There’s no shortage of books to read while relaxing around the pool this summer. No matter what an individual’s reading preference, they’ll find a novel to satisfy their desire for mystery and romance to humor and the supernatural. Here are some of the best books for poolside.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield

Tilla journeys to Jamaica to visit her estranged father. She unearths powerful family secrets that addresses topics of color, class and more. Her own life is in turmoil and a hurricane is bearing down on the island.

Midlife Zombie Hunter by Shannon Mayer

Set for release on June 12, the entire series provides a heaping helping of humor as Breena, an overweight, 40-year-old with “the sight” hunts zombies in the latest edition. Armed with a bottle of pain reliever and a cadre of friends that includes a skeleton, spectral horse, and other creatures of myth and legend, the preternatural expert takes on the hard jobs to protect the human world from chaos.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Vern is seven months pregnant and determined to escape the religious compound in which she’s been raised. She escapes to the surrounding forest where she gives birth to twins. Black, blind and alone, Vern is undergoing changes she can’t explain and must understand the past to make sense of the present. Gothic horror meets science fiction as she protects herself against government agents and those that want to return her to the compound.

Sunshine Girl by Julianna Margulies

Four years in the writing, the star of the Good Wife TV series speaks candidly about her untraditional childhood, the messy divorce of her parents, and her rise to fame. She also explores how nicknames impact a child in negative and positive ways, including her own – Sunshine Girl.

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

For fans of historical fiction, the novel is based on the life of Evangelina Cisneros and was a New York Times bestseller. Imprisoned in Cuba, her plight catches the attention of the rich and famous in the U.S. The book talks about the explosion of the USS Maine, reconcentration camps, and her role in the Cuban War of Independence.

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A pool is an excellent focus for summer fun, but it will require some preparation before jumping in. It’s essential that pools be prepared correctly to provide a safe environment for swimmers. While you may be familiar with the tasks that must be accomplished to ensure a safe opening, if you don’t have time or are new to pool ownership, it’s a process best left to the professionals.

Don’t Drain

Never drain the water from your pool in the expectation of changing out the water or cleaning it for the new season. You risk damaging the pool or having it lift out of the ground in areas with a high water table.

Cleaning

Ensure all of your filtration and water circulation systems are in working order. Clean out the skimmer baskets, remove any plugs from when the pool was closed, but don’t remove the pool cover yet. It will provide protection against early-season storms and pollen.

Water  Levels

Your pool has an optimal water level at which it operates. If water levels have dipped over the winter, add water to bring levels up where they should be.

Chemicals

You’ll need to add some chemicals to ensure the pH is balanced, calcium and chlorine levels are accurate, and to adjust alkalinity. Your pool may have developed an algae growth over the winter and it’s essential that the pool be shocked. It’s imperative that the filtration system be operated until the water is clear before anyone attempts to swim.

Hire a Professional

Preparing a pool for summer fun is a task that you may not want to tackle on your own and that’s understandable. Performing regular maintenance throughout the season can be difficult enough. The easiest and most effective solution is to hire a pool professional. The highly-trained experts are experienced in traditional chlorine pools and saline pools to prepare and maintain them while you reap the benefits.

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Individuals should be aware that a pristine pool in the back yard isn’t the end of the pool process. Many new pool owners either don’t know what’s involved in maintaining a pool or assume that little is needed beyond cleaning the filter periodically.

The most important thing any pool owner can do is install the proper barriers and safety-related equipment to prevent children, the elderly and pets from drowning. The following are the Top 10 things every new pool owner should know – and be aware of before they have their new pool installed.

1. A professional pool service is well worth the money. They’re highly-trained experts that are skilled in all facets of pool maintenance and can conduct repairs and perform replacements.
2. Pool water must be tested weekly to identify imbalances to ensure it adheres to specific levels of cleanliness for safe swimming.
3. There are a number of chemicals that pools require and individuals will need to learn what each type is for, how much to apply, and when to do so.
4. Pools that receive frequent use or are utilized by large numbers of swimmers will affect pH balances and other chemical levels.
5. Multiple factors can affect the chemical levels in a pool, ranging from UV light and bodily fluids to adding water and rainwater from storms.
6. Despite the best of intentions, pool water can become cloudy or spawn algae growth that can require shocking the pool.
7. Even salt water pools require a certain amount of chlorine and a salt water pool won’t be the same as swimming in ocean water.
8. Never drain the pool, even if a hurricane is approaching. Modern pools are designed to drain away from homes. Be sure to turn off the power to all the pool-related equipment and secure the pool deck. The pool will take care of itself.
9. Automated cleaning systems make owning a pool much easier. It’s still important to have a professional perform periodic cleanings and check for any peeling or hairline cracks.
10. One dog is equal to 50 swimmers. Canines will place extra strain on the pool’s systems. It’s also an essential safety measure for pets that don’t know how to exit the pool and can drown.

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In order to maintain safety at your home swimming pool, all parents must have these essential items to keep young ones safe: a fence and an alarm. Having a fence around your pool is a good way to ensure that your children or other loved ones cannot access the pool when you are not around. Kids can and will find their way to the water if left unattended and the consequences can be deadly. The easiest way to ensure safety is with a pool fence and alarm.

Small children are attracted to water and have no sense of fear. They may have a false sense of security after being in the pool with an adult. A fence will be able to deny access to your pool, while an alarm will be able to warn you of anyone getting into or falling into the water. If you do not have at least one of these two things available around your pool, then you are leaving your home swimming pool safety in the hands of chance. With both of these items, you can have peace of mind knowing that your pool and family are protected.

There are many companies that install pool fences in the South Florida area.  These companies will know exactly how to install your fence so that you do not have to, while they are also able to make any necessary modifications to ensure that your pool is safe and enjoyable. Pool alarms can be purchased and pool supply stores as well as online. Be sure to try out the alarm product to make sure it is working properly and is loud enough to be heard from inside the house.

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Lighting adds a fun element to any pool environment. Individuals have a wealth of options from which to choose and to accommodate any budget. Lighting can be incorporated into the pool build itself, but if pool owners overlooked this feature during the original pool installation, there are multiple alternatives that are equally attractive and fun.

Pool lights add aesthetic interest and character to swimming pools, but the illumination can also provide an added level of safety at night to highlight the location of pool edges, stairs and the bottom of the pool. Lighting makes the pool infinitely more useable during nighttime hours.

Floating

An extensive range of floating lights are available. They set on top of the water and they’re available in multiple colors. Some models have a pump included that will create a mini spray fountain. Another popular floating light has the ability to connect to phones via Bluetooth to play music.

Depending on the manufacturer, floating lights feature solar or USB capabilities for recharging. The lights are offered in multiple sizes to accommodate pools of any configuration. They come with features that can include a wireless remote control.

Pool owners don’t have to settle for “flat” lights. There are also orbs that are essentially floating balls of colored light that can be set to multiple modes and transitions such as fading, flashing, and blinking. They’re fun for adults and especially so for children of all ages.

Individuals can choose models that look like elegant floating lotus blossoms or sea life such as turtles, starfish and jellyfish, while pumpkin-shaped lights are perfect for Halloween.  One brand of floating lights projects silhouettes of fish and even a shark on the pool floor and walls. As the water moves, the projections appear as if they’re swimming. It’s easy for kids to imagine they’re in an aquarium or deep-sea diving.

Submersible

This type of pool lighting uses weights, magnets or suction cups to hold them in the desired position on the bottom or sides of the pool. Many offer the same features as floating lights encompassing the ability to play music, be controlled remotely, and change colors.

Pool Toys

The fascination with light up pool toys isn’t limited to youngsters. Individuals can select from among giant pool toys encompassing swans and sharks to peacocks and unicorns. There are also inflatable balls that light up for a game of aquatic beach ball, along with light up goals for water-based basketball. Glow-in-the-dark game sets for a game of Sharks and Minnows are great for younger children, as are light up toys in various animal shapes for any number of traditional game variations.

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Swimming pools that are blue provide a tropical aesthetic and blue pool liners have been popular for decades for that reason. However, pool water with white or liners of other colors also appears blue. There’s a simple explanation rooted in science.

The molecules in pool water absorb light from the red end of the spectrum when touched by sunlight. The light that’s reflected from the bottom of the pool is filtered out by the water and loses much of the red light that was absorbed so it has a blue hue when viewed from above. The richness of the color will vary depending upon the depth of the water in the pool.

At one time, basic blue liners were used to help enhance the crisp, blue aesthetic. It’s a bit of pool psychology that’s highly effective. Today, you have dozens of colors and materials from which to choose that can add new and exciting dimensions to your pool – and the water will still look blue. There are also a myriad of textures that can add extra shimmer to the appearance of your pool.

With the technology available today, you can recreate the colors of locations from around the world. The methods provide a wealth of options for color coordination with your surroundings. The size and depth of the pool and your personal preferences, along with the pool’s positioning in relation to the sun, will have an impact on the color you choose.

There are other colors that you may see in your pool that should be concerning. Brown and green may be an indication that you have algae growth. For those that desire the beautiful blue of a summer oasis, it’s essential that the appropriate chemicals are added, in the right amount, and at the correct time to keep the blue aesthetic alive and well.

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Whether an individual is getting a drink of water, taking a shower, or swimming in a pool, the temperature of the liquid has a definite effect on the body. It affects the biological and chemical reactions within the body. Water temperature affects the body in a myriad of ways, some of which may seem contradictory. Fortunately, the human body is a wonder of bioengineering and able to adapt.

Drinking cool liquids help reduce internal body temperature. Cooler water is transferred through the stomach and into the intestines quicker than warm beverages for faster hydration. The ideal temperature for drinking water is between 50 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a guideline closely followed by professional athletes and studies have demonstrated that water temperatures of 60°F is the optimum temperature for initiating a sweat response and rehydration.

Warm water has the surprising ability to aid in fat burning and curbing appetite. Warm water mobilizes molecules within the body when ingested and makes it easier for the digestive system to burn calories.

The temperature of the water when swimming is important as it can affect the core body temperature and heart rate. When immersed in water of 102°F, moderate cardiovascular stress and hyperthermia take place. While few people will encounter those temperatures, it’s a good example of how water temperature can affect body function. The average temperature of a shower is 112 degrees, but doesn’t cause as much stress on the body since exposure is shorter in duration.

Conversely, swimming pool water kept at less than 78 degrees Fahrenheit will leave swimmers shivering when they emerge as the body tries to warm itself. Whether swimming in a pool or the ocean, water temperatures of less than 70°F makes breathing more difficult. During Olympic competition, water is maintained between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

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A pool is an ultimate goal for many in Florida to beat the heat and humidity of summer. However, the cost often takes individuals by surprise and can vary greatly depending on a multitude of factors. The price tag will also depend on whether individuals opt for a traditional in-ground pool or a saltwater pool.

The professionals hired to install the pool will have to excavate the site, install the pool, and create a pool deck – the area immediately surrounding the pool where outdoor furniture will be placed. That doesn’t count the cost of features that can include mood lighting or sound systems.

A basic, in-ground freshwater pool can range from $35,000 to $60,000 on average, but can run as much as $115,000. Much depends on the size, material with which it’s constructed, where it will be located, and the project’s complexity. They typically come in 10×20, 15×30 and 20×40 sizes.

For those that desire any of the popular add-ons that are available, such as waterfalls, fountains, covers, lighting, sound systems, or incorporated hot tubs – expect to spend another $2,000 to $10,000 depending on the feature. The following costs when performed by professionals, with all the details taken care of and the pool swim-ready when they leave.

Fiberglass

A fiberglass pool will last for up to 25 years. Installation can range from $45,000 to $$85,000. It will also cost in the neighborhood of $3,700 each year to maintain. The benefit is that fiberglass pools are easier to maintain than other types. Installation can take as little as a week and the surface is resistant to algae.

Vinyl

A vinyl pool will need to have the liner replaced approximately every 10 years and they’re offered in a variety of pre-designed shapes. The average cost is $25,000 to $45,000 for installation and about $13,000 for maintenance over 10 years. Vinyl pools are easy to clean and resistant to algae.

Concrete

A pool made of concrete can last up to 50 years, can cost up to $5,100 per year to maintain, and run from $35,000 to $60,000 for installation. Individuals have more options to be creative with design, but the pools require more chemicals to maintain them in swimmable condition. Every few years it will require an acid wash for mold and algae and will need to be refinished every 10-15 years.

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With Florida’s temperate climate, it may seem counterproductive to install a solar pool heater, but it’s actually a smart investment, particularly for those that use the pool infrequently or don’t utilize it as often as they’d like. It ensures that the pool water will be at the optimal temperature anytime people are ready for a swim.

Even with Florida’s mild winters, temperatures can dip low enough that pool water becomes too chilly for swimming. A solar pool heater utilizes the power of the sun that’s freely available. It’s an environmentally-friendly way to reduce the cost of gas and electricity that’s normally used to heat pools.

An added bonus is that a solar heater can work efficiently for up to 20 years, twice as long as traditional electricity-based systems. Depending on the heater model and size of the pool, a solar pool heater can pay for itself in 1.5-7 years.

The heaters enable anyone to swim year-round, even if the area experiences an unseasonal dip in temperatures. A properly installed solar heater that’s appropriate to the size of the pool can maintain water temperatures at an average of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit under normal weather conditions. Typical operating temperatures will also depend on the orientation of the solar panels, how often the pool is used, and by the number of swimmers.

Each solar pool heater system is specifically designed for the individual pool. It will require the services of professional that can calculate all the variables involved to deliver a heating system optimized to meet the desires and expectations of the pool owner.

A solar pool heater represents one of the most cost effective ways to warm pools. They have very little ongoing expenses in terms of operational costs and require little maintenance. Today’s solar heaters encompass manual and automatic controls and can even be operated with an app on mobile devices for complete convenience.

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Decorating for the holidays is a fun and colorful tradition that can take many forms. Anything that can be adorned with bright lights will be and Florida swimming pools are no exception. It’s not surprising that pools would get a taste of the holiday spirit. The climate enables people to celebrate and entertain outside around the pool, even if they’re not swimming.

Trimming the Trees and Bushes

One of the easiest ways to create a Christmas-themed wonderland is by trimming the trees and dressing up the greenery around the pool area. Large inflatable ornaments can be purchased to hang from larger trees. They can also be inflated and decoratively tossed in the pool. LED light nets are available that can be artfully draped over bushes.

Lighting the Way

Lights are an important part of the season and homeowners can choose from light strands with bulbs in multiple shapes that can be strung throughout the pool area. Rope lights are also an option, though the glow is muted compared to traditional lights. Icicle lights take their name from their shape and are always popular. Setting lights to twinkle mode will allow them to reflect off the water for additional effect.

Outdoor Inflatables

Whether it’s Santa on a sleigh, a snowman or a snow globe, there are dozens of inflatable Christmas-themed “statues” with which to decorate. The bigger-than-life inflatables also come in popular movie characters with a holiday touch.

Floating candles

For simple, elegant and eye-catching decorating, consider candles floating in the pool. Just don’t use candles and inflatables in the pool at the same time!

Imagine It

Most holiday themed decorations in December are centered around Christmas, but don’t forget the possibilities for New Year’s Eve entertaining. Streamers, inflatables, balloons and other brightly colored decorations are available for New Year’s. The beauty of the season is that New Year décor can be combined with Christmas around the pool to encompass the full spirit of the season.

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