Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

The Smonet SR5 is a solid choice for a pool solar surface cleaner. It is a well-built machine with a lot of great features and, in my testing, it worked very well.   No wires, hoses, or pumps are required; just place this solar-powered sweeper robot in your pool, and that is it. The robot's front end is equipped with 2 radars to automatically avoid obstacles so it can work for pools of various shapes and types. SR5 has 2-speed modes and a large-capacity debris canister (rated for 400 microns) to efficiently handle common surface debris. Charging using solar energy or a 2.5H charger. With a lightweight design, SR5 only weighs 12.9 lbs. Highlights Wireless automatic pool surface cleaning: the robotic floating pool skimmer surface cleaners, autonomously maintain a clean above-ground pool surface by removing pet hair, algae, leaf, dust, pollen, and pesky bugs, say goodbye to traditional manual cleaning and hello to consistently fresh and clean pool water. Solar charging and power adapt

 Adjusting Your Pool Runtime for Winter: Maximize Efficiency  As temperatures drop, your pool’s filtration needs decrease, allowing you to save on energy costs by reducing the runtime. Here’s how to optimize your pool’s runtime for winter while keeping it clean and well-maintained. 1. Reduce Daily Filtration Hours • Cut Runtime in Half: In summer, pools often run 8–12 hours per day, but winter needs are much lower. Scale back to around 4–6 hours daily, depending on your climate. This adjustment maintains water quality while using less energy. • Nighttime Operation for Freezing Climates: In areas where temperatures dip below freezing, run your pool during the coldest hours to keep water moving and prevent pipes from freezing. This also may activate automatically with Freeze-Protect Modes.  2. Adjust for Pool Usage and Debris • Lower Use, Less Filtration: If your pool isn’t in use, you can reduce runtime to as little as 2–4 hours daily. If your pool collects extra debris in winter

 When your pool's water temperature dips into the low 60s, your saltwater generator will likely stop producing chlorine. At that point, it’s a good idea to turn off the generator and switch to an alternative chlorine source. Using liquid chlorine is a great option, as it most closely resembles the chlorine produced by your salt cell. Plus, you’ll need only a small amount in winter. Monthly doses of Dichlor can also be helpful, as it contains about 50% cyanuric acid (CYA), which can boost your pool’s CYA level in winter, potentially avoiding a spring CYA recharge. If you’re in a warmer climate like Southern California, you might prefer adding a floater with Trichlor tablets tied to the skimmer lid to prevent it from drifting, which reduces the risk of staining. Trichlor, like Dichlor, has 50% CYA, so you can easily maintain CYA levels with a small weekly dose. If avoiding CYA altogether, stick to liquid chlorine as it contains no cyanuric acid. To ensure your saltwater generator is

The Madimack InverFLOW Eco is a great entry-level Variable Speed pump. InverMAC Enhanced Inverter Technology Madimack’s advanced InverMAC technology represents the pinnacle of energy efficiency and operational refinement in pool pump systems. This cutting-edge technology integrates several advanced features, such as full inverter capabilities, permanent magnet synchronous motors, and DC brushless motors, to provide an intelligent and adaptable pool experience. One of the standout benefits of InverMAC is its noise reduction capacity, significantly decreasing operational noise levels by more than 30 times, enabling an ultra-quiet environment. Compared to conventional pool pumps, Madimack's InverFLOW Eco pumps achieve up to 90% greater energy efficiency, translating to substantial savings on energy bills while also contributing to a more sustainable, eco-friendly pool setup. Key Features of InverMAC Technology Enhanced Inverter Motor for Optimized Efficiency The inverter motor adjusts

Suction cleaners are the top-selling cleaners in my service area in Southern California. There are several reasons for this.  It will also leave your clients pool-ready each week, which is excellent if you find them using the pool throughout the season. Again, get the image of you vacuuming their pool all day, and you can see why it will be good to go at any given time. No more manually vacuuming each pool every week on your route. This will allow you to focus on more important things like the pool chemistry.  Having a cleaner running can also prevent staining on the pool surface. Sometimes, dirt will have metal ions, and leaves will undoubtedly stain the pool bottom if left there for an extended period. A staple or other small metal piece can also fall into the pool, and I have seen pools saved from rust stains by an automatic cleaner picking up small metal items. The fact that the cleaner will keep the pool floor and walls clean each week ensures a better overall look for the pool.  

There are many factors beyond your control when servicing a pool: weather, how the homeowner maintains the pool, the gardener’s activities, and more. However, one thing you can control is the liability risk on your pool route. Mistakes happen, but liability is a much more serious issue. Actions you shouldn’t have taken can expose you to liability and even lawsuits. **Don’t Fill the Customer’s Pool:** If you’ve been in the pool service business for a while, you might have filled a customer’s pool out of frustration or kindness. Maybe the water level is low every week, the customer isn’t keeping up with it, the pump isn’t working well, and the pool’s condition is worsening. So, you take matters into your own hands and fill the pool yourself, using a garden hose or turning on the fill line. Then, you get distracted or receive a call and leave the property. Four hours later, the customer contacts you to say their yard—and possibly their house—is flooded. This is a liability you could have