How to Identify Your Pool Liner Type

   

Above Ground Pool Install Video for Oval Pools

The following video is included with your purchase of the Tahitian and Bermuda above ground pool packages. Its a good overview of how to install an oval above ground pool. This vidoe can help you determine if installing your own inground pool is for you, or to help you figure out who you are going to need to ask for help! 

Properly winterizing your pool can prevent damage from freezing water, chemical imbalances, and other issues that may arise while your pool is closed.  Although it may seem difficult, with a few simple supplies any above ground pool owner can do it themselves.  Making sure you follow the proper steps and procedures will not only save you time and money, but also leave you with a clear blue pool to greet you when you reopen for summer.

• Winterization kits are listed below:
  • Chlorine Winterizing Kit – This is a full kit of chemicals to balance your pool’s water chemistry.  It contains all the chemicals the professionals use including winterizer, rust remover, and more!
  • Chlorine Free Winterizing Kit – This is a full kit just like the first, but contains no chlorine.
  • Pool Winterizing Ball – This is a pool panacea.  Just toss the ball in your pool and the custom blend of enzymes keeps your water clear and clean all winter.
• Keeping your water chemistry balanced is only half the battle.  When water freezes it expands and this expansion can cause pools to crack and components to break.  You can protect all your equipment by following the steps below:
  • Lower your water level below the skimmer’s mouth and make sure all the water is out of the throat of the skimmer.  Alternatively, you can use a device known as an Aquador to regulate the flow of water in and out of the skimmer.  This device will allow you to leave your pool’s water level up year round.
  • Plug your pool’s return fitting (this is where the water returns to the pool).
  • Disconnect your filter system’s hoses and drain them thoroughly.
  • Drain your filter (there should be a plug on the bottom).
  • Close your multiport valve and disconnect the pressure gauge.
  • Remove your pool pump’s drain plug(s).  After the pump drains, turn on the pump very briefly to make sure the whole system completely drains.  Be careful doing this, though, as running an empty pump can burn out the pump very quickly.  To best protect your pump, store it indoors for the winter.
• Your pool is almost ready for winter!  All that is left is to cover your pool.  The best pool covers are solid, dark-colored ones as they keep both sunlight and debris out of your pool.  We offer winter pool covers as well as safety pool covers for households with children and pets.

Above Ground Pool Install Video

The following video is included with your purchase of the Atlantis, Aegean and Aruba above ground pool packages. Its a good overview of how to install a round above ground pool.

Atlantis Round Instructions

Atlantis Oval Instructions

Aegean Oval Instructions

Aruba Oval Manual and Instructions

Oval Installation Instructions

How to Install an Above Ground Pool

Steps

1. Pick out a place in your lawn that is suitable for the pool. This seems simple enough, but actually, there are a lot of considerations. The ground needs to be fairly level, free of large stones and rocks. You need to have access to a ground fault protected outdoor electrical outlet. Try to locate the pool in an open sunny area, away from trees and large bushes, they will often drop leaves and insects into your pool all summer long.
2. Select your pool. The size and shape will depend on the space you have available, your budget, and the number and experience of swimmers who will be using it. The simplest pools are about 12 feet in diameter, and 40 to 48 inches deep. These are usually supported by a framework of metal posts and top rails, or an inflatable floatation ring. You may want to invest in a solid sided oval shaped pool, and these can be as large as 24 feet by 36 feet, 5 feet deep. Setting one of these up is complicated, and labor intensive, so this article will deal with the smaller, simpler models.
3. Level an area larger than the pool size. A twelve foot pool should have a base about 15 foot in diameter, and can be leveled using a straight 2X4 board and a four foot carpenters (spirit) level. If the pool you have selected has an inflatable ring to support it, and comes with a plastic ground cloth, you may be able to set it up directly on the grass, so lay the board down on it's edge directly on the grass, and place the level on top of it. If the bubble is centered or nearly centered, you are level. Turn the board 90 degrees and check for level in this direction, and if the board is still level, you are good to go.
4. Grade an area for metal framed or solid sided pools. Again measure an area slightly larger than the pool. Remove the grass with a sharp shovel, and smooth the topsoil in this area. Spread an even, level layer of clean builder's sand acoss the stripped area, and using your 2X4, smooth and level it. You can pack this sand by watering it with a sprinkler, or using a plate compactor. Depending on the type of soil you are working in and the grass growing there, this can be a backbreaking project.
5. Set up the side walls if you have a fiberglass or metal walled pool kit, fasten the joints with the machine screws provided, and set the sand wedge around the inside bottom of the pool according to the manufacturer's instructions. You can now place the liner inside the walls, letting the top hang over the outside of the wall 2 to 3 inches, and temporarily securing it with clothespins space about 18 inches apart. When the liner is hung around the pool walls, you will want to climb over into the pool and spread it out smoothly around the bottom, pulling any slack or wrinkles toward the walls from the center. When the liner is smoothed and pulled out evenly, unroll the top trim and snap it into place, securing the liner.
6. Unfold the groundcloth if your pool has one, and spread out the liner on top of it. If the pool has a flotation ring, inflate it and spread it out in a circular fashion, and pull the bottom of the liner out from the center so it lays flat.
7. Stand up your metal support posts, setting them on the plastic base plates, if it is so equipped. Connect the top rails as you install the posts, to support the assembly. Make sure you slip the post through any slots or sleeves built into the line as you go. The top rail should slide through a seemed tube in the top of the liner. With the top rail assembled completely around the pool circumference, you are ready to climb in and spread the liner evenly around the pool bottom.
8. Fill the pool with water, about one or two inches deep, and look for low or high spots where the water depth is not equal. This is not too much of a problem in the middle of the pool, but around the perimeter, it can be serious trouble, even causing the pool wall to fail, since the pressure of the water is what supports the side walls, and it must be equal. If the water appears to be the same depth around the perimeter of the pool, continue filling it.
9. Install the hoses for your filter system while the pool is filling. These usually attach to precut holes in the pool side, and clamp to the filter pump assembly with screw thread hose clamps, and should be simple enough if you follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
10. Assemble your pool ladder according to the manufacturer's instruction, being carefull to tighten all fasteners well.

Tips

• The location of the pool is very important. Slopes, underneath trees, and rocky areas are not suitable for above ground pools.
• The bottom of the pool needs to be as level as possible, and care must be taken to remove any sticks, twigs, stones, toys or other debris that can puncture the pool liner.
• A large tub, or a piece of carpet or rubber matting for cleaning swimmer's feet will help keep the pool clean.
• Most pool pumps require 120 volt electric power, and it is not recommended to run this on an extension cord, so install close to a power receptical if possible, or have one installed with ground fault circuit protection.
• The inflatable ring pool is the quickest and simplest pool to install, but the ring will reduce the overall area of the pool significanly.

Warnings

• Above ground pools require supervision just as any other pool. Do not let children play in them unattended.
• Some jurisdictions and insurance policy writers require a fence around your pool, but this is always a good idea.
• Do not ever dive or jump into an above ground pool.
• If the pool is set up on unlevel ground, the wall may collapse causing what is described as "catastrophic" failure.
• Small children should be protected from too much sun, and using a high SPF waterproof sunscreen is advised.

Things You'll Need

• 4 foot level.
• Shovel.
• Rake.
• Level area, or area which can be leveled manually.
• Pool, attachments, cleaning equipment, and chemicals.

How to Have a Killer Pool Party

If you have a pool, than you can be sure you will be having parties. The question is, just how great of a party do you want to throw?
The key to throwing a great pool party is to make it seem effortless. Both your guests and yourself should feel relaxed while having fun, so the trick will be to do your party planning ahead of time. You will want to make sure you are providing pool essentials for your guests while also offering fun, surprising elements to your party.

Pool Essentials for Every Party
Key ideas to help you prepare for parties that happen on a whim or are planned in advance include:

1. Stock up on fun, colorful, oversized beach towels. Have a convenient place to store them so that your guests can easily access the towels themselves. Make sure they are located outside so that wet feet aren’t parading in and out of your home.
2. Encourage sunblock so that your guests aren’t hurting later in the day with a nasty burn. Offer a variety of SPF choices and if necessary, include SPF specifically for babies or kids.
3. Keep plastic flip flops in an assortment of sizes available for your guests. Possibly they will have their own, but if not there is nothing worse than burning feet from hot cement or worse – someone falling because they slip on water. When your guests are done using them, simply rinse them off with a little bleach and water so that they are clean for your next party.
4. Offer guests fun pool toys, such as beach balls, water guns or a net to play water volleyball with. If your pool is large enough, having personal float devices are a great accessory that guests will love.
5. Provide sunglasses and goggles for guests to use. Simply toss them in a big glass bowel – possibly a big fish bowel – so your guests can help themselves to whatever they may need.
6. To help enhance each of your pool essentials, make fun, inviting signs that simply identify what is what and for your guests to indulge themselves without hesitation. For example, you could simply make a sign that states, “Get dry and cozy with a beach towel! Help yourself!”. Another idea may say, “Don’t fall! Help yourself to some flip flops.” Plastic frames available at most hobby stores are a great way to frame these and keep them dry from water. You can reuse these again and again this way, as well.

Party Must Haves that Will Stand Out
Now that you have the basics covered, the fun can begin. Planning a party can become overwhelming, but with your main attraction the pool, your job is already half way done.

A few stand out party ideas that will make your parties memorable include:

1. Use color. Pick two or three colors as your baseline for the party, than work all the details of the party around these colors. From your decorations to your main course, repeat the colors so that they make a strong visual impact. A color combo example would be blue, orange and green. They look great together and tie in with the colors of nature and your pool. Make orange your wow color among the three and get plates, napkins, hanging lanterns, beach towels and even flowers in orange to set the stage for your party. The vibrant impression orange makes will encourage the mood of your party to be the same, as well. If you are looking for a calmer party, choose more soothing colors, such as baby blue, shades of brown, and light yellows.
2. Create a theme. Some themes are obvious, such as 4th of July, while others need a bit more thought. Some ideas include:
   1. A Lobsterfest - With the colors red and orange being your main choices, this theme would be fun for a sophisticated evening of poolside food and wine or carefree splish splash with a late lobster lunch to follow. Throw inflatable lobsters or other shellfish into your pool to help enhance the party. Use netting as decorations around the pool, such as hanging it from one tree to another.
   2. A Jamaican Vacation – Who wouldn’t want to visit the beaches of Jamaica? Bring Jamaica to your own backyard with reggae music, great rum (pina coladas, yum!), colors green, black and yellow and food that includes jerk chicken. The vibe should be chilled and carefree, just like it would be in Jamaica. Make sure you have a limbo contest, too!
   3. Hollywood Glam – Take your guests to Hollywood by bringing Hollywood to your own backyard. Host a party for the Emmy’s (weather permitting) or just because. Roll out the red carpet by having red colored paper leading the way to your backyard. Use tons of candles and sparkle to encourage a rich, glamorous experience. Food can be served on silver trays – which are cheap and affordable in plastic at your local party  stores – and have drinks poured in champagne glasses.  Top each glass with a single raspberry floating in the drinks for a bit more elegance, and make sure the music is swanky and savvy. To really step it up a notch, invite your guests to wear black and white only. This will help the mood and the visual experience of the evening. An added touch? Hire a photographer or have a friend be the “paparazzi”.
3. Use Food as Décor. But make sure your guests know they can eat it, too! Put the popular kid’s snack, Goldfish by Pepperidge Farms, in a goldfish bowl or large conch shells. Make a pasta salad with shell pasta and add your favorite seafood on top of alfredo sauce. Serve Swedish fish on top of blue jello for an easy, fun dessert. Serve chips in a sand bucket. Whether the food appears “fishy” or what you serve it in reminds people of the beach, this can help create your overall mood.
4. Have beach influenced music playing. Whether it’s an assortment of summer time songs (examples - Will Smith, Summertime) or The Beach Boys, your guests will be thinking fun, sun and water when they hear this music playing. Try and match your music to your theme as best as possible.
5. Have lots of seating. While this may seem simple, it’s actually a challenge for most party planners. Chairs never seem to match the number of guests at the party. To be a great host, you should make sure in advance that you have enough seats for every bum. Garden stools are a great alternative to traditional chairs since they are compact in size, offered in a variety of colors and can also act as a side table for drinks. The key is you want your guests to be comfortable, so making sure they can sit and get cozy is essential in making the party last longer.
6. Give your guest something to take home. Maybe it’s a centerpiece, such as a jar filled with sand and a votive candle, or a Polaroid picture you took from the day. But giving your guests something to remember the party by is a great way to make a lasting impression. The only problem with this? By giving them a keepsake, they are more likely to remember the party more often and will begin pushing you to start planning another party sooner than later! Then again… maybe that’s a good thing!

Finally, have fun! There is nothing worse than a party where the host is too busy running around like a mad man or woman. If you are an active part of the party, your guests will have more fun. So what are you waiting for? Get started in your party planning!  And remember – planning the party can be fun, too!