Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

This is the Installation Process of the Zodiac MX6 Elite and it is also the same for the MX8 Elite. It also works for the MX8 and MX6 cleaners. The installation process is pretty easy and I go over my preferred method of installing the MX6 Elite on a pool with a Variable Speed Pump (VS Pump). All the parts for a skimmer installation are in the box. However, if you are using the side port/ vacuum port there are two additional parts you will need. One is a vac lock for the threaded port. This is a safety device to prevent entrapment if the cleaner hose comes loose and the pool is in use. I highly suggest installing it with one. Here is a link for a good one: http://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Safety-Suction-Cleaners-W400BWHP/dp/B00TLJB1VI?ie=UTF8&creativeASIN=B00TLJB1VI&linkCode=w00&linkId=B7KICXCNHTLEUCK3&ref_=as_sl_pc_tf_til&tag=swimmingpooll-20 I wish manufacturers would include this with the cleaner as many consumers use a side port when instal...

If you are still using an old 300 watt or 400 watt pool light, it is high time to upgrade your pool light to the newer LED lights. This will require installing a completely new light fixture and cord, but the cost will be offset by the energy savings. You will save over 90% of your energy cost going forward. The Jacuzzi® JPX-LED would be a perfect light fixture to upgrade to. There are two models: JCZ-F2C-120-100 - JPX LED Pool Fixture Light 120 Volt with 100 ft Cord & Jacuzzi® ( LPM Part #: 54281 ) and the JCZ-F2C-120-50 - JPX LED Pool Fixture Light 120 Volt with 50 ft Cord ( LPM Part #: 54280 ) would be a great choice. Depending on the above model both light fixtures are the same except for the cord length. One is 100 ft and the other is 50 ft. You would choose the light fixture cord length based on how far the junction box sits from the pool light. Both lights are backed by a 3-year warranty and feature color-changing abilities.  Here is more about t...

If you own a Suction Side or Pressure Side Automatic Pool Cleaner, you be wondering if it is worth the expense to rebuild the cleaner or if you would be better off getting a new one once your cleaner wears down. Robotic Cleaners are a little different and I will touch on those later. But for the first two cleaner types you may be surprised how long you can keep them working in your pool. Up until about 5 years ago, I had 2 pools that were running with a Polaris 180 Pressure Side Cleaner in them. Not a Polaris 280. The Polaris 180 was introduced over 40 plus years ago! The only reason they were replaced was that unlike the 280 where the Stem Pipe is a replaceable part, the Stem Pipe on the 180 was built into the cleaner body. So once the Stem Pipe broke on both cleaners it was not worth the cost to install a new body. I hope this gives you some idea of how long your cleaner can last in your pool just by rebuilding it when the parts wear out. Manufacturers are also making...

There are several wear parts in the Zodiac MX8 Elite and although it may look challenging, changing out all of the wear parts is actually quite easy. Within a few minutes, you can have your Zodiac MX8 Elite moving again in your pool. Here is a look at the common wear parts for you. Zodiac MX8/MX6 Track # R0526100: This is the first thing I look at when I notice the cleaner is not moving or turning well in a pool. The teeth on these tracks wear down over time and it is the teeth that grab the Directional Device and move the cleaner. If the teeth are worn down the MX8 Elite will basically not be able to move. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018GZEA7E/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=113390cc2c502571988590c02f9a248b&creativeASIN=B018GZEA7E Zodiac MX8/MX6 Direction Control Device - Side A R0524700: If the MX-8 Elite is facing you from the front where the silver logo is, Directional Device A would be on your right side. This i...

If you are in the market for a pool cleaner and are looking at the Zodiac MX8 Elite and MX6 Elite you may be wondering which one would be better for your particular pool. Note that the MX8 Elite and the M6 Elite are retail pool store cleaners only and cannot be purchased online. The online version of these two cleaners is the MX8 and MX6 which do not have the scrubbing brushes on the bottom. Here is more about both cleaners from Zodiac: “The Zodiac MX8 Elite is the first suction pool cleaner with Cyclonic Scrubbing Brushes that continually spin, scrub, and stay in constant contact with the pool surface to agitate and remove stuck-on debris. The MX8 Elite features aggressive wall climbing to scrub at the tile line and maX-Drive Navigation for better pool coverage with nimble programmed maneuverability. Regardless of the surface, the MX8 Elite actively tackles debris and directs it to the inlet using dual-cyclonic technology. With a wide cleaning path and a convertible vacu...

The traditional thinking is that the lower the pH in your pool or spa the more effective the chlorine will be in the pool – the kill factor or killing form of chlorine (HOCI). This is perfectly true and scientifically proven. A pH of 8.5 means that there is only 10% of HOCI working in the water. A pH of 7.0 means that there is almost 80% of HOCI working in the water. This simply means that the chlorine will “kill” any viruses, bacteria, and disease-causing pathogens faster at a lower pH. But what if there was another factor in the pool water that could short circuit this relationship? Recent research leads us to believe that there is. One of my hobbies is flying drones (Quadcopters). If you haven’t flown any drones before I suggest you try it as it is tons of fun and challenging. In the drone industry range is everything. I have one drone that has a 1.2-mile range if the signal is not obstructed. But in my area, there are a lot of things that will interfere with the signal ...

When your Hayward Navigator or PoolVac stops working, the usual suspect is the A-Frame and Turbine and in the newer V-Flex Models the bearings in the V-Flex Turbine. There are actually many variations of the Hayward cleaner with the same internal parts; Navigator V-Flex, Navigator Pro, PoolVac V-Flex, Pool Vac XL, Pool Vac Classic, Hayward Blu, Penguin AquaBug, Wanda the Whale along with the older Navigator and PoolVac Models. The telltale sign that the part is not working correctly is that you will see the cleaner just sitting on the bottom not moving. If you lift it off the pool surface you may see the pods moving back and forth,   but when you put it back down, it just sits there like a rock. Typically that is the A-Frame/Turbine or the V-flex turbine depending on your vacuum model. The parts are relatively inexpensive and the part swap is relatively easy to do. Here is the typical kit I recommend for any of these above vacuums except the V-Flex Models. This ...

The Polaris P39 is the sister cleaner to the Polaris 3900 Sport. It is a solid premium pressure side cleaner for your pool and is designed to last for years without parts or servicing. The P39 is sold exclusively at Leslie’s Pool Supplies and is backed by a 2-year warranty. Here is more about the P39 from Polaris: Combining legendary performance, incomparable convenience, and unmatched power to ensure cleaner, clearer pool water, the Polaris P39 Pressure Side Pool Cleaner is the perfect addition to your swimming pool. Suitable for use with in-ground swimming pools of all surface types this cleaner sweeps and scrubs the pool's floor and walls with ease. The Polaris P39 is powered by a booster pump (not included) that allows the cleaner to easily pick up leaves, pebbles, and acorns. The Polaris P39 Pressure Side Pool Cleaner is designed to bring your pool the most power of any cleaner by supplementing the pool's filtration system by circulating an additional 40 g...

Acid Magic is Hydrochloric Acid with the same strength as 31.45% Muriatic Acid but it has some great benefits over Muriatic Acid. Acid Magic has 90% fewer fumes than Muriatic Acid and it has a buffering agent that will protect your skin from getting burned. It also won’t etch the surface like Muriatic Acid and it is a safe alternative or as they say, a user-friendly form of Muriatic Acid. Here is more about the product from the manufacturer Certol: ACID Magic is a full-strength muriatic-based product formulated to ship, use, and store easier than standard muriatic acid. This revolutionary blend of proprietary ingredients offer the cleaning and pH reduction of powerful acids while providing increased usability. POOL AND SPA: • Tested safe in all heated/unheated pools. • ACID Magic is certified by NSF to NSF/ANSI Standard 50. • Adjusts pool and spa water chemistry. • Extremely effective acid wash. • Cleans filters, chlorine generators, and meter electrodes. ...

The Polaris P40 is the sister cleaner to the Polaris Quattro Sport and it is the first real update of the Polaris Pressure Side Cleaner in over 40 years. Over the years Polaris has tweaked the design of the Polaris by changing the drive from a drive shaft to a belt and then to a chain, but the basic 3-wheel design stayed the same. The Polaris P40 is a huge leap forward in Pressure Side Cleaners. The P40 is sold exclusively at Leslie’s Pool Supplies and is backed by Leslie’s 2 year warranty program. They offer rebates at the beginning of each season and typically it is $200 off the retail price, making the price of the P40 very reasonable. You are getting a lot of cleaner when you invest in the P40. ​There is a lot to like about the new P40 including the sleek design of the cleaner. With the internal debris canister, the cleaner looks very clean as it works its way around the pool. No more unsightly debris bag full of dirt and leaves on top. The four-wheel compact de...

A rough to the feel pool surface is a real issue that many pool owners face. The plaster may feel like very rough sandpaper and may even cut your hands and feet when you go swimming. But there are technically two different situations that can cause this, scale and etching. Each of these conditions will leave the plaster feeling rough to the touch, but each is a very different condition. Scale is formed when the water becomes scale forming and calcium will build up on the surface. Using the LSI (Langelier Saturation Index) is one way to tell if your pool water is scale forming or corrosive (etching). If the water is scale forming a product that removes the scale would be something that can be used to reverse the rough plaster surface. SC-1000 Scale and Metal Control “SC-1000 is one of the original Orenda Products, and was originally used in industrial cooling towers and water treatment facilities. SC-1000 contains no phosphates, unlike most metal control products a...