Author Archives: Christina Mantoura

With the high cost of entertainment today, many families are looking at what they can do at home to make staying home more attractive and fun for the family and a pool is a great way to achieve this!

A cost effective alternative for children’s fun

It can be difficult trying to find different entertainment venues for the entire family and still keep it at a reasonable price. A swimming pool brings enjoyment to all age levels. Children that have a pool at home tend to be quite content to use this as a source of enjoyment with friends. Many times, instead of going out to entertain themselves, they prefer to spend time in the pool with friends, which is where the savings can really add up!

Using the swimming pool for socializing

If you love to have company over and enjoy entertaining, you will find that having a swimming pool really adds to the pleasure of socializing. Pool parties are a great way to entertain without having to worry about how to keep your guests occupied. And a pool can save money from not having to plan social outings at expensive restaurants or bringing in other types of entertainment! 

Cutting down on gym fees

Instead of going to the gym, the pool can be used for a great workout, while saving you money long-term. 

Extending the value and benefits of the swimming pool

With the modern technology and materials that are used in quality swimming pools and accessories today, it has made having a swimming pool more affordable. It is quite easy to have an indoor or outdoor swimming pool installed at an affordable price, while putting very little time or money demands on the pool owner when it comes to maintenance!

If you have questions about pools or having one installed, feel free to visit us or connect with us. We would be happy to assist!

When closing down your outdoor swimming pool for winter you need to create a sterile environment where microorganisms such as algae spores, fungi and bacteria cannot flourish. You also need to help prevent the formation of scale and staining from dissolved minerals so the water and pool surfaces are in good order when the pool is re-opened in spring.

If you can do this, you should hit the ground running at the start of next season as far as water quality is concerned, and avoid those expensive and time consuming clean-downs which are needed before the water begins to look acceptable again.

For Pools Run on Chlorine

First, shock dose the pool with an unstabilised granular chlorine. The high dose of chlorine will kill off any algae spores and bacteria that might be lurking in liner creases or in the surface of tile grouting. This will give you as near sterile water as possible. Now you need to keep it like this through the winter, as the chlorine will soon die away. You need to use a product that is specially formulated for overwintering and contains long life algicides and additives, which prevent the formation of scale and staining from dissolved minerals.

For Pools run on Bromine or Baquail

The above procedure and instructions opposite are aimed at pools run on chlorine, as it is by far the most commonly used outdoor pool sanitiser. There are parallel procedures for other disinfectants as follows.

Bromine is very similar to chlorine and can be shocked with shock dose. This should then be followed by the prescribed dose of winteriser product.

THE 14 STEPS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IN ORDER TO WINTERISE YOUR POOL CORRECTLY

1. Thoroughly backwash the filter. Remove any debris from the pump strainer, skimmers and pool water surface.
2. Check the pH and adjust to 7.2 – 7.4.
3. Shock dose with a stabiliser-free chlorine to kill any algae and harmful organisms that may be present. Allow the water to circulate for 3 – 4 hours to ensure thorough mixing.
4. Close the valve/s from the skimmer/s and lower the water to 10cm – 15cm below the skimmer level. (It is important to heed any recommendations made by the pool installer and not lower the water level too much. This is especially important if there is a naturally high water table as this could present structural hazards to the pool shell).
5. With the water still circulating through the bottom drain, add the winteriser product, pouring it evenly around the pool at the prescribed dose.
6. Leave the circulation running for long enough to ensure thorough mixing.
7. Remove ladders, diving boards and summer covers etc, and store them away from extremes of temperature.
8. Switch off and isolate electricity supply. (If in doubt consult an electrician).
9. Drain the water from the pump, heater and filter taking care to retain any ‘O’ rings from unions.
10. Disconnect the pump and store in a frost-free, dry place away from extremes of temperature.
11. Leave valves above water level open; those below should be closed and protected from frost damage.
12. Some weighted and sealed polythene bottles can be used to absorb ice expansion. These should be floated along the length of the pool and secured with strong cord.
13. Cover the pool with a heavy duty winter pool cover.
14. Check the appearance of the water occasionally, along with the pH and free chlorine while the pool is shut down. If the winter is mild, add another dose of Winteriser in February and ensure thorough mixing and distribution throughout the pool.

Our products are recognized in the world over for their excellence in design and comfort. Here are some of the key features that distinguish our hot tubs and swim spas from the rest:

Comfort and Design

We have incorporated many unique design features in our products, including: ergonomically designed seats and pillows, deep bucket seats, large foot wells, adjustable jets that focus on specific areas of the body; and customizable massage jets that allow you to tailor the massage experience to your exact needs.

Reputation and Quality

We are a family-based company located in the prestigious Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, in Sidcup, Kent. The Directors have been in the industry since 1998, and we’ve loved the lifestyle that comes with owning a pool and spa. Our company ethos promotes complete customer care at all stages of the sale, and also, most importantly, the service process. We are unusual and ahead of the game, in that we now boast a team of highly experienced and qualified service engineers, and installation staff.

We have won a variety of United Kingdom Awards in recent years, from both the hot tub and pool sectors. Back- up service and recommendations are hugely important to us. Interestingly enough, much of our business is through referrals and recommendations from numerous existing happy customers.

Insulation and Energy Efficiency

 Unlike our competitors who use full or partial foam for insulation, we use our own Double Thermal Shield Insulation system. Better insulation means better energy efficiency, and our system is the only one on the market to be certified carbon neutral and to meet the rigorous standards of the California Energy Commission.

Ease of Maintenance

We are provided by the only manufacturer that offers self cleaning models of hot tubs and swim spas that change 100% of the water every 15 minutes. For service, all four sides of the cabinet can be removed, a feature that is rare among our competition.

Massage and Hydrotherapy

There is no question that water-based therapies work. For centuries people have used water to improve their health, believing that water could not only relieve pain, but could also heal various illnesses. Today, hydrotherapy focuses on relaxation and releasing tension as a way to achieve better mental and physical health. With the customizable massage jets in hot tubs, you will enjoy the many benefits of full-body massage, right in your own home.

Exercise. An added benefit of the Swim Spa is the element of exercise. Water-based exercise is ideal for anyone, but especially for those who may need a gentler workout than traditional aerobic or weight training. The Swim Spa can deliver you a healthier physique while also offering you the relaxing properties of a hot tub.

If you are lucky enough to live in the Valley of the Sun and own a swimming pool, here are some pool maintenance tips for keeping your pool sparkling clean, inviting, refreshing and ready for use every day. The key is just staying on top of it. This will save you from making mistakes that could cost you a great deal of money. Routine pool maintenance may also prevent frustration and will minimize the need to make emergency runs to the pool store for chemicals or other additives.

Tips For Keeping Your Home Swimming Pool Sparkling Clean and Healthy To Use

1. Check pool chemistry 2-3 times per week during the summer and once per week in the winter.
2. Clean out skimmer basket(s) weekly, or as needed if conditions exist.
3. Clean hair and lint pot in the pump every couple of weeks or as needed. Turn off pump to do this.
4. Check and monitor water level at least once per month, adjust as needed. Water level should be at the center of the tile or skimmer.
5. Check Deck-Chlor/Inline Chlorinator at least once per week for proper adjustment.
6. Clean your filters. This may be necessary after a heavy storm or once every few months depending on conditions in your pool. It would be best to clean them about every 4-6 months. Just remind yourself to do it each time you come back from the dentist, or each time you change the air filters in your home, which should be about the same frequency. If you have an extra set of elements it is a much easier and quicker job. Soak dirty filters in a 10% solution of muriatic acid or a solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate). Use a rubber trash can. Wear gloves and eye protection. Be careful! Always add acid to water, NOT water to acid. Rinse until clean and let them dry. Put your supplies away until your next swap-out.
7. As you are monitoring your pool, take note:

      – Are your returns very weak?

– Is the in-floor cleaning system not working very well?

– Is the water clarity starting to look bad?

If any of these conditions exist, it is likely time to clean the filters. Most pools should only need this done a couple of times a year. There are exceptions though based on bather load (pool usage).

1. Wipe/clean tile line weekly. This will reduce build-up.
2. If you have a salt water chlorine generator than you will need to check and clean the blades in the unit about every 30 days. If the red flow light or flow meter is on or reading less than normal, then the blades are likely calcified and producing little to zero chlorine. Turn the pump off, bleed off any pressure, undo the unions and clean the blades per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

10  Always keep chemicals stored out of direct sunlight. Keep them in a cool dry place. Do NOT store acid and chlorine right next to each other.

1. Your pool should not need to be shocked on any regular basis if you have an ozone system. If you need to do it, do it at night. Use non-chorine based shock if you plan on swimming any time soon. Another way to shock your pool would be to run your pump for 24 hours using your ozone system. This works great! If you are on 24 hour circulation (2-speed or variable speed pump) than you should be just fine.
2. If you start seeing any cracks around the perimeter of your pool between your deck and your tile, caulk it with a small bead of clear silicon. Do not allow the water to migrate from inside the pool in and under the deck through cracks at this joint.
3. Keep vegetation, animals, chemicals (like fertilizers and ironite) away from and out of the pool. Nitrates from bird droppings and waste from animals and people are food for algae. Don’t feed the algae! 

Optimal Swimming Pool Chemical Ranges

Keep your pool’s chemical readings in these ranges:

PH: 7.2 to 7.8

Alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm

Calcium Hardness: 250-450 ppm

Chorine residual: 1.0 to 1.5 ppm; upt to 2.0 in the summer with ozone, 3.0 without

Adjust down PH with muriatic acid. Never add more than a pint at a time. Re-test than add again as needed. As you add acid to adjust down the PH this should in turn cause the alkalinity reading to come down. Read your test kit guide; it has plenty of useful information and tips. Call your local pool store if you have any questions.

The temperature has a drastic affect on your swimming pool. In the Phoenix desert, the extreme summer temperatures mean that you might have to pay more attention to your water chemistry and the clarity of your swimming pool water. It should be crystal clear all the time and swim ready.

The total alkalinity (TA) is a measure of how much of the alkaline substances there are in the water. In the swimming pool water, we are concerned with bicarbonate alkalinity, which should be between 80 ppm and 120 ppm.

When the total alkalinity (TA) is within this range, it prevents rapid pH changes and “stabilises” the pH level.

If the TA is too low, Marbelite and plaster walls will become etched, metals corrode, the pool’s walls and floor can stain, the water can turn green, eyes burn and we can have pH bounce (pH rapidly going up and down, seemingly at random).

If the TA is too high, the pH is difficult to adjust, the water becomes cloudy, the pool constantly needs acid (according to your test kit) and the chlorine loses its efficiency as a disinfectant.

It is recommended that you test the TA regularly, but in practice it changes very little in a well-maintained pool.

To raise the level of TA, you should use our Hot Tub and Swim Spa Company Alkalinity Increaser. To increase your TA of 10ppm, use 1,5kg per 100m3. Raise alkalinity gradually continuing treatment daily until correct levels are reached.

Lowering the total alkalinity is also a slow process. To reduce pH readings add 10g per 1000lts of Spa pH and Alkalinity reducer, sprinkling product directly to the water with circulation on. This application will lower the pH by approximately 0.2.Only make one addition of pH and Alkalinity Reducer at a time and always re-test the water, should a further addition be required, test your water again.To reduce Total Alkalinity add 15g per 1000lts of Spa and Hot Tub water with circulation on. Add product to the deepest point of the Spa / Hot Tub in one application. This application will lower the Total Alkalinity by approximately 10 – 20 ppm (mg/l). Always re-test the water after each application.

Choosing a swim spa, exercise pool, fitness pool or swimming pool is a big decision, as it’s a choice you’ll be living with for a long time. Choose the wrong type of pool, and you will drastically reduce the use you get from your new investment, choose the right swimming pool, however, and you will be delighted with it for years to come.

Indeed, a swim spa offers a few added benefits that your traditional pool may not offer. Individuals who are considering the investment in this type of pool will find that the advantages are not just exercise related. In fact, this can be the perfect place to relax and unwind with friends or to let the kids splash around in the summer months. Unlike other pools, the swim spa is a complete system that is easy to use and maintain.

One of the key advantages of an exercise pool is that it provides you with one of the best types of exercise methods available. Swimming is good for several reasons.

• It provides an effective workout plan that gets the heart going.
• It works to provide exercise without impact. Unlike running or walking, there is no impact on the joints.
• This system is fun. Unlike other types of exercise, like treadmills and workout gyms, people tend to enjoy swimming. When you enjoy doing something, you are more likely to do it.

For all of these reasons, an exercise pool is an ideal choice for those who need to get moving. Keep in mind that you will find a variety of other advantages to swim spas too. 

Swim spas provide other uses as well. Individuals will find a range of ways to use these that do not always have to provide for health improvement. For example, some split models offer a side that is perfect for relaxing with a few friends, in a hot tub style experience. This makes for one of the best overall experiences because the water’s warm and the current is just enough to be relaxing.

They are safe for children who will enjoy spending time in the swim spa. A very dynamic and easy to use product. The children will love playing with the jets and will learn swimming very fast. Moreover, a swim spa is easy to use. You can keep it heated 12 months a year at the cheapest price with covers and its great isolation. It only demands a few products to keep the water clean. 

Whereas in a swimming pool, you will only have space to make a couple breaststrokes and once you have done that, you will sit on the side of the pool and not enjoy it as you should.

Therefore, a swim spa is the way to make the most of your investment, by spending less time worrying about the money spent in maintenance, and spending more time enjoying your pool, the relaxation and comfort it offers.