Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Heating Options for Swimming Pools in Winter

Few things provide more pleasure than diving into a crystal clear pool after a long, hot day, but one of them might be the ability to swim in a warm pool during the frozen winter months. swimming pools can boost the value of your property and if you can give your potential buyer a usage period beyond those few months of summer it will be a real selling point for you.

There are a couple popular methods for heating the pool in winter. Solar pool covers capture the suns heat and transfer it to the water. This is best for mild climates that dont get frighteningly cold. They also work by blocking evaporation and the heat is retained in the pool. Over time you will notice a significant difference in the heat of your pool. This is often the most economical method over the long term since the suns rays are free, but they can be very expensive at the outset. Of course theres the added benefit of protecting the pool from debris while its gathering heat. As for pool protection in the winter its important to note that solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not safety covers. You will use the plastic cover to seal the pool for the winter and to protect the pool from the harsh elements such as wind, ice and debris.

pool Heat Pumps are another option, which can both cool and heat your pool water depending on your needs. gas fired heaters are another fairly economical option and are quite common. These can help maintain a more constant temperature. Electric pool heaters are also available, but youll want to check into the utility rates in your part of the country to determine whether gas or electric is the best option for you. There are definitely pricing differences across the country. Your local pool supply store can also guide you to the best decision as you factor in purchase price, maintenance issues, longevity, long-term cost and required space.

In short, swimming pool heaters make a convenient and economical addition to your home, whether for personal use or to boost resale value.

Kristen writes information on pool heaters and swimming pool covers for optimal swimming pool safety.

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Why Teak is the Best Wood For Outdoor Furniture

outdoor furniture supplement the beauty and elegance of your home garden. Being a natural product, wood is considered to be the best material for constructing garden furniture. Since most timbers are not resistant to adverse weather conditions and insects, utmost care should be taken to stretch their lastingness. Here comes the prominence of teak wood as the ideal wood for making patio furniture. Teak is one of the best, long-lasting and strong materials used for indoor and outdoor furniture. Some of the specialties of teak as the most suitable wood for outdoor furniture, are given below.

1) Teak wood is good-looking, smooth, sturdy and durable.

2) It is resistant to bad weather and insects. A garden bench made of teak is capable of withstanding rain and sunlight for several years even without periodic maintenance.

3) Unlike furniture made of other materials, teak furniture don't require artificial polishing or oiling.

4) Teak wood is rich with silica and natural oil content that make it resistant to all kinds of insects.

5) Teak is very suitable for structural works and carved designs for its sturdiness, elasticity and ease of use.

6) Teak wood does not get rotted or splintered even if it remains in contact with metals like iron for years due to the presence of silica and oil content.

7) The denseness of teak, together with its other qualities, makes it the favorite wood of shipbuilders throughout the world.

8) Because of its stylish design with clean lines, teak wood stands out among all timbers.

9) Cleaning and maintaining teak furniture is pretty easy.

The Teak tree is classed as Tectona Grandis and it belongs to the family Verbenaceae. One of the reasons for the high cost of teak is that it takes approximately 50 to 60 years to complete its physical growth. Despite its high cost and difficulty to acquire, teak is still the preferred wood for making high quality furniture, doors, windows etc. Although teak wood is immune to heat and humidity and resistant to insects, timely cleaning and maintenance will definitely prolong its life. The high cost and scarcity of teak have slowly given rise to the use of other hardwoods like african oak and mahogany in its place. But none of them matches the quality of teak.

About the Author: Sophia Kaif writes articles on various subjects. Visit http://garden-bench-idea.blogspot.com/ and http://teak-outdoor-furniture.blogspot.com/

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