Author: Trey Collier

About Trey Collier

Avid Do-It-Yourself-er. Love's being outdoors. Helped push the shade sail market into one of the fastest growing outdoor shade structures product in North America.

Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining

Will a Solar Heater really heat my pool?

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Of course! Depending on your weather and climatic conditions, you can expect your solar pool heater to: raise your pool temperature 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit each time the water passes through the system, and raise your pool’s temperature 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit over a period of several days of good weather. A solar blanket will help hold in this heat at night or when it’s windy, and can help the system be even more effective.

Solar Pool Heaters allow you to take advantage of the sun’s free energy. Solar Heaters are extremely efficient, inexpensive to operate, and are the ultimate in environmental friendliness. When combined with a solar pool cover, also known as a solar blanket, your Solar Pool Heater will maintain a comfortable water temperature well into the cooler months.

Solar pool heating systems are extremely versatile – they can be mounted on the ground, on a rack, or installed on a nearby roof.

If you have a solar pool heating system, do you mount yours on the ground, a rack or on a roof?  Which is better in your opinion?

Outdoor Entertaining

Outdoor Living Spaces Are All The Rage!

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Make The Most of Your Outdoors

The latest trend in decorating is giving your outdoor spaces just as much consideration as you do our indoors.  In a sense, it is time to bring the indoors out!  Now is the time to start thinking about all you want to do to your outdoor living space so that this Spring you can enjoy your friends & family in your inviting patio and/or backyard.

As many downsize due to the tough economic times we are in, they are finding themselves compelled to make the most of their space even their outdoor areas. An inviting outdoor space has become a ‘must have’ feature in even the smallest of living places. Take a look at your outdoor space and while doing so think of how some of these products can add to the ambiance to you home. Some of my favorite items to use outdoors are: Outdoor Rugs, to soften the feel; Decorative Outdoor Fans, to add to your decor and provide relief from the heat; and Outdoor TV’s, to encourage gathering of your friends and family.  Obviously, the list goes on and on, but these are a few of my favorites.

It is truly amazing how making the most of your outdoor spaces makes you feel like you have in a sense, greatly increased the size of your living space.

Holidays & Gift Ideas, Outdoor Entertaining

Outdoor Decorating For The Holidays!

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Holiday Decorating with Garden Torches

Now is the time to decorate for the holidays, but in doing so, don’t forget to pay attention to the ambiance your outdoor spaces create during this season. From wreaths to holiday lights in the front, we seem to stay busy decorating our outdoors. My question is….. are really doing it for those inside… or for those we don’t even know….Me a Grinch…who me …no way!!!!  Seriously, it is time we inspire ourselves to decorate our own outdoor living spaces like decks, patios and backyards to warm the hearts of those who we know and love the most. Try adding some garden torches for light, and an outdoor fireplace for warmth.  Add a little a holiday cheer with some simple greenery with holiday colors like poinsettias to bring in the season.  Now you can sit back and relax and actually take some time to reflect on the true meaning  of the season.  And remember what makes a house a home………comfort, joy and the company of those we hold dear!

Outdoor Entertaining

Stay Toasty This Winter With An Attractive Lampstyle Heater

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Tabletop Patio Heater

Taking Inside Comfort Outside

One of the biggest trends among homeowners today is building or improving outdoor spaces, such as patios and decks. Most people continue to grill out on a regular basis all year round. By using outdoor patio heaters, many continue to enjoy the outdoors experience even during the winter.

New types and styles of patios heaters become available all the time.  Decorative table top heaters are great to add to the decor of your patio. The best looking ones I have seen are the Lampstyle Table Top Heaters.  They look great and they are light, small, and easy to move around.  They are a practical way to keep you and your guests warm on cold nights. The lamp provides warmth for an area up to 12 feet in diameter. The automatic shut off tilt switch provides the security of knowing that the heater will shut off if the lamp is tilted. Perfect for your outdoor patio area, deck, balcony, backyard, or poolside.

Lampstyle Patio heaters are a welcome and useful addition to America’s increasingly outdoor lifestyle. They safely and efficiently turn chilly nights into warm, comfortable evenings, perfect for you and your family to get together and relax. After all, relaxing is one thing we just do not do enough these days especially during the holiday season.

Outdoor Safety Tips

A Million Pools Will Not Open After December 19th, 2008. Will yours be one of them?

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Federal Pool and Spa Safety Act Seeks to End Entrapment Deaths. Concern over a rise in serious injuries and drowning deaths by being entrapped by the suction of swimming pool drains and spas has resulted in the enactment of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Tragically, the Act is named after the seven year-old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, who died when she became entrapped by a spa drain’s mighty suction.

The Act, designed to prevent life-threatening injuries and drownings by drain entrapment, specifies that every commercial pool and spa in the U.S. must be fitted with new compliant anti-entrapment safety drain cover by December, 19, 2008 or the pool and spa will be closed until the correction is made. Also, by this day, all safety drain covers and entrapment avoidance systems marketed must meet the new ASME/ANSI A 112.19.8 standards.

The Act also states that any commercial, city, or club pool or spa with only a single main drain must install an additional entrapment prevention device system as outlined by the law. http://www.cpsc.gov/pssa.pdf

Those found not in compliance with the Act could possibly be subject to fines of up to $1.8 million, and criminal penalties could ensue to those parties found willfully negligent.

Manufactures of the compliant pool drain covers are feeling the pressure of meeting the anticipated demand for their products. Industry professionals believe the demand for the anti-entrapment drain covers will be greater than the manufacturers’ ability to produce by the December 19, 2008 deadline. Manufacturers just recently received final approval for new drain covers meeting the new standards.

Newly designed and affordable compliant anti-entrapment drain covers are easily retrofitted to existing drains and are instrumental in the effort to prevent future devastating injuries and drowning deaths.

If you would like to read more regarding frequently asked questions about the law please visit: http://www.theapsp.org