Resources

Chlorine Floaters Matter

That blue and white piece of plastic that floats around your pool is more important than you may realize.  If you don’t have a chlorine floater in your pool,  you are most likely placing your chlorine tablets directly in the skimmer basket.  When left in your skimmer basket, highly concentrated chlorine is sucked directly into your pool pump, which can destroy pump seals (causing leaks) and pump baskets (causing jammed impellers). When the pump is not running, the chlorine tablet will slowly release chlorine directly onto the skimmer basket it is sitting in. This will deteriorate the plastic and cause it to crack and break apart over time.  Chlorine floaters protect your pool’s interior surface and equipment and allow for better chlorine distribution in general. It’s a small investment with a large payoff.  If chlorine floaters are not an option for you, you can install an in line/off line tablet chlorinator that taps directly into your pool equipment plumbing or a salt chlorination system.

Say Goodbye to Swimming Pool Foam

Is your pool getting that icky white foam and scum starting to form on the surface of the water. Does anything kill the look of your beautiful crystal clear water more quickly? You may be wondering what is causing this to appear and how can you get rid of it? White foam appearing on the water surface is usually caused by one of three things:
1. Low Calcium
2. High levels of polymer based chemicals (e.g. algaedcides, some clarifiers)
3. An air leak in the system (MOST common cause!)
There are really two ways to fix this problem: Change the type of algaecide you are using AND/OR check and fix any air leak issues.
How do you know which one (or both) of these is necessary? And do you do one of these . . . or both? To know the answer to these questions, you need to understand how they both work and how they relate to the problem. If you are experiencing foam build-up, give us a call and we would be happy to help you get rid of it.

Arizona New Pool Pump Law Effective January 1, 2012

If you own a home in AZ with a swimming pool, you’ll want to be aware that the AZ Legislature recently passed a law that requires new energy-efficiency standards for residential pool pumps, pool pump motors and portable electric spas. This new law doesn’t mean you have to run out and change your motor now, but it does require any newly installed pumps that are at least one horsepower or greater to meet the new standards. This new regulation is thought to be something that will ultimately help homeowner’s save money over time.

2 Simple Ways To Slow Down Calcium Buildup

There are 2 simple and easy things you can do to slow down calcium buildup. . . and neither one costs you a dime! The first way to slow down calcium buildup is to brush the tile line (water line) weekly. This two minute job has a big impact on slowing the calcium buildup, but yet it is something that many pool owners neglect to do. Calcium buildup can occur in any part of the pool that is under water. The most common place it occurs, though, is at the water line.

Another way to slow down the natural buildup of calcium in your pool (especially if you already have a known calcium issue with your water), is to backwash your pool frequently. That way, you are replacing saturated water with fresh water.  If you have any questions about your the calcium levels in your pool, don’t hesitate to call us.

Reduce Your Electricity Bill

What does pool filter cleaning have to do with saving electricity? Complete filter cleaning is not just a good idea, it’s a vital service that pays for itself in direct energy savings. The amperage draw (and therefore your energy cost) of your pool pump motor is reduced due to the dramatic drop in back pressure following a filter clean. This not only keeps your pool equipment functioning properly, but saves you money.
Filter manufacturers and swimming pool builders often require regular filter cleanings to ensure their warranties are not voided. They usually recommend filter cleans every 4-6 months, depending on which type of pool filter you have. Remember, back washing is not a substitute for pool filter cleaning.

Identifying Algae

One of the most common pool problems homeowners can encounter is algae growth. Letting your chlorine level drop is the culprit of most growth problems. The best deterrent is not to let the chemistry of your pool become unbalanced.

The most common type of algae found in pools is green algae. It looks like green slime. Green algae starts on the floor and walls and can quickly spread throughout if not treated. The easiest and most efficient way to kill green algae is to super chlorinate your pool with shock. Let the pool circulate overnight, then vacuum out the dead algae debris.

Mustard algae, aka yellow algae, is another fairly common type. It is usually found in shady area’s of the pool. Mustard algae is resistant to normal chlorine levels & is a bit more difficult than green algae to eradicate. First you must brush the entire pool surface. Next, you treat the pool with a copper based algaecide, carefully following the instructions on the bottle as not to stain the pool.

Black algae is the dreaded type that is the most difficult to kill. Black algae firmly root to the surface & grow a protective coating over its underlying layers. It looks like small green or black dots. You must first brush the pool with a stiff & abrasive brush. Immediately treat with silver or copper based algaecide. Let the algaecide work overnight, then vacuum the entire pool.

Is your pool pump keeping you up at night?

Noisy motors can almost always be attributed to 1 of 2 scenarios – poor prime and worn bearings.  Here are some causes and solutions for loud pool pumps:

POOR PRIME- associated with a low pitched (but loud) growling sound
You can tell if your pump is not priming well by looking through the top of your pump lid. If the water is filled all the way up to the lid, you are good. Often, it will appear as if there is no water moving inside the strainer pot at all. In this case, as long as you can verify the water is flowing into the pool, you have an excellent prime. If there is a lot of water turbulence, air bubbles or you can see that the pump strainer pot is less than ¾ of the way full, you have a weak prime or no prime.  Poor prime is typically due to clogged skimmer/pump baskets, suction leaks, filters that have been neglected and clogged pump impellers (common when pump basket is cracked).

WORN BEARINGS- associated with a high pitched squealing/grinding noise
If you suspect your pump motor bearings are going out, the screeching sound will be all the verification you need. There are 2 solutions:  Your bearings may need to be replaced.  If that is not the case, then your motor will most likely need to be replaced.

If you are experiencing an obnoxiously loud pool pump, give us a call and we will make sure everything unclogged, tested and running smoothly (quietly) again.