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                            Q- Should I test my pool water for phosphates?
A- Yes. Quite often, maybe even the majority of the time, I find that phosphates are the culprit when algae blooms in a clients pool. I decided to start adding a phosphate remover on a weekly basis to all of my pools and have been much better off because of it. I tell my clients that basically phosphates are miracle grow for algae in pools. 

                            Q- How can I tell if my pool is leaking

A- Perform the bucket test.
     1-fill pool to normal level
     2-place a plastic bucket on the top step and add a weight (i.e. a rock) to keep the bucket in place
     3-add water to the bucket to match the level of the pool water.
     4-be sure to turn off water supply if your pool is equipped with an auto fill
     5-wait 24-48 hours and compare the 2 water levels
           *If the pool water level is lower than the bucket water level, your pool may have a leak.

                                                         
                           Q-Should I upgrade to a variable speed pump?

A- My advice for any pool owner is yes. A variable speed pump is not an expense but an investment, in my opinion. A traditional single speed pool pump runs at 3450 rpm's and typically consumes 2kwh. if you know what your electric provider charges per kwh, you can figure how much it is costing you to operate your pump. These new variable speed pumps are much more efficient. Even if you run a vsp(variable speed pump) at the same rpm's as your single speed pump, it will consume less energy. However, the genius behind vsp's is the ability to run them at much lower speeds for longer periods of time. By doing this, the kwh cost drops dramatically and the overall energy usage drops dramatically despite the additional runtime. An additional benefit to running your pool pump at slower speeds is filtration. Slower speeds create less pressure on the filter, which allows the filter to do it's job easier. Companies like Pentair provide online calculators you can utilize to get a ballpark prediction on how much you can save in electricity by switching to a vsp.

        

                          Q- Do you install variable speed pumps to save electricity?

A- Yes we do. Variable speed pumps can pay for themselves in a year with reduced energy consumption. In fact, these pumps have been known to save customers up to $1500 per year.

                          Q- Are salt water systems better than traditional sanitizer methods?

A- There are definite advantages and disadvantages to having a salt pool. A salt generator ( also known as chlorine generator,salt cell, salt chlorinator) uses electrolysis in the presence of dissolved salt (NaCi) to produce hypochlorous acid (HCIO) and sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO), which are the sanitizing agents already commonly used in swimming pools. As such, a saltwater pool is not actually chlorine-free; it simply utilizes a chlorine generator instead of direct addition of chlorine. In traditional chlorine pools, chloramines will build up in the water, reducing the amount of free chlorine and causing a chlorine smell, itchy skin and irritated eyes. This must be corrected by shocking the pool. By contrast, a saltwater generator constantly produces free chorine and through electrolysis, burns off chloramines in the same manner as traditional shock (oxidizer). As with traditionally chlorinated pools, saltwater pools must be monitored in order to maintain proper water chemistry. The salt cell will build up calcium and require periodic cleaning in the form of a mild acid bath.
 

          

                          Q- Do you install salt systems and service salt pools?

A- Yes. If you are interested in switching to a salt system for your pool, give us a call.

                          Q- How often should I change out the water in my pool?

A- When your TDS(total dissolved solids) are in excess of 2500 ppm.In normal drought free times, about every 3-5 years. If your pool filter has backwashing capabilities, it's much better to backwash often and avoid having to drain a lot of water at once.

                           Q- How do I determine how much water is in my pool?

A- First, determine the average depth of your pool by taking the depth of the deep end and adding the depth of the shallow end (in feet). Divide this number by 2. This is the average depth. continue below based on the shape of your pool.
       * square or rectangle
          Total gallons= length x width x average depth x 7.5


       * circular
          Total gallons = diameter x diameter x average depth x 5.9


       * oval
          Total gallons= long diameter x short diameter x average depth x 5.9

                           Q- How often does my pool filter need to be cleaned?

A- Typically, residential pool filters should be cleaned twice a year. The optimal times would be once in the spring and again in the fall. 

                            Q- Can chlorine cause my hair to turn green?

A- No. Exposure to metals dissloved in the water, particularly copper, iron and manganese cause your hair to turn green. When metals attach to the hair shaft and are oxidized by the chlorine, they can leave behind a green residue. Copper based algaecides can have this effect. Metal sequestering products can eliminate this problem.