Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

In this article  I go over the Pleatco PureStart disposable fill sediment filters. They make two models, the PPS2100 for spas and pools up to 10,000 gallons and the PPS6120 for large pools up to 40,000 gallons. These gallon ratings are the lifespan of the filter media so if you are topping off your pool or spa they will last a long time. These disposable sediment filter cartridges are made from unique melt-spun filtration technology for perfect depth filtration. PureStart cartridges attach to a garden hose and capture dirt particles before they enter your pool or spa. First let me say what these filters will and will not filter out. The filter will filter out metal and sediments suspended in the water, but won’t filter dissolved metals or impurities in water. So any “particulate” or “suspended” solids larger than 5 microns will be filtered out. Anything dissolved in the water (TDS) or any metal ions in the water will not be filtered out. I also looked at Pleatco's internal...

 The Aqua Products Mamba Automatic Pool Cleaner is made for an above ground pool. I wouldn't purchase this cleaner for an in-ground plaster pool but it would be okay for an in-ground fiberglass or vinyl pool. The Mamba is a very good suction side cleaner and is priced under $100, giving it an outstanding price point. The Mamba comes with 32 feet of hoses which is good for most above ground pools. It is also designed to work off of low suction so it will do fine with a pool with a smaller pump. It is a really light cleaner but it is made out of durable material and the parts are well made also. The reason I would not recommend it for a plaster or Pebble Tec pool is because if it gets caught in the step area, the bouncing motion will cause it to rub right trough the plastic tubes. I think at one time Aqua Products did market it for every pool type but were getting bad reviews and warranty returns due to this. I know on their website listing it says it is okay for C...

Solar Pool Covers or Solar Blankets do have some benefits, but they also have some drawbacks that you need to be aware of. Solar Blankets do reduce evaporation by 30-50% and can also help your pool retain the heat from the Sun. Chemical usage is also reduced in most cases. But the benefits have been overblown in some cases, especially in areas suffering from drought. Even with a Solar Blanket on top water will evaporate, but just at a lower rate. To get the full benefits of evaporation reduction the cover needs to be left on 24/7. If you take the cover off a few days during the week to use it, the benefit becomes less noticable. Having the pool covered can reduce your chemical usage by up to 30%. Since the cover blocks some of the Sun's UV rays the chlorine will last longer in the pool. You will still need to check the pool chemistry at least once a week and adjust the pH and Alkalinity but you will notice a reduction in the chlorine usage. This would not be a reaso...

So are swimming pool Digital Water Testers accurate? The answer is YES, as long as they are calibrated correctly and it is a reliable brand. In this video I will show you results from various digital testers and match them against each other. The benefits of a digital water tester are that you get spot on results and they can preform tests the reagents cannot, such as Total dissolved Solids (TDS), Salinity (Salt level) and ORP. Most have a small margin of error +/- or 1% in most cases.  I use them on my pool route and as a homeowner you can benefit also from certain digital testers. The number one tester I would suggest if you are a homeowner and have a salt pool is a Salinity tester. That way you will know the salt level and can maintain your pool properly. Even if your salt system displays the Salinity level – that reading can be effected by a dirty salt cell and can give you a false low salt reading. In that case you may add salt when it is not needed and raise the salt ...

In this video I show you the Taylor SpeedStir (#9265). The SpeedStir® makes quick work of drop tests performed in Taylor’s #9198 sample tube. This is a great addition to your Taylor K-2006 test kit as it will give you accurate readings without the need for you to swirl the tube. Any 10 or 25 mL test performed in a 2000 Series test kits can also can be done in the #9198 sample tube. The SpeedStir will give you accurate results and speed up your testing, plus it is so cool to use. Here is how Taylor Technologies describes the SpeedStir: “This palm size, portable magnetic stirrer will thoroughly incorporate each addition of reagent in a fraction of a second. No more manual swirling! Place the water sample on the mixing platform then gently drop in the Teflon®-coated stir bar. Use the pad to turn the unit on in well-lit conditions. Use the pad to start the stirrer when ambient light is poor—six LEDs below the mixing platform will light up to make color changes in t...

This is the Installation Process of the Zodiac MX8 Elite. It also works for the MX8 and MX6 cleaners. The installation process is pretty easy and I go over my preferred method of installing the MX8 Elite. All the parts for a skimmer installation are in the box. However, if you are using the side port/ vacuum port there are two additional parts you will need. One is a vac lock for the threaded port. This is a safety device to prevent entrapment if the cleaner hose comes loose and the pool is in use. I highly suggest installing it with one. Here is a link for a good one: http://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Safety-Suction-Cleaners-W400BWHP/dp/B00TLJB1VI?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00TLJB1VI&linkCode=w00&linkId=B7KICXCNHTLEUCK3&ref_=as_sl_pc_tf_til&tag=swimmingpooll-20 I wish manufacturers would include this with the cleaner as many consumers use a side port when installing. I also do not like the adapter that Zodiac includes for the side port installation. It tends t...