1. Putting chlorinated shock in too soon after algaecide or stain & scale products lowers the effectiveness of all three products.
2. Algae is less active in colder water, more active in warmer water. It is always better to close your pool later in the season rather than earlier. The earlier you close a pool the more likely the pool may open up with algae issues.
3. Be mindful of Autumn warm weather. The longer an autumn heat wave goes, the more your pool will heat up and the more issues you will have during a spring opening.
4. Open early, not late. A good rule of thumb is that if you can plant your garden your pool should be open. Besides, a clear beautiful pool is more aesthetically pleasing than a big ugly tarp. You paid for the pool, enjoy it longer.
5. Non-Chlorine Shock is included in newer style Winterizing kits, it is not effective against algae but it is effective against bacteria. If your pool has algae in it, take care of it before you close, this will make your opening easier.
6. There are new 'long life' algaecides available. These algaecides work better and longer for closing your pool, and they do not foam!
7. There are multi-use products available now that have everything a traditional closing kit has but blended to last longer and work better also providing for an easier closing and opening, ask your local dealer about chemical alternatives to traditional closing kits rather than enduring the traditional opening issues again next year.

 

Drowning is the cause of approximately 10 deaths a day in the United States, with 2 of those 10 deaths being children under the age of 14. Of the leading causes of unintentional injury death, drowning ranks 5th. Read these 5 Tips on Water Safety and learn how you can prevent drowning deaths.

 

 

1. Adult Supervision: If you own a pool, supervision both indoors and outside is crucial to preventing water related tragedies. No level of water safety training is a substitute for adult supervision. If you are unable to locate your child in your home, the first place you need to look is the pool. Time is of the essence.
2. Pool Fences: Some areas are requiring pool fences by law, sometimes it just lowers your home owners insurance, but regardless of why, fences are always a key to drowning prevention. Make sure the fence comes equipped with a self-locking gate.
3. Home Alarms: Alarm systems are for more than just keeping intruders out. A properly configured alarm system can alert a parent if a child exits through a door leading to the pool area, providing extra life-saving minutes of time to prevent drowning.
4. Infant Swimming Resources(ISR)-Self Rescue: Training your child for what to do if they end up in the water is a last line of defense in drowning prevention. Floaties, inner tubes, and the like only serve to inhibit a child’s ability to survive in the water on their own. Avoid using these and instead teach your child survival skills in a safe environment. You can find ISR-Self Rescue Training Programs here.
5. CPR: In the event of an emergency, parents need to be prepared for how to react and administer CPR. Local CPR classes are available to teach life-saving skills for both adults and children and these classes should be updated regularly.

 

APi supports a local charity called the Live Like Jake Foundation. LLJ was founded after a family experienced a drowning tragedy. They’ve dedicated their child’s memory to preventing other such tragedies. This year marks the 5^th Annual Live Like Jake 5k which will be held on May 11^th in Jupiter, Florida. Participants raise money for ISR swim lesson scholarships, as well as providing financial assistance for families who have lost a loved one to drowning or have a child with critical care needs due to a drowning related accident.  

Fall is officially here, and although pool season is over for most areas, spa and hot tub season is just getting started. Here at APi we provide products to help you maintain your spa throughout the colder months so that you can spend more time enjoying your hot tub and less time cleaning it! A nice spa after a long day of skiing or even working is a wonderful way to unwind. What's not a nice way to unwind is spending hours maintaining and cleaning your spa.  Here at APi, we want to make sure you spend more time enjoying your hot tub and less time maintaining it. Our EZ3^® Spa Care Kit makes spa care a breeze with 3 simple steps. The kit includes:

• START to prepare the water by removing phosphates, metal, and debris
• E-Z BOOST to sanitize and disinfect
• TOTAL CARE does the rest with a clarifier, stable oxidizer, stain and scale inhibitor, water conditioner and balancers (pH, TA and CH) to keep spa water clean, clear and trouble free.

The kit also includes test strips and a measuring scoop. These products only need to be used once a week, minimizing time and cost compared to some other spa care products. APi's EZ3^® Spa Care Kit is superior to other care products because our products are based on the idea of prevention, rather than the idea of reaction. Don't wait until you have a problem with your spa, use our spa products regularly to avoid problems altogether. Not only will you save yourself peace of mind, you will also be able to spend more time relaxing in your spa and less time at pool supply stores trying to diagnose the issue. Here are some great testimonials from satisfied EZ3^® Customers!

“I have used the EZ Spa^® now for four years. It is the best spa treatment I have ever used. It makes the water feel really soft and refreshing. I use it once a week and forget it. My spa stays crystal clear. I love this stuff. Not to mention when you use EZ Spa^® you don’t have to buy so many other chemicals. I also noticed that EZ Spa^® is extremely gentle on the skin. I can’t say enough about how good this stuff is. Try it, you’ll love it!” – Terri G., NJ “We are very happy with this product…We were using Baqua spa and anticipated some problems because of the chemical change but now the water is as fresh and clear as the day we first filled our tub!”– Lori K., Kentucky “We run our spa year-round and EZ Spa^® has worked for us. Works great to keep the spa clean!”– Barbara S., Minnesota “I am using EZ Spa^® and I love it!”– Cathy, Florida

To find an APi distributor near you, Click Here. 

For most of the country, the end of pool season is quickly approaching. Picture-perfect pool parties can take a lot of time to plan and execute. Not everyone has that kind of time. If you haven’t had time to host a pool party this season, it’s not too late. Create a simple and EZ party plan where spending time with your friends and family is the focus. There might be time to recreate those picture-perfect party ideas in the future, but in the meantime, start enjoying your family, friends, and one of your largest investments, your pool. Here are 5 tips for a simple and EZ Pool Party that will allow you to sit back and enjoy the party instead of being a slave to it. 1. Invitations Unless it’s a formal occasion like a graduation party or wedding, the days of sending invitations in the mail are pretty much over. That doesn’t mean that you have to take the time to call each person on your guest list and personally invite them. There are tools available to help save you time getting the word out to everyone. If you are part of the Facebook community, you can create an event page and invite your Facebook friends to attend. Evite is an app that helps you send and manage invites via text and email. You can also track RSVPs and even share photos with guests after the event. 2. Food Who doesn’t love the idea of slow smoked pork sandwiches and homemade macaroni and cheese at a pool party? I’m hungry just thinking about it. If you don’t have the time to spend on buying, prepping, and cooking a BBQ masterpiece or even pool party mainstays like hamburgers and hot dogs, consider these alternatives to slaving over a hot grill. Sub sandwiches cut up in individual servings can be an EZ and refreshing option in the heat of the day. Guests can eat them as they want and don’t have to try to squeeze into limited seating at the same time. When in doubt, order pizzas. It’s a simple solution that gives you more time to enjoy during the party, and cleanup is a breeze. Don’t forget to keep your guests hydrated. Have an array of cold drinks on hand including water to help balance out any caffeinated or alcoholic drinks you may be serving. 3. Decorations There’s no need to waste time and money buying disposable decorations for your pool party. Pool essentials like colorful towels, pool floats, water toys, and even sunscreen can be your party decor. Chances are you have most if not all of these items on hand already. Place smaller items in colorful buckets, pails or bins and scatter them around your pool area. Pro Tip: Air compressors or hand pumps make blowing up all of those toys and floats a breeze. 4. Safety If you plan on serving alcoholic beverages at your party, designate a sober adult to watch over the kids (and intoxicated adults) in the pool. There is nothing fun about a loved one be injured or worse while everyone else is busy getting their party on. Sunburn isn’t fun either, so make sure to have plenty of sunblock on hand for the guests who forgot to bring their own. Pro tip: Beach front hotels often store their sunscreen on ice so that it cools you off when you reapply. It sounds like a refreshing idea for a pool party too. If your pool area doesn’t have a covered patio nearby, consider setting up a pop-up tent so that your guests can have a break from the sun and still be a part of the festivities. Shade and staying hydrated help keep heat stroke away. 5. Pool Don’t think that because this is the last tip on our list that it’s the least important. That couldn’t be any further from the truth. It is a pool party after all. The best food and decorations won’t mean a thing if your pool is smelly, cloudy, or even green, because no one will want to go in it. Make sure you leave yourself enough time before the big day to get your pool party-ready. For solutions to your pool water problems, click on the following video links. Green to Clean Pool Cloudy Murky Water Foul Smelling Water