You don’t stop eating come winter, so why stop grilling! After all, there is no better tasting steak, chop, or burger than one cooked on a Big Green Egg. Here are a few tips to make your winter grilling easier and more enjoyable. Eggs are Meant to be Used Year-Round. I’ve met people that think they can’t use a ceramic …

Pool Strategy If you are searching for guidance on wintertime pool care, this commentary won’t help you. However, I’ve done that in two recent posts with Swimming Pool Winterization and Leaf Covers and Nets. Feel free to click on the links and check them out. If you have unexplained questions or concerns, a quick call …

Many potential hot tub or spa shoppers anguish over picking the ‘right’ color of hot tub. I want to shed a little light on the subject of hot tub shell colors, both literally and figuratively. Confused? Please read on. A Salesperson’s Frustration. During my active selling career, I sold just under 800 hot tubs. However…

Changing Fall Colors October is a beautiful time of year. Trees are showing about every color in the rainbow and a drive through the country can be quite enjoyable. Yes, everyone loves the annual fall kaleidoscope of color. Unfortunately, those colorful leaves ultimately drop from the trees, and for pool owners, they m…

Pool Cues or Billiard Cues? Call them whatever you want. Both are accepted terms, but at the heart of the matter, they’re just pieces of wood. Right? Sure. Just like the Mona Lisa is no different than the paint-by-number stuff I did as a child. Quality pool cues can be works of art, with custom inlay designs or silk-sc…

Proper Chemicals Make a Difference First, I’ll state that this blog is not about the step-by-step process of swimming pool winterization and safely closing your pool. For our above ground owners, that information is on our website. Click: http://sparcomanual.com/dealers/eastgate/eastgate_manual_017.htm. In-ground pools…

Fall Pool Care Labor Day signals the traditional end of summer, but swimming pool fun doesn’t need to end there. Unfortunately, come Labor Day, people begin shutting down their pools for the year. In my opinion, this is a BIG mistake. Fall is a GREAT time to swim. Kids are back in school, so you get the pool to yoursel…

It doesn’t matter which way you spell Chimineas or Chimenea. Both are considered acceptable. What is important is that when you have one, you’ll enjoy your back yard or patio a little more. But what exactly is a chiminea? Well, imagine a crackling fire in your indoor fireplace, adding warmth to your home during a wint…

Hot Tub Filtration is a major key in keeping your water clean, clear, and inviting. There are two dominant filtration technologies used today: circulation pumps and programmed filtration. Circulation Pump Technology ‘Circ’ pumps operate independently from the main water movement pumps. While not therapy pumps, they ser…

Okay, so Pool Safety isn’t the most original blog title, but it is extremely accurate. There are so many little things a pool owner can do to make backyard swimming enjoyable and safe. Many are common sense, while others may bring about a “Duh—I never thought of that!” moment. Pool Ladders, Gates, and Fencing If you ha…

Hot tubs are a lot like cars. Everyone has a dream car. Imagine you finally get it. It looks great sitting on your driveway, the sun glistening down highlighting the perfectly waxed look. It is flawless. Now you start it up, but it belches black smoke, shakes, rattles, and then conks out. Your dream car just turned int…

Pool Chlorine Boosters. Maximize Your Sanitizer’s Life and Minimize Your Cost. Previously, I discussed four key components of balanced pool water: proper pH, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid, and Calcium levels. When these are all in their proper ranges, pool chlorine life is lengthened. That’s sweet any year, but even …

It is well documented that there will be a pool chlorine shortage this summer. Make that, there IS a chlorine shortage, right now! A fire that destroyed a major chlorine production facility in Louisiana has reduced available chlorine nationally by over one-third. Chlorine Tablet Shortage Due to Covid-19 & BioLab Fire T…

If you are searching for a replacement swimming pool filter for your existing pool, you have options. Don’t be afraid to change systems if you haven’t been satisfied with the old one. Here, we’ll explore three different options. Sand Filters. Sand filters are as old as pools themselves. They are the old stand-by, but i…

Having an above ground pool in the back yard is a dream for many. It’s like enjoying a vacation at home all summer long. But, to make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience, there are pre-purchase things to understand. Are you permitted to have a swimming pool? No, I’m not talking about getting permission from your spous…

Outdoor Patio Furniture. Understanding Traditional Tubular Options. If you are considering getting a new set of outdoor patio furniture for the deck or patio, you have lots of options. There’s all-weather wicker, cast aluminum, stone or synthetic tables, poly, and even wood. The list grows every year, but let’s focus o…

Pool Chlorine Makes a Difference in Water Quality. Choose Wisely. In a previous blog, I assumed that most readers don’t want a rehash of high school or college chemistry. I’ll stick to that and gently discuss why some pool chemicals are better than others that appear the same. However, an explanation is required. Sayin…

Saltwater Swimming Pools. It’s Time to Take the Plunge! I admit that I was looking for a pool-related pun for this blog title and considered several options. I settled on ‘take the plunge’ because that’s exactly what thousands of happy swimmers do every year in Greater Cincinnati. Significantly, many of these swimmers …

Big Green Egg! The Ultimate Grill. With the arrival of Daylight Saving Time, we have more time to do things outdoors, so let’s get to it! It is officially grilling season, but it’s only great if you have the right grill. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with old-fashioned gas grills if you don’t mind the occa…

Growing up, my family had a wooden picnic table. We seldom used it as a dining table, however, it was a fun place to sit and talk. We had to be careful though, as a shift in position or a ‘slide-over’ request could result in a splinter. Consequently, the fun was tempered by the constant fear of injury to…well, you get …