Now that all area schools are out for the summer and the Memorial Day weekend is behind us, the hot weather is beginning to arrive. It has been a fairly mild, wet spring thus far. As of this writing (June 10th), we have only reached 90 degrees twelve times (April 13; May 13, 17, 23, 24, 25; June 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9. It has not yet reached 100 degrees, but that will likely be happening in the next few weeks as the average date of our first 100-degree day is July 1st. With the temperatures continuing to heat up, swimming pools use will increase. As swimming pools are being enjoyed this summer, it is important to try to prevent irritants such as eye & skin irritation, sunburn, and hair discoloration. Following is some information to help prevent some of these problems from occurring.
Eye & Skin Irritation
What causes this eye & skin irritation? We have been raised hearing the phrase “too much chlorine”. This is not usually the cause of eye or skin irritation in swimming pools. Most often eye and skin irritation is caused by one of the following:
Incorrect pH – The recommended pH level for a swimming pool is 7.2 to 7.6. This level is fairly easy on the eyes and skin. However, if the pH gets outside of this recommended range, it can cause eye or skin irritation. Low pH tends to irritate the eyes and skin more than high pH does.
Insufficient sanitizer levels – Although swimmers often complain that the chlorine is burning their eyes or irritating their skin, it is, in fact, usually a sign that there is not enough chlorine in the pool. When nitrogen and hypochlorous acid combine, chloramines (spent chlorine) are formed. These chloramines do not kill bacteria and the water smells bad, giving off a chlorine-like smell. In addition, these chloramines also tend to irritate the eyes. When this occurs, the chloramines must be oxidized by the use of chlorine or a non-chlorine oxidizer. So actually when swimmers think that a pool has too much chlorine because it is burning their eyes or because of the odor, it is most likely that it needs more chlorine or a non-chlorine oxidizer.
Sodium tetraborate has been a very effective product to help eliminate eye & skin irritation, providing a silkier feeling water. It gets rave reviews by those who use their pool frequently.
Once eye irritation does occur, eye drops will usually provide relief for irritated eyes. To treat irritated skin, taking a shower and then using a moisturizing lotion will usually do the trick.
Sun Protection
Sunscreen is rated by SPF, which stands for Sun Protective Factor. The higher the SPF, the longer the sun protection. Applying the sunscreen thoroughly and liberally is the key. Many times we overlook the fact that we need a waterproof sunscreen for use in pools or if we are perspiring. This is a very important consideration and must be taken into account when selecting the correct sunscreen. Men with thinning hair should be extremely careful and apply sunscreen liberally to the top of the head or wear a hat. Sunscreen should also be applied to the top of the ears even when wearing a hat. Lips are another very sensitive area that should not be overlooked.
Hair Discoloration
There are shampoos and other hair care products that help remove the chlorine and other pool chemicals from your hair. If you have hair that turns green, it is not, as many believe, from the chlorine. For many years chlorine has been blamed for turning blonde hair green, but, as it turns out, the real problem is the copper in the water. If you are experiencing this problem, you should have your water tested. There are chemicals available at pool supply stores that you can apply to the pool water that help prevent green hair problems. Some everyday swimmers wet their hair with tap water before swimming, believing the pool chemicals won’t penetrate hair that is already saturated. To help remove much of the chemicals, it is also a good idea to rinse your hair immediately after swimming.
If after trying these tips you continue having eye, skin, or hair issues, consult your physician.
Matt has been around the pool business since he was born. When he graduated college in 1984, he joined the family business working for Gohlke Pool Supply. The following year Matt and his father formed a partnership, Gohlke Custom Pools, and started offering pool construction.
This simple question is one that everyone should consider before taking the plunge. I am not naïve enough to believe that swimming pools are for everyone—each situation is different. Many people who have pools would probably be better off without them, due to time, financial, and other issues. There are many things to consider when trying to determine if a pool would fit your needs. Following are some questions to consider when weighing the pros and cons of pool ownership. Does it fit the needs of our family? Being able to enjoy time at home with your family is priceless. Being able to stay home to beat the heat is much more desirable than having to get in the car to go to another location…
As a service to pool owners in the DFW area, we provide the following seminars. Pool School This is a great opportunity for you to learn how to properly maintain your pool saving you time and money. Topics include: Basic Pool Operation and Terminology Basic Equipment Maintenance Water Chemistry Algae Prevention Basic Troubleshooting Upcoming seminar dates: June 8th, July 13th, August 10th, September 14th, & November 16th. (All are Saturdays and all are at 10am) Length of seminar: approximately one hour Registration required: call (940) 384-7665 Basic POLARIS POOL cleaner repairs Having Polaris Pool Cleaner problems and want to learn how to make repairs to it? This one hour class will help you solve the common Polaris problems such as: Not cleaning the entire pool…
It seems to have been a fairly mild spring/summer thus far, but before long it will be 100 degrees and rainfall will likely become a distant memory. You might recall that last summer was way below average as far as 100-degree days are concerned—we only had 7 days of at least 100 degrees (we average 20). That begs the question: How hot will it be this summer? While we all know that it is very difficult to predict the weather, I recently read the following statement from Jesse Hawila, senior meteorologist for WFAA: All summers in North Texas are hot…but this one may be particularly hot. We average 20 triple-digit days in a summer. I do suspect we’ll have above-normal triple-digit days this year.” (Source: KERA article by Ron Corning…
Many exercise enthusiasts have turned to aquatic exercise. Aquatic exercise is an activity that millions of people are engaging in and it is gaining in popularity. It is easy on your knee joints and back, and has been used in sports rehabilitation and physical rehabilitation for years, but it has now entered the mainstream. It is used not only for rehabilitation, but offers other benefits as well; increases lung capacity, burns calories, tones and strengthens muscles, and the list goes on. When we think of aquatic exercise, we tend to think of the following of lap swimming, water walking or jogging, or water aerobics. Although these are excellent forms of exercise, aquatic exercise equipment that was once available only for professional gyms and fitness centers…
This has been a very warm fall—reportedly the warmest October on record. But with the first cold front of this winter now here, leaves are falling. What can a pool owner do to combat the leaf problem? Short of cutting the trees down (please don’t do this), following are some suggestions to help: Mesh covers Mesh covers have become increasingly popular in recent years. Mesh covers allow water to pass through but catch the leaves. Although the leaves will still have to be removed from the top of the mesh cover, the cover keeps the majority of the leaves from getting into the pool. A properly installed mesh cover (which resembles a trampoline-look over your pool) allows you to blow the leaves off the cover….
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Albert did a great job communicating throughout... from swinging by before repair to ensure correct sizing/equipment, through quoting, ordering, scheduling time and completing repair. Top notch, very professional and great experience. Thanks, Albert!
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Kevin Nowak
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I just want to compliment Gohlke Pools for 14 years of service to our family. I want to especially thank them for their skilled repair techs. Albert has done a lot of maintenance work for us and his skills and professionalism are top notch. It is my pleasure to recommend Gohlke for regular service, maintenance, or new construction.
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Cristina Cueto
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We recently hired Gohlke Pools to remodel our patio and add on an outdoor kitchen. An important feature of the kitchen was a large pizza oven I ordered that from delivery to installation added a lot of complexity to our project. Bill, our project manager, handled every challenge I threw at him with patience and grace. There was some minor damage to the oven during shipping and before they installed it Bill spent a week hunting down replacement tile to repair the damage so I’d never know the difference. The oven looks perfect! Every member of every crew they had at our house were very skilled professionals but I must give a special thanks to their stonemasons, Jesus and Osvaldo. The fireplace they created for us is gorgeous. We couldn’t be happier with our new patio and I can’t recommend Gohlke Pools enough.
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steve kuzmich
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Gohlke did a great job building us an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven and remodeling our large patio including resurfacing the concrete. Always on schedule, all over the worker were a class act. Bill supervising the job was a real pro and great to deal with. Placing a 3000 pound oven was a challenge and they made it look easy. Real attention to detail. This is a great company!
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sam sam
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Julie and Brittany are amazingly helpful and courteous. Thank you both for your help.
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Leslie Farris
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Travis is the BEST!!
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Bryan Beck
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They go above and beyond to make sure that our pool is running properly. Technicians, service guys, repairs, new construction, and the office staff are all super helpful and friendly.
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Rachel Sullivan
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DFW Hot Tubs made the entire hot tub buying experience easy and enjoyable. Pablo was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and kind, guiding me through every step and helping my family choose the perfect spa for our needs. He provided clear education on care and maintenance, and his support has continued even after the purchase. I highly recommend DFW Hot Tubs and specifically Pablo for his professionalism and outstanding customer service!
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Stacey Luce
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WOW! Just WOW! We couldn’t be happier with our first pool! It’s a huge investment, and you want to feel confident and comfortable with your decision. From the first meet-and-greet to Matt and Connor checking in after completion, we are so thankful we chose Gohlke Pools. Communication gets 100 stars! We received regular email updates throughout the project with timelines and progress reports. Connor was extremely helpful with design ideas and changes, and Matt was always present—taking care of anything and everything promptly. Caden did a fantastic job with our “pool school” at the end. He was patient, answered every question, and genuinely wanted us to feel prepared. The entire process was smooth, and they even finished ahead of schedule. We were also impressed with each subcontractor—the quality of their work and the respect they had for our property were outstanding. Subias, the recommended landscaper, was wonderful to work with, and Javier Subias was incredibly helpful in planning our outdoor design. All in all, we were so impressed with Gohlke that we’ve decided to use them for our weekly service as well. THANK YOU, GOHLKE POOLS, for making our experience so positive!
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Gohlke Pools serves Denton, Corinth, Argyle, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lantana, Double Oak, and many other cities and towns surrounding Denton.
