Walmart Launches Water Testing for Swimming Pools

Walmart corporation has launched an initiative to provide in-store testing of pool water.

Select Walmart stores in North America have set up water test kiosks to enable customers to bring in a water sample and have it analyzed for prescriptive water maintenance. The system is meant to mimic the water testing offered by pool and spa retailers, offering customers computerized guidance on what chemicals to buy and add in order to achieve balanced water.

Information thus far has been anecdotal — reports from industry professionals who encountered the water testing stations firsthand in Pennsylvania, Indiana and California. Walmart has not released information on the number of stores nationwide that have installed the test kiosks.

Water testing has long been a major component of the dealer’s advantage over Internet and big box retailers, part of the package of expertise that separates the professional pool store from the mass merchant. By offering water testing along with low-priced chemicals, Walmart is trying to cut into the still-substantial chemical trade that runs through pool and spa retail companies.

There are enormous differences, however, between the Walmart kiosk and the typical pool and spa store water test counter.

Walmart’s water testing kiosks feature a set of instructions a customer must read, understand and accurately follow —independently of trained help, as these kiosks are unmanned.

A typical pool and spa retailer offers a much more customer-friendly system, where a water maintenance professional tests the water and supplies expert advice on chemical application.

How to become a Millionaire

Cocktail Swimming Pool Design

Cocktail Pools are often described as small, often detailed pools, built on tight lots. However, the term has certainly expanded into a wonderful description of the most popular and fastest growing segment of swimming pool designs at Penguin Pools
 The Cocktail design. 

The Cocktail design, much like its namesake, represents a mix of top shelf materials and ideas served in an attractive, compact arrangement. 

In recent years we have found our clients have developed a taste for decorative detail. This style inclination has been cultivated through their experiences at theme parks, travel destinations, restaurants and also through their media. They come to us with magazine clippings, travel photos, and web ideas all detailing their desire to have a backyard entertainment oasis for family and friends. These exciting and creative ideas include bonfire rings, cascading waterfalls, outdoor pergolas, beach entries, outdoor grill areas, sunning patios, plunge pools, grottos, water slides, practice greens, and ruin walls. 

We have found that size is less important. The trends lean toward moderately sized pools with more sizzle. No longer is the 800-square-foot pool the norm. In fact, it has become the exception. We still build large 20 x 40 pools for clients each year, but more often than not, it’s a 500- to 600-square-foot moderately sized pool with plush amenities.

Just a few years ago, the pool represented the largest portion of a project’s budget. Now, the pool itself is often a much smaller portion of the project total, and the details around the swimming pool may be of equal importance to the homeowner. In these situations, the swimming pool represents one facet of the backyard entertainment area. 

“Cocktail design” is a truly apt description of what is happening. We've even designed a few with the bar inside the pool. It’s a blending of ingredients that captivate all the senses: eye-pleasing environments, rich water sounds, warm toasty fires, fragrant blooming flowers and the alluring scent of steaks on the BBQ. In most cases, each element needs to be appropriately sized to meet a manageable budget — thus, the cocktail design. As designers at Penguin Pools, we have become students of this style, learning its nuances and searching for materials and products that expand the pallet of options we can offer the customer. 

It is important to offer and be well-versed in the gradations of any option you offer. For example, grill areas can range from a simple grill in a wheel cart with fold down sides to a grill built into a stone-faced enclosure complete with warming drawers, refrigerator, ice maker, burner trays, and a sink. Clients can select from that range based on their desires and budget.

We’ve found that being knowledgeable and skilled in delivering a variety of options enables our clients to incorporate something of each idea into an affordable mix, and ultimately achieve a project more precisely targeted to their original desire. 

Send us your ideas and lets see what we can come up with for you!

What Are The 3 Most Popular In-ground Pool Options Of 2014?

As a pool experts, the question we get asked almost all the time is "What are the most popular options for in-ground pools and why?" I would say the three most popular options are salt water chlorinators, LED pool lights, and automatic safety covers. Here are the pros and cons of each.

 Salt Water Chlorinators

 Quality Salt water chlorinators provide exceptional water quality without the odor and irritation typically associated with traditional chlorine pools. Most people don’t know that a salt water pool is actually a chlorine pool. The machine actually converts salt into chlorine, and does so in such a way that the nasty odors and eye irritation associated with Chlorine aren’t present.

 Another huge advantage of salt water chlorinators is they are extremely low maintenance. To maintain chlorine levels simply add four to eight bags of granular salt directly to the pool each season. Salt can be purchased from any store that sells pool chemicals, comes in 40 LB bags, and costs about $12 per bag. Even though salt water pools are extremely low maintenance, water chemistry should still be monitored weekly. The initial cost of a salt water chlorinator is typically between $1,400 and $2,000. The salt will usually cost between $50 and $100 per season.  If you compare this to a typical chlorine system where you spend between $200 and $300 on chemicals each season, the long term costs are virtually the same. If there is any disadvantage to a salt water system it is the initial cost, but most people find that it is well worth it.

 LED In-ground swimming pool light



If you have ever seen a pool lit up at night or even looked at some of our pictures on our website, you can see why a lot of our customers consider lighting a need rather than a want. When comparing the cost of lighting to other accessories that beautify your pool, a light gives you the best bang for your buck. LED lights allow you to change light colors, rotate colors, and even project patterns into your pool.

 The life expectancy on the bulb is 10,000 hours so rarely, if ever, will you need to replace the bulb. If you do need to replace the bulb, it is easy and can be done without lowering the lever of water in your pool. We find that one light is adequate for pools less than 30’ and recommend an additional light for pools greater than 30’. You can expect to spend between $700 and $800 per light.


In Ground Pool Automatic Safety Covers

 Automatic pool covers are often referred to as inground pool covers, electric pool covers, or retractable pool covers. The primary purpose of automatic safety covers is to protect children and pets, but they also keep debris out of the pool and require no maintenance during the winter months while the pool is closed.  

I sometimes get asked, “Are these covers really as strong as they claim?” The answer is “Absolutely”. If you look at pictures of these covers it is easy to see why they are so popular.  Retractable pool covers run on a set of tracks. Tracks that run in a straight line are utilized to transport the cover over the pool. The tracks run parallel to each other for the length of your pool.

The biggest benefit is the saving on your heating costs, and this is where the cover can actually pay for itself. 90% of the heat loss from pool water occurs from the surface. Keeping it closed overnight or when you are not in the pool will keep you from running your heater, letting the cover do the work instead.

 A security cover will be between $8,500 and $10,000 installed. The manual option is definitely cheaper (about $4500), but works best on midsize pools and smaller.

Automatic covers provide these key benefits to the inground pool owner:

• Safety and piece of mind.
• Negates the need to incur these significant costs: fence around pool, winter cover and solar blanket/solar reel (potentially as much as $7,000)
• More aesthetically pleasing especially since no fence is required in some cities with an approved pool cover.
• Dramatic savings on heat and chemical costs.
• Less maintenance due to debris not being able to get into pool when cover is closed.

 So here are the three most popular pool options for in-ground pools. I hope this helps you to make a more informed decision when deciding how to spend your hard earned dollars. If you would like to learn more about salt systems, pool lighting, or security covers check out our Pool Options page. It covers these options plus many more. Good luck this 2014 pool season!