In May 1776, famed Betsy Ross reported she sewed the first American flag and June 14 of the following year Continental Congress passed the Flag Act.

The flag has evolved over the years and met its most recent fifty-star version by an act set by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959.

About the stars and stripes
Each individual part of our flag represents a different aspect of the American way. Today the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes. They are seven red alternating with six white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies and the stars represent the 50 states of the Union.

Symbolic colors of the flag
Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Read the history behind Flag Day

Sources:  usflag.org, usmilitary.about.com

There’s no better way to get more pool time than with pool and spa automation. 

Pool and spa automation – saves time, energy and money

Hayward automates virtually everything, for a better backyard experience and more time to enjoy it.

Automation takes the work out of pool and spa ownership by automating all work-intensive chores, such as chlorination, balancing pH, cleaning and filtration. For even more control, Dad can customize other backyard features like landscape and pool lighting, water features, a fire pit and more.  And what Dad’s don’t like remotes?  Dad can take control right into the water with the AquaPod wireless, waterproof remote. Or even further – from anywhere – with AquaConnect remote pool management.

Perhaps best of all, automation can save dad money.  By automating essential pool and spa functions, like a variable-speed pump, dad can save up to 90% on his pool’s energy bill.

Happy Father’s Day

All Hayward Rebates

As mentioned, emissions, cost, and fuel efficiency are important attributes when selecting a pool heater.

Hayward’s Universal H-Series Low NOx gas heaters offer industry-leading thermal efficiency and comply with all current California air quality emission standards. Low NOx emission makes them a perfect choice for environmentally-concerned pool owners and their hydraulic performance also saves energy by reducing the circulation time of the pump and can raise the temperature of an 800 gallon pool, 30°, in less than an hour.

Another great option for heating your pool is a heat pump.  Heat pumps are an excellent, energy-efficient solution for maintaining a constant temperature vs. rapid heating of a gas pool heater. So when your customers are ready to graduate to a higher degree of comfort and control, choose a Hayward heating solution.

Types of Automatic Pool Cleaners

Individual preference, type and amount of debris and cost will define which automatic cleaner your customers will want for their pools. Options include suction cleaners, which can be less expensive to purchase, and robotic models, which are very energy-efficient and do a great job removing larger debris from the pool. If they’re looking for an automatic cleaner with the best technology possible, chose an intelligent cleaner.  Rather than randomly meandering around pools, this technology ensures the cleaner moves in paths for the most thorough and efficient cleaning possible.  They can even shut themselves off when they’re done!

Suction cleaners use the pool’s existing filtration system to power them and vacuum the pool floor and walls. Robotic cleaners efficiently scrub and vacuum the pool floor and walls and can save pool owners up to 94% of their energy costs versus most pressure cleaners that require a separate dedicated booster pump – your customers’ selection should be based on their particular needs and budget.  No matter what they choose, they should go for a model that is super quiet and efficient with the added benefit of easy installation.

Investing in a pool heater or heat pump is a great way to extend the swimming season.

Energy Saving Strategies for pool owners

The best way to retain a pool’s heat, is to invest in a pool cover.  Covers help to keep the water temperature where pool owners want it.  They have the added benefits of keeping debris out of the pool, as well as minimizing water evaporation and loss of valuable chemicals.

Another way to conserve energy is by turning heaters down or off when the pool is not in use.  This may sound like an obvious tip, but many people leave their heaters or heat pumps on because they want a consistent temperature for their pool. If pool owners go a few days without using their pool, it’s a good idea to give the heater, and their wallet, a break.

Myth: It’s a myth that it takes more energy to heat a pool back up to a desired temperature than is saved by lowering the temperature or turning off a heater.  Myth buster provided by energy.gov.

Next, look into using other energy-efficient pool equipment. There are plenty of options in pumps, filters, LED lighting and other products that have lower energy consumption with just as great performance.

To learn more on how you can save energy, check out our Energy Calculator.

Please join us in honoring our fallen heroes!

We get a lot of questions from pool owners about how things work.  We need to remember our customers aren’t pros so we need to help them with tricks and tips and an education on how things work.

They should think about their pumps as the heart of the pool.  Without it, the water won’t circulate and that’s never a good thing.  Share these tips with your customers.

The Heart of the Pool

In an in-ground pool, water has to go through a filtration process before it flows back into your pool. Without a working pump, this isn’t possible.  Water is regularly drawn from the pool from suction created by your pool pump. The pump then sends the water through a filter, main drains and skimmer. This process filters out impurities and any undesirable things you may find in a pool.

The Dynamic Duo – your Pump and Filter!

Why is this duo so important? Simply put, they ensure that your pool is kept clean and safe. If you didn’t have a working pool pump and filter, you would find your water unsafe to swim in – full of bacteria and unhealthy chemistry levels. Your pump and filter turn over your water keeping it in tip-top shape. If either part breaks down, you should stop using your pool until it’s fixed.

Right-sizing Equipment

Right-sizing your pump and filter for your pool and plumping is a professional job.  Leave it to the pros – really.  A pro will make sure all the equipment on your pool pad is in prefect harmony with each other, doing their job properly and efficiently.  When done properly, your swimming pool will run at an optimal level and you’ll experience fewer problems, easier maintenance, lower utilities costs and longer equipment life.

“Manufacturing Marvels” spotlights American manufacturers across a variety of industries.  Marvel Production Group, LLC (MPG) visited Hayward’s Nashville facility to film a segment on the company’s production and manufacturing methods of its technologically-advanced heaters and heat pumps solutions.  MPG highlighted Hayward’s highly-efficient, lean manufacturing process, and its products that are produced in a one-piece flow aligning with customer demands.

The Manufacturing Marvels segment highlighting Hayward was produced by award winning producers Bob and Jerry May and narrated by nationally acclaimed voice talent John Criswell.

“We are incredibly proud of the advanced manufacturing techniques that we have perfected to create highly-technical, energy-efficient, state of the art pool products,” said Vice President of Global Operations Don Smith.  “Our goal is to help pool owners save on energy costs, spend less time maintaining and more time enjoying their pools.  Hayward’s environmental mission led to the development of our Energy Solutions^® line of products, which reduce energy, water and chemical use.  We offer breathtaking, energy-efficient color LED lighting that allows pool owners to create themes for perfect poolside events.  Salt chlorination delivers the ultimate swimming experience that is as easy on the wallet as it is on eyes and skin.  Automatic pool cleaners and controls save money and reduce pool maintenance time.  But the biggest energy saver is with our variable-speed pumps—up to a 90% energy savings.  They also meet the ENERGY STAR^® certification requirements recently finalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  This is the first ENERGY STAR specification for pool pumps established by the EPA, and is part of the program’s overall commitment to help prevent climate change by encouraging superior energy efficiency.  So, when Marvel Production Group approached us about taping at our facility, we thought it was an excellent opportunity to showcase our process, practices and products.”

Watch the video.

Are your customers still hauling heavy buckets or jugs of chlorine? They can cut their chlorine costs by 50% or more with Salt & Swim 3C and eliminate those tiresome trips to the store for chlorine.

Turn them on to salt!

They can join the 1.5 million pool owners who are already enjoying the 3C’s of Salt Chlorination — the Comfort of silky-soft water, Convenience of automated chlorination and Cost savings of 50% on chlorine costs.

Now for a limited time — pool owners can save an additional $20.00 on purchase of Salt & Swim 3C and Salt & Swim 3C Pro. This offer is valid only on purchases made from April 8, 2013 – May 31, 2013.

Find out more!