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Apr
12

Home and Lifestyle Tips: Spring Cleaning Your Swimming Pool

Posted by Clint Borrill in Good Advice | How It Works - (0 Comments)

Preparing your pool in early April is a practical idea. It spares you from working under the hot summer sun, and prevents algae from growing in the warm water. With these simple do-it-yourself steps, you will save on professional cleaning expense and have a sparkling clean pool in no time.

Step 1

Inspect all your pool equipment and chemicals before starting the job. Replace any broken accessories and expired pool cleaning products.

graur codrin
by graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Step 2

Remove any water, leaves, and debris from the winter pool cover with a submersible pump, pool net, and pool brush.

Once cleared, you can remove the pool cover without getting any dirt into your pool.

Clean your pool cover according to the manufacturer’s direction and store in a clean, dry place.

Step 3

During winter, it is common for pool water levels to drop. Use a garden hose or water supply to fill your pool so the water reaches the middle of the skimmer opening.

Step 4

While waiting for your water level to increase, remove the winterizing plugs from the return jets and skimmers, and open all necessary valves. Put the drain plugs back into the pump, filter, chlorinator, and heater. Make sure to clean your filter before starting the pump.

Step 5

Turn on the pumping system and check for any leaks. Walk around the pool and look for any leaks in the filter, pump, or the lines themselves.

Salvatore Vuono
by Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Step 6

Skim the surface of the pool with a net to remove any floating dirt or leaves, and vacuum up any small debris from the pool floor. If you use your filter system to vacuum, switch the valve to “waste” so all debris is flushed out straight to the waste port.

Step 7

Let the pool water circulate for about 8 to 12 hours to remove any undetected contaminants before adding any chemicals in the water.

Step 8

Use a water analysis kit to check the pH level of the water. Select the right chemicals to bring your pool to a pH level between 7.2 and 7.6. Add chlorine shock and algaecide to eliminate harmful bacteria and organic matter that may have built up during winter. Backyard Ocean has a range of pool chemical kits that are specially formulated to treat your water safely and effectively.

Once your pool is clean and ready for swimming, dive in the refreshing water and reward yourself for a job well done.

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Dec
24

Setting Up a Theater in your Backyard

Posted by Backyard Ocean in How It Works - (0 Comments)

You don’t always need to go to the movie theater to have a great movie-viewing experience – you can do so right in the comfort of your own backyard.

To set up your own home theater, you’ll need:

  1. A DVD player
  2. Speakers
  3. A projector
  4. Cushy seats
  5. A screen
  6. Snacks

The first step is to find the perfect space for your home theater. Take note that your screen can be as simple as a large surface. Two king-sized bed sheets sewn together are actually about the perfect size for a large screen. Don’t settle for tape, as it may not be strong enough to hold the sheets together.

Some other options for a screen, however, are…

  • A Mirror: Evenly paint over the mirror with gray acrylic paint, and you’ll be amazed by the result: incredible sharpness and contrast. Be wary, however, of putting on too much paint, as the results can easily backfire.
  • Black-out Fabric: This fabric is a white piece of cloth that’s coated with vinyl on one side. Usually the cloth is often used as a liner for blocking out the light beaming through your curtains.
  • Ready-made Portable Screens: Not so much into DIYs? Don’t worry as you can always choose to purchase a free-standing portable screen (some of them go up to 100 inches) from your local store.

With that done, you can now deal with all the other audio and visual settings in whatever way you want. Large, high-end speakers and a decent Blu-ray or DVD player are better options for crisp images.

Now, just throw around a few chairs, cushions and bean bags, pop those bags of popcorn into the microwave, and set up a cantilever umbrella in case of rain. Now, you’re ready to go!

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Dec
3

How to Build Your Own Pool Slide

Posted by Backyard Ocean in Good Advice | How It Works | Pool Fun - (0 Comments)

Having your own slide next to your swimming pool adds a lot of fun and enjoyment for the family. There are a couple of nifty and inexpensive pool slides available in the market. They come in different sizes and shapes, some easy to install, others not so much. The fabulous thing about pool slides is that they aren’t that difficult to build yourself. All that’s required are a few key materials and a little handiwork to set up the perfect slippery slope for your backyard swimming pool.

So here are a few steps to follow when planning and building your very own pool slide.

  1. Make proper and accurate measurements. You want to know the exact measurements of the area where you’re planning on placing your slide.
  2. Create a rough draft or sketch. Along with your blueprint, indicate certain factors like how much weight the slide should be able to take, for what ages it would be suitable, and who would be using it.
  3. Will you be mounting a flume? This is a small stream of running water that cascades down the slide to help make it slick. Installing a flume, however, requires some plumbing and electrical components.
  4. Decide on what material you want your pool slide to be made of. There are Fiberglass pool slides offered by pool supply companies. Others sell slides made of a type of premium ACTRA™ acrylic. For DIY enthusiasts, however, a simple 3-foot diameter, heavy-duty plastic drainage tube might do the trick.
  5. Attach the steel bars and stands to the slide to hold it up. If you’re setting up a slide from scratch, it’s preferable to set those steel bars within every 2 feet of the slide’s length. Bolt them together with a bolt gun and brackets. Fasten anchor flanges at the bottom of every steel pipe with bolts to attach it to the ground.
  6. Now set your step ladder up against the slide and secure it in the ground for stability.

You’ve now got yourself your very own swimming pool slide. Test it out a couple of times to be sure of its sturdiness. If you’re still feeling a bit wary about it, then it would be best to call an expert to survey your handiwork. Fun can only be achieved when safety is assured, after all.

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May
21

Types of Personal Flotation Devices

Posted by Backyard Ocean in How It Works - (0 Comments)

Personal flotation devices (PFD) are categorized according to US Coast Guard or USCG classifications by number. As a general rule, the better performing PFD is labelled with the lower number.

Below is a guide to help you select the appropriate personal floatation device for your water activities.

  • TYPE I (Off-shore Life Jackets) – As the best performing PFDs, Type I devices are best used for remote and rough waters where rescue can be slowly obtained. These devices give the best performance when it comes to floating and can save the life of an unconscious user best because of the ability of these offshore life jackets to turn one’s face up when in water.
  • TYPE II (Near-shore Buoyant Vest) – These life vests are good for use in calm or inland water or locations where rescue can be attained quickly. They come in sizes for infants, children, youth, and adults. Like the Type I, the near-shore buoyant vest can also turn unconscious wearers face-up.
  • TYPE III (Floatation Aid) – These devices can be used by mindful and alert users in inland water. They’re also good for use in locations where there’s a good chance to be rescued fast. With many sizes to choose from, these flotation jackets and vests are generally believed to be the most comfortable PFD to wear. They are only to be used for the activity specified on the label.

Unlike, Type I and II, the Type III PFD needs the user’s conscious effort to tilt his head back to avoid face-down on water. These devices are not meant to be used for surviving long hours in the rough seas.

Types I, II, and III are common among recreational boaters. Types IV and V, on the other hand, are buoyant cushions that have their own special uses.

  • TYPE IV (Throwable Device) – These life-saving devices are thrown to someone in the water and serves as a good substitute to life jackets and vests. However, they’re not to be used for unconscious persons, children, and non-swimmers, or for long hours in rough waters.
  • TYPE V (Special Use Device) – Type V PFDs are meant to be used for particular activities and special conditions. Its user must also follow the instructions specified on the device. Based on performance, they are equal to Types I, II and III.

Work vests, deck suits, boardsailing vests and hybrid PFDs belong to this variety and they offer high flotation when inflated. Those who especially work in ships and boats can wear this continuously to keep them protected as most accidents in the sea happen unexpectedly. Type V devices can also include features like hypothermia protection.

Safety is always the first thing to consider when exploring the waters. One way to keep yourself away from danger is having the right personal flotation device.

 

May
14

Draining Your Swimming Pool

Posted by Backyard Ocean in How It Works - (0 Comments)

Since there are many types of swimming pools, there are also many ways to maintain them. The most frequently drained pools are those that are filled up with water and drained after use, such as kiddie and inflatable pools. In-ground and above ground swimming pools, on the other hand, needs a different type of draining method.

It’s important to be aware of the type of pool you own, so that you know the right kind of pool pump you need for maintenance.

Main Drain Pools

Main drains, found at the bottom of the pool, are common in commercial swimming pools, above ground swimming pools, and most in-ground residential pools. If your pool has a main drain, then you can make use of that to pump down the water.

Non-Main Drain Pools

If the pool doesn’t have a main drain, use a submersible, trash, or pool pump instead. If you have an above ground pool, use a hose to drain off the water. Take note that siphoning only works with above ground pools.

If you want a faster draining method, use a trash pump. This is a heavy-duty pump that can pump out several gallons of water at a time, making it one of the fastest ways to drain a swimming pool. If a trash pump is out of the budget, ask around if you can rent one.

There’s more to swimming pool draining than what it seems. Before you decide to drain your pool and replace it with cleaner and safer water, ask your friendly swimming pool supplier for advice or seek the help of a professional.