Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

The Volt FX-4Li is Water Tech's latest update for their retail pool store only Pool Blaster Battery Powered Vacuums . Note that the box says Volt FX-4 as the new version is just being produced and should be available for purchase. The Volt FX-4Li as mentioned is only available at your local pool store. Over 600 retail pool stores carry the Volt FX-4Li so finding it shouldn't be a problem. The new FX-4Li has a power rating of 275 vs the Volt FX-4 rating of 250. It also comes with 2 debris bags and sports a new 2 year limited warranty making this a solid choice for a Pool Blaster cleaner. I really like the Pool Blaster cleaners and use them everyday on my pool route. Currently I carry the Pool Blaster CG and the Pool Blaster Max HD in my truck and use them in spas, water features and to spot vacuum pools. My Pool Blaster Max CG is over 2 years old and still working fine. It is all in the proper care of the unit. I make sure I drain out the cleaner after ev...

In this Article  I go over the wiring a Jandy VS FloPro Variable Speed Pump. The first thing you will need to do is completely turn off all power to the pool pump. The wiring of the VS FlorPro Variable Speed Pump is pretty straight forward and the Jandy version requires a little extra wiring for the controller. But overall a novice can wire the Jandy VS FloPro Pump. A disclaimer here; like Pentair and Hayward, Jandy will void the manufacturer's warranty if the pump is not installed by a pool service professional. They do this to help protect the industry.  Although I disagree with the policy it is what it is. You probably will never use the one year warranty anyway, but you need to be aware of Jandy's policy towards self-installation of their equipment. Like other Varaible Speed Pumps you are required to have a 230V breaker dedicated to the pump. If you do not have 230V wired to your existing pump, you will need to run some 230V wiring as this pump cannot be wired to ...

In this article I go over plumbing in a Jandy VS FloPro Variable Speed pump. Plumbing in a pump may seem daunting but it is actually quite easy. This particular install is in a very tight equipment area and is one of the more difficult plumbing jobs you will encounter. To see a step by step plumbing installation, including removing the old pump watch this video: A disclaimer here, most manufacturers including Jandy will void the manufacturers' warranty if the equipment is installed by the homeowner and not by a pool service professional. Pentair and Hayward have the same policies as well. I don't agree with it but it is what it is. Chances are you will never need to use the warranty anyway, but be aware of this policy before you do this yourself. So this video is geared towards the pool professional and use this as a guide. The first thing to note is that the FloPro is designed for 2” plumbing. If you have 1.5” plumbing you will just need reducers at bot...

In this article I go over the Jandy VS FloPro 1.0 HP Variable Speed pump and   what comes in the box,  and an initial walk thru of the installation process. If your thinking about replacing your old standard speed pump with a variable speed pump, the Jandy VS pumps are top notch. There are several ways to connect the Jandy VS FloPro and I will touch on them here. If you currently have an AquaLink automated controller, you can order the VS FloPro without the JEP-R controller. All you would need to do is wire it into your existing Pump Relay and you are set to go. The automated system will recognize the pump and you can set the schedule and RPM thru the AquaLink menu. If you don't have an Automated system you will need to order a controller with the pump since Jandy pumps do not come with a built in controller on the pump itself. You can order the VS FloPro 1.0 HP with a mount for the back of your pump and the JEP-R controller can be mounted to the pump. I p...

In this article I go over some variable speed pump RPM settings using the Jandy iQPUMP01 and the FloVis Flow meter. To maximize your energy savings running your pool for one cycle per day at lower RPM settings is the best way to maximize your energy savings. One cycle a day is all the water passing thru the filter in one run cycle. To accomplish exact calculations a flow meter is essential. Without one you are just estimating and you could be running your pool too long or too short. So if you have a variable speed pump I suggest installing a flow meter – the best is the FlowVis. I have several videos on this flow meter: FlowVis® Flow Meter - H2flow Review & Overview: http://youtu.be/8WFXje-NWBY FlowVis® Flow Meter Retrofit Kit Installation Guide: http://youtu.be/hsH2I06G_-A FlowVis® Flow Meter - Plumbing in the Complete Valve: http://youtu.be/3cvUP6n3xvQ I am using the iQPUMP01 because it is an excellent interface for the Jandy variable speed pump – I a...

In this article I go over Jandy's new iQPUMP01 which enables the iAquaLink app to control your Jandy Variable Speed Pump. The app works both on Apple and Andriod devices and makes the iQPUMP01 the most innovative way to control your variable speed pump. On of the drawbacks of stand alone variable speed pumps (meaning those not connected to an automated system), is that they have complicated controllers and menu functions, making programming the pump a real hassle. Even Jandy's JEP-R controller is hard to navigate and I sometimes have to refer to a cheat sheet that I carry on my pool route. Pentair and Hayward make it not much easier with their variable pump controllers. But the iQPUMP01 is a real game changer. This device easily connects to your existing Jandy VS pump that is connected to the JEP-R controller. Simply turn off the breaker to the pump, open the back, remove the four wires from the JEP-R controller and connect the four wires on the iQPUMP01. Turn ...

In this article I go over the Pentair Rebel and Warrior Large Hump Tire  (also for the Pentair Dominator in the AU Market). One of the drawbacks of the Rebel cleaner is that it tended to get stuck on the main drain or get hung up in the step areas in certain pools. These Large Hump Tires solve this by adding a larger hump onto the tire. Since the Rebel is sold only in retail stores or thru your pool service company, these tires are not available online at this time. To get these tires you will have to have your local pool store or pool service company order them for you. If a link becomes available online I will add it here for you. Here is the part number for Pool Corp if you are a dealer or pool service tech: REBEL TIRE LARGE HUMP (2) (KPY-201-0326) Product # :  KPY-201-0326 Mfg :  PENTAIR WATER POOL AND SPA INC Mfg # :  360326 Department :   AUTOMATIC CLEANERS UPC Code :   788379866945 The price of these tires range from $50-$60 dependin...

In this series of videos I go over replacing parts in your Zodiac MX6 if it is not moving in the pool or not turning. The thing I really like about the MX6 vs the MX8 is how easy it is to work on. Not that the MX8 is difficult, but there are less parts in the MX6 and it just is compact and easier to work on. One of the drawbacks of the MX6 is all of the moving parts wear out over time. Fortunately the parts are inexpensive and easy to install. I would say after 1 ½ to 2 years you will need to start to replace some parts, and this depends on the pool run time also. But figure at the 2 year mark replacing all of these parts featured in this video series would be a good idea. This first video covers what to do if the MX6 stops going thru it's turn cycle. Very common in the MX8 but less common in the MX6 since there is only one Directional Device in it. The MX6 uses the Directional Device Side A, part #R0524700 – you will often see it listed for the MX8 like this “ Ba...

The thing I like about the Pentair Great White and Dorado cleaner is that they have very simple engineering. Not to say the engineering is not great, just that the cleaners are easy to work on. The same engineer who designed the Navigator, Sand Shark and PoolCleaner had his hands on designing the Pentair Great White. One of the things I focus on in the video is that the thin metal piece called the Ratchet Tab. This small metal piece is what catches on the Ratchet Gear and causes the Cam to spin. If this Ratchet Tab is bent a little too much outwards it won't catch on the Ratchet gear and the cleaner will not go into it's turn cycle. This is probably the main problem you will have with the Great White or Dorado cleaner. Simply open the cleaner and bend the Ratchet Tab inwards so it will catch on the gear. In fact the brand new Great White I purchased that you see in this video was not going thru it's turn cycle when I installed it. By bending the Ratchet Ta...