Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

  The Jacuzzi brand of pool equipment has been around for a while now and the quality of the product has really improved over the years. They also offer one of the best warranties in the industry and include a solid 3-year warranty on their filters. With the price point often discounted and at the time of this post you can find this filter for around $800 online and at Leslie’s Pool Supply. At that price, it is a solid choice for a larger D.E filter for your pool.   The cartridge type D.E. filter has some advantages over the standard grid D.E. filters. First, it will give you a larger filtration area as most standard D.E. grid filters max out at 60 sq ft of filtration area. Also with this type of filter, you get the ease of cleaning it like a cartridge filter. If you have ever had a standard grid type D.E. filter you know what a pain it is to clean it. Here is more about the filter and the features from the manufacturer.   Jacuzzi® J-DEQ80 80 sq. ft. DE In Ground Pool...

  The Industry-standard for lowering the pH in a Pool is to use Muriatic Acid. It is readily available at your local pool store, hardware store and many grocery stores. There are two other alternate and safer ways to lower the pH in your pool and that is by using Dry Acid (Sodium Bisulfate) or Acid Magic (Hydrochloric Acid). I will cover all three methods here for you so you can make an informed decision. Since the use of Muriatic Acid is well known I will only touch on it briefly here. They sell it in different strength, but the Industry Standard is the 31.45% and you can readily find this strength at your local pool store. Since this is a very strong acid, I suggest wearing gloves when handling it and also you need to be aware of the fumes when you pour it. Also, be careful not to get any on the pool deck as it can stain the surface. Acid Magic:  Acid Magic is Hydrochloric Acid with the same strength as 31.45% Muriatic Acid but it has some great benefits over Muriatic Ac...

This is a complete backyard remodel of one of my rental properties that took four days and included a pad of Stamped Concrete, a Cement Curb, Artificial Turf, and River Rocks. It was all brought together by All Season Turf who also did a project at my personal residence. I took over 10 hours of footage and condensed it to a 22-minute long video for you.  To learn more about All Season Turf which services most of Southern California: https://www.myallseasonturf.com/   It was extremely hot that week in Southern California with temperatures ranging from 112 degrees on day one and cooling off to 105 degrees by the end of the week. The workers for All Season Turf did an amazing job in spite of the extreme weather and they do A+ work! While I was working the main camera my son Caleb was flying the drone (Mavic Air 2) to capture things from the air. Here is more about the project. Stamped Concrete: This is a process where just as the name describes, a pattern is stamped into the...

  I am all in when it comes to adding Borates to your Swimming Pool. There are just so many great benefits and the cost to do so for the average size pool is around $50.00. Adding Borates to your pool to achieve a level of 30-50 ppm has many benefits. I have a series of videos on Borates and highly recommend adding Borates to your pool. I have added Borates to my pool and couldn't be happier. The results are well worth it.   Here are the proven benefits of having a Borate level of 30-50 ppm:  Lower Chlorine usage: The Borate helps reduce chlorine usage by eliminating Carbon dioxide and also by keeping the pH stable. Chlorine last longer when the pH is right at 7.6-7.8. When the chlorine is in the ideal range the killing element in chlorine the HOCI is at the most balanced percentage so the chlorine in a pool with a pH of 7.4 is 30% more effective than in a pool with a pH of 8.0. This is a big factor in creating the safest swim environment and the borates will keep the p...

  Dry acid is one pool chemical not talked about much. I think mainly because the use of muriatic acid to lower the pH in a pool is so widely entrenched in the minds of pool pros and homeowners that Dry Acid is often overlooked. It is also a bit more expensive to use over muriatic acid, although as the price for muriatic acid continues to rise dry acid is becoming more and more popular because of the safety and storage benefits. You will see dry acid sold as pH Reducer, pH down or of course labeled as Dry Acid. Just look for the active ingredient sodium bisulfate on the label.     Safer to Use: Sodium Bisulfate (Dry Acid)  Sodium Bisulfate is a dry, granular form of acid. This makes it safer for handling, and it is far less corrosive in a pump room or other space as it is not a strong oxidizer like muriatic acid. It Sodium bisulfate needs to be stored in a dry place, without moisture getting into the container.   Sodium bisulfate must be pre-dissolved before...

  There are many sites that list the Top 10 Swimming Pool Robotic Cleaners but did they just read the online reviews and build their list or did they use and test these cleaners? The answer is usually no. I have personally tested and filmed close to 50 different robotic cleaner models and would consider myself an expert in the field.   There are three categories that I think the different cleaners fall into. You have the Low-Range which are the bargain robots that sell for $350-$500. Then you have the Mid-Range which sells for $500-$800 and then the High-Range which is any robot over $900 and up. The features are what set the price point so depending on what you want in a cleaner is what you will be paying for. For example, if you want your cleaner to clean the pool floors, walls, and waterline and have a programmable weekly timer, expect to pay $900 or more for that category of cleaner.   I think the robotic cleaner is the best choice for your pool care needs because...

Choosing the right battery operated cleaner requires some knowledge of how they work. Water Tech is the leading manufacturer of these cleaners and they also make the Jacuzzi line. There are three typical sizes for the homeowner and based on your need would determine which one you would choose. I go over the three size typical sizes here for you.   For a spa or very small kiddie pool the basic small handheld “D” battery unit like the JVP 100 would be a great choice. This is designed primarily for a very small body of water and is perfect for your fiberglass spa.   Here are some of the features of the JPV100: Use by hand or attach to any standardized size telescoping pole. Up to 2.5 hours of use (multiple cleanings) Includes Vacuum Head, Filter Bag, Power Head, Battery Chamber, Pool Pole Adapter, and Micro Filter Bags. 2-Year Warranty. Powered by five D-Cell Batteries, the Jacuzzi JPV100 Professional Grade Pool and Spa Vacuum vacuums up unwanted debris, including sand, silt, and...

  I first found out about Bio-Dex when I started doing acid washes back in the day. I was looking for a way to reduce the fumes to make the acid wash process more manageable and my local supplier suggested Bio-Dex White n’ Brite. After doing an acid wash with it I was sold. The fumes were reduced by 75% and the acid washes became so much easier to do.   Of course Bio-Dex makes a number of other products for algae treatment, scale treatment and tile cleaning and I have used most of them with very good results. Here is more about Bio-Dex:   “Bio-Dex, is a trusted Industry leading manufacturer of chemicals for pools & spas. Our continuous dedication to developing and improving the chemicals that make swimming pool treatment and maintenance easier and more effective is the reason Bio-Dex products have been the choice of pool service professionals for over five decades.   Our products are for anyone concerned with pool maintenance for both chlorine and salt wate...