Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

Chlorine is expensive. The prices may be flat but when compared to 2019 they have increased some 100-200% depending on the chlorine type. The good news is that there are a number of ways to offset the high cost of chlorine. Phosphate and Enzymes: This one-two punch can be highly effective in allowing the chlorine to work in the pool on the things it was intended to and not be “used up” by phosphates and non-living organics. Instead of getting technical and trying to teach a science class explaining how enzymes work, we will try to break it down more simply. Enzymes break non-living things down into smaller and smaller bits. Many non-living things are in pool and spa water; body oils, sweat, cosmetics, and sunscreens to name a few. This frees up the chlorine to work on the things it was intended to fight like viruses and bacteria instead of being wasted on these non-living organics.  Phosphate reducers are specialty chemicals used to remove phosphates from pool water. They are typic...

The 45th Annual Western Pool & Spa Show featured some familiar vendors and some new ones as well. The big three also showcased new products and I cover some of those in this video tour for you. FullFloXF C620: Pentair has a new 620 sq ft cartridge filter and I am excited to say that the drain plug is no longer under the inlet and outlet of the pump! It has two drain plugs which are overkill but I won’t complain too much about that.  SpeedSet: Jandy has a new SpeedSet controller for their stand-alone VS pumps that is a direct replacement for the JEP-R controller that no one liked. It took them forever to come out with a replacement but the SpeedSet seems to be easy to use and set up. Unlike the JEP-R. It is also backward compatible with all Jandy VS pumps that were using the JEP-R. A real win for pool owners and pool service pros.  TracVac: Hayward has a new suction cleaner and it looks like a good cross between the Aquanaut and a tank. It looks like the same internal parts...

Residential pool service and commercial pool service are two different types of pool services, with their own unique set of characteristics and requirements. Some pool pros prefer to just focus on residential pool care while others like to do both or just focus on commercial pools.  Residential pool service typically involves the maintenance and cleaning of pools in private homes. This service is focused on keeping the pool clean and functional, and typically includes tasks such as pool cleaning, chemical balancing, equipment maintenance, and repairs. Residential pool service does not require CPO Certification and in most cases, all you need is a business license. Commercial pool service, on the other hand, involves the maintenance and cleaning of larger pools in public places, such as hotels, resorts, and community centers. You will need CPO Certification or be certified by your local health department. You are also required to keep chemistry logs and other forms and you will need...

 The SwamCam is a very capable system consisting of a water-resistant camera and remote keypad, siren, and a very good app to bring another layer of safety to your swimming pool. If you have young children, special needs children or just want an extra pair of eyes watching the pool for you, the Swamcam is the answer.  www.theswamcam.com Use coupon code “poolz” for a $30 discount! What I like about the SwamCam: Easy to set up and great app control and notifications Another layer of safety that can prevent drowning Audible alarm from both the camera and the remote siren Clear and crisp video image Some slight drawbacks: 10-second delay when a person/child sets off the motion AI before the alarm sounds No solar panel type of installation & it must be plugged in From SwamCam SwamCam is proudly comprised of diverse talent with experience in various fields. Our technology team consists of Tier 1 developers that have many years of experience at tech giants such as Motorola and Ha...

The PoolRx Booster is a bit of a mystery for many consumers and pool service pros. It is just the PoolRx+ minerals packed into a paste form that you would use under a few circumstances. One, if you notice the minerals have worn out either after 4-6 months or from other issues like algae, heavy use, and so on. Two, if the pool is large and you are using it to bring up the mineral content to the manufacturer's recommended levels for that pool size. Three, if you use a PoolRx+ to clear a green pool, you may need a booster sooner because the minerals were used up fighting the algae. They now have two boosters available for PoolRx+, a Blue booster with 8 oz of the mineral and a Black Booster with 12 oz of the mineral. Depending on the unit you have and the pool size will determine which booster to use. PoolRx+ is compatible with all chlorine types, if using cal hypo be sure to dilute it in a bucket of water before pouring it into the pool. PoolRx+ is also compatible with all salt system...

Using the PoolRX+ on your pool route will save you time and money. The manufacturer's claim of saving 30-50% 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 allows 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.  ...

The Cyclone Filter cleaning system is a great way to speed up your filter cleaning and save the strain on your back at the same time. Cleaning a cartridge filter requires an awkward position as you use one hand to hold the cartridge upright and another to hose it off. The Cyclone Cartridge Filter Rtool solves this problem. Includes: Collapsible stand Top filter retainer Bottom filter retainer with stainless steel ball bearing Furniture grade PVC extension wand with brass fan-tip spray nozzle and shut-off valve Satisfaction Guarantee Designed for any cartridge filter but it is especially helpful if you clean a lot of the Quad Type (4 Cartridge) filters on your pool route. For a homeowner, this would be the perfect tool to make your cartridge cleaning chore a breeze. Included is the nozzle seen in the video to make things simple as it is the most effective nozzle for the Cyclone.  Features Up to 2X faster! Simple compact design is easy to store on your truck or nearby your filter It ...

The Remington Solar Chlorine-Free “Sun Shock” uses lower power output from the Solar Panels on the unit to generate ions which will keep your pool algae-free all season long. The Remington Chlorine-Free Sun Shock is an effective way to prevent algae in your pool and as a side benefit the Anode also attracts calcium and iron which will soften the pool water. For those opposed to using any copper in your pool for fear of staining the surface, this is a safe method. It is very easy to control the Copper Ion output and if it reaches 0.5 ppm simply removing the Remington Solar will prevent any staining. In most cases, the copper level will rarely get that high. The Remington Solar Chlorine-Free “Sun Shock”  comes with everything you need in the box including copper test strips. It is important to test the Copper levels every few weeks just to make sure the levels stay safe. Again, if they get too high simply remove the product from the pool for a week or two. In my area of Southern Cali...

 Cartridges or sand can seem like a lot of guesswork when it comes time to decide if the filter elements and media are bad. There is no set-in-stone time frame for each so you will have to do a little detective work to find the correct time. If your D.E. Filter is spitting out D.E. through the return lines it is time to inspect and probably change the girds. Even a tiny hole in the grid can shoot back a large amount of dirt, D.E., and debris. Typically D.E. filter grids are good for 4-5 years, although if your filter gets very dirty and is under constant high pressure (high PSI on the gauge), then changing them after 2-3 years would not be a bad idea. Cartridge filters are a bit tougher to diagnose and you can’t always rely on the filter pressure (PSI). Since the larger 4 cartridge-type filters have such a large filtration area the PSI tends to stay at the clean range for months at a time. If you clean your 4 cartridge type filter and the PSI is sitting at 20 PSI, don’t be surprise...