How to Set Timers on your Hot Tub

Setting your hot tub timer can seem daunting if you are anything like me—I look at the boxes for timers on hot tubs, sprinklers, outside lights, etc. and think, yep, I pass.  But, in the event you have no choice but to tackle this task head on, you may find it a bit easier than you anticipated.  In the attached video, Robbie walks you through setting your timers step by step.

 

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Planning for your New Above Ground Pool!

Making the decision to invest in an above ground pool for your family is a very exciting decision and one that will provide many years of fun family memories.  We get a lot of questions on the next steps and what things need to be considered when trying to decide what size of pool to get and where to place the pool.  We have compiled a list of points to consider and our recommendations as you are working through this very important step.

    Measure for the pool and ensure there is an additional 18” of workspace around the entire outside edge of the pool—you will definitely want to be able to walk around the entire perimeter for maintenance and upkeep.

    Decide on the placement of your pump and filter—keep in mind, your pump cord will only be approximately 2’ long.  You will need to arrange for an electrician to install a 20 amp stand-alone breaker for the pool pump.  Extended use of the pump on an extension cord can ruin the motor and will void the warranty.

    Be sure to watch for overhead power lines—Country Leisure will not install a pool directly beneath overhead power lines, and pool must be at least 5’ clear of any overhead power lines in the vicinity for safety precautions..

    Depending on where you live, you may need to get a local permit—some cities in Oklahoma require a permit for above ground pool installation, most however, do not currently—make sure to reach out to your local City Hall to ensure compliance with any regulations or easements that may affect your yard.

    Try to find the flattest area possible in your yard to avoid additional excavation fees and excess dirt being left behind.

    Place the pool as far from any trees if possible, this is simply to aid in keeping the pool water clean.

    Make sure you are aware of any buried lines, water, sewer, lateral lines, or sprinkler lines—this will avoid the disappointment of having to move your pool location or changing the overall size of the pool.

Hopefully, these items help in determining the best size of pool for your specific yard and things to consider to make the next step of selecting your pool & pool installation go as smoothly as possible! 

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When is the Best Time to Buy an Above Ground Pool?

Temps are dropping and you want me to buy an above ground pool?!?!

One of the most frequent questions we hear is ‘When should I buy an above ground pool’?  A lot of this is truly personal preference, however, if you are looking for the best deal, or want to ensure you have your pool ready for a big Memorial Day weekend celebration, we have compiled some information below to help you make the best choice for your family.

Most pool retailers have a pretty good feel on the market and order what they are going to need for the season. In most cases, by the end of September, they are out of stock and have already placed their order for the next season. However, there are years where it may have rained early on in the season and dealers have remaining inventory going into fall and early winter, or maybe they just simply over-ordered!  If this is the case, and you are a price only shopper, the prices will generally never get better than this time of year (October – December).  You could expect to see up to 40% off in-season pricing. There is a small down side to this discount though; you will be buying from what they have in stock and not all models or sizes will be available.  The plus side – your pool will be installed and ready to be enjoyed in the spring and you potentially saved 40% if you aren’t extremely particular about size/model combo! 

If you have a particular model and/or size that you just have to have, and it isn’t in stock when you go shopping in the late fall, winter is the next best time frame you will generally see for deep discounts and special offers.  Pool retailers are generally warm weather people and don’t particularly care for winter!  They are so ready to get the season off the ground, there will be incentives for those ‘early planners’ that purchase in January/February and are ready to install when those random 60+ degree days pop up, as they do in Oklahoma! Most retailers start receiving their orders for the season in January, which means you will have all sizes/models to choose from, and since it is early in the season, you can get the pool installed once that warm day rolls around, and you will be ready to kick off the season once the spring weather arrives.

The typical ‘pool season’ starts to kick off around Spring break (mid-March), and runs through July. This is the time period you will see normal pricing with specials being offered throughout the summer based on the retailer.  The plus side to waiting until early spring is less time spent explaining to your kids why they can’t go swimming, however, as April/May tend to be our rainy months in Oklahoma, you could potentially wait a bit for install.  If you do find yourself waiting through the rainy season for your install, the silver lining is during 2016, the swim season lasted well into October, and we didn’t see people begin closing their pools until Daylight Savings time ended—so you will have plenty of time to enjoy your new favorite pastime!

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Did You Know You Can Test Drive a Hot Tub?

We often try on clothes before purchasing; we sample food at the grocery story before adding it to our cart; we sit on furniture before the salesman writes up a deal. You wouldn’t consider buying a car without taking it out for a spin, so why purchase a hot tub without a test drive?

There are so many options when it comes to hot tubs — not just shell and cabinet color. With countless jet arrangements, varying seat heights, seat configurations, pressure and water movements, sizes, seating capacity and accessory arrangements, there are more options than you could’ve ever imagined.

So, how can you really know what you want unless you test out a variety of options?

To make a educated decision on what works best for you and the experience you’re looking for, you’ll need to gather your friends and family around and give it a try. Make it an adventure finding the perfect hot tub! Locate a dealer that offers several wet working models, set an appointment before or after store hours, put on your suits and hop in!

As you explore different hot tubs, testing them out, you’ll notice a variety of jet styles. Small jets, big jets, jets that spin, ones that done, jets that shoot from the bottom and others from the top down, these styles in combination provide a different experience in each seat of the tub. Whether you’re looking for massage therapy, relaxation, water exercise or pain relief in a targeted area, there are seating options out there.
So, when you’re testing out different tubs, make sure to consider the effect you’re looking for and how the jet configurations contribute that that experience.

In addition, there are varying seat configurations to consider. Some with plenty of open seating, others with bucket seats or loungers, each of these styles provide a different experience with unique benefits. Most often, people automatically write off bucket seats for fear of claustrophobia. Once you’re able to experience them, though, you’ll realize this type of seating provides a unique jet combination that’s able to target the hips, often providing a roomier feel than expected. People also assume loungers are the best way to go, but can take up quite a bit of space in the tub. Taking a group to the demo is ideal, as you’ll be able to see how everyone fits in the tub, ensuring maximum enjoyment.

Testing the tubs full of water also allows you to observe the pressure of the jets, feeling the movement of the water firsthand. Most hot tubs are decked out with valves, allowing you to manipulate the jet pressure and water movement. It’s very helpful to have someone who’s educated on the particular tub, assist you in improving your experience and educate you on the different configurations available.

Hot tubs generally have a capacity rating for 2-3 or 6-8 people, but the capacity rating stated on the brochure may not be aligned with the group size you’re interested in sharing the space with. By taking a group to test out the hot tub, you’ll see for yourself how comfortable you are with that particular size of tub and seating configuration.

There are also a plethora of accessory options, from waterfalls and lights to stereo and other media. Being able to experience these options will help you decide which ones are best for you and your family. You may decide watching Netflix on a pop-up screen while soaking in the tub is how you’d enjoy winding down after a crazy day. Maybe listening to the sound of a waterfall while drinking your morning coffee is the perfect way to start your day off writing. Having all kinds of changing LED lights bounce to the rhythm of the music may be the perfect way to get the party going.

The idea is figuring out what’s right for you and the experience you’re looking to create. Ultimately, if you’ve decided to spend your hard-earned money on a luxury item, you’ll want to make sure you’re making the best decision. Optimizing your enjoyment and experience begins with a simple test drive.

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How Only 20 Minutes of Hot Tub Mindfulness Can Melt Away Your Stress

In today’s fast-paced, ‘always on’ environment, there has been a recent phenomenon taking hold referred to as ‘mindfulness’.

Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience. At this point, you may be rolling your eyes and thinking ‘yeah right’! 

From the moment you wake, you are checking your phone for emails, texts, and updates, which goes on all day, in addition to getting kids up and ready and out the door. At the same time, you may be remembering snacks for the class, homework, doctor's appointments, extra money for this or that….then, about 7:30 am…off to work where most are inundated with information constantly.

We no longer sit back and just ‘smell the roses’….most of us are working while driving to and from work, or using that time to make it through your list of phone calls to attempt to get through that to-do list or just catch up briefly with friends or family. Downtime at work is spent doing the same, or paying bills, or again, checking for updates on our phones.

The ‘fear of missing out’ has gotten to such a level that no one can seem to allow their phone to remain on silent without continuing to check for messages, or immediately look every time a notification ‘ding’ sounds… Now it’s the end of the day, and off to get the kids and proceed through the night-time routine which generally involves a various combination of dinner, extracurricular sports and clubs, homework, bath, bedtime, screaming kids, etc…it’s no wonder people don’t sit back and just enjoy anymore—who has time!!??

People today are just simply stressed and generally not finding time in their day to focus on themselves or just take a deep breath and relax. Mindfulness has been a concept sweeping the nation recently—starting on the east and west coasts and gradually making its way through the country. The thought is simple—just take 20 minutes to ‘unplug’ and simply focus on what is going on in your present. Take deep, cleansing breaths— and be ‘in the moment’.

Do you tend to you drive to your destination and upon arrival cannot remember the drive at all? Being mindful during that drive, for example, means not thinking through that mounting to-do list, strategizing your day, or being distracted by phone calls. But really being present in the moment—clearing your mind of all thoughts, and to just ‘be’— actually know how you got somewhere without showing up and thinking wow, I don’t even remember driving here!

Many apps have recently come out to assist people with being ‘mindful’— CALM being one we would recommend from personal experience. It provides meditation topics and sends a reminder to simply stop your day for a pre-determined amount of time and be in the moment by either meditating or taking some deep breaths.

In pondering the different ways a hot tub can help with your health, the mindfulness revolution came to mind immediately…what better way to stop and be in the moment than a quick 20 minute soak? Not only can you clear your mind, you can also get the health benefits that stem from the hot water. No cell phones allowed to avoid the potential of dropping it in the water and adding yet another thing to that to do list.

Unplugging and soaking in a hot tub for just 20 minutes a day (more if you’ve got it), would allow that time to be more fully in the moment, with no dings or distractions. Reflect on your day, your life, and get rejuvenated and ready for tomorrow….sounds much better than an app that dings at you with just one more reminder! Purge that to-do list out of your mind, and take time for yourself every day. Whether you have a hot tub or not, it’s an easy thing that will help you focus on yourself and enjoy life in the present!

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10 Little Known Health Benefits of a Hot Tub

When people consider buying a hot tub, they generally consider the obvious reasons—relaxation, socializing with friends, or a way to reconnect with your spouse.

While these are all great reasons to add a hot tub to your backyard setting, there is mounting evidence of a plethora of health-related reasons to heavily consider a hot tub purchase in your near future.

As the population is living longer than ever before, yet remaining active throughout their retirement years, extensive research is being done on alternative ways to help us feel more youthful, and help our bodies rebound from physical activity, and just the general aging process.  What has been found regarding water therapy is fairly astounding and the extent of hot tub benefits continue to amaze me. 

So, in an effort to help spread the word, I have compiled a list of 10 lesser-known health reasons to purchase a hot tub—at least lesser known to me, as I used to think they were ‘just for fun’!

1. Lowers blood pressure
2. Increases cardiac volume (the amount of blood moved by the heart)
3. Increases volume of blood pumped per minute
4. Decreases blood vessels’ resistance to blood flow
5. Increases muscle blood flow
6. Offloads bones and joints
7. Increases renal blood flow and renal efficiency
8. Promotes sodium excretion
9. Increases brain blood flow
10. Promotes relaxation which may lead to improved sleep patterns

While not all of these benefits may occur for everyone or even at a dramatic rate , the science is increasingly proving that warm water immersion has countless health benefits and those who consistently soak in a hot tub generally just ‘feel better’ all around.

On the flip side, there is now increasing use of ‘cold water therapy’—generally associated with sports medicine and therapy for athletes, cryotherapy is now becoming a more well-known concept, and the hot tub industry is now working towards allowing you to have a form of cold water therapy in your own backyard.

Some hot tub manufacturers are now offering hot tub chillers, allowing you to cool your hot tub water to 60 degrees, which allows for owners to experience benefits of both hot and cold water…and also, allows you to enjoy your hot tub year round, instead of looking at it longingly throughout the hot summer months!

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General Maintenance of your Above Ground Pool

It’s July and the heat of the summer is here!  Maintaining your pool is probably the last thing you want to think about—you just want it to hold water so you can cool off, however, small steps to maintain your pool throughout these weeks will keep you from spending hours trying to turn a green, cloudy pool back into an inviting getaway….

For those of you using Pure ‘N Blue, every two weeks you will need to add Pure ‘N Blue to your pool.
 First, you need to test your water and balance to a total alkalinity of 30 – 90 ppm by using muriatic acid to lower alkalinity and alkalinity increaser to raise, and balance your pH to 7.2 – 7.6, using muriatic acid to lower and pH increaser to raise.  Next, you will test your copper level and add Pure ‘N Blue CLEAR based on the size of your pool.  You will then add 2 ounces of Pure ‘N Blue CLEAN per 10,000 gallons of pool water.  Lastly, shock your pool with half a dose of lithium shock and half a dose of potassium non-chlorine shock—shock in the evening after the sun has gone down and everyone is done enjoying the pool for the day.  Note that all Pure ‘N Blue products can be added directly to the pool water without mixing them and it is not necessary to wait between adding the different products.  It is also safe to swim immediately after adding Pure ‘N Blue products.  For the next two weeks, maintain your pH between a 7.2 – 7.6 and do not add any additional Pure ‘N Blue to the pool.

For those of you out there using a chlorine system, you will need to test your water and maintain your total alkalinity between 90 – 120 ppm, and pH in the range referenced above using muriatic acid to lower and sodium bicarbonate to increase both.  You will want to maintain a chlorine level of 1.5 – 3, keeping in mind that chlorine will burn off quickly during very hot and sunny days, so you will want to increase your chlorine level in the evening or early morning so you can maintain an acceptable chlorine level in your pool during the hottest hours of the day.
Other than chemical maintenance, general maintenance that will need to be performed is cleaning your skimmer baskets for any debris so water can continue flowing freely through your system, and cleaning the trap basket in your pump.  You will want to monitor the pressure gauge on your filter, as this will tell you when it is time to backwash your system to clean out the sand in your filter.

Doing the above items periodically will keep your pool clean and clear all summer—it is much easier to maintain a clean pool than remedy one that has gotten completely out of hand!

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