Pacific Pool Care

If you live snow-free climates, you have kept your pool equipment running, removed debris, and kept the water in balance all winter right?

Right, I thought not.

The truth is, most people think they can just turn off their pump and let the pool hibernate for the winter. This is an extremely bad idea. Not only does it cause more work for you when you decide to start up your pool, but your expensive equipment WILL be damaged while it sits. You will have problems with seals, filters, motors and the pool surface itself. Hmm, sounds expensive. Well it is!

The best thing for you and your pool is to keep the equipment running for a short amount of time every day, keep the debris removed from your baskets and pool sweep, and keep the water balanced. In the long run, it will save you a lot of money and effort.

When it comes to pool chemicals, probably the most often forgotten is the clarifier. It may be because pool owners are not quite sure what the clarifier can do to their pool water, or maybe they just feel like their water is clear enough already? Well lets discuss why clarifier is good, and why we use clarifier on every pool we service.

 What is Clarifier?

Clarifiers come in many different varieties and types, but I am mainly going to talk about the clarifier we use for our professional pool service. The product is made by Vanson called Sea-Klear Natural Clarifier. It basically works by bonding with small particles in the water, which essentially makes the small particles bigger. This in turn allows your filtration system to capture them.

Why Clarifier?

Well, the use of clarifier is not only important for the look of your water, but it also helps when it is time for filtration system cleaning. If you use a cartridge based system, using the clarifier will mean easier cleaning. Sand based filtration benefits as well because it essentially improves the filtration of the sand and helps it filter smaller particles than normal, as well as improves the backwash process. And DE filters will be able to filter the water to a very sparkling state when you use clarifier.

How and When Do I Use Pool Clarifier?

You should use clarifier at three different times:

1. After a filter cleaning or change
2. Weekly as a maintenance dose
3. After heavy usage to help clear the water  

 Good luck and happy swimming!

 

 

Ok, call it a rant, or maybe even a lecture, but one thing is certain: Dogs are bad for your pool.

Besides the fact that they leave hair behind, which gets into everything by the way, they also carrie with them a bunch of dirt, feces, and the like. There have been studies that show dogs leave as much dirt in the water as 30 people. Yikes! What happens with all this dirt? Well, first the chlorine burns up trying to “digest” it, which means there is little to no chlorine left to actually keep the water safe. Then the remains get deposited into your filter, which in turn requires more frequent cleaning.

The dog hair issue can be a problem as well. The hair gets trapped in the skimmer, the pool sweep, the pool sweep filter, the pump strainer basket, and the pool filtration system. All of that hair can really cause the circulation of your pool to decrease, which can then promote algae growth.

So, I know your dog LOVES the pool. And taking an occasional dip is probably ok, but allowing your dog to swim in the pool frequently can not only cause problems with your equipment, but can also create health concerns for the human inhabitants.

Over the years we have seen many pools that appear to be nearly new but contain a hidden secret. The surface is clean, the pump is operating properly, even the deck is in good shape. Underneath all of that are sometimes hundreds of feet of coper and/or PVC piping. This is where a lot of problems start.

A pool is designed to be a completely sealed vessel of water. The water balance depends on that. When even the smallest leaks appear below or above ground, the balance can be difficult to maintain. Generally the first sign of a water leak is when you notice your are having to fill your pool up frequently, even during the coldest months of the year when evaporation is at its lowest level. To complicate things even further you may have an automatic water level device which slowly replaces the water as needed without any intervention. Many homeowners may never know there is a leak.

Leaks in the pool will cause a number of chemical problems, but the first thing you will notice is an inability to maintain proper sanitizer levels. Most pools can go a week between sanitizer application, some even two or three weeks depending on the weather. If you are having to re-apply sanitizer more than once per week, you may have a leakage issue.

Another water parameter that is greatly affected by a leak is the alkalinity level. You will notice the TA (total alkalinity) will be un-balanced even after balancing it perfectly a few days prior. The fresh water being added to the pool constantly will cause the pool to gradually match the TA of the fresh water. In most areas of the country, the TA of fresh water is below that which pool owners want. This means adding Alkalinity Up chemicals.

Over time, this small leak in your pool can cost you a lot of money. And your pool service person may end up charging you extra for them due to the extreme cost of maintaining a leaking pool.

There are a couple of ways to try and repair a leak. There are liquid "fix a leak" type chemicals that can be applied directly to your pool in hopes that it will contain the leak. The liquids work well with pressure side leaks that are less than 1/8" large. Your other option is to hire a leak detection service which will come out and use specialize equipment to try andlocate the leak. At that point you would normally dig the leaking section out and replace it.

So if you notice your are having to add a lot of water to your pool do not just assume it is from evaporation, it could be from a leak.

Cyanuric Acid (CYA), also known as "conditioner" or "stabilizer" is found in most chlorine products. It provides a type of "protective coating" for the chlorine to keep the sun from destroying the chlorine before it has a chance at doing its job. A good range is 30-50ppm.

Any product that contains Di-chlor or Tri-chlor contains CYA, which includes chlorine tablets, chlorine shock powder, and chlorine granules.

If your pool ever has a water replacement, you will more than likely need to add CYA back into your water.

 Your pool technician regularly checks for CYA, and if your levels are low, you will be notified.

 

If you have not done so already, now is the time to open-up your pool. During the winter, your pool and filter system build up with contaminants, sediment, and algae spores. Opening up your pool the right way is very important to the quality of your pool during the summer months. When we open your pool, we take care of everything for you. Give us a call….. 888.774.2169

We are a pool service and repair company in Galt, CA serving Sacramento and San Joaquin counties. To schedule an appointment, or to get a quote please call:

(888) 774-2169