Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

I have been using the Riptide Pool Vacuum System for over a year now on my pool route. For pools that get a lot of heavy debris this is a real Game Changer. I also use the Riptide on my regular pools with light debris and I can clean those in record time. By the time I have my manual vacuum connected the Riptide will be more than half way done with the pool. I can't say enough good things about the Riptide Vacuum System. They are always making improvements and with the new Steering Knuckle the Riptide is extremely maneuverable and easy to use. They also have improved the cord and the power switch so the Riptide Pool Vacuum System is one of most well built and reliable on the market today. The bags have also proven to be excellent and extremely durable. And the vacuum head itself is made out of such strong material that after over a year it hardly looks worn at all. The Riptide is designed to pick up debris on the pool floor in an efficient and rapid manner. It picks up ...

The Aqua-Rex WK1P Water Conditioner is a great way to remove and control scale on your pool walls and tiles. I recently picked up a unit and tried it for myself at one of my service accounts. I was pretty skeptical myself but the results after one month were pretty amazing. While it didn't completely remove the scale 100% it faded it to a point where it is really hard to see. It also reduced the Phosphate levels down each week in this pool. Here is more about the Aqua-Rex from the manufacturer: “ Known to the rest of the world as the 'Water-King,' the Aqua-Rex is a non-intrusive physical water conditioner (softener) that inhibits scale formation, removes existing scale deposits and partially softens hot water. Aqua-Rex is very effective at removing existing scale deposits from water heaters, tanks and plumbing. Descaling occurs within a few weeks. The scale breaks away in small plates as it loses adhesion with the surface that it is encrusting. Important: In ...

The Pool Blaster Pulse by Water Tech is a unique Cordless, Rechargeable Pool & Spa Vacuum. It combines the fixed vacuum head of the Catfish Model with the larger debris chamber of the Centennial model to produce a compact and powerful cleaner. It also comes with a wall mountable Charging Base where you can charge and store the cleaner when not in use. The Pulse has many great features which I will go over for you here. The Pulse is a very compact and versatile vacuum. I like that the cleaner has some weight to it and it feels very balanced on the end of my pool pole. You can connect it directly to a standard pool pole with the Pole Connector adapter or use it to spot vacuum your spa with the included Handle adapter. I show using the Pulse with both of these in the video. The compact size makes this ideal for your spa or to spot vacuum your above ground or in-ground pool. The unit comes almost completely assembled. All you need to do is attach the Vacuum Head to the...

One of the things that can happen with a pool and pool equipment is user error. When you purchase a house with a pool or start your pool service business there is no owners manual and many times you learn by trial and error. Below are three of the common mistakes I see that a homeowner will make with their swimming pool and equipment. Listen to the Podcast to here more mistakes and to hear details about all three of these. Failure to add water This is probably the #1 failure I see on a daily basis. Many pools do not have an in-deck Autofill system so it is up to the pool owner to add water to the pool each week. Newer pools have a safety feature in the skimmer to prevent the pump from running dry but older pools do not. If the water is left low for even a short period of time, leaks will happen and the pool motor can burn out. This is one of the easiest things to correct, check and add water to the pool weekly. In the Summer in most regions figure to loose one to two inc...

There are three types of cleaners to choose from for your pool care needs. Prices start as low as $100 and if you want the top of the line cleaner with all the bells and whistles you can spend over $1500. So there is a cleaner for everyone's budget and in this Podcast I go over the choices between a Suction side, Pressure side and Robotic Pool Cleaner. Robotic Cleaners: A good Robotic cleaner with all the bells and whistles will run you over $1,500 in most cases. Quite an investment but you do get a good return for your money. Today's robotic cleaners are much improved over the 1st generation which came out a few years ago. The motors are more reliable and longer lasting, they can now clean the walls and tile line and there are added features like a programmable cleaning cycle, remote control and an anti-tangle cord swivel. Most of the higher end Robotic cleaners come with a 2 or 3 year warranty. They are that well built and reliable and the manufacturer can offe...

The Aquabot Breeze XLS is an underrated Robotic Pool Cleaner that works surprisingly well considering it is an entry level machine. It operates with a simple back and forth pattern with a slight tilt of the front axle allowing it to easily clean your entire pool in one to two hours. It also filters down to 2 microns and is priced at about the same a high end suction side cleaner. Here are some of the key features of the Breeze XLS below. Product/Pool Features: For Above-Ground & Small In-Ground Pools Shape: Rectangle, Lap, Kidney, L-Shape, Round, Oval Surfaces: Vinyl, Gunite/Concrete, Fiberglass, Tile Pool to Wall Transition: Curved Equipped with Hydro-Robotic Technology Aqaubot no tangle swivel prevents cable from tangling 50’ Cable with Swivel Power Washing Jets Fixed Scrubbing Brushes Cleans:Pool Floor, Cove and Wall with *Radius (minimum 6") Never Stuck System 1 & 2 hour timer settings Water Mixing...

If your new to pool ownership by having a pool constructed or purchasing a house with a pool one thing you have already learned is that having a pool can be expensive. I am not talking about just the chemicals you need for each pool season but the electricity use and the replacement and repair of the pool equipment over time. These two cost, higher utility bills and equipment replacement can really strain your household budget. The best way to save money on your utility bills is to replace your standard single speed pump with a Variable Speed Pump or VS pump. This will significantly lower your electricity bill each month by dropping your total usage down. I will go over this in a separate article in more detail but if you can make the switch do it. Your single speed pool pump is probably your home's number one energy consumer next to your Air Conditioner. I wanted to touch more on equipment replacement costs and how long a piece of equipment will last from my exp...

The Aquabot Turbo T4RC Plus is one awesome machine. It is loaded with many great features making this Aqaubot's flagship cleaner. It comes with a very responsive remote control and a transport caddy for easy storage and transport. If your looking for a premium robotic cleaner the Turbo T4RC is worth a look. Here are the key features of the Turbo T4RC: The responsive remote control gives you all the control at your finger tips and cleans hard to reach areas using Dual-Drive Motors and an advanced 6-button wireless remote control. Just drop your Aquabot Turbo T4RC Plus robotic swimming pool cleaner into the pool and press a button — everything from the waterline to the walls to the floor is completely cleaned. This state of the art robotic pool cleaner has rotating brushes loosen waterline build-up and break down large debris while the Patented Power Washing Jets, pressure wash the pool floor to loosen stubborn debris and algae. The Turbo T4RC pool c...