So here I am happy as a lark and the next thing you know March is almost over! What?! So what does that mean to you the happy pool owner? Well for one summer is that much closer and fun in your pool is just around the corner, but don't let this lull in the season blind you to caring for your pool.

Depending on where you live you may; have your pool open already, you may be getting ready to open your pool or still have your pool in cold storage. If you live blow the famous Mason/Dixon line you will want to open you pool up in most cases by the end of the month. If you are using a mesh cover or no cover on the pool and you want to avoid algae in the pool getting the pool started is key algae stopper. If you love algae in the pool or love a challenge of cleaning algae up, then just leave the pool winterized and you will be blessed with great volumes of green goo! In the frozen north April or May, depending on when the ground thaws in your neck of the woods, is when you want to consider opening the pool. Your goal is to beat the algae development. If you have maintained your pool during the off-season (adding the extra algaecide) you should be in good shape. When the water temperature in the pool is in the upper 50° range then the alga will start to wake up and once the water hits the 60's it is all over but the brushing and vacuuming!

So now may be the time to either get going on starting up the pool or start thinking about working the start up into your schedule. So you can enjoy your pool, which is why you bought it in the first place, right?

Enjoy your pool!

Jim Garrison
The Guru of Pools at
Discount Pool Warehouse.com

Well Paxatauny Phil saw his shadow, darn the luck, six more weeks of winter...oh well...

But don't get so depressed that Phil saw his shadow or the Pats choked (it was a great game) that you sit inside moping; you need to get out and send a little quality time with your pool, that should cheer you up! Well I say you need to spend some time with your pool I guess it really depends on where you live. If you are in the great white north you probably cannot see your pool for all the snow, however if you are lucky enough to live in middle of the country, or perhaps south, then getting outside with you pool is not impossible. For instance today were I am the temperatures are going to hit 70! No I don't live in Florida I am in Virginia and loving it.

So what does your pool have in common with Valentine’s Day? You need to spend a little quality time with your sweetheart(s) and your pool. You want to check on your cover, how is it doing? Does it need to have water pumped off of it? Does it need to be adjusted? How are the water tubes doing? Just kind of walk around the pool and check things out. Breath in that fresh air! If you have a mesh cover now is the time to purchase some non-metallic algaecide to inhibit the growth of algae before the real warm weather rolls in.

Now is also the time to start thinking about renovating the pool for the summer. This is the time to line up your service company to get things started before the season starts. They are slow and have time to really focus on your pools needs. Then when spring rolls around your pool is ready to go! So don't delay call them now!

After you have checked the cover, added algaecide, called your service company to schedule that renovation it is time to kick back and enjoy the beverage of your choice and chill with a good book or DVD by the fireplace.

Enjoy the rest of the winter; summer fun will be here before you know it.

Welcome to the first ever Discount Pool Warehouse.com blog. These blogs will be my personal experiences with the swimming pool industry and with any luck at all you the reader will benefit from the time you spend here. Please expect useful information along with a little humor sprinkled here and there.

Here it is the dead of winter why would anyone possible want to even think about their pool? We there are things that go on with your pool year around, just because you are not using the pool does not mean it does not need to be considered. Don't neglect your pool because it will punish you. If you think I am kidding ask anyone who uses chlorine tablets as a sanitizer and they go on vacation for over 7 days only to return to a pool that has turned green with algae (envy that you got to go on vacation and it had to stay at home), Revenge!

So off-season think about what you want to do for your pool this summer. Maybe have it resurfaced, perhaps a new component for the filter system or maybe just planning when you want to open the pool up for the season. Keep in mind if you are thinking about when to open the pool if you have a mesh cover early is better! You will see more about when to open you pool in next month’s blog.

For now put another log on the fire and sip that favorite hot drink and contemplate what you want to do with your pool this spring!

Enjoy your off-season!

Jim Garrison
The Guru of Pools at
Discount Pool Warehouse.com