Pools Plus, Inc.

2011 was quite a year of ups and downs! We want to wish all our loyal customers a Happy New Year!

For the last 5 years we have had a special visistor at our 29th St. store!

We have named her Margaret and she is a beautiful duck that nests and has her babies right before our eyes.

We noticed her a few years ago and know that when she arrives on our doorstep, it is Spring time!

Welcome back Margaret we can’t wait to welcome your baby duckies!

Zodiac the makers of Baracuda and Polaris brand cleaners has come out with a new cleaner!

The MX8 is a suction style cleaner that cleans the floors and walls.

Click on this link to look at a video of it in action.

http://baracuda.com/poolcleaners/mx8.aspx

6 Keys to Basic Spa Care

Get in the habit of practicing some basic spa care rules everyone should observe. Preventing problems before they occur will give you more enjoyment from your sparkling clear spa – not to mention the perfect environment for relaxing with family and friends.

There are 6 essential keys to spa care:

1. Circulation
Proper water circulation will help ensure even distribution of products as well as promote filtration. As the water circulates, it passes through the filter, trapping suspended particles. Properly circulating SpaGuard spa care products help keep the water inviting and ready for your soaking pleasure. Be sure to run your spa’s circulation system every day to ensure good working order.

2. Filtration
Many spa issues are caused by poor filtration-when the filter is dirty or clogged, debris stays in the water. A properly cared for filter captures hair, oils and cosmetics. (Most spas have a cartridge filter.) Because spa filters trap many contaminants, cleaning has two steps: spraying off loose debris, then using SpaGuard Filter Cleaner to remove oils and other contaminants embedded into the filter. You need to clean your filter every 4 to 6 weeks. Check your owner’s manual or ask your SpaGuard Dealer for information on how to remove and clean your filter.

3. Cleaning
Contaminants such as dirt, oil and even bacteria can accumulate at the waterline, much like a bathtub ring. Regular cleaning preserves spa surfaces and prevents unwanted build-up. Off The Wall® Surface Cleaner and SpaGuard Cleaning Mitts are powerful, low-sudsing cleaners that work specifically with spa water chemistry. Use them to remove the ring of oil and dirt that serves as a breeding ground for bacteria and to prevent residue from building up around the waterline and inside skimmers.

4. Draining and Refilling
Regular draining and refilling is a normal part of spa maintenance. Over time, the water absorbs and dissolves minerals, chemicals and other soluble material. Your BioGuard dealer can perform a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) test to help determine if it’s time to replace your water. High TDS can make the water look dull, become foamy, and develop an odor. How often you drain and refill your spa depends on how often you use it.

This simple formula can help:

Spa gallons ÷ Daily bathers ÷ 3 = Days between draining

Example: 300 gallons ÷ 2 daily bathers ÷ 3 = 50 days

Note: a bather is one person in the spa for 15-30 minutes.

5. Chemistry
There are two primary components that affect spa water quality: sanitizer (bromine or chlorine) residual and pH. When both are within their recommended ranges, your water is comfortable, protected and clear; sanitizers and “shock products” work efficiently; and spa surfaces and equipment are protected. Recommended bromine or chlorine residual levels are:

*
Bromine Residual using Brominating Tablets
o
Residential = 2 – 4 ppm
o
Commercial = 4 – 6 ppm
*
Bromine Residual using Brominating Concentrate: 3 – 6 ppm
*
Chlorine Residual using Chlorinating Concentrate: 3 – 5 ppm

Maintain pH between 7.4 – 7.6 (the ideal range; acceptable range is 7.2 – 7.6). By adding SpaGuard Spa Sentry, it holds the pH within its optimum range. Spa Sentry is formulated to “watch over” the pH and protect the water from pH changes.

*Not Applicable for Spas using Spa Sentry.
**Spa Sentry not compatible with Soft Soak®.

6. Testing. The chemistry of your spa water needs to be checked regularly. Use SpaGuard products to maintain the correct levels, including: sanitizer residuals, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, and total dissolved solids. BioGuard® 4-way Test Strips – and Soft Soak® 4-way Test Strips for Soft Soak spas – test pH, total alkalinity, and sanitizer levels with only one strip.

Maintaining proper levels will make the water clear and comfortable, kill bacteria that can multiply rapidly in a spa, protect spa surfaces from stains caused by metals, and protect spa equipment from scale. There are 3 essential chemical areas to maintain.

1. Sanitization – kills bacteria to help prevent the transmission of disease.
2. Oxidation/shock – removes residues and restores clarity and comfort.
3. Water balance – ensures spa user comfort, water clarity, sanitizer efficiency, and longevity of spa surfaces and equipment.

We love offering new items to all our customers! We now have recreational items on the site!

We have Game Tables!

That includes Foosball, Air Hockey, Pool Tables, Basketball, and Multi-games!

All these items are shipped direct to your house! Easy to assemble and ready to play very quickly. I really like the 20-in-1 game! No need for any other game table!

In additional we also have Shuffleboard! We have a 9′ and 12′ board. We have all the accessories including wax, weights, brushes and cleaning products.

These are also delivered direct and for an additional fee get “white glove service” where the board is brought down to the basement for you!

Up next, Above Ground pools. Keep you posted!

They are here! We are now selling HeatWave Saunas! Check out the link for more info!

All saunas ship direct to you and are very easy to set up.

Start reaping the benefits of an at-home sauna today look better, feel better, live better!

HeatWave Saunas are the safe, effective and affordable way to relieve stress and improve health, right in the comfort of your own home. Our saunas utilize the latest in infrared heat technology, are super easy to assemble and fit in virtually any room in your home. With their Solid Hemlock Wood and tongue & groove construction, these saunas are built to last, providing you with years of health benefits and stress relief. HeatWave Saunas come with either Ceramic or Carbon heaters, feature interior reading lights and built in sound systems to further enhance your sauna experience. The 2-, 3-, and 4-Person models come equipped with back rests, towel rack, magazine holder, color therapy light, and oxygen ionizers. HeatWave Saunas operate on a safe 120v / 15-amp or 20-amp power and are backed by CETL certification. 5-Year Warranty on wood, structure, heating elements & electrical; 1-Year Warranty on the radio.

Choose from Ceramic or Carbon Heaters. We have saunas to fit 2 up to 4 people!

Check them out!

Thanks to everyone that emailed us about adding new products to the website. We appreciate it!

We are proud to announce that we will be adding Saunas, game tables and Shuffleboard to our site! All these items will ship direct to you via a freight company. The Shuffleboard will even have white glove service available (for an additional charge) where they will carry the board downstairs or where you plan on setting it up!

We will start adding these items to the site next week! So please keep checking back to www.poolsplusinc.com for more info.

Questions feel free to email us at sales@poolsplusinc.com.

We came upon a great new item called the Filter Flosser!

Provides a powerful, evenly dispersed spray that gets in between the pleats of your cartridge filter acting like a water pick. It also generates a water and air agitation action that works out the dirt deposits down deep in the cartridge.

Can work on pools or spas!

Many pools use Chlorine Generators. No more having to add chlorine to the pool or shocking. Well, Hot Spring Spas has come out with it’s own Chlorine Generator. It is called Ace! Here is some info on the Ace Salt system. It is available for 2010 and newer tubs. If you are thinking about a Hot Spring Spa this year, ask your dealer for more details.

The ACE salt water sanitizing system and your Hot Spring spa have been thoughtfully designed to make water care incredibly simple. Enjoy the absolute best lifetime ownership experience with a Hot Spring® spa and the ACE system.

The Secret is Diamonds
The ACE system contains a special diamond electrode that automatically creates five different powerful and effective cleaners for your hot tub from just a small amount of salt and your spa’s water. When the diamond electrode is energized, it breaks apart water molecules to create active oxygen. Active oxygen is one of the world’s most effective natural cleaners and is the first way the ACE system automatically cleans the water. The active oxygen then combines with salt and other elements in the water to create chlorine and three other powerful oxidizers.

Automated, More Hands-Free and Easy
Since the ACE system automatically generates cleaners, you’ll have fewer bottled products to measure and pour. This more hands-free approach saves you time, so it’s easier than ever to care for your Hot Spring spa. To get started, just add the appropriate amount of salt to balanced water. Using the easy-to-navigate menus on the spa’s main control panel, enter your spa’s size and your expected use level. Simply check the sanitizer level regularly with a test strip, and confirm your use level monthly. A status message on the control panel lets you know that the ACE system is cleaning the water so you can relax.

Looks, Feels and Smells Great
The ACE salt water sanitizing system leaves your spa water sparkling clean and silky soft. The cleaners are generated from salt and water, so you’re less likely to experience the dry itchy skin, irritated red eyes, or harsh odor of traditional chlorine water care

Environmentally Responsible
The ACE system generates the precise amount of cleaners your Hot Spring spa requires based on its size and your use level. Since there are no excess chemicals, which often occurs with manual dosing, your spa water should last longer between changes. That conserves water and saves you money. When you do drain your spa, the water has less impact on the environment because only salt has been added to the balanced water.

Some people like to get into the spa and smell the Bromine or Chlorine. That’s ok. But if you want to smell something different, like Coconut Mango – reminiscent of summer at the Beach. Or maybe, the fresh smell of a newly fallen April Rain. You might just be interested in some of the InSPAration or Spazazz scents we have to offer. Mix it up a bit with some French Vanilla or a Spaberry. What’s a SpaBerry? I don’t know either, but it’s a nice fruity blend. A seasonal favorite is Eucalyptus – to help open up the sinus’ this winter. There’s nothing saying you can’t mix it up and getting 2 different kinds and mixing em up in the tub! Coconut Mango with a little Kiwi Pear. Sounds TASTY!! What kind of combinations have you come up with?

Don’t forget about the Zodiac MPS Aromas called (Cense). There’s 4 different varieties. I like Quiet Escape with the blend of vanilla, amber, and cinnamon, with a touch of rose, jasmine and geranium, rounded out by rich cedar and lavender. It’s not too overpowering, but gives the spa a fresh scent for days!!