Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

  PSS or Pool Service Software is the newest pool routing and invoicing software to hit the market. It is designed by two pool guys and a programmer to fit the specific needs of pool service businesses. This is one software/app that is designed with the pool service pro in mind.   It does a ton of things for you to help you stay organized and to help with streamlining your invoicing. The best part is that you can basically try it for free for an unlimited time with 10 accounts or fewer. Here are some of the great features below. To learn more visit their website and sign up at  https://www.poolservice.software/ Get 25% off the 1st 3-months with code: SPL25 SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE ROUTES MANAGEMENT:   Quickly manage and track your routes from a web browser or the mobile app.  CONFIGURABLE VISIT TASKS:  Configure which readings, checklists, and dosages are shown and required for your techs to complete PHOTOS/VIDEOS:  Techs can take photos and/or vid...

  Photometer testers are a great way to get a spot on readings of your pool’s test factors and the  Pool eXact® EZ Master Kit ( Part No. 486201-KM ) is a great starter kit. It does everything you need for your pool and more and is very easy and simple to use. Here is more about it from their website: The NSF/ANSI 50 L1 Certified Pool eXact® EZ photometer delivers 10 pool water parameters with lab-quality results! Most tests with the Pool eXact® EZ photometer use our patented eXact® Strips, a quick and easy reagent system for analysis. Simply dip an eXact® Strip Micro into the water sample for 20 seconds using a simple back and forth motion, discard the strip, and read the results instantaneously! Detects:   Total Alkalinity 10 - 200ppmCopper 0.00 - 9.0ppmCalcium Hardness 20 - 700ppmCyanuric Acid 1 - 110ppmChloride (as salt) 80 - 6700ppmpH 6.4 - 8.4Free Chlorine 0.00 - 12ppmPhosphate 0.2 - 3.0ppmTotal Chlorine 0.00 - 12.0ppmCombined Chlorine 0.00 - 12.0ppm Detail...

I have been using the SweepEase now for several years and it is my go-to brush for sure. The manufacturer plays up the one-handed brushing of the pool which is a nice feature. I think the best feature is the amount of force that is created with the unique design of this brush. The brush is well made and finished well. I like the overall shape as it makes brushing in the corners easy. Both brushes use Polypropylene which is superior to Nylon in many ways. Polypropylene is chemical and UV resistant has more flexibility and is more durable than nylon. They make two models, one for plaster and Pebble Tec pool surfaces with wire bristles inserted among the Poly bristles: SweepEase 654367706282-SS/Combo-18 Stingray SS/PolyPool Brush, 18" x 2.5" x 6.6", Bright Green/Royal Blue For a Fiberglass and Vinyl pool they make a complete Poly Bristle brush: SweepEase 654367706299-100% POLY-18 Brush Small Green   An excellent choice for a pool brush for both the homeowner and...

  Waterway has for years been a very underrated manufacturer probably because the Big 3 has such a huge market share when it comes to pool equipment. With that in mind, this smaller California-based company has been quietly making premium quality pumps and filters for years now. Under the radar maybe but not poor quality or lacking in quality to the other larger manufacturers. The Waterway Champion Single-Speed pump is a great example of this. About this pump: “The innovative and compact design of the Waterway CHAMPE-110 Champion 56 Frame Single Speed Pool Pump, 1 HP makes it ideal for new installations and as a replacement pump. Quiet operation. Self Priming. Easy to Service. 60 Hz rating. Large trap basket with cam-lock lid. Single Speed High Performance, Full Rated, Dual Voltage Pool Pump. Compatible with all cleaning systems, various filters, and jet action spas.   Model Number: CHAMPE-110 Details This high performance, full rated pool pump is compatibl...

Rudy Stankowitz besides being a CPO instructor and a Pool Industry Insider is known as a myth buster in the industry. If you listen to the other podcasts in this series he will speak on if you can lower the pH in your pool without lowering the alkalinity, “Chlorine Lock” and is a Salt Water Pool a Chlorine Pool? In this article, I will focus on the talk we had about lowering the pool’s CYA level with Alum/Floc (Aluminum Sulphate). To listen to the other parts in this Series: Part 1 Lowering Your Pool’s CYA Level with Aluminum Sulphate Interview with Rudy Stankowitz: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/5751997 Part 2 Truth or Myth: "Can you Lower your pH without Lowering Total Alkalinity" with Rudy Stankowitz: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/5752189 Part 3 Using Borates in your Pool & Acceptable Chemical Levels with Rudy Stankowitz: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/5752291 Part 4 Truth or Myth: "Chlorine Lock" with Rudy Stankowitz: https://ww...

  In this series, I discuss various aspects of Swimming Pool Start-Ups with a panel of experts. Part one consists of learning about the different Start-Up Methods and some problems that can arise. To get a full picture of pool start-ups I recommend listening to all four podcasts. But from part one, you can get a general idea of what it means to start-up a new swimming pool. David Penton is a local pool builder in Southern California and the owner and operator of Fluid Dynamics. He is also the host of the Ask The Masters Podcast  https://www.askthemasters.org/podcast-1 David Rockwell is a pool Start-Up expert and the owner of Liquid Paradise. He is also the Co-Host of the Pool Pro Podcast  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pool-pro-podcast/id1502306522 Chip Blough of Cal Plastering Co, Inc. a member of the National Plasterers Council: https://www.npconline.org/ Other Parts in the series Part 1 Pool Start-Up Panel Part 1 of 4: Start-Up Methods with David Pento...

  One of the things about owning a Vacuum System is that the replacement bag cost can add up over the course of the year. If you purchase only OEM bags you are looking at anywhere from $35-$40 per bag. But what if you could purchase enough bags for one year or for your whole crew at a discount of over 50% off the OEM price? With the Clear Pool Bag available at Bulkpoolbags.com you can. You are not sacrificing quality or microns over price when you switch to the Clear Pool Bag. These bags are handmade in Mexico and if you have been in the industry since early 2000 you know that Mexico was once the hub of great pool products. The quality of these bags is excellent and they are available in micron sizes of 90, 200, and 400. They also have a mesh Green Pool Bag available for those big clean-up projects.   Here are the pricing and if you purchase 10 or more you can mix and match the bags.   5 bags for $100 10 bags for $175 20 bags for $300   Buy in bulk to s...

I have been using the Mako Vacuum System Bags for a few years now and these are very good quality aftermarket vacuum systems bags at affordable pricing. There has been a recent shift in the bag micron rating and the owner Reggie is now going with two higher micron bags the MX-120 and the MX-140. There are a number of reasons for this shift and mainly it is to make the bags more durable and longer-lasting. So you will sacrifice some fine dust clean up when you use these bags but overall you will gain a longer-lasting bag. If you are currently using a 100-micron bag you will not notice much difference going to the 120-micron bag (MX-120). If you are using a 200-micron bag, I would suggest trying the MX-140 which is 140 microns and will give you the same durability plus a better micron rating. Coming from a 75-micron bag you will, of course, notice a drop off in the ability of the bag to pick up dirt but for the price of these bags, it is worth a try. For some, the sweet spot is a higher ...

The Polaris PB4SQ Booster Pump has a lot of great features and if you have a Pressure Side cleaner of any type this would be a great upgrade for your pool. Off of the top, some of the great features of this booster pump is that it is a TEFC motor which means it is completely weather sealed. Since it has a completely sealed fan it also runs much quieter than your traditional booster pumps. Here is more on the PB4SQ from Polaris: The PB4SQ is an energy-efficient, multistage booster pump that operates quietly and is easy to install and service. It has been designed to provide optimum power to Polaris pressure cleaners. Available for sale only at your local pool store. This product cannot be purchased online. Features Energy-Efficient - High-performance multistage pump reduces energy use. Quieter Operation - Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) motor and innovative fan are designed for quieter operation. Easy Installation - Includes Quick Connect fittings and easy access to wir...

I have been through about 5 major fires now with one in 2012 that burned right up to my service accounts in Glendora California. The others are what I would call perimeter fires that burned in the 10-mile radius of my service accounts and which dropped ash everywhere. A fire clean up can be challenging and time-consuming as well as frustrating, but it can be done with the right equipment. Once you are able to get back into the backyard to assess the pool, don’t be surprised to find a dark black mess where your pool was once located. All of the ash and debris will make your pool look unrecognizable. The first step is to get the system up and running and that means removing all of the leaf debris on the surface so that you can get the pool pump up and running. The next step is getting all of the ash out of the pool and cleaning the pool filter. If you do pool service this may be a three-week process. Here is some of the cleanup equipment that is featured in the video along with the Fir...

  If you are looking for an alternative to 3” Tri-Chlor Tablets the Hasa Pool Liquidator C201 Chlorinator 8 Gallon capacity may be right up your alley. This will replace your need for 3” tablets and work much like an off-line 3” tablet feeder. Here is more on the Liquidator: Economical Method to Make Liquid Pool Chlorine Your Primary Sanitizer No Cyanuric Acid or Calcium Added to the Water Requires no Electricity, Easy Installation THE LIQUIDATOR® is a chlorine feeder that is safer and cleaner than, and just as convenient as, floating tablet feeders. By attaching to and running off of your pool’s pump, The Liquidator® saves you the trouble of having to worry about putting the right amount of chlorine into your pool every single day! 2 Year Warranty Here is more about Liquid Chlorine vs 3” Tri-Chlor Tablets: Liquid Chlorine or Bleach is the tried and true standard chemical of choice for most pool service professionals. It is easy to use and relatively inexpensive and...