Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

Winter months come with a few advantages for pool maintenance: 1. Low Usage: During this season, most people pay little attention to their pools. Keeping them reasonably clean is often sufficient. 2. Early Nights: The early sunsets mean many homeowners forget about their backyards altogether. 3. Reduced Chemical Use: Cold water lowers chemical demand, allowing you to save on costs. Typically, 1 gallon of liquid chlorine and 1 three-inch chlorine tablet per month is enough for most pools. The Challenges of Winter Pool Maintenance 1. Cold Temperatures • Your truck heater becomes your best friend during the chilly mornings. • Invest in proper gloves like the Atlas 772 Nitrile Coated Gloves (25 inches long). These gloves shield your hands from cold water when emptying skimmer baskets and cleaning the pool. Without them, your fingers can go numb, making mornings miserable.  o Recommended gloves: Coldwater gloves on Amazon 2. Automated Systems & Freeze Mode • Automated ...

Which is the best Variable Speed (VS) swimming pool pump? While I definitely have my preferences, pinpointing the best VS pool pump is like trying to select the best SUV or full-size truck. Each model has its advantages and drawbacks. In my view, the best VS pump for you ultimately depends on your specific situation. For example, if your pool equipment pad operates on 115V (120V), the ideal VS pump will likely be one that matches your old 1 hp pump. Let me explain why. VS pumps feature Dual Voltage, meaning they automatically adjust to either 115V or 230V based on your existing setup. If you install a 2.7 THP Hayward TriStar VS pump on a 115V pad, the pump will automatically adjust to 115V, but it will also reduce the horsepower to around 1.85 THP. So, why spend extra on a 2.7 or 3 THP pump if a 1.5 or 1.65 THP model will do the job just as well? The situation gets more complicated when you have an automated system like Jandy Aqualink. If you're replacing a single-speed pump, I...

D.E. vs. Cartridge Pool Filters: Which Is Best for Your Pool? Choosing the right pool filter is essential for maintaining crystal-clear water and reducing the maintenance burden of your swimming pool. Two popular options are Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) filters and cartridge filters. Each comes with its pros and cons, catering to different pool owners' needs. Let’s dive into the differences to help you decide which is the best fit for your pool.   What Is a D.E. Pool Filter?   A Diatomaceous Earth filter uses a fine powder made from fossilized diatoms to coat a series of grids or fingers inside the filter. As water flows through, the D.E. captures particles as small as 2–5 microns, offering exceptionally clear water.   Advantages   - Superior filtration: D.E. filters provide the finest filtration available, making them ideal for pools where water clarity is a top priority.   - High efficiency: They remove even the smallest debris, including...

The Smonet SR5 is a solid choice for a pool solar surface cleaner. It is a well-built machine with a lot of great features and, in my testing, it worked very well.   No wires, hoses, or pumps are required; just place this solar-powered sweeper robot in your pool, and that is it. The robot's front end is equipped with 2 radars to automatically avoid obstacles so it can work for pools of various shapes and types. SR5 has 2-speed modes and a large-capacity debris canister (rated for 400 microns) to efficiently handle common surface debris. Charging using solar energy or a 2.5H charger. With a lightweight design, SR5 only weighs 12.9 lbs. Highlights Wireless automatic pool surface cleaning: the robotic floating pool skimmer surface cleaners, autonomously maintain a clean above-ground pool surface by removing pet hair, algae, leaf, dust, pollen, and pesky bugs, say goodbye to traditional manual cleaning and hello to consistently fresh and clean pool water. Solar charging and power ...

 Adjusting Your Pool Runtime for Winter: Maximize Efficiency  As temperatures drop, your pool’s filtration needs decrease, allowing you to save on energy costs by reducing the runtime. Here’s how to optimize your pool’s runtime for winter while keeping it clean and well-maintained. 1. Reduce Daily Filtration Hours • Cut Runtime in Half: In summer, pools often run 8–12 hours per day, but winter needs are much lower. Scale back to around 4–6 hours daily, depending on your climate. This adjustment maintains water quality while using less energy. • Nighttime Operation for Freezing Climates: In areas where temperatures dip below freezing, run your pool during the coldest hours to keep water moving and prevent pipes from freezing. This also may activate automatically with Freeze-Protect Modes.  2. Adjust for Pool Usage and Debris • Lower Use, Less Filtration: If your pool isn’t in use, you can reduce runtime to as little as 2–4 hours daily. If your pool collects extra deb...

 When your pool's water temperature dips into the low 60s, your saltwater generator will likely stop producing chlorine. At that point, it’s a good idea to turn off the generator and switch to an alternative chlorine source. Using liquid chlorine is a great option, as it most closely resembles the chlorine produced by your salt cell. Plus, you’ll need only a small amount in winter. Monthly doses of Dichlor can also be helpful, as it contains about 50% cyanuric acid (CYA), which can boost your pool’s CYA level in winter, potentially avoiding a spring CYA recharge. If you’re in a warmer climate like Southern California, you might prefer adding a floater with Trichlor tablets tied to the skimmer lid to prevent it from drifting, which reduces the risk of staining. Trichlor, like Dichlor, has 50% CYA, so you can easily maintain CYA levels with a small weekly dose. If avoiding CYA altogether, stick to liquid chlorine as it contains no cyanuric acid. To ensure your saltwater generator is ...

The Madimack InverFLOW Eco is a great entry-level Variable Speed pump. InverMAC Enhanced Inverter Technology Madimack’s advanced InverMAC technology represents the pinnacle of energy efficiency and operational refinement in pool pump systems. This cutting-edge technology integrates several advanced features, such as full inverter capabilities, permanent magnet synchronous motors, and DC brushless motors, to provide an intelligent and adaptable pool experience. One of the standout benefits of InverMAC is its noise reduction capacity, significantly decreasing operational noise levels by more than 30 times, enabling an ultra-quiet environment. Compared to conventional pool pumps, Madimack's InverFLOW Eco pumps achieve up to 90% greater energy efficiency, translating to substantial savings on energy bills while also contributing to a more sustainable, eco-friendly pool setup. Key Features of InverMAC Technology Enhanced Inverter Motor for Optimized Efficiency The inverter motor adjusts...

Suction cleaners are the top-selling cleaners in my service area in Southern California. There are several reasons for this.  It will also leave your clients pool-ready each week, which is excellent if you find them using the pool throughout the season. Again, get the image of you vacuuming their pool all day, and you can see why it will be good to go at any given time. No more manually vacuuming each pool every week on your route. This will allow you to focus on more important things like the pool chemistry.  Having a cleaner running can also prevent staining on the pool surface. Sometimes, dirt will have metal ions, and leaves will undoubtedly stain the pool bottom if left there for an extended period. A staple or other small metal piece can also fall into the pool, and I have seen pools saved from rust stains by an automatic cleaner picking up small metal items. The fact that the cleaner will keep the pool floor and walls clean each week ensures a better overall look for th...

There are many factors beyond your control when servicing a pool: weather, how the homeowner maintains the pool, the gardener’s activities, and more. However, one thing you can control is the liability risk on your pool route. Mistakes happen, but liability is a much more serious issue. Actions you shouldn’t have taken can expose you to liability and even lawsuits. **Don’t Fill the Customer’s Pool:** If you’ve been in the pool service business for a while, you might have filled a customer’s pool out of frustration or kindness. Maybe the water level is low every week, the customer isn’t keeping up with it, the pump isn’t working well, and the pool’s condition is worsening. So, you take matters into your own hands and fill the pool yourself, using a garden hose or turning on the fill line. Then, you get distracted or receive a call and leave the property. Four hours later, the customer contacts you to say their yard—and possibly their house—is flooded. This is a liability you could have ...

 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 mindful of a few significant 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 next to the pool. If the plaster has cracks and chips in it already, Acid Wash will worsen things. 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 indicates 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 if the outside air temperature is above 90 degr...

Keeping your swimming pool's water chemistry balanced is essential for clear water and easy maintenance. One key factor is total alkalinity (TA), which, if too high, can lead to cloudy water and trouble maintaining the pH level. This quick guide shows how to lower alkalinity using muriatic acid and aeration. What is Total Alkalinity (TA) and Why It Matters TA measures the concentration of alkaline substances in the water, like bicarbonates and carbonates, which act as a buffer for pH levels. Ideally, your pool's TA should be between 80-120 ppm. When TA gets too high (above 120 ppm), it can cause cloudy water, scaling, and difficulty adjusting pH. Lowering TA will help bring everything back into balance. Why Use Muriatic Acid? Muriatic acid is commonly used to lower both alkalinity and pH in pools. The trick is that while it lowers both, it affects TA more, so the pH can be adjusted separately using aeration. Step-by-Step: Lowering Alkalinity 1. Test Your Water: Before adding an...

Here is how a photometer works: "Most photometers detect the light with photoresistors, photodiodes or photomultipliers. To analyze the light, the photometer may measure the light after it has passed through a filter or a monochromator for determination at defined wavelengths or for analysis of the spectral distribution of the light." -Wikipedia. The water sample is blanked or zeroed out so that the photometer tester gets an accurate reading of the state of the water sample before the reagent is introduced. Once the reagent is put in the water sample, the photometer tester will read the color change of the water sample. For example, in the pH testing, the lighter the color, the lower the pH, just like in a reagent test kit or the tabs on a test strip. The darker the color, the higher the pH. The thing about the digital photometer is that it will read the color exactly and give you a digital readout of the pH based on the color spectrum. This eliminates user error and the need...

Measuring Swimming Pool Volume: A Quick Guide Maintaining your swimming pool starts with knowing its volume. Understanding your pool's volume helps you calculate the right amount of chemicals, determine pump flow rates, and manage heating requirements. Let’s explore how to measure your pool volume effectively. Why Measure Your Pool Volume? 1. Chemical Balancing: Accurate dosing of chlorine and other chemicals is essential for water quality. 2. Pump and Filter Sizing: Pool volume helps determine the right size and flow rate for your pump and filter. 3. Heating Requirements: Knowing your pool's volume aids in calculating heating time for your desired temperature. How to Measure Your Pool Volume 1. Rectangular or Square Pools • Formula: Volume (gallons) = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Average Depth (ft) × 7.48 • Steps: 1. Measure length and width in feet. 2. Determine average depth (add shallow and deep depths, then divide by two). 3. Plug the numbers into the formula...

The pool service industry has evolved over the years, and this current pool pros has the most resources at their disposal. I started before cell phones were invented and way before YouTube. If you didn’t know how to do something, you learned quickly.  There are many reasons pool service is a legit business and a great one 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 is the flexible hours you can put into the industry. 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, get 300 accounts, and start to grow a more extensive service company. You can get as big as you want or stay small and use that income to invest in future passive income sour...

 A vinyl pool in-ground or above-ground differs from your traditional plaster or concrete pool. The differences don’t stop on the actual vinyl material but on many different levels, including which chemicals to use in the pool, how to clean a vinyl pool, and which automatic cleaner is safe. A vinyl pool’s surface is a piece of plastic. Unlike a cement plaster pool, a vinyl pool can be easily stained by chemicals. You can stain a plaster pool with chemicals, but it is much more resistant than a vinyl surface. You cannot put Cal-Hypo, Trichlor, or other granular chlorine directly onto the vinyl surface. Liquid chlorine and Cal Hypo Tablets are safe in the skimmer, and Cal Hypo directly in the pool skimmer. Caution is the keyword here, so think whenever you add anything, will this stain the surface?” Since the vinyl pool surface is a piece of plastic, it will have a lower acid demand. This means that the pH in the pool will tend to drift down and not up. This means you should have Sod...

 The Madimack GT Freedom i45 was impressive in many ways. I got a little over 4 hours of run time in floor/wall/waterline mode, whereas the manual stats 2.5 hours in a vinyl pool. I think the pool surface type was the real difference in my testing, as it was in a plaster pool with less resistance. That is an incredible run time! It is also a truly smart cleaner with a great cleaning pattern. Many of these cordless cleaners can’t clean the entire pool, but this one does with ease. The 100-micron debris basket works just fine. I know many will want a 60-micron option, but I am unsure how that will affect the cleaning ability. It looks like it has the power for a finer micron basket. They have a 180-micron and 100-micron basket available, but nothing finer. That is actually the only real negative aspect of this cleaner coming from the Australian market to the US market. We prefer finer micron debris baskets, but this one did a great job with the finer dirt and silt.  It has a gre...

 Here are some common failures and things to avoid with your swimming pool, and of course, cover these and more in the podcast.  Failure to add water This is the #1 failure I see daily. Many pools do not have an in-deck Autofill system, so it is up to the pool owner to add water to the pool each week. Newer pools have a safety feature in the skimmer to prevent the pump from running dry, but older pools do not. If the water is left low for a short period, leaks will happen, and the pool motor can burn out. This is one of the easiest things to correct, check, and add water to the pool weekly. In the Summer, most regions lose one to two inches of water each from evaporation. The ideal pool water level is right before the skimmer opening. The pool will stay much cleaner with the correct water level, and you will avoid expensive repairs. On the flip side is failing to turn the water off while filling the pool. This happens to almost every customer. Try setting your phone alarm or t...

The PORTAVAC 2.0 HAMMERED by Advantage Manufacturing is their most advanced and most DURABLE portable filtration system to date. It can be used for a great many swimming pool applications, including green pool clean-ups, one-time clean-ups, dirt evacuation, portable pads for non-functioning equipment, and more. The best way to describe it is that the PORTAVAC 2.0 HAMMERED is like having your pool equipment on a dolly that you can move around. This means you do not need to rely on the pool equipment at your house, resort, or pool route.  Hammertone Paint: Hammer paint, also known as hammered paint or hammertone, is a specialized lacquer that creates a surface resembling hammered metal once it dries.  This effect is achieved through slightly iridescent patches caused by tiny reflective particles suspended in the lacquer, typically made from mica. Mica, known for being resilient, reflective, refractive, dielectric, chemically inert, insulating, lightweight, and hydrophilic, gives...

Several issues can come about with your swimming pool filter. It can be challenging, from low filter pressure to high filter pressure and other problems.  The pool filter also looks intimidating to the new owner, and many don’t feel comfortable cleaning and maintaining it. One of the first things I do when I get a new service account is to inspect and clean the pool filter. About 80% of all problems you will encounter with your pool care are filter-related. So, the filter may be the issue if your pool has constant cloudy water and algae or the chemicals do not hold weekly. Interestingly, many pool builders skimp on the filter size when they install a pool. It can’t cost them more than $200-$300 more in the pool price to install a full-size filter. What I mean by full size is that if your pool is 15,000 gallons, you should have a 300-400 sq. ft. Cartridge filter of a 48 sq. ft. D.E. Filter installed. For a 20,000 to 25,000-gallon pool, a 500 sq ft cartridge filter or a 60-100 sq. ft...

If you have low pool filter pressure, several things may also cause this. The most common reason is some debris is stuck in the pool impeller, restricting it and causing the pump to pull less water. Like a worn pump lid o-ring, a suction leak will also cause low filter pressure. A problem with the pump's diffuser can also cause this. However, a clogged impeller is the #1 cause and is easy to fix. Turn off the pump, remove the lid and basket, and then spin the impeller with a flathead screwdriver. This usually dislodges the debris, and you will then hear a gurgling sound as the debris is cleared from the impeller. Some apparent causes are a clogged pool pump basket, a clogged skimmer basket, and low water in the pool. Too much suction at the side port towards a suction side cleaner can cause lower pool filter pressure. A clogged inlet line can also cause low filter pressure. The filter pressure PSI will also read low if a variable speed pump runs at or below 1600 RPM.   A clogge...

Water Tech lineup has over 40 battery-powered models Not which is best, but what is suitable for you. Five categories: Bag Type Cone Type Spa Vacs Leaf Vacs Professional Vacuums Bag Type: For the Bag Type, I like the Pool Blaster Max Li & the Volt FX-8Li Max Li 10.5” vac head Volt FX8Li 13” vac head 60 min run time for both The power rating of 500 Volt Fx8-Li Power Rating of 365 Pool Blaster Max Li Sand Silt Bag picks up finer dirt and silt Great for pools, above-ground pools and spas Cone Type: Great for pools and spas with more leaf debris I like the Centennial Li  and the Pool Blaster Pulse  Centennial Li  has a 10.5” vac head Power rating 290  Pulse 7.5”  rectangle hard plastic vac head 45 min run time for both Different cone bags/sleeves available, including sand silt model Spas: Catfish or the Catfish Ultra Li Ideal for most hot tubs and spas 45 min run time Power rating of 235 10.5” vac head Sammler models below are great for shallow water Aquabroom r...

PSI is Pounds per square inch, a standard unit for measuring pressure and the most common factor in determining when to backwash or clean a pool filter. A filter pressure gauge calculates a filter's PSI and every filter should be equipped with one. The most apparent reason for high PSI is that the filter is dirty. Simply cleaning or backwashing the filter if you have a D.E. Or Sand Filter will usually lower the PSI to an acceptable range. The clean starting filter PSI will vary from filter to filter; some hover around 10-15 PSI, but many cartridge filters start at 20 PSI. In your case, the best way to know is to clean the filter and then mark the clean PSI for your particular filter on the gauge. A general rule of thumb is that if the PSI goes up by 10, if it is at 15 and goes up to 25, then a cleaning or backwashing is due. This is the best way to lower high filter pressure and get the pool circulating again. After cleaning the filter or backwashing it, the filter pressure should ...

There are two upgrades to your pool equipment that I highly recommend. If you have the money to invest, I would put in a Variable Speed Pump (VS Pump) and a Salt Water Generator, also known as a Salt Water System. The Variable Speed pump will save you a ton of money on your energy cost, and a Salt Water Generator will generate and add chlorine to your pool for you, saving you time on your pool maintenance. I will focus here on the money savings that a Variable Speed Pump (VS) can help you with, and you will be amazed. I think of how much you can save yearly on your pool care budget. The pool pump can be the highest energy hog in your house, passing your air conditioner and refrigerator just by the hours it runs each day. If you have a 1 ½ or 2 HP pump installed and you run it 8 hours per day, not to get into complicated conversions of kWh (Kilowatt Hours) and how your Electric Company charges you each month, imagine it as having on Twenty 100 watt light bulbs every hour it is running. ...

Water Tech™ Precision® V10 Cordless, Hoseless, Powerfully Convenient Professional Pool & Spa Cleanerthe Perscision V10 is a potent, compact, professional-grade cleaner suitable for all pool types without bulky hoses or extension cords. SKU #:50050PL UPC #:852506007850 Water Tech Corp is excited to introduce the new Water Tech Precision® V10, an enhanced version of the popular Precision® 2.0 Pool Cleaner. The Precision® V10 offers a high-power, cordless, and hose-free cleaning solution that pool professionals can rely on, with upgraded features for improved speed and quality. It now includes a Shallow Water Adapter attachment, making it ideal for cleaning shallow areas like steps and sun shelves. Additionally, the unit features a new tamper-proof motor box and battery assembly, eliminating the need to swap out, charge, and transport additional batteries. Weighing only 12 lbs, the Precision® V10 is built to handle the most challenging jobs and will last multiple seasons with minimal ...

Salt Systems are great, and I like selling them to my service customers. The main issue is that the salt cell only lasts 4-5 years, and depending on the system, you have to explain why the customer needs to shell out $600-$1,2000 for a new salt cell.  I like to prep the customer on a purchase that 4-5 years down the road, they will more than likely need a new cell at the cost of... and if they know in advance, they are more likely to be okay with it at the time of replacement.  Other times, you inherit a client who might refuse to pay for a new salt cell. This is very common, and there isn't much you can do about it except convert the pool back into a chlorine pool. You may need to drain the pool entirely and refill it since the TDS (Tota dissolved Solids) will be around 4,500, which is way over the accepted limit due to all of the salt in the water.  Some of the most common issues are a dirty salt cell, not producing enough chlorine, and, of course, when it gets old, it ...