Illiana Backyard Fun

Illiana Backyard Fun More than a pool & hot tub store. Gifts ~ Over 1,000 items under $20

Sunday June, 14, 2026 at 530pm ~ was notified that the cover was out of track and they weren't able to open cover. Jord...
06/21/2026

Sunday June, 14, 2026 at 530pm ~ was notified that the cover was out of track and they weren't able to open cover. Jordan Crose was going to be there on Monday to work on the heater.

Monday June 15, 2026 ~ Did some adjustments to the top track. Cleaned out the debris from the track. Will replace one of the broken slides on the cover. Cover back in track. It manually opens and closes alot better. 😍

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Monday June 15, 2026 ~ area trenched for us to stub up plumbing for the equipment. Tuesday June 16, 2026 at 730am ~ was...
06/21/2026

Monday June 15, 2026 ~ area trenched for us to stub up plumbing for the equipment.

Tuesday June 16, 2026 at 730am ~ was notified that stone was delivered that AM and the concrete guy would be out shortly. (Matthew Goodrum)

Weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday storms coming through. 😏 on a side note about the weather ~ lightning struck the house across the street from where we live on Tuesday. Everyone and the house are all good. Wednesday we dodged the major storms but had rain all day. Thursday and Friday we got caught up on mowing for the week.

Friday June 19, 2026 at 330pm ~ notified the concrete was poured behind the building where we stubbed up for the equipment. Our service schedule is booked for the week June 22, 2026 with a liner install, pool install, hot tub repair, and redoing equipment plumbing. However, will do our super best to work in somewhere in the week or 1st part of the next. Weather forecast ~ more rain Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday.🤷

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Well..... we think it best if we close the store on Wednesday June 17, 2026.There is no reason for people to be out and...
06/16/2026

Well..... we think it best if we close the store on Wednesday June 17, 2026.

There is no reason for people to be out and about during the "whatever weather"

Stay safe folks

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest

Wednesday June 10, 2026 ~ installed post pour autocover. General contractor completed most of inside work. We actually...
06/16/2026

Wednesday June 10, 2026 ~ installed post pour autocover. General contractor completed most of inside work. We actually had scheduled to do our work for Tuesday but general contractor decided to also do work the same day, unfortunately we were in each other's work space. So, we rescheduled to the following day.😏 it is what it is.

At least we have completed our responsibilities on this project. General contractor has more to go before this home addition project is fully complete.

Happy swim.

Hot Hot Hot day.

Happy swim

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Wednesday June 10, 2026 ~ new 27'rd 52" tall beaded liner install. Removed top rails to install bead receivers. Instal...
06/16/2026

Wednesday June 10, 2026 ~ new 27'rd 52" tall beaded liner install. Removed top rails to install bead receivers. Installed new pool coves. Replaced broken skimmer and return.

Fought off wasps 😏 that made homes in the top caps.

It was Hot, Hot, Hot.

Thursday June 11, 2026 ~ cut in skimmer and return.

Happy swim

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Friday June 5, 2026 ~ last of the pool opening and start up hot tubTrying to fill hot tub only to learn that a storm had...
06/11/2026

Friday June 5, 2026 ~ last of the pool opening and start up hot tub

Trying to fill hot tub only to learn that a storm had gone through their area that ripped the cover off for rain water to fill hot tub over the winter months. Though antifreeze saved the lower plumbing and equipment. However, a couple of lines froze and cracked.😢😢

Prior to our arrival, homeowner sucked the water out of the inside of the hot tub and cleaned out polybox to autocover.

On Wednesday June 10, 2026. Homeowner decided to invest in fixing hot tub. Will work that into service schedule.

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Friday June 5, 2026 ~ new beaded liner (27' round 54" tall) install. Homeowner had a small hole in pool wall created b...
06/07/2026

Friday June 5, 2026 ~ new beaded liner (27' round 54" tall) install.

Homeowner had a small hole in pool wall created by a foreign object when mowing. They also had some rust starting around skimmer and return area. Homeowner, went through the manufacturer warranty to inquire about a wall replacement. The manufacturer offered a prorated wall replacement. Homeowner, decided to fix themselves and replace the liner.

Saturday June 6, 2026 ~ installed a new skimmer and return. We also installed a new sticker on the multiport head.

Homeowner, super excited about getting pool up and running as she uses it for therapy.

I absolutely ❤️❤️❤️ to see the enjoyment, excitement and being a small part in making wishes and dreams come alive. This is what it is all about folks!

Happy swim!

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Friday June 5, 2026 ~ installed skimmer and return, connected equipment. That's a wrapHappy swim!Kristie Jo Jeffrey Lo...
06/07/2026

Friday June 5, 2026 ~ installed skimmer and return, connected equipment. That's a wrap

Happy swim!

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

Thursday June 4, 2026 ~ liner replacement on this 27 ft 52" tall above ground pool.Educational moment ~Above ground pool...
06/05/2026

Thursday June 4, 2026 ~ liner replacement on this 27 ft 52" tall above ground pool.

Educational moment ~

Above ground pools are suppose to be installed - above ground...... sitting on top of the ground ~ not in the ground. They are not structurally designed to be installed like an inground pool or a sports pool. A true above ground is one continuous piece of metal that unwinds and bolts together where the 2 ends meet. The wall is sandwich between a bottom track and a top track with uprights strategically placed around the wall to give it stability.

Whereas, an inground pool wall or sports pool walls are engineered to be placed in the ground. The wall comes in sections that bolt together.

The difference between a unibead liner and a beaded liner ~ the unibead liner has a built in bead receiver that sits on top of the pool wall (just like an overlap liner) and then the stabilizer bar, top track, top rails, etc go over the top of the liner. It's a domino effect, the top has to be deconstructed to replace the liner (just like an overlap liner). A beaded liner rests in a bead receiver inside the pool. It is easily accessible from inside the pool without dissembling the top pool construction.

Yes the ground that pushed in the pool wall was dug out. Wall was put back into the track. Bead receivers were installed for the beaded liner. Replaced the broken skimmer, changed the sand filter to glass media and moved the equipment around to have the pump sitting in front of the skimmer.

Kristie Jo Jeffrey Longest Illiana Backyard Fun

06/04/2026

Wednesday June 3, 2026 ~ once we were done at the fiberglass pool project. We completed regular service work and 4 pool openings (Hoopeston, Watseka and Crescent).

● replaced some broken pvc
● opened pool ~ noticed a small leak at one of the joints. Replaced area
● opened pool. ~ brushed off cover, removed steps for cleaning
● dropped off trailer at store, loaded up truck for the next pool opening, handled a few customer Q at the store
● opened pool
● on last pool opening ~ homeowner didn't have cover pumped off nor have enough water in pool. Made contact with homeowner. Learned that this property is just a summer retreat from the city. Made arrangements with homeowner to complete their responsibilities before we could open the pool.

Did you know the owners Jeffrey Longest and Kristie Jo are the ones who provide all the service work and installation services at Illiana Backyard Fun.

Notice how clean and clear these pools opened. ...... thanks to EZ Pool and Revive.

Address

800 E Walnut Street
Watseka, IL
60970

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Illiana Backyard Fun posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Illiana Backyard Fun:

Shortcuts

Share

Category