Quick to assemble, pools from a hardware store can make you sick. Warns the State Office for Health and Food Safety in Erlangen. Sensitive people can pull skin and mucous membranes.

The State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) took samples from five of these so-called rapid construction pools. Especially water turbidity, pH values ​​and a high chlorine content were striking, the LGL.

Too much – too little chlorine

Also could the garden pool from the hardware store by incorrect chlorination harmful chlorine-carbon compounds are formed, which may result in susceptible individuals to skin and mucous membranes, according to the experts. In case of low chlorine content itself could on the other hand increase humid germs that can cause, among other wound and ear infections.

Water hygiene important

It is not expected that the outdoor swimming pool filled with the same hygiene standards as swimming pools, explained a spokeswoman LGL Bayerischer Rundfunk. Since the number of cubic meters of water-making garden pools would however emptied much less frequently than the smaller children’s pool, would users pay particular attention to water hygiene.

Foot tub to get you started

The LGL Suggests among other things, the pools before recommissioning thoroughly clean and eliminate all residual moisture from the previous season. To carry less dirt into the pool, the pool should be entered through a foot bath. The swimming pool should also be set up so that they do not heat up much, the experts recommend.

Replace if it stinks

By the time the water is cloudy or takes a chemical or foul smell, it should be replaced, so the LGL. Next Comply with the operating times of the water filter and the use of chemicals exactly as directed Pool users.

Basic Swimming Pool Components

Basic pool equipment includes a water input valve, a water output drain, a skimmer, a pump, and a filter. The skimmer is mounted flush on the pool deck. It draws water from the pool surface. From there, the filtered, clean water is sent back into the pool via the input valve. For any debris that sinks to the floor of the pool, a cleaner can get it. The drain on the bottom of the pool is used to empty the pool for winter or so that it can be cleaned.

While these are the basic components of a swimming pool, there are other components that can be added to your pool, as well. A few examples of these extra options follow.

Underwater Lighting

Before selecting a particular lighting system, make sure you decide on a power source. Will you power the lights via solar electricity or simply wire them into your home’s grid? If your pool has easy access to sunlight, then solar powered lights are a good option. However, if your garden is well shaded, then your solar lights may not be able to charge during the day. Once you’ve decided on a power source, pick out a lighting system that you like. Make sure you have an electrician install the system because wiring the lights incorrectly could be dangerous.

Pool heating

By far, the most interesting way to heat your pool is using a solar absorber. With the help of solar absorbers, you can extend the swimming season considerably. Plus, in contrast to a conventional pool heating system, there are almost no operating costs because the heat is provided by the sun. Only the pump consumes power.

The simplest variant of the solar absorber is the so-called solar hose which heats up due to its dark black coloring. There are also panels that operate according to the same principle. Experts advise that you get an absorber surface that is roughly equivalent to 50 to 100 percent of the surface area of the pool. A solar absorber can be most easily mounted on the garage or house roof. However, you’ll need an appropriately dimensioned pump, because the water has to overcome the height difference between the pool and the roof.

A Deck

A deck around your pool is a great way to turn your pool area into a party area. A deck gives you the space to host parties or just lounge around. The most important thing to consider when choosing a deck is the material. When a deck is going around a pool, the deck has to be made of a material that won’t be too slippery under wet feet. You’ll also want to pick a material that is low-maintenance. Wood, for example, requires a lot of upkeep and doesn’t hold up well under continuous exposure to water. By far the most low-maintenance decking material is what the deck specialists at Capital Construction Contracting Inc call “composite decking”, which is a mixture of wood and plastic.