Pool Safety Tips

May 18, 2022 by

Pool Safety Tips

Pool safety tips can be a good reminder for all of us to take care of ourselves and our families and friends.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the second cause of unintentional death for children between ages one and four. And for every child that dies, eight others are injured.

Swimming Pool With Stair

Pools are fun and help relieve the Arizona heat. But before you dive in, make sure everyone will be safe.

Most Recommended Pool Safety Tips

1. Never leave children unattended in or near a pool. Please pay attention to them.

When children are in or near a pool, they must be supervised. Eliminate distractions like electronics, books, magazines, and loud music when watching your little ones. Accidents can happen quickly, so it’s important to always be alert.  Also keep an eye on your pet dog (pets) as unattended animals can also fall in and drown.

2. Teach everyone in the house how to swim. Educate your children about pool safety and drowning prevention.

Swimmers are less likely to drown than non-swimmers. Teach your children to swim and tell them why. Educate them about drowning and pool safety.

3. Put a fence around your pool at least five feet tall with self-closing gates and latches.

Many children die by falling into a pool when nobody’s looking. A fence around your pool cuts a child’s risk of drowning by 83%. Permanent and temporary fences are effective and look great.

4. Teach children not to swim or play around drains and openings.

Ensure your pool has VGB-compliant drains installed. Inspect drains for damage and replace damaged drains before using your pool.  Pool drains are powerful and can trap small children and even adults on some instances. Pool drains can pull in hair, jewelry, and a swimmer’s body and limbs. Modern drains are designed to prevent this, but drains should still be inspected for damage. Teach your children to avoid these dangers.

5. Avoid diving into shallow water.

Over 500 people suffer spinal cord injuries from diving each year. You could also hit your face and lose teeth or break facial bones. Only dive in water at least nine feet deep to reduce your risk of injury.

6. Don’t run around pools — Keep horseplay to a minimum

Running on a wet surface is a disaster waiting to happen. Most of these injuries are minor abrasions, but serious injuries can occur from falling on concrete, including head injuries. Injuries can happen when playing gets too rough or aggressive. Make sure everybody plays nice, follow the rules, and has fun. Friendly supervision by the pool owner is critical for the safety of all.

7. Maintain your pool to avoid health problems.

An  important safety tip is pool maintenance. Keeping your pool water clean and balanced makes your pool more enjoyable. Microbes like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa can grow in your dirty pool water. A properly maintained pool has a sparkling clean appearance with no strong or unpleasant odors.

Ensure your filtration system functions correctly and maintain the proper chlorine levels, pH and alkalinity amounts, and water hardness.

Have Questions? Pink Dolphin Pool Care has Answers

We hope this has given you some pool safety tips that you can use right away. If you have any questions about pool safety, pool maintenance, or would like to have us clean and maintain your pool for you, call us at 602-688-7465.

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Time for a Calcium Clean Up?

March 16, 2022 by

Time for a Calcium Clean Up?

Pools need maintenance and this can include a calcium clean up too. Even if you keep up with regular cleaning, hot days and hard water can lead to calcium deposits. Pools provide hours of enjoyment for your family, but they also require proper maintenance.

Time for a Calcium Clean Up?

Depending on the type of calcium scale you have, the issue can be fairly easy or pretty difficult to clean. Either way – why not let the professionals handle it? When in doubt, it’s best to call in an experienced pool care company to take care of the problem for you. Let’s learn a little bit more about calcium scaling and how to know when it’s time for a calcium clean-up.

Identifying Calcium Build-Up

There are two types of calcium build-up that can appear in your pool. The first is calcium carbonate, which is a white, flaky substance that is fairly easy to remove. You can determine if your pool has calcium carbonate scaling by applying a small amount of muriatic acid. If the acid starts to bubble or foam, then it is calcium carbonate.

The other kind of scaling is calcium silicate. This is a grayish-white substance that is much harder to remove than calcium carbonate. You can use the same method mentioned above to test if your scale is silicate. After adding the muriatic acid, there should be little to no reaction (compared to the bubbling reaction to carbonate).

Are Calcium Deposits Bad for Your Pool?

The calcium scale in your pool becomes much more of a problem the longer you leave it. Calcium buildup can irritate your skin and eyes and make your pool water look less than appealing to swim in.

Pool scale may also clog your pool’s filter, which is built to handle small bugs and leaves, not hard calcium deposits. If left for a long time, calcium deposits can also cause damage to your pool tiles, and may even lead to the need for pool refinishing!

How to Remove Calcium Scale

Removing calcium carbonate is a fairly simple process. The best way to remove carbonate is to use a calcium releaser/cleaner. It’s best if these products are acid-free, to avoid damaging your pool tiles. If the build-up is stubborn, you can also try using a pumice stone or scale remover.

Calcium silicate, on the other hand, is much harder to remove. This is because this type of scaling has been present much longer than carbonate and has had time to harden. These deposits require a pumice stone and a lot of heavy scrubbing. If this fails, you can also try using a professional calcium remover. Ultimately, the best plan of action is to call on pool cleaning experts for help.

Professional Calcium Cleaning at Pink Dolphin

Calcium build-up in your pool can be a very annoying problem. The longer it’s left, the bigger a problem it becomes. Depending on the type and how long it has been sitting, the cleaning process can be quick and easy or almost impossible!

If you’re in need of a calcium clean-up, call in the experts at Pink Dolphin pool care. We have years of experience dealing with tough calcium scaling and have the knowledge and tools to get the job done right.

Notice calcium build-up in your swimming pool? Reach out to us at (602) 688-7465 to schedule our cleaning services.

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End of Pool Season Chores in Peoria, AZ

November 20, 2020 by

End of Pool Season Chores in Peoria, AZ

The season really is coming to the end. There’s no putting off the end of pool season chores any longer, not when people are about to start singing Christmas carols.

End of Pool Season Chores to Consider in Peoria, AZ 

Here are the steps you need to consider to begin winterizing your Peoria, AZ, pool whether it is above ground or in-ground.

Above Ground Pool

Before covering your pool, it’s important to make sure it is as clean as possible. Give it a once over or call Pink Dolphin Pool Care out to clean it.

Check your pH like you usually would. Keep pH around 74.-76, alkalinity around 125 ppm, chlorine around 2 ppm, and calcium about 200 ppm. Add any winterizing chemicals as instructed by your pool company.

A sanitizing shock right before closing can slow unwanted growth in the water over the winter season. You can accompany this with an algaecide as well.

Store any parts that might freeze and burst during the winter. This includes any hoses that would still have water in them. Disconnect what you can and store out of the elements.

Cover your pool securely. There are clips and water bags made specifically to make sure your cover doesn’t fly away with winter storms.

In-Ground Pool

In-ground pools follow the same prep instructions as above ground pools. They should be cleaned. Water levels should be checked and adjusted to desired measurements.

Add algaecide to prevent algae from growing under your cover in the winter. Sanitize with a shock treatment.

Your pump should be cleaned and any lines emptied of water that might freeze and burst them. Special pool antifreeze can be added to protect them from the serious cold.

Secure a cover with clips or water bags to make certain it stays on. Use a safety gate as usual during the winter to keep children and pets from falling into the cold water.

Don’t Close It up at All

This last suggestion might not be what you were thinking, but consider this: using your pool all winter long. How would you like to get the benefits of using your swimming pool in the winter? From relaxation to fitness, it’s possible.

Talk to Pink Dolphin about installing a pool heater. Keeping your water warmer for longer makes it possible to get the absolute most out of your pool.

Questions or concerns about the end of season pool chores? Pink Dolphin pool care is here to help. Whatever you need to know, we can assist with. Get in touch today with questions or schedule our pool care team to come out and close up your pool for the winter. Call today at (603) 688-7465.

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Where to Place Your New Pool

September 29, 2020 by

Where to Place Your New Pool

Deciding where to place your new pool can be a fun part of the planning process. There are a few must-haves when it comes to location, and then some optional location perks. Consulting pool experts like those of us at Pink Dolphin can get you some experienced tips on picking out the best spot for your fantastic backyard (or maybe front yard!) addition.

Where to Place Your New Pool
A swimming pool spa and lanai in Florida.

Level Ground

For above-ground pools, level ground is a serious requirement. If the level ground does not exist and can be added to create a flat surface for the pool to rest on. Even a ground unevenness of a few inches can cause problems for the liner. The weight of unbalanced water on one side puts pressure on the seams of the liner and could potentially burst it. This would cause a large flood in your yard as several thousands of gallons of water rushed out at once.

For inground pools, it is preferable not to be at the bottom of a severe slope. Hills leading into the pool can direct run-off into the pool water. In heavy rains or when snows melt, this water can end up flowing into the pool or onto the liner, causing issues for pool maintenance.

Sunny Area

While picking a sunny area for a pool may be a given for outdoorsy folks, there is another benefit to choosing a sunny area. Passive solar heating can keep your water warmer without a heater. And if you do have a heater, take advantage of the free heat from the sun so you don’t have to run your heater as often.

Easily Fenced

Fencing your pool is often a matter of insurance and ordinance requirements. Unfenced pools can cause a dangerous hazard to children and animals, so many homeowner’s insurance policies require fencing of some sort around a pool. Choosing a location that can be easily and efficiently fenced is important.

Proximity to Electric

Depending on your pool’s pump set-up, choosing a location close to an existing electrical plug will be necessary. For safe, efficient usage pool pumps generally cannot be used with extension cords. Cords come in relatively short lengths so as to be efficient in the electricity they conduct. If you don’t plan on running a permanent electric connection underground to your pool, choose a spot you can safely reach a plug.

Ready to plan for a new pool? Give Pink Dolphin a call to get ready plotting out the site of next summer’s fun. Call us today (602) 688-PINK.

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Pool Inspections in Glendale, AZ. Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late

October 23, 2018 by

Pool Inspections in Glendale, AZ. Don’t Wait Until it’s Too Late

When looking for a new home, inspections are a natural part of the process. You want to make sure that this big investment you’re making is a good one and there aren’t going to be any costly surprises down the road. However, most people just think home inspection, completely forgetting about the second part of the home: the backyard.

Many people don’t think about pool inspections in Glendale, AZ. Don’t wait until it’s too late and you end up purchasing a house with a pool that drowns you in costly repairs and maintenance. Call Pink Dolphin Pool Care for expert pool inspections in Glendale.

Pool Inspections in Glendale, AZ. Don't Wait Until it's Too Late

Inspection Process

Pink Dolphin Pool Care offers comprehensive pool inspection services to evaluate the current condition of all the pool’s components. The inspection process consists of four phases for a thorough evaluation:

  • Placement & Protection. The first phase consists of determining the placement of the pool to rule out any potential safety hazards. This includes fencing, gates, screen enclosures, location and proximity of electrical outlets and wires, and proximity to the house.
  • Deck & Coping. Phase two consists of inspection of the deck surface conditions, i.e cracks, discoloration, and pitting. It also includes inspection of the coping (open joints, cracking) surrounding the pool area. Drains are also inspected in this phase for the presence of anti-vortex covers.
  • The third phase inspects pool lights, junction box condition & location, pumps, filters, piping, timers, heaters, controls, accessories, skimmers and the examination of electrical bonding.
  • Equipment Operation. The last phase inspects how well the equipment works. The pump, leakage of the pool, proper skimming, verifying the functionality of the filtration system, heater activation, and filter pressure are among the items that are inspected.

The inspection phase process allows us to get a complete overview of the pool in order to help you determine if this pool with this home is an investment you want to make.

Full Report

Once the inspection is completed, a full and detailed report will be generated for you. It will include a summary of our findings, general maintenance tips, and it will also identify areas in need of attention. These tips will help you understand how to make the pool functional and reasonable to upkeep. With this report, you will feel confident in your decision-making process to either purchase or not purchase the home. We will also go over the report with you and answer any questions you have about it. Our pool technicians are very friendly, knowledgeable, and can help you better understand the findings within the report. To help make the best decision on your pool and home, call Pink Dolphin Pool Care today at (602) 688-7465.

Filed Under: Pool Maintenance Services Tagged With: , ,
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