The Benefits of Exercising in an Above Ground Pool

When you have an above ground pool set up in your backyard, it's easy to get some great exercise and stay physically fit. When most people think of exercising in the pool, they may think of common swim strokes, including the backstroke, butterfly, or freestyle. However, while these are great and can help you to become a stronger swimmer, there are other types of water fitness you can participate in. 

Exercising in the water provides resistance and it is able to support your weight. This makes it a great option for people recovering from accidents, surgeries, or for pregnant women. There is a very low risk of injury as long as common sense and standard pool safety techniques are followed.

Exercise Equipment

While you don't have to use any equipment to get a good workout in the water, you may choose to use:

• Pool noodles
• Pool kick boards
• Pool dumb bells

However, as mentioned above, you really don't need any special equipment to burn some calories in the water. There are several different types of exercises you can do that don't involve anything else but your own body!

Types of Exercises

Water walking - this involves taking 10-20 steps forward (depending on the size of your pool), and then the same number of steps backward. It will use two different sets of muscles and helps to raise your cardio level.

Water squats - you will do a squat the same way you would on land. Bend your knees slightly forward and push your hips back as if you were sitting down. 

Leg lifts - stand shoulder deep in the water and hold on to the side of your pool. Raise your left leg as high as you can, and then repeat on the right side with 8-10 repetitions.

Arm workouts - stand shoulder deep in the water with your hands down by your sides. Next, slowly lift your arms up to shoulder height and then bring them back down. Repeat for 8-10 repetitions.

More Information

To learn more, or to get a backyard swimming pool of your very own, contact the professionals at Ambassador Pools. We serve New England, including all of Massachusetts, Hudson Valley, western PA, and parts of the Midwest, including Cleveland, Akron, and Canton in Ohio.

The Risks of Having a Salt Water Pool

There has been a lot of talk recently in the pool industry about making the switch from a standard filtering and chlorination system to salt water chlorination. But, before you do something like this at your own home, there are a few things that you should know about.

1. Chemical balancing - salt water requires a lot of maintenance

2. Draining - there are city rules and guidelines in place when it comes to draining your salt water pool

3. Galvanic corrosion - this is a complicated electrical process that could cause a lot of problems for your swimming pool

Chemical Balancing

When you add a salt water system to your pool, the chemical balancing process will change, obviously. Most swimming pools have a low pH while salt water pools have a higher pH due to the fact that chlorine is produced from the system. The problem here is that many pool owners think that if they buy a salt water kit, they aren't going to need to do as much maintenance. This is not true. If corrective actions aren't taken to keep the water's pH levels in check, it could cause a lot of problems, including the formation of corrosive scale.

Draining the Water

Typically, a traditional pool can have its water drained out to the curb in front of the home where it will flow down a sewer grate. With salt water, you may need to have the water hauled away or some other requirements may be in place depending on where you live. This can lead to additional maintenance costs for you to worry about from season to season.

Galvanic Corrosion 

This is the process where metals are submerged in an electrolyte mixture, creating a current that moves between metal components and the water in the pool. This means that the salt water in your pool may have a constant voltage, which will eventually lead to premature corrosion to the pool floor, liner, filter, and so on.

For More Information

To learn more, give us a call here at Ambassador Pools. We serve New England, including all of Massachusetts, Hudson Valley, western PA, and parts of the Midwest, including Cleveland, Akron, and Canton in Ohio.

When is a Child Ready to Learn How to Swim?

Many parents often wonder when it's time to teach their children how to swim, or when the right time is to get them signed up for lessons. Research seems to indicate that the earlier a child is introduced to the water, the more comfortable they will become with it and the easier it will be for them to pick up on pool safety techniques and swim stroke development. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents waiting until a child is at least 4 years old before they sign them up for lessons, and this is simply due to general developmental limitations that a young toddler will have. However, some studies performed by Stephen Langendorfer, PhD and several Australian studies indicate that once a child reaches two milestones in their life, they are ready for lessons - these include age and individual experience.

Toddlers who are exposed to a backyard swimming pool are more "ready" for lessons as compared to a child who is only swimming at a public pool or one at a local aquatic center or gym. In fact, there are some lessons which are designed for children as young as 6 months of age. These classes help to teach the basics and can work to prevent drowning and other hazards associated with the water.

Basically, it is up to the parent when they want to sign their child up for lessons. If you feel your son or daughter is "ready" for learning the basics so that they can get more comfortable in the water, then you should sign them up for lessons at a place you are also comfortable with. Children won't really be able to learn swim strokes until they are about 5 years old.

Experts also recommend the following for teaching children to swim:

• Annual lessons should be attended for 8 weeks every season
• Pool barriers and security need to be put in place in any backyard swimming pool
• Supervision is a MUST for a child of any age - regardless of how well they seem to be picking up on swimming techniques

To Learn More

For more information about getting a backyard above ground pool of your very own to aid in your child's learning, please feel free to give Ambassador Pools a call today. We serve New England, including all of Massachusetts, Hudson Valley, western PA, and parts of the Midwest, including Cleveland, Akron, and Canton in Ohio.

Getting a Quiet Pool Filter

Nobody wants to be relaxing in their new above ground pool and then be interrupted by a loud, annoying filter system. You can't shut it off or do "without" one as this is what is responsible for helping to keep your water safe, clean, and healthy. 

The type of filtration system you have influences how loud it's going to be. Cartridge filters, for example, produce less noise than a sand filter because of their hydraulic design. A sand filter has a special port on it that water moves through before getting to the filter. This can put off a lot of noise. A cartridge filter does NOT have the additional port for water to move through. 

The quietest filtration systems are variable speed pumps. You need to be sure that you are choosing one with at least two speeds. When running on low-speed, you will barely even be able to notice that it's running, and when you are finished for the day in the pool, you can push the system up to high-speed and not have to deal with the noise from inside your home.

More Information

To learn more, give us a call at Ambassador Pools today. Our toll-free number is 1-800-798-6039. We thank you for your interest in our services and products, and we look forward to hearing from you soon!