Swimming pool and domestic heating and heat pumps

A swimming pool sand filter is designed to remove debris out of the water in your pool. Water should be removed from the pool and pumped through the sand filter. If there are any problems with this sand filter then it can result in particles of dirt not being removed properly. Troubleshooting all of these filters is required so that you can find out what is wrong and put the problem right. There are a number of different brands of filters available and although they all work in a similar way the parts will not normally be interchangeable. Ensure you’re purchasing the right components for your filter. A sand filter uses sand to remove small particles from the water. As these filters will operate for 8 hours or longer each day they need to be properly maintained.
Particles Remain in Water
If particles of dirt remain in the water after back washing then this could be a result of the pump not being powerful enough. If the pump isn’t powerful enough then this will cause debris to remain in the water.
Filter not Effective
If the filter isn’t working properly then this could be because the sand needs to be changed. Under normal operating conditions the sand needs to be completely changed every 2 to 3 years. The sand used must be designed for pool filters. Silica sand 20 is the only sand that you should ever be using.
Sand in Water
If any of the filter sand is escaping into the water then this could be due to damage to the filter unit itself. If the filter is damaged then this will need replacing. You may also be able to replace the individual components inside the filter.
This could also be because the sand particles are not settled. After back washing the filter you should run the rinse function for around 15 seconds. This will ensure that the sand particles are settled.
Leaking Pool Filter
If the pool filter is leaking then the first thing that you will need to look at is where it is leaking from. There are a number of different places where a sand filter can leak from. Over the winter months the water inside the filter can freeze and expand. This could cause pipes or the filter body to crack and become damaged. If this is the case then these pipes or filter components will need replacing.
Leaking water not only creates a mess but it will also cost you extra money. These problems should be repaired as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of water you waste.
Calling in an Expert
Of course, if you struggle to find the cause of the problem yourself then you should call in an experienced pool maintenance engineer. These people will be experienced and able to get to the bottom of the problem as quickly as possible. By fixing this problem you can make your filter much more efficient

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/troubleshooting-swimming-pool-sand-filter-problems#ixzz0jH1IdoKK

The Lib Dems are today up in arms and the attorney general, baroness Scotland (yep the same that passed the legislation outlawing Samoan cleaners without passports from being cleaners, then promptly employed one because she only cost 10p a day) is bringing action against Bae for unethical sales techniques - (A curry and a night at Spearmint Rhinos for a couple of Czech arms dealers) when securing massive arms deals abroad, citing that such practices brings into question the equity and fair-mindedness of the British when conducting business on the international stage - and that this will look bad and nobody will want to buy sausages or Scotch Whiskey off us any more.

Bae generates more revenue than any other UK company, and they build fighter bombers, fighter bombers that kill people, kill lots of people. Either we stop making killing machines per se, or we sell as many as we can and to hell with the ethics or how many pole dancers it takes to do it, if our politicians think they can have it both ways they are delusional.

Oh, I think one of the Czech arms dealers was offered a years worth of Chlorine for his 6m above ground swimming pool.

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By EDWARD LEWINE
Published: March 11, 2009

You can’t compare the chic and exclusive private Manhattan swimming pool to its commonplace suburban cousin. There are around nine million residential pools dotting America’s backyards, according to the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, an industry trade group. But in Manhattan, people familiar with the local scene say, there are fewer than 100 single-family pools.

“The pool is a phenomenal amenity,” says Steven Schnall, 41, who has a heated 48-foot-long lap pool on the sixth floor of his 11,300-square-foot TriBeCa town house. “It reeks of spectacular.”

The time, money and effort required to wedge a pool into a private Manhattan residence are equally spectacular. At one time, most such pools were found in town-house basements, but they’re increasingly being installed on the upper floors of town homes and apartment buildings.

“The basement pool doesn’t have much appeal,” says Schnall, an entrepreneur who recently sold the mortgage business he founded. “Our pool is flooded in natural light.”

It takes about nine months and a minimum of $280,000 to construct a private pool in Manhattan, says David Plotkin, whose company, Steelways, has built more than 600 elevated city pools since 1960. Suburban pools are often made of concrete or vinyl, but city pools tend to be made of stainless steel, which won’t bend or crack when buildings sway and shift.

The biggest headache in constructing an urban pool, Plotkin says, is getting the ma­teri­als where they’re needed. In addition to the pool itself, immense steel beams are needed to support the weight of all that metal and water. “A typical pool is going to weigh 150,000 to 200,000 pounds filled,” Plotkin says.

The 18-month effort to build the 11-by-17-foot pool on the roof of Matthew Keiser’s TriBeCa condo involved negotiations with the City Landmarks Commission and feats of engineering. The pool, built by Diamond Spas, had to be designed so it couldn’t be seen from the street to comply with local landmark requirements. And its flat edge, with water runoff captured by a concealed gutter, necessitated installing the pool exactly level on a slanted roof.

Before the pool could even be installed, though, a series of 51-foot beams had to be hauled five stories up Keiser’s building. “To truck steel beams that size into the city,” Keiser says, “we had to get a permit to close the Lincoln Tunnel.”

Todd Harris, whose pool-maintenance company in Edison, N.J., services around 20 private Manhattan pools, says customers spend between $350 and $1,200 a month to keep their pools running, whether or not they’re taking daily dips. Keiser says he swims almost every day. But many of the pools go untouched. “These pools are definitely underused,” Harris says. “If people are using them, we never see it.”

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By Harvey Johnston (Contact)
Sunday, February 1, 2009

Most swimming pools have been drained, cleaned and covered by this time of the year.

Not the 86,000-gallon equestrian exercise pool at Lone Star Stables, which are located on Iberis Road owned by Angela Ganter.

“We’re swimming this afternoon,” Ganter said Wednesday morning. Meaning, of course, horses belonging to clients. Ganter said they lost time to inclement weather only Tuesday. They shut down when the temperature falls to 32 degrees or below.

The 40-foot wide, 11-foot deep pool is in a constant circulating mode and changes out about six times within a 24-hour period. Otherwise, it would take a heck of a tarp to cover the pool.

Ganter admits to a water bill of about $1,000 per month.

She and her late husband, Don, bought the 107-acre facility in April 2004. Lone Star Stables now has 60 stalls and 15 outdoor areas with a shed and pasture for each. An indoor arena is available for foul weather riding. In addition, there is an event circuit around the existing racetrack. The track’s infield has a cloverleaf barrel pattern plus facilities for English and Western riding.

There are days in the summer when about 30 horses have swam one or more laps in the pool.

“We’re down to about 10 horses a day now,” said Ganter, who hopes the low numbers are because of the weather and not the economy.

Report: Peppers Pride retired

A recent story out of Fort Worth by horse writer and historian Sally Harrison said the thoroughbred record-holder of 19 consecutive wins has been retired.

Harrison said Peppers Pride will be bred to Tiznow, the leading thoroughbred sire by earnings in 2008.

Peppers Pride is a 6-year-old mare that has amassed $1.066,085 after four seasons of racing. The horse has been ridden exclusively by jockey Carlos Madeira and trained by Joel Marr.

The horse is owned by Joe Allen of Abilene.

3-shows-in-one in San Angelo

The World’s Greatest Horseman competition was held a year ago in Stephenville.

That event plus the National Reining Cow Horse Association and the Circle Y Ranch Derby is being held through Feb. 8 at Spur Arena in San Angelo.

The show is there on a three-year contract. There is expected to be a $450,000 payout for approximately 400 contestants.

The Worlds Greatest Horseman Finals is scheduled for 10 a.m. next Sunday. It will include herd work, rein work, steer stopping and cow work finals in that order. The horses in this competition can be any age and any breed.

Expensive tandrum

Kasey Hayes, a 23-year-old Liberal, Kan., native, was fined $7,500 by the Professional Bull Riders Inc., Conduct Committee for throwing his facemask at 2,000-pound Blind Date at the PBR event in Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 17-18. He lasted only 2.5 seconds on a bull that he was expected to ride the full eight second time period.

Steve Katichm who owns the bull and has a ranch in Washington state, said he didn’t disrespect the bull rider, just the lack of judgment he showed.

gardnerwilkinson: - Feb - homeheatingheaters

With the progress in technology, swimming pool heat pumps have become more efficient nowadays, than they were few years ago. If you have your own swimming pool, you must use pool heat pumps to heat it. Heating your swimming pool with pool heat pumps is an efficient technique of keeping your swimming pool comfortable in the entire swimming season.

Swimming pool heat pumps are usually the most effective method for heating swimming pools in warmer countries. They transfer heat from air to pool water quite successfully. When compared to gas, oil or electric heaters, pool heat pumps may cost much less, which can also save you a lot of money in energy costs. You may come across pool heat pumps that have dual temperature controls which will further enable you to heat your swimming pool at various temperatures.

What Swimming Pool Heat Pump Does

Swimming pool heat pumps usually heat your swimming pool to a desired temperature at a reasonable cost. You just have to set the device to a temperature you want; that is all you have to do. These heat pumps function great when the weather condition is not very cold. Pool heat pumps make use of the outside air as free energy source. Even if the outside weather condition is not great, swimming pool heat pumps will keep your pool in the desired temperature for a perfect swim.

Swimming pool heat pumps keep your pool heated at constant temperature; this type of pump heaters is an absolute requisite for someone who is a good swimmer. They are great for heating pools efficiently and quickly when time is a factor.

A pool heat pump functions in the similar principle as a refrigerator or an air conditioner, but in reverse. One of such units usually consists of heat exchanger, ventilator, condenser and compressor which also include a refrigerant.

How Swimming Pool Heat Pump Works

Pool heat pumps use electricity to operate their pumps; however, they may also use the sun-warmed air at times. A fan stirs the warm air through evaporator coil which collects heat from the atmosphere. The coil contains liquid refrigerant that absorbs the temperature from the air. After this process takes place, it changes into gas. The gas then is pushed into a compressor that further intensifies the heat.

After the gas becomes too hot, it shifts from compressor to heat exchanger condenser. It is here where water passes through, and cool swimming pool water is pushed through heat exchanger condenser. As it passes, cool water takes up the warmth from the gas. As a result, the water turns warm while the gas turns cool. If you have to maintain a daily, continual swimming routine, swimming pool heat pumps are just perfect for you.

Council considers u-turn on Athy pool fencing crux

Published Date: 28 January 2009
By Lisa Deeney - Leinster Leader

KILDARE County Council (KCC) may reverse its decision to erect controversial fencing around the new swimming pool and leisure centre in Athy amid harsh criticism at a town council meeting last week.
The council and its spokesman came under attack at last week’s Athy Town Council meeting, so much so that town manager Tom Boland came to the defence of the council spokesman on several occasions.

the council spokesman in last week’s Leinster Leader.
“They are no friend of Athy when they demean our town council in the media… a non-elected representative who decides to be the voice of Kildare,” he said.

Speaking last week on the issue, council spokesman Charlie Talbot said the council had no plans to remove the fencing around the swimming pool. He said it was “disappointed” that attention on the pool seems to have focused on the fence and on fault finding with it “rather than on the fact that Athy is to have a state-of-the-art, professionally-run, recreational facility which will create employment in the area”. He added: “The new pool in Athy is a good and welcome development. It will provide a much-needed recreational facility and create employment. The vast majority of people in Athy welcome the new swimming pool and want to enjoy it – that is the reality.”

Many Athy town councillors took strong offence to this statement. Cllr Aoife Breslin (Lab), who opposes the fencing claiming it is “an unauthorised development”, is calling on the council to withdraw the remarks.

“Kildare County Council has misjudged us yet again by making flippant remarks to journalists. We are elected officials expressing our view and I am asking the manager for an apology. We work for the people of Athy. I welcome the pool but local residents have concerns, that is the only issue and as a public representative I was raising the issue. I want Kildare County Council to withdraw the remarks… Mr Talbot sits in his ivory tower and looks down on us, looks down at Athy.”

Cathaoireach Cllr John Lawler (Lab) agreed, saying the remarks were “condescending” and “disappointing”, “especially when we were told a meeting would take place in November”.

Town manager Joe Boland said the criticism against the press officer in particular was “unfair”. “It is not in his nature to be condscending. He is a very sincere man.”

He added that “every effort” has been made to take on board the concerns of the community.

“With the provision of a pool, there had been a lot of work involved and a lot of effort made by Kildare County Council officials,” he added.
The council is now set to meet Greenhills residents this week to present drawings and discuss the controversial fencing. The meeting, which is taking place this morning (Wednesday), indicates it may reverse its policy and alter the swimming pool fencing plans. An initial meeting between council officials and Athy town councillors last Friday was described as “constructive” and “positive” by both parties.

The issue began in October last year when the council erected palisade fencing around the boundary of the new swimming pool at a cost of N75k. It failed, however, to inform residents or local councillors in Athy, despite the existence of a swimming pool liaison committee.?

Residents of Greenhills are strongly opposed to the fencing around the public amenity that lies opposite their homes. They say it is an eyesore and are considering protesting outside Aras Cill Dara over the issue. Athy town councillors have given the residents their full support.

Posted on 01/28/2009

Pool owners could face stricter enforcement

By CHASE WRIGHT

cwright@thestamfordtimes.com

STAMFORD — The city took steps Tuesday to enacting tighter regulations over homeowners’ swimming pools and added its own enforcement provisions for those not in compliance.

The new regulations mimic the requirements of the Connecticut State Building Code, which was recently amended in November. Those regulations put tighter scrutiny over pool heaters, energy conservation, suction fittings and drainage.

“The genesis of this is that we found ourselves unable to enforce swimming pool enclosures,” said the city’s director of operations Ben Barnes.

Previously, the city charter required enclosures around swimming pools that fit specific dimensions to make the body of water inaccessible to small children. Pool enclosures are still required, said Barnes, but the new ordinance adopts the state’s regulations, which are updated periodically, and allows the city to pursue civil citation against those in noncompliance with the rules. A single incident with a Stamford homeowner shed light on the city’s inability to enforce its own rules, he said. Bob DeMarco, the city’s building official, said there have also been numerous complaints sent to the building department about homeowners who don’t enclose their pools.

“(The ordinance) is largely due to complaints,” said DeMarco. “Now we can honor the complaints.”

At a meeting of the board of representatives’ legislative and rules committee Tuesday evening, city Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11, proposed the penalty for noncompliance be in the form of a $200 fine, which the remainder of the committee unanimously approved.

According to the swimming pool ordinance, every day a pool is found to be in noncompliance with the state building code will constitute a separate violation. Pool owners could face $200 fines from the city each day they fail to bring their property up to code. A letter of warning will be sent first once a violation is spotted.

“Our goal isn’t to raise money,” said Barnes. “Our goal is to bring pools into compliance.”

The ordinance requires a 30-day grace period to allow for corrections to any violations that occur during the first six months after adoption.

The entire board of representatives will vote over publication of the ordinance on Monday. Adoption could occur as early as March.

The city’s law department has the ability to negotiate fines down, said the director of legal affairs, Thomas Cassone. The department lessens land use and zoning fines through negotiation regularly, he said.

While there are thousands of pools in Stamford, particularly in the North Stamford area, Barnes anticipates there won’t be more than dozen violations a year.

Owners of older pools with broken fences or no enclosure will be those most affected by this ordinance, he said.

“The problem with enclosed pools is a serious one,” he said. “It can be a real hazard to young children.”

By Kamini Padayachee - January 26 2009 at 07:11AM - IOL

Woken by a loud crash outside his Umbilo home, a senior Durban police officer ran out to discover the front of a BMW in his swimming pool on Sunday.

Superintendent Jay Naicker said his sleep was interrupted by a loud noise on Sunday morning.

“It was about 3am when I heard a loud bang. I thought it was a car that had gone off the road and crashed.

“I ran out of the house to check, but then I heard the house alarm go off and I realised that the crash had been at my house.”

Naicker said he then found a BMW with its front end in his swimming pool.

“There were a lot of police officers around my house and I thought they had been chasing a hijacker. The car’s front wheels were in the pool. It had crashed through the boundary fencing and then landed in the pool. The electric wire on top of the fence had also come off, which caused the alarm to go off.”

Naicker said the driver of the car fled the scene after the crash.

“The driver of the vehicle was driving recklessly in the Umbilo area in the early hours of the morning. Metro police officers spotted it and chased. The vehicle then smashed into my boundary fence,” he said.

“If the car hadn’t gone into the pool, it would have crashed into the house. The driver managed to escape from the scene after the crash.”

He added that the owner had been traced to the Umbilo area.

“Police located the owner, who also lives in the Umbilo area, and he told us that his son had borrowed the car. He said his son lived at another address.”

Naicker said the driver had already left the other address when officers went looking for him.

“The identity of the driver is known and police are searching for him.

“Police are investigating charges of reckless and negligent driving, malicious damage to property and failure to stop after an accident. Officers have also discovered that the car did not have a licence to be on the road.”

He said the cost of the damage to his fence and pool was still being assessed.

kamini.padayachee@inl.co.za

Sunday, January 25, 2009 - Ken (The Master)

The winter is the time of year when many people begin to think about their summer holidays with thoughts of lounging on a beach somewhere hot. But the colder months are also the best time of year to build your own swimming pool.

The current world-wide economic downturn is forcing many people to postpone their planned home moves as property values continue to depreciate. Uncertainty in the housing market is leading to many people looking at their existing homes and considering ways that they can enhance their property. Rooms in the roof, extensions, new kitchens and garden makeovers are all excellent ways to make the most of your current property and improve the quality of your life. Another is to install a swimming pool in your garden.

Many consider pool building as a summer project. But building during the cooler months brings a number of advantages. You will find that out-of-season swimming pool pricing can be very favourable indeed, providing some significant savings over the prices charged during the peak months. The availability of the swimming pool that you want is another factor that is influenced by the time of year. You’ll find it easier to find the exact pool that you want during the low-demand period of the year. Also, delivery and installation can be more favourable outside of the peak summer months.

The big advantage is that your new swimming pool will be ready to use as soon as the weather turns that little bit warmer in the spring. As soon as that warm weather appears you can be sure that your swimming pool supplier and installer will be immensely busy with a backlog of orders and installations to fulfil.

My advice to anyone who has been toying with the idea of having their own swimming pool installed in their garden is to gather a few quotes from reputable swimming pool suppliers now. You should be able to negotiate a substantial discount and get yourself a bargain swimming pool installed and ready for some summer fun.