Above ground swimming pools are the most prevalent type of privately owned pool in use today. They are favored by most homeowners because they are much cheaper to purchase than an in ground pool. However, above ground pools also require less space for installation and present the option for their removal or relocation in the future event that the homeowner no longer desires a pool or will be moving to a new home.

In order to make more and better use of their above ground swimming pools, many owners are choosing to install pool heaters to give them more time in the water and make their pool experience more comfortable. This is particularly true today when personal budgets are stretched thin and many people are deciding to forgo or limit their annual vacation budget.

Swimming pool heaters are offered in a variety of technologies and each of them have their own inherent advantages and disadvantages. The three most common types of pool heaters are the gas heater, the electric heat pump and the solar heating system. Oil fired units and electrical resistance heating systems have been used in the past, but for the most part homeowners have abandoned these methods due to the unfavorable economics associated with their operation. However, they are still viable options when extreme circumstances dictate their use.

Gas pool heaters use either natural gas or liquid propane (LP) to heat the pool water. They are essentially the same heater but vary internally with the unique valves and orifices that are required for each of these fuels. The selection of either natural gas or propane will primarily depend on the availability of a natural gas supply to the homeowner’s location. Natural gas is generally the preferred option, since it is the cheaper of these two fuels. When it is not available, a liquid propane tank that is usually rented from the propane supplier is used to store the LP gas used to fire the heater. Gas pool heaters are favored by many homeowners because of their lower purchase cost. This is true despite the fact that their operating costs are higher than the other main heater types due to the cost of natural gas and propane. But these fuels are in abundant supply in the United States and their cost has stabilized.

However, gas swimming pool heaters offer two distinct advantages over heat pumps and solar heaters. They can raise the water temperature quickly and they can also provide a higher water temperature than the other heating systems. Their ability to warm the pool water in a short period of time is essential for pool owners that do not continuously use their swimming pools. This works out well in terms of economics because gas heaters are most efficiently used for shorter periods of time. Additionally, gas pool heaters can raise the water temperature to 90 degrees F or more. Although this is extreme for most situations, many children and senior citizens are not able to tolerate the normal water temperatures favored by many. This is also particularly true for people that use their pool for therapeutic reasons.

Pool water heat pumps are usually chosen because they run in a very efficient manner in terms of converting energy to heated pool water. This is true despite the fact that they are more expensive to purchase and more complex in design and manufacture than gas pool heaters. With this in mind, heat pumps are best suited for heating pool water when the ambient temperatures are above 50 degrees F and when the pool water does not need to be elevated to a temperature above 85 degrees F. These pool heat pumps are similar to the heat pump systems used in household heating and use a refrigerant’s thermodynamic properties to generate heat. However, unlike an air-conditioning unit that chills the air when the refrigerant passes through an expansion valve, a heat pump warms the air and water when the refrigerant is compressed.

Solar heaters are gaining popularity today since many people are making a concerted effort to go “green”. Of course, they are also highly motivated by the economics associated with the operation of a swimming pool solar heater. This is because, unlike gas heaters and heat pumps, solar pool heaters use the energy from the sun to heat the pool water. However, they are not free to operate because they usually require a larger pumping unit (with a higher capital cost and greater electricity demand) to move the water through the expanded plumbing system and solar panels. Solar heaters are viable options when the water temperature needs to be elevated to between 80 and 85 degrees F. But they will work best when they are suitably sited in regards to access to the sun’s rays, favorable climatic and meteorological conditions and the inherent space requirements needed for their installation.

Your local swimming pool professional will be your greatest resource when you are shopping for above ground pool heaters. If you would like more information on a specific type of above ground pool heater, please visit the author’s site for additional information.

A dip in the pool can make all your stress drift far away. Add some water exercises and lounging around to it and you get a bonus of good health and a great tan! If you are among the lucky ones blessed with a pool in your backyard, you can get it all without spending a penny on pool memberships in expensive health clubs. However, to take full advantage of your backyard pool you would require certain accessories like pool floats, loungers, fitness equipment, and pool inflatables.

With a float in your possession, you can spend hours enjoying the coolness of the water below you and the tranquility of the bright blue sky above you. What’s more you’ll end up getting a great tan as a bonus! The advantage of buying pool floats is that they are cheaper than lounger chairs. The disadvantage, however, is that it’s difficult to read a book or enjoy a drink in a float, as you do not have the option of sitting nor do they come equipped with drink holders. So, if you are not on a budget and prefer a float with the works, you may consider investing in a lounger chair instead.

Water exercises are lots of fun, especially in the hot summer months. After all what’s better than getting fit without feeling sweaty and grimy? The best part is that aqua exercises provide a great work out with minimal impact on the joints. All that you would need to be able to get the most out of these exercises are devices that will assist in floating, while you kick, jog or dance you fitness woes away.

To work out your muscles you can even do weight training in water with the help of hand held wet bells. Water weight training is an excellent exercise to gain strength and is often recommended for people recovering from injuries. If you are looking for only fun and games, you may invest in water board games and swings. If, “have a pool, will host a party” is your mantra then it would a great idea to add some inflatable slides to your pool accessory collection. You can even invest in inflatable shaded or group loungers to add an extra element of fun to your pool party. In fact since these inflatables are easy to transport, you can even carry them along for your tropical vacations.

For purchasing information visit, RecreationDelivered Swimming pool (http://www.recreationdelivered.com/Swimming-Pool/)

Who wants to have his own swimming pool most certainly ponders if it should be an above ground pool or an in-ground pool and where exactly it should be built. You think of whether the pump and the filter should be in the house or if a utility shed or a bigger pit next to the pool should be built. It is also a big question, if a coping or a roofing is needed. If you think you do need a roofing or a coping you have the choice between a great variety of models. You also may think of adding it later when you have saved some money for it. You may also want to have a hydro-flow system and illumination equipment.

If some day you finished building your own pool to your liking and you enjoy the amenities of your own pool, you might have surprising and unwelcome visitors from the police, the building inspection or the public water supply. To circumvent this, you should get some information and negotiate a bit before you start to build your own pool.

First you should inform yourself, if it is allowed to build your own pool at your place of residence. If there is water shortage now and then it is absolutely possible, that you are not allowed to build your own pool. It is also possible, that you are allowed to build a pool, but usage – especially filling with water – is restricted. This depends on your location and can be asked for at your municipal administration.

Notably if you want to build an in-ground pool you may run into further legal obstacles. At some places you are allowed to build a swimming pool without further ado. Then at some places this may be subject to report whereas at other places you have to apply for a permit.

The difference is as follows: Is the construction subject to report, you have to go to the municipality and report your project. Eventually you also have to submit a plan. The project will be filed and you can begin to build your own pool as you have planned. Is the construction subject to approval, you have to submit your plan to the competent authority. They review the specifications and they approve it or not or they call for modifications. It is also possible that you have to hold a construction negotiation with your neighbors, where they are allowed to call for modifications. This also depends on your location and can be asked for at your municipality. By the way you can ask if the construction of a swimming pool affects the tax on land and buildings or tax on assets.

You also have to clarify the question where you can dispose the water. Even if you live in a place, where you can use your pool all the year round you have to empty the pool once a year to thoroughly clean it. Because of the chemicals in the water it is forbidden in some places to drain it into the sewerage. Also you should not drain it into a river or a lake. In some places it is only allowed to let it seep away on your own property. But that is exactly what is forbidden elsewhere to protect the ground water. This depends on where you live and can be asked for at your municipal administration or at the public water supply.

To prevent having trouble with your insurance company afterwards you should make sure that your pool and the coping or roofing are also insured. In dependence on your location you should ask, if damage caused by hail, storm, flood waters, mud flow, avalanche, land slip, snow pressure and – if necessary – vandalism is covered.

Thus there is a lot to think about before you can start to build your own pool.

Walter Scherjau teaches mathematics, philosophy, psychology and computer science. His passions include helping people, skiing, the outdoors and exercise, DIY projects and his swimming pool.

Build Your Own Pool

http://www.build-your-own-pool.net/

Hot Tubs from the east usually have every accessory but not the one they really need a Skip!.

I heard the other day that somebody who had bought a cheap Hot Tub which was an eastern import is unable to get the spare parts so that the heater does not work.

You even hear stories of people that buy cheap eastern hot tubs and they do not get the cover for the hot tub till months later.

We saw a cheap eastern import recently with out any floor or base, no insulation, just a load of rubbish. No insulation on the side panels so heat will simply be lost.

Then the electric cables were loose dragging on the floor and with no base that means that they would get wet when it rains! Good chance of getting electrocuted just to save some money that I would call false economy.

Naturally we told the owner to tie all the cables clear of the floor. The quality of the cables used are not up to western standards and you can tell that by one glance its as simple as that. The plumbing also falls way short of western standards.

Oh why worry if they are fool enough to buy a cheap import from the east what do they honestly expect.

It’s a a bit like the lead paint in toys that come from the east, many people think that they are clever by saving money, but the truth is that they buy a lot of trouble for the future. So in reality it is a false economy.

Quality manufacturers consider the long term of spa ownership when designing their products. Manufacturers that use advanced manufacturing methods employ ABS-backed acrylic instead of the older style fibreglass and they are able to provide a much sturdier, longer lasting product.

Not only is the manufacturing process that does not use fibreglass as a backing material more environmentally friendly, but the stronger more expensive ABS backed shell material allows for elimination of foam shell support.

So those manufacturers that use full foam are doing it to support a cheaper shell material. Their approach to production is simply to start from the approach of lets find the cheapest way of construction not the best.

Many manufacturers use the lower priced standard Acrylic that must be supported with fibreglass and foam.

The foam may be referred to as insulation, but in reality it actually supports this lower priced shell material and does not represent a “green” approach to long lasting maintenance, but is only necessary for the support of lower priced shell materials.

We have also heard it said that full foam is used to eliminate the noise of the water in the pipes. Well we are appalled to hear that said as it simply must be a badly designed spa that needs that. It is just simply a cover story to hide the cheap production methods.

There are very many disadvantages with spraying low cost expanding foam into the spa cabinet including lack of access to important plumbing parts and jet surfaces as well as the ability to quickly check for and fix a leak should it occur.

Many times a leak in a foam filled cabinet will manifest itself over many months and the result is a rotted out interior with odorous, soaked foam material that creates quite a mess.

Obviously a good well designed and engineered product will lead to an outstanding hydrotherapy massage. Where one will be able to enjoy a vigorous or perhaps soothing massage with the ability to be able to adjust and modify your massage experience to suit or enhance your mood as appropriate.

In summary I would suggest that as a Hot Tub Jacuzzi style spa is probably the third most expensive purchase that you make after your home and perhaps a car that you should try to buy the best that you can afford but make sure that you do not buy a cheap eastern import or a the dog dish looking hot tub. Look for proper branded acrylic such as Lucite and Quarite and ask to see the dealers color chips from those manufacturers. Sometimes it is Lucite inspired but not Lucite. Look for Balboa controls and aim for a manufacturer who has been making spas for many years. A very good simple test is to see if your hot tub dealer is on first name terms with the owners and directors of the manufacturers of the products’ he is supplying. This is of course impossible if they are based in the East!