Pools And Spas - For Enjoyment,
Relaxation And Health

Pools and spas are an enhancement to any home, and nowadays are much more widely available. It is not so long ago that they were regarded as a luxury and only for the very rich, but now they are much more affordable. However, installing and maintaining either a pool or a spa is not altogether simple, and a lot of care and planning is needed.

Installing a pool, either outdoors or indoors, obviously requires more space than installing a spa. It is a good idea to plan your requirements in detail before calling in your contractor or designer. Measure up the available space, and work out what the principal use of your pool will be. For instance, will it be mainly exercise for the adults, fun for the children, or both? Will it be primarily for private family use, or do you plan to have lots of pool parties? These considerations will affect the design of the pool. Remember that designs have moved on a lot from twenty years ago, and you are limited only by your imagination. You could have a natural looking pool with rocks and waterfalls, or an infinity pool with vanishing edges, and you can incorporate fiber optic lighting, or use brightly colored murals on the base and walls.    continued below ...

If you are installing a spa, less space is required, but it is equally important to take care with the location. In particular, if you want to build it into a deck, you have to be very careful to ensure the deck can support the weight of the spa, including the water and the people using it. The best way to ensure safety is to find an installation package to include professional water, electricity and gas hookups, rather than having each element done separately.

If you expect to make a lot of use of your spa, or if you live in a cold climate and the heat is important to you, a 230 volt model will work better than a 115 volt one. You can save enormously on power consumption by using energy efficient equipment and in particular using the right insulation – full polyurethane foam insulation pays for its extra cost very quickly in terms of energy savings. If there are children or pets in the house, a surrounding fence is a good idea, and make sure you get a cover that is ASTM rated.

Once you have installed your pool or spa, you need to remember that the need for maintenance never goes away. Make sure you have all the necessary supplies including filters and chemicals. The chemicals are necessary for treating the water and maintaining pool hygiene. However, it is very important to get the amount of chemicals right, as an excessive amount can cause skin damage, and can harm the lungs when inhaled. Read the instructions carefully and make sure you know the exact volume of the water, so that you get the proportions right.

In order to maintain the correct balance of elements in the water, you will need a pH tester. This measures the acidity levels in the pool, and its readings can be affected by alkaline levels, and by calcium content which makes the water too hard. An essential substance for regular treatment is chlorine, which eliminates bacteria and other unwanted organisms. As well as treating the water, you need to clean the pool or spa regularly and skim off any debris from the surface. It is a good idea to insist that all users shower before going in the water.

As long as safety and hygiene are carefully maintained, pools and spas can add immensely to your enjoyment and relaxation, as well as your health. If you assumed they were a luxury you could only dream about, take a look at what is available – you might be surprised at how affordable they are. You could be close to adding a complete new dimension to your life.

Thank you for shopping with us at waterhead.com and remember to visit us on Facebook and share your photos with all the other waterheads out there!

Waterhead Presents Random Stories and Photos ...