LandscapeMart

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Surf Your Way Into Your Pool or Spa

Surf's up...for pools and spas. The World Wide Web is an excellent source of information and products.

Web sites maintained by the NSPI can provide you with a wealth of details on the latest in trends and technology, and how to reach their local members. eLandscape.com and ePoolMart.com are also sites where you can find an extensive list of pool builders, contractors, consultants and pool care companies. Different sites showcase details such as the latest designs or lighting combinations made possible by fiber-optic lighting. The basics are covered also. View general designs, see tile and deck surfaces and learn about proper pool care.

If you already own a pool, you can view the remodeling process, step-by-step to better understand what will be happening in your backyard. When you need help, you can even e-mail a company to request an in-home visit.

A good place to start for information on pools in the Valley of the Sun is the Central Arizona chapter of the National Spa and Pool Institute's. web site. You will find information on how to pick a pool builder, buy a spa or find a service company. Make sure you check out the information found at LandscapeMart.com.

Arizona NSPI
National NSPI
National Swimming Pool Foundation

Pool and Spa Poolzine
PoolSpa.com

Pool Safety
BeSafe

Consumer Information
Pool and Spa Living Magazine Online

United States Masters Swimming
United States Masters Swimming

(Thanks to National Spa & Pool Institute)

Table of Contents



I.	Legal Information
	General infromation and terms of use for this database.

II.	Plant Material
	All about trees, shrubs, ground covers and other plants.

III.	Landscape (Inert) Material
	Information about granite, river rock, boulders, etc.

IV.	All about lawns
	Information about grass and lawns

V.	Irrigation Systems
	Information on sprinklers and drip systems.

VI.	Fertilizing
	Keeping your lawn and plants healthy and green.

VII.	Weed Control
	Information about keeping weeds under control.

VIII.	Gardening
	Design, maintain and keep your garden healthy.

IX.	Pools, Spas and Water Features
	Building and maintaining a pool, spa or water feature.

	A.	General Information

		1.	Designs, Materials Enhance the Backyard Pool

		2.	Surf Your Way Into Your Pool or Spa

		3.	Make Your Dreams a Reality With a Backyard Paradise

		4.	Picking a Pro to create your Oasis

		5.	Pools and Spas are Liquid Assets for Homeowners

		6.	I think my pool has a leak, how can I tell for sure?

		7.	How often do I need to empty/drain my pool?

		8.	How can I tell if my pools needs to be acid washed?

		9.	What is the process to acid wash a pool?

	B.	Plants Around the Pool

		1.	Will pool water splashed on my plants hurt them?

		2.	What should I consider when choosing plants for around my pool?

		3.	Landscaping Creates the Perfect Environment

	C.	Pool Safety

		1.	Enjoy your pool safely

		2.	Safety barriers are a necessity

		3.	General Pool Safety

		4.	What type of information do you have about drownings?

		5.	What information do you have on safety with diving boards?

		6.	General Information on the safe use of pool chemicals.

		7.	How do I safely use pool chemicals?

		8.	How do I safely store pool chemicals?

		9.	How do I safely transport pool chemicals?

	D.	Automatic Cleaners

		1.	General Information

		2.	Pressure Side Cleaners

		3.	Robot Cleaners

		4.	Suction Side Cleaners

	E.	Automatic Covers

		1.	General information on pool covers

		2.	What are the advantages of a pool cover?

		3.	How much does an automatic pool cover cost?

		4.	My cover "popped" and the cover quit rolling, what happened?

		5.	Why isn't my cover rolling up straight like it used to?

		6.	How do I clean all this debris off my cover?

		7.	Help, my cover isn't rolling out straight anymore.

		8.	I hear the motor running but the cover doesn't move, why not?

		9.	Why won't my cover open/close?

	F.	Algae, what it is and how to get rid of it

		1.	What causes algae?

		2.	How do I prevent algae?

		3.	What types of algae are there?

		4.	What is green algae?

		5.	What is black algae?

		6.	What is yellow/mustard algae?

		7.	What is pink algae?

		8.	How do I kill algae?

		9.	How do I kill green algae?

		10.	How do I kill black algae?

		11.	What kinds of problems can algae cause?

	G.	Alternate Sanitation Methods

		1.	General Information About Alternate Sanitation?

		2.	What is catalytic sanitation?

		3.	What is chitosan water treatment?

		4.	What is enzyme water treatment?

		5.	What is ionic water treatment?

		6.	What is magnetic water treatment?

		7.	What is ozone water treatment?

		8.	What is potassium tetraborate water treatment?

		9.	What is polymeric biguanide water treatment?

		10.	How to I convert from polymeric biguanide water treatment to chlorine?

	H.	Chlorine, types, uses and safety

		1.	How is chlorine made?

		2.	How dangerous, unsafe or unhealthy is chlorine to my family and friends?

		3.	Are there different types of chlorine?

		4.	What is gaseous chlorine?

		5.	What is liquid chlorine?

		6.	What is trichlor?

		7.	What is dichlor?

		8.	What is lithium hypochlorite?

		9.	What is calcium hypochlorite?

		10.	What is the difference between, free, combined and total chlorine levels?

		11.	How does chlorine work?

		12.	How much chlorine do I need?

		13.	How do the pH levels affect the effectiveness of my chlorine?

		14.	What are stabilizers/conditioners and do I need them?

		15.	What is shocking my pool and do I need to do it?

	I.	Electronics (Timer Clocks, Lighting, etc)

		1.	General Information

		2.	How does my equipment pad wiring work?

		3.	General Information on Pool Timers/Time Clocks

		4.	How do I install my timer?

		5.	How do I set my timer?

		6.	Why isn't my timer clock turning on?

		7.	Why can't I turn my clock off?

		8.	How do I replace my timer clock?

		9.	General Information on Underwater Lighting

		10.	How do I change the bulb/lamp?

		11.	What do I do about water behind the lens of my pool light?

		12.	My light won't light, what might be wrong?

		13.	How do I replace the whole light fixture?

	J.	Filtration

		1.	General Information on Filtration

		2.	General Information about Cartridge Filters

		3.	How do I clean the cartridge?

		4.	How do I change the cartridge?

		5.	General Information on Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters

		6.	How do I and when should I backwash my DE filter?

		7.	Why do I have DE powder in my pool?

		8.	How do I replace the filter grid in my DE filter?

		9.	My DE filter is leaking, how do I fix it?

		10.	How do I replace the plunger and filter in my DE filter?

		11.	Why is my water quality so poor?

		12.	General Information on Sand Filters

		13.	Why is there sand in my pool?

		14.	How do I replace the sand bed?

		15.	How do I replace my sand filter?

		16.	My sand filter is leaking, what now?

	K.	Heating

		1.	Are there any health benefits to heating a pool?

		2.	Is it economical to heat my pool?

		3.	What are the different types of heaters available?

		4.	Is there anything special to look for in pool heaters?

		5.	Are there any special consideration with a salt water pool?

		6.	How much does a fuel-fired (gas/oil) cost to use?

		7.	How much maintenance do pool heaters require?

		8.	How big of a heater do I really need?

		9.	How safe is my pool heater?

		10.	Is an automatic pool heater really automatic?

		11.	It's hot out and my pool is warm, do I need to heat it?

		12.	How much does a heater extend my swimming season?

		13.	Do pool covers benefit a heated pools?

		14.	How can I conserve energy and heat my pool?

		15.	What are the costs associated with heating a pool?

		16.	Which heating method is least expensive?

		17.	Do you suggest intermittent heating?

		18.	Constant or intermittent heating, which is better?

		19.	What temperature should I keep my heated pool at?

		20.	Can I heat my attached spa with my pool heater?

		21.	Can I have a heater installed after my pool is complete?

		22.	How long should a heater last?

		23.	What can you tell me about warranties for heaters?

		24.	Do I need to build a roof over my heater?

		25.	How much does it cost to have a heater installed?

		26.	General Information on Gas Heaters

		27.	How much will a gas heater initially cost me?

		28.	Do you have any info on the installation of a heater?

		29.	Why isn't my water as warm as I want it?

		30.	Why do I have a lazy burner flame?

		31.	Why do I have flames rolling out the sides of the heater?

		32.	Why won't my pilot light stay lit?

		33.	Why won't my heater turn on?

		34.	Why does my heater keep cycling?

		35.	Why won't my heater turn off when the pump shuts off?

		36.	What do I do about soot in the heater?

		37.	Why is my heater knocking and/or whining?

		38.	What do I do about my heater leaking?

		39.	What can you tell me about replacing a gas heater?

		40.	General Information on Heat Pumps / Electric Heaters

		41.	Why won't my heat pump turn on?

		42.	Why does my heat pump keep cycling?

		43.	General Information on Oil Heaters

		44.	How much will an oil heater initially cost me?

		45.	What type of maintenance is there with an oil heater?

		46.	General Information on Solar Heaters

		47.	How does solar heating heat my pool?

		48.	Why should I use solar heating?

		49.	Why not use 100% solar since it's free?

		50.	General Information on Electric Immersion Heaters

	L.	Painting

		1.	General Information about painting your pool

		2.	What is the process to painting a pool?

	M.	Plaster Care and Repair

		1.	General Information on Pool Plaster

		2.	What do I do about stained plaster?

		3.	Why are there shade variation in my plaster?

		4.	What can I do about large dark areas in my plaster?

		5.	What are these crystal like deposits on my plaster?

		6.	What is pitted or etched plaster?

		7.	What can I do about delmainated plaster?

		7.	My plaster has small cracks, what can I do?

		8.	What can you tell me about plaster patching?

		9.	What do I need to know about replastering?

		10.	Can I replaster my pool myself?

	?.	Pumps and Motors

		1.	General Information about Blower Motors

		2.	General Information about Booster Pumps

		3.	General Information about Filter Pumps

		4.	General Information on Installation & Replacement of pumps & filters.

		5.	Should I replace or rebuild my motor?

		6.	How do I plumb a replacement Filter Pump?

		7.	How do I hook up the electrical to a Filter Pump?

		8.	Can I replace JUST the motor?

		9.	How do I replace the shaft seal?

		10.	How do I fix my leaking pump?

		11.	Why is there air in the pump basket?

		12.	How do I find an air leak in my pump?

		13.	What do I need to know about lubricating my filter pump?

		14.	Why does my filter pump keeps cycling?

		15.	Why is my motor making a "humming", but won't actually start?

		16.	Why won't my filter pump motor start or turn on?

		17.	Why is my filter pump so noisy?

X.	Miscellaneous
	Other information about your yard.

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