Go Green!

It’s March, and that means some pretty exciting things will be happening this month!

1. The first day of Spring is Saturday, March 20th! We couldn’t be more excited about that at Pools Plus since we are all suffering from some pretty serious Spring Fever! Bring on longer days and warmer weather!

2. St. Patrick’s Day! We love St. Patrick’s Day, reason’s to celebrate, and all things GREEN! (even green beer:))

3. Going Green! And we don’t mean with green algae!! We mean going green with smart, safe and convenient pool care! There are so many ways to upgrade or convert your swimming pool equipment, heaters, and water care programs to not only be more environmentally friendly and conservative, but to save YOU the best kind of GREEN of all….MONEY!

Call our service department today to schedule a FREE Safe & Green Audit to find ways to make your pool more “Green” and save you Money! 270-769-0585 or 1-800-239-7684

Or, visit our website to find out about our available “green” products!

Have you heard about our new Plus Rewards program? Earn a 2% rebate on all products and services from Pools Plus redeemable on anything in our stores! Join today!

One more GREEN product we love….Optimizer Plus!
Optimizer Plus is a water quality enhancer that helps make your pool easier to maintain and is one more step in preventing algae. What’s more? Add this to your BioGuard Pool Care System and Pools Plus will back it with an Algae Free Guarantee!

While GREEN is great for the environment and for your wallet, green is not a color you want to see in your pool! Save even more $ GREEN $…Pools Plus Rewards members can save 10% off of Optimizer Plus during the month of March!

Do you use Optimizer Plus? If so, leave us a comment and tell us what you think!
Have a quesiton about a “Green” product for your pool? Ask us, and we’ll answer your quesitons right here on the blog!
Thanks for reading and we can’t wait to see you soon!

Join the Splash for CF!

Join the Fight against Cystic Fibrosis

Take a deep breath and hold it…

Now exhale slowly. The air flows into your lungs and rewards you with a refreshing wave of rich, well oxygenated blood flow.

Take another deep breath and hold it…but exhale only slightly, and then quickly inhale again, repeating this several times. Not exactly refreshing, is it? This is an example of how cystic fibrosis effects your lungs.

Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease resulting in frequent lung infections, can permanently reduce a child’s potential to receive that same refreshing breath most of us take for granted every second of our day. Now imagine taking over 40 pills a day, enduring routine daily lung therapy and potentially frequent, extended stays the hospital each year all for the privilege to keep whatever limited lung capacity you have. That’s the reality for many children suffering with CF.

Emily Schreiber is just one of those CF children who have battled this disease with the courage and poise well beyond her years. She’s found her purpose in bringing awareness to the critical need for the care and support of children who battle CF from a very young age through her foundation, Laps for CF. It’s also why she’s partnered with BioGuard Splash for CF and the incredible network of BioGuard dealers around the nation who are raising funds for CF. They hope to accomplish Emily’s vision where no child lacks the support to battle their disease and to improve their quality of life.

BioGuard Splash for CF is donating a penny-per-pound of every BioGuard sanitizer sold in stores in addition to the fundraising efforts of the dealers themselves, combining for over $200,000 in the past two years alone. Pools Plus has information on how you can help, by hosting a pool party or swimming laps to support the cause. Or just visit www.SplashforCF.org or follow Splash for CF on Facebook at BioGuard Splash for CF for more on how to get started.

Take another deep breath…then join us!

Pools Plus Pre-Season Sale!

It’s that time of year again! Spring is on its way, and that means its time for the Annual Pools Plus Pre-Season Sale!

From February 22nd through March 6th, save 20% off all Pool and Spa Water Care products, and 10% off all in-stock maintenance items and accessories. Its our biggest sale of the year, so its a great time to stock up on all your pool and spa needs for the entire season!

Can’t make it into the store? No problem! Just call us at 270-737-7665 and we will be happy to help you over the phone. You can pick your order up from one of our stores at a later date, or we even offer free delivery!

We have tons of exciting new things going on at Pools Plus this year, and we are looking forward to a great Spring and a hot Summer great for swimming!

We are also happy to announce a brand new website!! After 6 years of the same website, we knew it was time for a new look, and updated info.
Check it out at www.poolsplusonline.com

Oh, and be sure to tell your friends and family about our Pre-Season sale too! Thanks for your business and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Benefits of Cooking on The Big Green Egg!

• The Big Green Egg offers unmatched cooking flexibility –
the EGG® is a grill, a smoker and an oven.
• Space-age ceramics and double-wall construction make
the Big Green Egg durable and fuel efficient.
• Natural lump charcoal gives your food amazing flavor.
• Choice of five sizes to accommodate everyone’s needs.
• A 34-year history of dependable customer service makes
it easy to get answers to your questions.
• An interactive CD/DVD makes it easy to get started and
provides video footage of Chef Kevin Rathbun demonstrating cooking techniques.
• Our helpful website provides recipes, cooking tips and an
active user’s forum.
• The Big Green Egg allows for indirect cooking while utilizing
your entire cooking space.
• Dozens of EGGcessories designed especially for the Big
Green Egg make your cooking even more foolproof. Specialty
grids and extended racks offer great versatility.
• With a lifetime warranty on ceramic parts, the EGG
won’t contribute to the waste stream like metal grills that are
discarded after a few years. Ceramics won’t rust like metal grills.
• You can cook in the EGG year around, even in rain or freezing temperatures.
• Low, even temperature ensures moist, “Pit BBQ-tender” smoked foods.
• The Big Green Egg cooks hotter than a gas grill; 750 degree heat produces steakhouse searing.
• Meat, fish, poultry, veggies & fruit – the EGG does them all effortlessly.
• Bakes better than a brick oven – pizza, bread and even desserts.
• The ceramic surface stays cooler than metal grills, so it is safer
around children and pets.
• The EGG is ready for you to start cooking in minutes with no
lighter fluid used.
• The EGG maintains precise temperature to within a few
degrees simply by adjusting the top and bottom vents.
• The baked on exterior glaze maintains its good looks and
readily wipes clean with a damp cloth. Clean up is effortless;
the EGG cleans itself like a self-cleaning oven.
• Lump charcoal produces little ash, eliminating the need to
clean out ash after each barbecue.
• You can cook for hours without adding more charcoal.
Unburned charcoal can be saved for the next cookout simply
by closing the vents to snuff out the fire, saving you money!

Fall is here and it’s the perfect season for grilling!
Get your Egg today at Pools Plus in our Louisville and Elizabethtown locations!

Tailgate Time

Temperatures are cooling down and September is here! What does that mean? It’s time for Football Season!!!

College football opened last weekend and the NFL season officially kicks off tomorrow night!

That means its time for tailgating! Pools Plus carries the perfect item for tailgating…The Big Green Egg! It’s even on the cover of Tailgating Magazine this month!

September Tailgater Cover

If you look closely, you can even see the new tailgate rig for The Big Green Egg. Although this is just a prototype, it should be available in early 2010. That will make it even easier to load your Egg up and take it to the Stadium for some good food with good friends!

All sports lovers are getting in on the action. See below where Kasey Kahne was awarded a Big Green Egg last Saturday after he won the Pep Boys Auto 500 race in Atlanta!
Kasey Kahne Big Green Egg

Do you have your Big Green Egg yet? Come in and see our Eggs and our large selection of eggcessories too!

Happy 4th of July!

So sorry it’s been a while since my last post!  Pool season arrived, and I have found myself busy, and little time to post!  So, I would first like to say Thank You to all of our customers for your business and your support!  We really appreciate it.  We love seeing you all summer long!

Come visit us in the store to get ready for all of your 4th of July Parties!  Remember, with lots of pool use and extra people in the pool, its a good idea to use Burn Out 35 in the evening when everyone gets out of the pool!  Also, we like to remind you that its a good idea to chemically clean your filter around the 4th of July.  This optimizes filter performance, and makes it easier for you to take care of your pool! Save $2 off of Strip Kwik or Kleen It filter cleaners when you mention this blog post. Offer ends July 17th.

With the 4th of July holiday here, it usually means more backyard barbeques.  I wanted to share a link with you for some awesome Big Green Egg Recipes.  Also, through the 6th of July, all Big Green Egg packages are 10% off.  No better time to get one!
Big Green Egg Recipes
 
Have a very safe, fun and Happy 4th of July from all of us at Pools Plus!

Memorial Day Weekend!

It’s almost here!  I am sure we are not the only ones more than excited to have Memorial Day weekend just a few days away!

Looks like we will be blessed with some gorgeous weather for this weekend, which is typically seen as the official kick-off to the summer.

We want to make sure your pools are clean, clear and beautiful for this weekend so that your cookouts and pool parties are perfect.

Simply bring in a water sample from your pool or spa, and we will run a free computerized water analysis to make sure the pool water is balanced, clear and safe for swimming.  Mention this blog post and receive 10% off your water care products when you bring in a water sample.  (Offer valid this weekend only.)

We want you to create some great poolside memories this weekend with your friends and families!

Please be safe, have a great weekend, and thanks for your business!

Free Pool School

Our annual Pool School is being held tomorrow evening (Tuesday), May 12th at 7:00 pm in the Elizabethtown Pools Plus location. 

BioGuard, our water care product manufacturer, sponsors and hosts our annual pool school. 

We will go over the basics of pool care to help you maintain a sparkling clean and clear pool all summer long so you get the most enjoyment out of your pool. 

Call for space reservations! 270-737-7665 

We hope to see you here!

Pool Opening Time!

With temperatures climbing up and spring in the air, it is time to open your pool! 
I thought I would post some advice that we give to our customers every spring to ensure that opening your pool goes well, and you start your summer off with crystal clear water and keep it that way!

Once you remove your winter cover (clean your cover with stow away), follow these steps to ensure clean and clear water!  Or, call our service department to schedule you pool opening!

1.  Filter – Make sure your filter is clean and ready for a new season.  If you have our service department open and close your pool, your filter is cleaned at closing to make sure spring start-up is a breeze. 

If you have a sand filter, make sure you start off with new sand or use Strip Kwik filter cleaner to clean out the oils, greases and other organic marerial that build up in the filter over time.

If you have a D.E. filter, make sure you take the filter apart.  You can soak the grids in Strip Kwik as well as Kleen It to first remove oils and greases, as well as calcium and scale build up. 

If you have a cartridge filter, you can take it out of the filter and soak it in Strip Kwik as well.  Cartridges may need to be replaced once every year or two.

Having a clean filter is the first step to starting off a great summer.  Remember, you need to clean your filter once every four to six weeks to ensure proper filtration and cleaning of the water.  A clean filter can help to reduce chemical consumption and save you money!

2. Circulation – Once your filter is cleaned and ready, fill the water level of the pool to operating level, hook the pump and filter up, and start the pump.  Make sure your pump is in good working order and there are no leaks.  (This is also a good time to vacuum and clean the pool!)

3.  Treating the water – When the pool is first opened, be sure to shock the water with Burn Out 35 when the sun is off the pool.  The initial dose of Burn Out 35 is one bag per 6,000 gallons of pool water.  Make sure you get your sanitizer in the pool as well, whether you use the Frog System, feed Silk Sticks, Smart Sticks, or Silk Tablets in the skimmer, or if you have an automatic chlorinator.  The next morning, you need to add you initial dose of Back-Up Algaecide to the pool which is one quart to 25,000 gallons of water. 

4.  Analysis – After your pool has been circulating for 24-48 hours, it is time to get a sample and bring it in to us for a free Computerized Water Analysis.  In order to get a good water sample, use a new empty water bottle or zip lock bag, or a water sample bottle provided by Pools Plus.  Get a sample from elbow deep in the pool away from the skimmer and the return.  Bring it to Pools Plus soon after taking it from the pool.  Water samples are not acurate if they are left in the car all day.  You can leave a sample outside our front door if you would like to on your way to work.  Just be sure to lable it with your name and phone number and size of pool!  We are happy to test it and call you with the results!

When we test your water at opening, we are testing for proper pH balance, Total Alkalinity, CYA, and Calcium hardness.  These parameters are important so that the pool is properly sanitized, comfortable to swimmers and will not corrode or deteriotate the pool surface or equipment. 

Our ALEX Computerized Water Analysis will recommend the proper amounts of BioGuard Water Care Products to add to the pool to give you perfect pool water! 
If your pool water analysis is perfect, we give you $5 off your purchase and your name goes on the Perfect Pool Water Board! 

Ask about our other products for easy pool maintenance such as Optimizer Plus, Natural Chemistry Pool Magic Spring & Fall, and our full line of Above-Ground and In-Ground Automatic pool cleaners. 

Please feel free to give us a call or make a comment with any questions!  We are excited pool season is here and want to help you maintain clean and clear pools this summer!
Mention this blog post and receive 10% off your next purchase of Stow Away, Strip Kwik, or Back Up!

See you soon!

April Pools Day!

It’s no joke!  Our event this Saturday, April Pools Day, is going to be great!  The weather is supposed to be 80 degrees and we have swimming on our minds here at Pools Plus! 

This Saturday, April 25th, from 10am – 5pm, we are celebrating summer fun and  swimming with April Pools Day. 
Come out to this event for all the information you can possibly desire about swimming pool safety, swimming pool innovation, and fun in the sun!

The Derma Scan machine, from the KY Cancer Program sponsored by U of L will be here from 10am – 12pm for FREE skin sun damage screenings.

We will be doing cooking demonstrations on the Big Green Egg! 

There will be tons of information available on local swim lessons, lifeguard training, CPR classes, drowning prevention, suncare, and new and “green” products for swimming pools.

We will also have prizes and giveaways as well as discounts on ALL pool safety items, such as swim-suits, life jackets, pool alarms, and gate alarms!

Come to Pools Plus on Saturday for a kick-off to the season!