How a Spa Benefits Your Health

Are you considering installing a spa with your in-ground pool? Many people are unaware of the many benefits a spa pool can provide. For centuries, people have used heat and water as a healing remedy, however, even after years of study, physicians and therapists are only beginning to understand the mental and physical benefits that warm water hydrotherapy can provide. Here are just some of the benefits of owning a backyard spa:

Pain Relief: Warm water stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain, which can reduce tension and alleviate pain. It also increases blood flow, which helps to heal damaged cells.

Stress Relief: After a stressful day, there is no better remedy than escaping into your own backyard spa. The buoyancy reduces body weight relieving pressure on joints, which will allow the body to enjoy a full state of relaxation.

Better Sleep: Studies have shown that spending ten minutes in a spa pool before bed will help your body and mind to transition into sleep. In addition to the stress and pain relief previously mentioned, the shift in temperature can signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. This will not only help to fall asleep more quickly, but to also stay asleep.

Lowers Blood Pressure: In addition to simply feeling more relaxed, there is a more scientific reason why spending time in a spa can reduce your blood pressure. The heart is constantly working to keep your body’s temperature warm. Once the hot water raises the core temperature, the heart doesn’t have to work as hard, therefore lowering the blood pressure.

Year Round Use: A spa can be used year-round, and in fact is most commonly used in the winter. Often times colder weather can exacerbate joint pain making the heat therapy even more necessary. Additionally, some people experience a higher rate of depression in the winter months, and the endorphins released with hydrotherapy can help to improve those symptoms.

If you are ready to take advantage of the many health benefits of owning a backyard spa, contact Crystal Clear Pools & Spas in Austin, TX to see our spa gallery, and ask how we can customize a spa just for you.

Top 5 Smartphone Swimming and Pool Apps

At Crystal Clear Pools & Spas in Austin, we believe there is no substitution for trained and licensed pool cleaning professionals. However, we found five smartphone apps that provide interesting information for both swimmers and pool owners, as well as helpful tips to utilize between our cleaning services:

1) FitVideo Swimming: This App offers video tutorials of swimming strokes, drills, and workouts. FitVideo also allows you to chat within the application and share thoughts, techniques, and other tips with other users.

2) Swim University: This app provides content and tutorials on subjects such as pool & spa, filter & cleaning, as well maintenance. Here you will find the following categories:

- Swimming Pools
- Hot Tubs & Spas
- How-to-Videos
- Buying Guide

3) Pool Calculator: While there is no replacement for a certified pool professional – the “Pool Calculator” app will help you to balance the chemistry of your pool water between services.

4) Pool Genius: This intuitive app will help you weigh the pros and cons of a salt vs. chlorine pool system. Additionally, it has a pool volume calculator and tips for maintenance and renovation projects.

5) Pool Doctor: This app will assist you with your chlorine, bromine, salt, pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. It will also display readings that apply to your pool type and will save treatment records.

While these apps can be fun and informative, it’s important to call an Austin in ground pool professional. At Crystal Clear Pools and Spas, we do more than maintenance and repair – for over 15 years, we have specialized in:

-Plaster and aggregate surface renovation
-Modifying design and layout
-Deck removal and replacement
-Adding lighting, diving boards, and slides.
-Plumbing and equipment installation
-Tile renovation

Take all of the guess-work out of maintaining your pool and contact us today!

Dive In Movie

We are always looking for an excuse to start using our Crystal Clear Pool, and now that the nights here in Austin are getting warmer, we are ready to take our fun outdoors. First, we made sure our pool was running smoothly, and once the rain subsided, we were ready to turn our pool into a Dive-In Movie.

Grab a projector, a projection screen, and some floaties – and suddenly you have the coolest backyard on the block. Not only can you enjoy your favorite flick under the stars, but you can also set up a slide-show for the grandparents, or play music videos for your teenager’s party – the options are as endless as your infinity pool.

Is your pool ready to ‘Dive In’? Let the experts at Crystal Clear Pool get it in top form with a full maintenance service. The summer nights are calling you– call us now!

Resident pool service expert, Christian Donovan, has agreed to share some of what he has learned over the years as route manager for Crystal Clear Pools and Spas in Austin, Texas.

1. How can I check to see if my swimming pool is leaking?

A simple bucket test can tell you if you have a leak. Place a bucket on the top step, filled to the same level as the pool. They should maintain the same water level; if the pool drops noticeably faster, it probably has a leak, and you should pursue leak detection.

2. Why is the water in my swimming pool cloudy / smoky / hazy?

This is usually caused by either by a chemical balance problem, poor pool filtration, or a combination of the two. This time of year, with the water warming up here in Austin, fertilizers from yards running off into pools, and pollen or leaves falling, sometimes water clarity problems can be caused by a combination of problems.

3. Why is my swimming pool water green?

This time of year in Texas, it can be because of oak, pecan, or other tree pollen, or it can be because of an algae problem (sometimes the first problem can lead to the second). Both can be corrected using basic Pool Cleaning techniques such as restoring normal system flow, balancing the water, and adding chlorine and/or algaecide treatments as needed.

4. What are the black spots on the floor and walls of my swimming pool?

This could be an algae problem, or a stain problem. If the spots feel slimy, they might be blue-green algae, and can be very tough to clean using basic pool cleaning methods. If they are smooth, or feel like the surrounding surface, they could be stains, which may be treatable. If the entire surface feels rough and pitted or porous, it might be time to re-surface your pool.

5. My pool water burns my eyes / is sudsy / salty. How can I fix this?

In many cases, this is simply due to a problem with water chemistry; the water is either out of balance according to accepted industry standards, or is in need of a “shock” treatment, to free up the chlorine in the water to do its job sanitizing the pool. In other cases, this can be the result of a high level of total dissolved solids, and it might be time to replace most, if not all of the pool water. If you aren’t sure, give us a call or bring by a water sample, and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Swimming Pool Pump Maintenance

When it comes to maintenance and repair of your swimming pool pumps, chances are you leave it up to the pros. Not a bad idea considering the many delicate intricate parts that make up a swimming pool pump. That said, we here at Crystal Clear Pools and Spas of Austin, Texas have compiled a few handy tips you can use to keep your swimming pool cleaning, service and repair needs at a minimum.


Know Your Swimming Pool Pumps

In the world of swimming pool service and repair, we like to think of swimming pool pumps as the heart of your pool, circulating crystal clear pool water all year round.

Most swimming pools today use self-priming centrifugal pumps. That means (in a nutshell) that the pump uses a vacuum to circulate water throughout your swimming pool, and is able to prime itself by keeping full or partially full of water whether the pump is active or not. The mechanical details are less important that being able to identify and effectively troubleshoot problems that may arise in your swimming pool pump.

Common Swimming Pool Pump Issues

Swimming Pool Pump Running Hot
If you notice your swimming pool pump running a bit hotter than usual, it’s not just the scorching Austin, Texas weather (albeit somewhat likely). The problem could be due to a lack of sufficient power being supplied to the pump. Just as the human heart requires a healthy balanced diet to run at optimal levels, your swimming pool’s pump needs enough energy to run cool. Check your pump’s wires and make sure they match up with the manufacturer’s size requirements. In cases of city-wide power shortages, due to a heat-wave for example, shut down your pool pump until the weather cools down and energy demands are lower.

Bubbles in your Swimming Pool

Look around you — are you in 3-5 feet of warm water, holding a bottle of champagne and feeding strawberries to your loved one? If yes then you are relaxing in a spa and the bubbles are just part of the show. However, if you notice bubbles shooting from your swimming pool’s jets, you may want to check the gasket or strainer cover on your swimming pool pump as they may be loose or damaged and will require quick service or repair.

“Low Pressure” or Priming Issues

Low pressure issues in swimming pool pumps are commonly caused by clogged return lines, filters or damaged impellers. How do I check the imepller you ask? Easy — shut down your pump, remove the basket and feel around in the suction hole for any cracks or breaks.









When In Doubt — Call an Expert

If the root of your swimming pool pump’s problem isn’t immediately obvious, contact your local swimming pool pro, or our experts at Crystal Clear Pools and Spas. We’ll make sure your swimming pool pump is in good shape so you can focus on more important things, like perfecting your backstroke.

5 Tips to Get Your Pool Ready For Spring

You’ve been dreaming of warm weather, BBQ’s, and drinks with tiny umbrellas. Although you’ve been ready for months – how ready is your Pool?

Now that Spring is here, it’s time to prepare your pool for some fun in the hot Austin sun. While most pool maintenance and repairs are better left to the professionals – here are five things you can do yourself today:

Look and Listen

When the temperatures drop over the winter months (even in Texas), the colder temperatures can expand the ground, causing your pool to shift. Take a look around the pool for cracks – paying special attention to the drains, lights, and concrete pad under the pump. Look for bubbles or darker areas that may indicate a leak. Additionally, turn on your pump and make sure it’s still running quietly and efficiently.

Safety First

Check out your fencing, gate latches, and all other surrounding enclosures that will keep the kids (and pets) from taking an unexpected swim. Make sure your handrails, ladders, slides, and diving boards are secure and undamaged.

Be Prepared

Make sure to have a first-aid kit nearby, including a pair of scissors in the case that a swimmer’s hair or clothing causes them to become entrapped. Also consider keeping a flotation device readily accessible.

Clean

Give your surrounding deck a good power-wash – not only will it look better, but it will limit the amount of debris that will make its way into the pool. Remember to also give your pool toys a good scrubbing to ensure they are free from mold or anything else that’s no fun to play with. You can easily disinfect them by soaking them in 2-gallons of water with 1-cup of bleach.

Call a Professional

It’s easier and more affordable than ever to have a professional such as Crystal Clear in Austin to come to prepare your pool for the spring. Leave the complexities of the chemicals, filters, and pumps to us, and go enjoy a swim.

Repair and Prepare: How Texas Droughts May Damage Your Swimming Pool

Owning a swimming pool in Texas means outsmarting the record high, three-digit summer temperatures which normally render you powerless against your couch, the golf channel and a heaping bowl of ice cream. Easing yourself into that ‘Cowboy-Cool” water means another dog day beaten, another heatstroke avoided. However, the intense summer weather here in Texas brings a little more than a sweat-soaked t-shit before dawn. I’m talking drought folks and it can have damaging effects on your pool’s structural integrity, your water bill and your summer fun.

“But — is there anything we can do to prepare?”

Of course. It’s is not our job at Crystal Clear Pools and Spas to pump you full of fear then jet. Here are a few useful tips on how to get the best of Mr. Mean-Old Drought and help prevent damage to your pool — and your bottom line.

Invest in a Swimming Pool Cover

Not only will a pool cover minimize time spent outside cleaning debris under the sun, swimming pool covers cut down on evaporation and help maintain healthy water levels in your swimming pool. Many swimming pools in Texas have optimal standards pertaining to water levels in order to maintain the integrity of pool walls, tiles and mechanical systems.

If that isn’t enough motivation, Texas drought water restrictions require 25% of any non-public pool to be covered when not in use. Restrictions are also put on the amount of water, and method, you may use to fill your pool during the higher stages of drought. Best to keep what water you have in the pool now lest ye find yourself ankle deep without a hose.

Snap on pool covers may run you around $3,000 or so. Automatics go up from there. If you need help finding the right pool cover, give us a call — we can help you out.

Install Water Saving Filters and Pumps

Texas isn’t getting any cooler and the demand for water during the summer months will rise along with the red stuff in your thermometer. There are a number of energy-efficient, eco-friendly water saving swimming pool pumps available to help get the best out of the water you have, and minimize waste.

Check pool walls, tiles and pumps for leaks

It’s best to get the jump on Swimming Pool Maintenance and repair before the sun takes his summer share. Call a professional to locate and repair any water (money) draining leaks that you may not be aware of. Enough of your pool water is already floating in the air, no reason to lose more to the ground.

Stay Wet

Hang in there. Summer will be here and gone before you know it. Enjoy it. If you need any help at all, or have any pool repair, pool maintenance or cleaning questions — don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll come out and make sure you have everything you need to survive another round of wild Texas heat.