With any needed pool maintenance and repairs out of the way, it’s time to focus on planning pool parties for the kids. Swimming pools provide the ideal setting for summer birthday parties. All you have to do is pick a theme that the little ones will love and get creative!


Luau Pool Party
No Luau would be complete without grass skirts and leis. You can find these simple props at any party supply store. Paper palm trees are easy to make and help create that beachy feel around your swimming pool. You can also fill buckets with sand, placing seashells in them. Then on the handle of the bucket, tie dolphin or sun-shaped balloons. For the food, stick with the crowd-favorites of burgers and hot dogs, but consider adding pineapple to both to give it a tropical flavor.


Pirate Pool Party
All aboard the pirate ship! Maximize their time in the pool by providing water guns and noodles as they pretend to have skirmishes on the seas. When they’re not in the water, hats and eye-patches will keep them in ch-argh-acter. Instead of goody bags, consider organizing a treasure hunt with a prize-filled treasure chest waiting for them at the end. For an easy decoration tip, use brightly colored towels as table clothes and scatter “gold” coins around them.


Under the Sea Pool Party
Mermaids, fish, and all other sea creatures should definitely make an appearance to this party. Use construction paper to decorate your swimming pool area with schools of fish. (Don’t forget about Nemo!) Hang fishing nets and place starfish and sea shells in them. For an easy pool snack, fill fish bowls with gold fish crackers. When they’re not busy splashing, have them pin the tail on the mermaid to see who wins a special treasure!


These pool party ideas are sure to make a splash. And if you still need to get your pool ready for these wildly fun times, Crystal Clear Pools and Spas is always available to perform routine pool maintenance and pool cleaning. From fixing broken pool pumps to scrubbing pool tiles, we’re experts on keeping your pool looking and feeling fresh so that all you have to do is swim!

When it comes to maintenance and repair of your swimming pool pumps, chances are you leave it up to the pros.  Not a bad idea considering the many delicate intricate parts that make up a swimming pool pump. That said, we here at Crystal Clear Pools and Spas of Austin, Texas have compiled a few handy tips you can use to keep your swimming pool cleaning, service and repair needs at a minimum.

Know Your Swimming Pool Pumps

In the world of swimming pool service and repair, we like to think of swimming pool pumps as the heart of your pool, circulating crystal clear pool water all year round.

Most swimming pools today use self-priming centrifugal pumps. That means (in a nutshell) that the pump uses a vacuum to circulate water throughout your swimming pool, and is able to prime itself by keeping full or partially full of water whether the pump is active or not.  The mechanical details are less important that being able to identify and effectively troubleshoot problems that may arise in your swimming pool pump. Go swim — leave the mechanics to the pros.

Common Swimming Pool Pump Issues

Swimming Pool Pump Running Hot

If you notice your swimming pool pump running a bit hotter than usual, it’s not just the scorching Austin, Texas weather (albeit somewhat likely). The problem could be due to a lack of sufficient power being supplied to the pump. Just as the human heart requires a healthy balanced diet to run at optimal levels, your swimming pool’s pump needs enough energy to run cool. Check your pump’s wires and make sure they match up with the manufacturer’s size requirements.  In cases of city-wide power shortages, due to a heat-wave for example, shut down your pool pump until the weather cools down and energy demands are lower.

Bubbles in your Swimming Pool

Look around you — are you in 3-5 feet of warm water, holding a bottle of champagne and feeding strawberries to your loved one? If yes then you are relaxing in a spa and the bubbles are just part of the show. However, if you notice bubbles shooting from your swimming pool’s jets, you may want to check the gasket or strainer cover on your swimming pool pump as they may be loose or damaged and will require quick service or repair.

“Low Pressure” or Priming Issues

Low pressure issues in swimming pool pumps are commonly caused by clogged return lines, filters or damaged impellers. How do I check the imepller you ask? Easy — shut down your pump, remove the basket and feel around in the suction hole for any cracks or breaks.

When In Doubt — Call an Expert

If the root of your swimming pool pump’s problem isn’t immediately obvious, contact your local swimming pool pro, or our experts at Crystal Clear Pools and Spas. We’ll make sure your swimming pool pump is in good shape so you can focus on more important things, like perfecting your backstroke.

For much of the country, temperatures are dropping rapidly as the approaching winter months force us to trade our swimsuits for leggings, and put a halt on our outdoor water activities. However, just because we aren’t enjoying lemonade and sunshine by the pool, doesn’t mean we can neglect the important maintenance and upkeep of our valuable swimming pools.

In order to avoid damage to your pool during the off season, here are a few basic seasonal pool maintenance and winterization tips that will keep your pool running smoothly and ready for summer fun!

Winterization

Winterization is essential in caring for your pool. Not only will you avoid potential damage caused by debris and freezing temperatures, you can actually increase the life-span of your pool, and rest assured that your pool will be running smoothly and ready for next summer!

Basic Winterization and Seasonal Pool Care Tips

• Clear Debris – Debris build-up in your skimmers and filters can cause stress on the pool’s pump, drive up energy costs and cause damage to your pool’s cleaning systems

• Keep Normal Water Levels – Low water levels, even when unused, can cause stress on the pool’s cleaning systems, especially when freezing.

• Minimize Operation – A good rule of thumb for pool maintenance during fall / winter is “minimal use = minimal operation”. Turn off all water features as soon as temperatures drop below your comfort zone to avoid damage during freezing temperatures.

• Backwash and Clean Filters – This should be done before temperatures drop too low to avoid freezing of internal components. Make sure non-petroleum based lubricants are used where necessary.

• Test, Chlorinate, Shock – Treat your pool’s chemical needs as if you are swimming every week. Getting behind on your pool’s chemical schedule can lead to cosmetic damage, unwanted organic growth and staining during the winter months.

• Move the Water – Circulating your pool’s water during the coldest times of the day can help cut down on potential freezing hazards.

Many of the steps outlined above can be performed by you, the pool owner. However, there is no replacement for the advice and maintenance supervision of a professional. Don’t let your pool maintenance duties slip just because you aren’t using it. Contact the experts at Crystal Clear Pools and Spas if you have any winterization questions or wish to set up scheduled seasonal maintenance visits to ensure that the health of your pool is maintained this winter.