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 enlarge | Author: Dan Hardy
Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL)
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $16.74
You Save: $23.21 (58%)
New (25) Used (6) from $16.74
Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 52552
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 0.8
ISBN: 1601380224
Dewey Decimal Number: 643.5560288
EAN: 9781601380227
ASIN: 1601380224
Publication Date: April 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new from publisher!
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| Customer Reviews:
Great Information For Pool Owners and Fun to Read January 14, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I never knew it could be so fun and entertaining to read a book on pools. The Complete Pool Manual for Homeowners & Professionals: A Step-by-Step Maintenance Guide by Dan Hardy is a great book for pool professionals and homeowners alike. The author draws from his own personal experiences and he has seen it all and done it all when it comes to pools, spas and hot tubs.
The book is written in first-person language and contains colorful personal stories that make it a very easy but informative read. The author is definitely not afraid to tell you his opinion on the best types of pools, equipment, and what to do and not to do in regards to pools, spas and hot tubs.
It also has wonderful photos of pools and equipment that are both informative and entertaining. Reading this book is like having your own personal "pool technician" on hand to tell you all about different types of pools, water volumes needed, water chemistry, cleaning the pool, pool safety, and much more.
Meet the "Pool Doctor" November 27, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The title of this book might lead one to believe it to be yet another dry how-to kind of book. Though it does include much needed how-to information, it also includes fun stuff such as the history of pools. For those who are interested, they date back to 2500 B.C.
But there is so much more to this book than background information and history. Just as the title claims, the book covers every aspect of pool maintenance and is equally suited for homeowners and professional. A case in point is the detailed chapter on equipment which gives loads of technical information about pumps (complete with drawings), filters and more. The information is easy to read, yet technical enough to satisfy the needs of the professional.
Throughout, Hardy proves time and again that he is indeed an authority when it comes to pools. He knows his business and he knows how to convey what he knows to both the lay person and the professional alike. For example, in the water chemistry chapter, he stresses the importance of checking water quality, then tells how to determine such qualities as pH and hardness, which are common tests. But he doesn't stop with what's common. He goes on to discuss other topics such as advanced testing for iron and copper as well as what he says is the controversial topic of cyanuric acid, also known as CYA or simply stabilizer. When it comes to stabilizer, Hardy points out the importance of draining the pool when levels are too high.
This whole issue of chemicals is thoroughly examined. Along these lines, the reader will find valuable information in the chemical treatment charts which are easy to read and interpret.
As any one with a pool in their backyard knows, you don't just put it in and forget about it. Maintaining a pool requires ongoing attention. This book guides you along the way, so if you can't have the "pool doctor" Dan Hardy making house calls every day or so, you can settle for the next best thing and have his book on your shelf.
Deserve To Be This Field's Standard Reference Text November 21, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Don Hardy's The Complete Pool Manual for Homeowners and Professionals is exactly what it claims to be - complete, thorough, and indispensable - even though the promise of the subtitle, "A Step-by-Step Maintenance Guide," sometimes gets lots in the sheer amount of detail. Written for a wide audience of professionals and non-professionals alike, the book is very informative, packed with useful facts and tips, and an excellent resource for anyone who ever even thought of getting near a pool.
In an accessible, informal, non-intimidating style, Hardy covers all the bases of pool construction, ownership, maintenance and use, from basic design, cleaning, heating and winterizing to essential pool safety, with occasional and interesting digressions into history (seriously, who knew that "spa" was originally a Hungarian term?). The style can at times seem a little too basic, but this is actually very welcome in the more technical sections, which actually become understandable to the non-professional as a result. Hardy's bluntness and humor are also welcome (regarding on-the-ground pools: "If you bought a pool at your local hardware, Target, or Wal*Mart stores, I feel your pain"), as is his direct, no-nonsense approach ("Read the directions").
There are a couple of excellent features in the book, however, that actually call attention to some of its flaws. The outstanding safety checklist in Chapter 14, for example, reminds us that we could use similar easy-to-use checklists for other tasks, such as cleaning; this is the "step-by-step" that both pool professionals and owners will be looking for and that can occasionally be hard to find. However, despite these drawbacks, The Complete Pool Manual for Homeowners and Professionals is so useful and comprehensive that it deserves to become the standard reference text in the field.
Everything you need to know about pools November 16, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Whether you are a pool owner or install and maintain pools, Dan Hardy's book is easy to understand. Although Hardy has a business building and maintaining pools, he writes in such an interesting and clear manner that even someone who is only thinking about having a pool built will be able to understand his book. Hardy managed to do the unthinkable: make a book about pool maintenance not bore you to death, and even entertain you at times. He begins with a short history of pools, which is a welcome surprise for the history buff.
I highly recommend this book to you, particularly if you are thinking about having a pool built, and know next to nothing about maintaining pools. The book will tell you everything you need to know, and help you make informed decisions.
A Valuable Resource for Homeowners and Professionals November 5, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Electrical wiring? Hazardous chemicals? Taking care of a pool requires a lot of care and attention. When maintaining a pool can be so complicated and dangerous, it's no wonder a lot of people choose to leave it to the professionals.
According to pool expert Dan Hardy, pool maintenance is both a science and an art. Considering how important a pool can be for a family, it's amazing how little most people know about how to care for them.
Even if you aren't interested in taking care of your pool by yourself, you will still benefit from this book. It will give you a good sense of what any pool owner should know about their pool. Did you know that almost every product made for your pool is a poison? If not, then you might want to think twice about who you're trusting to care for your pool!
Hardy writes in plain English, so that the average homeowner can benefit from his years of experience and expertise. "The Complete Pool Manual" isn't just for do-it-yourselfers. It's also for the professional who wants to make pool maintenance and repair a business. As both a how-to guide and as a professional manual, Hardy's book is a valuable resource.
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