Thursday, June 30, 2022

My Predictions for the 2022 Season

So how did I do in my 2022 season prediction back in November of 2021? The shortage is still here but manufacturers have seemed to be able to produce more chlorine products this season. But there was another area of inflation I didn't see coming and no one could and that is the higher cost of gas




The Trichlor shortage is still ongoing and a lot of retailers have moved to 35 lbs buckets to give you the illusion that prices are down. But a 35 lbs bucket for $199.00 is still more than the $100.00 price 2 years ago for a 50 lbs bucket. What is the status of the Biolab factory that produced the bulk of the Trichlor in the USA  that burned down in 2021? According to Aqua Magazine, it should be back online at the beginning of 2023:

"At that point, we will recalibrate the machines, do test runs, etc., which will most likely happen in September,” says Tom Perugini, district sales manager for Natural Chemistry Pool and Seaklear Pool Products at KIK Consumer Products. “Once we make sure everything is running and testing right, [BioLab] will officially start production — later this year … or realistically, 2023."

I didn’t see Cal Hypo emerging the way it has these seasons with many pool pros and consumers switching over to it as a primary sanitizer. This has created a shortage in my area and as far as Cal Hypo tablets they have not hit the market and as of June 2022, you are hard-pressed to find any at your local pool store or distributor. 

There was a serious equipment shortage in 2021 in part because of the Deep Freeze in Texas. Now there is an equipment shortage due to a lack of raw materials. Salt Water Generators and heaters are in short supply this season. The equipment shortage is still here and only has shifted to different products.

Using one of these enhancers like borates to 50 ppm, a PoolRx, or a phosphate and Enzyme treatment is the key to lowering your chlorine usage and saving money on your chemical costs. I am a big proponent of stretching the chlorine in the pool with these enhancers and they really work with an average chlorine usage reduction of 30-50%.

Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
eBook: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/swimming-pool-care-ebook

Monday, June 27, 2022

Jacuzzi JXN Natural Gas Heaters

The Jacuzzi JXN264 Natural Gas Pool Heater & JNX404 are both Low NOx Natural Gas Heaters. JXN264 is a   264,000 BTU heater and the JNX404 is a 404,000 BTU heater. These both would be a great choice for your pool or spa and they are easy to maintain and install. A cool 21st-century feature is that you can set and control these heaters with your smartphone or device with Wi-Fi App control. 




The small footprint of this heater makes it ideal for any equipment pad and both versions include a single orifice to convert to Propane Gas if needed. They qualify for the states that require Low NOx and are rated at 84% efficiency.

Wi-Fi Raymote App allows you to control the pool heater without automation. You can set the pool and spa temperature and even turn on the heater (as long as the pool pump is running). A nice feature is that you can monitor the heater’s health through the app and it will notify you of any errors or issues, right in the app. 

The ProTek Shield is a cutting-edge module that protects the heat exchanger from corrosion. The heat exchanger is one of the most common failed parts on a heater and one of the most expensive to replace. This is usually due to corrosion and if you have a saltwater pool the corrosion effect is multiplied. With the ProTek Shield corrosion of the heat exchange is all but eliminated. Simply change out the ProTek Shield with a new module if any corrosion forms inside the chamber.

This heater has a very small footprint and only needs a 2x2 foot spot on your equipment pad. The top of the JXN264 Pool Heater can be rotated on all 3 sides giving you more installation options. It has right and left water and gas connections. And it is light weighing just 140 lbs. This all makes for a very easy install at your equipment pad.

“The Jacuzzi JXN264 Low NOx heater and the JXN404 BTU Natural Gas Pool Heater is an all-in-one heater that is built to last! The JXN264 is one of the most versatile pool heaters on the market. This natural gas pool heater can be easily converted to propane gas with the included single orifice.”

Whether you need a pool heater for a new build or to replace an outdated pool heater, the Jacuzzi JXN264 Gas Pool Heater is the premium option.

As far as BTU sizing it all depends on your pool size. The JXN404 is designed for larger pools and will heat a pool faster. If you have an average size pool, one under 14,000 gallons I would say the JXN264 would be sufficient for your needs. It all depends on how fast you want to heat your pool or spa. That is the main difference between the BTU ratings. 

Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
eBook: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/swimming-pool-care-ebook

Thursday, June 23, 2022

The Winning Combination of Pool Chemicals for Easy Pool Care

 Because of the rampant inflation, we are experiencing in the industry new methods of weekly pool care need to be searched out to offset the high cost of chlorine and muriatic acid as well as the shortage of both. But many sports teams have paved the way by discovering that you need not one but two or three Superstars to win a championship in Football, Basketball, and Baseball among other elite sports.




What does a winning team for your pool look like? The old days of loading up a floater of chlorinator with 3” Trichlor tablets are no longer the easiest or cheapest method of pool care. That is kind of like giving one Superstar player a huge salary and then you can’t afford any other free-agent players. You can spread your chemical cost instead over two or three products to make things easier and also help you with your pool budget. Here are some good examples for you.

Trichlor, PoolRx & Borates (50 ppm)
Trichlor, Phosphate Remover, and Enzymes
Trichlor, Enzymes, and Borates

Cal Hypo Tablets, Liquid Chlorine, and Borates
Cal Hypo Tablets, Liquid Chlorine, and PoolRX
Cal Hypo Tablets, Liquid Chlorine, and Nature2

Salt Water Generator (SWG), Borates and PoolRx
SWG, Borates, and Enzymes
SWG, Borates 
SWG, Ozone, UV
SWG, AOP

Liquid Chlorine, Trichlor Tablets, and PoolRX
Liquid Chlorine, Trichlor, and Borates
Liquid Chlorine Feeder & Borates
Liquid Chlorine Feeder & PoolRx
Liquid Chlorine, UV, Ozone

Cal Hypo Shock, Trichlor and PoolRX
Cal Hypo shock, Trichlor, and Nature2
Cal Hypo Shock, Borates, Trichlor shock
Cal Hypo shock, Trichlor, Phosphate Remover & Enzymes

Chlorine Genie, PoolRx
Chlorine Genie, Borates

These combinations are pretty endless but you don’t want two All-Star Point Guards on the same team so I wouldn’t use liquid chlorine and Cal Hypo shock as a combination since each is a great primary sanitizer. The same with Cal Hypo Tablets and Trichlor Tablets since both are slow-release types f chlorine. You also would not need the PoolRX with a Nature2 since both do about the same thing. Hopefully, you get the idea.

The truth is the days of adding 3-4 gallons of liquid chlorine are a thing of the past since the price point has tripled over the past two years. Same with loading a pool up with Trichlor tablets. There are much better methods and any of the above combos can make your pool care easier and also save you time and money on your pool care. 



Monday, June 20, 2022

Poolife® NST Prime - Same Great Cal Hypo Tablet New Parent Company

Poolife® NST®Prime  slow-release Cal Hypo tablets have been around for a few years now and recently Sigura the parent company of this brand was purchased by Solenis. Solenis owns a ton of different chemical companies most notable HTH and Applied Biochemist. They have rebranded the Poolife tablets as the “Prime” product in their 3-Step process of pool care. 





Step #1 is adding the NST Prime tablets to the skimmer or their NST® Prime Feeder. This might be the only step you need but there are two more in case.

Step #2 is adding a shock to your pool to raise the chlorine level when needed. I suspect the Cal Hypo shock labeled here as “NST Purify” or “Poolife Turbo Shock Treatment” is their HTH products simply rebranded. 

Step #3 is to add an algaecide when needed. They have “NST Patrol” “Poolife Defend” “Poolife Super Algaebomb 60” and many more which are probably the Applied biochemist algaecides rebranded. Be careful as some of these may contain copper so use those sparingly. 

It’s probably super convenient to own a chemical company like HTH and a company that specializes in algaecides like Applied Biochemist and now a great cal hypo tablet product in the Poolife tablets. Solenis owns a ton of other companies across many industries and around the world so buying Sigura for these cal hypo tablets was probably a smart decision. Now they can incorporate them in their pool care formula to make it a winning one.

Cal Hypo tablets have been around for a very long time. One of the drawbacks of Cal Hypo tablets is that after 1 day they would be fully dissolved. So there was no real way to use them in place of 3” Trichlor tablets to release chlorine slowly over a week. But the Poolife NST Cal Hypo tablet is an exception to this and it is designed to slowly dissolve over one week. So you can now use these NST tablets as a direct replacement for Tri-Chlor tablets.

One critical thing to note is that you never want to introduce any Cal-Hypo tablet in a Tri-chlor feeder or Tri-Chlor floater. Mixing these two chemicals will cause an explosion. Because Cal Hypo has such a high pH (over 9) you can use them directly in a pool skimmer without any harmful effects on the pool equipment. Poolife has two types of NST tablets, one for skimmer use and one for feeder and skimmer use. 

I have tested these tablets out myself for over a year and counting now and so far I like the fact that they are lasting all week long. This would be a smart alternative to Tri-Chlor tablets since they do not contain any Cyanuric Acid. This means that they are unstabilized and better for your pool in the long run.

Here are the two different NST Cal Hypo Tablet products:

Poolife® NST® Tablets (for skimmer use)
NST® is an alternative to 3" tablets and does not contain cyanuric acid. Perfect for use in a skimmer, this product will destroy bacteria and organic contaminants without over-stabilizing your pool water or adding additional cyanuric acid to your water. Each long-lasting tablet will continuously sanitize your pool in the skimmer for up to one week! This product is an innovative, proprietary technology that provides a long-lasting, slow-dissolving chlorination sanitization level.

Useful Tips:
Use only in pools with a skimmer and skimmer basket. The skimmer basket must be free of all other water treatment products before adding this product.

Place the tablet(s) in the empty skimmer basket. Replace with a new tablet as needed.
For optimum product performance, swimmer comfort, and crystal clear water, always maintain pH from 7.2 - 7.6, total alkalinity from 60-120 ppm, calcium hardness above 200 ppm, and free available chlorine residual between 1-4 ppm.

Active ingredient: Calcium Hypochlorite (Cal Hypo)
Available size(s): 4.5lb, 9lb, 20.2lb, 39.4lb

Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
eBook: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/swimming-pool-care-ebook


Thursday, June 16, 2022

Best Immune Boosting Juice Recipe!

I have been juicing this recipe for the past 7 years now.  Besides juicing to stay healthy I also walk at least 10 miles each week, eat only a salad for dinner, and try not to eat anything after 6 pm so my body has at least 12 hours without any food digesting before breakfast. It takes a lot of dedication to keep this routine up. 





Juice Recipe
8 Lbs Loose Beets
6 Lbs Baby Carrots
6 Lemons
1 Piece Ginger of your size choice
1 Large Cabbage or 2 small Cabbages
3 Lbs Spinach

Makes 21- 7oz servings enough for
*3 people for 7 days. 

*Adjust the recipe up or down depending 
on how many servings you need

Order:
Breville BJE200XL 

Lemons
Good Source of Vitamin C
Support Heart Health. 
Help Control Weight
Prevent Kidney Stones
Protect Against Anemia
Reduce Cancer Risk
Improve Digestive Health

Beats
Helps control blood pressure
Helps prevent inflammation
Improves digestive health
High in iron to prevent anemia
Anti-cancer properties
Improves brain function

Ginger
Helps with weight loss
Lowers blood sugar
Good for indigestion
Lower cholesterol
Anti-cancer
Improves brain function

Carrots
Rich source of dietary carotenoids – betacarotene for immunity
May support cholesterol balance and heart health.
Itmay help with weight loss goals.
Anti-cancer 
supports gut health.

Cabbage
Helps with inflammation
Vitamin C
Improves digestion
Reduces blood pressure
Lowers cholesterol levels
Vitamin K

Spinach 
Prevents Cancer. 
Spinach has a high source of zeaxanthin and carotenoids that can flush out the free radicals from your body
Reduces Blood Sugar
Aids in Good Bone Health
Aids in Weight Loss
Good For Your Eyes
Reduces Hypertension
Has Anti-inflammatory Properties
Keeps Your Body Relaxed



Monday, June 13, 2022

VacDaddy Vac to Waste Feature

 The VacDaddy is a pretty solid product. And with the vacuum to waste (V2W) attachment it just moved into a whole new category.  No question that it performs as advertised. Putting it into a category of vacuum systems is another story and now you have to add it to the portable pump category.  It has the same 60 gallons per minute power as a full-size vacuum system like a Hammer-Head but is designed more like a system vac. 





To order Vac Daddy Vacuum to Waste Version: https://thevacdaddy.com/product/the-vacdaddy-v2w/

The vacuum to waste aspect of the VacDaddy is a true gamechanger for your pool route. Now you can use the VacDaddy to do clean-ups, green pool clean-ups, and any other use that requires a portable pump to vacuum a pool to waste. This makes the VacDaddy a truly versatile vacuum and expands the use from a daily vacuum to a device that takes the place of a larger portable pump.

Here is more about the VacDaddy unit from the manufacturer:
The primary benefit of The VacDaddy is EASE-OF-USE.

Lightweight and compact. At only 10 pounds, The VacDaddy is easy to operate and maneuver.
The minimal assembly is easy and intuitive. No special training is required to use. Simply plug in and Just Vac It.

Fast pool cleaning with more vacuuming power than other heavy-duty commercial vacuums.
Eliminates the need to set up and prime a bulky hose.

Perfect for touch-ups between weekly cleanings and to reach areas robotic vacuums can’t easily get to.

The VacDaddy is the most powerful, portable pool vacuum new to the market with a continuous power supply. The VacDaddy’s continuous power eliminates dependency on batteries with limited life. The VacDaddy is lightweight, easy to use, powerful, and requires no poolside assembly or training.

The VacDaddy was invented by a 35-year veteran of the pool service industry who has worked with hundreds of pool owners. He has long believed there should be a better way to clean your pool. Commercial vacuums require 20 minutes to set up and detailed instructions to use. Other options include weak battery vacuums or heavy robots which take hours to clean your pool.

Cleaning your carpets doesn’t require all this setup and weightlifting, why should clean your pool? We have devoted ourselves to perfecting The VacDaddy Pool Vacuum System. The goal was to create a durable, lightweight, powerful cleaner that is easy to use and we have done just that. The VacDaddy system will allow users to clean their pools in less time with less effort. Like your carpet vacuum, plugin, and JUST VAC IT!

So with all that said where would I place the VacDaddy as compared to say a Riptide, Hammer-Head, or PowerVac? It does pump a pretty impressive 55-60 GPM so it is not like a Water Tech cleaner, except maybe the Precision 2.0 that pulls about 25 GPM. It has a similar look to the 2.0 but I think the power difference sets the Vac Daddy apart. I mean, it feels like you are using the pool filtration system with the vacuum connected to the skimmer. In reality, most pools will pull about 60 GPM unless they are powered by a 3 hp pump considering the resistance of the plumbing and distance from the skimmer. So having all of that power sitting right behind the vac head is pretty awesome. 

With that said vacuuming spas and steps is a little tricky. You have to tilt the vacuum down so that you don’t shoot water everywhere which is something they are addressing soon with an attachment to reduce the water flow. 

You also need access to a socket for this to work at your customer's home. It comes with a power unit that needs to be plugged in. Most pool owners will have a socket somewhere by their pool or equipment area. It comes with 45 feet of cord that attaches from the power unit to the VacDaddy and it has a look and feel of a robotic pool cleaner cord. For me, the cord was not a big deal as I know that the 60 GPM is only going to be produced by an external power source.

It comes with two bags and they seem relatively small in comparison to a Vacuum System bag. But the VacDaddy is not designed for big leaf debris clean-up but if you have an average amount of leaves and dirt in a pool this will work perfectly. I would say it is suitable for pools with light to medium debris and dirt. 

I would say the VacDaddy is positioned to be a player in the portable vacuum sector. Yes, it is hard to categorize exactly but I think if you are looking for a tool to speed up your day on your route, this is one to consider. 


The Chlorine Genie VS a Saltwater Generator

Many of you probably have never heard or even seen the Chlorine Genie before. It was a small independently run company started in 1995 and was recently acquired by Ultimate Water. With a price tag of $4,000 of course this is not a product for everyone but there is a market for this device. 





How the unit works is very similar to a typical saltwater generator. Except for the salt being contained in the brine tank of the Chlorine Genie and not in the pool. That is why no salt needs to be added to the pool water itself. Another major difference is that the salt cell in the Chlorine Genie will remain much cleaner and free of most scale since “pure soft water” is used in the brine tank (the descaling filter removes the hard water). 

In addition to this, a typical saltwater generator makes Sodium Hydroxide which is one of the reasons the pH rises so high in a saltwater pool (the other reason being water turbulence in the salt cell itself). Since the Chlorine Genie has a “pH drain” you can drain out the Sodium Hydroxide byproduct and the pH will remain much more stable. The water soft water in the brine tank is also lower in pH allowing you to balance your pH by adjusting the pH drain on the unit.

Salt Water Generator vs Chlorine Genie with the winner of each category on top

Cost:
Salt Water generator (SWG) – prices range from $1,500 to $2,000 depending on the system size.
Chlorine Genie (CG) – MSRP of RT30 $4,095 CT50 $6,299 (Wholesale pricing available).

Production: 
SWG – can produce 0.6 lbs. -2 lbs. of chlorine a day depending on the cell size.
CG – RT30 can make 0.6 lbs. of chlorine and CT50 1.2 lbs. a day.

Maintenance:
SWG – Salt cell cleaning and replacement when needed.
CG – Monthly bag of salt needs to be added. All parts need a monthly inspection. Hard water. filter replaced when needed. Salt cell cleaning when needed through the acid port in front. 

Salt Level:
CG- No salt in pool is needed, all salt is in the brine tank of the unit.
SWG- 3000-3600 ppm of salt in the pool is needed for operation.

pH:
CG – pH is controlled by the pH drain as you can drain off the Sodium Hydroxide and the water in the basin is lower in pH. You can balance a pools pH without muriatic acid or soda ash in most cases.
SWG – pH is constantly rising due to the Sodium Hydroxide produced by the cell and by water turbulence inside the cell itself. 

Side Effects:
CG – Since all of the salt is in the brine tank all of these side effects are mitigated. 
SWG - The salt in the pool raises the TDS to 4500-5000 ppm and the salt water can cause equipment corrosion. White flake blowback is common in many salt pools and is a byproduct of chlorine production in a high phosphate environment or an LSI out of balance.

Reliability:
CG- Started in 1995 and recently acquired by Ultimate Water – the technology is simple with 3 main components. With proper maintenance, the unit will last for several years.
SWG- Most brands are very reliable with a few defective units here and there.

Size:
SWG – take up a small area on the plumbing and a power unit can be hung in the equipment area
CG- Need an 20” x 20” spot no further than 10 ft from the pool pump.

Overall a SWG is less expensive but creates more side effects than the CG and of course requires you to have a saltwater pool to operate. I like the fact that the CG is a self-contained unit and no salt needs to be added to the pool water. You can also regulate the pH with the Chlorine Genie. 

The market segment for the Chlorine Genie would be those homeowners who want the benefits of having a saltwater generator without the side effects created by a saltwater pool. With the higher price point this is more of an elite piece of pool equipment. 

The Chlorine Genie will generate chlorine for your pool without the need of adding 400, 600, or 800 lbs of salt to the pool water, all of the salt used to generate chlorine remains inside the Chlorine Genie itself! This is by far the safest and cleanest chlorine production unit on the market today! As a side bonus, the Chlorine Genie will also allow for pH adjustments so in most cases you no longer will need to add Muriatic Acid or Soda Ash to balance the pH in your pool.
There are currently two different units available:
RT30 Single Cell unit is optimized for residential settings and is for pools up to 40k gallons in size. The CT50 Dual Cell unit is optimized for semi-commercial settings and pools up to 80k in size. The primary difference is that the RT30 produces 0.6 lbs of chlorine each day and the CT50 produces 1.2 lbs of chlorine each day. Both are installed and operate in the same way except the CT50 has two cells.

How the unit works is very similar to a typical saltwater generator. Except for the salt being contained in the brine tank of the Chlorine Genie and not in the pool. That is why no salt needs to be added to the pool water itself. Another major difference is that the salt cell in the Chlorine Genie will remain much cleaner and free of most scale since “pure soft water” is used in the brine tank (the descaling filter removes the hard water). 

One thing that I think can be improved upon is a digital control much like a VS pump so that you can use a relay and connect it to an automated panel or the aux relay on the back of a VS pump so that you can turn it on and off when the pool pump goes on and off. 

You can learn more on their website:


Friday, June 10, 2022

A Recap on my Platforms and Why Pool Service is a Great Profession!

I am probably the worst at self-promotion out there. Even though my Podcast is quickly closing in on 1 million downloads you probably see more in the industry from the PoolChasers and the Pool Nation Podcast. I am okay with that as my numbers speak for themselves on all of my platforms. I’ve been in the industry now since 1988 and I apply that experience over my various platforms without putting my face out there much. 




The pool service industry has certainly evolved over the years and I would say that this current generation of pool pros has the most resources at their disposal. I started before cell phones were even invented and way before YouTube as well. If you didn’t know how to do something you learned quickly. 

There are many reasons why pool service is a legit business and a great business to get into. The fact that you set your hours and are essentially your boss is probably the biggest reason people start a pool service business. Second, to that is the flexible hours you can put into the business. You can work as much or as little as you like. 

That brings me to the scalability of pool service. You can be a single poler with 80 accounts and make a good living out there just running a small route and putting in 30-40 hours per week. Or you can bring on an employee or maybe 2-to 3 and get 300 accounts and start to grow a larger service company. The point is you can get as big as you want or stay small and use that income to invest in future passive income sources. It is one of the only businesses out there with so many options. 

Here is more on what I do:
I am the creator of the #1 Swimming Pool Channel on YouTube with over 55 million video views and 105,000 subscribers. I also write the Poolman Dave Blog which has over 1.6 million page views and growing. I am the host of the popular Pool Guy Show Podcast with over 900 episodes and 950,000 downloads. I am also the Founder of the group Swimming Pool Service Pro Association SPSPA & the lead Instructor of the Pool Guy Coaching site with over 300 members and growing. More on each platform below.

YOUTUBE
I am the creator of the Channel Swimming Pool Tips and How-To. I have over 105,000 Subscribers and 55 Million Video views. With over 1,200 videos, it is the ultimate source for all things swimming pool.

COACHING
Join me on my Pool Guy Coaching site for real-time Texting and Phone consultations.  There is also a group text chat and discounts on your liability insurance. Take your pool business to the next level and receive one-to-one personal business coaching. 300 members and growing!

PODCAST
I am the host of the popular Pool Guy Podcast Show where every week I tackle a subject that you can relate to in the pool business or as a homeowner. On the Podcast, I unpack each subject in detail so that you can learn about pool care and business management in depth. The Podcast is available on iTunes. With over 900 episodes and 950,000 Downloads, it is the #1 Industry Podcast!

SPSPA
When you become a member of my coaching group you are automatically enrolled in my association Swimming Pool Service Pro Association.  This is a great way to market your business and your customers will be glad to know that you are backed by a national association and insured.

BLOGGER
I write Blog articles that matter. They are current and the information in these articles will save you money as well as help you keep your pool sparkling every week. With over 1.6 Million page views it is one of the top Blogs in the Swimming Pool Sector.




Monday, June 6, 2022

Chlorine Genie Up and Running and Making Chlorine!

It’s pretty amazing watching the Chlorine Genie in action now that I have one installed and operating. It is truly a mini-chlorine factory and if you are looking for an alternative to a saltwater pool or store-bought chlorine this might be something to consider. 




The Chlorine Genie is not a new product. It was launched back in 1995 and was independently operated until 2 years ago when Ultimate Water acquired the product. This is just the latest generation and probably the most refined version to date of the Chlorine Genie. The innovative concept of having the salt in the unit itself is brilliant, and the current model works very effectively. 

Installation is not overly complicated but you do need to have a guide on your first installation. For this install, I had Ernie Penado who is the sales rep for Chlorine Genie, and Richard Figueroa of Pool Pura who is their area installer. Knowing where to set the unit and of course plumb, it in is critical to a successful install. 

The $4,000 retail sticker price may not be for everyone but it is a good option for new pool builds and those looking for a solid alternative who don’t mind splurging on their pool.

The Chlorine Genie will generate chlorine for your pool without the need of adding 400, 600, or 800 lbs of salt to the pool water, all of the salt used to generate chlorine remains inside the Chlorine Genie itself! This is by far the safest and cleanest chlorine production unit on the market today! As a side bonus, the Chlorine Genie will also allow for pH adjustments so in most cases you no longer will need to add Muriatic Acid or Soda Ash to balance the pH in your pool.

There are currently two different units available:
RT30 Single Cell unit is optimized for residential settings and is for pools up to 40k gallons in size. The CT50 Dual Cell unit is optimized for semi-commercial settings and pools up to 80k in size. The primary difference is that the RT30 produces 0.6 lbs of chlorine each day and the CT50 produces 1.2 lbs of chlorine each day. Both are installed and operate in the same way except the CT50 has two cells.

How the unit works is very similar to a typical saltwater generator. Except for the salt being contained in the brine tank of the Chlorine Genie and not in the pool. That is why no salt needs to be added to the pool water itself. Another major difference is that the salt cell in the Chlorine Genie will remain much cleaner and free of most scale since “pure soft water” is used in the brine tank (the descaling filter removes the hard water).

In addition to this, a typical saltwater generator makes Sodium Hydroxide which is one of the reasons the pH rises so high in a saltwater pool (the other reason being water turbulence in the salt cell itself). Since the Chlorine Genie has a “pH drain” you can drain out the Sodium Hydroxide byproduct and the pH will remain much more stable. The water soft water in the brine tank is also lower in pH allowing you to balance your pH by adjusting the pH drain on the unit.

The Chlorine Genie comes with everything you will need for installation except for the PVC pipe and PVC cement to extend out the pH drain on the unit. 

Here are some of the things you will need for proper installation:
A clean water source 50 ft from the Chlorine Genie, usually the hose spigot in the backyard. The Chlorine Genie uses freshwater to generate chlorine. If your water source is further away contact the manufacturer and they will send you out longer tubing. Constant water pressure of 40-80 psi needs to be going to the unit when it is producing chlorine.
The Chlorine Genie injects the chlorine back into the pool at your pool equipment area specifically near the pool pump. The placement needs to be within 10 ft of the pool pump and on a flat level surface. A 20” by 20” area is all you will need.

You will also need a 110-120v GFI socket near the installation point. Most newer pool pads have a GFI socket attached to them.

Last, to regulate the pH with the pH Drain, you will need a suitable area to drain the water too. A drain into the sewer, gravel, dirt, or another such non-planter or grass area. Not recommended to drain directly onto cement as the alkaline water could bleach the cement.

You can learn more on their website:

Friday, June 3, 2022

Liquid Chlorine Vs Cal Hypo

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 since it contains no cyanuric acid.




One drawback of liquid chlorine is that typically a gallon of 12.5% will not last the entire week in a pool. This means you will need some way to add a dose of liquid chlorine during the week. Expect to lose 1 ppm each day so if you started the week at 7.0 ppm, by that next week the chlorine level would be at 0.0 ppm if you did not add any more chlorine during the week. A few options are a liquid chlorine feeder from HASA, a Rolo Chem type feeder, or simply adding another gallon of liquid chlorine mid-week.

Pros:
Fastest acting of all chlorine types
Available at pool stores, wholesalers, and hardware stores
Will not raise your CYA level
Safe for all pool types
Easy to use

Cons:
Breaks down by the Sun’s UV Rays so your pool needs a CYA level of 30-50 ppm
Short shelf life so rotate stock or buy fresh chlorine when needed
Half-life is about 90 days
The gallons can be heavy compared to a bag of shock
Can react to metals in the water and cause a green water tint
Adds salt to the water so it will raise the pool’s TDS over time

Cal Hypo is very popular and there are several reasons why it is widely used in the industry. It is easy to carry and comes in different strengths of 60-75% active chlorine. One of the major side effects is that it contains calcium, so over time, it will raise your pool’s calcium hardness. Not an issue if you live in an area with soft water but I caution against the use in areas with hard water. It also has a high pH of around 12 so it will raise the pH in a pool if you use a significant amount each week. It can also make the pool cloudy if you pour a bag directly in. A very powerful form of shock.

Cal Hypo has the same problem of not lasting the entire week, however, with Cal Hypo tablets such as the Pool Life brand you can add these slow-dissolving tablets directly to the skimmer each week and they will slowly release Cal Hypo into the water all week long.  That is one advantage that Cal Hypo offers over liquid chlorine. The Cal Hypo tablets also contain no CYA.

Pros:
Strong and easy to use
Does not contain a Conditioner so it will not raise the pool’s CYA levels
Cal Hypo Tablets dissolve slowly over a week and don’t raise the pool’s CYA level
Safe for all pool surface types but use caution with a vinyl liner

Cons:
Raises Calcium Harness in a pool
Raises the pH in a pool
Clouds up the pool water if poured directly in
Can react to copper in the water and cause temporary black stains