Step weights

We use the wedding cake steps in our pool and have not been happy with putting sand bags inside the bottom step. Not that we've had a problem, it's just the thought of a bag bursting . . . imagine the mess!

We've considered numerous alternatives and pretty much didn't like any of them, primarily because of the challenge of removing the weights at closing. We keep our pool open until frost. No, we don't swim in it. The dogs do. But you can see why removing the steps, and especially the weights, can be tricky when the water temp hovers at 45 F.

Yesterday, after moving the steps to clean that darn algae which collects under them, we had one of those EUREKA! moments. PVC pipe! Great stuff!

Using 3" pipe we constructed three tubes, capped at one end with a screw top at the other, cut to fit inside the cubby hole made by the bottom step. We filled them with sand and enough water to remove air, plus some liquid bleach (to keep algae from growing inside the tube in case water leaks into it) and we tied yellow boat rope to each tube. The rope is fastened to the handrails. The tubes pull out easily, much easier than wrestling 50# bags of sand. Two of the tubes lie side-by-side with the third one on top. This provides enough weight to stabilize the steps and keep them from floating in our pool.

In the ALGAE subforum a suggestion was made to drill several holes into the sides of the steps to facilitate water circulation. I wanted to thank the folks who posted that. We did drill some 2" holes into the solid sides. It's too soon to know whether this has the desired effect but it can't hurt.

Hey Anna, can you post a pic of your invention? Sounds like I might like to try it, but can't wrap my teeny-tiny brain around it.

Shelley

Will do, but you'll have to wait a few days. We're going on vacation for a bit.