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Enjoy Your Pool Long Past Labor Day
Don't give your pool and patio the cold shoulder just because the air is chillier. New accessories can help foster a warm relationship
Vice-President of Caviness Landscape Design, Inc. Our nature-inspired designs have been published in numerous national and international media. We love out-of-the-box original creations that fit the personality and lifestyle of the client.
I am a mother of three sons and wife to a incredibly multi-talented man who does everything 110%. I am passionate about travel, outdoor design, gardening, cycling, reading, cooking and wine.
Vice-President of Caviness Landscape Design, Inc. Our nature-inspired... More »
When the weather starts to cool down, most homeowners believe they need to shut down their pool until summer starts to heat up again. But today's pool products and accessories can push your swimming season from early spring through the fall — and put energy savings in your pocketbook during the summer too.
Consider the investment you've made in your outdoor living space. Products that allow you to enjoy your pool a few months more every year can give you a better return on it.
Consider the investment you've made in your outdoor living space. Products that allow you to enjoy your pool a few months more every year can give you a better return on it.
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| Snow-melting cable systems can be installed fairly easily underneath patio areas to keep outdoor areas warm and free of frost and snow. Pricing begins at $10 per square foot for materials only. |
| Automatic freeze protection can keep your water flowing, even in freezing temperatures. A Jandy AquaLinks System automatically turns on the water features in your pool when the temperature drops below a certain preset point. |
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Cooler temperatures do mean you'll have to heat your pool if you want to keep swimming — unless you love a good icy swim. Smart-phone apps like the iAquaLink allow you to control all aspects of your pool and outdoor living space — such as spa and outdoor lighting — anytime and from anywhere.
If there is a danger of dropping temperatures, you can turn pool equipment on or off with a flick of the finger. You can also check the air and pool temperatures.
If there is a danger of dropping temperatures, you can turn pool equipment on or off with a flick of the finger. You can also check the air and pool temperatures.
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This Jandy Pro Series EE-TI heat pump can save as much as 80 percent of the energy that alternate heating methods require to heat your pool, extending your swimming season by at least a couple of months. These heat pumps simply absorb free heat from the air and transfer it to the water, making the heating process efficient and ecofriendly, with lower energy bills as a result. While an upfront cost of more than $8,000 may give you sticker shock, this may be a worthy investment in the long run if you love to swim and live in a four-season climate.
An inexpensive out-of-pool option is an outdoor heater, which can warm a swim-up bar or other gathering space, or simply the area where swimmers get out of the pool. Look into wall-mounted options as well as freestanding units. One option, a Danville wall-mounted heater, will run you $260.
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| If you're still in the process of planning your pool, consider adding a fire element for those chillier autumn nights. This fire pit integrated with the pool design provides not only another entertainment area for the homeowner and guests, but a warm reprieve for swimmers during cooler weather. |
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by Prideaux Design
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| This custom fire feature is a perfect example of how to incorporate a fire element near the pool in an outdoor living area. Placing it between the pool and the outdoor seating area allows it to benefit both spaces. |
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| Fire elements like these bowls by Fire By Design are a great ready-made option for outdoor pool fire features. |
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Pricing varies, and some of these units can be costly, so be aware before adding one to your wish list. Complete units with electronic ignition, such as this one from Fireside Expressions, start at $2,500.
Tell us: Do you like to use your pool in cooler temperatures? Share your cold-weather swimming tips with us in the Comments section below.
Tell us: Do you like to use your pool in cooler temperatures? Share your cold-weather swimming tips with us in the Comments section below.
Ideabook updated on Sept. 2, 2012.
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Be on the lookout for information on covers and solar options. Thank you for the suggestion! I appreciate the feedback!
A solar cover blanket is an important add-on to help trap heat (i.e. $) in the water. That mist over the pool? That is the heat in your water evaporating into thin air. Solar covers come in different thicknesses. If you plan on using a reel system you'll need a strong commercial strength one to hold some of the thicker blankets out there without bending.
Solar panel systems can set you back as much as a heater but are obviously the greener and cheaper option to upkeep. You're going to need enough space in a good all-day sunny area for the panels and enough pool pump power to get the water up to the roof you probably plan to put them on. There are many good calculators online to help you find the minimum panels you'll need for your size pool.
And just a tip - it's well known "in the biz" that local dealers often charge WAY more for pool equipment than online ones do (sorry guys but I hear it all day long). But they have their place. Depends if you have the time and effort to expend finding the right items for your pool, getting them delivered, and hiring a certified tech to install. Pool heater manufacturers often have good website calculators and tech support lines you can call and they will help you size a heater for your pool without sales pressure (most manf.'s don't sell direct). And of course whoever you buy from, make sure they are authorized dealers of the equipment. Hope this helps : )