Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

The Pentair SuperFlo VS Variable Speed pump is unique among Variable Speed Pumps in that it works off of 115 Volts as well as 230 Volts. It is the only Variable Speed pump that can convert the voltage which makes it perfect for older pools. The SuperFlo VS has plenty of power and is rated at 1.5 HP. Although the SuperFlo is not as powerful as the IntelliFlo VS pump it is adequate for most pools. The SuperFlo pump was originally designed for older pools with copper pipes. But at 1.5 hp, this one moves water extremely well in your standard pool. At full speed it generates the 1.5 HP speed for your spa or to get a water feature moving. Of course the benefits of a variable speed pump is the ability to adjust the speed of the pump, known as RPM down in order to conserve energy. So you will rarely be running it at full speed which is 3450 RPM. So the pumps HP, although important, is not the overriding factor when looking to purchase a VS pump. The SuperFlo VS is a great l...

This is the Multi-Tork MT-100H for the Hayward SwimClear and Pro-Grid DE filters. It also is reverable and will work on wing nut closure filter systems such as Harmsco, Solberg and others. This is the latest addition to the Multi-Tork family of filter sockets which make filter cleaning a breeze. MT-100H fits: Hayward SwimClear Cartridge Filters C2030 C3030 C4030 C5030 C7030Sw Hayward Pro-Grid DE Pool Filters DE2420 DE4820 DE6020 DE7220 If you are interested in purchasing the MT-100H you can contact Tal the owner of Multi-tork and he can let you know where to get it from. dtm@multi-tork.com 888-929-7818 Tal He is a pool guy also who created the Multi-tork sockets several years ago to help mke filter cleaning easy on everyone. The video also features the other sockets and you can find the links to purchase these on my website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/multi-tork I suggest the value pack which includes th...

In article  I go over what comes in the Polaris 8050 Sport box and how to assemble the Premium Caddy. The Polaris 8050 Sport is a retail pool store cleaner only and is only available at your local brick and mortar pool store. The Premium Caddy is pretty easy to assemble. If you don't think you can assemble it without help for any reason, the pool store can assemble it for you. That is one of the benefits of buying something at a retail store. But if you want to do it yourself the video will go over it step by step for you. The Polaris 8050 Sport comes packed very nicely in the box and included along with it is the control unit, instruction manual, warranty card, quick start guide and the parts for the Caddy.  The Polaris Caddy is by far the easiest to assemble, the most sturdy and compact Caddy on the market. The video is simple to follow and you can play it along side yourself as you build it. If you haven't purchased a robotic cleaner and are in the market, you can...

The Polaris Pressure Side Pool Cleaners are the top choice in their category. Polaris dominates the Pressure Cleaner market and for good reason. Here are some troubleshooting tips for you for the Polaris 180, 280, 380 and 3900 Sport. First, you must have a separate pump plumbed in for the Polaris cleaner or you cannot install this cleaner. It needs it's own pump to work off the pressure (return) side of the pool verse the suction skimmer/side port side. I have several customers with these cleaners installed (Two with Polaris 180 models which means that after 30 years they are still working fine) and all work off the same principal. The Polaris pump sends high pressure to the line the Polaris is attached to spinning the wheels and moving the cleaner. Every few minutes the Backup valve activates and reverses the cleaner (prevents it from getting stuck in one area). Here are some troubleshooting tips: Hose length is important. Too much hose and the cleaner will not work pr...

This is the Gator Auto-Skim Surface Skimming System for your suction side automatic pool cleaner. The Gator Auto-skim will work with all suction side pool cleaners and will skim the surface debris while the automatic cleaner works on the bottom of the pool. I received the Gator directly from the manufacturer to test it and see what I thought. I test a lot of products for my YouTube Channel and the ones that are good, I put to film. Believe me, there have been some real duds and those I just keep in my garage. The Gator is very effective for what it is designed to do. It connects to your suction side cleaner pool hose 2-3 hoses from the head of the cleaner. So as the cleaner is moving along the bottom it is dragging the Gator around the pool. The Gator has a regulator valve in the bottom that will pull in water much like the regulator valve at your skimmer. This allows the Gator to suck in surface debris and act as a mini-skimmer, floating around the pool and pulling in surfac...

In this article I go over some of the most common causes of cloudy pool water. There are only a handful of common reasons why your pool water will become cloudy.  Once the problem is corrected the pool water will return to a clear state within a matter of a few days. This video is my most popular one on YouTube to date: I am often asked if a clarifier is needed and in most cases you won't need one. I use them very sparingly on my route and will add it when a customer is having a party or if I need to clear the pool up quickly for an event.  I know pool stores push this product a lot and they do work if you need to clear it up quickly. Sometimes if you have a sand filter a clarifier will help clump the particles together and allow for better filtration. Cloudy Pool Water: Causes & Cures This video covers some of the most common causes of cloudy pool water. There are only a handful of common reasons why your pool water will become cloudy.  Once the proble...

This is the set-up and installation of Hayward's TriVac 500 Pressure Side Pool Cleaner. You will need a dedicated ¾ hp booster pump for the TriVac 500 cleaner. If you have a booster pump for a Polaris or Pentair Legend cleaner it will work fine for the TriVac 500. I filmed a review of the TriVac 500 awhile back and I noticed that it has some negative reviews on Amazon in particular. I think this stems from the improper installation of the cleaner for the most part. As far as pressure cleaners go, the TriVac 500 is a bit more difficult to set up then others. For the Polaris you just drop it in and usually you are fine. The TriVac 500 needs just the right water pressure to work effectively in your pool. The ideal water pressure is plus or minus 23 on the gauge. You achieve this by simply turning the arrow on the wall fitting one direction or the other to reduce or increase the water pressure. It the cleaner has too much pressure it will climb out of the pool ofte...