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Maintaining your Florida Pool During the Winter Months

Caring for Your Florida Pool in the Winter Months

Maintaining Your Pool During the Winter Months As the holiday’s approach, winter maintenance for your swimming pool is probably not the main topic on many people’s minds. You also may, or may not have, heard of “winterizing” your pool. That’s because the term has different meanings depending upon where you live. In the northern states, it is somewhat common practice to drain and cover a swimming pool as the winter months approach to prevent pipes from freezing. In Florida, however, there is an entirely different set of important steps to keep our pools properly maintained year-round. The following is a list of the top four things that every Central Florida pool owner should do to maintain their swimming pools during the winter months and the beginning of the spring season. Continue to Clean Your Pool Maintaining your cleaning routine, even if you’re using your pool less or not at all, is still very important during the winter months. Leaves continue to fall this time of the year, so debris traps can become clogged and dirt can build up, obstructing your pool’s filtration system. Old leaves can also cause stains on the sides and floor of your pool and promote algae growth, both of which increase your effort and costs when swim season comes back around. Continue to keep your filter clean, use a leaf skimmer to remove debris and leaves from the pool’s surface and clean up any sunken debris with a pool vacuum. Your pool and your wallet will Read the full article...

Fall Holiday Pool Decorations

The holidays are upon us! And while your backyard pool is usually the focus of fun during the summer, there’s no reason you can’t keep it the focus for the holidays. Halloween has passed, Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away and then Christmas and New Years will be here before we know it. Luckily, the weather in Central Florida still allows us to enjoy being outside even when it gets chilly, so why not keep entertaining your guests by decking out your beautiful backyard for the holidays? Here are some fun ideas on how to decorate your pool and back yard for the upcoming fall holidays. Stay tuned for winter holiday decorating tips! Halloween Halloween is always a fun holiday to really go over the top – and your pool is a great place to take your decorations to the next level. Try out these Halloween decoration ideas to transform you pool into spooky scene everyone will enjoy: Pool Dye: First things first – find a non-toxic party pool dye that won’t run the risk of staining your pool (very, very important!). Coloring your pool water is a great way to bring your pool into the decoration mix. You can go for an eerie red or ghoulish green to really take your outdoor Halloween decor to the next level. And don’t worry, within three to five days the color will filter out. Lighting: Lighting is always the best to give your decorations that extra-spooky effect. Strobe lights, lanterns and lots of Read the full article...

Clever Ways to Upcycle Your Pool Noodles

Pool noodles are a staple in almost everyone’s pool. They’re inexpensive, take up little space and provide a fun way to float around kids and adults – as well as pets! However, as we’ve all experienced, pool noodles don’t have a lifetime warranty, especially in the heat of Central Florida and their constant exposure to chlorine and other pool chemicals. Luckily, pool noodles are very versatile and can be played with in so many different ways! So what can you do with all those pool noodles when swimming season is coming to a close? Here are some clever ways to use those pool noodles before they disintegrate in your shed or garage and make them into something that is new and entertaining. Pool Noodle Ponies Want to take your foam noodle sword jousting match to the next level? Make some pool noodle ponies to ride on while you duel! You won’t be cutting the noodle this time, rather bend the noodle 1/3 of the way down the length. Take some twine and tie it tightly around near the bottom where the noodle meets below the bend to keep it in place. To create ears cut a piece of felt (any color is fine!) so it is about 7″ long and 1″ wide and slide it between the section of the noodle that is folded. Secure with hot glue. Cut another piece for the main the same length but make it 4″ wide and hot glue onto the back of the Read the full article...

Backyard Enhancements – Take it to the Next Level

When you’re building your outdoor oasis, plans don’t stop at the pool. You want a beautiful backyard around your pool that feels warm and inviting, cool and especially peaceful. The space should welcome relaxation, entertainment and especially FUN! You want places to sit, sounds to enjoy, colorful surroundings and maybe a spot for cold drinks and food. When designing your backyard to further enhance your amazing pool, there are many different features and additions you can add to take your outdoor oasis to the next level. Pools by Bradley offers numerous options when it comes to backyard design from outdoor showers to pergolas, we also have entertainment options that can be added to enhance the recreational time that you will be spending in your new outdoor environment like outdoor kitchens. Here is some additional information on the additions we offer to help take your backyard to the next level: Backyard Enhancements Outdoor Showers Outdoor showers are a great addition to any backyard with a pool. You may think of an outdoor shower as something you’d find at a beach house, and while that may be true, the benefits of outdoor showers don’t stop at salt and sand. An outdoor shower is the perfect spot for cleanup and changing after a dip in the pool. They’re also a handy area for getting the kids cleaned up without tracking everything in the house. Have a lot of guests this summer? Shower space for everyone. From a one-stop dog-cleaning spot to a post-gardening Read the full article...

How to Fix a Green Pool

As the summer rolls on along in Central Florida, we’ve all become acclimated to the daily late afternoon rainstorms. As much as our lawns and plants need the water after sitting in the hot summer sun all morning long, our pools do not. As we discussed previously about how the heavy rains can throw off your pool’s chemistry, now is the time when it can be critically important to keep on top of the situation. Some rain may be very acidic, therefore affecting both the alkaline levels and the pH of your pool water. When heavy rains fall that have a pH of about 5.0, it can result in lowering the pH balance of your pool – which should always stay at a balance of between of 7.4 to 7.6. It is when this happens that some Central Florida and Orlando area residents may experience GREEN swimming pool “syndrome”. If not taken care of right away or immediately, the pool algae can get out of control very, very quickly. The following are the reasons why your pool turns green and what you can do to get it back to being swim-ready and sparkling. Why Do Pools Turn Green? As more rainwater fills your swimming pool, the chlorine levels become diluted. When the chlorine in a pool goes below 1 ppm (parts per million), algae has the perfect scenario to start growing. Once the algae grows it will begin to change color, which is when you’ll first begin to notice that greenish Read the full article...

Draining Pools That Are Too Full

Here in the Orlando and Central Florida area, we are accustomed to heavy rains, especially those late afternoon storms during the summer and fall months. Most of the time these storms are welcomed, as a good rain usually cools down the temperature and provides our lawns and landscaping a much needed watering. Hurricane season has also just begun, meaning we are more susceptible to perhaps seeing some big storms. When strong storms like tropical depressions or hurricanes do hit, they can dump too much rain on our property, including excessive water being “dumped” into our pools. But what do you do when your pool’s water level gets too high? Plus, exactly how high is too high? Here’s what you need to know about draining your pool, when to be concerned, and how you can lower your pool’s water level. Draining Your Pool to Lower the Water Level Accumulation of excess water is one of the largest problems caused by heavy rains and is the cause of multiple problems. When your pool overflows, it can lead to debris and extra runoff in your pool and can also flood your pool equipment like the filters and pumps (an essential and expensive component to your outdoor recreational space). Even if your pool doesn’t overflow, yet the water rises enough from a heavy rain, your surface skimmer will no longer effectively skim the surface debris into the skimmer basket and draining it back to the correct level is necessary. If you know a hurricane Read the full article...

common problems and solutions for pavers around your pool

Good Information You Need to Know About Paver Decks

You’ve done your research on pool decking options and have decided to go with a paver deck. Pavers are typically made from stone, brick or concrete and their design can be as intricate or as simple as you want. One of the benefits of going with pavers is that they can be easily removed and replaced if you need work on the plumbing underneath or one cracks or breaks. They are very durable, non-slip and weather resistant – perfect for the deck on your outdoor oasis. As your pool deck ages, however, you may start to notice a few common paver deck problems – like sand being tracked in your house or pool, mold growth and ants. Although still one of our favorite decking options, there are things you can do to correct these problems. Here’s what you need to know. Problem #1: Sand tracked into the pool & house When pavers are installed, they are laid on top of a sand bed, then secured in place with sand that is added to the top of the pavers and compacted until the joints stay filled. As time passes and the pavers settle, you might start to notice that this sand is making its way into your pool or even being tracked into your house. A way to prevent this is having a “sand lock” applied over your pavers after they are installed. This product is made of fine granules of sand and polymeric adhesive that hardens after being exposed to Read the full article...

enhancing your pool with special features

Adding Enhancements to Your Pool Design

Adding enhancements to your back-yard pool design can add stimulation, soothing sights and sounds, plus can engage your senses to result in a more enjoyable experience for you and your family. When building your pool and choosing to add some special features such as water fountains, fire elements or enhanced lighting effects, it’s extremely important to take into consideration the proportion and scale of the enhancements in comparison to the size of your pool and your yard. If the new pool is a part of your new home construction, it’s easiest to add these features during the design process, as opposed to adding them on later. This way you make absolutely sure that everything flows correctly with the layout of your backyard oasis. If you’re adding features onto an existing pool, you’ll want to make sure you know the shape of your pool (geometric, free-form, infinity, etc.) and the materials that your pool is built with in order to add a feature that blends in with your existing design. Also, unless you are adding a very basic feature, you’ll definitely want to hire an experienced and qualified pool builder, plumber, electrician or pool technician to install your pool’s enhancements correctly. Pools by Bradley offers numerous options when it comes to enhancements to your pool design! From water features to fire elements, we also have entertainment options that can be added in order to enhance the recreational time that you will be spending in your new outdoor environment. Some examples of Read the full article...

Choosing a Pool Contractor in Central Florida

How to Choose the Best Contractor to Build Your Pool

For those who love to swim, the idea of having a pool in your own back yard is a wonderful one. It’s a bit like fulfilling a personal dream. You can envision spending your summer in the backyard, cooking out and enjoying a few drinks with friends and family while the kids splash and play in the pool. When you decide to make this dream into a reality, it’s important that you follow the appropriate steps in finding the right pool contractor to build your pool, so that your dream doesn’t become a nightmare. You want the pool of your dreams to be built with as little headache as possible, and in order to accomplish that, you need to make sure that you choose the best contractor possible. The best way to start your search is by asking your friends, family and neighbors who have built pools about their experience and if they’d recommend the contractor that they had used or not. Once you have a list of potential contractors started, you’ll want to narrow it down to a final 2 or 3 builders to get quotes from. Here are some things to take into consideration to help make sure that you are selecting the right pool contractors to interview to make your dream come true. Things to Consider When Selecting a Pool Contractor Check out their place of business. When you walk in, do you feel comfortable? Is it a professional atmosphere where the employees are professional and friendly? Read the full article...

Pool Decking Options

As you’re designing your dream pool, one of the most important aspects of the design will be your decision what deck size and deck material will be used. There are many choices for decking, all of which are based on factors such as cost, appearance, size of area and typical use. The main rule when choosing pool decks is to purchase as much as you can afford once you make your final decision. The main reason for this being that it is more cost effective and easier to add square footage while you are building. Deciding to add more deck later will definitely cost you extra, not to mention having to give up your back yard again plus the potential of the decking you choose no longer being available. This is often easier said than done seeing as you have a budget to stick to and adding a few thousand dollars on additional decking isn’t in the cards. So you have to decide if you’re going to go for a larger deck using less expensive material, or a smaller deck using a more expensive option. It comes down to personal choice and is a decision you have to make for yourself. When exploring the pool decking options that are available to you here in Central Florida and the Orlando Metropolitan area, please keep in mind that we here at Pools By Bradley try to educate our clients that they should perhaps stay away from the stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, brushed concrete Read the full article...

Ways to Make Your Pool Energy Efficient

People may be discouraged from investing in a pool or renovating a pool due to all the costs to run and maintain it. Just thinking about operating the heaters, pumps, brushing and balancing chemicals can cause heads to spin at the thought of the drain on time and resources. However, there are quite a few effective steps you can take that will make your pool work more efficiently and use less energy. 1) Start with Building Smart If you’re starting from scratch and building a new pool, location is key. You want to make sure you pick the sunniest part of your yard as this will help keep your pool water heated naturally. If it’s in your budget, installing solar energy panels to heat your pool is the most energy-efficient way you can keep your pool water warm almost year round at minimal cost to you. You’ll also want to choose a place in your yard where your pool will be protected from the wind, e.g. by the house, a shed or you can build a windbreak fence. If the wind over the surface of the pool reaches even 7 miles per hour, it can cause a spike in your energy consumption by upwards of 300%! 2) Install Automatic Timers There is great value in getting automatic timers for your pool heater as well as your pump. This allows you to run them in short cycles instead of having equipment run continuously for long periods of time throughout the day. Read the full article...

The Great Debate: Salt Water vs Chlorine Pools

If you’ve decided to put in a new pool, one of the topics that you’ll come across in your research are pool sanitation systems. There are about five popular pool sanitation methods, but the two most common are chlorine and salt. There’s quite a lot to consider when selecting the right sanitation system for your new pool – from health impacts to maintenance time to price – so it’s important to know each system’s pros and cons. The main question is “what is the difference between chlorine and salt water pools and is one preferred over the other?” While both are methods to sanitize pools, the only difference between them is how the chlorine is generated – one using chlorine tablets and the other using a chlorine generator, otherwise known as salt water. If you’re researching pool sanitation options and are thinking of switching your pool to salt water, or you’re a first-time pool owner, the decision to go with one over the other depends on what makes sense for your personal life style and personal preference. Here’s everything you need to know about salt water pools vs chlorine pools. Salt Water Pools Contrary to popular belief, it is important to realize that a salt water pool IS a chlorinated pool. By having a saltwater pool system, you are not eliminating chlorine from your pool, rather you are electrically converting pool salt into chlorine. That is why you may have seen or heard the term “salt water chlorination” when researching Read the full article...

How much evaporation is normal for my pool?

Evaporation: How Much is Normal?

As the summer heat continues to climb here in Central Florida, you may notice your pool’s water level going down. This begs the question “How much evaporation is normal?” Having this information will help you figure out if the decreasing level of your pool water is in fact due to evaporation or if you may possibly have a leak. Typically, an uncovered swimming pool loses approximately a quarter-inch of water everyday. If your pool is covered, it will most likely lose less on a daily basis if you cover it at night. Other factors that affect water evaporation in Central Florida: Air temperature and sun exposure Hail storms and rain Wind velocity Humidity Another important factor that affects water evaporation in our pools is tropical storms and hurricanes. Although Central Florida’s weather is known to be sunny and warm, we are in the hurricane belt. As these strong tropical storms come through they bring heavy wind and intense humidity, affecting evaporation. Tropical Storm Weather A lot of times in Florida – especially during hurricane season – we know when we’re going to be expecting heavy rain. Once you know, its important to prepare your pool to reduce debris, flooding and excessive evaporation. It is the high winds and dry weather that can cause higher evaporation. Your pool will potentially lose more water to evaporation when the humidity drops and the weather is windy. On the flip side, high humidity will cause less pool water evaporation. Sun and Wind Sometimes all Read the full article...

Pool Friendly Plants

You have the pool of your dreams, but now it’s time to think about the landscape around your pool. Enhancing your pool area with plants and flowers adds depth and color to the landscape and can also provide privacy, shade and wind protection. You may already have your favorite plants in mind, however, they may not be the best choice when grown around or near a chlorinated or saltwater pool. Plants that are “pool-friendly” need to be able to survive and thrive in semi-to-full sunlight, be wind tolerant (due to the typical exposed nature of pool decks), as well as be able to hold up to the occasional chlorine or salt exposure from splashing. Regardless of your pools design (free form, geometric, lap or infinity), you want to choose the right plants, trees and shrubs for your outdoor pool area, saving you money, time and effort in the long run. Determining your Landscape Design Before starting your garden, you want to have a well thought out design plan. There are many options to do this yourself, such as website research, books or gardening courses; or you can hire a professional. If you choose to hire a landscaping company to plan out your outdoor space, make sure you do your research and make sure they’re licensed and recommended. Remember, you are protecting your investment! Here are some things to consider when designing your landscape: Personal Taste. Do you like a formal or informal setting? Do you prefer simple, clean lines or Read the full article...

Choosing a Licensed Pool Maintenance Company

After Pools by Bradley helps you build the pool of your dreams, it’s extremely important to protect your investment by properly taking care of your pool. You can to do this on your own, or hire a pool servicing company. Choosing a pool servicing company to take care of and maintain your pool seems like it would be an easy decision. Daily, we see numerous advertisements or flyers in our mailboxes for a variety of different pool service companies and they all send the same message: hiring a professional pool company is important and their company is the best. However, this advertising can be very misleading as some companies claim to be the best for weekly service and repairs when they are not actually licensed to do so. Many companies only hold a CPO certificate but not a contractors license (which is required to fix or repair pools in Florida) leaving homeowners at risk for hiring unlicensed workers to take care of and service their pools. Here is what you need to know before choosing a pool service and maintenance company: Certificate vs License Certificate: Currently Florida law allows a company that holds an occupational tax certificate to to clean and chemically treat a residential pool. A state license is not required. These companies holding this certificate cannot legally fix or replace plumbing and equipment, nor repair, remodel or build. All they are allowed to do is clean and adjust chemicals; however, a lot of them don’t follow this rule. Read the full article...