Do You Know Jack About CPR?

We have just received substantial rainfall, especially in the northern part of Denton County. I am thankful for the rain, as it will help fill area lakes, but this much rain at one time can cause problems—even for swimming pools. Following are some tips to help with some issues that you might be having due to this heavy rain: Pool is overflowing— If your pool is overflowing, it is probably a good idea to drain some water. Depending on your pool equipment, there are several different ways that you can drain water from your pool: Multiport valve (also called dial valve) Turn pump off. Set out backwash hose (if applicable). Turn valve to waste position. Turn pump on until water level reaches desired level. Turn…

A typical swim season in Denton easily lasts May thru September.   Pool heaters, in this area, can stretch the swim season to 10 months per year, versus 5-6 months without a pool heater.  Most pool owners that have heaters use them to take the chill out of the water on those warm days when the water is still too cold. Typically, late December through mid-February are months that even those with heaters do not use them due to the cost of operating them.  But there are pools in Denton that are heated and used year-round. Pool heaters use one of two fuels—natural gas or propane, depending on what is available.  Electric heaters are fine for stand-alone spas, but not cost-effective enough to heat an entire…

You probably remember the summer of 2012, when Denton County had the highest rate per capita in the state for West Nile virus (source—WFAA Channel 8 news on August 22, 2012). As of late, there have been a few cases of West Nile virus in the DFW metroplex. Although the numbers are low, we need to be aware of the situation and prevent it from worsening. Swimming Pools While we will never know the exact source of each individual case of West Nile virus, it is very likely that neglected swimming pools are partially to blame. A neglected pool means stagnant water, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes to lay eggs that can produce thousands of mosquitoes in just a few weeks. Owning a…

The drought that we are currently experiencing in the North Texas area has far reaching affects due to the type of soil that exists in portions of the region. Hardly a day goes by that the area newspapers or the news stations don’t discuss the effect that the drought is having on underground plumbing and building foundations.  Water mains are breaking and house foundations are moving all across the area.  We have also seen its effect on swimming pool decks and plumbing.  The reason for this is as follows:  dry weather causes clay, which makes up much of the soil in the area, to shrink and crack—causing plumbing and foundations to shift.  This shifting can obviously cause problems. How can you tell if problems can…