How to Keep Pests Out of Your Swimming Pool

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How to Keep Pests Out of Pool

No matter if you have a small, inflatable pool or an in-ground model constructed from imported Italian marble; you’ll still deal with insects, including mosquitoes, bees and midges. Insects are attracted to your pool for several reasons. Some feed on algae, while others make a meal from the dead insects floating on the water’s surface. Whatever the case, there are several methods, some more expensive than others, to keep bugs away from your pool.

• Install brighter lights at least 30 yard away from your pool and turn off any underwater pool lights when no longer in use, especially at night. It may look glamorous, but many times the insects are attracted to your lit pool as much as the neighbors. Turn off your pool lights once the sun goes down.
• Cover your pool when not in use. If you have a small inflatable pool, drain it completely after each use and allow it to dry before storing. Never allow your kiddie pool to remain in the backyard overnight, unless you want to wake up to a watery insect graveyard.
• Hang bug zappers around the perimeter of the pool. These inexpensive, low-tech devices are highly effective and will keep the insects away if you wish to enjoy your lit pool at night.
• Regularly trim any shrubs, bushes or grass around the pool. The shorter foliage isn’t as attractive to insects, making your pool a less desirable destination.
• Finally, keep your pool clean! It cannot be stressed enough that decaying leaf matter, dead insects and algae are a major attraction to several varieties of insects, so never skip your weekly or daily pool maintenance.

How to Keep Mice Out of Pool

• Keep the area around your pool clean. This especially means moving any garbage cans out of the vicinity and generally keeping the area around the pool tidy.
• Remove anything from around the pool that the rodents could use as shelter, such as a small shed or wood pile. This also means keeping the shrubs and bushes neat.
• Cover your swimming pool. Once again, this is the best way to keep any unwanted invaders, including mice, away from your pool when not in use.

How to Keep Frogs Out of Pool

• Cut down any tree branches that hang over the pool. Many times the frog will hop to the end of the branch and accidentally fall into the water.
• Examine your pool fence and repair any damage. If your pool’s fence is falling into disrepair, consider replacing it with a model that features small gaps between the slats. These will keep almost every unwanted visitor, including frogs and rodents, from accessing your pool.
• Skim your pool consistently, paying attention to remove any frog eggs or tadpoles that are now calling your pool home. Often times a frog will see this undisturbed body of water as an excellent place to further their species.

How to Keep Animals Out of Pool: Racoons

Aside from being a destructive menace, raccoons can actually pose a major health risk to your family. The animal’s fecal matter harbors a roundworm called Baylisascaris, which is spread when an individual swallows the parasitic egg. This disease is extremely dangerous and completely preventable by ensuring raccoons do not enter your pool. A pool cover and maintaining your fence are the most effective ways to ensure raccoons don’t access your pool. If you see a raccoon in the area, call your local Animal Control agency or a pest removal company immediately. These agencies will humanely capture the raccoons and relocate it to a more desirable area.

Don’t get too worried about the dangers that surround inflatable pools (or any kind), if you take proper care of your backyard swimming hole and practice vigilance, you will be okay.

For more backyard ideas on Stagetetcture, click here.

Depending on the age of your home, and how long it has been since major repairs were done – you’re bound to need essential home repairs. The question is – “Which ones are essential, and which ones can wait?”

Today’s Guest Blogger gives tips for knowing how to choose essential home repairs for your major components of your home.

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Maintaining your home inside out is a big responsibility to shoulder. A building can fall apart for lack of maintenance. Proper care and timely repair of a property helps in extending its life and increase its value with the passage of time. Much of the maintenance tasks can be done on your own, but at times a handyman is required to do some intricate repairs.

No matter, how beautiful and well-maintained home you buy, you will have to work hard for maintaining it. You will have to incur expenditure on its repairs and routine maintenance. The upkeep of a home is a costly affair. Precaution is always better than cure. We should try to nip the problem in the bud, lest it should grow beyond repair. The household repairs which are deferred make the condition worse.
Given below are the most common household problems faced by householders. Be it plumbing, heating or air conditioning, householders often start panicking for trivial issues, without knowing that an expert handyman can solve all their home maintenance issues.

Roof maintenance

You must do a thorough inspection of your roof in every six months, to check for possible holes and broken shingles. A leaky roof indicates an unhygienic environment, as it makes the walls more vulnerable to mold growth.

Swimming pool maintenance

A swimming pool must be properly maintained, nevertheless, it can develop into a breeding ground for many germs and consequently, diseases. Change the water of the pool twice a day in summers, especially if you are living in a joint family.

Gutter and drainage maintenance

Clogged drains can lead to water intrusion in the basement of a home. Improper drainage system is the most common issue in every household. Gutters get clogged if you have a big tree at the back of your house or you have maintained a kitchen garden. Leaves block the gutters.

Plumbing issues

Dripping faucets and leaking fixtures create insanitary conditions in a home. A home owner should understand the severity of such trivial issues and get them repaired at the right time, so that the condition does not deteriorate.

Electrical issues

To keep yourself protected from fires and electric shocks, make sure that the electrical system of your home is functioning well. Ungrounded outlets are a thing of concern, especially if there are kids in your family.

Maintenance of heating and cooling systems

If the heating and cooling systems of your home have worn out by excessive use, you must either change them, or get them checked for faults on a regular basis.

Be it an over-flowing toilet, loose door knobs, rigid locks, a leaky faucet or a dripping tap, an expert handyman can fix everything. The exterior of a home is as important to maintain as its interior. Maintain your garden properly, as it adds to the beauty of your home.

The author has been in the home improvement industry for a while.He loves repairing and like to write blogs for helping people for home improvement.He has earned a recognition as a Handyman in London.He has a beautiful house, which he maintains on his own.

For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

It has been 95 degrees and up for the last week in Jacksonville, Florida.  Coupled with the humidity, 105 is what it feels like, in the shade! I’ve always admired those who have swimming pools – but also never wanted one for myself.  I suppose the paranoia of being responsible for a child wandering into my pool has always been a dreadful thought that’s deterred us from having a swimming pool.

Just for today, I’m dreaming of no kids to wander into my luxury home swimming pool.  In my dream I don’t have any mortgage, and my luxury home is paid off, along with the college tuition for all 3 of my kids!  Sit back and dream with me of how sublime it would be to own one of these gorgeous swimming pool homes.

Look at the fire pit feature in the floor! Yes, no kids in this house!

This courtyard pool has a wonderful Moroccan inspired theme to it. The architecture and the colors compliment the crystal blue water of this swimming pool home.

The simple clad exterior of this home draws all eyes to this lone tree, and sparkling pool. Did you see that the dining room in the rear has a ‘movable wall of windows’ to bring the indoors out, instantly?

Lap pools don’t have to be boring. I enjoy the modern feel of this swimming pool. The glass safety wall almost disappears seamlessly, doesn’t it?

Luxury swimming pools are a great way to  tap into your inspiration mode. Whether you are daydreaming or it will fruition for you – don’t be afraid to think and dream big!

For more pool ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Swimming pools are used for lounging, playing and also exercising. Many people are limited to space in their backyard for a swimming pool.  What about a swimming pool that is small in footprint, and helps you exercise?  Freshome has an article about a swimming pool called, Endless pool.

“Endless pool is a is a counter-current swimming pool and water exercise machine that is small enough to fit inside a home.  The Endless pool features an adjustable current that allows you to swim or exercise in place. The current is broad and deep, and is suitable to every swimming ability and fitness need. You can also set the temperature precisely, based on preferences and needs. The unique, swim current is completely adjustable in speed, from zero to racer’s pace. With this technology you can enjoy a high quality swim that will keep you fit, in a such a small place.”