Basic Pool Maintenance

Rob and Jane give great tips on what pool maintenance can easily be done by pool owners and how to do it safely.

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Summer Solutions for a Crystal Clear Swimming Pool

One of our Facebook Fans had a great question on prepping the swimming pool this summer for a long enjoyable season! We decided to post a blog that includes an emphasis on 2 key items for ensuring a crystal clear swimming pool.

# 1 – Professionally service your pool filter

• Why professionally??? Because we are entering into the hottest time of the year. If there is any chance of a clogged filter or a poorly maintenced filter, you will run a HUGE risk of dirty/cloudy water.

#2 – ALGAE FREE POOLS are 95% about properly balanced CHLORINE (SANITATION) LEVELS

Why you ask?…Chlorine is an anti-bacterial chemical that KILLS bacterial (Algae) growth and is what’s used to sanitize our domestic drinking water. But there is a little more you should know about chlorine levels before you go blasting your swimming pool with 4 gallons of liquid chlorine:

• Warm weather breeds algae, so whether you have a salt water pool or you are using traditional chlorine (liquid or dry tablet form) KEEP YOUR CHLORINE LEVELS on the HIGHER SIDE (3.0/ppm) this SUMMER.

• The down side of higher chlorine levels are this: Eye irritation, bleached swim suits, undesired odors, and it can be harsh on your pool plaster or equipment. By keeping your pH also balanced (7.4/ppm) each week this will help to minimized the chlorine consumption. However, you should also know that pH levels that are too low can cause the same effects with eye irritation and be harsh on pool equipment. It is all a subtle balance with a stronger emphasis on Chlorine levels. Check out some SECRET TIPS for a simplistic approach to GREAT water chemistry!

• SECRET TIP (Semi-Annual TEST): SALT WATER POOLS; check the sodium level (2700 – 3400/ppm) NO More, NO Less!

• SECRET TIP (Semi-Annual TEST): **FOR ALL POOLS; Check you CONDITIONER LEVEL (80/ppm) NO More, NO Less! So many people forget this step and it is equally important as chlorine is to a pool. Conditioner is what will retain the chlorine levels within your pool. Without it, 2 gallons of chlorine will become dissipated in 2 days on a hot summer day ~ trust me, the green algae monster will rear its ugly head if you don’t!

• SECRET TIP: Consider purchasing a Pool Rx Natural Mineral Purifier to add to your pool this summer. This product you can purchase at a pool supply store or online. What it does is help aid in minimizing the need to over chlorinate your pool to fight off the GREEN MONSTER. This device can be placed inside the pool pump basket or the skimmer basket and can treat up to 20,000 gallon pools. This will usually will last for 1 to 2 seasons before it needs to be replaced. Many pool pros use these to dazzle their customers with the crystal clear effect it has on their pool water and it is totally safe to use!

Invest a little up front this summer and a little GREEN MONSTER prevention in the beginning of the summer season will go a long ways! Not to mention it will leave you feeling totally stress free when it comes to your swimming pool maintenance. Happy swimming! Any comments or questions about this article, post them on Reliable Pool Solutions – Facebook! We will follow up with our best response and hopefully help others out as well.

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Why should I brush my pool plaster?

I’m sure many of you growing up wondered why your mom always made you brush your teeth, even when they didn’t feel “dirty”? I know that might sound like a bad example, but swimming pool plaster is no exception.

Why you say? Algae and dirt sediments are the reason. No, your swimming pool will not get cavities,  but similar to how plaque builds on teeth, algae begins to grow and build a thin, invisible layer on the pool plaster. Typically, this is not noticeable until you actually have a true algae problem, and by that time you may be in for a little bit of extra work to try and chase down the solution to resolving this all too common dilemma. A simple, light brush around the walls and steps of your swimming pool and spa will help to maintain your dirt and algae free swimming pool.

By doing this task once a week, it forces all of this undesirable issue into the suspension of the swimming pool water, which will in turn be circulated in through the swimming pool filtration system where it will collect until the filter is serviced again. The end result is a swimming pool with minimal amounts of dirt, debris and algea.

Happy Swimming!

Cabana Boy

Foamy Pool or Spa Water

There are many pool and spa owners that will come across some kind of foam in their pool and or spa.

One of the most frequent calls pool professionals receive is, “my spa has foam in it…what can I do?”  The reason for the foam has to do with the water chemistry. In spas, there is usually only about 400-500 gallons of water. Pending on how much it is used, you may need to change out your water a little more often. In spas the water chemistry changes often due to the changes in temperature of the water, the chemicals you need to keep in the spa to keep it balanced, what kind of equipment you have, etc. If you have a bigger filter, such as a diatomaceous filter, it will tend to filter the water a little better than the common small cartridge filter used in above ground spas. So make sure to keep these things in mind when you are trying to troubleshoot a pool or spa.

When water foams, it is caused by organic debris or high levels of algaecide concentration in the water. Or – in other words – your water is dirty. What you can do to resolve this problem is to make sure the water is balanced. Check your chlorine level, PH level and alkalinity. Once the chemicals are balanced, you may add some defoamer, which will stop the bubbles. Usually on a spa, also keep in mind that you will have to change your water every couple of months, pending on the spa usage.

When it comes to pools, if you see foam, it is usually the same reason that the spa would be foaming. Your water is dirty and has an accumulation of organic debris and/or high algaecide concentration. Once again, balance your chemicals and add a defoamer. In pools, you may not have to drain as fast as you would with a spa. Check the levels of total dissolved solids to determine if the water should be changed out or not. Remember, when draining a pool or spa, it is the best time to clean. Pools and spas usually require an acid wash as well. If it is an above ground spa or acrylic spa, an acid wash is not necessary.

On the refill of a pool or spa after cleaning, make sure to always balance your water. It’s always best to consult a pool professional for the cleaning and maintenance of your pool and spa equipment.

Happy swimming!!

Green Hair

Are you wondering what caused your hair (or your child’s hair) to go from blonde to green, and how to get rid of it?

First off, let me start by saying it’s not the chlorine that caused your hair to turn green, as many people often suspect. Chlorine and chemically unbalanced pools can cause the metals such as copper, iron and magnesium inside your swimming pool equipment to oxidize. Over time, it causes the metal in the pipes inside your swimming pool equipment to turn a bluish-green color as the minerals oxidize.  Hair naturally has a very porous structure, and will absorb the minerals floating around in the pool water, turning your beautiful hair green. Being that your hair is being slightly bleached by chlorine and from being in the sun, turning it an even lighter color, the green will tend to stand out more.

Don’t worry… there is a solution!

If you want a preventative maintenance, you may swim with a cap on. If you want to take it a step further, put some leave-in conditioner in your hair, and then put the cap on.  The leave-in conditioner will absorb into the hair, acting as a barrier, in addition to keeping the moisture in your hair.   Not interested in wearing a cap? Rinsing your hair with regular (not pool) water prior to jumping into the pool will cause the hair to absorb more of the regular water, rather than the chemically treated water found in the pool.

Now for a couple different ways to get rid of the green!

You can wash your hair with tomato juice. By washing your hair with tomato juice and leaving it in for a couple minutes, followed by a thorough rinse and shampoo, you will see a drastic difference. If that doesn’t work, you can always mix a ¼ cup of baking soda to some water and wash your hair with that. Leave it in for a few minutes and then rinse it all out. After you have rinsed well, wash your hair with a good shampoo and conditioner. There are also some great shampoos out there that may help take out the green.  Some of these products include; Paul Mitchell Shampoo One, Redken Chemistry Shampoo, Malibu 2000, or Joico KPAK Clarifying Shampoo.

Good luck swimming!

Why is my Pool Cloudy?

Cloudy water can be a frustrating situation for many swimming pool owners. Sometimes the pool water is clear all week, the kids use it all weekend, and by Monday, the entire swimming pool is cloudy. Other times the cloudiness in the water is noticed after a marked change in the weather climate, from clear skies to a torrential down pour of rain, for a week straight.  Sometimes the situation appears to be non-provoking in nature and for whatever reason the pool water is cloudy even after you’ve cleaned the pool filter last week. My best advice to you is always try and K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid ) water cloudiness good-bye!

The problem is finding out why your swimming pool water is cloudy. The way you do this is through a process of elimination. Start first by going through a series of basic checks to see if maybe it’s a simple fix that was over looked and needs to be corrected. Usually, it is one of two things that maybe causing your headache resulting from a cloudy swimming pool.

First: water chemistry

Second: proper water filtration.

Always start with checking the swimming pools water chemistry. This is an essential part and often parts of the water chemistry balance is overlooked or dismissed as not important. There are six key things to check for when you are dealing with your water chemistry.

Check Weekly:

1.)    Chlorine (2.0 to 4.0ppm)

2.)    Salt Level (2,700 to 3,400ppm) *if applicable.

3.)     pH (7.2 to 7.8)

Check Every 6 Months:

4.)    Chlorine Stabilizer (i.e. Conditioner) 30 to 80ppm; we recommend 60 to 80ppm.

5.)    TDS (Total Dissolved Solvents) Not to exceed 1,500ppm

6.)    Calcium Hardness Level 200 to 400ppm

Secondly thing to check is your water filtration system. There are 3 major factors to consider here to make sure the entire swimming pool is being filtered properly and the turnover rate for your swimming pool water is completed each day.

The first is thing to check is to make sure your swimming pool pump is running the minimum number of hours each and every day to ensure the total number of gallons of water is being cycled through the pool filter. For a single speed pool pump, the normal amount of time required to filter a complete cycle within your pool is 8 hours each day. For a pool that is operating with a new energy efficient variable speed pool pump, it is going to vary depending on the size of the swimming pool. Normally ranging between 8 to 24 hours per day.

The second is going to be the pool filter. Clean and inspect the internal parts of you pool filter. Any contaminants on the filter grids or filter cartridge need to be hosed off usually with a good degreaser. Any possibilities of cracks, rips, fading of filter parts should be replaced immediately. If not, you are just wasting you time.

Last thing to check for when it come to proper water filtration and circulation is any obstructions in the suction line, causing a lack of water flow to the filter, or perhaps, does the swimming pool have a water leak? A simple way to determine if you have an obstruction in your pool suction line is to look into your clear lid of your pump basket while the pool pump is on. If you see any bubbles, or if the pool pump basket is only half full, then your pool pump is not circulating water completely and there is a good chance you may have something inside the suction line. If you do not have a clear pump basket to visually see if the pump is being supplied adequate water volume, you can either listen for a change in pitch from the pool pump trying to pull water through it, or look at your pool filter gauge. If you have a single speed pool pump, then you will certainly notice an adequate pressure flowing through the filter. Filter pressure indications from variable speed pool pumps may be more difficult to notice because they are designed to operate at a lower and slower system pressure. If you are noticing an increase in water loss, or an increase in chemical consumption, you very well could have a leak.

All of these factors could contribute to cloudiness in pool water. Sometimes these problems can be more than one person can handle. If you find yourself in this predicament, seek out a swimming pool professional for further support and guidance.

Best Regards,

RPS Blogger

Dye to Detect…Urine?!

Is there a really such a thing as a chemical or dye that turns the pool water a different color when urine is detected?

For as long as there has been swimming pools, parents have been telling their kids the “dye” story in order to prevent them from peeing in the pool. Well, kids are kids! They are probably going to pee in the pool.  So is Rover…and so on. Hopefully, you can keep it to a minimum. It’s like that old theory that if someone is sleeping and you put their hand in warm water, they will have the “urge” to urinate…well, when they enter your pool or spa, they are basically jumping into a big glass of water.

Technically, there is no such dye that is used.  A chemical could be produced, but it would be hard to test a chemical that would only react to urine when there are so many other compounds in the water. Also think of the public pools. It would be one kid blaming the other and an absolute mess. It would also take a lot of time and money to produce such a chemical and at this point I don’t believe anyone has the desire, money or backing to work on it.

So for now, all you parents may scare your kids into using the restroom inside the house so that the water doesn’t turn purple or blue, or whatever mystery color you tell them it will turn.

In the meantime, keep your pool sparking clean by contacting a pool professional in your area.

Chlorine Stabilizer/ Conditioner

Summer is almost here – this is perfect time to give you helpful hints pertaining to water chemistry.

During the summer months you may need to check your chemicals more than once a week depending on the heat and usage of the pool.  It is always good to circulate your pool more during the hot months due to chemicals get eaten up by higher temperatures, additional swimmers, more usage, adding more water, etc.

There is one important ingredient to water chemistry that most people forget: Stabilizer/Conditioner.  When checking the level of conditioner in a pool, always make sure it is between 30-80PPM. This will stabilize your water and save you money. If your water chemistry is not balanced, it can end up costing you a small fortune because you will be using twice as much chlorine and acid, potentially causing an etching the plaster, and creating the need for repairs.  So, the bottom line is: Make sure to keep your chemicals balanced!

If you keep the stabilizer levels up it will stabilize your chlorine and pH levels so they don’t do a roller coaster effect and bounce around on you.  Some factors that add to the need of stabilizer on a consistent basis include:

• Adding fresh water to a pool (which dilutes the stabilizer)
• Swimmers  splashing and using the pool (eats up the stabilizer)
• Heat (causes stabilizer levels to decrease)

If you check your chlorine level on Sunday and it is 0.6PPM and your PH is 7.6, you will need to add some chlorine. If after you add chlorine you get a 0.6 reading 3 days later again, it is then time for some stabilizer. Your chlorine levels during average temperatures should stay consistent in your pool for at least a week. Remember if you use the pool a lot during these summer months, add water; or if it’s a hot week, and your chemicals will be diluted, be sure to use stabilizer.  Proper chemical balance is key to the wellbeing of not only you, your family and friends, but also of your pool’s equipment and structure.

Always consult with a pool professional when dealing with chemicals. To find a pool professional in your area, be sure to visit www.reliablepoolsolutions.com.