Impossible Dream Pools

Pool Safety

Pool Guru — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 01:55:04 +0000

Using your pool responsibly will ensure that it brings you, your family and friends years of enjoyment. Use the guidelines below to develop safe practices and review these rules periodically to keep current and fresh. Click on some of the resources provided for more information concerning pool safety.Drowning
According to the National Safety Council, drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in this country, especially for children under five. Although the greatest percentage of drowning occurs in natural aquatic settings, (e.g., oceans, lakes, quarries, etc.) drowning does occur in swimming pools. The water depth of any pool is sufficient for drowning to occur. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports the drowning of children in even water buckets and toilets.

Protecting young children from accidental drowning in all aquatic environments, whether natural or constructed, is a primary concern of the aquatic industry, health and safety organizations and regulatory groups. It is the responsibility of the parent, caretaker and pool owner to prevent accidents.

Paralysis
Improper diving or sliding, alcohol consumption, horseplay, or roughhousing in and around swimming pools may lead to serious neck and spinal injuries including paralysis, in the form of quadriplegia or paraplegia. A number of these injuries occur yearly, with the overwhelming majority occurring in shallow water. A number of people who ignored these rules and chose to dive into shallow water are now paralyzed. The facts show that many of these were experienced divers. Don’t let this happen to you. Inform family and guests who come to enjoy your pool of the safety rules you have established.

Burns/Fires
Chemicals needed for clean, sanitized water are potentially harmful when stored or used improperly. If mixed with other chemicals or elements, explosions and fire can occur. Read the label and follow manufacturers’ instructions. Always store chemicals where children cannot reach them.

Electrical Shock/Electrocution
Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Electrical shock or electrocution can occur in a pool if live electrical current flowing through appliances and devices (including current from a telephone) comes into contact with the water. Make sure all electrical appliances and devices are protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

Cuts, Contusions, and Abrasions
The pool environment, as well as associated products and equipment, can be a source of injury to users. Slipping and falling can result in cuts or scrapes, or broken legs and arms. Horseplay, improper use of equipment or failure to follow manufacturers’ instructions and warnings can result in serious trauma and permanently disabling injuries.

For more tips from the National Spa and Pool Institute, visit their Web site at http://www.nspi.org/Home/.

Layers of Protection
Supervision is always your primary layer of protection, but studies show that 69 percent of the drowning incidents occurred when parental supervision failed and there were not “backup layers” in use. Layers of protection include:

Access doors to the pool area with high locks are a secondary layer of protection.
Alarms on access doors is another layer of protection.
A pool safety barrier (fence) separating the pool from your home and all access doors and entrances is one more layer of protection.
Water survival training for a child when he/she is capable of crawling or walking to the pool.
CPR and knowledge of rescue techniques are the final layer of protection, should there be an accident.

The goal with instituting layers of protection is to come as close to a “fail safe” system of preventing drowning incidents as possible. Meaning, if there is a momentary lapse of supervision for whatever reason; there are several backup systems in place.There cannot be any compromise on pool safety.

FAQ

Pool Guru — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:29:39 +0000

How long does it take to build a pool?
Depending on the season, it takes approximately 4-6 weeks.

When is the best time to install a pool?
Impossible Dream Pools builds pools year-round, regardless of the weather. However, the best time to build a pool is before spring and summer. This allows you to have your pool and surrounding landscaping done by the first warm day… and gives your family a full season of fun!

What are the steps involved in building a pool?
Swimming pools are built in many steps that begin with the design phase, include several steps of construction and ends with filling the pool with water. Building a pool includes the following phases:
• Design
• Lay-out
• Grading & Excavation
• Installation of Reinforcing
• Steel Bars
• Plumbing
• Electrical Wiring
• Gunite
• Tile and Trim/Rock work
• Decking
• Interior Finish

You can view pictures of each step on our site by clicking here.

Should I be wary about buying a pool advertised at a super low price?
It is realistic to build a pool that fits your budget. Often builders will advertise a super low cost pool to grab the attention of the consumer and “up sell” the advertised pool. There’s a good possibility that if the price of the pool is super low, the workmanship and customer service could be compromised. A pool is an investment that is built to last the lifetime of
your home. Working with a reputable pool builder who guarantees their craftsmanship is key. Impossible Dream Pools stands behind our work 100%. Our standards, whether customer service or craftsmanship, are above “industry standards”, regardless of how little or how much you spend.

Most pools seem the same. Why do costs vary?
There are many factors that determine the price of a pool. How big is the pool? What extras and custom features are added? The price of a pool is also determined by other factors such as:

Quality of materials and craftsmanship.
Soil conditions and the presence of water or rock.
Warranties provided by pool builder.

Impossible Dream Pools offers the highest quality of work and has the best warranties of any builder in the industry. Yet, our pricing does not reflect it.

If I have a small yard, can you still design a pool that will fit my budget, taste and yard?
We think that you would be surprised at what Impossible Dream Pools can build in a smaller yard. In recent years, we have seen lot sizes shrinking and have been getting very adept at building in these smaller areas. We can create something for even the most challenging properties. Best of all, our pool and spa designs and estimates are free, so you can see how wonderful a custom designed pool will look in your backyard.

What options are available to add to my pool?
Almost anything you can imagine! Impossible Dream Pools can construct a pool that meets your wildest imagination. We are expert in designing and building all varieties of pools, spas and additional fun features… like waterfalls, jump rocks, with umbrella sleeves, tanning ledges, fountains, and grottos.

What pool shapes are available?
Your choices are unlimited when it comes to custom features, shapes and design. Freeform, lagoon, Grecian…it’s up to you. If you’d like, our expert designer can offer suggestions on the best way to utilize the size and shape of your yard. Wherever your imagination takes you, Impossible Dream Pools can design and build it.

How does the design process work?
Impossible Dream Pools designer will set up a meeting to discuss your pool interests and budget. They will ask you about what you envision in your backyard to help them design the perfect pool for you. Prior to meeting, you may want to browse through our photo gallery to get some ideas of what you’d like in your backyard.

How much does a pool cost?
While the average cost of building a pool varies by region, a base pool will typically range from mid to upper $20,000s. Customized options, automated features and the cost of finish materials contribute to the total price of your pool. Impossible Dream Pools design expert are trained to create a pool that meets your imagination, yard and budget.

Can I finance my pool?
Yes. Many people are taking advantage of lower interest rates and the equity that they have in their home. Impossible Dream Pools works closely with lenders that specialize in finding a loan that suits your budget. For more information, ask your Impossible Dream Pools representative.

Will my pool have a warranty?
Yes. We know that customer service does not stop once the pool is completed. At Impossible Dream Pools our warranties exceed “industry standards.” We have a lifetime structural warranty as well as an extended warranty on our pumps, filters and heaters. Above all else, we want you to be happy with your new investment, so we stand behind our work.

How much maintenance is involved with a pool?
With today’s automation, pool chemical testing and maintenance only takes a few hours a week. You can also cut down on maintenance by installing such features as an in-floor cleaning system or adding a salt generator. Ask your Impossible Dream Pools representative about all the timesaving options that are available.

Pool Care Tips

Pool Guru — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:39:38 +0000

FILTRATION

There are several types of filters available for swimming pool water.

Sand and gravel, diatomaceous earth, anthracite, and cartridge types are the filter mediums most commonly employed. Regardless of the medium used, the basic principles are the same. This consists of passing water through tiny passageways. Particles larger than these passages are trapped and thereby separated from the main body of the water. This process continues until all of these passageways are blocked. The filter must then be cleaned and the cycle repeated.

BRUSHING

A swimming pool should be brushed on a regular basis to remove anyaccumulation of deposits that your automatic pool cleaner or manual vacuuming process misses. Especially with a new pool, this process is a must. We suggest performing this task once a week in order to keep the finish in its best condition.

VACUUMING

Eliminate these hassles with our Self-Cleaning Pool Systems!

A filter is designed to remove sediment and suspended matter from the main body of water, however, some dirt will inevitably settle to the bottom of the pool during periods when the filter is not in operation. The only way for this sediment to be removed is through vacuuming.

The swimming pool vacuum operates in a similar manner to the common household unit except it draws water through the vacuum head instead of air. There are two way in which this may be accomplished. One method employs a jet of water supplied by a garden hose to power the suction which draws the dirt into the head to be trapped in a cloth bag. The other method uses the suction power supplied by the filter which draws the sediment and dirt from the pool floor for removal through the filter. When there is a considerable amount of sediment to be removed the filter valves should be adjusted so that the vacuumed water will bypass the filter and run to waste.

It is recommended that the pool be vacuumed about once weekly, the exact schedule to be determined from the pool owners experience.

SURFACE SKIMMING

Hair, lint, leaves and insects which enter the pool and remain floating on the surface can be easily removed with surface skimmers. There are two types of surface skimmers-hand and automatic. The hand skimmer is simply a plastic screen or net attached to a long pole and should be used to remove the larger floating objects such as leaves and grass.

The automatic surface skimmer is a device which is attached to the filtering system. During the filtering process, part of the surface water is drawn through the skimmer and into the filter, carrying with it dust, small insects, and other fine debris before these can settle to the pool floor.

The pool should be skimmed frequently since most dirt enters the water through the surface.

When used properly, it is filled with a solution containing from one to two ounces of granular calcium hyochlorite for each gallon of water. All bathers entering or leaving the pool should be required to place both feet into the solution for a period of not less than fifteen seconds.

TEST KITS AND THEIR USE

The test kit is perhaps the most valuable aid to the pool owner and enables him to keep his pool in proper swimming condition. An adequate test kit is one which includes both a chlorine and pH test. Most test kits use the ortho tolidine test for total available chlorine.

This test produces a yellow color varying in strength with the amount of chlorine present in the water. When the color produced corresponds to a chlorine reading between 0.3 and 0.6 ppm, the bather is assured that the pool is safe for swimming. Since chlorine dissipates rapidly in hot weather and under heavy bathing loads it is wise to test frequently to assure a sufficient chlorine residual. Just how frequently is best left to the individual pool owners experience. A colorless reading means that all of the chlorine has dissipated and it will be necessary to add more. A reading greater than 0.6 ppm indicates the presence of an excessive amount of chlorine and bathers should not be permitted to enter the water until the chlorine had dissipated to a safe level.

Tests for chlorine should be made about thirty minutes after it has been added to allow the material to dissolve and mix throughout the water. The phenol red method is the most common way of testing for pH. In this test, the color changes from amber at low pH to purple at high pH, each color between corresponds to a different pH number. When the color produced corresponds to pH readings between 7.2 and 7.8 the water will be in proper chemical balance. PH tests should be made at least once daily and more frequently during periods of adjustment. When adjusting the pH be sure to allow enough time for the chemicals to dissolve and to mix thoroughly throughout the water before testing.