Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

The Piranha II nets are becoming my favorite leaf rake for my pool route and after you use one you will see why. They may look like a simple upgrade over their original Piranha Leaf Rake but there is more engineering to it than just a color change to the plastic lip. Before I go over these changes here is a list of the different models available. PA2-500 Complete net (frame included) with a standard black bag. The bag is 17.5” deep/long Frame width is 17” PA2-560 Complete net (frame included) with a deep black bag. The bag is 23.5” deep/long. Frame width is 17” PA2-800 Wide-mouth Complete net (frame included) with a wide-mouth black bag. The bag is 21.5 deep/long. Frame width is 19” PA2-533 Complete net (frame included) with Quick-Flip bag. The bag is 19” deep/long with an extra layer for added protection. This is soft polyester material which allows you to easily flip the bag inside and out without the use of your hands. Frame width is 17” ...

There is never a bad time to upgrade your pool equipment, but I think the best time to do it is before the start of the next swim season. The number one upgrade, in  my opinion, is replacing your standard speed pump with a new VS or Variable Speed pump. Next would be the pool filter and then if you have the resources I would go with a saltwater system. I am going to focus here on the money savings that a Variable Speed Pump (VS) can help you with and you will be amazed I think of the amount of money you can save each year on your pool care budget. The pool pump can be the highest energy hog in your house, passing your Air Conditioner and Refrigerator just by the sheer amount of hours it runs each day. If you have a 1 ½ or 2 HP pump installed and you run it 8 hours per day, not to get into complicated conversions of kWh (Kilowatt Hours) and how you are charged each month by your Electric Company, just imagine it as having on Twenty 100 watt light bulbs every hour it is r...

I have been using the Skimlite poles since the late 80’s when I first got started in the business. The quality of the Skimlite poles is what sold me some 30 years ago on them and although now there are a lot of great poles available you can’t go wrong with a Skimlite pole. There was only one choice for the Skimlite pole until the recent release of their 6000 SnapLite series. Now you will have to decide if you want the cam locking pole or the simple push-button pole. For me, I was very partial to the old 9000 series poles because they are quick and easy to extend out and lock into place, but the convenience of just pushing a button to extend and retract the pole has really sold me on the SnapLite models. “SNAPLITE™ 6000 SERIES The SnapLite™ series is quickly becoming one of Skimlite’s most popular poles. The lock is similar to what has been utilized as the primary locking mechanism in the painting industry for years. With a simple push of a button, you can slide and lock...

As a homeowner looking for any type of pool service whether it be monthly service, a one time clean up or an install or repair, there are certain things to looks for. Of course, in my opinion, the most important thing you need to check for is to see if the service provider is licensed and insured. Insured in the respect that they carry a General Liability policy of at least 2 million dollars or more. Not that anything will likely happen, but something might happen none the less. Without insurance, there is little recourse in my opinion. The best way to find a good pool service company is the old-fashioned way. Ask a friend or family member whom they use for service. The number one way to gain business is still through referrals from current customers. In some cases, over 25% of new clients may come from referrals from current clients. So, you always want to, of course, keep your clients 100% satisfied with your service. This means showing up every week and addressing any is...

The Pool Blaster Hydro 100  Cord-free Pool and Spa cleaner is a surprisingly powerful and I was really impressed by how well this little vacuum worked. This is not a device to be used for larger pools, but it is perfect for your above ground spa, kiddy pool, and water features. I suppose you could use it for a larger pool, but I would suggest in that case to purchase the Hydro 500 instead. For around $100 the Hydro 100 is a great buy. To order the Hydro 100: https://www.amazon.com/Pool-Blaster-14051AL-Hydro-Cleaner/dp/B07R18MDFN/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=4c01562b8f61fce1e4c6e5edb7988993&creativeASIN=B07R18MDFN Here is a description of the Hydro 100 from Water Tech: A cord-free, rechargeable, easy solution for removing debris from any pool or spa. Lightweight and simple to use. The well-balanced design offers a comfortable handheld feel for quick cleanup.  Transform to extended-reach cleanup by attachi...

If you do pool service and clean 60 or 80 filters every 6 months, or if you are a homeowner who cleans their own filter, the process can be both messy and time-consuming. There are ways to speed up the process and I will share some tips here for you. The first thing is staying clean and if you do 4-6 filters in one day that can be challenging. A few years ago I got smart and decided to wear a cooking apron. This allowed me to take apart filters all day and still stay relatively clean. I recently upgraded to a water-resistant vinyl apron which also now keeps me clean as well as dry. I also get aprons with pockets so that I can put the filter knob or bolt in a safe place while I clean the filter. Sometimes you will set the bolt or nut down somewhere and lose it. To prevent wasted time looking for the filter bolt, just stick it in your apron pocket. Also, a must are long pants and long sleeve shirts for those very rough fiberglass lids (to keep your arms from getting fiberglas...

Have you ever wondered if digital pool photometers are accurate? It is hard to compare them to a reagent drop test or test strips and the only real way to test if they are accurate is to put them up against another photometer. I had just the opportunity to test their accuracy when I was able to use five PoolLab 1.0 photometers and my eXact iDip Photometer/Digital Tester. Keep in mind this wasn’t done in a laboratory and I tried to get the exact same amount of sample water in each photometer, but there is a slight margin of error in this type of experiment. Even so, all of the test results from the testing were right in line with each other. This goes to show how accurate photometer testing really is. Here is how a photometer works: “Most photometers detect the light with photoresistors, photodiodes or photomultipliers. To analyze the light, the photometer may measure the light after it has passed through a filter or through a monochromator for determination at defined...

I am always testing new products and of course using old standby equipment on my pool service route. I always like to go over the current equipment I am so that you too can benefit from some great products. I will start with my current vacuum systems. I have a Power Vac in my garage which in itself is an awesome vacuum system. The reason it is not currently on my truck is that I am still putting the Riptide Vacuum System to the test. This is a relatively new system but excellent. It has the same 30 lbs thrust motor found on the Power Vac and Hammer-Head Vacuum System and the shell of the Riptide is the main thing that puts it above the others. The vacuum head is made out of a durable plastic that comes with a 10-year warranty. So, you are getting a well build Vacuum System with the Riptide. The Vacuum System I am using the most is the Bottom Feeder. It weighs just 12 lbs including the battery and has no cords. So it is not only light and compact but easy to use. Just conn...

Primate 2X   BETA (6 x 11ft) Telescoping Pool Pole is the latest edition to the line-up of the Primate Carbon Fiber Pool Poles. This pole is specifically designed for skimming a pool’s surface, brushing a pool, cleaning out small spas, water features, above ground pools and smaller in-ground pools. It is small, compact and weighs a little over 1.5 lbs. Here is more from Primate Pool Tools: Primate 2X BETA (6 x 11 ft) Telescoping Pool Pole Description: The P2X BETA is identical to its brothers the P3X and 2X in strength and durability and features our flagship lever lock mechanism. However, this version (BETA) is a smaller more compact 2-part pole for those who would prefer something smaller and lighter for skimming, brushing, and tile scrubbing. Specs: Measurements: Collapsed length – 72″, fully extended – 144″ Weight: 1 lb. 10 oz Materials: Carbon fiber tubing with fiberglass reinforcement at stress and wear points. This is becoming my favorit...