It’s Hot, Hot, Hot! Do you remember the cool, extremely rainy spring that just ended? It wasn’t fun. And now, we are blessed with a ‘heat dome’ that traps hot, extremely humid air. A two-mile-per-hour breeze doesn’t offer much relief. And folks, we’re just in the first week of summer. There are lots more days where jus…

Black Diamond Cartridge Filters vs Sand Filters. An Analysis. Eastgate Pools offers both sand and cartridge filters for their above-ground pool customers. I can address both in a somewhat educated, unbiased manner. I started in the industry over fifty years ago, so I’ve learned one or two things. As such, and admittedl…

Starting Your Do-It-Yourself Above Ground Pool Installation Your completed project is dependent on doing two opening steps 100% right. If you don’t get these correct, the finished result is guaranteed to be problematic, both aesthetically and structurally. A little extra attention to detail will help make your complete…

Help Us Celebrate! And save some money! This weekend, we celebrate forty-five years in business via our 45th Annual Anniversary Sale. The 45th is the Sapphire Anniversary, and during our Big Sale, you’ll find some real gems. It’s a great time to stock up on all the necessities and fun things pool owners need and want. …

Spring is in the Air I wanted to come up with a catchy title for this issue but settled on the above. After all, it is what is about to happen and there’s no need to overly hype it. Recent 70°-plus days have everyone’s cabin fever raging. Take advantage of the veritable heat wave and do some prep work to get ready for …

The EPerx Customer Loyalty and Reward Program. This is a special program for our loyal patrons. But what exactly is it? If you are a long-term customer of ours, you no doubt already know. However, we earn new customers every day and many are not familiar with EPerx and how it works. Click here for a short video that ex…

As a purveyor of outdoor-leisure products, you might surmise that we’re not quite as busy now as on June 1st. Or May 1st.Or April 1st. Okay…you get the picture. We’re like most of you out there. We wait impatiently for warmer days when tees and shorts are the norm. Add in a dip in the pool to cool off from the heat, an…

“Ready…Set…” In this three-word phrase used to start a race, the third word is Go. The phrase can also be applied to planning for the 2025 outdoor fun season. This would be when we happily move from the cabin-feverish confines of the Indoors to the action-packed Great Outdoors. For many, the opportunity is right in fro…

It’s Ho Ho Ho Time! Every year it is decreed that Thanksgiving is to be observed on the fourth Thursday of November. As such, this year marked the latest possible date it could officially be held…November 28th. There is one BIG side effect: This is the shortest traditional Christmas shopping you can have. For many, thi…

Previously in this series on the evolution of hot tubs, I mentioned an early downside of ownership: high heating costs. Forty years ago, many people stopped using their tub when cold weather arrived. For me, that’s when I want to use it the most. Snow gently falling. Jack Frost nipping at my nose. It makes me feel like…

Welcome to Part Three of my examination of how hot tubs have evolved over the past forty-years or so. I got my first one in 1986 and have upgraded three times since then and I’ve witnessed a lot of changes. Perhaps no change has been more eye-catching and attention grabbing than numbers. That’s the exploding numbers of…

In my four-part series on hot tubs, Part One addressed electronics and controls. Now, in Part Two, I look at cabinetry changes. You might ask, why would I dedicate an entire writing on hot tub and spa cabinets? I call it the 99% reason. 99%? You have a great hot tub and love your sessions and marvel about how beautiful…

Hot Tubs, Then and Now, Part 1. I purchased my first hot tub way back in 1986. Compared to today, this was the horse & buggy era for hot tubs. The big ‘innovation’ then was the option of a granite shell finish instead of marble swirl patterns. Really though, that was just the beginning in what was to come. Many of you …

A Brief History of Above-Ground Pools Giving credit where credit is due. I have been involved with above-ground pools for fifty-years. I started as an installer in 1974, collaborating with my brother in New Jersey. Eventually, I settled in the Cincinnati area and built above-ground pools sold by Eastgate Pools in their…

Helping Make Pool Care Easier If you are one of the Greater Cincinnatians fortunate enough to have a swimming pool in your back yard, congratulations! You’ve had a great way to cool off during this summer’s heat wave. Of course, the more it is used and the hotter it gets, you appreciate time and money saving technology…

Live and learn, the hard way. In 1994 and before Eastgate Pools ventured into the outdoor furniture market, I purchased a set of outdoor furniture. It was from Swallens, a discount department store that is no longer in business. It featured four swivel rocker chairs with thick cushions and a small glass-top oval table.…

Firstly, let me be clear. This article is not intended to be the end-all regarding pool safety. I just want to hit on some key issues and points that are frequently ignored or overlooked. About that service call… So, you have a service call scheduled regarding a leaky filter. You say you may not be home when we arrive,…

Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell you to avoid swimming after you’ve just eaten. Nor will I mention “Don’t run around the pool!” Nope—not going to overdo the obvious. And everyone already knows not to splash people relaxing on the pool deck, especially if they are reading a novel. Okay…maybe you didn’t know that one. …

Making Your backyard Shine Again. If you have an in-ground pool, chances are it’s the focal point of your outdoor living space. However, it’s common to need a little refreshing to keep it looking beautiful and eye-catching. It can happen to any in-ground pool, regardless of construction. Gunite pools need occasional ac…

The days are getting longer, and warmer. It will soon be time to get that ugly winter cover off the pool and prepare for summer fun. In fact, many pool owners are already removing that cover! It costs little to run this time of year and just looks so much more…summerish. Either way, it’s time to put in a little effort …