your pool. 

Filter Issues

If your water chemical balance is good and shocking the pool did not rid your pool water of algae, you may have a filtering problem. Make sure your pool is filtering constantly until the algae is gone – often it is only set to filter a set number of hours per day. You may also need to change the filter.  One other possible problem is your filter is too small for your pool size. If that is the case, you may need a bigger filtration system.

If you do not want to mess with ridding the algae from your pool yourself, call your local pool service. They can perform a complete cleaning and find the solution for restoring clear, clean water to your swimming pool.

Posted on behalf of:
Somar Pools, LLC
6538 Collins Ave, #42
Miami Beach, FL 33141
(305) 767-7755

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Three Reasons Why You Should Hire a Pool Service

April 15th, 2017 Posted in Pool Service
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Having a pool in your backyard has many advantages. You have a great place to relax and your friends always want to come hang out at your house. It also can come with disadvantages, like maintenance. You may not have thought about all the work you had to put in just to keep your pool ready to swim in. Hiring a pool service to take the load off might be the right decision for you.

  1. Saving time. Learning a new skill, like how to maintain something as big as a pool, can take a lot of time! Leave it to the professionals who have training and proficiency in pool management. They can take the time to work on your pool, so that it’s ready for you to enjoy on your time off.
  2. Save money. Having someone service your pool will keep your pool in the best condition. The pool technician will be aware of any problems that arise immediately and will be able to save you money, by fixing a problem before it gets bigger. Keeping your pool maintained will also protect your investment.
  3. Enjoy your pool. You probably bought the house knowing how much you would enjoy relaxing in the pool. Hiring a pool service will help keep that dream come true. They can do all the work while you just sit back and enjoy the pool time. Knowing that all the cleaning and maintaining is done by a professional, will help you enjoy your pool even more.

Maintaining your own pool might seem like an easy job, until you actually try to do it yourself. Save yourself time, money, and stress by letting a knowledgeable professional do the work for you. Then you can spend your time living out your dream of relaxing in the pool and entertaining your friends in style.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pool Service & Repairs
4581 Weston Road
Weston, FL 33331
(954) 840-8544

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Alternatives to Chlorine for Your Pool

October 28th, 2015 Posted in Pool Service
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Did a summer cooling off in your pool leave your skin, hair and swimsuits damaged from constant exposure to chlorine? It is a common complaint by pool owners that are tired of the harsh effects of this effective and popular pool sanitizer. Although chlorine is one of the most effective ways to keep your pool healthy and safe, there are ways to reduce the amount that is needed. Here are a few alternatives that can be used to sanitize your pool without the harsh side effects of excessive chlorine.

Ozone System

Commercial water parks must have the best sanitizing equipment to keep their water clean and safe for their guests, which is why they often use ozone generators. Ozone is one of the most effective water sanitizers available. These systems are available for residential pools and can reduce the amount of chlorine needed to keep your pool safe by up to 90%, making your pool much gentler on your skin, hair and clothing.

Salt Systems

Another option to reduce your chlorine use for pool sanitization is a salt system or chlorine generator. These systems use salt to create the active cleansing factor in chlorine, giving you the same sanitizing effect without the harsh effects. Owners of these systems enjoy the fact that their pools no longer have that chlorine smell, yet are still safe to swim in on a daily basis.

If you are looking for an alternative to chlorine, talk to your local pool service provider about either an ozone or chlorine generator system. It can help reduce the amount of chlorine needed to maintain your PH balance and protect your family from the ill effects of chlorine.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pools, LLC
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 767-7755

 

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Give Yourself a Break this Summer with Professional Pool Maintenance

May 2nd, 2015 Posted in Pool Maintenance
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Having a clean, fresh pool to dive into on those hot summer days can’t be beat. Unfortunately, that often means hours spent each week cleaning and maintaining your pool before you can enjoy those benefits. You deserve the chance to relax by the pool during your free time. This year, let the pros take care of your pool and give yourself a break from pool maintenance.

Benefits of Professional Pool Care

It is not just the extra time you gain that make professional pool maintenance worth the investment. While you may think you are saving money by doing your maintenance yourself, you might be surprised how affordable professional pool maintenance can be. Once you add up all the costs of pool cleaning equipment, chemicals and gas running to and from the pool supply store, you might not be saving as much as you think.

Another good reason to use a pool maintenance service is the additional benefits you receive from professional expertise. Not only can they maintain the chemical balance of your pool and keep it healthy for your daily swim, they can alert you of problems with your equipment. A small problem can turn into a big expense if not fixed right away. Most professional pool services will routinely inspect your equipment to ensure that everything is working as it should.

This summer, call your local pool service company to get a quote for routine maintenance. There are different service levels to choose from that can fit your budget and pool use. Then, lay back and enjoy a whole summer of enjoying maintenance-free pool ownership.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pool Service & Repairs
4581 Weston Road
Weston, FL 33331
(954) 840-8544

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Pool Water Without Chlorine?

February 3rd, 2015 Posted in Pool Filters
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Traditionally chlorine has always been used to clean and disinfect the water in commercial and residential swimming pools.  While very effective, there are a number of downsides to chlorine such as irritating and drying out the pool users skin and causing discoloration to the swimmer’s clothing.  In addition, chlorine is not a “green” product and can be hazardous if the material is misused or if the containers are not properly disposed of when empty.  Advances in technology have resulted in two alternate systems, which make it possible to reduce the amount of chlorine by up to 90% thru the use of either an ozone generator or a chlorine generator.

The first system generates ozone, which is a natural product that has excellent sanitization properties.  One of the benefits of this system is its ease of incorporation into existing pool equipment, as well as its effectiveness in keeping the water in the pool clean, while greatly reducing the amount of chlorine in the pool.   The second system is a chlorine generator or a “salt system” and relies on installing an electrolytic cell onto the existing pool equipment and adding salt to the pool.  As the water passes by the cell, it reacts with the salt, creating hypochlorous acid, which is the key killing ingredient found in chlorine.

This system requires little maintenance beyond maintaining the salinity of the pool.  Added benefits include a lack of a chlorine smell and the overall salinity of the pool is very, very mild. Both systems are affordable and will reduce the cost of keeping the pool clean, while providing a “greener” alternative to chlorine.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pools, LLC
Miami Beach, FL
(305) 767-7755

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Residential Pool Cleaning

February 3rd, 2015 Posted in Pool Service
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While residential swimming pools offers many hours of enjoyment, they take maintenance to keep them clean, safe and in perfect operating condition.  In today’s busy world, many people simply do not have the time to do the maintenance themselves and will often turn to a residential pool cleaning service instead.  No matter who does the work, the proper cleaning and maintenance of a residential swimming pool is critical to keeping the pool owner and their family safe and healthy.  It also helps in avoiding a wide variety of costly pool repairs due to improper maintenance!

Many pool owners elect to do a weekly cleaning and service, where a trained technician will perform a variety of cleaning and maintenance services including checking and adjusting as necessary the auto-cleaning system, clearing the skimmer baskets, adjusting valves and unclogging impellers, applying chemicals, checking the chemical balance of the pool, inspection and maintenance of all pool equipment, brushing the walls of the pool and vacuum and skimming the pool.  Additional services can include such things as stain removal, which are often the result of untreated manganese, copper and other metal that result in decay and balancing the chemicals, as well as the pH in the pool.

In most cases, the scope of services for residential pool cleaning and maintenance can be custom tailored to the needs of the pool owner and their budget.  While many select a weekly cleaning program, others opt for a one-time pool clean up and service.  While it may appear to be a simple task, the cleaning and maintenance of the pool is just as important as any other part of the home and is critical to the longevity of the pool.

Posted on behalf of Somar Pool Service & Repairs
4581 Weston Road
Weston, FL 33331
(954) 840-8544

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Why You Need to Hire a Pool Service

June 7th, 2012 Posted in Pool Service
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A swimming pool can be a very relaxing and refreshing treatment after a long, hard day at work. However, no one wants to maintain their pool. In many instances, it causes more of a migraine than your boss did at work that day. Therefore, a pool service professional may be just what you need.

By hiring a pool service company to handle the cleaning and maintenance of your swimming pool, you can rest assured that your pool will be regularly maintained all year. Your pool can be checked regularly for the right amount of chemicals and can be shocked whenever necessary by someone who is knowledgeable in performing such treatments. A pool service company will keep all the bugs and leaves out of your pool while ensuring that all the pool and filters remain clean at all times.

Without regular preventative maintenance on your pool, you could run into a multitude of problems. Not only can your pool become damaged, but the pool equipment – such as the pump – can become damaged and fail as well. In addition, with a pool service professional checking on your pool regularly, he can spot any irregularities or malfunctions so that they can be fixed immediately before any further damage can be done.

When it comes to keeping your pool water crystal clear and sparkling clean, the best thing you can do is hire a pool service company. A pool service professional knows exactly what needs to be done to keep your water clear, clean and ready to use. If you do not have time to handle the upkeep of your pool maintenance or just simply do not want to mess with the headache of it, give your local pool service company a call.

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Choosing Pool Size, Shape and Depth

November 10th, 2011 Posted in New Pools
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One of the great benefits of living in Florida is the year round warm weather and there is no better way to enjoy the balmy weather than your own in-ground pool.  Pools can be built in an almost infinite variety of shapes and sizes.  When you are planning your pool, talk to your swimming pool contractor about the right size, shape, and depth to best fit how you plan to use your pool.

Also take into consideration how long you plan on staying in the home.  If you are thinking about a special purpose or very unique pool but may be moving within a few years, try to incorporate a more general purpose design that also fits your needs so that potential buyers see the pool as a positive rather than a negative.

A pool that will only be for recreational purposes should have a large shallow area and can be built in any shape.  Choose a shape that maximized the recreation opportunities for you and your family and friends while complementing your yard.  A large deep area of the pool that will go unused will significantly and needlessly increase the cost of building the pool, filling it with water, maintenance and pool service.

If you plan to use the pool for exercise, you will need a long, straight area at least four to five feet deep to avoid hitting the bottom while swimming. Diving boards and slides are popular, but also inherently dangerous.  Give some thought to the risks involved and talk to your homeowner’s insurance carrier before committing to a diving board or slide.

If you decide to include a diving or sliding area, you will need adequate depth.  Your pool contractor can help you decide the proper depth.  You may also be able to accommodate both a large recreation area and a diving or sliding area with an L shaped pool.

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Cloudy Pool Water

August 22nd, 2011 Posted in Pool Service
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Cloudy pool water is more than just unsightly, it is a safety hazard.  If you cannot easily see the bottom of your pool, you should not be swimming in it.  First of all, cloudy pool water is unsanitary.  The water is cloudy due to a chemical imbalance, improper filtration, or both.  In any event, swimming in cloudy pool water increases the risk of getting sick from pathogens in the water.

In addition, if you can’t see the bottom of the pool, it’s dangerous to dive into the water. You could hit the bottom and cause a severe injury.  Finally, if an accident did happen, it would be difficult for anyone else to see the victim on the bottom of the pool.  People have drowned in cloudy pools without anyone noticing.

The bottom line is get that cloudy pool cleared up.  A sparkling clear pool is not only beautiful, but it is safer.  There can be many different reasons for cloudy pool water.  Your filter may not be working properly, or your pump may not be pumping water through the filter at the right rate.

In addition to filter problems, chemical imbalances can cause the pool water to become cloudy or milky.  The easiest way to correct a chemical imbalance is to take a sample of your pool water to your pool supply center.  They will analyze it and recommend the chemicals needed to bring your pool water back into balance.

If your water is still cloudy, it may be due to particles that are too small to be captured by the filter.  A pool clarifier will cause the particles to clump together so the filter can remove them from the water.

If all this sounds like a hassle, consider using a reputable local pool service.  A good pool service can quickly take care of all your cloudy pool water issues.

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