Thursday, September 28, 2017

Jandy JXi Pool & Spa Heater

The JXi Pool and Spa Heater is the best new pool heater on the market today. This is the most energy efficient heater you can purchase with Jandy's patented VersaFlo Integrated Bypass technology which bypasses the water flow to the heater when it is not being used, increasing the return flow and thereby reduces your energy cost by up to 20%. It also has the best manual control panel of all the heaters I have come across on the market today.



The JXi is the complete package, a small 2 feet by 2 feet footprint, a top that can be rotated 180° degrees so you never need to rotate headers. Drop install for replacing a Pentair Master Temp or Sta-Rite Max-E-Therm heater without having to do major re-plumbing. And it is made right here in Vista California from the ground up (I took a tour of the JXi manufacturing facility in March of this year).
The high-efficiency, low-NOx JXi pool and spa heater is available in three BTU sizes, 200K, 260K, 399K, and is offered in both natural and propane gas models.

A pool heater is a great way to extend the swimming season and essential if you have a spa attached to your pool. There is nothing better than firing up the heater on a cold Winter night and sitting out in your spa watching the stars. So it is important to choose the right heater, one that is easy to use and will give you the fewest problems in the future. Jandy has excellent quality control and every JXi heater is checked at the factory for defects. You will get a quality product made in the USA.

Here are some of the great features of the JXi heater:
- Ultra-compact, 2'x2' footprint for small space requirements and maximum installation flexibility.
- Lightweight design, weighs less than 126 pounds, for easy maneuverability and transport.
- Retrofit option, no plumbing adjustments required for quick and easy replacement of Mastertemp® and Max-E-Therm® heaters.
84% thermal efficiency rating and low-NOx design surpasses strict DOE energy-efficiency requirements.
- VersaFlo Integrated Bypass technology for JXi available installed from the factory (select models) or as an easy retrofit to any JXi on site.
- Automatic actuation of flow bypass valve is based on call for heat and does not require human interaction.
- The flow bypass valve is integrated into the JXi's header, requiring no external plumbing modifications.
- The hydraulic savings of VersaFlo make it the perfect complement to Versa Plumb®, which reduces plumbing costs and maximizes energy efficiency in the smallest footprint available.
- Flexible Installation - 180° rotatable top so you never need to rotate headers.
- Versa Plumb-Ready - Installation in the Versa Plumb system reduces plumbing costs and increases energy efficiency, all using the smallest footprint available. Sweep elbow included in all JXi models.
- Easy Access - Electrical panel flips up for ease of service.
- Sidewall Ventilation - Provides versatility and ease of installation.
- High-Efficiency Gas Train and Heat Exchanger Design
- Copper fin heat exchanger tubes for efficient heat transfer
- Single stainless steel burner with robust design
- Blower-driven gas and air mix for reliable performance
- Hot surface ignitor for consistent start-ups
- User-Friendly Control - Digital interface for effortless temperature control and diagnostics with run-time and cycle meter.

If your looking to have a pool heater installed or want to upgrade your existing heater, I would definitely look at getting the Jandy JXi heater. I have it installed at my own residence and it is a quite, efficient and easy to work with.

To order or to learn more: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/jandy-jxi-pool-spa-heater

Related videos:
How to Use Your Pool Heater, Put it into Spa Mode & Helpful Tips (Jandy JXi shown): https://youtu.be/gOfnZYC3swg






Monday, September 25, 2017

Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief - Interview with Charles Baird of National Pool Route Sales








Hurricane Harvey left a wake of destruction in the Houston Texas area. In this Podcast I talk to Charles Baird of National Pool Route Sales on his personal effort to help with the Hurricane clean up. Charles Baird the Founder and CEO of National Pool Route Sales. This is a firm that specializes in selling pool routes to those who want to get into the pool service business. We discuss his two week stay in the area as well as talk about pool service companies faced with a clean up after a disaster.


To learn more about purchasing a pool route you can visit their websites directly:
To Learn more about the charity Charles worked with, All Hands Volunteers:

bit.ly/nationalpoolroutesales- National Pool Route Sales
bit.ly/CBconsulting- Charles Baird consulting




The one thing lot of us can't do, Charles did by donating 2 weeks of his time. He is at a place in his professional career where he can not only give money to a cause like Hurricane Harvey, but he can give his time too. Most of us couldn't and maybe wouldn't go down and spend two weeks cleaning up mold infested homes and trudging through bacteria infested water just to help those in need. When I heard about Charles Baird doing this I had to get him on my podcast. You can read more about his trip to Houston in this article also:



For those in the service industry who live and work in Hurricane territory the clean up after a storm can be very dramatic and have a large impact on your business if you are not prepared. There are some great clean up tools available to help clean up the pools and below is a list of videos on several of them. For a homeowner or relief organization you will find this products very useful in cleaning up after torrential rains, winds and flooding.

PORTAVAC: Portable Filtration System by Advantage Manufacturing - Overview:https://youtu.be/uhGYALoLdWs
PORTAVAC Portable Filtration System - Set Up and Use Video:https://youtu.be/Qm4zSrKyY4
Pool Vacuum Systems & Portable Filtration Systems:https://youtu.be/Nhkpv_X4XtA
Mini Vac II Portable Pool Vacuum System by Advantage Manufacturing: https://youtu.be/rRBYY6scShg
Riptide SL Pool Vacuum System Review & Overview: https://youtu.be/Wp2c9CLDrgY
Power Vac Large Service Cart for PV2100, PV220 & PV2500 Vacuum: https://youtu.be/y9ORwr_DQtI

Here is a little about National Pool Route Sales:

National Pool Route Sale's customers are supported by ongoing marketing and management consulting. This free consulting is available to our clients via telephone, e-mail or through our website. We answer questions and assist customers with the best practices for maximizing growth and profitability. This is accomplished through the Charles Baird Consulting program. We take pride in providing professional and enthusiastic support.
A few words about us
Charles Baird is the Founder for National Pool Route Sales, LLC. (NPRS), a brokerage for pool service and repair companies. Mr. Baird has sold and consulted for more than 15,000 pool service companies over the past 40 years. He is the author of The Millionaire Pool Man Program which includes: The Millionaire Pool Man Management Guide and The Millionaire Pool Man Marketing Guide, both are considered the premier business tools for an individual entering the pool service and repair industry. Mr. Baird is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in multiple states.
CA Broker, Roy Moss, Licensed Real Estate Broker 01488246
FL Broker, Russell Bieber, Licensed Real Estate Broker 3377575





Thursday, September 21, 2017

How to Add D.E. to a QUAD D.E.® Cartridge Style Filter

Adding D.E. Or Diatomaceous Earth to the Pentair Quad D.E. Filter is a pretty straight forward task. But if you strictly follow the manual which is basically a cut and paste job from the Pentair FNS Plus filter, I think you will be adding too much D.E.. So I go over how much D.E. I add to the Quad D.E. Filters on my pool route.



I have a few Quad D.E. Filters on my pool route and I add less D.E. than the manual calls for. Since the inception of the Quad D.E. Filter I haven't had any issues with them and I think a lot of problems will stem from overloading them with D.E.. The Quad D.E. Filter has cartridge type “grids” inside. This means that the overall design of the filter is more like that of a cartridge filter. The cartridges are pretty similar in size to your standard cartridge filter but the Quad D.E. Filter cartridges are made out of a more similar material to the standard vertical D.E. grids. They are more cloth like then paper like.

I should explain why I use less D.E. in the filters on my route. First, my supplier was the first to test these filters when they first came out. He suggested that they need less D.E. than the manual called for. The Pentair Rep at the time also insisted because of the design the Quad D.E. needed less D.E. to run effectively. And last, evidence from years of charging the Quad D.E. Filter with less D.E. And the clarity of the pool water. Also the cartridges seem to last much longer when less D.E. is used.

For measurement purposes I am using the Aladdin 300 DE E-Z Scoop which is equivalent to a 1 lbs. Coffee can. Each scoop filled to the top is ½ lbs. of D.E.. This is because the dry weight of D.E. makes it lighter, so it takes 2 scoops of the Aladdin DE E-Z Scoop to equal 1 lbs. of D.E.. Confusing I know, but it is a fact that has been verified by the D.E. Manufacturer.

Here is a link for the Aladdin DE Scoop:


So Pentair calls for 6 lbs of D.E. for a 60 sq ft Quad D.E. filter which would be 12 scoops of D.E. from the Aladdin E-Z Scoop. I go 1 or 2 lbs. lighter so I only add 8-10 scoops. It is not a dramatic difference but from my experience going lighter makes these filters run much better. An 80 lbs. Filter requires 8 lbs. or 16 scoops and a 100 lbs. Filter needs 10 lbs. or 20 scoops. These are the manufacturer recommendations and you can add these amounts, but like I said, going lighter is much better.

I like to add the D.E. to a bucket and then mix it pour it into the skimmer while the pool is running. You can add it directly scoop by scoop to the skimmer, but I find the Quad D.E. does better if the D.E. is mixed in a bucket first. It seems to coat the cartridges better this way. If you decide to backwash your Quad D.E. filter you can recharge the D.E. with 1 or 2 lbs of fresh D.E.. I don't like backwashing these filters for two reasons. One is that it is pretty easy to take the lid off and just clean them off. And second, backwashing will shorten the life of the cartridges. The replacement cartridges are not inexpensive so the longer they last the better.

To learn more about the Pentair Quad D.E. Filter:

Quad DE Filter Cleaning: http://youtu.be/2aoP-eTpiMs
How to Install a Pentair QUAD D.E. Filter: https://youtu.be/3WardgaUOAQ
Pentair QUAD D.E.® Cartridge Style Filter Overview: https://youtu.be/5IpTl-TaMeY
Pentair QUAD D.E.® Cartridge Style Filter Assembly: https://youtu.be/KOeB1fQ2_74






Monday, September 18, 2017

All About Pressure Side and Return Side Pool Cleaners

In this Podcast I go over Pressure Side and Return Side Pool Cleaners. I go into detail on how they operate and I also give you my Top Choices if you are in the market for a pressure or return Side cleaner. These are sometimes the best pool cleaners for your pool needs.






I also cover return side cleaners and there is a difference between these and a pressure side cleaner. The main difference is the a pressure side cleaner requires a dedicated ¾ hp booster pump and a dedicated return line. The return side cleaners work off of one of your existing return jets. For a return side cleaner to work effectively you will need a full size filter, at least a ¾ hp pump and 1 1/2” threaded return lines. If your pool meets these requirements then a return side cleaner might be right for you.

I suggest installing these cleaners in pools that get a large amount of debris on the pool floor from surrounding trees. They are designed with very large openings on the bottom and have a large debris bag on top to trap large pool debris. Both the pressure side and return side cleaners are capable of picking up very large debris. They work better then Suction Side Cleaners that tend to get clogged up when they run over a pile of leaves on the pool bottom.

These cleaners work off of the return pressure that is funneled thru small tubes on the cleaner bottoms and create a jet action that propels the cleaner and shoots debris up into the bag on top thru Venturi on the bottom opening of the cleaner. These are basically strong jets of water in the throat of the cleaner. It is a very effective design and will leave a pool that gets a lot of debris spotless every week.

My top choice for a pressure side cleaner would be the Polaris 280. It is a design that dates back over 30 years and is a simple drive shaft gear that propels the cleaner. It is my go to pressure side cleaner and my default cleaner for almost every pool on my route. You can also look at the Pentair Legend, it is very similar to the Polaris 280 and equally effective.

For a return side cleaner I would go with the Polaris 360 or their new dark color scheme TR36. These are the same cleaners just in different color schemes. The Polaris 360 has a blue body and white hoses, while the TR36 has a dark blue body and black hoses. Both will work without a booster pump and connect directly to your pools existing return lines.

If you want to compare pressure side cleaners, one that is very comparable to Polaris 280 is the Polaris 380. It is similar in every way except that it is more compact in size and uses a belt drive instead of a drive shaft. If you are looking for a BMW or Mercedes of these types of cleaners you can also look at the Polaris 3900 Sport. This one uses a chain drive and of all the cleaners moves the quickest on the pool bottom. It is an excellent cleaner but with a large price tag. The Pentair Racer is also a grerat cleaner but also has a hefty price tag, although Pentair has recently dropped the price of the Racer.

Bottom line, a pressure side cleaner will clean your pool more effectively then a suction side cleaner if your pool gets a lot of debris on the bottom. Look into one of these when you are having your pool constructed or remodeled.






Thursday, September 14, 2017

Contixo F17 Plus RC Drone w/ 4K Camera: Perfect for Aerial Footage for Pool Builders & R.E. Agents








A Drone is a handy marketing tool that many people overlook for their business. If you build pools, are a contractor or a real estate agent a drone with a high powered video camera can offer great aerial footage to your potential clients. In this video I showcase the Contixo F17 Plus drone.



The Contixo F17 Plus drone is a very stable and easy to control and at the same time it is super powerful. On starting out I suggest adjusting the speed control down so that the drone is easy to control. This drone is really fast and maneuverable and does take getting used to. Also the blades will get chipped and nicked after multiple crashes while learning so the 4 spare blades come in handy. I also ordered another extra set as I am teaching my son how to fly the drone and crashes are inevitable.
I mentioned this drone would be great for aerial footage and as you can see from the video once you position it in a spot you can hold the throttle and get it to hover for some great video footage. There is no dedicated hover button but after a little practice you can get it to stay in one spot with little issue. The controls are very sensitive so you can also fine tune the trim in the throttle as well as the directional joystick.

Droning is a really fun hobby and sometimes the flights with the F17 are just thrilling. It goes so high so fast that you need to be careful, I can see how you can lose this drone if you are not careful. The four motors produce great power and lift and it has a maximum flying altitude of 500 ft (although the FAA restricts drone altitude to 400 ft).

The F17 Plus comes with one battery, it is a 2100 mAh battery and I got about 15 minutes of serious flight time out of it. The controller will beep when the battery gets low and will prevent you from taking off. I just purchased two 3000 mAh batteries to give it a much longer flight time. The battery does take some time to charge, about 3-4 hours depending if it is completely depleted. So extra batteries are a must.

The included 4K camera that comes with the F17 plus is exceptionally good. It comes with the camera mount and charger but no waterproof case or other mounts so it is strictly for use on the drone. It is a bit thinner than my other 4K sport type Gopro clone cameras and fits very nicely in the included mount. The only odd thing is that it mounts upside down and you can't reverse the mount without blocking the record button. No a big deal really. I just drop them into my editing software and flip over the image. You could mount it right side up, but you will have to hit the record button first. The resolution from the camera is just awesome as you can see from the clips in the video.

If you have been thinking about getting a drone for business or just to fly for fun, the Contixo F17 Plus would be a solid choice. It comes loaded with features including a great carrying/ storage case, extra blades, a 4K camera and more.

Pros:
Easy to fly (slight learning curve)
Controls are super responsive
Mountable 4K camera included (F17+ version)
Great carrying/storage case
Brushless motors for longer life
500 ft maximum

Cons:
Battery last for about 15 minutes (you will need extra)

To order:









Monday, September 11, 2017

SPPA General Liability Insurance for your Pool Route - Podcast and Patreon Information

In this Podcast I interview Danielle Bahr the President of SPPA. SPPA is a general liability insurance broker that specializes in pool service coverage. They offer various policies geared specifically for pool service businesses. We discuss the need for general liability insurance as well as the policies offered by SPPA








If you become a Patron on my Patreon site at the $10 or $20 level, you can get a group policy rate of $50 per month. This also includes a waiver of the $100 annual renewal fee by SPPA. This is a 2/1 policy and will be sufficient in most cases. 2 Million for the life of the policy and 1 million per occurrence. This policy includes:

Fire Legal Liability
Med Payements for one person
Limited Professional Liability
Pool Pop_Up Coverage
Lost Key & Lock Replacement
Organic Pathogen coverage
Pollution Incident Clean up cost Non-Auto (HAZMAT)
Pollution Incident Clean-Up Cost Auto (HAZMAT)

A Liability Policy is very inexpensive and there is no reason not to have one. I learned this almost the hard way. I had a customer accuse me of leaving her gate open, luckily there was no incident. But it wasn't me who did it. I just shook that off as a one time deal. Then six years ago I had another customer accuse me of leaving the pool fill water on. This one was more complicated and messy and made me see the need to get some type of coverage. Now I have no worries out their in the field and can sleep easy at night.

Liability Insurance is just a way of transferring risk from you to someone with deeper pockets. It is the same reason why you drive around with $500,000 in auto insurance and why you have fire insurance for your home. You couldn't afford to pay a claim in those two instances and you certainly can't afford to pay a $50,000 or a $1 million dollar claim against your pool service business.

That is why I highly recommend a General Liability Insurance policy. I have a great relationship with a local company here which offers the best rates and uses only "A" rated underwriters. To learn more about the policies offered by SPPA you can visit their website:


If you service Commercial accounts you may need a larger policy depending on the requirements - usually a $2 million per occurrence policy.


To join at the group rate and to learn more:

Patreon Benefits at the $10 or $20 levels:

At the $10 level send me direct text messages and get real time on the spot help while you are out on your pool route.

At the $20 level send me text messages and also call me to get one on one consultations over the phone. You also get the following benefits listed below.

Liability Insurance at a group rate of $50 per month. Employees are $39 per month. This is a 2/1 policy. 1 million per occurrence and 2 million total for the life of the policy. By being part of the group you also get the $100 application fee waived. If you need a larger policy you can get the Gold or Platinum Policy (1/3 and 2/4) and receive 10% off your monthly premiums each month. This policy is offered thru SPPA.

Also get a free listing on my website for your pool service business. My website generates leads for many service companies listed there and I will create a FREE link for you to send customers directly to your website.

You are invited to join the #GroupMe text thread. There are over 30 pool guys texting each other each day with questions about pool chemistry, equipment, business practices and more.

I can also help you set up a marketing plan for your business with my consultations thru Patreon.

Recieve a FREE copy of my NEW eBook "Swimming Pool Care The Essential Guide." This eBook contains over 500 video links and 170 pages of helpful articles covering everything you need to know about pool care.








Thursday, September 7, 2017

How to Install/Replace a "Polaris" Booster Pump (Advantage 3/4 HP Pump Shown)

Changing out your “Polaris” or Pressure Side Cleaner Booster pump is usually very easy to do. It all depends on how the pump is plumbed in, either with ¾” pvc pipes or with hoses. Most of the booster pumps on my route or set up with easy to connect hoses, although I do have some that are directly plumbed in.



In this video I show you the Advantage Manufacturing ¾ HP booster pump that is specifically designed for a Pressure Side Cleaner direct pump replacement. It comes standard with 3/4” threads so that you can easily connect it to your existing set up. To order it directly from Advantage click this link:


Here is some more on the Advantage ¾ HP Booster Pump:
3/4 HP motor and full rated pump
Threaded for easy connection
Energy Efficient for any Pool
Easy to Install
Perfect replacement for Polaris, Letro, Hayward and all pressure side pool cleaners
1 Year Limited Warranty


One of the nice features of this particular pump is the stainless steel ring on the top. The discharge is under a lot of pressure and most of the time when the pump cracks it is right at this spot. Other times it will crack along the face of the motor as most of these pumps are now designed with a very thin volute housings. The Advantage pump has a very thick “old style” design that can withstand the constant water pressure without cracking.

This is a very easy pump to install and work with. The two load wires are held on with 9mm nuts and the ground terminal and the back cover plate can be worked on with a 1/4” nut driver. You may need additional tools to remove the old pump, but the video covers this in detail.

I like simply reusing the old hoses and quick connects if they are not leaking. This will save you anywhere from $30 to $60 in the cost of the installation and in my experience the Val-Pak B-5 hose and the Zodiac Quick Connects last a very long time. I have some that are over 15 years old and are not leaking. So it is pretty simple to unscrew the old hoses and just reuse them. If the pump is plumbed in with 3/4” pvc pipe the replacement becomes more complicated. At a later date I will be filming an install with pvc pipe.

If you need the Val-Pak hose or Zodiac hoses you can use these links to order:

B-5 High Pressure Hose:

Zodiac Quick Connect:

If the pump is not cracked but the motor is burned out, you can also just order a replacement motor and leave the pump housing connect. This method is often easier if the pump is plumbed in with pvc. To order just the motor from Advantage:


You can also find replacement parts on my Sponsors website: www.inyopools.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=swimming-pool-tips

The most important part before starting the installation is to make sure the breaker is off to the pump. I generally reuse the wire connectors and if your installing the pump in the same location you should have plenty of slack. You can also reuse the elbow off of the old pump. The video will walk you thru removing the old pump and installing the new one.

Generally you will need to replace your booster pump when it starts to make a very loud noise while running. This happens when the bearings start to burn out. If the pump housing is leaking not from the hoses but from a pin hole leak in the plastic housing itself, you will need to replace the pump. Running it with a cracked housing can be dangerous and at any moment the housing could completely crack causing a major water leak. So replacing the pump is pretty easy and just about anyone with a bit of mechanical skill can do it themselves.








Monday, September 4, 2017

Pool Help & Resources for Homeowners & the Pool Service Professional - Podcast


In this Podcast I go over some of the resources that I have available to help you if you are a Homeowner who maintains your pool on your own or if you are a Pool Service Professional and need help out in the field. Besides my YouTube Channel I have many more ways in which I can help you.



Listen to the Podcast:



I work out in the field full-time and I spend about 35 hours per week servicing pools and filming. The rest of the time I am editing videos, working on my Website, writing Blog articles, recording Podcast, answering comments and questions, responding to Patreon texts and phone calls (more on that later) and doing Social Media posts. I don't have a team of people working for me, it is just me doing all of this. I also do many things in my community and church and volunteer 6-8 hours per week. I do a lot and what drives me is a spirit of service. Helping others is my main goal.

I got started in doing all this after working several years on the Dave Ramsey plan to become debt free. This quest to pay everything off inspired me to pass it on just like Dave Ramsey does everyday on his radio show. I thought, how can I be a blessing to others and help those who also may be on a budget and can't afford pool service. On the same token last year I decided to expand and create a site where I also help pool service professionals who are starting out make money and succeed in the business.

So I created my Patreon Page where I have different levels available where you can call me directly or text me in real time. This is open to the Pool Service Professionals as well as homeowners who want one on one real time help. You can learn all about it directly on my Patreon Page:


You probably have found me here on YouTube if you are listening to this Podcast right now. I have an extensive video library with over 650 videos covering everything related to pool care. I spend a lot of time filming and editing these videos to deliver the best possible content for you in a clear and concise way. You can browse my video library or you can find everything neatly organized in my eBook where I have articles along with the video links. His is the best way to find a video on particular topic quickly.

The eBook is 170 page guide and in it I cover every topic and as mentioned each topic is followed by video links so that you can watch one of my YouTube videos to learn even more. I sell the eBook on my website for $9.99 and I think it is real bargain at that price. For the amount of content included in the eBook I could sell it for a lot more. Visit my website and see a preview of the eBook:


In the Podcast I cover all of this in much more detail and I discuss hoe the different resources can further help you. If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them here or email me on my website.




Follow Me:
Blogger: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Youtube-Mrdgvb1/381257741926763?ref=hl