Andrew Pansini, inventor of the first automatic swimming pool cleaner in 1957, died of natural causes Nov. 4 at his Belvedere home.

His invention came about as a solution to the never ending task of cleaning his own home’s swimming pool. One day he accidentally dropped a garden hose in the pool and saw it swishing back and forth, giving him the idea for an automatic swimming pool cleaner.

Mr. Pansini developed a prototype and soon, a commercial pool cleaner built with a float that traveled along the surface of a swimming pool with an attached hose, which moved with jet propulsion.

His invention will live on forever. If you are interested in purchasing an automatic pool cleaner or need pool cleaning services, contact the technicians of Texas Pool Sharks in McAllen at 956-782-1515.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times says that pool cleaning companies have managed to stay afloat even during these tough economical times.

Part of the reason why companies like these have not gone out of business is because banks are forced to maintain the pools in foreclosed homes to avoid liability and meet public-safety demands.

Pools that are not cleaned on a regular basis can harbor algae and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Don’t let your pool become contaminated. Contact the trusted McAllen pool technicians at Texas Pool Sharks at 956-782-1515 for expert pool cleaning services.

Medical reports often emphasize the importance of swimming as a recreational sport. Integrating swimming in your workout routine can dramatically transform your body from the inside out.

By swimming a few meters regularly, you are improving cardiovascular conditioning, endurance, flexibility, appearance, posture, and toning.

For people who enjoy jogging or running, but can’t avoid the aftermath of joint pain and injuries, the low impact of exercising in water helps prevent these occurrences.

To ensure that your pool is always functioning the way it should be when you use it to improve your health, contact McAllen Pool Sharks at 956-782-1515. Our team of expert technicians will keep your pool running like new.

Learning to swim is often a recreation that children begin to learn at a young age. At the McAllen Municipal Pool, swimming lessons are offered to help kids take that extra step in perfecting the art of swimming.

The lessons start out in the park’s 2 feet-deep section where children splash around for their official swim lesson.

The lessons are usually under an hour per session through the Gus and Goldie Learn to Swim program.

To continue learning in your personal swimming pool, contact the Pool Sharks to schedule a maintenance appointment to have your kids learning to swim in clear waters.

If you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, or are having a swimming pool party, or simply feel the need to vacuum your pool in-between service calls but do not know how to do it we want to help you out.

Check this video out and let us know if it was helpful.

During this time of the year our swimming pools still seem pretty nice to take a dip in but the water is usually too cold for our comfort. This issue can be fixed by adding a swimming pool heat pump, gas, or electric heater.

If you are thinking of adding one of these heaters you might be wondering how this will affect your monthly electric bill.

Well, we have come across a chart that will help you decide which is right for you by comparing costs next to each other.

This chart has been provided by the U.S. Department of energy to help consumers make an informed decision.

Simply follow this link.

Once you have made a decision and would like a heater installed in your home, feel free to contact us here at Pool Sharks and we will send one of our professional installers to your home.

Winter is here, which is not much to say for the valley weather, however, we occasionally will hit below 32 degrees and will need to prevent our swimming pool equipment from freezing.

Do a walk-through to make sure that everything is in working order to begin with.

Your swimming pool water is safe if the top layer freezes, but if the frozen layer is over 1″ thick, it might break some tiles.

To prevent this you can purchase air pillows which absorb freezing water’s pressure therefore protecting your walls.

As a cheaper alternative, you may use half empty milk cartons held together with a rope.

In order to protect your swimming pool equipment from freezing it is best to leave it running all night in question.

The cost of electricity will be cheaper than trying to repair a broken pump, filter, or heater.

In order to figure out if your equipment has frozen you will need to very observant and watch out for straining that you might hear in the pump or filter.

If you hear buzzing that does not sound normal it would be best to open the pump or filter to inspect it manually for frozen water.

You will need to have that frozen water thaw out before starting up the equipment again. You can either wait it out or try to speed it up the process by using an handheld blowdrier, space heater, or electric blanket if you have one.

Don’t leave any of these heating solutions unattended as they may start a fire or damage your o-rings if it’s too close that they melt.

Once all the frozen water has thawed turn on your equipment and closely inspect it for drips or cracks in the swimming pool equipment or pipelines.

If you would like to have a professional inspect your equipment feel free to contact us here at Pool Sharks and schedule a service call.

We are happy to help you in all your swimming pool needs.

Owning a swimming pool brings a family together and memories for a lifetime. However, it comes with the responsibility of regular swimming pool maintenance.

Some swimming pool chores have to be done daily, weekly and monthly to maintain a healthy swimming pool.

It is easier to keep up with regular swimming pool maintenance than to pay for repairs due to negligence. With a little organization and time each of the following duties will help save you money and keep a healthy swimming pool balance.

Daily:

• Skim debris from pool

The good news is that there is only one thing to do every day. Doing this will prevent your pump, filter and motor from working extra hard if there is too much buildup after a few days.

Weekly:

• Test the pH and adjust
• Check water level and adjust
• Clean skimmer and pump strainer baskets
• Vacuum the swimming pool
• Brush the pool and concentrate on the tile

Keeping proper water balance is the foundation to extending the life of your swimming pool water. Do not make the mistake of solely relying on your swimming pool filter and pump equipment.

Monthly:

• Clean your salt cell or chlorinator
• Backwash and thoroughly clean your filter
• Stabilize your water using salt or stabilizer

Doing these three things monthly will help maintain your swimming pool in tip top condition by operating correctly and keeping a sanitary environment.

Following these basic daily, weekly, and monthly duties will help make your swimming pool a more enjoyable asset. However, forgetting to do them will cause problems that could turn out to be costly.

If you feel that your life is too hectic make sure that you hire a professional to keep your pool properly cleaned and balanced.

Here at Pool Sharks, our professionals have the right training and years of experience that are sure to provide you with the service that you expect.

If you would like more information regarding our swimming pool maintenance contracts, please contact us by phone, email, or our contact page.

Ever wonder why people love swimming pools so much?

Check this funny swimming pool moments video out…

Idiot Videos: Swimming Pool Accidents
Uploaded by IdiotVideos. – Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Many pool owners take for granted the great advantages of swimming pool lights. From a stylish addition to a safety measure, here are some reasons to have and maintain swimming pool lights.

Proper lighting in the swimming pool is imperative if you are to take a swim at night. You will be able to make sure that you and your guests know where the deep end of the swimming pool is thus avoiding accidents. Also, you will be able to see where the edges are so you don’t bump your head against a wall, and if there are other swimmers in your surroundings you will be able to see those who may be in need.

Swimming pool lighting can be of special importance if you have young children in your hosuehold. You will be able to easily monitor anytime during the night if there is anyone inside your swimming pool.

Swimming pool lights can also help you if you are a night owl and decide to clean your pool at night. Many choose to do this since they can avoid the hot weather and sunburns.

As a stylish option, swimming pool lights come in a great variety of colors that can light up your pool party. If you have never had funky colored lights in your swimming pool, it may be time to spice it up.

These lights come in a great variety of colors that are sure to add some spunk to your pool, whether you have swimmers in it or just to have a cool focal point to an inside party.

If you would like more information on cost and maintenance of swimming pool lights please feel free to contact any of our experts at Pool Sharks whether at the office or while cleaning your pool.