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The grass is turming green, the trees are starting to, bud and soon it wiIl be time to open your pool for another season of relaxation and fun. Some of you may have opened your pool many times, but for others it will be your first spring opening. In either case we may be able to help you with a few tips and suggestions. If the pool was covered, you must first drain the water from the top of the cmer with a sump pump, siphon hose or your own filter and vacuum system. Lt is usually im- possible to get every drop of water off the top of the cover and usually about 20 gallons or s0 is lef t on the cover. This twenty gallons of water weighs 200 lbs. If you leave one long side of the cover secured to the deck and use about four people to drag the cover from one side of the pool to the sec ured side, in other. woiids you are folding it over ~self, you can very easfly _-'ftl'ain the water, off the cover as it laps itself onto the deck. Make sure you wash the cover with a mild soap, let dry before you fold it and put il away for the summer. -Drain water from water bags, wash and roll up. Talc or corn starch will prevent cover and bags from sticking, -Remove any winterizing plugs from inletsor skimmer, and instaîl return fittings. -Replace drain plugs in filter, pump and heater. -Replace pressure gauges on filter. -Fili pool to normal level if necessary. -While pool is filling, you cani wash and wax the ladders and diving board, -Prime pump and start filter operating. -Circulate water for at least eight hours then put a sample of pool water into a dlean container and take to a dealer to be analyzed. -Check PH readings, (should be 7.2-7.6) and chlorine readings. (should be .5-1.5 ppm.) . -Vacuum pool if neÉcessary. -It is a good idea to shock the pool and add algieide in the first 2 or 3 days. Helpful Hinits -Failure to achieve prime from the pump may be caused Outdoor Furniture Clean-up From the moment winter' s snow,ý startsý to melt and the trees begin to bud, many people try to spend as much tîme as possible out-of- doors. Prepare for outdoor relax- ation, before you decide to stretch out and enJoy the growing warmth of spring- time sun, by making sure your law,,ýn and patio furniture is ready for another season of sunshine. Oui of shape After a winter's 'vaca- tio,." outdoor furniture can really, bc out of shape. Check chair"s and louniges for mis- sing, broken or loose slats and cross-weaves. Make al] necessary repairs to avoid possible minor accidents or a week of sorc back muscles that cari result from relaxing on a too loosely, woveni chair. One Job that definitely ;.~ri'tbe ignore(d is a thor-ough "tIean ing ot ail chairs and louinges and picnic tables, too. After monthis of storage in your garage, basement or attic, your lawn furn-ituriewill probably be covered with a veneer of dust and soot. Also, be sure to check A metal surfaces for rusi. Sand down any rust spots you may flnd wîth steel oo;then, coat the sanded metal surface with a rust-preventive prepa- ration available at most hardware stores. If there are any movable parts or hinges give them a squirt of oul to, keep them moigsmoothly. by a worn "O" ring. Turn it over in it's groove. This usually will achieve the seal desired. -When replacing ladders, make sure the rubber bumpers are securely attached. -If y ou use an automatic chlorinator, the chlorine residual must be up before starting the chlorinator. PolByigTp By Kari Shaw The Dealer Hle should be a person(s) who has a reputation for being honest and reliable in all of his dealings. You should check with the Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce in your area to see if the dealer has a good reputation. The Manufacturer They should also be checked through the B.B.B. or C. of C. Spring pool Opening Check for a record of bankruptcies or frequent name changes. These recom- mendations are made to insure that your guarantee is backed by a solid, reputable company. The Product You should make absolutely sure that you know what you are buying. Ask the salesman to show you the broduct, not just a picture. Examine the product closely. Is it solidly constructed? Is it attractive? Who makes it? Will it break, crack or mark easily? Compare the size of the steel walls - they range from,36" to 42" (36" to 48" in aluminum) How wide i s the coping? Will the coping clips come off easily or are they loose? The coping corners should be firm and securely attached to the steel walls. They should also not bend when pressed upon. The pump should have a 1/2 h.p. motor and be self- prîming. TeThe Installation Tedealer should do his own installations as opposed to sub-contracting. t is some- times difficult to get a contractor to come back and repair his mistakes. Always Homes and Gardens, Supplement of The Canadian Statesman, April 26, 1978 3 insist on seeing one of thej j*L or no floor clearance- dealer's pools in a customner' s Closet tvliit louver doors permit closet backyard. This has the installation in places too nar- advantage -of showing you 1,11h~ w~ row ,,for an outward-swinging exactly what the finished double lif<'J'- door. Handy storage thus be- produet looks like and you Just because a closet is so cornes possible in foyers, may, pick Up some useful, its decorative pos- lhallways and small baths. landscaping ideas. A hard sibilities are often over- Bcuewo ae n bottom is a must for a vrnyl looked. Yet wood louîver fiiswiauselvroo r ak s linered pool. A bowled bottom closet doorscarealquick, easy is more pleasing to the eye and and affordable way to'enliven cnb ane n ooo is easier to clean. Backfilling teloso n rafo stained to emphasize the nat- the excavation must be done casual kitchen to luxuriaus ural color and design of the with washed sand. living room. grain. Folding and sliding The Guarantee What makes louver doors styles can be purchased t is important that, the decorative is t heir siats. Or- eîthers fyluereor withan terms and conditions, of the dinary flush doors are bland, dlouvesc inte top haif an sale are in writing. A promise but wood siats create a rich- del-cltrdcoe or statemnent made verbally ness of detail that raises wood panels at the bottom. has no legal standing. Every- closets above the utilitarian Louver doors, together thing sold in the total package class. with tracks, hardware and in- should be guaranteed for at At the same lime, louver stallation instructions, can be least one (1) year. Liners doors let closets do a better obtained at local lumiber should be warranteed for storage job. The open-slat dealers and building supply twenty (20) years and-walls design allows ventilation of stores. They can usually be for ten (10) years. Workman- the closet interior- Air flow i n s t all1e d b y- d o - i t - shîp should be guaranteed for helps keep what's lit the yourselfers. two (2) years. closet fresh and dry which, in h or anb sda The Price turn, eliminates musty odors sTnge untsor n b seesn The best price is not alwaYs and prevents mildew.sigeut oiners.I the besy buy. Remember that Wood louvers enhance a fact, a- wall-long sweep of yuare making the second or closet's use and beauty in closets with louver doors third largest inyestment Of other ways as well. double-e ar: an an your if e and you want it to dul-etr:a bn last. Because they are avaîlable dance of storage space and a Good luck and happy in folding or sliding dramnatic visual highlight for. swimming. styles-which require little any room or corridor.