11/19/2009
The Water's Edge Volume VI..."Making a Splash"

                                            SPLASHERS!  

03/30/2009
The Water's Edge Volume V..."Down the Drain"

    O.K....so it's been a few months since my last article.  I admit it's harder than I thought trying to write one of these every month.  It's Spring and the Bradford Pear trees are in full bloom back here in Nashville.  The Redbuds are ready to burst, and the Dogwoods aren't far behind.  What a great time to be in Tennessee!

     I'm sure many of you have heard of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, passed into law December of 2008.  Currently this act is being enforced on commercial pools only, but word is that attempts are being made to apply it to residential pools as well in the near future.

     This law deals with the issue of entrapment.  The following is a basic outline of the law.  Drain covers that are ANSI/ASMI approved are to be retro-fitted on all existing pool and spa main drains.  If the drains are closer that 3 feet apart a SVRS (Safety Vacuum Release System) needs to be installed on the suction side of each pump at the equipment pad.  This is also the case if there is a single main drain.  Where a single pipe has been stubbed up through the pool floor (no drain pot used), a sump should be cut into the pool floor, with the deepest part measuring 1.5 times the diameter of the drain pipe (ie if the drain is 3 inches in diameter, the clearance between the top of the pipe and the bottom of the main drain cover should be 4 inches.)

     Enforcement of this law is very gray to say the least.  The law states that no commercial pools are to be opened in 2009 unless the law has been satisfied.  The ANSI/ASMI drain covers do come with a certificate of compliance, but as to who actually comes out to inspect them...hmmm...most Health Departments we've spoken with are saying that the commercial pool operators are to sign a noterized statement that the law has been complied with.  But how do they know?

     If you need this done, I suggest contacting  a  reputable swimming pool service company or contractor.  Get a written bid specifically detailing the work to be done.  Take pictures of the main drains before the work and after the work has been completed.  Have the installer sign off on the work (including his license number), as well as supplying you with the cetificates of compliance issued by the drain cover manufacturer.   Check with your local Health Department yourself to see if any inspections are required before the pool is refilled.  The last thing you want is to spend this money and not have it done correctly.

     The intention of this law is obvious...to save lives.  You may want to consider this work if you have a residential pool with a single main drain or wall suctions that are uncovered.  There's a great pump out now by Pentair that offers 8 programable flow settings as well as a built in SVRS system...great!

     Please contact us if you have any questions...we may be able to help.  Time to go smell the Dogwoods.  Before we know it the humidity will be 100% and the chiggers, ticks, and "noseeums" will own the south for the next five months.  Savor the moment!

09/11/2008
The Water's Edge Volume IV...

     OK, at the risk of repeating myself, I again must offer my opinion here...bigger is not always better.  How 'bout that VISA bill?  Or that belly 'n butt?  Wouldn't bet on the elephant racing the horse would you?  (Yea, I did...but I figured he'd have a big finish after gathering his momentum).  Smaller is good...for swimming pools too!

     SPLASHERS  (copyright 2008 Pool Art by Gary Nannini.  All Rights Reserved) are a series of 6 custom swimming pool concepts I've designed  to fit within an average area of 40 square feet, with a maximum surface area of 300 sq. ft. and a maximum perimeter of 70 ft. 

      If you're purchasing property with smaller back yards, or if you have a larger yard and prefer to limit the pool area to a "courtyard" effect, these pools are for you!  These are complete packages including the best equipment, offering a lounge reef in the water, custom water line tile, custom tile spill wall with water feature, skimmer, split main drain, 3 returns, pool light, filter, circulation pump, anti-entrapment device, chlorinator, pool light, electrical hookups, 350 sq. ft. of brushed concrete, and custom Hydrazzo interior finish...currently all for under $50,000 in the Nashville, Tn area!  Exciting options include tiled lounge reef, heater, swim jets, hydrotherapy spa jets, bubbler systems, LED, SAM, or fiberoptic lighting, foam jets, laminar flow systems, salt chlorine generator, remote control and timing features...the list goes on and on.  Make it how you want it!  These are very cool pools!

     My philosophy behind these great designs is that pool owners spend most of their time enjoying their pool from the "outside"...that is, enjoying the view from the house, and sunning, lounging, gardening, grilling, and partying around it.  For most folks, the average "swimming" time in the water before getting out and laying around the pool is under 15 minutes!  We like to get in, splash around, and get out to enjoy sunning, a drink, watering the plants, or laying around and reading a book.  We enjoy the atmosphere of the pool.  That's what we're offering here...the sound of falling water as you're lounging in the pool on the reef reading that great novel...beauty and esthetics of a pool environment without the major upkeep and maintenance costs.

     If this sounds good to you, call us.  Within the Nashville area we're able to offer a limited amount of Splashers based on current vendor participation.  We do offer these designs for purchase, and include all constructioin layouts, plumbing specs, gunite details, and a list of recommended materials and equipment, offering the ability to bid out the plans to local contractors.  We also offer construction services throughout Tennessee and the United States.

     Swim laps, spa, or just splash around...it's up to you.  These are great pools...check 'em out!

     See you next month! 

08/07/2008
The Water's Edge Volume III..."Add Salt"

A little confused from all of the swimming pool options available in today's pool market?  You're suffering from PGS (Pool Gadget Syndrome), associated of course with ASS (Absurd Syndrome Syndrome).

Admit it...you do it too.  We wait for the end of the advertisement to hear what the potential side effects are for taking the drug to cure the syndrome.  Eyebrows twitch violently when you hear your mother-in-law's coming to visit?  ETS (Eyebrow Twitching Syndrome)...no big deal...one pill per day solves the problem.  (Potential side effects may include wanting to pass excruciating gas in crowded elevators and inserting "Horatio quotes" in every day conversation).

ASS is approaching pandemic proportions.  There seems to be a syndrome for almost every possible condition humans may encounter, and a pill to cure it.

If you're in the market for a swimming pool, you've undoubtly incurred the symptoms of PGS.  Want a pool to simply swim laps in and enjoy weekends with family?  Nope...according to your pool designer, what you really want are tubes of fiberoptic light and water arching gracefully to pool center from the mouths of statuesque lions poised for attack.  Gotta have the coinciding color-changing pool lights.  For just a bit more why not get the underwater speakers that play the theme song from the movie 2001, introducing a hologram of Wayne Newton singing "Dankashayne" for your business?  You need to be able to phone your spa from your cell phone while you finish your trout ice cream dessert at "SushiMart", telling it to be 103 degrees by the time you get home.  OK...maybe he's right.  All that stuff does sound pretty cool.

My point is this...be smart!  Tell your pool designer what you want.  The more information you offer, the easier it'll be on both of you to work toward the pool that fits your needs and lifestyle.

You want a filter and circulation pump sized proportionately for the volume of the pool and (or) spa, along with  turnover rates (the time it takes to filter the entire volume of water).  You want to know plumbing sizes.  If you have a water feature, you want to ask about variable speed pumps (one pump that can be used as a circulation pump as well as for the feature, which may require a different flow rate).  You want to know the gpm (gallons per minute) rating for your spa jets.  Most are rated around 10 gpm.  When you do the math, if you have eight standard jets, you don't need a 4 hp pump that is producing over 200 gpm.  You also don't need the monthly electric bill.

OK...finally the point of this month's column...salt generators.  These are great!  No more orange hair, dry skin, burning eyes, and smelling like the community pool.  The technology is approximately twenty years old.  Salt generators are minature chlorine-producing cells installed in-line with your circulation system.  Pool salt (table salt consistancy) is introduced into your pool by literally throwing bags of it into the water.  The water passes over specially coated titanium plates located in the cell, and by basic electrolysis, converts the salt to chlorine.  (You're not going to feel like you're swimming in the ocean.  The salt content is less than that in your eyes).  The device generates free chlorine and destroys chloramines as water passes over the cell.  The controller regulates chlorine production, operating in conjunction with your filter system.  Most controllers have user-friendly LED lights and digital readouts, noting power, generating chlorine, no flow, too much salt, salt in ppm, etc.  The cells are easily cleaned.  Chlorine is not produced in temperatures under 50 degrees. 

Think twice about the Tiki hut.  Salt generators are a great addition to your pool equipment package.  Remember, more relaxing, less maintenance. 

Fight PGS...you can do it.  Side effects?  Less stress, more fun, save money.  Now that's a cure we can all live with!  See you next month.

07/01/2008
The Water's Edge Volume II..."The Deal's in the Details"

It's not always in your best interest to get that "2 hp pump if you close the deal tonight". Yep, that's what I'm tellin' 'ya..."bigger's not always better".  Correctly sized plumbing along with today's eneregy efficient pumps can allow your hydraulics system to perform effortlessly for many years. 

Helll-oooooo...I saw an ad in last week's paper.  Bubba the Ball 's place had crates of twenty-five brand-new-in-the-box sixteen pound bowling balls for $39.95 per crate.  Now I like to shake hands with the head pin as well as the next guy, so off I went in my one ton,  anxious to snag this amazing deal while it lasted.  Bubba the Ball himself met me at the counter.  "I'll take one crate Bubba, just place it in the back of the truck".   "OK", he drawled.  "Y'all got a helluva deal.  At'll be $39.95 fer the balls, 'n $795.00 fer the loadin'". 

I went to "Vern's Skydiving Extravaganza" last month for an introductory lesson for $29.95.  As we readied to depart the airplane for the wild blue yonder below, Vern commented " by the way, at'll be $395.00 fer the chute".

Life is full of choices, and the "deal is in the details".  We all want a bargin.  It's human nature.  But, as you work through the process of building your swimming pool, keep in mind that, if you're not cautious up front, upon completion you may end up finding what you don't see is what you get...nothing.

Hydraulics...an easy way for a contractor to shave some major money off of a project.  If you ask your potential builder to discuss hydraulics and he says he doesn't do brakes, here's some pointers. 

GOOD; splitting the main drain, using a pipe diameter  (minimum of two inches, depending on distance to the equipment pad) to achieve water movement of 7 fps or less, and installing an anti-entrapment device on the suction line.  BAD; not splitting the main drain, not using drain pots (and instead just running the PVC up through the floor), running 11/2 inch PVC instead of 2 inch minimum, not installing an anti-entrapment device. 

GOOD; using the correct amount of skimmers with equalizer lines  (most commercial codes require a minimum of one skimmer per 500 square feet of surface area, most residential codes require one skimmer per 800 square feet).  BAD; using one skimmer for a surface area of over 500 square feet or in obviously leafy areas, using 1 1/2 inch PVC back to the pad. 

GOOD; using the correct amount of returns for the design and perimeter footage of the pool to achieve proper circulation and surface movement, manifolded correctly for proper flow.  (Most commercial codes require one return for every 15 to 20 feet of perimeter footage. I know of no residential requirements).  BAD; using one size PVC from the pad around the pool (usually 1 1/2 inch), running a couple of returns through the wall at the closest point to the pad and nowhere else in the pool. 

 UGLY; running all of the plumbing up out of the ground at the pad area in an "exploding mushroom of PVC", to be dealt with later at the equipment set.  (The plumbing runs need to be thought out and stubbed up out of the ground so that the equipment can be set in a neat, orderly, and efficient manner).  Yes, it does take some forethought and planning! 

RIDICULOUS; that in this day and age builders still get by installing a single main drain with no anti-entrapment protection, improper plumbing sizing for flow and circulation, not knowing what a Hartford Loop is and how it's applied, inadaquate filter sizing, using a 4 hp pump to operate 6 standard spa jets...the list goes on and on. 

The hydraulics of your pool can make swimming pool ownership a pleasure, or a constant pain (the pain lasting long after the "pleasure" of saving a few bucks has past).  PVC is a petroleum-based product.  Fuel is going up by the hour.  Plumbing shortcuts have always been a way for inferior builders to put one over on the consumer.  Plumbing is one of those things you never notice and tend to take for granted...DON'T!  Do it right...ask questions and make the intelligent choices.

As I end this month's column, I'm waiting anxiously in an airplane ready for departure from Nashville to Sacramento to visit my family.  (My wife got me this unbelieveable deal on a new air carrier, "Hot Wings Air...No Cheeper Fare").  Gotta go...the pilot's starting to talk.

"Good mornin' y'all...this here's yer capt'n, Bubba the Ball"...