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How to get your pool ready for summer use

By Juli Vosmik

Real Estate Agent with Dominion Fine Properties SA582226000

April 25, 2012 05:26 AM

How to get your pool ready for summer use.

It's rapidly heating up here in the Valley of the Sun and thoughts are turning to enjoying our pools all summer long. Now's the perfect time to make sure everything is in working order and your pool chemicals are balanced. With the rapid warm up of the pool, you'll need to pay more attention. Even if you pay a pool service, the sudden wind, dust and monsoon storms can play havoc on your pool.

Scottsdale and Cave Creek real estate

First, check to make sure all your systems are in good functioning order. Check for worn out o-rings in the filter. Make sure your pool vacuuming system has no leaks or tiny holes.

Then, take the time to thoroughly sweep down your pool. If you have rock and waterfall features, be sure you get UNDER the features and into all crevices. Then, check your pool with a test kit or take a sample of your water into your local pool supply store where they will check your chemical needs for free. Before adding any chemicals, backwash your system and clean out all traps.

If you're not sure of the size of your pool - your pool supply company will ask you how many gallons of water your pool has - measure the pool end to end and side by side. Then, know the depth. Your helpful pool supply company has a calculation which will come very close. This is key when adding any chemicals.

If you have a salt water pool, there are still chemicals you need AND you still need to make sure your system is fully functional.

There are many great local pool supply companies around. In Scottsdale, we use Paddock and Leslie who both have several locations. However, our favorite for pool equipment is The Swimming Pool Warehouse, located at 14255 N 79th Street in the Scottsdale Airpark. When you're there, sign up for the email list and they'll send you notices of specials throughout the year which will really save you money.

And, finally and most importantly: check all of your pool barriers. May is national pool safety awareness month. Get a jump start by checking to make sure all gates close securely, there are no small breaks in the system, and all of your home's safety locks and windows screens are secure. Let's make this the safest year on record.

Please be safe and enjoy your pool.

Juli Vosmik

480-710-0739

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Marlis Landreth

Retired - Tucson, AZ

Retired Tucson Realtor

I need to get over to the pool in my community - it looks refreshing. Of course, it's heated and professionally managed, so we can use it year round.

Apr 25, 2012 07:12 AM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Hey Juli -

Excellent information for pool owners! Amazingly you find very few pools here in the Albuquerque, Rio Rancho NM areas.

Apr 25, 2012 07:29 AM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Juli, it will still be about a month before the pools open in our area, and the checks are similar up here as well. Nice post.

Apr 25, 2012 07:41 AM

Sharon Lord

Maracay Homes - Peoria, AZ

New Home Advisor

Juli - WOW that sounds like a LOT of work...! Can't I just get me a "pool boy"...? About 21, tan, blue eyes, tall..... *sigh*

Apr 25, 2012 07:43 AM

Irene Durocher

Coldwell Banker BUYERS AGENT - Boca Raton, FL

homesweethome4u@att.net

Beautiful pool Julie, it is a must in Scottsdale. It is so cool and refreshing.

Irene Durocher Coldwell Banker

Boca Raton,Fla

Apr 25, 2012 07:56 AM

Juli Vosmik

Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Mom, it's supposed to be a great weekend - get over and enjoy it!!!

John, I'm surprised to read that - I thought you'd be much more like us.

Ed, we don't drain our pools here like we did back in the Chicago area - no worry of freezing over. So, our water gets all kinds of silly little things in it to disrupt the balance. But, a little "block and shock" - stack of the blocks of chlorine tabs and throw in some ultra chlorine, and we're all set.

Sharon - NO, NO, NO. You have to get out and enjoy the labors involved with pool ownership!!! Hey, if you provide the wine, I'll send Jim over in his Speedo - will that work? LOL.

Yes, come on over and enjoy it, Irene.

Apr 25, 2012 08:51 AM

Bruce Walter

Keller Williams Realty Lafayette/West Lafayette, Indiana - West Lafayette, IN

Juli, this is GREAT info for your consumers! Does it ever get SO hot that the rattlers ever go for a dip in someone's pool?

Apr 25, 2012 09:12 AM

Michelle Francis

Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA

Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Juli,

Smart info! We rely on a great contractor to help us with the pools at homes we property manage. Mike is on the job and folks will be swimming soon.

All the best, Michelle

Apr 25, 2012 09:41 AM

Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula

Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA

Realty Works Temecula

Juli: This is so important to do especially with families with little children!

Apr 25, 2012 10:00 AM

Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers

RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON

Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

We just installed a pool last Fall and have it opened ready to splash into. This is a great list that we will keep for future reference! Last one in does a cannon ball!

Apr 25, 2012 10:29 AM

Dawn A Fabiszak

Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO

The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Juli ~ should I ever get a pool, I now know how to get it ready for the summer season.

Apr 25, 2012 01:24 PM

Juli Vosmik

Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Bruce, um, er, well - the answer is YES, unfortunately. Fortunately, they're not great swimmers. DIsclose, disclose, disclose, LOL.

Michelle, even with a great pool person, the weather will change the pools from beautiful to green in just a day. With all the dust in the desert, it's absolutely amazing. I was swimming in my pool on Sunday, today - not happening, lol.

Jane, the pool barriers really do need to be checked and the childrend taught. When our granddaughters would come out here, we had two rules - don't run around the pool and NEVER go around the pool with no adult supervisions. Guess which two rules they broke? LOL.

Al and Peggy, here's the thing - we're wimps - we don't go into our pools until the water temp is at least 80 degrees. Trust me - we're wimps, LOL.

Apr 25, 2012 01:27 PM

Juli Vosmik

Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Heck, Dawn - just come down here and enjoy mine - much less work.

Apr 25, 2012 01:28 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Juli,

Good post! Tucson had its first back-to-back 100 degree days this week. ...and today it's only going to get up into the 70s~

Mike in Tucson

Apr 25, 2012 05:11 PM

Bob & Leilani Souza

Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA

Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Juli, being from Hawaii, I am also a pool wimp and don't see why anyone would go in any body of water that's less than 80 degrees! :)

Leilani

Apr 25, 2012 06:33 PM

Debbie Walsh

SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY

Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Great tips Juli! Last night we had a frost again! So pool weather is still alittle ways off for us.

Apr 25, 2012 11:15 PM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Very good advice for pool owners.

Enjoy your pool and have an outstanding week.

Apr 26, 2012 12:02 AM

Juli Vosmik

Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Mike - I don't know about you, but I have a sweatshirt on today - we're such wimps, LOL.

I'm with you, Leilani, LOL.

Debra, you've had such strange weather this year. The way things have been going, you'll probably be in the 90's by the weekend, LOL.

Thanks, Roy. When I first moved here, I had a great introduction to pool maintenance because we built ours from a very reputable pool builder who takes the time to give a orientation on all features. Then, it's been trial and error through the years, but my husband is a DIY'er and we only hire when it's beyond our knowledge.

Apr 26, 2012 02:22 AM

Renée Donohue~Home Photography

Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI

Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

This year was bad on start up $$$ for our pool. Leaking pipes, broken filters, broken vaccum. I feel like I should have just paid for a new pool!

Apr 26, 2012 09:20 AM

Juli Vosmik

Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Renee, I'm with you there - my pool went from pristine to green in just 4 days. Replaced 3 orings, three hose parts, and the CHEMICALS - OMG. But, I can see the bottom of the pool again, it's looking better, LOL.

Apr 26, 2012 12:46 PM