Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

  I know the importance of a group and that is one reason why I started my online coaching group. One industry group that has set the standard for all those that followed has been IPSSA - Independent Pool and Spa Service Association. Anyone who has been in the pool industry for even a short length of time has heard of IPSSA.  I recently sat down with Kelli Carrillo who is the Sacramento City IPSSA Chapter President and she highlights the benefits of joining IPSSA and also has a Facebook group geared towards the woman in the industry: PGP (Pool Girl Pro) Industry Training Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1288834038118484 Here is more about IPSSA from their website: About IPSSA from their website https://www.ipssa.com/ “OUR MISSION The Independent Pool and Spa Service Association, Inc. exists for the mutual professional benefit and growth of its members and for the continued improvement of the pool and spa industry. HISTORY IPSSA was formed in 1988 as a result of a merger between I

Emaux Water Technologies has been making pool equipment for over 35 years and they sell their products in over 90 countries. The Max Series Filters are not only user friendly, but they are also long-lasting and easy to maintain and set up. No tools are required to access the laterals and to change the sand! Here are some of the great features of the Max Series Filters: “For residential and semi-commercial pools Emaux’s innovative design and advanced technology offer superior filtration performance and crystal clear water. Max Series filters are blown at one-piece with high-density polyethylene for its heavy-duty performance and reliability. Unique one-piece clamp with screw-type lock design to simplify installation and allows tool-free servicing. Equipped with a 6-way multiport valve which is constructed with sturdy ABS and marine-grade stainless steel.” Easy-to-read pressure gauge for easy inspection Tank Material: HDPE Max operating pressure 40 psi / 2.8 bar Max temperature of 50°C (

Using the PoolRX on your pool route will save you time and money. The manufacturer claim of saving 20-30% on chemical cost is not far-fetched and once you try a PoolRx in one of your accounts you will be amazed! With thousands of reviews, online this is a true 5-star rated product. PoolRx is a Mineral Technology that does two very simple things when used in your pool or spa; it eliminates all algae and will allow you to use less chlorine during the pool season. The active ingredient is Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate (chelated). If you are a Pool Service Professional and need the form letters to help sell PoolRx to your customers go to their website and register your business or use the password below. Password: Profits Login:  http://poolrx.com/commercial-section/ Here is a sample of the letters on their site: “Dear Valued Customer, As your service company, we are always striving to provide the best service possible using the most updated methods and products available.  Every once in a

Metals in your pool and staining from metals dropping out of solution can be a big problem for pool owners and pool service techs. CuLator makes a whole slew of products that will help treat and eliminate metals from your pool water and reverse the staining.  I sat down with Joe Laurino who is the CEO and President of Periodic Products which is the parent company of the CuLator Metal Stain Eliminator and Stain Preventer products and we recorded a series of podcasts on meal staining and metal stain removal which are listed here for you. Balancing Your Pool and Tips on When to Drain with Joe Laurino of CuLator Metal Stain Eliminator and Stain Preventer:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7203766   Fill Water Issues with Joe Laurino of CuLator Metal Stain Eliminator and Stain Preventer:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7203736   Tips for Pool Pros on Metal Staining with Joe Laurino of CuLator Metal Stain Eliminator and Stain Preventer: https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/7203721   Tinted

 I love automatic pool cleaners and think that every pool you service should have one. There are many companies that charge more for pools without cleaners or just don’t take them on. I try to sell one to every customer or drop a “rental” unit into any pool without one. They just make your day so much better out on your route. There are several benefits of having an automatic cleaner in every pool. The first is that it will save you a lot of time at each pool. Look at it like having your manual vacuum and hose in the pool all week long and you are vacuuming the pool 8 hours a day. You would not stand there vacuuming for 8 hours each day and that is why they call them automatic cleaners. Depending on the type depends on how it is connected or not connected to your pool. But essentially that is what it will do for your week in and week out. It also will leave your pool swim-ready each week which is great if your clients use the pool throughout the season. Again, get the image of you vacu

 The Emaux E-Power pump is packed with tones of great features. The first thing you need to know is that it is an international product sold in over 90 countries around the world, excluding the United States. So if you are stateside sorry, this amazing pump is not yet available to you. But for those around the world where Emaux products are sold, this is a solid buy. About Emaux: Emaux is a recognized global manufacturer that meets and surpasses the expectations of customers with best-in-class products and services. With quality at the heart of everything we do, we offer specialized products to swimming pools, spas, aquatic centers, water parks, aquaculture, public aquariums, water features, and water treatment projects. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Emaux enjoys a truly global network with offices in Europe and China. For over 35 years, we have been actively engaged in key water projects worldwide and worked closely with industrial consultants, developers, and engineers alike. E-Power p

 The Polaris pressure cleaner is designed to run smoothly and last for decades but sometimes you may find it on the bottom of the pool not running. There are several moving parts to the cleaner and sometimes it is a mechanical problem. Often it is something very simple and one thing often overlooked is a clogged venturi. How the cleaner operates can sometimes be an important clue to finding out the problem of why the cleaner is not moving. The Polaris cleaner it operates on a separate return line with a dedicated booster pump. There is basically only one failsafe that will prevent debris from clogging the cleaner and that is a thimble-like screen in the cleaners feed hose line. Once debris gets past this point it has the potential of clogging up the cleaner.   So water is feed into the cleaner from the dedicated cleaner booster pump to the cleaner and it travels through a series of smaller tubs on the bottom of the cleaner and then out the top of the cleaner through the three venturi j

 I recently sat down with Bob Lowry who is probably is the smartest person in the industry when it comes to pool chemistry. We spend some time talking about borates and their benefits and also the safety concerns around borates.  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 pH much more stable and in turn, make the chlorine much more effective. pH is stable:  The pH won't change much in a pool with Borate in it. So, if you have a Salt Water Pool this is a must since the pH tends to r

 I go over replacing parts in your Zodiac MX6 if it is not moving in the pool or not turning. The thing I really like about the MX6 vs the MX8 is how easy it is to work on. Not that the MX8 is difficult, but there are fewer parts in the MX6 and it just is compact and easier to work on. You will also be able to isolate the problem easier on the M6 and get it up and running like new again in a matter of minutes. Watch the video to see full repair: One of the drawbacks of the MX6 is all of the moving parts wear out over time. Fortunately, the parts are inexpensive and easy to install. I would say after 1 ½  to 2 years you will need to start to replace some parts, and this depends on the pool run time also. But figure at the 2-year mark replacing all of these parts featured in this video series would be a good idea. This first video covers what to do if the MX6 stops going thru its turn cycle. Very common in the MX8 but less common in the MX6 since there is only one Directional Device in i

Why is balancing your pool so important? The main reason I think and one overlooked at times is that the water can look great and inviting but it could actually be a breeding ground for pathogens that can make a swimmer very ill. Bob Lowry is the foremost expert on swimming pool chemistry and he answers these questions and more in the podcast series I recorded with him. Bob Lowry teaches Target Chemistry and here are his recommended target numbers. Not a range but a specific number to shoot for. Sanitizer 3.0 ppm After the alkalinity & pH are brought into range, the next adjustment is the sanitizer. Liquid Chlorine or Bleach is the most common and least expensive of the available sanitizers. The acceptable range is 1.5 - 3 ppm, though 4 - 5 ppm is absolutely fine. A commercial spa should be maintained at much higher levels - 5 - 6 ppm. Bob Lowry has the Target at 3.0 ppm so you should always aim for that for your residential pool. A residential pool should be maintained at 3.0 ppm.