Creepy Water Bugs

Hard to think about bugs when it's freezing outside but it seems like there is no party a bug won’t crash. And

I'm sure you've seen bugs in your pool. What are they, what do they want, and how do I get rid of them?

·                     Water Boatmen – “Corixids”

·                     Water Backswimmer – “Notonectids”

Both of these little pests lay eggs in algae and other aquatic plant life. It takes about 6 weeks for these little guys to reach adulthood. They both breathe air and can each live up to a year, even under ice so long as they have nourishment.

Water Boatmen are herbivores; they are in your pool to eat the algae.  These guys just float around on their belly they do not bite. They love artificial light. These guys are mainly just a nuisance.

Backswimmers are a bit meaner. They eat bugs (such as Water Boatmen), tadpoles, and even small fish. They have a stinging bite. They float around on their backs (hence the nickname).

Getting rid of these uninvited guests is fairly simple. We want to destroy their breeding ground, and cut off their food supply.  We need to get rid of the algae.

Start by shocking the pool water. Use 1-2 lbs. of shock per 10,000 gallons. For best results shock the pool at dusk or nighttime. This should reduce the amount of chlorine burned off by the sun. Brush the walls and skim any bugs off the top of the water.  We recommend you use a weekly dose of algaecide (all chemicals will have directions for use on the back; remember to follow all safety guidelines). Algaecide is a preventative measure, and will not kill algae by itself.

We are now ready to swim in our pool, without fear of six-legged invaders.

Oil & Water

It’s like the old cliche; they get along like oil and water.

Sun tanning oils, baby oils, body oils, and even various kinds of lotions can create a build-up on the surface of the water. You can identify oil by the rainbow color floating on top of the water. The build-up can clog filters creating an increase in the pressure. This slows down the filtration process, increasing cloudy water 

and reducing sanitation.

Oils are one of the main reasons people are always advised to rinse off in some sort of shower before entering a pool. Rebels will fall through the cracks. Some circumstances leave us no real choice. All humans are advised to wear sunscreen when outside for prolonged periods of time. Others will simply wear sun tanning oil into the pool.

So what do we do about the oils?

There are several clarifiers on the market. I prefer Natural Chemistry’s Pool Perfect + Phos Free. Pool Perfect breaks down oil build-up It is also useful for breaking down phosphates (phosphates eat up your chlorine and algae feeds off the stuff, increasing the chance of an algae bloom). The best part about the Natural Chemistry brand is the all natural enzymes. Meaning it is safe for swimmers immediately after adding. A weekly dosage reduces maintenance and increases water quality.

It’s certainly one of our favorite pool products. We start up all our new pools with a weekly dosage of Pool Perfect + Phos Free. You will love the silky smooth water. Feel free to check out their website here: http://naturalchemistry.com/Pool_amp_Spa_1/Products/Pool_Perfect__PHOSfree.html

Superior Water Filtration

Superior water circulation is one of the most definable traits of an Outback Pool.

The average pool needs to run constantly 24/7. Increasing energy costs. Often times builders cut corners on the plumbing, or undersize the equipment. These things greatly affect the hydraulics (the science that deals with water or liquids in motion and its applications.) of the pool. The end result is a cloudy pool, no amount of chemicals can seem to fix. Sometimes upgrading the equipment can alleviate some of these situations, though it’s not guaranteed.

Proper water circulation is critical to the filtration of any pool.

The average Outback Pool only needs 8 hours to turn over the entire body of water. Allowing quicker clean up time, and quicker chemical circulation. Decreasing energy costs and giving you options on more energy saving options with variable speed pumps. Upgrading your filter only increases the clarity of our pools.

I want the clearest, cleanest pool. It should look good and it should be safe for my family and friends.

(For best filtration results have the water chemistry balanced.  Also remember to backwash or clean your filter media often.)

Pool with hot tub?

Lately, one of the trends around town is a pool and spa combination (otherwise known as a ‘spool’ to a select few). The pool and spa combos are aesthetically pleasing. The spillover spa creates a serene effect with the sound of moving water.

The true functionality of a pool and spa combination, in a climate such as Wichita Kansas can be debated.  Our winters and summers can be fairly harsh. It’s not uncommon for it to get really hot, or really cold here.

On July 29^th, 2012 recorded at McConnell Air Force base it was a 107 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat of a spa spilling into the pool will slowly heat the pool over time. Most pools were already warm enough, adding steaming hot water to that situation makes the pool nearly unbearable. I would highly recommend turning off the hot tub heater in those extreme temperatures. This leaves you with a hot tub you can’t use. 

The flip side of the coin is winterization. Most hot tub owners still use their spas during the winter months. Since the pool and hot tub are connected by the spillover, the hot tub must be winterized with the pool. Now we can’t hang out in the hot tub and watch the snow fall.

An indoor pool with climate control would avoid many of these issues. However, the average homeowner is better off separating the pool and hot tub. 

Close it down

It happens every year; the temperature is dropping and everyone pretty well agrees swimming season is over.  Say farewell to relaxing poolside. No more pool parties until next season.  It’s time to winterize the pool.

I get asked all the time how people can reduce the cost of winterizing their pool. My answer is: Be prepared.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when getting ready for winter.

First, leave all winterizing materials out where your pool professional can get to them. I know I don’t want to pay for additional items I already have. Always have covers pumped off; we need to be able to access the pool. Most professionals refuse to run an automatic pool cover if it carries too much weight.  It can break ropes or damage the cover mechanism.

Make sure the water chemistry is properly balanced.  Severe water chemistry imbalances can take a few days to adjust properly. Adjusting the water chemistry can be expensive. Having balanced pool water reduces the chance of opening up a cloudy or green pool. An imbalanced pool can cause a mess or worse damage the vinyl liner and the cover.

Water temperature is also a key factor when winterizing a pool. Ideally you want the pool water to be below 65 degrees (Fahrenheit). Algae can’t grow in temperatures below 65 degrees.  So it’s a good idea to winterize after the pool level drops and a good idea to open a pool before the pool temperature gets above 65 degrees. This will greatly reduce the risk of an algae bloom outbreak.

If you have a tie-down winter safety cover it’s a good idea to remove all patio furniture, flower pots, and other items close to the pool.  This way they won't have a chance to blow or fall over onto the cover. While the pool covers are strong and many manufacturers advertise their strength and durability, they aren't really made to hold your stuff.  Besides, you'll want to make sure to give yourself plenty of room for installing and removing the cover.

As a side note, please put up all pets that have a tendency to run through gates or that are vicious and mean.   Nothing is more distracting than trying to keep Spot happy while trying to put on a pool cover or perform other maintenance duties.

Whether it’s an automatic safety cover or a winter safety cover; once the cover is in place, don't let leafs accumulate on top. It will start to stink over time when the sun comes out and the leaves start to decay.  Not to mention the dead leaves will stain your cover.  Not something you want to deal with later so take the time while raking the yard to sweep off the cover. Use a leaf blower to clear away dried up leaves.   

Some customers like to open their automatic covers in the middle of winter. However, it’s a bad idea when the temperature is below freezing. The cover rides on the water and rolls up on a circular drum. It will freeze the cover fabric together and the cover will be stuck open until the weather thaws.

Got an Outback Pool? Save money and winterize the pool yourself! Winterizing an Outback Pool is easy because of the way they are built.  We'll be happy to show you how.