Although temperatures are still cool for now, now is the time to start considering that ultimate summer treat - a swimming pool. According to Bay Area Pool & Spa Sales Manager Tom Caron, “March is our time of year to get the ball rolling.” Customers are currently “jockeying for position” as they attempt to be one of the first to get that summer dream installed. The first thing a potential pool purchaser must consider is the size and shape of the pool. For above-ground pools, the smallest is the 12-foot round. The most common size is the 24-foot round. Caron pointed out that oval-shaped pools cost more for the same amount of surface area.

A 16-foot-by-32-foot oval has the same surface area as a 24-foot round. The next thing to consider, Caron said, is who will use the pool. If the pool will receive rugged use, Caron recommends using a thicker top rail in the construction. The top rail is, as its name implies, the uppermost edge that every person must cross to enter the pool. It provides most of the horizontal support in the pool. The thicker it is, the sturdier the pool, Caron said. At this stage, pool buyers also need to consider whether they want steel or resin for their above-ground pool. A steel pool is less expensive, but a resin pool will need less maintenance, Caron said. Next, customers are required to fill out a pre-delivery form. On it, customers must determine easements, septic tank locations, underground piping and cables and electrical outlet locations. Customers are also required to contact Miss Dig at least 48 hours prior to the installation. The installation process for an above-ground pool is typically a one-day affair. According to Caron, the steps include excavating the topsoil and sod, preparing the deep end (or deep middle) area, laying out and smoothing mason sand, hanging the liner and filling the pool. The liner is a puncture-resistant vinyl stretched to smoothly cover all interior area of the pool.

Once the pool is assembled and filled, heating is the next important step. Most groundwater is around 40 degrees, Caron said. This means it would take several days to reach room temperature. Otherwise, you can heat your pool. A pool heater will add 10 to 15 degrees per day. Another option is a solar blanket - a dark blanket that is removed whenever you want to swim. A third option for heating is to install a sun dome. “It’s like having a big greenhouse over your pool,” Caron said. Plastic panels reduce the heat loss from wind and help to keep debris out in a sun dome. Unlike solar blankets, sun domes are permanent additions to the pool. Security is another factor to consider. “If you have little ones,” Caron emphasized, “you have to police the area.” One option is to purchase a pool alarm. Alarms float in the pool when it is not in use. If the surface tension is broken - meaning a person or object falls in - a distinct alarm sounds, giving others at the residence an opportunity to check out the situation. Other options include fencing the area, using a locked sun dome or setting a buddy system between older and younger swimmers. Some buyers might be concerned about what they do with the pool in the winter. Despite what most people think, Caron said, the pool should not be entirely drained for the winter. Instead, owners should first “super shock” the pool with a large amount of chlorine, Caron said. This, along with an algaecide, will help keep the pool clean during the fall and spring while the pool is thawed but unused. Next, the filter and skimmer are removed and the pool is drained only below the openings for those devices. Finally, the pool needs to be covered and allowed to freeze.

source : www.dailypress.net By: Lee F. Brown - lbrown@dailypress.net