Dazadi.com Blog

The Cold Facts: Winterizing Your Pool

October 6th, 2009

As the warm days of summer drift into fall, pool owners across the country close their swimming pools for the season. Whether you have an in-ground or an above-ground pool, you need to take precautions against freezing, dirtying and damage during the winter months. Dazadi.com offers several outstanding products to help you protect your pool this winter.

Winterizing Chemicals: When preparing your pool for winter, you must first test and balance your water chemistry .

  • Test for pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness

To get an easy, accurate reading of your pool water’s chemical composition, you must use a test strip or kit. The AquaChek and TruTest Strips offer a clean, easy way to assess your pool water chemistry. No more messy drops or vials! Simply dip the test strip in your swimming pool water and get results in 30 seconds! The TruTest Digital Test Strip Reader accurately reads Free Chlorine, Bromine, pH and Total Alkalinity on test strips in 15 seconds without visual color matching. This lightweight strip is handheld, water resistant and features a large, easy-to-read LCD screen.

  • Winterizing Kits

Many companies provide comprehensive winterizing kits to help you close your swimming pool correctly and effectively. Arctic Armor’s Winterizing Chemical Kits come with everything you need including winterizing chemicals, such as algaecide and shock, and instructions! Water pH should be between 7.2-7.6 and Alkalinity between 100-150 ppm.  Adjust to normal levels using pH plus or minus and alkalinity plus. When adding chemicals, do not use chlorine or bromine tablets as they can sink to the bottom and damage your pool’s surface. Mix any granular winterizing chemicals in a bucket so that they are totally dissolved, then dump your mixture into your pool. You want to steer clear of undissolved granules as they too can settle on the pool floor or stain your liner. Winter chemical kits keep your water clean and clear for the following season.

Winter and Safety Covers: Dazadi offers a wide range of winter covers, safety covers and leaf nets for in-ground and above-ground pools.  But with so many solid, mesh and other pool cover options out there, how do you choose the covering that’s right for you? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each.

  • Solid Winter Covers:  A solid winter cover keeps your pool almost completely free of dirt, leaves and other debris.

Pro: This means less cleaning in the spring. Also, a solid pool cover does not allow direct sunlight to pass through thereby impeding algae growth. The Arctic Armor Solid Winter Cover features tear-resistant, polyethylene construction, a black underside to retard algae growth and heat-sealed seams for a crystal clear pool! Arctic Armor produces winter covers for above ground and in-ground pools. These covers are available in the economical Bronze , Silver or Gold grade! The Bronze option comes with an excellent 8-year warranty. The mid-range Silver covers carry a 12-year warranty and the extra heavyweight, super strong Gold covers include an incredible 15-year warranty!

Con: Although solid covers keep your pool the cleanest, they are among the more difficult covers to maintain. They must be pumped or they’ll sag into your pool. They are also typically more vulnerable to the ravages of snow, ice and rainfall.

Pro: Because they allow pool water to pass through, these winter covers are easier to maintain during the winter season. The Arctic Armor Rugged Mesh Winter Cover features a tightly woven scrim that holds together for no gaps and no holes. The rugged mesh allows only rain water and very fine silt to pass through, protecting your above ground pool from contamination. This lightweight cover lifts easily for quick cleaning in the spring and features a black underside that retards algae growth. The Arctic Armor Rugged Mesh Cover is available for above ground and in-ground pools.

Con: Although, some good quality mesh covers keep out larger debris, they still allow in fine dirt and dirtied water.

  • Leaf Nets: Swimming pool Leaf Nets catch leaves, dirt and other debris before they reach your pool cover.  Leaf nets are used in the fall (the time of year when dead leaves and twigs are a particular problem) and removed before the first snowfall. Arctic Armor Leaf Nets protect your cover from the mess and damage caused by decaying leaves with their tight mesh and durable, woven polyethylene construction. Arctic Armor produces leaf nets for round and oval above ground pools.
  • Safety Covers: Swimming pool Safety covers (for in-ground pools) fit tightly over your swimming pool to protect against damage and accidental drowning. Arctic Armor Solid Safety Covers are strong enough to support your entire family, yet light enough to place atop or remove from your pool in under five minutes. These solid pool covers include a mesh panel in the center to drain water accumulation and prevent the need for pumping. Arctic Armor Mesh Safety Covers feature a tight weave that produces almost total shade, blocking the sun’s algae-producing rays for a virtually algae-free pool in spring. The Mesh cover filters out all but the finest debris to make spring opening a snap.

Don’t Forget:

There’s more to closing your pool than chemicals and covers. Remember to take precautions against plumbing and hardware damage. You’ll need to disconnect and clean out your filter and heating system, lower the water level below the mouth of your skimmer, blow out your plumbing lines and more. Consult your local pool specialist for details on proper winter care so you can enjoy your beat-the-heat retreat season after season!

Pool Toys, Floats and Accessories For The Ultimate Fun In The Sun

August 11th, 2009

Your swimming pool provides the ultimate summer escape. With Labor Day fast-approaching, you’ll want to enjoy your outdoor oasis to its fullest potential! Dazadi.com has just what you need for a comfortable float in the sun, a relaxing drift in the shade or some engaging aquatic entertainment! Dazadi’s selection is perfect for adults, children and even toddlers! We offer a wide range of high quality floats, chairs and loungers as well as inflatable toys, habitats and even mock arcade games. Find the ideal match for your summer sanctuary and get the most out of your beat the heat retreat!

Looking for a pool float that won’t let you down? The Unsinkable Molly Brown is made from soft, cushioning material that lets you sink into the lounger, not the pool! Unlike inflatables, this float never leaks and never needs patching! In fact, it’s backed by the manufacturer’s 100-year no sink warranty!  Or perhaps you’d prefer a full pool recliner? The Ultimate Floating Lounger and Siesta Floating Pool Lounger are roomy, durable and handy with ample neck and back support. These rugged floats also feature cup holders as well as compartments so a thirst-quenching drink or mp3 playlist are never out of reach! The Feel Good Pool Lounger with Canopy and Pool-N-Beach Double Pool Lounger include canopy tops that allow you to choose between sunbathing and shaded relaxation. And, the Pool-N-Beach Double Pool Lounger is big enough for two people! Take a friend for a shoreline cruise or a poolside float with your awesome aquatic accessories.

Everything you need for outdoor family fun is available on Dazadi.com. Bring home the ultimate in children’s pool toys with our multiple floating habitats, giant rideables and exciting games. The Pyramid, Cube, Sphere and UFO Floating Habitats add a touch of innovation and fantasy to swimming pool fun. Kids can explore these suspended environments for their most interesting and imaginative water games yet.  Or introduce our giant rideable Swan, Ducky and Rocking Seahorse for an adventure of epic proportions! The Starfighter Super Squirter Spaceship will take your little explorer on a thrilling space mission- ray gun and all! The Inflatable Arcade Shooter, inspired by the carnival gun race, brings the thrill of arcade games to your backyard. Fun for family and friends, see who can move all of the balls out of the tube first. The Giant Sea-Saw Rocker makes for a watery playground and the Floating Boat House will bring all hands on deck!

Toddlers can enjoy summertime activities too, with the U.S. Coast Guard Approved Children’s Life Jacket. Introduce your little one to the fun of swimming in the safety and security of a rugged, trusted life vest.  With so many exciting pooltime options, don’t let this summer leave you high and dry!

Above-Ground Swimming Pools: Buying Guide For A Beat-The-Heat Retreat

June 24th, 2009

With summer fast approaching, everybody is looking for a way to beat the heat. There are few activities more enjoyable in the summertime than a refreshing dip, an exhilarating swim or a relaxing float. In fact, the swimming pool has existed as a means of leisure and recreation since ancient times. Ancient Greeks and Romans built swimming pools for athletic and military training as well as games and entertainment. The first heated swimming pool was built by the wealthy noble Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC. A swimming pool creates an outdoor oasis that you and your family can enjoy together and for many years. However, with the excessive costs of in-ground swimming pool installation and upkeep, many consumers are investing in above-ground pools. The above-ground swimming pool- with a myriad of shapes, liner designs, wall patterns and other exceptional features- offers the same fun and entertainment of in-ground pools. If you’re interested in swimming, splashing, playing and spending more quality family time without the landscape modification and dizzying cost of pool installation, look into an above-ground swimming pool!

Above-ground swimming pools comes in different shapes, sizes, colors etc. Most are either 48” or 52” in height (though some are built as tall as 54”!) and are usually either round or oval in shape. Depth is based upon personal preference, the availability of space in your yard, and whether you want to eventually build a deck. Some pools can even be made deeper once they’re installed. Round pools do not need the external bracing that many oval pools require. Oval pools, in general, include side bracing that adds an additional 5 to 6 feet to the total width of the pool. While round pool are self-supporting and easier to install, they do not offer the space for laps, games and other water sports that oval pools provide. Dazadi offers exceptional options in both shapes and lots of sizes. Our Atlantis Economy Pools offer outstanding strength and durability at a lower price. The Atlantis is a great starter pool and comes in 48” and 52” heights. The Aegean Above Ground Pool also offers good quality at a manageable price.

Most above-ground pools are composed of steel, aluminum, resin or a steel-resin hybrid.

  • Steel pools are heavier, tougher and more solid than other pools. Steel pools offer fine strength and durability but are more prone to rust. However, thanks to advanced protective coatings and sophisticated design features, many steel pools are far more rust-resistant and can have a 20+ year lifespan. The Atlantis and Aegean Above Ground Pools are composed of steel materials and feature efficient protective coatings.
  • Resin pools do not oxidize, are high-impact, and extremely durable. All-resin pools are 100% rust-resistant and often have exceptionally long lifespans. The Aruba Above Ground Pool is constructed of resin and comes with 54” of wall height! The resin-steel hybrid usually includes structural components like caps, uprights and top rails that have been fabricated from resin and attached to a steel wall. The Tahitian Above-Ground Pool provides many of the same great advantages of an all-resin without the higher expense.
  • The aluminum pool is lighter than others and thus easier to move. Aluminum is able to flex and can even allow for semi-in ground installation! The Bermuda is a top-of-the-line aluminum pool that can be installed semi-in ground and comes backed by a lifetime warranty.

Once you’ve invested in your summer sanctuary, you’ll want to purchase the necessary equipment. Your pool will need liners, a filter and pump system, a basic chemical package and ladder.

There are two types of standard liners.

  • Overlap liners, the less expensive and more basic of the two, require that the vinyl liner be draped over the pool wall and held in place by the top rails.
  • Beaded liner, on the other hand, features a thickened, preformed fold along the edge of the liner that is pressed into place on the pool wall.

Uni-Bead or J-Hook Liners are more expensive but fit both overlap and beaded type pools.

Liners also vary by thickness, style and color. The thicker, more ornate liners are more expensive than standard blue. However, this enhanced detail adds a drop of energy, style and elegance for a pool that fits your taste and surroundings.

Every above ground pool requires a system to heat, filter and evenly distribute chemicals. A pump and filter system does just that. There are three types of filter systems.

  • Sand Filters: These low-maintenance filters circulate pool water through a precisely sized sand bed that traps dirt throughout its depth to retain filth and keep your pool particle-free. Dazadi offers several sand filter packages that include a perfectly sized filter and pump as well as a pool maintenance kit. Sand filters are the most common type sold in above-ground pool packages.
  • Cartridge Filters: More powerful than sand filters. A cartridge filter circulates pool water through extra large filter elements for better water quality than sand filters. Dazadi’s Standard Cartridge Filter System and Equipment Package includes a rugged filter tank constructed of tough, water-resistant, corrosion-proof polymer and requires a minimum of cleaning.
  • Diatomaceous Earth or D.E. Filters: The most powerful and efficient filter system. The D.E. filter hydraulically applies filter aid (a precoat layer of diatomaceous earth) to filter elements, ultimately screening out small particles for clear, sparkling water.

Dazadi carries the Mod Media Filter and Pump system- a method that combines the filtering capabilities of a cartridge filter with the low-maintenance of a sand filter. This premium filter can be purchased with a ladder and maintenance kit in the Ultra Equipment Package.

Chemicals are crucial to maintaining the purity and clarity of your above-ground pool. Our site offers pool chemical start-up kits that are sold individually, as an option with the purchase of a pool or as part of a comprehensive equipment package. Generally, you want chemicals for pool water balance (including maintenance of alkalinity, calcium hardness and PH), sanitization (usually achieved through chlorinating products) and shock (to break down and destroy damaging chloramines).

Dazadi’s inclusive equipment packages contain filters, pumps, and useful pool care accessories for a beautiful backyard sanctuary and years of good clean fun!