Pool FAQs Archives - Page 3 of 5

Swimming Pool Myths and Facts

Posted on August 26, 2019July 13, 2026 by JosiahSchaefer

Question: Which of the following is true?

A. You must wait an hour after eating to swim.

B. Chlorine turns your hair green.

C. Swimming pools take a lot of time and money to maintain.

D. People who own pools don’t really use them.

E. None of the above.

The correct answer is E. None of the above.

There are a lot of swimming pool myths and facts floating around (pun intended) about swimming and swimming pool ownership out there. Let’s take a minute to debunk those swimming pool myths, shall we?

You must wait an hour after eating to swim.

Sure, mother typically knows best, but, if you have memories of being sidelined at the pool after lunch, wistfully watching your friends having fun, your mom was subscribing to an old wives’ tale. You don’t really have to wait an hour after eating to swim. The thinking behind this myth is that you’re more likely to get a “stitch” or cramp if you swim on a full stomach, but there’s no medical evidence to support it. If you’re prone to cramps, you might want to stretch a bit before swimming, and of course, you need to adhere to pool safety rules. But you can feel free to enjoy your dinner, and then jump in and swim off those calories.

Chlorine turns your hair green.

The greenish tint that some blonde-haired swimmers sport after swimming is actually caused by copper sulfate, which is used to combat algae. You may or may not use much of it, depending on what kind of pool you have. Algae is most likely to form in inground pools with vinyl liners, where it can hide and grow in the pool seams and crevices, and in gunite pools, in the rough surface of the concrete. Inground pool owners who enjoy the low-maintenance fiberglass pool lifestyle will find they don’t need algaecides as often. Either way, chlorine has had a bad rap on this, and it’s not the culprit.

Swimming pools take a lot of time and money to maintain.

Again, the level of maintenance your inground pool requires depends on what kind of pool you choose. Because of their durable, gel coat finish, fiberglass pools require fewer pool maintenance chemicals, which means less time and less money for the pool owner. Vinyl pools require, on average, about double the amount of pool maintenance chemicals than fiberglass, and gunite is a whopping four times more.

Sure, getting the hang of your pool maintenance schedule in the beginning can mean a big learning curve. However, if you stay on top of it, regular maintenance for a fiberglass pool should not take longer than one to two hours per week. The rest of the time, you’ll be chilling in your fabulous pool and wondering how you ever lived without it.

People who own pools don’t really use them.

Families who own inground pools have a great way to keep their kids off their devices and engaged in family life. Homes with pools become the go-to place for kids to gather, so you’ll be able to get to know your kids’ friends. And it’s not just your kids’ friends who will enjoy coming over. Your pool is a wonderful place to host parties and reconnect with people you care about. Pool owners can enjoy the luxury of a staycation every day of the week throughout the swim season.

But there’s more to pool ownership than just socializing. Pools are good for you! Swimming is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the US, and it’s a great way to lose weight, reduce chronic pain and lower your stress level. Once you own your own inground pool, you’ll find every reason in the world to spend your time there.

Take the plunge. (And you don’t have to wait an hour after you eat to do it.)

Now that we’ve debunked some of the myths of pool ownership, are you thinking that owning a pool may be right for you? Take the plunge today by getting a FREE estimate on a fabulous fiberglass pool. You’ll be in the swim before you know it.

#PSPExpo #PSPExpo2019 #NewOrleans

10 Water Exercises You Can Do in Your Fiberglass Pool

Posted on August 1, 2019August 18, 2026 by krista

Enjoy the Health Benefits of Swimming in Your Own Backyard!

An inground pool is a lovely addition to one’s home and is a great place to host gatherings for family and friends. Pools allow the family to get out of the house and still escape the intense summer heat. But your fiberglass pool can be more than just a social spot. In this post, we will give you some ideas for swimming pool exercises that you can do alone or with others to maximize the health benefits of your time in the pool.

Health Benefits of Swimming Pool Exercises

Did you know that swimming pool exercises are one of the best ways to burn calories with minimal risk of injury? Movements in the pool are lower impact than the hard ground allowing for a more joint friendly workout. And, water is around 784 times denser than air which provides a stronger resistance resulting in more calories being burned. What’s more, swimming uses every muscle group in both your upper and lower body, so you’ll get a great whole body workout.

Summertime is the perfect time for starting a resolution to get in shape, and your own backyard pool is an enjoyable, private place to exercise. While swimming laps are effective, it can be boring and cause many to lose sight of their resolution. That’s why we came up with ten swimming pool exercises that will help you burn calories, strengthen your muscles, and get fit for summer!

Water Exercise Equipment Checklist

Before you get started, make sure you are equipped for the exercises. You will want to have the proper equipment ready including water goggles, aquatic dumbbells and water floaties. Here’s why:

Goggles. Goggles are a necessity for water exercising. They help your body create a steady form and direction while protecting your eyes.
Aquatic Weights. Weights allow for greater resistance. Adding weights can help improve smaller muscle groups that get missed in a normal workout.
Water Floaties. Can be useful to have nearby in case of a cramp, and they are helpful when maneuvering around the pool.

How to do Swimming Pool Exercises

The Bicycle.

(Note: Please do not bring your actual bicycle into the pool!) Rest your elbows on the side of the pool, face toward the pool and move your legs into a crouched position. Then, move your legs to make an imaginary type of bicycle motion. Do this exercise for 2 minutes, rest 30 seconds, then repeat three to five times.
Benefits: Burns calories fast and strengthens core, shoulders and legs and also helps by improving form.
Missile.

Begin near the wall, facing the pool floor. Place your your legs in a squatting position with your hands parallel to the pool floor. Next, push your feet from the wall and explode away. Repeat two to five times. Then, flip over and perform the same swimming pool exercise facing upward with the same number of repetitions.
Benefits: Strengthens calves, glutes and hamstrings. Improves muscle explosiveness.
Jog/Sprint.

A light jog around the pool is good for the lower body. Once you have warmed up your body (three to five minutes), move your knees up higher and move across faster to get a more intense workout. 15-30 minutes total should suffice.
Benefits: Helps with rehab, walking gait and muscular explosiveness in the lower body.
Squat Jumps.

Start in a squatting position as low as you can, then jump as high as you can. Do five to 10 consecutively followed by 60 seconds of walking in place. Repeat three to five times.
Benefits: Strengthens quads, glutes and hamstrings. Improves explosiveness and balance.
Bicep Curls.

Standing chest-deep in water, lift aquatic weights in front of you toward your chest. Make sure to keep the full range of motion under the water. Do ten curls, rest for a ten count. Then repeat the cycle three times.
Benefits: Strengthens and tones biceps.
Noodle Plank.

Hold onto the noodle down on the stairs and get into a push-up position. The water resistance against the noodle will make holding the position difficult. Try holding the position for at least two minutes. Rest for a ten count and repeat 3 times.
Benefits: Strengthens abdominal muscles, core, and is a light workout for arms and shoulders.
Free Style with Weights.

Swim laps as you normally would, but use weights to increase your resistance.
Benefits: Strengths arms, shoulders and core.
Jab Punches.

Reenact Rocky 1,2,3,4,5 and 6! Squat until your shoulders are underwater, then punch underwater as fast as you can.
Benefits: Improves explosiveness and strengthens back, shoulders, arms and core.
Spiderman.

Climb the wall like Spiderman! Get in the pool, and stand by the edge. Hold on to the side of the pool and stabilize your upper body while you put one foot on the wall. Next, let go of the wall and start moving your hands back and forth to keep your balance while running your feet up and down the side of the pool. Try for 30 seconds of climbing at a time, and repeat two to four times.
Benefits: Burns calories and strengthens quads.
One-Legged Balance

Do your best one-legged flamingo! Keep one leg under water and bend your knees slightly. Then, raise one leg closer toward the water surface. Try to hold for 30 seconds, and alternate legs. Repeat 5 times per leg.
Benefits: Strengthens core and balance and improves flexibility.
Bonus! Leg Plank Kicks Created by Thursday’s own, Pilar Vondell

This swimming exercise is best accomplished in the Thursday Pools Aspen design! Get into a plank position on the Aspen’s stairs, then raise one leg as high as possible into the air. Once you have raised your leg on both sides fives times, flip so your body is facing the sky and repeat.
Benefits: Improves flexibility and range of motion, and strengthens core.

Get in the swim!

If you’re ready to have fun and get fit and enjoy the health benefits of swimming exercise, find a Thursday Pools dealer near you today and get your weekend started early!

43 Interesting Things About the Pool Lifestyle

Posted on July 25, 2019July 13, 2026 by krista

Once you’ve joined the club of swimming pool owners, certain truths about pool lifestyle become self-evident. Over my years as a member of this backyard-living, pool-owning club, these things have proven themselves to be true over and over again. Whether you currently own a fiberglass pool or you’re ready to take the plunge with a new inground pool, you’re sure to get a kick out of this list of 43 interesting things that all pool owners eventually come to know.

Water always goes cloudy the day before a big party.
Farts float (according to my grandson).
The meaning of the terms “pH” and Total Dissolved Solids.
It’s better to buy quality than cheap.
It always rains 2 inches after you have added water with your garden hose.
Blow-up toys usually last about two weeks (if you are lucky).
Don’t ever say “Feel free to use the pool anytime.” They will.
There’s no such thing as enough towels.
Never walk barefoot on a deck or driveway that the sun has been baking all day.
There always needs to be someone outside the pool to chase the ball.
Never show your kids how to turn on the pool heater.
Always check the water temperature before entering the pool.
Water spouts and floating fountains are mesmerizing and a great stress-reliever.
Small, round rocks are impossible to dig out of the deep-end.
Skimmer baskets catch some amazing things.
You acquire friends you never realized you had before buying a pool.
Grass clippings are a bear to get out of the pool. Foot baths for kids are required.
Never try to go down a dry slide. Literally can’t be done.
You actually own (and will at some point probably use) a lifeguard whistle.
You really can get sunburned on what seems to be a cloudy day. In places you never imagined.
All concrete decks eventually crack.
There is no such thing as a chemical that turns color if a kid pees in the pool (but don’t tell the kids that.)
Never take glass of any kind into the pool area. (Doesn’t matter if you’re “careful”).
You find yourself yelling the phrase “STOP RUNNING” on a regular basis.
You’re obsessed with water safety and require “swimmies” or life jackets on kids until they prove themselves.
Ducks and geese will always choose your pool over the pond.
Your kids, who promised to clean the pool EVERY DAY, need reminding EVERY DAY.
It’s always a good idea to shock your pool after the little league has been in it.
You tell your teenage daughter the best way to get a tan is to vacuum the pool.
You have plastic runners from the back door to the bathroom.
Even with a pool, the kids occasionally like to play in the sprinkler.
You can (and have been known to) jump fully clothed in the pool after mowing the yard on a humid 80-degree day.
The mysterious object at the deep-end of the pool is your sunglasses.
You firmly believe that no child gets to swim without supervision. EVER.
Kids will get in 65-degree water in April, but complain if it’s not 85 degrees in June
When walking down the steps into the pool water there is a “special depth” that requires hesitation.
It is a proven fact that birds will fly 200 miles just to poop on your pool deck.
Basketball is the best game to play in the pool. Volleyball requires a crowd.
The decibel level of a kids birthday pool party is louder than anything you could possibly imagine.
You should invite your goofy neighbor to pool parties, or your guests might see him burning leaves in his underwear. (I know this from experience.)
Sitting by the pool is almost more relaxing than floating in it.
Having a pool in your backyard makes you feel like you’re on vacation every day.
When you walk into the backyard, your pool will never fail to make you smile.

These are just a few of the pool lifestyle things that every pool owner knows. The joys of backyard summer living poolside are too many too count. I’ll add more as time goes by and I’m sure you have some of your own. (Now, just imagine that if anyone ever Googles “do farts float,” they may get to read this blog.) And if you’d like to join the club of pool owners, give my friends at Thursday Pools a shout. They can hook you up.

With that in mind it is time to go enjoy my own pool. Have a great and safe pool season. Until next time…

-The General

Chronic Pain? Try Water Exercise for Pain Relief

Posted on July 16, 2019July 13, 2026 by krista

Have you heard of Pool Pain? Rarely! See how low-impact pool exercises relieve joint pain

If you bend down to tie your shoes and find yourself thinking, “What else can I do while I’m down here?” you may be dealing with chronic pain. Chronic pain can really cramp your style. Little things that used to be easy have become a struggle, like doing laundry, lifting a grandbaby or carrying in groceries. Other than medication, what can you do to alleviate the pain? You can swim.

Water exercise, particularly in the warm water of a heated inground pool, has provided dramatic relief from pain and stiff joints for many chronic pain sufferers. The gentle, low-impact resistance the water provides gives them a great workout with less potential for falls, as well as a lower risk of joint stress and tissue injury. In this blog post, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about pool exercise.

HOW WILL SWIMMING HELP ME?

Here’s just a short list of conditions that can be improved by swimming exercise:

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Migraines
Fibromyalgia
Pinched nerves and nerve pain
Ankle and foot pain
Hand, arm and shoulder pain
Hip pain
Knee and leg pain
Neck pain
Lower and upper back pain
Generalized muscle and joint pain

That list covers pretty much all of us at some point, right? So, even if you’re not a strong swimmer, getting in the water and doing some gentle resistance exercises can have a great impact.

Swimming for overall health and wellness

Pain relief is not the only health benefit of swimming. According to an article from Harvard Medical School, swimming also improves blood pressure, cholesterol levels, energy levels, heart and lung health, and an overall sense of happiness and well-being. Swimming laps is certainly an option, but there are many other invigorating and fun ways to get exercise in the pool, using water exercise equipment or playing games in the pool with your family.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SWIM?

Make a weekly commitment.

In order to get the maximum health benefits from swimming, you’ll need to commit to spending at least two hours per week in the pool.

WHERE SHOULD I SWIM?

To make sure you stick with it, find your ideal pool experience.

You can join a local gym that has a pool, go to your community pool or use a friend’s pool, if any of those are available to you. However, you’re more likely to get in a pool that’s just outside your door, so having an inground pool in your own backyard is an even better option! With your own private pool, you can control the temperature yourself. You can exercise any time you want—morning, noon or night. You might even be able to get more than one workout in a day. Although it is possible to have pool pain, it is less likely to occur due to the low-impact nature of the exercise.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE MY OWN POOL?

The swimming pool lifestyle

With an inground fiberglass pool, you’ll always have a spot to entertain friends, spend quality time with your kids and grandkids and unwind at the end of a busy day. After you’ve gotten your exercise in for the day, you can enjoy the backyard paradise you’ve created. You can even enhance your swimming pool area with a sound system, an outdoor kitchen and a wonderful shade structure.

Inground fiberglass pools are low-maintenance and will provide your family with a place to create memories for years to come. If you’re ready to reach your fitness goals and enjoy all the other benefits that owning a swimming pool offers, it’s time to get an estimate on a new fiberglass inground pool today.

Swimming for Summer Weight Loss

Posted on July 11, 2019July 13, 2026 by krista

Get in Shape with a Thursday Pool: Swimming for Weight Loss

While running and biking can be great ways to lose pounds, the summer weather provides obstacles, often in the form of intense heat, that can be too strenuous (and dangerous) if you’re not properly equipped, stretched and hydrated. Swimming exercises are an excellent alternative to stay cool and shave off the pounds. In this post, we’ll discuss swimming for weight loss in your own fiberglass pool.

With a fiberglass pool, you can exercise in the comfort and convenience of your own private, personally customized space and control aspects of your workout that a facility doesn’t allow. For example, you are able to decide when you want to workout, for how long, how intense, and with how many breaks. Plus, it’s much easier to stay hydrated when you can simply retrieve a tall glass of water whenever you want.

Swimming for weight loss and exercising in a (Thursday Pools) fiberglass pool can be safer because the fiberglass coating is smooth (yet non-slip). While stretching or jogging in the pool, you don’t have to worry about the rough bottom (as in a gunite pool) irritating your feet. Whereas running and biking have the potential of injury from falling or pulling something, swimming is a very joint friendly workout.

Water exercises can be beneficial for people of all ages to lose weight at their own pace. With exercises as simple as stretching, you can help warm up your muscles and lose calories in the process. At a moderate pace of freestyle swimming, you can expect to burn 300 calories in 30 minutes.

One of the most common myths of swimming is that it is not effective because you cannot see the sweat, but in all actuality, swimming is a great choice to build muscle endurance and cardio—perfect for losing weight.

The speed of weight loss also depends on how experienced of a swimmer you are. A person who has a less fluid motion and has to concentrate to keep the technique together is more likely to lose weight faster than an experienced swimmer. Learning how to do different swim strokes can help you lose weight because being inexperienced in the technique makes your body work harder to perform the motion.

Drafting a plan to lose weight continuously gets more challenging as you become more experienced in the water and your cardio improves. Don’t give up! To stay motivated, create a buddy system with a neighbor and/or friend who is also trying to lose weight so that you have support and accountability.
Or why not make it a family activity? As for your swimming techniques, shorten your breaks, change strokes more frequently and increase the intensity (time per lap) to keep up the weight loss over time.

Start swimming in your fiberglass pool today! It’s the cool way lose weight.

The Best Thursday Pools Designs for Exercising in Your Pool

Posted on July 2, 2019August 13, 2026 by krista

Enjoy every aspect of your new fiberglass pool–including the health benefits of swimming!

The fiberglass pool lifestyle is … what’s the word we’re looking for? Oh yes. Spectacular.

With a fiberglass inground pool, there are marvelous parties to be thrown, plenty of reasons to unplug and spend time with the family and loads of excuses to drop that to-do list and just chillax in the sun. In addition to the joy of backyard summer living by your low-maintenance fiberglass pool, you’re sure to profit from all the health benefits of swimming. Water exercises and swimming have been proven to improve strength and flexibility, lower stress levels and blood pressure, aid in weight loss and increase energy levels. Plus, swimming is a good low impact exercise for those with certain injuries and conditions. If you’re ready to enjoy all the benefits of the fiberglass pool lifestyle, and get fit and fabulous at the same time, let’s check out the top Thursday Pools fiberglass pool designs for swimming and exercise!

Monolith. At 40 feet long, Monolith gives you the maximum possible space for both lap swimming and game-playing. There’s a wide-open swim lane for those who are on a mission to get their strokes in, and the 3’4” uniform-depth shallow-end is ideal for water games like basketball and volleyball. There’s ample room for everyone in the family to have fun and get fit at the same time.
Goliath. Goliath is available in three sizes: 16’ x 33’, 16’ x 37’ and 16’ x 41’. Get the biggest one your yard will accommodate to create the maximum area for fun and exercise. The wide-open swim space gives everyone plenty of room for lap swimming and playing water games. Dual corner entry steps in the shallow-end and dual deep-end benches with swim-outs make it easy for swimmers of all ages and abilities to get in and out of the pool and relax when the games are done!
Aspen. While Aspen’s huge, built-in tanning ledge might invite you to lounge, there’ll be plenty of time for that after your workout! So before you chill, you can get a great cardio session in your Aspen, whether it’s volleyball, basketball or a good, old-fashioned game of Marco Polo.
Lil Bob LX. Lil Bob LX is built for fun and games. At 13.5’ x 35.5’, with a uniform, 4’6” sport-bottom depth, Lil Bob LX is the ideal pool for the family that plays together. Whether you’re into water aerobics, or something more competitive, this fiberglass pool design will get everyone moving … even the youngest of swimmers! The 12” deep tanning ledge leads into an 18” deep wading area that’s perfect for toddlers just learning to safely enjoy the water.
Spirit. Our Spirit fiberglass pool design is 40’ long with a 4’6” uniform sport pool depth throughout. So, true to its name, the Spirit pool design encourages spirited games that will bring the whole family together. And the wrap-around bench seating throughout provides the perfect place for the cheering section on the sidelines!

Exercising in your new inground fiberglass pool can make your whole family happier and healthier while bringing everyone together. Whether you’re swimming laps and building up your strength, or teaching your kids how to land a dunk shot, your fiberglass pool will bring hours of fitness and fun.

6 Secrets to Creating Family Time with Your New Fiberglass Pool

Posted on June 27, 2019July 13, 2026 by krista

Family Time Swimming Pool | Creating Memories with your New Fiberglass Pool

Amidst a sea of obligations, families often struggle to find ways to spend more time together. And we all know that finding something that the whole family enjoys can be tough. Why not gather the family in the backyard around your new fiberglass pool? In this post, we will share some secrets that we have learned along the way that will help you create a fiberglass pool experience that’s perfect for each and every family member.

Family Pool Night. Mark one evening a week on your calendar as family pool night. Make this evening a priority all summer long. If you have to, consider limiting your kids or your own activities. When you make family pool time a priority, your kids will too. And what better way to demonstrate family first than to actually start putting family time first? Family pool night is spent by the pool, grilling out, swimming and enjoying a relaxing evening outdoors.
Tech-Free Pool Zone. Consider making the pool area an electronic free zone. Tech-free zones encourage conversations and interactions. With the rise in the use of technology among younger children, studies have shown that having tech-free zones in the home can improve relationships, increase reading and conversations, improve moods and allow time for self-reflection. We could all benefit from those! Be sure to keep one phone near the pool in case of an emergency.
Pool Chores. Make taking care of the pool a fun family routine. Working alongside each other helps establish teamwork among siblings, builds trust and teaches accountability. Allow children to take part in the effort by giving them chores that best suit their abilities and interests. Perhaps you have a daughter who is into science—she would be the ideal person to test the pool water. Another could skim off any floating debris or bugs (some kids love this job). Here are some other chores that could be part of the chore list: empty the skimmer basket(s), vacuum the pool, wipe down the scum line, etc. Together, you can power through your pool maintenance checklist while bonding over the experience. Remember, children should be supervised at all times and only age appropriate chores should be given.
Play Pool Games. Lose the board games, and play some pool games. Taking time to play together in the pool is about taking the time to laugh and splash together. These are the memories that will be cherished by all for a lifetime.
Host An Event. This little secret brings can really bring out the teamwork. Make it an event that everyone can be excited about by hosting the baseball team, youth group, a family reunion or the neighborhood block party. Give everyone an important role in preparing for the event. And make sure to plan ahead so you can all sit back, relax and enjoy your company on the day of the event.
Swim Together. It is amazing what you will learn about your kids when they don’t have their phones or video games in front of them. And despite whether or not you have decided to make the pool a tech-free zone, it is pretty difficult to be on the phone and in the water at the same time. Pick a perfect spot in the pool to chillax and take advantage of this time with your loved ones. You might be surprised about what you learn from each other’s day when distractions like mobile phones aren’t within arm’s reach.

We hope you try these six secrets to creating family time with your new fiberglass pool. Come back to our blog often for more ways you can enjoy the pool life.

Five Fun and (Almost) Free Swimming Pool Games for Kids and Families

Posted on June 4, 2019July 15, 2026 by krista

Summer swim season is almost here! Are you ready to have a blast in your inground pool? Yeah you are. You enjoy soaking up rays on your awesome fiberglass pool tanning ledge, swimming laps to get fit and strong, and throwing epic beach-themed parties. Pools are made for games and fun. And, you can buy lots of pool accessories and toys. But, you don’t always have to spend money to have fun. Sometimes you can use what you already have, make up your own rules and play all day. However, you must always keep the rules of pool safety in mind! So, make sure all the games you’re dreaming up encourage safe play. Here are five ideas to get you started.

Duck races

Get some bathtub rubber duckies at the store. Divide your swimmers into teams and have them each choose a name for their team. Get out one duck per team, and write a team name on the bottom of each one. All players start at the same end of the pool. Drop the ducks in the water and yell “Go Duck Go!” The teams must move their duck to the other end of the pool without using their hands or touching the ducks in any way. They can splash or blow the ducks, or make waves in the water by swimming alongside them. The first team that makes it to the other end of the pool wins. (And, if the ducks get criss-crossed in the water from splashing and a team moves their opponents’ duck across the finish line, their opponents win!)

Water hunt

Remove the label from a clear, two-liter water or soda bottle that has a white, clear or blue cap. Fill it with pool water. Divide your swimmers into two teams and have them line up along opposite ends of the pool, facing away from the water. Throw the bottle into the center of the pool and yell, “Water hunt!” Both teams swim as quickly as they can to find the bottle, which is nearly invisible in the water. The first team to find the bottle wins.

Beach ball soccer

Divide your swimmers into two teams and have them face off in two lines in the center of the pool. Designate which end of the pool is each team’s goal line. Toss a beach ball into the center of the pool. Each team must move the ball towards their goal line without using their hands. So, they can use their noses, elbows, legs and feet. The first team to reach their goal wins.

Music video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_L__GAuSWE
Divide your swimmers into two teams. Have each of them choose their favorite song, and then have them water-choreograph it. Encourage your swimmers to use props and create impromptu costumes. Give a prize for the most creative music video. (And don’t forget to film it for posterity!)

Atomic whirlpool

This game is not a competition—it’s just fun! Line all your swimmers up along the edges of the pool, evenly spaced and facing the same direction. On your command, have them all start walking as fast as they can around the edge. Then, have them jog for another few minutes. When you yell, “Atomic whirlpool!” everyone should stop running. The current will carry them along. Then yell, “Reverse whirlpool!” Everyone should turn around and try to run against the current. They probably won’t be able to!

Get social!

Swimming pools bring families and friends together. So, no matter what games you play, you’re bound to have a summer of fun in the sun in your inground fiberglass pool. Have your kids created a fun pool game? Share it with other families on our Facebook page!

Ask the General: Cartridge Filters vs. Sand Filters; Which is Best for Your Pool?

Posted on May 8, 2019July 15, 2026 by krista

Dear General-

We’re getting a new fiberglass pool this summer! We’ve chosen our fiberglass pool design and our add-on features. Now, we’re wondering what kind of filtration system we should get. We’ve heard pros and cons about both cartridge filtration systems and sand filtration systems. We want what’s best for our pool long-term, but of course we’re excited about low pool maintenance too. What guidance can you give us?

Signed- Figuring out filtration in Fairfield

Dear Figuring in Fairfield-

Great question! If you’re a regular reader of my articles, you’ve heard me talk about sand filtration already. Cartridge filters are great too. There’s no one system that’s superior to the other, and I’ve used both over the years. But, let’s see if we can filter through some more details and help you choose what’s best for you.

Let’s first take a look at how they work.

Sand filters

Sand filters work quite simply by pushing your pool water through sand that catches the dirt and debris and returns clean water into the pool. You clean your sand filter by backwashing it. This means running water backwards through the filter until the filter is clean. Sand filters are a pretty popular option for residential inground pools.

Sand filter maintenance

Sand filters require very little maintenance, other than the aforementioned backwashing. You’ll need to replace the sand every 2-4 years, depending on how often you use your pool.

Cartridge filters

Cartridge filters have a single layer of filter media made of synthetic fabrics attached in pleats to a cylindrical core. Water is pumped through the filter and passes through the cartridge, trapping dirt and debris in the fabric. Some spas and above-ground pools have a cartridge incorporated in the skimmer. You’ll need to make sure you’ve chosen the appropriately sized filter for your pool.

Cartridge filter maintenance

Cartridge filters must be manually removed to be cleaned. When the filter gauge increases 8 to 10 psi over normal (or, your water flow is visibly reduced), it’s time to clean them. It’s a great idea to keep an extra set of cartridge filters handy, so that you can swap them out when one set is being cleaned. However, with each cleaning, you’ll only recover about 60 percent efficacy. So, after three or four cleanings, you’ll probably have to buy new filters. However, cartridge filters cut energy costs because they require less pump pressure.

Which filtration system is best for you? It depends.

How important is water clarity?

Both systems will give you clear water. But for the absolute best water clarity, cartridge filters win.

Cartridge filters typically screen out twice as much dirt and debris as sand filters do. A cartridge filter takes out so fine a particle that your water actually glistens. It can really be witnessed at night when your pool lights are on. That little foggy halo of tiny particles that the light displays is greatly reduced.

Where do you live?

For areas that tend to be debris-heavy, sand filters are your best bet.

For example, I live in an established neighborhood with very little dirt and debris floating around in the air. Therefore, I enjoyed the cartridge system and only cleaned the filters once a season, when I closed the pool for the winter. The filters lasted about four years, but were expensive to replace. However, my daughter lives in the country, and her pool is surrounded by corn, and soybean fields. The dust and pollen factors are very high, especially when the fields are freshly plowed or harvested. She had a devil of a time with her cartridge system because she needed to clean it out so often. It’s time-consuming to take a filter apart, soak it and put it back together. And the more often you clean it, the more often it will need to be replaced. We changed her to a sand filter, and it was smooth sailing from there! And obviously, if you’re planning an indoor pool, cartridge filters are absolutely your best bet.

Ask the pros

You can always consult with your pool professional for advice on what type of pool filtration system will work best for the area you live in and how you plan to use and care for your pool. They can also make recommendations about manufacturers. No matter which system you choose, you’ll love the durability and low-maintenance that a fiberglass pool offers. Happy swimming!

Until next time- The General

Ask the General: What Do I Need to Know About Groundwater in the Spring?

Posted on March 15, 2019July 15, 2026 by krista

Dear General;

Our family got a new inground pool last summer, and our pool installer told us that we need to keep an eye on our groundwater pressure and levels in the springtime. What advice can you give us pool owner newbies about springtime pool maintenance, and what do I need to know about the possibility of groundwater damaging our pool in the spring?

Signed; Waiting for Spring in Walnut Ridge

Dear Waiting;

Your pool installer is correct. There IS quite a lot to think about in the spring, and the risks from excess groundwater pressure should be top-of-mind as we get ready to open our pools for the season.

When your pool was installed, your pool builder probably explained all about groundwater pressure and how their installation process was intended to protect your pool from it (along with a host of other forgotten tips). No one really expects pool owners to memorize every detail about their pools. So, I’m glad you asked about groundwater and spring pool maintenance. Here’s what you need to know:

Groundwater pressure is no joke.

I can’t stress this enough. Spring showers, coupled with thawing snow, saturate the ground around your pool. Your pool is probably backfilled with pea gravel, crushed gravel or sand. The backfill creates a natural place for groundwater to migrate and accumulate. Groundwater pressure is no joke.

On vinyl liner pools: Your liner can float. This is a very bad thing and will be an expensive fix. Your pool builder will have to drain the pool, control the surface water, fix any pool base that has washed out, reset the liner and then refill your pool, which means you’ll have to start over with water stabilization and treatment. To add insult to injury, this process can only take place when it’s warm enough to get the liner reset which means you’ll lose swim time. Another problem is that liners that float will develop wrinkles that may never go away, and you’ll have to choose between buying a new liner or living with the wrinkles.
On fiberglass pools and concrete pools: The force of excess groundwater can cause cracks in your pool walls. In extreme cases, such as flooding in the spring, both fiberglass pools and gunite (concrete) pools could potentially pop out of the ground, particularly if the water level is very low or the pool has been drained.

How your pool was installed and what your groundwater alleviation plan is.

To balance the pressure of groundwater as you’re taking off your cover and getting ready to open your pool for the spring, there are several systems pool builders use:

A sump pit. In my installing days, we always put a sump pit next to the pool (usually in the deck with a skimmer lid). This allowed a way to visually inspect and pump out any groundwater that had accumulated around the pool.
A wellpoint (also known as a driven point) system. Wellpoint systems consist of a series of small diameter wells that are connected by a header pipe to a wellpoint pump.
A pipe around the pool. Some installers will simply run a pipe from the over dig around the pool to a remote sump pit.

No matter what groundwater alleviation system your pool has, it’s important that you understand it and know what to look for and how to remedy groundwater pressure on your pool.

What’s under the cover.

Hopefully, you’ve kept an eye on your cover and the water level underneath it all winter. Now, it’s time to see what’s going on under there. Whether you have a standard winter cover or an automatic pool safety cover, your first step is to pump off the standing water. While you’re doing this, you need to add water to the pool to ensure that your water level is high enough to counteract groundwater pressure.

So, what have we learned? If you said, “Groundwater is no joke,” you win the grand prize. It’s physics. Groundwater pressure is a pretty basic concept. All the water has to go somewhere. So, take a minute now to go out to your pool and check your water level under your winter cover. You’ll save yourself time and money by keeping groundwater pressure at bay.

Until next time; The General

About the General

The General is our guest blogger. He speaks from years of pool building experience and shares his expertise with our readers monthly. He’s also a great storyteller and really fun at a party.