Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews

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 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 straightforward things when used in your pool or spa: it eliminates all algae and allows you to use less chlorine during the pool season. Copper Sulphate, Pentahydrate, and silver (chelated) are active ingredients.   Chelated means that the PoolRx metals have been bonded to form two coordinated bonds similar to what Metal Sequestering Agents do. This means the metal ions will remain in the PoolRx unit, and no metal ions will be introduced into the pool or spa water. This prevents any metal staining on the pool surface   Make sure that you choose the correct size ...

 Photometer Vs. Reagent Tester Photometers: The photometer works by shining a specific wavelength of light through the colored water sample. The light source is typically an LED or laser that can emit light at the precise wavelength needed for the test. As the light passes through the sample, some of it is absorbed by the colored solution, while the rest passes through to a light sensor on the other side. The most accurate and precise reading Digital reading to decimal points Can document the reading Easy to use It takes the guesswork out of testing Does more test factors than reagent testing  NSF approved   User error More time consuming Tablets for certain reagents Reagents are more expensive The device is more expensive Replacement cost If you do Commercial Accounts – Photometer Start-up - good Reagent Testing:  Fast Affordable Easy to use Some are NSF-approved Affordable Reagents are affordable   Readings are subjective   User error Need aptitude to tel...

There is no perfect pool sanitizer. Take a Saltwater Generator for example. It produces chlorine but at a pretty high upfront cost, and then there is monthly maintenance to keep the salt cell producing chlorine.  Liquid Chlorine (Sodium hypochlorite) – by-product is salt (Sodium) 17 ppm per 10,000 gallons of water with 1 gallon of liquid chlorine. Liquid Chlorine or Bleach is the tried and true standard chemical for most pool service professionals. It is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and has the most minor side effects of any 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 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 o...

Since the Bio-Lab factory fire in 2020 caused by Hurricane Laura caused Trichlor prices to spike 150% and stay there, you want to ensure you are getting your money's worth. Store Brand Vs. Unbranded Store Brand: EPA Certified Consistent in size and weight Stock is rotated 99% Trichlor Water sealed lid  Child proof lid Dissolves constantly Chlorox tablets are good, but I wouldn't say I like the bucket – it is hard to open and has a poor seal from the elements. Other Brands: Not EPA certified No way to know if it is 99% Trichlor Inconsistent tablets and a lot of broken tabs Inconsistent dissolving By-products can clog  Trichlor Feeders Once the feeder is clogged, it can produce dangerous fumes Blended Trichlor: Adds copper to the water Staining possible Only 90% Trichlor Not getting your money's worth Cal Hypo Tabs: Not compatible with Trichlor feeders or floater It can cause an explosion if mixed Not all trichlor tablets are the same, although they might appear to be very si...

Many things can go right with a saltwater system; having all green lights on your system display is golden. But, like any electronic product, things can go wrong at times.  Some of the most common issues are a dirty salt cell, not producing enough chlorine, and, of course, when the cell gets old, it stops functioning or generating chlorine. None of these are deal breakers, and each has an easy solution.  One drawback is the constantly rising pH. It's partly due to the process itself and the chemical reaction and partly due to the turbulence of the salt cell. So, although you save on chlorine, you may spend more on muriatic acid to keep the pH in check. Some maintenance is required, like cleaning the salt cell, ensuring the salt level is good, and setting the output to the correct setting to chlorinate your pool. Still, for the most part, it is much easier than trying to maintain a steady chlorine reading during the season by manually adding chlorine to the pool. Knowing some t...

 Besides the significant issues I mentioned in the podcast, some other things are not disastrous but still fall in the "big mistake" category. 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 p...

Manually vacuuming your swimming pool and spa with a manual vacuum head and pool hose sounds simple and easy to do. Attach the vacuum head and hose, and you are good. But it can be a little more complex than that. I will be going over some do’s and don’ts in this article for you so that you can avoid making some typical mistakes. Vacuum System vs Manual or System Vacuuming   Pros: System vacuuming picks up both dirt and small leaf debris Affordable Easy Effect Cart Systems   Drawbacks: Time-consuming Not suitable for large leaf debris Everything goes into the filter unless you use a “waste” mode, but many filters don’t have a “Waste” mode.   Vacuum System Pros: Fast and effective with large debris It is not suitable for dirt under 75 microns. Although there are finer micron bags, they are not designed for complete vacuuming but for spot vacuuming. Convenient and easy to use Dirt and debris go into a debris bag You can purchase with a service cart Professional looking ...