Roadrunner Pool Service

Phoenix Pool Cleaning & Repair Service

How to Care for Your Pool After a Storm

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Summer Lightning If you live in the Phoenix area, you are aware of the damage monsoon storms can cause. When a monsoon does hit, do you know the best way to care for your pool? In preparation for the monsoon season, here are some tips for taking care of your pool after a storm.

Before the Storm

• Cut the power. When a monsoon storm warning comes through, turn off the power to the swimming pool’s equipment, including the filter and pump. If a power surge happens from a lightning strike, it could serious damage or destroy your pool’s equipment.
• Invest in a pool cover. If you cover the pool, not just during a storm but all the time, it will prevent objects from blowing in including dirt and sand. Use a mesh cover since safety covers can fill with rain water and damage the pool.
• Secure anything that might blow into the pool. When a monsoon storm in approaching, you should secure anything that could possibly become airborne. It may not be feasible to prevent all forms of trash from landing in the pool, but it is possible to secure things such as patio furniture and umbrellas. If there is a warning of an impending storm, be sure to move them into the garage or some other covered area where they cannot take flight.

After the Storm
• Call your pool contractor. After a storm hits the area and you have made sure everyone is safe, your first call should be to whoever services your pool. Schedule a full cleaning and service to get your pool’s chemicals balanced. A pool contractor will also:
• Skim out the tree branches, leaves and other debris;
• Clean the skimmer baskets and pump strainer to keep it from getting blocked;
• Inspect the electrical equipment before the power is turned on in order to make sure that the pump is working;
• Vacuum the pool; and
• Shock the pool and balance the chemicals.

A swimming pool is a huge investment that you want to protect. Taking the time to prepare for monsoon season will allow you to rest easy when a storm hits.

National Safety Month – Water Safety

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swimming-pool-317449_640Summer is here and it is time to break out the grills and the swim suits for some summer fun around the family pool. Keep in mind that having a pool comes with great responsibility. Pools can be wonderful places for entertaining and relaxing during the summer months, but they can also be deadly. That is why June has been designated as National Safety month. Before cooling off in your pool, it is important to soak up some safety tips to protect you and your loved ones.

• Be alert—One of the most important responsibilities of owning a pool is watching your kids while they are swimming. You should always watch your children when they are in the pool area. It only takes a few seconds for something to happen that can lead to tragedy. You should also be sure to keep the kids away from pool drains and pipes.
• Be proactive—Another way to protect your children around the pool is to be proactive. Teach your children basic water safety tips and behaviors that will keep them safe. Be sure to model these behaviors as well so that they see you being safe and decide to follow. Also, if you have friends over, don’t assume they know how to be safe; instead, share the safety instructions with them.
• Keep a phone handy—Always keep your cellphone or a portable phone nearby when you are by the pool in case you have to dial 911 for a serious emergency.
• Check the pool first—If you are working around the house and notice that you haven’t seen or heard your child, check the pool area first. Don’t waste valuable time checking in their bedroom or playroom, but look for them in the pool in case the worst has happened.
• Take a swimming course—If you own a pool, it is important that you know how to swim and that your children learn as soon as possible. In addition, you should take a course in CPR so that you can perform life-saving techniques should an accident occur. Check with your local YMCA or with the American Red Cross for information on these types of courses in your area.
• Fence it in—Be sure to keep kids out when they aren’t being supervised by installing a safety fence around the pool. The fence should be at least four-feet tall and should be self-closing with a self-latching gate. Also, consider putting in a locking safety cover for when you are not using the pool or spa.
• Invest in alarms—Installing an alarm that makes a chiming sound whenever the door is opened will give you peace of mind. It will alert you if your children are trying to sneak out to the pool area unsupervised. You can also install pool alarms that will go off if the surface of the pool is disturbed by someone jumping or falling in.

Keep Your Family Safe This Summer with a Pool Alarm

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Pool toy floating in a poolWhen the temperatures start to rise, most Americans start looking for a way to stay cool and beat the heat. One of the best and most relaxing ways is with your own swimming pool. If you own a pool, you need to look at options for keeping your family safe from harm. One way for you do to this is with a pool alarm. Here are the three major types of pool alarms and how they work to keep you safe:

• Surface Wave Sensor — The first type of alarm system for your pool is a surface wave sensor system. A surface wave sensor will float on top of the water’s surface. This system has two contact points that form an electrical circuit. One of these is in the pool’s water. The other is fixed so that it lies above the surface of the water. If the second contact is touched by water, then the circuit is completed. This, in turn, triggers an alarm that can alert you. The second contact will only touch water and set off the alarm if it is hit by a wave caused by the surface of the water being broken. So if a child jumps or falls into the pool when the alarm is armed, the alarm will sound alerting you to the situation.
• Subsurface Disturbance Sensor — The second type of alarm system has two sensors that are fixed to the side of a pool. These sensors are placed anywhere between half an inch to a foot below the pool’s surface. They use a pressure-sensitive switch found at the head of a sensing throat that senses any disturbance under the surface of the water. If someone enters the pool while the system is armed, the alarm will sound.
• Wristband — The third type of alarm system places an alarm on the child instead of the pool itself. In this system, the child has a wristband placed on his or her arm and affixed there with a locking key in order to keep it from being removed. The wristband has a sensor inside of it that will trigger an alarm if the sensor becomes wet. These wristband sensors are one-time use items. If the sensor touches water and sounds the alarm, then it will have to be replaced in order to work again.

If you have a pool, you need to consider safety precautions for your family and anyone else who may visit your home. Even if you are not home, some municipalities hold the homeowner responsible if a child were to enter the yard and fall into the pool. A pool alarm can alert you if anyone falls into your pool. Consider your specific situation and asses what type of pool alarm would be best for your home.

Healthy Hot Tubs

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hot tubHave you considered adding a spa or a hot tub to your backyard? Anyone who has already looked into one knows the social benefits of being able to relax with friends and family in the new hot tub. But many people are not aware that a hot tub or spa actually offers many health benefits dating back to ancient cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, and Native American tribes. If you are still on the fence about buying a hot tub, here are some of the benefits that modern science has attributed to hot tubs that may help sway your your decision.

Blood Pressure—One of the obvious attributes of a hot tub is that it generates large amounts of heat, hence the name. In a regular tub, hot water will gradually cool down until it is quite chilly. A hot tub can maintain the heat non-stop that does something very interesting to your body: it can reduce your blood pressure. When your body gets warmer from the water, your blood starts to flow more rapidly and easily, causing your blood vessels to expand. This will consequently lower your blood pressure, sometimes very quickly and substantially.

Muscle Relaxation—Another benefit of a hot tub, is that it can help with muscle relaxation, especially after a long day at work. If you are in a hot tub, your blood will not cool down as it recirculates through your body. Instead, it goes back at a warmer temperature. This, in turn, will give the therapeutic effects of heat to deep muscles where other means cannot reach. This muscle relaxation can help lead to deeper and better sleep.

Pain Relief—The heat from a spa also has the added benefit of muting or dulling your central nervous system’s sensitivity. Your body focuses on the heat increase from the hot tub so much that it forgets about the pain that it otherwise feels, leading to temporary relief. In addition, joint pain is relaxed because of the natural buoyancy of the water in the hot tub. In addition, when you are in any type of water, your body floats. This takes weight off of your joints, leading to less pain for those who have problem areas such as the lower back. Finally, pain relief can be provided from the jets in a hot tub or spa. The rapid pressure of water hitting strategic points such as the neck or back can relax muscles and ease pain tremendously, providing a massage-like sensation without having to visit a masseuse. Obviously, this type of therapy can be a blessing for those suffering from arthritis or chronic back pain.

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease—Some recent studies have shown a link between soaking in hot tubs and improvements in diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. A 1999 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that patients with Type 2 Diabetes who used a hot tub for half an hour, six times a week, showed marked improvement in as little as ten days. This included weight loss and lower doses of insulin as well as improved sleep patterns. The prestigious Mayo Clinic has also reported that using a hot tub increases the heart rate but doesn’t raise a person’s blood pressure. In many ways, it gives you some of the benefits of exercise without the stress that exercise can put on your heart.

If you are still not sure if a hot tub or spa is for you, consider these health benefits. Hot tubs are not just for rest and recreation. They can also be for therapy and they offer significant health benefits.

Protecting Your Investment – Types of Pool Fencing for Your Home

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Pool FenceSo you have decided to install a pool in your backyard? You know you need to safeguard it, but don’t know where to start. There are several things you need to consider about how you will secure your investment and ensure everyone’s safety. Your best bet is to look at your options before you have to make a decision about pool fencing , so you can make an informed decision.

Know the Regulations — The first thing you need to do before you install a pool fence is the regulations in your area. There are no federal laws governing pool fences. Those laws are left to the state and local governments. In Arizona, for instance, you must have a fence around your pool, but only if you have a child under the age of six. However, if you live in certain cities in Arizona (including Scottsdale and Glendale), you must have a fence regardless of the age of your children. You also have to consider homeowner’s association rules. Many HOA’s have specific guidelines regarding pool construction and fencing types to maintain a standard through the neighborhood. Be sure to check with your HOA to find out their requirements as well.

Suggested Minimums — The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in conjunction with legal requirements in many states, has put together a list of suggestions for pools to maintain a safe area. They include:

• The fence should be a minimum of 4  feet or higher and should be designed so that children cannot climb it
• The fence should be permanent as temporary or “portable” fencing can be easy to get through
• The fence should have a gate that opens outward and is both self-latching and self-closing
• The fence should be made of a material that is durable and fits with requirements based on your local government and your HOA

Materials and Styles — The most popular materials for a pool safety fence are wood, vinyl, aluminum, mesh and glass. Each material has its own pros and cons concerning durability and appearance. The three most popular types that are:

• Glass panel fencing — These are very trendy right now, especially for West Coast homeowners. These panes of fencing are transparent, so you don’t take away from the beauty of the pool and the surrounding landscaping. They are also very durable since they are made from tempered glass that will not shatter, except under the most extreme of circumstances.
• Mesh pool fencing — This is another popular choice because, although it is portable and can be taken down easily, it is ultimately very sturdy and durable. Just be sure that the material you choose for this type meets or exceeds the strength standards for your locality.
• Vertical bar fencing — This option can be manufactured in a variety of materials, but one of the best is wrought iron. Panels of bars are placed standing straight up to give a feel of a wrought iron gate all around your pool. Just make sure that the bars are spaced four inches (or less) apart so that a child cannot slip through the bars.

All homes with pools should also include rescue equipment like a safety flotation device for emergencies. Homeowners can go the extra mile for security and peace of mind, with additional features such as pool alarms and automatic rigid pool covers. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to pick the type that is right for your home and that meets the requirements of your community.

3 Easy Steps to Getting your Pool Ready for Summer

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Living in Phoenix allows us to have a very long swimming season. Taking the time to prepare your pool at the beginning of the swimming season will help ensure that your pool is trouble free all summer long.  These tips should help walk you through the process and have you swimming in no time! [Read more…]

Swooning for Swimming Pools: 5 Tips for Designing a Perfect Pool and Patio

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If you’re planning to create the backyard pool and patio of your dreams, there are many things to consider before you get started. Of course, building a pool is a major investment, and there’s a lot more to it than aesthetic appeal.

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Pool Decking: What fits your needs

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For many people who are looking at building a pool, the main concern is what goes into the pool, concerning the filtration system and the interior surface.  But another aspect of serious importance is the pool deck itself.  There are several different options for pool decking.  The important things to consider when choosing which one to use is your budget and your aesthetic needs. [Read more…]

Pool Surfaces: Wading through your options

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A swimming pool is one of the largest investments a homeowner can choose to make to his or her existing home.  As such, you want to make sure that everything, from the filtration system to the decking surrounding the pool is top quality and fits not only the aesthetic plan for your backyard but also your budget as well.  Here are some of the best choices for swimming pool surfaces so that you can find the options that fit your lifestyle. [Read more…]

Chlorine vs. Saltwater Pools

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Swimming pools are a popular addition to many homes as they provide a great place to relax, socialize with family and friends, and even exercise.  But as with many products in our world, pools are going through a fairly large shift as more and more customers are switching from chlorine swimming pools to saltwater systems.  So which is right for you?  Here are some things to consider.

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