Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

Concrete vs asphalt. That is the question we asked ourselves when we were in the process of deciding what to do with the hardscape of the property we recently purchased. The asphalt was 42 years old and not properly installed or maintained. After much research here are the pros and cons of both asphalt and concrete. Asphalt is currently less expensive per sq ft. I received a quote for all new asphalt for $17,000 for this project.  The concrete was $27,000 for the final project. Asphalt is much less expensive than concrete or so it would appear. If you are just looking at a pure budget standpoint, asphalt is the clear winner. But asphalt does require sealing which in the case of this 3,100 sq ft driveway would be about $930 every time I would need it done or every 3-4 years. After 30 years without inflation that would be $9,300 or just about the cost of the concrete driveway, we had installed.  Asphalt also cures quickly. After one day it is ready to drive on. Concrete takes tw...

 Like anything, an acid wash has a learning curve and I suggest you team up with another pool pro as a helper before setting out on your own to do an acid wash. You also need to be aware of your city's codes on draining a pool and also be aware of a few big cautions which I will unpack below such as don’t drain a pool directly into the street, don’t drain a pool if the air temperature is 90 degrees or hotter and leave it empty for more than a day and don’t drain the water directly into the dirt or grass directly next to the pool.  If the plaster has cracks and chips in it already, and Acid Wash will make things worse. There will be more chipping and bigger chunks of plaster will start to come off once the pool is refilled. A Pebble Tec pool with pebbles coming off or cracks is a sign that an Acid Wash should not be done. This will make the Pebble Tec surface worse and not better. You also want to be careful not to drain a pool down if the outside air temperature is above 90 de...

There are 6 main types of chlorine products on the market today but two of them are not commonly in use anymore (Gas Chlorine, and Lithium Hypochlorite). The remaining types to choose from are Liquid Chlorine, Cal-Hypo, Tri-Chlor, Dichlor. Each type is very different from the other and knowing more about each is essential in pool care. 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 it has the least side effects of any of the chlorine you can choose from. It is usually sold in 12.5% active chlorine per gallon with Bleach coming in at about half that strength at 6.5%. It will raise the pH slightly, but it does not contain any Stabilizer or Conditioner making it ideal for all pool types. This means that when you add a gallon of liquid chlorine and your Conditioner level (CYA) is 50 ppm it will stay at 50 ppm even if you add 20 gallons of liquid chlorine. Pros: Fastest acting ...

With the crazy high inflation of chlorine in the industry today, anything that you can do to offset this for your pool service business is essential. By adding borates to your service accounts you achieve two things, you lower the amount of chlorine that you will use each week and also save time by not having to treat a pool for algae.  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 lasts 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. Eliminates algae growth:  ...

PoolRx+ is a simple way to keep your pool algae-free all season long. It is also effective in cleaning a green pool and a side benefit of the product is that you will use less chlorine in the pool all season long. It is a great way to save on the cost of chlorine which has become very expensive, making the PoolRx+ significantly lower if you factor in the savings benefits.   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 and silver (chelated).   What Chelated means is that the metals in the PoolRx have been bonded to form two coordinated bonds similar to what Metal Sequestering Agents do. This means that the Metal ions will remain in the PoolRx unit with no metal ions being introduced into the pool or spa water. This prevents any metal staining on the pool surface   Make sure that ...

One of the biggest issues you will run into with anything connected to an AC power is if that device or equipment is receiving power. In the pool service industry, this often is the case when you find that a pool pump won’t turn on. Or if a pool timer doesn't on, is it receiving power? Also for repairs with so many breakers being unmarked, how do you know you turned off the right breaker. Bottom line, a non-contact detector like the Mr. Pen is an easy way to see if power is going to the equipment/device and the line is active. A non-contact voltage detector is just that. You don’t need to make contact with the line like with a Multimeter. Plus you don’t need to adjust any settings or knobs to get a voltage reading. Simply hold the Mr. Pen over a cord or wire whip and if there is AC power a red light will turn on and an audible beep will come out of the device. A very easy way to tell if power or a current is present.  To order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LFYTG5?&_encoding=UT...

 Pool Trade shows are a great way to meet the faces behind the companies from whom we purchase thousands of dollars worth of equipment, chemicals, and supplies. I believe the Western Pool & Spa Show is one of the premier events in the swimming pool industry. This video is a little different as you will hear me narrating the expo hall floor map and I will touch on the different companies who have booths at this year's show. Here is the website for the show and the expo hall floor plan for you. https://www.westernshow.com/ https://www.expocadweb.com/22wpss/ec/forms/attendee/index5.aspx#fpPanel Of course, at every show are the big three. Pentair, Fluidra, and Hayward. Then you have a bunch of smaller players and individual companies as well as companies geared towards the construction end. Let me touch on a few notable companies at the show. H2O Flow Controls makes probably one of the best and easiest flow meters to install in the FlowVis. Why do I bring up a company that makes a ...

The Polaris ATLAS XT is the most complete suction side cleaner on the market today. It can pick up dirt as well as large leaf debris without getting jammed. It has scrubbing brushes on the bottom to help lift dirt and debris from the surface. It also will clean the pool walls up to the waterline (depending on pool suction and surface type). All the parts are modular which means when a part wears out you will just need to change that one part and not multiple parts.  Here is a description from Fluidra and I will highlight each point for you. New improved engine design to capture long stringy debris to sand The new Halo technology of the engine will prevent long string-like debris from clogging it. This will also allow debris to easily pass through the throat of the cleaner. So if you are looking for a cleaner that will work great in a pool with a lot of leaf debris and dirt this is the cleaner for you. New design tracks with inner groove and track-guard ensuring strong traction when...

 The Neptune variable speed motor and control provide flexibility and ease when it comes to upgrading to a variable speed pump. After all, the real heart of the pool pump is the motor on the back. Why spend $1,600 on an entirely new pump when just replacing the motor on the back with a Neptune VS motor will fix the problem. And no replumbing is needed. Simply remove the old motor and install the Neptune VS motor on the back of your existing pump. The Neptune variable speed pool pump motor is a premium efficient product that includes a fully integrated motor, control, and user interface (UI). This U.S. MOTORS product gives you programming flexibility and speed range capability. It is also designed to communicate and operate with a variety of external automated system controllers in addition to the onboard control panel. The Neptune variable speed motor is easy to install. By replacing an old single-speed pump motor with a Neptune, your customers can keep their properly functioning p...

There is more to running a pool service business than just showing up each week. That is the easy part. Having a good grasp on why things happen with the pool chemistry is another matter entirely. Dealing with customers and learning how to treat them right takes tremendous effort and few will make that effort.  Treating your customers how you want to be treated extends further than just the pool service company. Those that supply chemicals and equipment to the industry should also be building relationships. And it all boils down to relationships. How you want to be treated and how you treat others. Being successful means that customers will refer you to friends and family. One way to gauge your success is by looking at a pie chart of how you land new customers. If over 50% of that is referrals you are winning.  Harold Evans of Orenda has been on each end of the spectrum and although he is now running a major manufacturer of pool chemicals, Orenda Technologies, he also has a th...