Swimming Pool Blog - Tips, Care, and Installation

Swimming is an excellent activity for any fitness level, from beginner to pro athlete. Swimming offers a change to your workout or rehab. Swimming is a very healthy, fun and challenging form of exercise and also is a very low impact aerobic exercise. Swimming is used in pro sports all the time for rehab. Regardless of ability and experience, people of all ages can swim. Swimming is an ideal activity for those who are aging or can no longer bear the high impact and joint stress of running or jogging.

Combined with a healthy balanced diet, a regular swimming routine can help people lose weight as easily as other physical activities, such as running. For people who are overweight, swimming can be one of the better ways to exercise because it reduces stress on the leg joints. Swimming has the added benefit of providing a total body cardiovascular workout unlike any other exercise.
As with any other physical fitness activity, make sure to consult with a physician before starting a swimming routine.

We are now offering a few new accessories for your hot tub spa. For instance we are now offering special order spa covers, umbrellas, steps, cover lifts and a spa bar and stools.

Our special order cover is offered in a standard 4″ to 2″ taper that will give excellent insulation in all parts of the country. Thermal Guard covers feature locking hardware and fasteners that prevent children and pets from spa access. We have 12 different colors available.                                                          

We are also now offering a SUPER-STRONG THERMAL GUARD “WALK-ON” SPA COVER. . Both sides of our cover are reinforced with FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) to provide the strength and rigidity of a true “walk on” cover. It is one of the few truly “walk on” safety covers that is certified by the US & U.L.

Our Spa Side Umbrella is a 9-foot hexagon that provides beautiful shade for your spa, its base slides directly under your spa so you don’t have to worry about someone tripping over it. The spa umbrella is available in 2 colors- beige and forest green.

The SPA BAR measures 74” long and 36” high with a 12” wide surface. The matching bar stools feature footrests and a molded resin seat for comfort. Both bar and bar stools are easily snapped together, and available in dark grey/light grey. These are a great maintenance free addition to your spa area.

We now have 4 different spa steps to offer with our hot tub spas. We have storage spa steps with planters, storage steps, and even just a basic spa step. We have a spa step for every budget.

Our covermate spa cover-lift has a sleek, low profile look that compliments any spa. You only need 10” of clearance for this top of the line spa cover-lift. We are also offering a Low Mount Economy Cover-Lift which is a great economical deal. With the low mount economy cover-lift you will need at least 2 feet of clearance on all 4 sides of the spa.

There are several different types of spas, and we are sure that we have the right spa for you.  Royal Swimming Pools offer spillover spas, hot tub spas, swim spas and now we are offering an inflatable portable spa.

Spillover spas are used with your inground swimming pool. You can add one to an existing swimming pool or a new one.You can even add extra jets and a blower. Spillover spas work with the pumping system for your inground pool.      

We offer several different hot tub spas. Whether you are looking for a hot tub spa for just 1 person or for one that holds up to 7 people, we have the hot tub spa that is just right for you.  The hot tub spas offer a variety of options that you can choose such as spa color, spa size, and cabinet color.  We also have spas that range from 24 to 109 hydrotherapy jets. So we are sure that you can find the hot tub spa that suits your needs.

We are also now offering an Aero Inflatable 4 person spa. It has 130 air jets, and a heater. It is truly portable, so you can move it any where. Plug it in and it inflates in minutes, after you fill it with your garden hose, just turn on the filter and the heater. Then get ready to enjoy your inflatable portable spa. It is ideal for taking along with you when you go camping in your RV.

Swim Spas are spas that have powerful swim jets that create a strong current, this allows you to swim in place, jog in place, or do resistance exercises. The size and design of the Swim Spa also allows several people to be able to relax in designed seats. Get the fitness you need and therapy you desire with a swim spa. It is available in a portable swim spa and an in ground swim spa model.  We also have the vinyl in- ground spa that has a variety of options available.  

How do I clean my cartridge Filter Element?

The way that a cartridge filter works is that the water flows into filter elements that have a fine mesh material. The fine mesh material strains out the impurities in your pool or spa water. Cartridge cleaning is easy because all you have to do is remove the cartridge, clean it and then put it back into the filter. We recommend rinsing the filters during your weekly maintenance, or as needed.

            We recommend that you clean your cartridges once during the season with either a degreaser or acid bath, or per manufacturer’s specifications. A degreasing solution removes body oils that will clog cartridge elements. Acid baths will usually imbed the oils into the cartridge filter material and make it less effective. You can purchase a cartridge cleaning solution, or you can use a mixture of laundry detergent and water. When using the detergent you will mix about 1 cup of detergent to 5 gallons of water. Let the cartridge soak in the mixture overnight. Make sure you thoroughly rinse the cartridge before reinstalling it into the filter, so you do not have soap bubbles appear.

           Acid baths are recommended to remove mineral deposits on the cartridge. Whenever you decide to use an acid bath on your cartridge, make sure you do the degreaser wash first. You will start with a 1 part acid to 5 parts water mixture in a bucket. YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THE WATER IS IN THE BUCKET BEFORE YOU ADD THE ACID!  We also recommend that you follow the acid manufacturer’s guidelines for using their product, and for the proper disposal of the acid mixture.

            If your cartridge filter is showing signs of wear and tear, distress, or not properly filtering after thorough cleaning, it may be time to replace your cartridge filter elements.

Royalswimmingpools.com replacement cartridges are made to all of the top manufacturers specifications. Top quality urethane tops and remay filter elements ensure crystal clear water and long life. We stock thousands of manufacturer’s cartridges like: Alps Spas, Star-Rite®, Pac Fab®, Hayward®, Purex®, American Products®, Hot Springs®, Coleman®, and many more. We have listed some of our more popular replacement cartridges on our website, but we carry many, many more.

Call us at 1-877-602-7067 and we will find you a high quality replacement cartridge filter elements.

(To expedite the search for the correct cartridge, please be ready with the brand of cartridge you have and the model no. that is listed on the outside of the cartridge.)

Thousands of additional cartridges available! Call 1-877-602-7067 for expert advice.

If your pool is losing water and you have checked and eliminated all 4 possible causes in our previous article http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/blog/how-to-find-leaks-in-vinyl-liner-pools/, the leak could be in the PVC plumbing.

1. Construct a pressure testing tool as shown in the diagram and connect it to the pool PVC lines.

2. You can test the entire system at once or each PVC line separately. Install a pressure test plug in each return, skimmer and main drain.

3. Use the attached pressure test tool to put water in the PVC lines. The lines should be mostly full of water and not just air. Remove one of the plugs if necessary to fill the pipes with water then reinstall the plug. Continue to add water until the pressure reaches 20-25 psi.

4. Turn off the valve on the pressure test tool and watch the pressure gauge. If the pressure goes down quickly, there is a leak in the PVC pipe. Be sure and check the pressure test plugs to make sure they are not leaking. If the pressure goes down slowly there is a small leak. If there is no leak the pressure should hold for several hours.

5. If the pressure goes down you will need to test each line individually to locate the leak. If the PVC pipe is under a concrete deck, you can add an air valve to the pressure test tool. Use an air tank or compressor to add air to the water pressurized line. Look for the water bubbling in cracks or use a stethoscope to listen through the deck for the leak.

Royal Swimming Pools has a new accessory that we are offering now. It is inflatable winter toys. They can be found here at http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Winter-Inflatables.htm . We want our customers and their families to continue having fun after they cannot use their swimming pools, even in the winter snow.

We are offering 7 new inflatable toys: The 2 person Speedseeker that supports up to 340 lbs; the Air Flyer ; our favorite would have to be “The Super Crossover”  because you can CONQUER SNOW & WATER WITH THIS MULTI-PURPOSE INFLATABLE!; We also have an inflatable shoe and an inflatable  snowmobile that your kids will really get a kick out of sliding down a hill on. The Sno Fort  is a one of a kind igloo hideout that will give your kids hours of fun.

Royal Swimming Pools wants all of our customers to extend their fun and excitement from our great in ground and above ground pools to our new selection of winter fun.

Here are some items you will need to properly winterize your swimming pool. You will need to use a winter plug in each swimming pool return inlet. We also reccommend using a Gizzmo skimmer plug for each skimmer. The Gizzmo skimmer plug is designed to absorb the exspansion of winter freeze-ups in your skimmers. You can find both of these items here http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Winter-pool-cover-products.htm#plugs

Making sure you use the proper winterizing chemicals for your swimming pool is very important. Royal Swimming Pools offers a Winter Chemical Kit in a variety of sizes depending on your size swimming pool, these can be found here at http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Winter-pool-cover-products.htm#winterchems . We also offer instructions on winterizing your pool at http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/winter.htm .

Using a winter cover is very helpful, it will help cut down on your maintenance when re-opening your swimming pool in the spring. Our winter covers for above ground pools come with a vinyl-coated cable and a tightening winch.  Our winter covers for above ground pools can be found here http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/covers.htm#winter . Winter covers for in ground swimming pools  are located here http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/covers.htm#Inground , you will also need to purchase water tubes to hold the cover into place. How many you will need will vary depending on your pool size. We offer a chart that lets you know how many are needed for different sized pools http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Winter-pool-cover-products.htm#watertube . You will need to keep excessive amounts of water pumped off your swimming pool cover, you can do this by using a cover pump http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Winter-pool-cover-products.htm#pump .

Royal Swimming pools also offers top of the line safety covers for your in ground or above ground pools with either a cement or wooden deck. Safety covers are available in both a solid or a mesh material. The solid safety covers are available with a drain panel or a cover pump to keep off standing water, depending on which type you prefer.  If you do not see your specific size or shape pool available here http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/safety_covers.htm contact us for a quote on a custom made safety cover.

Keeping your pool safe should be a primary concern of any pool owner.  Posted pool rules is a must for all pools. Rules like no running, no glass around the pool and most importantly no swimming alone.

No diving signs should be posted for non diving pools. Pools that have a diving board should be used only with proper diving techniques. Diving should only be allowed from an approved diving area and never from the side or shallow end deck area. Diving into an above ground pool should never be allowed.

Pool equipment that will help keep you pool safe include a pool fence, pool alarm, an automatic or winter safety cover, and anti-entrapment equipment. Make sure if your pool has a main drain that it has the proper anti-entrapment cover. Vacuum lines should be plugged or turned off when not in use. The use of a safety cover or automatic cover will keep your pool safe when the pool is not being used. A pool alarm does not take the place of adult supervision but will add additional protection for your pool. A pool fence with a self-latching gate is a must for all pools.

Polaris Trade up and rebate program is simply just trade in any auto cleaner working or not. Receive $200 credit for the purchase of the new Polaris 3900 sport, $150 for the Polaris 380 or $50 for the Polaris 360.

After you purchase your new cleaner, mail Polaris the old auto cleaner body (body only). Broken cleaner will not affect your eligibility. Polaris recommends shipping UPS and saving your shipping receipt in case tracking is necessary. The Trade-up offer from Polaris is good for 30 days after the purchase of your new Polaris auto pool cleaner. Zodiac Pool Systems, INC must be in receipt of all items no later than the final date of this offer, September 30, 2009.

You don’t currently have a cleaner? Polaris offers $50 mail in rebate on the Polaris ATV. For more info visit polarispools.com

Royal Swimming Pools offers 3 different pool slides for your inground swimming pool. We offer the Wild Ride, the G-Force, and the X-Stream in ground swimming pool slides. All three pool slides have a weight limit of 250 lbs, and grip-around handrails for safe climbing. http://www.royalswimmingpools.com/Ing_slide.htm

The Wild Ride pool slide is 6’ 5” high and is available in the following colors: white, blue, tan, and gray. It is available in either a right or left hand turn and has fully enclosed steps. The wild ride slide has stainless steel legs and is made from durable, long lasting acrylic. It has easy assembly and installation.

The G-Force slide is 6’ high and is available in Summit Gray only. The G-Force slide does a complete 360 turn; it makes the kids feel almost like they were at a water park. It has a deep flume runway and a great water delivery system. This pool has slip-resistant treads to help prevent slipping when climbing the ladder.

The X-Stream swimming pool slide is 6’ high and is available in Summit Gray only. It can be assembled in a left or a right hand turn, which makes this a very popular choice. It offers the slip resistant treads and the grip around handrail for safe climbing. The x-stream also offers the deep flume runway and the great water delivery