The Best Summer Pool Party Games

The music is on and you have a hilarious group of your best friends and family members hanging out in your pool. Adults always channel their inner child when they are catching some rays in a pool, doing belly flops and splashing anyone trying to keep their hair dry. Sometimes, however, it might be a tough sell to actually get your adult guests into the pool. If that problem arises at your next event try some of these games to get things rolling.

The following are some of our favorite summer pool games:

• Pool Volleyball – You all remember the scene. Gaylord Focker is meeting his girlfriend’s parents and family when he hits his girlfriend’s sister square in the nose with the volleyball. Those competitive types need to take it easy during this game to not hurt those out to have fun. We recommend using a beach ball to slow the game down a little and limit the chances of someone getting hurt. All you need it to string a net across the pool and grab a beach ball. Bump, set, spike! 
• Marco, Polo – This is a great game for those with great senses and awareness. Someone closes their eyes and has to tag the others in the pool. When the person who is it says “Marco” the others have to respond with polo. Just close your eyes and go. 
• Parlor or Drinking Games – Swim up blackjack tables are always a hit with the gambling types. They also make inflatable beer pong tables for the pool where you try to bounce your ping-pong ball into the other players’ cup of beer. Check out our selection of pool games and pool toys.

Having plenty of floating pool chairs is also a great way to get your guests to relax and enjoy themselves in your pool. Check out our pool accessories for more great entertaining ideas. Also, send us any more great pool games or post them on our Pools And Stuff Facebook page to be featured in a future post!

Soft-Sided Above Ground Pools

Above-ground soft-sided pools have become increasingly popular in the past several years due to their combination of easy installation and low cost. With improved strength and durability they make a great economical option for families seeking an instant improvement to their backyard entertainment space. The average family can assemble a soft-side pool in just an hour and move it as often as needed without damage to any of the parts.

Soft-sided pools come in different shapes including round and rectangular, to suit any taste. These pools can also be a variety of depths and sizes, making it easy for homeowners to find one that fits their needs. The pools can be placed on any surface including grass, dirt, concrete, or even sand or gravel, and have liners that are extremely durable and puncture resistant. They can, in some instances, even be placed on uneven ground without issue, although level ground is always the best choice for the pool.

The soft-sided pools usually come with the pump, pool cleaning kit and ladder. They can last several years or more with proper care and cleaning. In cold climates, these pools may degrade slightly faster to due to exposure to ice and snow, but they are still a very durable and affordable option for backyard aboveground pools. Pro-Series makes a great selection of soft-sided above ground pools that are a great quality and are built to last. Check out the many styles and options at PoolsAndStuff.com. Compared to Intex® brand pools, Pro-Series soft side pools offer great value and features.

The Pro-Series offers a powerful surface skimmer that helps remove leaves and has a removable built-in skimmer basket for easy cleaning. It also includes a pump and filter system that attaches to the side wall, keeping it out of the way and safe.

If you a looking for a best quality check out our Premier Soft-Side Pool models, made in the USA.

With all the benefits of above ground pools including low cost, portability, ease of installation, many features and options, as well as easy maintenance, soft-sided pools might be the perfect option for your family to make this summer the best one yet. Visit our website for more details and an amazing selection of soft-sided pools to fit your needs and style. We also offer free shipping in the 48 states. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boWFW9oxA4U

Benefits of Above-Ground Pools

Above-ground pools are making a comeback due to their many benefits. With the new innovations in the above-ground pool market and all the exciting bonuses of purchasing this type of pool, people are looking towards them more or more to satisfy their want to have sensational swimming in their own backyard. Here are some benefits and highlights to purchasing an above-ground pool instead of in-ground pool.

The benefits include:

• Cost - The major benefit of an above-ground pool is the cost. When compared to an in-ground pool, the savings is many thousands and thousands of dollars. Also, in-ground pools add to the value of your home and cause your home to be assessed at a higher rate, increasing your property taxes. This is typically not an issue with an above-ground pool since it is not a permanent addition to a home. 
• Portability - The portability of an above-ground pool is also a major benefit. You can relocate the pool if you redesign your backyard landscape or want it in a sunnier location, or take it with you if you purchase a new home. Above-ground pools offer a great deal of flexibility and size options to fit your needs. You can also take them down after summer to allow the use of your full yard during winter or the off-season if needed. 
• Ease of Installation - The installation of an above-ground pool is simple and painless compared to the long process of installing an in-ground pool. Instead of tearing apart the backyard, above-ground pools can be installed in less than a day with minimal intrusion to current backyard landscaping. 
• Similar Features - Above-ground pools come with many different features and accessories including diving boards, steps, slides and more. They come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate a huge crowd or small family. Enjoying your backyard pool is equally as rewarding above ground as it is in-ground. 
• Safer Option - Depending on how you set up the above-ground pool, it is typically more difficult for small children or pets to fall in. You can remove the ladder when the pool is not in use, making it nearly impossible to enter, making it a safer alternative to in-ground setups. There are also a full range of safety ladders for above ground pools. Some have a flip up ladder, some have locking gates, and more
• Easier Maintenance - Despite still needing chemicals and a filter, above-ground pools are smaller than in-ground pools and require less chemicals and water. Also, above ground pool heating options can be cheaper as well. 

There are many benefits to consider when deciding between an in-ground or above-ground pool. There are now so many options for above-ground pools, allowing you to easily move the pool with you if you move. You also save money across the board. Look at all of your options and weigh the benefits to help you make the best decision for your new pool, just in time for summer!

Making Your Pool Eco-Friendly

Green and Eco-friendly ideas are touching every part of people’s lives today. There is always a way to make everything in your life more Eco-conscious, and your swimming pool is no different. Here are our top four ways to make your pool more Eco-friendly:

1. Upgrade Your Pool Pump. If you have a one-speed pool pump, you can switch to a variable-speed pool pump model. Despite being a higher initial upfront cost, these models run more efficiently and allow owners to see a 30 to 70 percent savings on electricity within the first month. These pumps can be programmed to run at lower speeds for circulation and a higher speed for the cleaning cycle. Or you can have them run at a low speed all day and night to help circulate the water during hot weather temperatures.

2. Switch to LED Pool Lights. New LED lighting for your pool not only provides superior brightness and appearance, but is also 80% more efficient than standard lighting. Combine superior style with energy saving efficiency at the same time.

3. Heat for Cheap. Supplement your pool heating system with solar power. Retain the heat in your pool’s water with proper pool covers or pool solar blankets. Remember that keeping a warm pool uncovered on a cool night is like leaving your refrigerator open all day.

4. A Smarter Filter. Many new cartridge style pool filter systems are simpler to operate and last for several seasons. Not having to replace sand each year not only saves time and money, it also saves the environment. Also, these filter systems are so efficient they require filtration less often, saving even more energy (and the environment!).

These are just a few of the ways you can enjoy your swimming pool and keep an eye out for the environment at the same time. So what are you waiting for? Dive in and check out the latest in pool accessories today.

Pools - Fun Facts

PoolsAndStuff.com has launched and is focused on excellent customer service and great products. We have in ground pools, above ground pools and many supplies and accessories to make all of your pool dreams come true.

Let’s kick it off with some fun and exciting facts on pools to lighten up the mood and provide some great talking points for those that question your decision to get a pool.

• The Titanic was the first ship to have a heated swimming pool.

• Swimming became an amateur sport in the late part of the nineteenth century.

• Ancient drawings and paintings found in Egypt depicting people swimming date back to 2500 AD.

• Elephants can swim as many as 20 miles a day — they use their trunks as natural snorkels!

• Swimming exercises all of the body’s major muscles

• President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the first indoor swimming pool put in the West Wing at the White House.

• 65% of people in the U.S. don’t know how to swim.

• An hour of vigorous swimming will burn up to 650 calories. It burns off more calories than walking or biking.

• President Gerald Ford had an in ground pool installed near the tennis courts on the White House grounds in 1975.

• Swimming became a part of the Olympic Games in 1896.

• Most swimmers at the highest levels of competition train from four to five hours per day and five to seven days per week. They will typically swim about six to twelve miles per day along with weight training and flexibility training.

• Water’s buoyancy make swimming the ideal exercise for physical therapy and rehabilitation or for anyone seeking a low-impact exercise.

• The slowest Olympic swim stroke is the breaststroke.

• The two-piece bathing suit known as bikini got its name from Bikini Atoll, a US nuclear test site in the South Pacific.

• Swimming strengthens the heart and lungs

• The first man to cross the English Channel swimming from England to France is Englishman Captain Matthew Webb in 1875.

• An Olympic size pool depending on its size (50 meters X 25 yards or meters) can hold from 700,000 to 850,000 gallons of water.

• Swimming helps reduce stress

• The average person produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in his or her lifetime — that’s enough spit to fill TWO swimming pools!

• Swim fins were invented by Benjamin Franklin.

• Michael Phelps has won a total of 14 gold medals and 2 bronze medals in a pool.