Does your pool show signs of neglect?

Pool maintenance needs to go well beyond checking the water chemistry and removing debris. Just because your pool maintenance company stops by every week and your water is clear, doesn’t mean that your pool is being maintained properly.  Good preventative maintenance will save you money and hassle in the future.   I always ask a new client, “when’s the last time your pool was serviced,” and they will almost always answer, “last week.”  When I hear this response I can’t believe it.  It seems like their pool has not been serviced ever.  The water looks clear but just standing on the pool deck for a couple of minutes, I can usually see grime and build up on the pool walls near the waterline.  This is usually the tip of the ice berg.

As I begin to dig deeper into the new pool’s history I start seeing all sorts of other problems.  Calcium build up on the water feature, a leaky 3-way valve, pump baskets that have turned from white to yellow and look as though they have never been opened.  What are these pool maintenance companies doing? 

This is why it is important to check up on your pool every couple of weeks or so.  A simple visual inspection is enough to determine if your pool maintenance person is doing his or her job. Here are some things to look for.

List of pool areas to check.

·         Check the Water Quality:  This can be done easily by just looking at the water to see if it is green or cloudy.  Green or cloudy pools are usually a sign of poor water chemistry and lack of proper sanitation.  If you want to look into the water quality more closely, get some test strips and you can test the water in a matter of seconds.  You simply take a test strip and dip it in the water in the deep end and then pull it right out and wait 15 seconds.  Then match the test strip with the markings on the bottle and this will give you most of the water chemistry readings.  The test strips are not as accurate as a water quality testing kit but they're still effective at testing for obscurities in the water chemistry.

·         Check the Skimmer Baskets:  These can usually be found right near the edge of your pool. The skimmer is designed to remove all of the floating debris that rests on the water’s surface.  While standing above a skimmer on the deck of an in ground pool, you should be able to locate the top lid of a skimmer.  It looks like a white circle or a white square with two finger sized holes with which you can lift the top off.  Once the lid is removed, look inside and check for debris, mold, and/or grime.  Also, take a look at the bottom of the lid as well.  It should be as clean as the rest of the skimmer.

·         Check Pool Area:  Take a walk around your pool and try to notice anything out of the ordinary.  Is there a dirty grimy waterline mark around the pool?  If so, your pool maintenance company is not properly scrubbing and cleaning the pool walls.  Do you notice any worn areas or white build up anywhere?  Make sure to ask your pool maintenance company about anything you see that looks out of the ordinary.

·         Check Pool Pumps:  The pool pumps should be located along with all of the other pool equipment.  Look for leaks and listen for loud noises while the pumps are running and while they are turned off.  Pumps are usually noisy but they shouldn’t be making any metal on metal grinding noises or screeching noises.  If this is the case please contact your pool maintenance service provider immediately to make sure your pump will not burn out or cause other peripheral damage to other pool equipment.  Please contact YardSwim for a free quote on any maintenance or repairs.

·         Check Pool Equipment:  Look at all of the pool equipment very carefully.  Check the filter for leaks, cracks, discolorations, or any other wear and tear.  Look at all of the plumbing in and around the filter and pumps and check for any unusual signs of neglect.  If you see anything that looks dirty or in disrepair please contact us!

·         Check Pool Lights and Electrical:  Turn the pool lights on and run the jets in your spa if you have one.  Make sure that everything is working properly.  Visually check all the fuses to make certain that they look like they are in good working order.

·         Make Sure That Your Pool Isn’t Leaking:  A pool needs water added due to evaporation but you need to make sure that you are not filling up your pool too much.  Contact us for more information.  Click Here!

YardSwim specializes in good water chemistry and repair prevention.  Keep your pool running safe and please contact us if you have any questions.  http://www.yardswim.com/pool_maintenance.php.

First Day of Swim Lessons

Swimming is a fun and essential life skill and the first day of swim lessons can be life changing.  Being prepared for the first day of swim lessons is the best way to ensure success.  Here’s what you need to bring on the first day.

Equipment That All Swimmers Should Bring to the First Day of Swim Lessons.

• Residency verification if at a private community pool
• All necessary registration/waiver documents filled out in full
• Towels
• Hair tie or swim cap to keep long hair away from the face
• Clean, comfortable, and snug fitting swim wear (not too tight, not too loose)
• Warm dry clothes to change into after the lesson in case they get cold
• Sunscreen or a SPF protected rash guard to protect against harmful ultraviolet rays.
• Water to drink after the swim lesson to prevent against dehydration

Please be early to your first swim lesson in case you might have to fill out any peripheral facility documents or pay for the lessons.

On the first day, we will typically see 4 different types of students.  I call them beginners because they have never taken swim lessons before.

4 Types of Students Starting Swim Lessons

1. Young Beginners:  Typically between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.  Very little exposure to water over the head and face.  Brand new to water and very nervous and cautious.
2. Older Beginners:  These are beginners between the ages of 6 years and 18 years.
3. Experienced Beginners:  Typically, these students might already have experience swimming and being in swim lessons. These students are what I call "rusty".  They know quite a bit of information but everything is a little hazy and they might need some fine tuning done to their already existing strokes.
4. Adult Beginners:  These are simply beginners who are older than 18 years.  The one thing that I enjoy about Adult Beginners is that they are usually self-motivated to learn and get better at swimming.  You usually have to motivate children through skill progression but with adults, they want to get better and learn more so it is easier to guide them through our swim programs.

Young Beginners
Young Beginners can be one of the most difficult students to work with.  Because of their age and their lack of exposure to either water, class structure, or both, they can definitely be a challenge to most instructors.  We understand this and that is why YardSwim instructors will usually put a lot of time and energy into parent training. We know that most swimmers will usually spend more time swimming outside of swim lessons, so it is so important that the whole family be involved with the learning process.  We ask that parents usually sit on the side of the pool with their children.  Whether a parent needs to sit on the side of the pool with their child is dependant upon the instructor but be prepared and bring an extra towel just in case.

The first day of lessons is usually filled with a very light work load.  Too much work the first day means that student's might not want to come back.  The first day should also be fun.  If it's not fun then why would anyone want to continue.  A happy and comfortable student is more receptive to learning.  If they are not comfortable and having fun, then there will be very little interest in learning.

Most Young Beginners will cry the first day.  Even if the instructor is the most perfect instructor in the world, being personable, fun, friendly, and informative, the students might get nervous and cry. This is very common and it is quite alright.  There is usually no reason to stop the lesson due to crying.  Crying is a natural reaction to the setting that they are placed in.  They usually don't know anyone else in their class, the instructor is new, the water is new, and not having control over what happens is usually new too.  Don't be surprised if this happens and definitely don't be embarrassed around the other parents.  All parents know what it's like to be in a public setting where their children are crying.  They will more likely be very sympathetic and do everything they can to help you out.

The crying will go away as the Younger Beginners get more used to the lessons.  This means that in order to ensure swim lesson success, it will be necessary for the parents and family around the students to commit to being consistent and full participants in and around the swim lessons.  This means you must communicate with your instructor to find out what more you should do to help the lessons and the student's progression.  Be on the instructor's side.  They usually see hundreds if not thousands of children every week and they will usually always know what to do.

Be patient, encouraging, and very positive.  You'll need to show the student two things.  One, swim lessons are good for them and fun once they get to know everyone.  Two, they must continue through the series in order to be done.  Making a commitment to swim lessons for a duration of time no matter what, is one of the most efficient ways to successfully integrate a child into swim lessons.

Let's recap on Young Beginners:  What to expect the first day of swim lessons?

• Parents should expect to possibly sit on the side of the pool with their students so bring an extra towel.
• First day of lessons is intended to assess skill level and have fun.
• Younger students will usually cry and most students between the ages of 6 months and 6 years will usually be a little uneasy about continuing with the lessons.
• Be patient, positive, encouraging, and side with the instructor so that the students will feel more comfortable with the lessons.

Older Beginners
These students are older and tend to be slightly easier than the Young Beginners.  They have better coordination, communication skills, and exposure to class structure. 

Do not bring goggles, floaties, ear plugs, nose plugs, or any other kind of artificial equipment to the first day of lessons unless you have a doctors note explaining the need for any of the equipment previously listed.  These kinds of swim aids are usually detrimental to the learn-to-swim process and can actually create a false sense of security for the swimmer.  A false sense of security means that the swimmer can grow accustomed to using certain equipment to swim but when the equipment fails or is not available the swimmer can panic and get into serious trouble.

Experienced Beginners
These swimmers are usually already very well prepared for their first day of swim lessons.  The first day with these swimmers usually involves what I call, “knocking off the rust.” 

In order to “knock off the rust”, swimmers will need to be given time to get back into the swing of things.  This means that patience is key.  Just because they were a Level 3 swimmer, advanced beginner, last year doesn’t necessarily mean that they are still a level 3 on the first day back.  It may take them a couple or more lessons to get back to where they left off.  Be patient and encouraging and they’ll be back up and swimming in no time.

Adult Beginners
Adult beginners will usually possess all the necessary skills and motivation for learning to swim and communicating properly with their instructor.  What they are usually not ready for is the embarrassment factor.

Learning to swim as an adult can be awkward and uncomfortable, especially if the student’s skills are very basic or if they don’t have any at all.  Adults shouldn’t be embarrassed but I understand if they feel that way.  I always try to schedule any adult lessons, regardless of the adult’s skill level, at a time and location with fewer pool users and no children.  This enables us to try more activities and helps the student to feel more relaxed and comfortable.

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for swim lessons.  If you have any questions, please contact us through our website at www.yardswim.com or by phone at 858-220-6251.

Happy Safe Swimming to All!