To all homeowners with pools

Hello pool owner. Your Pool Technician reads a newspaper where this story was published and he as asked to give you a copy.

Every two weeks, Service Industry News published a list of national drownings. Sometimes the list takes up three pages but we can almost always count on at least 30 drownings over a 2-week period in any given month.

Your Pool Technician is aware of the number of drownings that happen and he/she wanted to share with you what so many people with pools have never really grasped.

#1. My children can swim so it’s OK if they are in the pool without me REALLY watching.

NO! While your child might be a great swimmer, anyone can drown. As recently as two months ago, two Navy Seals died while swimming and they could have swum circles around your kid and we don’t even know your kid!

#2. We have a fence/gate around our pool and so no one can get in.

WRONG! There are hundreds of cases each year where people thought their pool was off limits because they has a gate or a fence around their pool but kids still get in and drown all the time.

When you get right down to it, we are using these gates and fences as though they are 100-percent death proof and we rely on the protective (false) comfort they provide. Just because you have a gate does not make your pool area safe. In fact, in many cases it is more dangerous than ever because of the false sense of security it provides.

#3. When kids are in our pool we are always around.

AROUND? Being around is the same as negligence. That’s right. Watching a child while in a pool MEANS doing nothing else other than watching. If you are doing anything other than watching your child then you might as well not be there.

Many of the accidents we have seen have happened while the whole family was in attendance. If anyone is truly paying attention then that means NO distractions. This means NO talking with someone next to you, NO talking on the phone and the designated water watcher must be sober.

#4. I am a very careful parent and children are safer in my pool than anywhere else in the neighbourhood.

Well, maybe you are but it turns out that the average pool owner is more likely to see a death in their house than someone that has no pool but a loaded gun. In the year 2000 there were 11,000 privately owned pools and 550 children under the age of 10 died in them. Yet during the same year from a population of 200 million privately owned guns, 175 children under 10 years of age died accidentally.

#5. My child only swims when there ia a lifeguard on duty.

REALLY? Do you realyy trust your child’s life with a TOTAL stranger? Are you willing to risk your child’s life on the merits of a person who at best is being paid of $15 per hour.

No one cares about your child more than you do. Prove it!

Fall is here, and brings the end of swimming season for many pool owners. If you are heating the pool, this is a good time to do routine cleaning and maintenance of the heater as described in the owner’s manual. If you are heating the pool it should be covered with a pool blanket to save money. Liquid pool blanket is the next best alternative to a pool blanket. All gas heaters should be turned off at least 15 minutes before the pump turns off. A fireman’s switch added to the time clock is the easiest way to do this.

Unfortunately, fall also means the trees will begin dropping their leaves and making a mess of the pool. Skimmer baskets and pump strainer baskets need to be emptied more often. Chemical consumption should decrease, be careful not to over chlorinate the pool. Leaves should be cleaned up around the pool pump to prevent fire and over-heating.

Fall is also a good time to remodel your pool before the next swimming season starts. This is also a good time to any other annual maintenance, for example de grid cleaning, salt cell cleaning, and leak repair. If you have not upgraded to an energy efficient pump, you may be able to decrease the amount of time you run the pool pump to 4 or 6 hours/day.

Here's some ways to prevent freeze damage to your pool equipment:

1. Run the filter pump whenever temps are forecast to be freezing. If you have a booster pump for a pool cleaner or waterfall, make sure water is flowing through them also. Two speed pumps can be operated on low speed, water does not need to move fast to be kept from freezing, it just has to be in motion.

2. All valves should be at least partially open to allow for some flow through all pipes and equipment.

3. Wrapping pipes with a heat coil or with heavy insulation can prevent freeze damage, but be sure that all areas are receiving warmth.

4. Using controls with freeze sensors automates freeze protection. Attached to your time clock or controller, a sensor will turn the pump(s) on automatically when temperatures fall below 40 degrees. Make sure each before winter, the sensors are still functioning. A loose or broken wire can easily cause your equipment to fail. Call All Clear Pool and Spa for assistance.

5. Another alternative is to simply drain the above grade pool equipment (make sure timer clock won't turn pump on). Remove pump drain plugs, filter drain plugs, heater drain plugs, etc.

BEFORE THE STORM

1. THERE IS NO NEED TO EVEN LOWER THE WATER EXCEPT IN SPECIAL CASES. Many people say, "But won't the pool overflow if you don't lower the water?" Certainly it will. But no more so than if a patio or a yard were there. The water helps to protect the tiles and surface from flying objects. Never completely drain your pool! If you do lower the water level, be sure to close your skimmer valve or install a plug to prevent damage to the pump while draining and when the power is turned back on. Super chlorinate the pool. The pool provides a handy source of water for washing and flushing if your house water supply fails.

2. TURN OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE SWIMMING POOL. (Pump, motor, lighting, chlorinators, and etc.)

3. If your filter pump is in an unsheltered area, have the motor removed and stored, especially if area is prone to flooding, or wrap it with a waterproof membrane or plastic bag and tie it securely in place to prevent sand and driving water from entering the motor. Tie down the pump box lid, if present.

4. REMOVE ALL LOOSE ITEMS FROM POOL AREA. It is not advisable to throw patio furniture or accessories into the pool. If it is necessary to do so, remove as soon as possible after the storm has passed. Heavy furniture may chip, rust, and damage the pool finish and the chemicals in the water will have an adverse effect on the furniture. This is especially true for vinyl liner pools that can be torn by furniture etc.

5. Remove weak and dead branches near or overhanging the pool equipment, pool screen room and pool deck. Clean the pool deck drains.

6. Remove and store any removable child safety fences. Install the fence deck caps.

AFTER THE STORM

1. REPLACE ANY CHILD SAFETY FENCES. Store the deck caps for future use.

2. DO NOT EMPTY THE POOL. High ground water can cause structural damage to an empty pool by causing it to pop (float) out of the ground.

3. SUPERCHLORINATE THE POOL WATER. Remove as much of the organic debris (leaves, etc.) with a rake and skimmer as soon as possible as it rapidly consumes chlorine. When the chlorine residual returns to normal, have the water tested for proper balance. Heavy rain upsets mineral balance needed for protection of your equipment and pool finish.

4. Remove all debris from pool with a rake and skimmer before re-starting the system to prevent clogged lines.

5. DANGER: Some chemical feeders require special care before starting the pump motor. Check with All Clear Pool and Spa Shop or your pool company.

6. REMOVE ANY WRAPPING AROUND PUMP MOTOR. If the motor has been submerged, it should be removed for professional cleaning and drying out. If the pump has remained dry, turn on the electricity.

7. Check to make certain the pump is operating normally and that the water is circulating in the pool. Reset time clocks to show the correct time of day.

8. Run filter until water is crystal clear and resume normal pool operation.