Fun Pool Games for Kids!

Memorial Day weekend is here and it’s prime time to use the pool! Keep the kids entertained for hours with these easy, exciting pool games for kids, teenagers, and toddlers. From games to play in the pool by themselves to swimming pool relay games, these simple ideas for pool activities will help you make memories — and make a splash!

• Pool Freeze Tag: Bring the classic game in the water! One person will be designated as “it,” when he or she tags another player, that player must freeze in place. You can decide if they need to remain frozen for the duration of the game or if other players are able to un-tag them by swimming underwater.

• Marco Polo: We bet you remember this game from your childhood. This timeless crowd-pleaser has entertained generations of children and it’s easy to see why!

• Sharks & Minnows: Depending on how many players you have you can have one shark or multiple. The shark starts out on one end of the pool while the minnows line up on the opposite side. When the shark yells “go,” the minnows must swim to the other side without being tagged. Again, you can make the rules. Tagged minnows either need to sit outside of the pool until the next round or can join forces with the shark to tag the rest of the minnows.

• Handstand Challenge: Challenge your child! See if they can do a handstand and hold it. Remind your child to be careful, know their limits, and take a break when they start to get tired.

• Solo Pool Race: Using a waterproof watch or timer, test your child’s speed with timed laps in the pool. They’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how much they can improve in a single summer!

Or, create your own game or create your own rules to one of the suggested games- be creative! Your Colley’s pool is all about making memories!

Ways to Make your Pool More Energy Effecient

Energy efficiency has become a major factor when making decisions on how you’d like your pool to operate. Here are some ways you can make your pool more energy efficient and in turn, ways you may be able to save some money!

1. Pick the right finish. Darker colored pool finishes absorb the sun’s rays, and that energy helps heat your pool. While not everyone wants a dark finish, if you’re on the fence and want to keep heating costs down, it’s something to consider.

2. Create a natural windbreak. For many people, pool landscaping is often an afterthought. However, planting a hedge, building a berm, or creating some other form of windbreak can help lower heat loss, which in turn lowers energy costs. It also helps decrease the evaporation of water that you’ve already heated, here again providing savings.

3. Install a variable-speed pool pump. A variable speed pump can deliver significant savings compared to single-speed pumps, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Using a variable-speed pump also helps cut greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Use advanced heating technology. There are a number of new technologies available for heating pool water more energy efficiently. Consult your local Colley’s expert to see what may work for you.

5. Install an automatic pool cover. Not only does an automatic pool cover help to make your pool safe, it helps prevent heat loss and evaporation.

6. Use larger pool filters. Larger filters have a bigger surface area through which water can flow, which can mean your pump doesn’t have to work as hard to move the same volume of water. Not only does this lower the pump’s energy consumption, it can extend the life of the pump which can save you money!

7. Install LED lighting. LED lights can save 80% or more over incandescent lights, and last three times as long.

8. Automate your pool operations. There is now technology that can automatically run your pool systems when energy costs are lower to help you optimize your energy use.

A General Guide to Pool Chemicals

Pool season is here! We’ll be going through a general overview of the main chemicals used in pools and spas and what they do. Not every pool and spa is the same so it is always best to consult Colley’s knowledgeable pool experts when looking to purchase chemicals from us!

Chlorine: Probably the best-known pool chemical, chlorine is a sanitizer that keeps algae and bacteria at bay. It comes in liquid, powder, and tablet forms. When water reacts with chlorine, it forms hydrochloric acid, which is the compound that fights bacteria.

Shock: Shocking a pool is the act of "unbinding" or oxidizing the inactive chlorine (chloramines). Shocking can be done with increased dosages of chlorine or MPS (sodium monopersulfate) non-chlorine shock. When added to the pool, whatever chemical is used starts a process called superchlorination. Shocking the pool helps kill all the bacteria and sanitizer byproducts. Usually sold as a separate product, shock is used about once a week or every two weeks, depending on pool usage.

Bromine: This is an alternative to chlorine, but typically used in warmer water such as that used in hot tubs. Because hot tubs tend to have a higher pH level (alkalinity), and bromine works better at a higher pH level, bromine is more effective in warmer water.

Cyanuric Acid: The sun’s ultraviolet rays can speed up the decomposition of chlorine in the water. Cyanuric acid helps slow that process down by stabilizing, or protecting, the chlorine. However, there is a limit to the amount of cyanuric acid that can be in the pool: too much can also slow the destruction of bacteria. Some chlorine products come with cyanuric acid added; be sure to check before adding cyanuric acid separately.

Algaecide: Often copper-based, these polymers serve as a preventative barrier against algae. After the pool has been shocked, algaecide is added to keep the algae from returning.

Calcium chloride: Your pool requires a minimum level of calcium hardness before molecules start to look elsewhere for its minerals and eat away at your tile and metal. Calcium chloride will increase calcium hardness.