PHOENIX, April 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Few unofficial holidays are
as eagerly anticipated as National Pool Opening Day, which is
celebrated on the last Saturday of April — April 27 this year. For much of the country, it
marks the arrival of summer and all the great times to be had in a
backyard pool.
Pool care experts at Leslie's took this moment to review some of
the common myths and misconceptions about owning and maintaining a
pool.
Myth No. 1 – Clear pool water is clean pool water. In a
recent Harris Poll commissioned by Leslie's, 71% of Americans
surveyed believe that clear water is safe for swimming.
The origins of this myth are understandable. However, clear,
sparkling pool water may harbor contaminants that pose a danger to
swimmers. Pool owners shouldn't assume a pool is safe for swimming
just because the water is clear.
"The only way to be certain pool water is clean, healthy, and
safe for swimming is to check if the water is properly balanced and
sanitized," said Clay Spann, SVP of
Merchandising at Leslie's.
The team at Leslie's makes pool water testing easy with its
AccuBlue® and AccuBlue Home® testing and treatment solutions, which
precisely measure 10 aspects of water chemistry to ensure pools
stay clean, safe, and beautiful.
Myth No. 2 – If the pool smells of chlorine, it's clean.
In fact, the opposite is true — a pool with a strong chlorine
odor may not have enough sanitizer in it. As the chlorine
sanitizes, it binds to ammonia in the water, which comes from
swimmers, sunscreen lotions, bird droppings, fertilizers, and more.
This results in combined chlorine, otherwise known as chloramines,
which are responsible for that strong, unpleasant chlorine-like
odor. Chloramines are also problematic because they can trigger
skin, eye, and airway irritation.
So, if a pool smells strongly of chlorine, that's usually an
indication that sanitizer levels are too low. You should test,
balance, and shock the pool to increase free available chlorine
levels and destroy any chloramines in the water.
Myth No. 3 – Shocking a pool solves all problems. Giving
a pool a weekly dose of shock — such as Leslie's Power Powder
Plus — is a highly effective way to keep pool water
clean, algae-free, and safe for swimming. It's especially useful
for boosting free available chlorine levels, breaking down living
and non-living organic contaminants, and destroying chloramine
compounds that give off that heavy chlorine-like odor.
However, sanitization is only one aspect of a sound pool water
treatment plan. Regular cleaning, maintenance, and water testing
are crucial for swim-safe water and to avoid costly pool and
equipment damage like corrosion, staining, or calcium scale
buildup.
In addition to weekly water testing, Leslie's recommends a 1-2-3
approach to ensure pool owners use the right chemicals to protect
their pools. 1: Sanitize the water daily with a primary
sanitizer, such as 3-inch chlorine tablets, liquid chlorine, or a
saltwater chlorine generator. 2: Shock the water weekly to
break down contaminants in the water and ensure sufficient
sanitizer levels. And 3: Prevent algae by removing
phosphates, a primary food source for algae.
Myth No. 4 – Maintaining a pool is complicated. A recent
Leslie's/Harris Poll survey also found that more than 70% of pool
owners said they think pool care is complicated.
Keeping a backyard pool clean and safe requires a minimum of
three things: proper circulation, regular cleaning, and balanced
water chemistry.
Circulation is simple — just make sure to run the pool pump for
at least 8–12 hours each day. Remember to increase the run time
during hot weather or periods of increased contamination, such as a
storm or pool party. Automatic pool cleaners not only help with
circulation, but they can do the heavy lifting for the cleaning
portion of pool care, freeing up owners to enjoy more pool
time.
The final piece of the puzzle is water chemistry. Leslie's makes
it easy for pool owners to keep the pool clean and maintain proper
water chemistry with two advanced water testing and treatment
solutions. One is Leslie's AccuBlue®, a free water test offered in
more than 1,000 Leslie's stores nationwide. In 60 seconds, AccuBlue
delivers precise results for 10 critical aspects of water
chemistry, in addition to a customized, step-by-step treatment plan
to keep your pool water balanced and well-sanitized. Or the
convenience of at-home water testing with AccuBlue Home®, which
delivers the same industry-leading technology found at the local
Leslie's store. Both provide easy solutions to ensure pool water
stays clean, safe, and beautiful.
Pool Accessory Preparedness
This year for National Pool Opening Day, Leslie's is excited to
extend a special in-store offer to kick off pool season. On
Saturday, April 27, the first 20
customers to make a purchase at each of Leslie's 1,000-plus store
locations will receive one free Big Joe® Super Noodle, while
supplies last.
"A big part of swim season preparedness is making sure you have
the latest pool accessories for relaxation and fun — whether it's
games, floats, towels, goggles, lounge chairs, or other
essentials," said Kim Tokarski,
Category Director for Pool Lifestyle Products at Leslie's. "This
doorbuster deal is just one way we aim to help our customers start
pool season off right."
"Among the hottest items this year is our swim gear collection
from TYR, an official outfitter of the U.S. National Swimming Team
that will compete at the Olympic Summer Games in Paris. This collection features the same items
to be worn by the Olympic swimmers," Tokarski continued.
"Additionally, for competitive players, we offer plenty of in-pool
games, including water lacrosse, water polo, basketball, and
volleyball, as well as poolside games like pickleball and
cornhole."
After the competitive play ends, swimmers can relax on a variety
of floats offered in a range of creative and festive designs, from
motorized loungers to those featuring glitter unicorns and angel
wings. Poolside ambiance and relaxation are assured with Leslie's
diverse selection of lounge chairs, patio umbrellas, speakers, deck
boxes, lanterns, and more.
About Leslie's
Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest and most trusted
direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry.
The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and
professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive
assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company
operates an integrated ecosystem of more than 1,000 physical
locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to
engage with Leslie's whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to
shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts,
and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering
Leslie's consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions
necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and
spas.
For more information about Leslie's, visit lesliespool.com or
follow and engage with us: @lesliespoolcare on Instagram, Leslie's
on Facebook, and @lesliespoolcare on Twitter.
Survey Method:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf
of Leslie's from March 5-7, 2024,
among 2,087 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 314 are
maintaining a pool. The sampling precision of Harris online
polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For
this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5
percentage points using a 95% confidence level.
Media: Mardi Larson, Amendola for Leslie's,
mlarson@acmarketingpr.com, 612.384.4383
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leslies-debunks-five-common-pool-myths-offers-free-pool-noodles-for-national-pool-opening-day-on-april-27-302124972.html
SOURCE Leslie's