Thursday, May 26, 2016

Poolman Tips and Tricks: For Pool Service Professionals and DIY Homeowners

Poolman Tips and Tricks: In this video I give you some helpful tips for your swimming pool route to speed up your day and to make it easier. If you are a homeowner doing your own pool some of these tips will also come in handy.

I cover a wide range of things in this video and I start with some helpful after market products that are designed to make pool care that much easier. These products are effective and proven to help keep a pool clean. I also show you a few tricks that will help keep your pump from being clogged by debris.
I don't sell any of these products as I don't have a store front but I do have Amazon.com links so visit my website to order. http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/

I briefly touch on automatic cleaners, but these are a great way to keep a pool clean week to week. I have reviewed extensively most automatic cleaners on the market today so feel free to contact me if you want to know more about a specific cleaner. I prefer suction side cleaners on my pool route because they are easy and remain in the pool all week. For a homeowner doing their own pool a good Robotic Cleaner would also be a good option. I also have several Pressure Side Cleaners on my pool route and those also work great. Bottom line, a good automatic cleaner will save you time on pool maintenance.

If you are a pool service professional, investing in a Service Cart is a great idea. It will save you both time and energy on your pool route and will speed up your day. I also recommend a secondary pool cart with either the Power Vac or Hammer-Head Vac for those pools with a lot of debris. It is a big investment for two service carts, but within a year with the time saved and the extra stops you can do, it will pay for itself. For the T.Dula Cart and Hitch, the T-Bar Mount and the PV2100 with Large Service Cart it is about a $2,800 investment. But it makes your day out in the field so much easier.

I touch on the pool water level because here in Southern California it is a big issue. With the drought customers are just not filling their pools up properly. This causes more work because the skimmer is down and the surface debris falls to the bottom or just settles on top. This also causes pump discharge leaks and pool pump motors to burn out. I also give you a liability tip – if you need to fill a customer's pool due to a vacant house – leave your truck keys on the fill valve. That way you won't leave with the water running and flood the property. As a rule I don't fill pools on my route.

I also touch briefly on automated systems. I have about eight different types on my route and occasionally I will forget how to program or operate one. The best thing to do is call tech support for the manufacturer while you are at the panel. Here are the three major manufacturer tech support lines:

Hayward: 866-429-7665
Pentair: 800-831-7133
Jandy: 800-822-7933

They are all excellent in walking you thru the systems over the phone.

At the end of the video I cover some basic chemistry, a good Rule of Thumb is to keep the chlorine at 2.0 ppm- 5.0 ppm in your pools in the Summer to prevent algae blooms. I use a Sodium Bromide Algaecide which is highly effective. For Black Algae I will use HASA Algi-Ban if it is a white plaster pool. I will also risk it in colored plaster pools that are already streaked or stained but never use it in a PebbleTec, Vinyl or Fiberglass pool. For Black Algae on those pools you can use the Pentair Algi-Gon Tablet holder.

In my area scale on the pool walls is common since the water here is very hard. I use the Beautec product as it has proven to be highly effective in removing scale from the pool walls. I have used it on several pools with very good results.

Ducks. Need I say more. They are a real problem in my area and I would never suggest anything that would harm them – it is against the law in my state. So a simple pool float will scare them away or at least keep them out of the water. Alligator floats are my preferred method but as you see in the video a customer has had success with Shark floats – not sure if a duck ever sees a shark but it scares them away nonetheless.

So watch the video to learn some of my tips and see the links below for a video on a psecific point in the video.




To learn more on each point here are the links to videos on the specific item or tip I show in the video:

00:19 Power Vac Large Service Cart for PV2100, PV220 & PV2500 Vacuum: https://youtu.be/y9ORwr_DQtI
00:26 Power Vac PV2100 Portable Professional Swimming Pool Vacuum Cleaner: https://youtu.be/xGY7tFUDFGM
00:32 SweepEase® AquaDynamic 18" Pool Brush – Review: https://youtu.be/5Zh_dwyUIdE
00:39 Pool Blaster Max CG - Commercial Grade Review: http://youtu.be/L4hdT77xoiA
00:54 Pool Blaster PBW022SS Max CG Sand and Silt Bag – Review: http://youtu.be/3k5f68A1_Q8
01:01 SkimDoctor 2.0 and Vac Attachment: https://youtu.be/81CS8GELjQY
01:10 Filter Saver, skimmer inserts: http://youtu.be/p0l-pNoO_eM
01:45 POOLVERGNUEGEN the PoolCleaner NEW- "Next Generation" Version Review: http://youtu.be/6yrQx7HJ7Iw
01:46 Polaris 9450 Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/-omfZaoCx-E
01:46 Hayward TriVac™ 500 Pressure Side Cleaner Review: https://youtu.be/L7Zh3GL5gMA
01:52 Hayward Large Capacity Leaf Canister for Pool Cleaners: http://youtu.be/BA1aRDheiBI
02:04 POOLSKIM the automatic pool skimmer – Review: http://youtu.be/BLtN702NrJQ
02:22 Pool Service Cart by T.Dula Specialties: https://youtu.be/g-fp5l6_wZc
02:35 Power Vac Large Service Cart for PV2100, PV220 & PV2500 Vacuum: https://youtu.be/y9ORwr_DQtI
02:52 Caddy Box - by TK Pool Products: https://youtu.be/QT4n_cL0bZs
02:54 Purity Pool Red Baron 20-Inch Professional Leaf Rake: https://youtu.be/NALfstZc4wc
03:14 Unclog a Pool Skimmer Line -How to -Pool Pump Not Priming Part 7: http://youtu.be/5nt6t1vMrQM
03:19 Manually priming your pump: http://youtu.be/oshWO3zq17o
03:23 Water Level, proper water level: http://youtu.be/6dXIY0YN7bE
03:55 How To Clean Out Your Pool Pump Basket: http://youtu.be/CBKxu1sOhs8
04:01 D.E. Filter Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting: http://youtu.be/G4Z21aoJI0g
04:01 Cartridge Filter Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting: http://youtu.be/9UxcroxLckU
04:01 Sand Filter Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting, Sand Filter Part 1: http://youtu.be/4yXD5O6_1-8
04:05 Multi-Tork Filter Socket Tool - For Faster Filter Cleaning: http://youtu.be/aI-rPOSMv-k
04:10 How Long To Run Your Pool & Electricity Cost: http://youtu.be/g4EM8-dqI9I
04:24 EasyTouch® Pool and Spa Control Programming Schedule, Cleaner, Pump RPM, Salt: http://youtu.be/VG8ldpIPiUQ
04:24 EasyTouch® Pool and Spa Control Outdoor Panel Overview: http://youtu.be/y8hkT1EbdME
04:24 Aqualink RS by Zodiac, walk thru and demo: http://youtu.be/DxKSBIrun_U
04:24Aqaulink RS "Freeze Protection" -Pump is on all Night: http://youtu.be/3oNMeHD5WjE
04:24 AquaLink® RS OneTouch Outdoor Panel Overview: https://youtu.be/GMpkOXKrIcE
04:24 Intellitouch Control Panel, Walk-thru, demo: http://youtu.be/FqkyWYZ1xgs
05:30 Pool Equipment Overview part 2 of 2 Swimming Pool Valves: http://youtu.be/YVdtMq0A4ug
06:10 Pool Test Kit: Chlorine, PH and Acid Demand: http://youtu.be/mKD7fphxWJI
06:31 ColorQ Pro 7 Digital Pool Water Test Kit - Review & Overview: https://youtu.be/2_HI3RI6VqE
06:35 Yellow Algae Removers - Using Sodium Bromide to Treat Mustard Algae: http://youtu.be/tnMUEOTbloA
06:40 Black Algae Treatment, Get Rid of Black Algae in Your Pool: http://youtu.be/qga1ZxU6m6U
07:07 Algae-Gon Chlorine Tablet Holder 542068 for Algae Stains & Black Algae: http://youtu.be/8Qj-o_H4AxA
07:17 GLX-CellStand for Hayward Turbo Cell: http://youtu.be/cLCafgvvnRg
07:27 Basic Training Part 3 (A) Salt Water Systems (SWG) Overview: http://youtu.be/WlvZzGCG-0g
07:41 Beautec by Easy Care:http://youtu.be/4Fa93F-Obns
07:51 Ducks in Your Swimming Pool - How to Scare Them Off: http://youtu.be/NKQO9H5QGik
08:08 Duduma Polarized Sports Sunglasses Tr90 Unbreakable Frame - Lifetime Breakage Warranty: https://youtu.be/_17Xj-XT-FM
08:24 Dogs on My Pool Route: https://youtu.be/EPopk3298MM

Related Videos:
Maintain and Service A Swimming Pool: A Step By Step Guide: https://youtu.be/UmHqL2EvG10
How to Become a Pool Guy or Pool Gal: https://youtu.be/pDW1dvoyszI


Monday, May 23, 2016

Aquabot Rapids 1500 Robotic Pool Cleaner - Review

The Aquabot Rapids 1500 is the Next Generation of Robotic Cleaners for Aquabot. There are a lot of great innovations with the Rapids 1500 and I will go over them here in this article. The Rapids 1500 is a retail pool store cleaner only and is not sold online.



The Rapids 1500 has many great features, the video will detail them all but I will list them here also for you.

I will start with the Gyro Navigation System. This is a unique program that will allow the cleaner to stop and pivot, change direction and or reverse at times in the pool. The Gyro System will allow the Rapids 1500 to clean your pool in the most efficient pattern possible and it won't be covering the same areas over and over again. It is a really great innovative cleaning system. You can see it really at work in a couple of video clips that I filmed. It staggers a bit and then pivots, it is really innovative.

The Rapids 1500 features two large scrub brushes on each end. Aquabot it one of the few companies that uses dual or quad brushes on their cleaners. It really speeds up the cleaning and scrubbing action.

The Rapids 1500 is a top loading cleaner with two large fine filter debris chambers. This makes it easy to clean out and the debris and I like the top loading cleaners because it takes only a minute to rinse out the debris chambers making cleaning it out a breeze. Cleaning out the debris couldn't be easier.

On the bottom is a vibrating brush that will loosen debris and dirt off of the pool surface. It is a pretty unique feature and a nice added touch to an already great robotic cleaner. You can see the brush in action in the video.

The Power Center or Aqua Control is what sets this cleaner apart from other robotic cleaners. It doesn't have all the functions present that the Rapids 2000 has but you can still program the cleaner to clean just the pool floors, the pool floors and walls and the pool floors, walls and waterline. You can also set it to run every 48 hours, every 72 hours or every 96 hours - every two, three and four days respectively. Also present is an external timer function and a dirty debris chamber indicator. T

It comes with a very nice caddy that holds the Aqua Control nicely and this makes it easy to get the cleaner to the poolside. The Rapids 1500, like all of the Aquabot cleaners, is light weight and easy to set in and remove from the pool.

The Rapids 1500 also comes with a two year bumper to bumper warranty.

The overall design of the Aquabot Rapids 1500 is excellent. It also comes with 60 feet of cable and Aquabot uses the old flexible cord verses the stiff cord found on most of their newer cleaners. The more flexible cable suits the Gyro system well and the Gyro system also helps prevent cable tangling. The Rapids 1500 also comes with a cord swivel to further prevent cord tangling.

The Rapids 1500 is an excellent and well designed robotic cleaner and a glimpse into the next generation of Aquabot Robotic Pool Cleaners. Worth driving to your local pool store to get.

Related Playlist: Aquabot Robotic Pool Cleaners -

Aquabot Rapids 2000 Robotic Pool Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/jqJ8hNOAIwg


Friday, May 20, 2016

Aquabot Turbo Classic Robotic Pool Cleaner

This is the Aquabot Turbo Classic Robotic Pool Cleaner. Also known as the Aquabot Turbo. This cleaner has been around for over a decade and it is an original classic. There are many newer models available now but the Turbo Classic is still a solid cleaner.



It is an "Old School" design that simply works. The Turbo Classic is designed to clean the pool floors, walls and waterline. The pattern of the Aquabot Turbo Classic is what consumers like. Here is the pattern broken down for you:

In the first six half laps the cleaner finds the wall, goes up the wall for 30 seconds, while at the waterline it will move laterally and then reverse to travel to the opposite wall. The cleaner will go up the opposite wall for 30 seconds and move laterally at the waterline and then reverses again. On the 7th half lap the cleaner finds the wall, climbs it and moves laterally along the waterline for several minutes.

So the Classic Turbo will spend a lot of time on the walls and waterline. This is a good thing for some consumers but if you need more of a floor cleaning robotic cleaner this may not be a feature you like. I really like this program cycle because the cleaner gets full coverage of the pool and spends a good amount of time on the pools waterline.

The Turbo Classic has a very slow and methodical pace which is good since it moves slow enough not to stir up dirt and leaves. It has great climbing ability and can climb a 90 degree angle so no slope in your pool is needed from floor to wall. It will work on all pool surfaces except tile. As it moves the active scrubbing brushes scrub the pool floors, walls and waterline.

I like the 1-7 hour timer that comes with the unit. In some cases you may need to run the cleaner longer than the typical 3 hour cycle so it is nice to have the option to run the cleaner for seven hours. It is a pretty simple timer also so no confusing program buttons.

As the Turbo Classic is moving in the pool it is also pumping 80 gallons of water per minute. Since the Turbo Classic also filters down to 2 microns (better than a D.E. Filter) it acts like a self contained miniature filtration system. It comes with 60 feet of cable and features non-marring wheels. It is a bottom loading robotic cleaner with a large debris bag and large debris openings on the bottom.

The price point is excellent, around $700 making it a very affordable mid-range robotic cleaner. For a great price you are getting a robotic cleaner that climbs and scrubs the walls and tile line and one that can pick up large debris as well as fine silt and dirt. It also comes with a two year limited warranty with year one being a 100% bumper to bumper warranty.

The Turbo Classic is an affordable “Old School” robotic cleaner that works well and is affordable priced. If you looking for a solid mid-range robotic cleaner the Turbo Classic fits the bill.


Other Aquabot Cleaners:
Aquabot Robotic Cleaners Overview Video: https://youtu.be/DSQWPtxaZU0
Aquabot Pool Rover Junior Robotic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner: https://youtu.be/TJ9cZcR1ZSI
Aquabot Pool Rover S2-50 Robotic Pool Cleaner for Above-Ground and Small In-Ground Pools: https://youtu.be/OkivnVfUTQo
Aquabot Rapids 1500 Robotic Pool Cleaner: https://youtu.be/liCWTQBzXl0
Aquabot Rapids 2000 Robotic Pool Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/jqJ8hNOAIwg
Aquabot Rapids XLS Robotic Pool Cleaner Review: https://youtu.be/e7gFvi0MhAc
Aquabot Supreme Robotic Pool Cleaner -Review: https://youtu.be/ZoBVwzEhSPg
Aquabot Turbo T-Jet Robotic Pool Cleaner with Power Washing Jets: https://youtu.be/otVeaCF1gsY
Aquabot Turbo Classic Robotic Pool Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/3v2EzfRbYFw
Aquabot Turbo T2 Robotic Pool Cleaner with Caddy – Review: https://youtu.be/u6H1v3XV-ag
Aquabot Turbo T4RC Robotic Pool Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/7YtZNPQw7Oo
Aquabot Xtreme Robotic Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/s-bR3jaYua8


Product/Pool Features:

  • For In-Ground Pools
  • Shape: Rectangle, Lap, Kidney, L-Shape, Round, Oval
  • Surfaces: Works With All Surfaces Except Tile
  • Pool to Wall Transition: 90° Angle

Specifications

  • Input Electrical Requirements: 120 VAC/60Hz
  • Power Consumption: 230 Watts
  • Cable Length: 60'
  • Non-Marring Wheels
  • Dimentions: 21"x 19"x 18"
  • Shipping Weight: 36lbs

Scrubbing:

  • Active Scrubbing Brushes

Cleaning:

  • Floor, Wall, and Waterline
  • 1-7 Hour Programmable Timer
    or Continuous Run Feature

Water Mixing Capability

  • 70 Gallons per Minute

Filter Type

  • Fine Bag (2 Microns)
  • Bottom Loading

Warranty

  • 2 Years, 1st year 100%,
    2nd year limited

Other:

  • Filters down to 2 microns




Monday, May 16, 2016

How a Robotic Pool Cleaner can Maximize your Pool's Energy Savings

In this article I go over the most energy efficient way to operate your pool and at the same time keeping it sparkling clean. If you want an energy efficient pool system it starts with a Variable Speed Pump. Adding a Robotic Pool Cleaner like the Polaris 9450 Sport just enhances your savings. Running a Variable Speed pump at a lower RPM and using a Robotic Cleaner to clean and circulate the pool water is the most energy efficient set-up for you pool.






The idea for this video came from someone at Jandy who suggested I make a video showing how a robotic cleaner is the most inexpensive cleaner type to operate. So as a tip of my hat to Jandy, Polaris, Zodiac – whatever the company want to be known as – I filled this video chalk full of their products. I have plenty of them on my pool route so it was not a stretch.

The numbers I state in the video are based on the rates that we pay here in Southern California – which I think are some of the highest in the Nation. We are on a Tiered billing system so the price per kWh starts at .15 cents and can go as high as .31 cents per kWh. So the savings of $1,500 a year I put in the last slide in the video is very accurate for California residents. Rates may be lower in your area and the HP rating also can determine how many watts the pump puts out each hour.

¾ HP = 1.26 kWh
1 HP = 1.72 kWh
1-½ HP = 2.14 kWh
2 HP = 2.25 kWh
2-½ HP = 2.62 kWh
3 HP = 3.17 kWh

This calculation does not include running the pump shorter in the Winter time or closing down the pool – which we don't do here in California. But it gives you a good idea of how truly expensive it is to run your pool pump. Even if you ran a 1 hp pump an average of 4 hours a day, accounting for less time in the Winter months it would still cost you $778.00 per year to run it in California. Compare that to a Variable speed pump running for 8 hours per day at 1500 RPM at a cost of $295.00 per year.

No matter how you look at it running a regular pool pump is costing you a lot of money. I wouldn't say rush out a get a Variable Speed pump installed if you have a perfectly functioning pump now. But when the motor goes out or the pump starts to give you problems it would make sense to get a variable speed pump installed.

I break things down even more in a Blog article including Gallons Per Minute, what a Variable Speed Pump RPM means, the amount of Watts a VSP generates vs a standard one speed pump, and much more since I am constrained here in the Video Description box. Click here to read more:


Variable Speed Pumps save you money by allowing you to run them at different RPM, lower or higher based on the need. a single speed pump with its 1 to 2 horsepower motor runs ceaselessly with no reduction in revolutions per minute (rpm) so the 1.5 HP pump example I use in the video runs at 2100 watts with no way to lower the wattage output. Contrast that with a Variable Speed Pump running at 1500 Rpm (26 gallons per minute) which runs at only 275 watts. A pretty significant difference. I will go over the gallons per minute later in this article.

The downside of running a Variable Speed pump on low RPM all day is that the pool will not look clean. It just doesn't push the water through the skimmer at a suitable pace. So even with a Variable Speed Pump you will need to run it on a higher speed for 2-3 hours per day. So running it at 2800 or 3100 RPM will short circuit your savings. Unless of course you drop a Robotic Pool Cleaner in.

A Robotic Pool Cleaner like the Polaris 9450 in this video will circulate and filter the water while it is running. The Polaris pumps about 70 gallons per minute so it acts as a miniature filtration system. It will also clean the pool floor, walls and waterline – leaving your pool sparkling clean. So with a Robotic Cleaner running 2-3 hours in the pool each day, you can leave the Variable Speed Pump on a low speed all day long. Note that if you have a salt water system you will have to run it on a little higher speed to get it to generate chlorine for a few hours each day. There is no way around that unfortunately. You will also need to run the pump on a higher speed to heat the pool and to run the attached spa if you have one.

So augmenting your Variable Speed Pump with a Robotic Cleaner is truly the most energy efficient combo. Dropping a $1,000 on a robotic pool cleaner isn't so painful when you realize that after the first year you will save enough on your electricity bill to pay for it. And it cost about .05 cents per hour to run the Robotic Cleaner as it converts 120 volts down to 12 volts.

Another note about running the filter long enough at a lower RPM to get one cycle of water through the pool filter each day. A 1.5 HP single speed pump will pump about 75 gallons per minute. So if you run it for 6 hours it will pump 27,000 gallons – so if your pool is 25,000 gallons that would equal one cycle through the filter. One cycle means all of the pool water passing through the pool filtration system. You would need to run your Variable Speed pump for 16 hours a day at 1500 RPM to get 25,000 gallons through the filter. At 275 watts per hour it would be a total of 4,400 watts per day or 2 hours of run time for your 1.5 HP single speed pump. If you off set this with a robotic cleaner like the Polaris 9450 Sport that pumps 70 gallons per minute for 2.5 hours or 10,500 gallons you can actually lower your Variable Speed Pump run time down accordingly.

I would highly suggest the FlowVis Flow Meter to get an exact gauge on the GPM at different pump speeds (RPM). This will completely maximize your energy savings if you know your exact flow. For instance if your pool is 20,000 gallons and you want to get one cycle of water through knowing the exact GPM flowing at different RPM settings will allow you to set your pool run time for the exact amount verses guessing or ball parking it.

FlowVis® Flow Meter - H2flow Review & Overview: http://youtu.be/8WFXje-NWBY
FlowVis Flow Meter to Set Your Pool Pump Run Time: http://youtu.be/aE1Pc6GisUw

So if you already have a Variable Speed Pump and you are in the market for a cleaner, I highly suggest you invest in a robotic pool cleaner to maximize your energy savings.

Related Videos:
Polaris 9550/955 Robotic Pool Cleaner Review & Field Test: http://youtu.be/DpTvayZtXf4
Polaris 9450 Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner – Review: https://youtu.be/-omfZaoCx-E



Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Polaris 9450 Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner - Review

In this video I go over the Polaris 9450 Sport Robotic Pool Cleaner. The Polaris 9450 is a slight step down from the 9550 Sport but nonetheless it is a solid choice for a robotic pool cleaner. I will touch on some of the features of the Polaris 9450 Sport that you are sure to like.


The first thing you will notice about this robotic cleaner is that it has an intelligent cleaning pattern which will leave your pool spotless. It features the ActivMotion Sensor which automatically controls the robot's position at all times and prevents any hangups in corners and step areas. It is designed to clean the pool floors, walls and waterline.

The Polaris 9450 Sport features 4-wheel drive technology which gives the cleaner superior wall climbing ability. The scrub brushes on the front are well designed and it scrubs the pool surface very effectively removing dirt, algae and dust.
The cleaner also has a large debris opening and features Vortex Vacuum Technology giving the cleaner 25% more vacuuming power than similar robotic cleaners in it's class. The canister is also very large and can hold a good amount of debris. It comes with a standard All-Purpose Leaf Canister which is great for leaves, debris and dirt. If your pool has a lot of fine dust and silt you may want to upgrade to the Ultra-Fine Sand and Silt Canister – part #R0535800. Here is the link:


One of the thing that makes the Polaris 9450 Sport unique is all of the out of water details that are put into this cleaner. It comes with a sturdy and functional transport and storage cart that is one of the best. It is very compact and light but doesn't feel cheap. It holds the Control Panel, cleaner and cable with ease.

The Control Panel has a few less features than the 9550 Sport but it can still be programmed for a 7 day clean cycle and you can set the cleaner for a longer clean time by simply pressing the plus button. You can also shorten the clean time if you like. It is a very user friendly and highly functional control panel.

The Polaris 9450 Sport weighs only 16 lbs so it is a light weight cleaner and easy to lift and carry. The Lift System is also a great feature. With the push of a button the cleaner will climb the wall and wait for you to grab and lift it out. Even better as you are lifting the cleaner water is evacuated from the back of the cleaner. After a couple of seconds all the water is out and the cleaner can be easily lifted and placed onto the cart.

Here is a rundown on some more features of the Polaris 9450 Sport. It is a top loading cleaner and the Debris Canister simply slides right out. It comes with 60 feet of cable, more than enough for most pools and it is rated for pools 50 feet in length. It comes with a two year limited warranty and is one of the more reliable robotic cleaners in it's class. It also is a really sharp looking machine.

It doesn't come with a remote control, however if you are looking for a cleaner with that specific feature, the Polaris 9550 Sport comes with a superb motion control remote and a control panel with a few more features like a dirty canister indicator and the ability to choose the pools shape.

Overall the Polaris 9450 Sport is a top choice for a robotic pool cleaner. You can't go wrong really if you decide to get this one.


Related videos:
Polaris 9550/955 Robotic Pool Cleaner Review & Field Test: http://youtu.be/DpTvayZtXf4
Polaris 9550/955 Sport in ACTION!: http://youtu.be/WjYDBA_08tc
Polaris 9550/955 Sport - Unboxing and Caddy Assembly: http://youtu.be/5lhoVQcICeA
Polaris 9550/955 Robotic Pool Cleaner Control Unit Overview: http://youtu.be/JmfCZzRXdhg




Monday, May 9, 2016

Power Vac Large Service Cart for PV2100, PV220 & PV2500 Vacuum

This is the Power Vac Large Service Cart for the Power Vac PV2100, PV2200 and PV2500. The service cart is truly a thing of beauty. If you are thinking about getting a Power Vac for your pool route definitely get it with this cart. You will love it.



Getting the PV2100 with the Large Service Cart is actually a good package deal. The PV2100 without the cart is around $1,000 and with it about $1,600. If you decide to purchase the cart later it sells for around $1,000 just by itself. So you get the cart along with the PV2100 for about half price.

There are so many great details about the cart, I couldn't cover all of them in the video otherwise it would be too long. I will touch on each point here.

The cart has a  powder coated aluminum frame that is welded so well that it feels like it was cut out as one solid piece. The welds are that good and that strong. The powder coating is so thick I doubt you will have to get it re-coated for years. It is a a solid piece of equipment made in the USA.  It just looks and feels very well built.

It comes with two storage bins, a 6” bin right under the top mount and a much deeper and larger one on the back – 8” deep. It can hold liquid chemicals, test kits, brushes and more easily, so no more trips back to your truck. A great time saver and a great way to carry everything back to your service account. It also comes with a slot to insert your pool pole and carry it back on the cart.

On the bottom is a battery case that can hold a 12V 100AH Deep Cycle Battery, you can use a smaller one also – I use a 50AH battery on mine. With the 100AH battery you can get up to 8 hours of service time before needing to charge it.  Another great time saver as time is money.

There is also a built in ON/OFF switch for the vacuum. This makes it very convenient when starting and stopping the Power Vac. I like the ON/OFF switch as the dial is very easy to turn and you don't have to bend down and unplug the Power Vac every time you need to turn it off. Plus leaving the Power Vac plugged in preserves the cord.

You can't look at this thing without noticing the 20” non-marking wheels which feature premium bearings that are rust, chemical and water resistant. This cart is so smooth when you are pulling it and it can easily get over obstacles  and steps. The wheels are exceptional.

Power Vac also went all out on the mount and hitch for the cart. These parts look indestructible. The Hitch also feature Urethane inserts to prevent the cart frame from chipping or cracking. I had to Google Urethane to find out what it was – basically a superior form of plastic that can bear heavy loads and won't wear out. You will find two Urethane caps on the front of the cart also where it sits on the ground.

Bottom line, Power Vac went all out to create the best possible cart for their vacuums.

I have a separate review video already on the Power Vac PV2100 but for those who are new to Power Vac it is basically a self contained unit with a large debris bag on top powered by a motor connected to a battery that is designed to pick up large debris and dirt, making your day quicker and easier.

The PV2100 is a must have piece of equipment for your pool route. It is truly a game changer and will make you wonder how you survived all these years without it. To learn more watch these videos:

Power Vac PV2100 Set Up and Walk–Through: https://youtu.be/rkCSfX8dwK8
Power Vac PV2100 Portable Professional Swimming Pool Vacuum Cleaner:  https://youtu.be/xGY7tFUDFGM
Power Vac 26" Micron Bag For PV2100 - PV2500: Fine Debris down to 60 Microns: https://youtu.be/WDGedQLwCBM

To learn more:

http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/#!power-vac-/c1jil


Thursday, May 5, 2016

LaMotte Pool Water Testing Products- Overview

This is a brief look at the Pool Water Testing Products made by LaMotte. They are best known for their flagship product, the ColorQ Pro 7  Digital Photometer. But they also make electronic testers under the Tracer label as well as very good test strips.



The ColorQ Pro 7 is a great test kit. It uses a photometer to get an exact digital reading on seven pool test factors. I really like this kit as it is accurate and easy to use. If you have trouble with color matching and want a spot on reading of your pool water - the ColorQ Pro 7 is a great investment. It is on the high end price side but well worth it.

The ColorQ Pro7 is a very easy to use kit. Just add the drops of Reagent and stick the test tube in the ColorQ Photometer and it will give you a digital readout that is clear and spot on.  It comes in a really nice case and there are plenty of test tubes to do all the test factors at one time. Again, it is priced on the high end side because it is basically a digital tester.

To see specific videos on the ColorQ Pro7:
ColorQ Pro 7 Digital Pool Water Test Kit  by Lamotte: Water Testing & Tips:  https://youtu.be/YBwjMFy2BFU
ColorQ Pro 7 Digital Pool Water Test Kit - Review & Overview: https://youtu.be/2_HI3RI6VqE

The Tracer electronic testers are also a great product line. If you are looking for a good digital water tester for Salinity, TDS, pH, ORP and Total Chlorine you will want to look at the LaMotte product line.
If your a pool service professional a good digital tester is needed, specifically for the salinity level and TDS of a pool. If you service Commercial accounts it would also be a good idea to test for ORP. I go over the Tracer Digital Testers in more detail in their individual videos. If you wish to learn more you can watch those videos:

 Total Chlorine TRACER w/ pH & ORP Sensor by LaMotte 1740-kit-01: https://youtu.be/X80tAtT5bOs
TRACER PockeTester with Carrying Case by LaMotte – Salt/TDS/Temp: https://youtu.be/T7jbvN1_e4g

The LaMotte Insta-TEST strips are very accurate and easy to use. The color range is very distinctive and unlike other test strips were the colors all look the same, these are very easy to read and distinguish. Test strips are good to get a quick ballpark reading and I find them to be very helpful in giving you a snapshot of the water quality. I wouldn't recommend using test strips alone to maintain your pool but they come in handy and are affordable. To learn more watch this video:

Insta-TEST® Pool 4 Plus and  Insta-TEST® 6 Plus by LaMotte: https://youtu.be/-iEGG897yEY

I thought it would be helpful to give you a quick overview of the LaMotte water testing products. I use them on my pool route and I would recommend them if you are looking for an easy and reliable way to test your pol water chemistry.

To Learn more: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/#!lamotte-test-kits-and-digital-testers/c18dj



Monday, May 2, 2016

Hayward Poolvergnuegen Lower Body Conversion Kit for 2X and 4X Cleaners

This is the Hayward Poolvergnuegen Lower Body Conversion Kit for the PoolCleaner Suction side automatic cleaner. There are two versions depending if you have the two or four wheel cleaner.  This is basically a Retrofit Kit to convert your existing PoolCleaner into the Next Generation version.


The only online store I have found this at is PoolPlaza.com. I am not affiliated with them but for your convenience here are the links for each one:

Poolvergnuegen Lower Body Conversion Kit, 2 Wheel Suction, White (PVGXH792KIT)  

https://www.poolplaza.com/poolvergnuegen-lower-body-conversion-kit-2-wheel-suction-white-pvgxh792kit.html

Poolvergnuegen Lower Body Conversion Kit, 4 Wheel Suction, White (PVGXH808KIT)

https://www.poolplaza.com/poolvergnuegen-lower-body-conversion-kit-4-wheel-suction-white-pvgxh808kit.html

If you are a pool service technician here is the Pool Corp part number for Superior or SCP:

Manufacturer: HAYWARD POOL PRODUCTS INC
Product Number: PVN-201-1105
Manufacturer Part #: PVGXH808KIT
U/M: EA
Description: Hayward ConversionKit, White, For Use With: PoolvergnuegenLowerBody of 4 Wheel Suction Cleaner

Manufacturer: HAYWARD POOL PRODUCTS INC
Product Number: PVN-201-1106
Manufacturer Part #: PVGXH792KIT
U/M: EA
Supersedes: PVN-201-1075
Description: PVN-201-1075 Hayward ConversionKit, White, For Use With: PoolvergnuegenLowerBody of 2 Wheel Suction Cleaner

The installation process is actually a breeze and it will take less than five minutes to do. Better than the old days when you had to remove all the gears and swap out the bottom.

The only problem with the original PoolCleaner is that the wheels had a bolt that was mitered into the plastic and over time it would work it's way out of the plastic and the wheel would become wobbly not allowing the gears to catch and causing the cleaner to move slowly or not turn in one direction.

This Conversion Kit does the trick. You will just need to remove the top of the cleaner and the turbine cover, plus the bottom skirts and you are good to go. If the tires are still good feel free to reuse them also.

The nice thing about this kit is that it also includes all three inlet throat sizes which is one of the things that really sets the Next Generation version apart from other suction side cleaners. Depending on the need and pump size, you can insert a small, medium or large inlet throat into the cleaner.

The overall design of the Next Generation bottom is a great improvement over the original one also. The wheels are now attached through large plastic holders that work with large bearings so the problem that brought you to this kit will not happen again. I also like how the skirts are held on with the inlet throat instead of by forcing them into the plastic, it always felt like I was going to break the bottom.  New they simply slide on and the inlet throat holds them in place.

So if you have an older PoolCleaner and it isn't running well, specifically one or both wheels are wobbly and are not catching the gears, this will give it a new lease on life. No need to purchase a new cleaner now, just install the Conversion Kit and you are set.

Related Videos:
Poolvergnuegen the PoolCleaner "Next Generation" Tips & Tricks: https://youtu.be/GqftcLueg4Q
POOLVERGNUEGEN the PoolCleaner NEW- "Next Generation" Version Review:  http://youtu.be/6yrQx7HJ7Iw
Hayward PoolCleaner "Next Generation" 4X Suction Side Cleaner- Review: https://youtu.be/5jTHMtl1S0M