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Apr
30

How to Shock Your Pool

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice - (0 Comments)

Shocking, also known as “oxidization” or “super chlorinating,” is a chemical process that makes pool water clean and safe by breaking down wastes such as dead skin cells, cosmetics, body oil, sweat, and urine. In this process, the chlorine level is drastically raised for a short period to eliminate the bacteria and organic matter that could inhabit your pool.

Shocking is one of the most important routines that pool owners should know in maintaining their swimming pools. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  1. The pool shock should match your pool’s filter system. If you have a non-chlorinated pool, choose non-chlorinated shockers and if you have a chlorinated pool, go for chlorinated ones. Check out Backyard Ocean for a list of pool shock products you can try.
  2.  Read the specifications and instructions from the manufacturer. The amount of shocker you need depends on the size of the pool. When you have determined the amount you need to shock your swimming pool, pre-dissolve the grains of the chemical in a bucket of water. Remember to put the chemical into the water and not vice versa.
  3.  After mixing and agitating the water and shocker for one minute, pour the solution directly in front of a return line fitting while your filtration system is turned on. Pour slowly so that all the shock pool chemicals are distributed to the pool waters by the jet of water from the return line. This keeps the chemicals from reaching the pool floor. Keep your vinyl pool liner away from any un-dissolved pool shock because it may stain or bleach it.

The recommended frequency for shocking your pool is at least once a week. The heavier you use the pool and the more frequently it is exposed to rain and sunny weather, the more often you should shock it to keep your family protected from unsafe water.

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Apr
27

Pool Games for Kids: Alligators and Seals

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Summer Fun - (0 Comments)

Kiddie pools especially those coupled with pool slides are very enjoyable to children. Multiply the fun and learning they can get from this activity by getting them to play “Alligators and Seals.” This game not only brings excitement, but also develops their strategic thinking skills and physical well-being.

Rules of the Game

In Alligators and Seals, one child gets to be the Alligator while the rest are Seals. The “it” is the Alligator, who has to catch all the Seals that he can turn into Alligators. Each new Alligator will now help the original Alligator catch other Seals.

Now, while the Alligator simply lurks around the waters, the Seals have their own starting point. The goal of the Seals is to reach a designated safe place where no Alligator can catch them. If he can manage to cross the kiddie pool to the other side where the Seal base is located, then the Seal is safe. The child that has not been caught by an Alligator gets to win the game.

This game may sound easy at first until you try the Alligator or Seal walk. To do this, the kids lie on their bellies with their hands pressed on the bottom of the pool to support their body. The hard part about this walk is that the legs are not supposed to move. But if there is adequate water that can reach up to the elbow of the player, then his legs could be kept afloat while crawling, making the Alligator or Seal walk a lot easier.

Benefits of the Game

  • - The Alligator or Seal walk improves the upper body stamina of the child. If the child is still learning how to swim, a stronger upper body can be a great starting point.
  • - Alligators and Seals can stimulate the child’s brain as he starts to develop strategies such as where to pass in order to avoid the Alligator.
  • - This game elicits lots of laughter from the kids and laughter is believed to be very therapeutic.
  • - The game adds an interesting twist to an otherwise monotonous swimming activity for the children.
  • - The children get to be more comfortable with water and swimming, which is essential in learning how to swim.

Toddlers are extremely curious about their surroundings and as they experience new things, they begin to know the world better. Allowing them to play in the water, especially in a kiddie pool, will help stimulate their brain to make them discover and learn new things about their environment.

 

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Apr
23

Making your Swimming Pool Slide Safe and Fun

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice - (0 Comments)

Children love the water especially during hot weather, and pool slides never fail to add more fun to their day. Because they are the ones who enjoy slides the most, safety should always be your primary concern. Make sure to follow the mounting instruction from your supplier and have an expert help you install it.

Here are some more fun and safety tips in installing and using your swimming pool slide.

  • Have the slide painted with colorful designs to make it inviting for your kids. Remember that painting the slide on low humidity days will let the paint dry quickly.
  • If you don’t have a fixed swimming pool at home, you can still provide a slide for your kids’ portable swimming pool. Go for an inflatable pool slide that goes down to a portable landing pool. Inflatable pools and pool slides can be built with the help of an electric blower.
  • Determine how high you want the slide to be—a shallow pool needs a shorter slide.
  • Alternatives for above-ground pool slides may be limited but they can be moved around and attached to the pool deck. Moreover, these slides are often much smaller than the slides for in-ground swimming pools.
  • No matter how safe a slide is, children 6 years old and below should not be allowed to use the slide without the guidance of an adult.
  • Keep your kids from sliding with toys in their hands as this could harm them when they slide down the pool. Keep their swimming experience safe by educating them on how to properly use the pool slide and constantly reminding them to be careful.

There is a wide variety of slides you can choose from, depending on the size and design of your pool. You can even have them customized so that they perfectly match your home and pool design. Just remember that the safety of your slide is equally important as its aesthetic charm.

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Apr
20

What to Look for in a Hot Tub

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice - (0 Comments)

A hot tub may be viewed as an additional expense, but it can also be an investment. If you look at it as a way to keep you from stress or sickness for all the hard work you’ve been doing, then the benefits it provides are essential for your well-being. Your job is important and if you allow yourself to be burned out, you will find yourself quitting before you’re even aware that you’re stressed.

A few minutes in a hot tub can do wonders for a tired body and soul—it relaxes your muscles and refreshes the mind. Here are some things to consider before purchasing a hot tub:

  1. User-friendly. If the hot tub is meant for everyone in the family, get one that has user-friendly controls. Most people find 40 degrees Celsius as the most comfortable temperature so select one that can be controlled a little lower or higher than that.
  2. Space. Since a tub is a permanent fixture in your home, decide on where to put it and how much space it needs. Install a drain once you’ve determined where to place it.
  3. Portability. If you want a portable hot tub, try the inflatable ones. Inflatable tubs have their own drainage hose and hygienic filters. The temperature can be controlled and best of all, set-up takes as little as 10 minutes.
  4. Usage.  Portable spas offer a lot more health benefits than you can imagine. Hot baths are therapeutic for people who had a stroke or suffering from injuries. Patients who need hydrotherapy can also benefit from exercising in a hot tub.
  5. Design. Just like the rest of your furniture and fixtures, the tub should be unified with the theme of the house. Look for one that matches the rest of your home’s interior and exterior design.

Improve the quality of your life with the benefits of a hot tub and be more ready for life’s everyday challenges.

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Apr
16

Backyard Ocean’s Spring Savings Sale!

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Top Deals - (0 Comments)

Gear up for summer with Backyard Ocean’s Spring Savings Sale! Get up to 40% discount on a huge selection of quality pool equipment and supplies—shipped straight to your door!

Choose from a wide selection of pools according to your family’s needs: Metal Frame Pools, Hard-Sided Above Ground Pools, and Inflatable Ring Pools. Our Kiddie and Family pools are available in a variety of colors, designs, and sizes.

Make pool maintenance a regular routine to protect your loved ones through affordable swimming pool chemicals and discounted maintenance kits and accessories. Also avail of quality pool equipment such as filter cartridges and pool pumps through Backyard Ocean’s Spring Sale.

Indulge in the luxury of spa relaxation with portable spas on sale. Get great deals on spa cartridges, covers, accessories and spa chemicals to keep spa water safe and clean. Everything you need for your spa is at your fingertips with Backyard Ocean.

Our Spring sale also gives you great deals on poolside products including outdoor umbrellas and poolside décor.

Take advantage of these great deals until April 25 and get free delivery for orders valued at $100 and above.

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