Lovely Splash Pads Are Great Alternative For Swimming Pool

If you are panning for getting much fun and want to spend a cheerful and safe summer holiday then you should use splash pads in your garden or backyard. The favorite place of all children for getting much fun is swimming pool. But in the swimming pool you have to concentrate on many precautions to keep safe your children. Children are just love to play in pool while summer is going on and you should create some environment in your home which cover all fun of a swimming pool and can safe for your kids. It may be possible that you get some incident and you loss all your happiness forever. So it is better to use pop jets, Spray Park, splash parks and other water park equipment to create a splash pads environment.

You may get much difficulty to keep your kids far away from swimming pool because children just love to play with water and splashing and chilling feel of water especially in summer. Water just make irresistible to your kids and just why they cannot control to keep distance from swimming pool. So if you are looking for an alternative of pool then you should use splash pads which are much safer and effective alternative of swimming pool.

If you want to make your pool water cool then you should use splash pads which may be using by your neighbor also. Splash pad used to make water session safe and fun filled. You can use one more solution for it like you can use pool fence to keep away your kids from swimming pool but you cannot rely only on pool fence. Mostly backyard pools have 4-8 feet depth and hence you cannot leave your children free near to swimming pool. If you are careless about your children then it might be possible to happen any incident. So you should care about you children and use splash pads to enjoy water games safely and make their summer holidays unforgettable.

If you take a look about the advantages of splash pad then you will find that you should use today in your backyard. It simply make all water activities more safe for your kids. If you are not aware about different precautions which you have to concentrate when your child playing in swimming pool then your child may get any incident anytime so you have to use splash pads to make all water games safe for your kids.

You can see more benefits of splash parks, pads, pop jets and other useful water park equipment that you can save your much money if you are planning to build a swimming pool into your garden or backyard then you should use splash pads. These are really helpful to secure your kids from any water accidents and it gives a safe environment to play all water games.

Adorable The First Two Steps in Koi Pond Design

Before you begin with your Koi pond design plans make sure you have done the necessary background research. Talk to professionals that are experienced with building Koi ponds. Research the different types of materials and the necessary equipment you'll need to keep your Koi healthy and happy.

If you fail to learn the basics to the proper pond requirements and equipment necessary for healthy Koi you not be happy in the long run, and sometimes not even in the present!

When you are ready to begin your Koi pond design the first thing you will need to determine is where you want to put your pond. When deciding on placement there are several things to take into account.

First, Koi ponds do better in a shaded or partially shaded area rather than in full sun.

You can place a Koi pond in full sun, but a shadier area will  slow algae growth considerably and helps prevent the water from becoming too hot during the warm summer months.

If you build your pond in a sunny location you might want to consider putting up an arbor or awning to provide your pond with some shade. You might also want to consider having an area of the pond at an increased depth and cultivating some floating pond plants to provide some cooler areas and cover.

Shade also helps with protecting your Koi from predators...it gives them a place to hide. And, believe it or not, Koi can get sunburned so having some shade gives them a place to go to keep out of the direct sunlight!

Leaves from trees near the pond, with the exception of pines, shouldn't cause problems  if your pond is well designed. Just make sure to remove any when you notice them in your pond. Pine needles can create quite a mess as they can make their way through skimmers and leaf baskets and clog up your pump.

Once you have picked a spot and decided on a shape for your pond you can use a garden hose or rope to outline it's size and shape. Or you could also make a chalk line. This will give you some idea of  how the pond will look.

Keep in mind that your new Koi pond will probably be the central feature of your landscaping. Once you have the general outline shape of the pond established you can get a approximate idea of how many gallons it would be by multiplying the average length by the average width by the average depth by 7.5 gallons per cubic foot.

You'll still have quite a few decisions to make but you'll have a good starting point!

The next thing to determine in Koi pond design is how big you want your pond to be. One of the most common mistakes people make when designing their first Koi pond is that they plan to build it too small.

Although some say that 1000 gallons is sufficient for a minimum, the smallest pond I would recommend building is 1500 gallons, which would be approximately 7 feet wide by 8 feet long and 4 feet deep.

This may sound very large to some people, but if you build a pond much smaller than that, you will probably not end up being happy with it.

One of the problems is that Koi fish are extremely addictive and just like with Lay's potato chips, it is hard to be happy with just a few! 

You also need to keep in mind that you may start out with several 6 inch long Koi, but within 3 to 4 years they could grow to be 2 feet long or more.

With very few exceptions, most people end up wishing they had made their first pond bigger.

Bigger isn't always better though. The largest pond I would recommend building is 15,000 gallons. The dimensions would be approximately 17 feet wide by 21 feet long and 6 feet deep.

A Koi pond design much larger than that can cause you several problems. For example, it can become almost impossible to catch one of the fish if you need to treat it or place it in quarantine.

If it becomes necessary to medicate the pond it will become more expensive the larger your pond gets. In addition, all the water in the pond will need to be filtered at least once every three hours. Operating pumps large enough to get the job done can cost hundreds of dollars per month.

Last, but not least, if you design a pond that is too large you won't be able to enjoy your Koi as much because the larger the pond the less your fish will be visible.

Make sure to plan your pond carefully to comfortably accommodate your Koi and please your sense of aesthetics through good Koi pond design!

The Plastic Pool

Childhood just isn't complete without a plastic pool on the patio or in the yard to splash around in. The great thing is that the parent on duty can lounge in a chair supervising and reading or listening to music while the children splash around and wear themselves out in the water, meaning that afternoon nap time will be peaceful in the house.

Perhaps the most common plastic pool is the small, 6-foot or so diameter pool made of heavy plastic with a ridged floor to help prevent slip-ups. It is amazing how much fun little children have with this inexpensive thing that's not much bigger than their bathtub. Something about splashing around outside with the warm sun through the leaves making dappled light patterns is incredibly appealing to kids and grownups alike.
Plastic pools don't have to be plain round basins. Some of them come with small slides molded right into the side. It takes a long time for kids to grow tired of sliding into a pool of cool water.

Not all plastic pools are made of molded plastic. Some of them are inflatable. If you get one, go ahead and splurge on the electric air pump. Otherwise you'll never get the thing inflated. But one advantage to inflatable pools is that the sides are softer than those of rigid plastic pools. One big disadvantage, however, shows up when the family cat naps on one of the edges and punches tiny holes in it with her claws.

There are even plastic pools that are especially made for babies, with activity gyms built right in. Inflatable spray pools incorporate small canopies to which you attach a hose, creating a sprinkler right in the pool. Plastic pools with full canopies are a great choice for those super hot climates and places where shade is at a premium.

The world of plastic pools is bigger and more diverse than ever, bringing another generation the joys of splashing outside on a summer day.

Inspirational New range of garden furniture sets launched

A new range of wooden garden furniture has been launched by one of the country's leading suppliers of outdoor accessories.

Chic Teak now has a great new range of garden furniture sets and accessories available to buy online for those looking to update their gardens and patio areas.

Included in the new range is a Lombok folding chair and the Mariposa table. In total, the company has received almost three large containers worth of new stock which will be making its way into gardens up and down the country over the next few months.

As well as wooden garden furniture, there are also a number of new planters in a range of sizes. Designed to be very durable and withstand whatever the Great British weather throws at them, they have become popular with a number of National Trust and English Heritage properties around the country.

The company is also keen to improve customer interaction and to enhance the whole buying process for those looking for garden furniture. As well as making improvements to the website, the company will also be available to make customised furniture.

Speaking regarding these changes recently, Sarah Bowden from Chic Teak said: " As always, the arrival of new products is an incredibly exciting time and we look forward to supplying our customers with whatever they need.

"Our aim is to make (our website) as customer-friendly as possible and we welcome any feedback on the changes made and the service provided."

The company was set up fourteen years ago and has become well known as an excellent supplier of high quality wooden and teak outdoor furniture. In addition, it also has a range of outdoor accessories and also sells furniture for conservatories.

Since its launch, the company was continued to make furniture and other products from sustainable teak resources that come from Government controlled plantations.

Best of Create An Efficient and Cost-Effective Outdoor Room Using Outdoor Patio Furniture

If you have a small house but owns a sprawling backyard, one possible way to create another room is by equipping your backyard with outdoor patio furniture. This is an efficient way to utilize a huge and unused space and it wouldn't cost you a lot of money. You will have an additional room where you can spend relaxing times and lots of entertaining for your family and friends without causing a hole in your pockets.

Furnishing the backyard with outdoor patio furniture is an effective means of putting this area to full use. There are varied spaces which you can conjure up. If you are on a limited budget, start only creating an area which is what you really need the most. As you go along, you can add up some pieces later.

You can fashion an outdoor dining room and kitchen by placing some patio dining tables and chairs, storage cabinets and a BBQ grill. You can also create another living room where you can usher your guests in for a relaxing afternoon conversation or an evening party. You can even create a playground for kids by installing an outdoor swing, patio glider or rocking chair. Another area for relaxation can be placed by putting in an outdoor daybed or lounger.

By directly furnishing your backyard with outdoor patio furniture, you can save precious money in your pocket. You don't have to go to great lengths to put up walls and roofs in order to create an outdoor room in your home. Doing so will only cost you thousands of money.

If you're worried your patio furniture will be ruined by the elements, don't fuss. You can purchase covers to provide some protection to your outdoor investments. If the unpredictability of the weather can be your cause for concern to not get out into your yard, then you can add some patio umbrellas to appease your mind. The umbrellas will shield you from the changing outdoor conditions.

The Garden Pond Pumps - Types of Pond Pumps

A lot of pond keepers are finding helpful information online about fish pond pumps. There are plenty of useful sites online that can guide you in purchasing the appropriate pond pump for your garden. In this article, you will learn more about pond pumps.

Are you familiar with the LPH or the GPH? Well, you should be because these abbreviations are very important when determining the performance of the pond pumps. Aside from the abbreviations, you should also know more about head height or head pressure.

The pumps are available in different types. Having a pump is necessary for maintenance. Filtration systems are usually powered by pumps to ensure water circulation within the pond. Each type of pump has its applications and unique features.

1. Magnetic drive pumps - this is the most common; it uses electromagnetism to rotate the impeller and force out the water. This is an efficient system that can save a lot of energy. It is also available in different sizes that can surely fit to your pond.

2. Statuary pump - this is a great pond ornament or small fountain; it has low head pressure and GPH; it can't be used for filters and instead, best suited for indoor display and patio fountains.

3. Direct drive - this is excellent for greater head heights; uses electric motors that turn the pump's impeller with the drive shaft. In requires greater energy and less expensive. This pump uses more electricity and you also need to lubricate it with oil.

4. Submersible pump - this pump can be placed into the pond; this is necessary to ensure that the pump will not overheat since it will be running for twenty four hours. Outdoor activities will not be disrupted since the noise is concealed.

5. External pumps - this is excellent for high head pressure and flow rates; requires less maintenance but are harder to install; this is a bit noisy and you should also protect in when there is power outage.

6. Solid handling or debris handing pumps - this is also a submersible pump but is designed for ponds with large loads of debris; it can prevent damage to the impeller and the water can still be circulated despite the difficult conditions.

7. Fountain pumps - this is recommended for small ponds or water gardens. It is usually sold in kits including a pre-filter, fountain, and water pump.

These are the different types of pond pumps that you can use for your garden pond. Try to compare their good sides and bad sides so that you can pick the ideal fish pond pump that can meet your needs.

So far, the magnetic drive pumps are the most popular, as well as the submersible pumps. Still, it is a matter of personal choice.

Modern Is Your Storeroom a Pit Stop Or a Supermarket?

Recently I was visiting a facility with a very large spare parts storeroom.  While walking through and understanding their issues it actually felt like I was in the local supermarket rather than in the storeroom of a high tech manufacturing facility.  By that I mean that there were long aisles that were not clearly marked, high use materials were not always near the user's entry/exit, and there were boxes in the aisles waiting to be unpacked.  To make the picture complete there was even a maintenance guy walking up and down one aisle saying, 'Where do they keep the sump pump gaskets!'.

A few days later I was watching motor sport on the TV and, as always, was impressed with the cool efficiency of the pit crews when a car came in for fuel, tires and so on.  Of course a pit crew has it relatively easy because they know exactly what is required at each visit but still it got me thinking about how the storeroom I had visited (and maybe even your own storeroom) could be improved and made more efficient.

As with almost all things in operations, the starting point is to focus on the customer and in this case Maintenance is the Storeroom's customer. 

Storerooms exist to enable spares to be available to the maintenance team so that they can do their work.  Maintenance is the storeroom's customer and the customer will want:

Parts available as per the agreed stocking policy.

Parts in the places that the system says that they are.

Easy identification of parts and their stock codes (assuming that this must be noted when the part is removed).

Quick and easy retrieval of parts.

Most people understand the concepts and relationships between layout and workflow so I won't repeat them here but I will say that that one key to implementing these concepts is to ensure that the layout works for the customer, that is, the maintenance team.

This means that if your storeroom allows direct entry by the maintenance team then the layout should work for them.  Even if you do not allow direct access, the above issues apply because this is what minimizes the time spent by the maintenance team in retrieving parts.  Too often storerooms are set up for the convenience of the storeroom personnel.  The workflow is set up based on their receipt and issue of parts not to maximize the customer outcome.  Sometimes it is appropriate to sacrifice a little of the storeroom time efficiency if it then improves the time efficiency for the customer.

A couple of other techniques and their potential issues are:

Storing items for one type of plant or machine together can seem like a good idea but also can mean that both high usage and low usage items are stored together.  This can then lead to storing other high usage items in a less optimal location because the optimal location is taken up by storing the low usage items together with the high usage items.

Storing all like items together (e.g. bearings) also seems like a good idea but this can result in confusion in parts and numbers, incorrect stocking (similar parts in the wrong bin), problems with returns to store if they are not controlled by the store personnel, and, of course, the co-location of high and low usage items, as mentioned above.

So what is your storeroom, an F1 pit stop or a supermarket?

The closer you can get to being a pit stop the less down time you will have and the more productive your maintenance team will be.

Adorable Semi-inground Pools Vs Inground Pools

Putting in an inground swimming pool in the backyard is very useful during the long summer. Everybody of all ages loves to go swimming as well as relax in the swimming pool. When it's very hot and the sun is blazing, there is no better method to cool down by taking a lengthy dip in the pool.

If you have dont have a backyard for installing a pool or simply can't afford a swimming pool, there is always the public swimming pool to go to. But its just so much more practical and enjoyable in having your very own. Many individuals seem to think that you have to be well off to possess a swimming pool.

It's true that inground pools may be extremely costly and we tend to think of the rich and famous and there big houses when we think of a swimming pool. But that is where semi-inground swimming pools come in. While inground swimming pools demand significant amounts of designing, preparation, and not forgetting hard physical work, semi-inground pools differ.

With an inground, it's also possible to need permission from the local council that may require quite some time to approve. Absolutely nothing beats the particular look and feel of the inground pool, but for all those less affluent there are two options. To start, you will find semi-inground pools and also above ground type pools. Above ground swimming pools take the least time to install.

Because little groundwork needs to be carried out, you can virtually have an above ground pool anyplace you prefer, as long as there is adequate space. This is actually the primary advantage of getting this type of swimming pool. The next advantage is that they're the lowest priced option for getting a pool.

Those that decide to get an over ground swimming pool may well not need any aid in design or installation. Theyre quite simple to setup and also in most cases may be used at the time of arrival once filled up with water. The trouble that people have with above ground swimming pools is the fact that they are not the best looking.

Simply because they virtually sit on the ground they could seem a little obtrusive within the garden in contrast to inground pools. These are still outstanding for the youngsters even though they might not appear attractive, the fun aspect is still there. For those searching for the more appealing option without the cost of an inground swimming pool, you will find semi inground private pools.

Semi-inground pools combine the best of both above ground and also inground private pools. As the name suggests, these are simply semi-inground nevertheless they just carry the price that of the above ground swimming. Why do you want a pool that is only partly sunk in to the ground? Well, one reason is that, they will seem more appealing and secondly there is also the option to personalize it. Not only can you add decking, but you can add slides and ladders too.