Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Best Pool Maintenance Tips for Atlanta Homeowners






If you're a homeowner living in Atlanta, chances are, you have a pool in your backyard. Likewise, you're probably aware of the basic pool maintenance tips, such as maintaining the water and pH levels. However, it doesn't end with that. One of the important aspects of maintaining your Atlanta property is to ensure that your pool won't be succumbing to less-than-luxurious conditions, and here's how.

5 Tips for Your Atlanta Home’s Pool


1. Climate Is Very Important in Pool Care

In order to keep your pool properly balanced and the water sparkling clean, it's crucial to add chemicals carefully. Don't forget to test it as often as possible, especially when the summer starts to heat up, as more and more people will be using your pool. You also have to familiarize yourself with the weather and climate conditions in your Atlanta home, as this would affect your pool in one way or another. If you're having your pool serviced by a professional, don't hesitate to ask about how you can maintain your pool depending on the weather.


2. Skimming and Scrubbing Should be Part of Your Life

Skimming the leaves and removing the debris is something you must do on a regular basis, especially if you want to achieve a pristine pool. Likewise, if you have some money to spare, then you should invest in a vacuum that's capable of cleaning the bottom of the pool. Aside from skimming, scrubbing is equally important. You have to scrub the sides of the pool to avoid algae build-up. Don't worry, unlike skimming, you don't have to do this as often as possible, especially if you're living in Atlanta. In fact, you can get away with scrubbing every other week.


3. The Pool Heater Should Be Professionally Serviced

Out of all the pool equipment, the pool heaters require the least maintenance. A lot of homeowners prefer gas heaters as they work fine, even without being serviced for several years. However, the electric ones are known for lasting longer.

It's always ideal to consult the manufacturer's manual and pay attention to the specific care and instructions. There will be instances where calcium scales could accumulate inside the tube of the heater. This can affect the flow of water, and prevent it from getting heated. If this happens, the best thing you can do is call a professional. Don't try to disassemble the heater yourself as you might end up causing more damage.


4. The Filters Are Your Pool's Kidneys

Our kidneys are very important. They are what eliminate the impurities from our body. The pool's filter has a similar role. It removes the impurities, such as leaves, dirt, and other items from the water. Cleaning the filter isn't that complicated at all. You just have to turn it off, remove the cap located on the pool deck, and remove the dirt and debris you can see. Cleaning the filter basket should be done at least once a week.


5. Keep it Cool

Pools use a lot of energy. In fact, a pool that’s above 82 degrees would lead to a higher electric bill. As a wise homeowner, you should invest in a solar cover on the water. This would keep your pool warm, without using electricity at all.


Responsible property owners maintain their properties on a consistent basis. This keeps everything functioning well and decreases the chance of big unforeseen repairs. This holds true for your pool as well as your property. 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Starting Early

Growing up with a pool, I knew how to swim at an early age. My brother and I learned to swim because of the strong desire to imitate my oldest brother, who was diving and jumping and having a great time, we wanted to do that.


As it happens, my sisters were the complete opposite. Their push to swim did not come from a desire of imitation; but, a necessity to survive in a family of swimmers. Even then, one succeeded and the other did not. To this day, my oldest sister still cannot swim.

Last week, ISR Swim School started here at Aquarama Pools. This program is designed to teach infants how to survive, if they fell into a pool or any body of water.

 The parents began to arrive and quickly outfitted their children in the needed gear to start swimming.  Now, it’s easy to imagine a toddler learning to swim as their mind has developed enough to make visible responses to our instructions. However, many of these young swimmers are infants, who are still adapting to this new world.


Children grow up and learn to fear water, as they know they cannot breathe while under it. Infants on the other hand, are wild and bold. Fears that have yet to become developed, do not hold them back as any parent will tell you. This is one key factor in teaching them to swim early on.

Although many are quick learners, these amateur swimmers did not quickly take to the water. Screams split the normally calm air here, causing fellow employees to quickly come and check out the commotion.  With strong hands, the expert instructor takes on each child as if they were her own. Carefully molding these young swimmers to make sure they will be safe after they leave her care.




Looking back, I can only imagine the change my sister would have experienced if she was given the same instructions at such an early age. Considering the positive impact these classes have on each of the infants and their parents, our employees quickly relate to a sense of accomplishment. To share in this amazing achievement and know that through their support here at Aquarama, these little ones will learn to love the water.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Freeze Warning!

Freeze Warning Tips

Many customers are worried about their equipment and possible freeze damage.
The possibility of loosing power can cause a running system to quickly freeze over and cause costly damage to your equipment. 
To avoid this, follow these simple steps:
  1. Turn OFF the Power
  2. Drain equipment by removing plugs from all equipment.
  3. Cover equipment with heavy blanket(s) to shield from outside elements ex: cold temps, ice, snow, wind, rain
  4. Call Aquarama Pools and Spas to verify everything is properly taken care of.

Drain Plugs:




Monday, February 10, 2014

3 Meals, 3 Completely Unique Ideas for Your Egg!

The Diversity of the Big Green Egg
Try this setup for a day of meals all brought to you by the egg.
  • Breakfast 

Blueberry Muffins

This muffin is the one to go to for a well-behaved, consistent recipe. It does very well with any kind of berry.
Recipe courtesy of King Arthur Flour. For more information, visitKingArthurFlour.com.
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
Coarse white sparkling sugar for garnish (optional)

Instructions
Set the EGG for indirect cooking at 375°F/191°C and line muffin tin with papers.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with a hand-held or stand mixer, until light, fluffy, and almost white in color. Start the mixer at low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, then gradually increase speed to medium-high until the desired color and texture are reached.
Scrape down the bowl to make sure all the butter is incorporated then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the vanilla and sour cream or yogurt, and mix until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until the batter is smooth. It will be thick. Fold in the berries by hand.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, using a heaping 1/4-cup for each. Sprinkle with regular granulated or coarse white sugar, if desired.
Bake the muffins for 18 to 24 minutes. Remove them from the EGG, cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove the muffins from the pan to finish cooling on a rack.
*Tip: This recipe works well for any kind of berry.
Yields 12 muffins
  • Lunch

Classic Grilled Cheese

April is National Grilled Cheese Month so let’s celebrate by grilling an American Classic on the Big Green Egg!
Ingredients:
8 Slices of your choice of bread (Whole Wheat)
8 Slices of American Cheese
Butter
EGG Setup:
Preheat the Half-Moon Cast Iron Griddle (ridges up for grill marks) on the EGG direct at 400°F/204°C.
Method
Spread butter on one side of a slice of bread. Place bread butter-side-down and add 2 slices of cheese. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side-up on top of the cheese.
To cook, place sandwich on the griddle until lightly browned and flip over, continue grilling until cheese is melted.
Transfer to plate, cut diagonally and serve immediately with a side of your favorite chips, salad or tomato soup.
Serves 4

  • Dinner


Grilled Vegetable Lasagna

Layers of lasagna noodles are interspersed with grilled vegetables, cheese, and tomato sauce, then blanketed with Mornay sauce, for this vegetarian version of lasagna. Although lasagna noodles are used in this recipe, wonton skins, prepared according to package instructions, make a perfect and lighter substitute for traditional lasagna noodles. This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon plus 1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 ounces fresh spinach leaves, washed and dried
2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise
2 yellow crookneck squash, quartered lengthwise
2 Japanese eggplants, quartered lengthwise
11⁄2 cups portobello mushrooms, gills removed (6 ounces)
11⁄2 teaspoons garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 roasted red bell peppers, chopped (page 170)
2 cups ricotta cheese (1 pound)
1⁄2 cup goat cheese (2 ounces), at room temperature
1 large egg
1⁄2 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
Mornay Sauce
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
11⁄4 cups whole milk
1⁄2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (2 ounces)
1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
5 cups Garden-Fresh Tomato Sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles, cooked according to package directions
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
Equipment: Plate Setter, Deep Dish Pizza/Baking Stone or a 9 by 13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish
Instructions
Set the EGG for direct cooking with the porcelain coated grid.
Preheat the EGG to 500ºF.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large sauté pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until wilted. Set aside.
Brush the zucchini, squash, eggplant, and mushrooms with the remaining 1⁄4 cup olive oil and season with the garlic powder and salt and pepper. Place the vegetables on the grid. Close the lid of the EGG and grill for 2 minutes per side. Transfer the vegetables to a rimmed sheet pan and let cool slightly.
Using the Grill Gripper and Pit Mitt BBQ Glove or Grilling Mitts, carefully remove the grid and add the Plate Setter, legs down. Lower the temperature to 350ºF.
Dice the zucchini, squash, eggplant, and mushrooms into 1⁄2-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Add the bell peppers and spinach and stir to incorporate. Combine the ricotta cheese, goat cheese, egg, basil, and thyme in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Set aside.
To make the Mornay sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan on the stovetop. Add the flour and cook on low heat for 3 minutes, or until the roux is bubbly and the flour is no longer raw. Using a whisk, add the milk. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until thick. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cheese, nutmeg, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
Reserve 2 cups of tomato sauce and keep warm in a small saucepan on the stovetop over low heat. To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce over the bottom of the Stone. Add layers, starting with one-third of the noodles, then adding one-half of the grilled vegetables and 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Make 1 more layer and top the layer of tomato sauce with the remaining noodles.
Pour the Mornay sauce evenly over the lasagna ingredients and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Place the baking stone on the Plate Setter and close the lid of the EGG. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the lasagna is thoroughly heated. Remove the baking dish and allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes.
Cut into 3 by 4-inch pieces and serve with the remaining heated tomato sauce.
Serves 8


Copyright BGE 2012

Monday, December 9, 2013

Is your drain cover life expectancy about to expire?

Is your Drain Cover Life Expectancy About to Expire?

This December marks five years that the Federal mandates in the Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) have been in effect, including the requirement that

  1. All suction fitting assemblies or drain covers manufactured or sold comply with the applicable standard (now APSP-16); and
  2. That all commercial pool and spa drains to have new VGB certified covers.
Since numerous fittings were installed in 2008 and early 2009, many have or are about to reach the end of their stated life expectancy and need to be replaced before the start of the 2014 season.

As with the original fittings, each replacement unit must be compatible with the existing frame and sump, and have a flow rating equal or greater than the maximum system flow. All units should be installed by an industry professional (Aquarama Pools and Spas), in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

Aquarama Pools and Spas strongly encourages our customers to contact us and have us review the pool/spa circulation system, as well as the integrity of the existing frames.


Saturday, October 26, 2013

AQUA-KNOWLEDGE FREEZE WARNING!


FREEZE WARNING!


Ice and plumbing do not mix. Most plumbing on pools are plumbed with PVC and are subject to cracking as the water expands as it turns to ice. This can cause major damage to the pool equipment and underground plumbing. The last thing you want is to have is something freeze and break.

Running water will not freeze. Therefore most pools are equip with freeze protection devices to turn pumps on or to keep  pumps running. This should prevent freeze damage.
 However, in case of a power outage or an equipment malfunction during freezing temperatures, you can follow these simple steps to help prevent costly repairs.

STEPS TO TAKE DURING POWER FAILURE AND EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONING DURING FREEZING TEMPERATURES:
  1. Turn power off!
  2. Drain equipment by removing plugs from all equipment.
  3. Cover equipment with heavy blanket to shield from outside elements. i.e. wind, rain, snow, ice.
  4. Call your local pool professional.

 
 FREEZE GUARDS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR RETAIL STORE
CALL 770-422-6291 FOR MORE INFORMATION


AquaRama Pools & Spas
565 Powder Springs Street. Marietta, GA. 30064

Saturday, July 13, 2013