Murky Waters
Storm prep is essential, not just for peace of mind but also for efficiency once the storm passes.
Caring for Pools During Excessive Heat and Wildfires
Caring for pools during excessive heat and wildfires requires vigilance in monitoring water levels, maintaining equipment, and implementing fire-resistant measures to ensure safety and enjoyment in challenging conditions.
NDPA Highlights Drowning Risk During Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Florida’s state of emergency for Tropical Storm Idalia highlights the risk of water-related fatalities over wind. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance ( NDPA ) urges Gulf Coast families to prioritize water safety as the storm approaches.
Weather Woes
Wildfires in December. Hurricanes in November. Freezes in Texas. Drought in California. Record-breaking heat in the Pacific Northwest. These are some of the severe weather events experienced in the past year in the United States. In one way or another, they all impact water, the lifeblood of the pool industry. While the future is hard…
Deep Freeze
This year, Texas got cold — really cold. It’s been 72 years since the Dallas area saw minus 2 degrees like it did in February, when winter storm Uri hit North America. Texas residents were slammed, and the state was unprepared. “The storm was the worst to hit Texas in decades,” says Scott Waldo, president…
What to Do After Wildfires
No words can adequately express the condolences felt for those who have suffered loss during the recent wildfires in California and the Northwest United States. In the case of active fires, the utmost concern should always be for the immediate safety of persons and property. The devastation of wildfires this year has been particularly extreme….
The Pink Pool Mess
Lake Elsinore, California, resident Ed Testa had to flee from his home during the August, 2018, Holy Fire in the Santa Ana mountains. His home was spared from fire damage but it was covered in Phos-Chek — the fire retardant dropped from tanker planes. Everything was a bright pink, including his 24,000 gallon swimming pool,…
Love Wins: Beating Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey ravaged the greater Houston area on Aug. 26, 2017, leaving a wake of utter devastation from the floodwaters. Mark Uberecken, owner of Unified Pool Solutions in Houston, says that once the floodwater receded, thousands of volunteers came into help with cleanup. The streets were lined with piles of trash, which amounted to practically…
The Coming Tide
2017 was an extraordinarily active year for hurricanes and flooding in America. Texas-based risk insurance specialist Jeannette Blanton-Monnat of Blanton Insurance focuses on coverage for the construction trade. “Everybody lives and works in a flood plain,” Blanton-Monnat says. “The difference is how likely a flood will impact where your home or business is located. That’s…
Cleaning Up a Summer Swamp
The last thing any pool owner wants is to have an algae outbreak during summer. Well-maintained pools should be free from algae; however, there are some things that can turn a maintained pool into a green menace at the height of swim season. Summer storms Rainstorms are notorious for bringing nitrogen into the atmosphere, which…
Hurricane Sandy’s Wake of Devastation
When you live near the ocean, it’s always in the back of your mind that you could see “the big one,” or the storm to end all storms. But after a few false alarms and storms that seem bad at the time, you build up a resilience and resistance to news of something heading your…