Swimming pool salt systems, chlorine generators, saltwater pools, salt water pools, sws, no matter how you say it, I don't think I want one.
It seems to me the potential for problems are too great.
I've read enough on my fellow bloggers page, The Pool Biz, to wonder why anyone would want one.
Assuming all he says is true, and I believe it is, because it all makes sense, not only makes sense, he backs it up with data to prove his points.
So much information it would take hours and hours to read it all, so far I've come close to reading it all.
Not one of his points has been challenged in a way to make me think he is wrong.
I don't know who he is beyond "The Pool Guy" at his blog.
He is, in my opinion, a champion of the swimming pool owner.
He has no ads on his page, does not promote his own pool service business.
The only thing he does on his blog is explain why salt is bad for you and your pool.
Here is a short list of the things I have learned.
Salt pools can cause some very bad staining.
Salt pools can cause some very nasty corrosion.
Salt pools can cause stone and concrete to fall apart.
Salt pools are bad for your yard, the soil that is.
Salt pools backwashed into the sewer system is bad, treated systems or storm drians.
Salt pools can cause explosions at the filter system.
Salt pools can eat away at your equipment.
Each of these things alone is enough for me.
Sure the manufacturers have soloutions for some of these little problems.
The problem is when you add up the things you need to do to combat the problems you are now doing more work and spending more money than you did just staying with that old chlorine feeder.
One point I have never seen mentioned on his page.
Don't get me wrong here I am not a survivalist.
I do think about how I would take care of my family in an emergency.
Earthquake or other natural event or even one made by other men.
In my mind I had always thought those with swimming pools would have water to drink and use if needed to survive.
Chlorine on hand to disinfect it as well.
Once you turn your pool into a salt pool I guess you would now have thousands of gallons of water and not be able to drink it.
I don't own a pool, but I see my spa as a source of life sustaining water if I need it. I wouldn't give up my generator or my kerosene heater or my big hot tub full of fresh water.
Read The Pool Biz blog and decide for yourself.
ps if I was a good speller I wouldn't need the spell checker...
blogger pleae fix the spell checker and the save function!
Types of Chlorine
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Swimming in public pools
Personally I am all swimed out.
There is little or no chance I would be swimming in a public swimming pool.
I am talking about apartment, condo, hotel or motel pools.
If you plan to swim in a public swimming pool, for the protection of you and your family there is one thing I would do.
Every time without fail, test the water myself.
Each day before any swimming starts, I would use my own test to see how the pH and disinfectant was reading.
I would not under any condition swim in a pool that uses anything other than chlorine for the disinfectant, period.
You can still get sick swimming in a pool that is perfectly balanced, the risk is much lower if it is in balance however.
I would not swim in a pool that has small children swimming, those still using diapers. I don't care what kind of rubber pants or other method is being used to contain their accidents.
You should buy and learn to use a pool test kit.
The test strips would be my choice in this case.
The directions are clearly marked on how to use and read the test results.
I have been called to service way too many public pools to make repairs and while there tested water to find them completely out of balance.
Clear water means nothing in this case.
Some of the worst water can be as clear as glass and sparkle like you wouldn't believe. Making them so very inviting.
Not only the issue of disinfectant needs to be checked, but the issue of pH as well.
A swimming pool with very low pH makes chlorine way over active. This situation could cause skin problems, eye burn and problems with your hair.
A pool with a high pH renders chlorine ineffective, so the chlorine level may read perfect and still be doing nothing. This too could cause eye, skin and hair problems.
The operators of a well maintained pool should not mind you testing it yourself.
If you get the evil eye while doing it, well, they already know it has problems.
Visit the CDC website find out more about these things.
Telephone consultation for swimming pool owners
There is little or no chance I would be swimming in a public swimming pool.
I am talking about apartment, condo, hotel or motel pools.
If you plan to swim in a public swimming pool, for the protection of you and your family there is one thing I would do.
Every time without fail, test the water myself.
Each day before any swimming starts, I would use my own test to see how the pH and disinfectant was reading.
I would not under any condition swim in a pool that uses anything other than chlorine for the disinfectant, period.
You can still get sick swimming in a pool that is perfectly balanced, the risk is much lower if it is in balance however.
I would not swim in a pool that has small children swimming, those still using diapers. I don't care what kind of rubber pants or other method is being used to contain their accidents.
You should buy and learn to use a pool test kit.
The test strips would be my choice in this case.
The directions are clearly marked on how to use and read the test results.
I have been called to service way too many public pools to make repairs and while there tested water to find them completely out of balance.
Clear water means nothing in this case.
Some of the worst water can be as clear as glass and sparkle like you wouldn't believe. Making them so very inviting.
Not only the issue of disinfectant needs to be checked, but the issue of pH as well.
A swimming pool with very low pH makes chlorine way over active. This situation could cause skin problems, eye burn and problems with your hair.
A pool with a high pH renders chlorine ineffective, so the chlorine level may read perfect and still be doing nothing. This too could cause eye, skin and hair problems.
The operators of a well maintained pool should not mind you testing it yourself.
If you get the evil eye while doing it, well, they already know it has problems.
Visit the CDC website find out more about these things.
Telephone consultation for swimming pool owners
Friday, February 08, 2008
Time table for killing common illness-causing germs
Click image for larger view.
Time table for killing common illness-causing germs
Free chlorine at neutral pH kills most bacteria such as E. coli 0157:H7 in less than a minute if the free chlorine is maintained at proper disinfection levels throughout the pool. However, a few germs are moderately (Giardia, Hepatitis A) to highly (Cryptosporidium) chlorine-resistant. The table above shows the approximate disinfection times for these germs in chlorinated water.
Above from the CDC website.
As you can see, even in perfectly balanced water it takes time to kill some germs.
If you or your children are sick, don't swim and risk getting others sick as well.
If you take care of a swimming pool please buy and use good testing products.
Test often and adjust chemicals as needed.
Chemical products other than chlorine may take much longer to kill theses germs.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Pool pump motor wired just plain wrong.
I got a call from a new customer once. I was very busy and I didn't need to add any more work to my schedule.
He said he really needed some help. Well, it was spring time and a lot of pool owners needed some help.
He wanted help that day, I was already trying to put him off till the next week. I asked what the problem was?
He told me that when he got within six feet of his filter equipment his feet would start to tingle.
He added that as you got closer it would become stronger.
Well, well, well... hmmmmmm....
A mystery service call. I like those.
Not only a mystery, but what sounded like what could be a real safety issue.
I arrived at his home, and as usual for that time of year, the cheers from the children "the pool man is here!"
He came out and greeted me in the driveway. Told me how happy he was that I had decided to help him out.
I still had a full book for the day, and the rest of the week in fact.
I wanted to check it, out fix it and go.
He led me around to the filter equipment. Sure enough my feet started to tingle as I approached the area.
I noticed a brand new Polaris booster pump. He never mentioned that he had been working on the equipment.
The current from the ground was not that strong. This was very strange.
I went to the truck for my tool bag and voltage tester. I then returned to the scene of the crime.
The first thing I did was to stick one probe from my tester into the dirt, the other probe I touched to the outside of the metal switch box.
To my surprise it was reading around 60 volts! WOW!
I was still about six feet from the equipment.
I asked him to turn off the breaker at the box inside the house.
Ok, no more tingle, no more voltage from the ground.
I opened up the back of the motor, it was three wires coming into the motor.
All colored differently, looking at it I didn't know if I had 110 volts or 220 volts.
I could have two hots and a ground or a common or one hot and a common and a ground.
The booster pump was not bonded, none of the equipment was bonded.
I unhooked all the wires, positioned them to stay wide apart, turned off his switch near the equipment.
Once all that was done I asked him to turn the breaker back on.
Before turning the switch back on, the one near the pump, I tested for voltage.
It looked like I had one hot, one dead, one ground or common.
I turned on the switch near the pump and now had two hot's and one ground or common.
This pool was old and I suspect it was built by the previous owner with no permit.
No permit, no inspections, in that area twenty years before was pretty much in the country.
So far it had a couple of problems, the switch to the pump was single pole not double pole and it had no bonding wire.
It also had no ground wire from the breaker box.
It had also been wired by the homeowner, when changing the motor, one hot to the correct connection, a common to the other load connection and the ground connection had been wired hot with 110 volts.
When he replaced the pump motor he reversed two of the wires.
After turning off the main breaker I placed the wires with both hots to load and the third wire to the ground.
Had him turn the breaker back on and I flipped the switch at the pump.
The pump came right on and no more tingle.
These pumps are able to run both high (220) or low (110) voltage, that is how his pump worked at all after his wiring job.
He still had power and the wiring arranged in a way it could run.
These motors have a switch or need to be slightly rewired to go from high to low voltage.
When you get a new motor it is almost always set to run high voltage from the factory.
If you wire it to low voltage it will run, but starts very slow.
If you wire one to high voltage that has been set to run for low voltage it will burn up the motor.
I buttoned up the back of the motor and prepared a bill.
While collecting, I told him, and noted on the ticket, that he needed an electrician to check it all out and at the very least install a double pole switch.
With the single pole switch he always had 110 volts going to the motor running or not.
I also said I would not run it until it was checked out by the electrician.
He agreed, although I knew he would not be calling anyone.
This guy was very lucky he didn't kill anyone.
I know of similar situations that have resulted in death.
Oh well... another day in the life of Swimming Pool Man.
He said he really needed some help. Well, it was spring time and a lot of pool owners needed some help.
He wanted help that day, I was already trying to put him off till the next week. I asked what the problem was?
He told me that when he got within six feet of his filter equipment his feet would start to tingle.
He added that as you got closer it would become stronger.
Well, well, well... hmmmmmm....
A mystery service call. I like those.
Not only a mystery, but what sounded like what could be a real safety issue.
I arrived at his home, and as usual for that time of year, the cheers from the children "the pool man is here!"
He came out and greeted me in the driveway. Told me how happy he was that I had decided to help him out.
I still had a full book for the day, and the rest of the week in fact.
I wanted to check it, out fix it and go.
He led me around to the filter equipment. Sure enough my feet started to tingle as I approached the area.
I noticed a brand new Polaris booster pump. He never mentioned that he had been working on the equipment.
The current from the ground was not that strong. This was very strange.
I went to the truck for my tool bag and voltage tester. I then returned to the scene of the crime.
The first thing I did was to stick one probe from my tester into the dirt, the other probe I touched to the outside of the metal switch box.
To my surprise it was reading around 60 volts! WOW!
I was still about six feet from the equipment.
I asked him to turn off the breaker at the box inside the house.
Ok, no more tingle, no more voltage from the ground.
I opened up the back of the motor, it was three wires coming into the motor.
All colored differently, looking at it I didn't know if I had 110 volts or 220 volts.
I could have two hots and a ground or a common or one hot and a common and a ground.
The booster pump was not bonded, none of the equipment was bonded.
I unhooked all the wires, positioned them to stay wide apart, turned off his switch near the equipment.
Once all that was done I asked him to turn the breaker back on.
Before turning the switch back on, the one near the pump, I tested for voltage.
It looked like I had one hot, one dead, one ground or common.
I turned on the switch near the pump and now had two hot's and one ground or common.
This pool was old and I suspect it was built by the previous owner with no permit.
No permit, no inspections, in that area twenty years before was pretty much in the country.
So far it had a couple of problems, the switch to the pump was single pole not double pole and it had no bonding wire.
It also had no ground wire from the breaker box.
It had also been wired by the homeowner, when changing the motor, one hot to the correct connection, a common to the other load connection and the ground connection had been wired hot with 110 volts.
When he replaced the pump motor he reversed two of the wires.
After turning off the main breaker I placed the wires with both hots to load and the third wire to the ground.
Had him turn the breaker back on and I flipped the switch at the pump.
The pump came right on and no more tingle.
These pumps are able to run both high (220) or low (110) voltage, that is how his pump worked at all after his wiring job.
He still had power and the wiring arranged in a way it could run.
These motors have a switch or need to be slightly rewired to go from high to low voltage.
When you get a new motor it is almost always set to run high voltage from the factory.
If you wire it to low voltage it will run, but starts very slow.
If you wire one to high voltage that has been set to run for low voltage it will burn up the motor.
I buttoned up the back of the motor and prepared a bill.
While collecting, I told him, and noted on the ticket, that he needed an electrician to check it all out and at the very least install a double pole switch.
With the single pole switch he always had 110 volts going to the motor running or not.
I also said I would not run it until it was checked out by the electrician.
He agreed, although I knew he would not be calling anyone.
This guy was very lucky he didn't kill anyone.
I know of similar situations that have resulted in death.
Oh well... another day in the life of Swimming Pool Man.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Swimming Pool Fence - Yes, you need one.
Through the years I have been over the fencing issue many times.
With customers, face to face.
Their best answer to NOT get one is always the same.
They are ugly.
Some of you may not like what I say here or how I say it.
When I get this I just want to shake them!
My reply is always as standard as their protest of ugly.
No sir... I'll tell you what ugly is.
Ugly is watching a dead body pulled from your swimming pool.
Ugly is being blamed, ugly is looking into every eye you see knowing they blame you.
The people who sell these won't talk to you like this.
But I will, If you do not lock your swimming pool area some how...
Shame on you!
I will now take the time to thank you for installing a fence.
THANK YOU!
I thank you and the life you may have saved thanks you.
That's it, that's all you get for doing it. YEAH!
If you don't, you may spend the rest of your days asking why?
Why didn't I install a fence?
OK lecture over...
Some nice easy to install pool fencing.
Just take it down when you don't want to see it.
Put it BACK! When you are not actually looking at your swimming pool.
If you can't do the installation work, hire a contractor,a pool service or a concrete hole boring company near you who would be happy to help on this.
With customers, face to face.
Their best answer to NOT get one is always the same.
They are ugly.
Some of you may not like what I say here or how I say it.
When I get this I just want to shake them!
My reply is always as standard as their protest of ugly.
No sir... I'll tell you what ugly is.
Ugly is watching a dead body pulled from your swimming pool.
Ugly is being blamed, ugly is looking into every eye you see knowing they blame you.
The people who sell these won't talk to you like this.
But I will, If you do not lock your swimming pool area some how...
Shame on you!
I will now take the time to thank you for installing a fence.
THANK YOU!
I thank you and the life you may have saved thanks you.
That's it, that's all you get for doing it. YEAH!
If you don't, you may spend the rest of your days asking why?
Why didn't I install a fence?
OK lecture over...
Some nice easy to install pool fencing.
Just take it down when you don't want to see it.
Put it BACK! When you are not actually looking at your swimming pool.
If you can't do the installation work, hire a contractor,a pool service or a concrete hole boring company near you who would be happy to help on this.
Hayward Super Pump Pool Pump - 3/4 HP - Pumps & Motors - Pool Supplies
Hayward Super Pump Pool Pump - 3/4 HP - Pumps & Motors - Pool Supplies
I did a little story yesterday about the Hayward Super Pump.
http://poolservicedirectory.blogspot.com/2008_02_04_archive.html
A couple of weeks ago I wrote review over at Aqua Superstore.
The thing about that review was I won a 100 dollar gift cirtificate for my efforts.
well I got a confirmation email today saying I did.
Pretty cool HUH?
They have alot of real nice pool, patio, lawn & garden stuff over there.
The links above will take you to the page with my review.
I want to thank them for the GC!
I did a little story yesterday about the Hayward Super Pump.
http://poolservicedirectory.blogspot.com/2008_02_04_archive.html
A couple of weeks ago I wrote review over at Aqua Superstore.
The thing about that review was I won a 100 dollar gift cirtificate for my efforts.
well I got a confirmation email today saying I did.
Pretty cool HUH?
They have alot of real nice pool, patio, lawn & garden stuff over there.
The links above will take you to the page with my review.
I want to thank them for the GC!
Maintain and Care for Your Pool
Maintain and Care for Your Pool
The link above will take you to the Lowes hardware website.
Another place to find all the swimming pool info and advice you need.
Like this little bit of information:
pH determines the water's acidity. Maintain pH for equipment and swimmer protection. If the pH is less than 7.2, use sodium hypochlorite to raise it. If the pH is higher than 7.6, use granular acid to lower it.
find it about 1/3 of the way down the page.
I spotted this some time ago, I went back today to see if it was still there.
I even emailed them to point it out, over two years ago.
When last I checked sodium hypochlorite was bleach or liquid chlorine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite
I suppose they are saying to add liquid chlorine to raise pH.
The pH of sodium hypochlorite is around and 11.
http://www.lenntech.com/water-disinfection/disinfectants-sodium-hypochlorite.htm
A little lower on the page they say if you need to raise the chlorine level to use a shock.
The pH of calcium hypochlorite is around an 8.
So if you add the sodium hypoclorite to raise pH, it will raise it, it will also raise the chlorine level.
If you add calcium hypochlorite to raise the chlorine level, it will raise the pH too.
The point is, information on the internet is not always right, even the help from the real big guys is not clear.
I use regular baking soda to raise alkalinity & pH... OH BTW they sell it over at the Lowes store.
*blogger please fix the spell checker & the save to draft!*
phone help for swimming pool owners
The link above will take you to the Lowes hardware website.
Another place to find all the swimming pool info and advice you need.
Like this little bit of information:
pH determines the water's acidity. Maintain pH for equipment and swimmer protection. If the pH is less than 7.2, use sodium hypochlorite to raise it. If the pH is higher than 7.6, use granular acid to lower it.
find it about 1/3 of the way down the page.
I spotted this some time ago, I went back today to see if it was still there.
I even emailed them to point it out, over two years ago.
When last I checked sodium hypochlorite was bleach or liquid chlorine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite
I suppose they are saying to add liquid chlorine to raise pH.
The pH of sodium hypochlorite is around and 11.
http://www.lenntech.com/water-disinfection/disinfectants-sodium-hypochlorite.htm
A little lower on the page they say if you need to raise the chlorine level to use a shock.
The pH of calcium hypochlorite is around an 8.
So if you add the sodium hypoclorite to raise pH, it will raise it, it will also raise the chlorine level.
If you add calcium hypochlorite to raise the chlorine level, it will raise the pH too.
The point is, information on the internet is not always right, even the help from the real big guys is not clear.
I use regular baking soda to raise alkalinity & pH... OH BTW they sell it over at the Lowes store.
*blogger please fix the spell checker & the save to draft!*
phone help for swimming pool owners
Fired pool boy says Britney isn’t ‘nice’ - Gossip Archive- msnbc.com
Fired pool boy says Britney Spears isn’t ‘nice’ - Gossip Archive- msnbc.com
YEAH, too bad for the pool boy.
I've been fired before for spending too much time with the Lady of the house.
So I kinda know how he feels.
I switched from "Pool Boy" to "Pool Man" after about a year in the business.
I wonder if maybe while hanging out he forgot to really service the pool.
Yeah, I've been fired for that too.
Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.
The Pool Boy in the story is Jack LaLane's son.
You know who he is if you're over 40 you do, if you're under, he's the juicer man on TV now.
Anyway old Jack has to be like 99 years old now.
So I wonder how old the son is?
If Old Jack was still spawning at 50 the Pool Boy must be fifty.
If Old Jack was still spawning at 70 the Pool Boy must be thirty.
If Old Jack was still spawning at 80 the Pool Boy must be twenty.
Now maybe... just maybe.... Old Jack may have something with that juicer.
Sorry, I Know the story is old news.
I couldn't resist commenting on the whole thing.
Telephone consultation for swimming pool owners
YEAH, too bad for the pool boy.
I've been fired before for spending too much time with the Lady of the house.
So I kinda know how he feels.
I switched from "Pool Boy" to "Pool Man" after about a year in the business.
I wonder if maybe while hanging out he forgot to really service the pool.
Yeah, I've been fired for that too.
Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.
The Pool Boy in the story is Jack LaLane's son.
You know who he is if you're over 40 you do, if you're under, he's the juicer man on TV now.
Anyway old Jack has to be like 99 years old now.
So I wonder how old the son is?
If Old Jack was still spawning at 50 the Pool Boy must be fifty.
If Old Jack was still spawning at 70 the Pool Boy must be thirty.
If Old Jack was still spawning at 80 the Pool Boy must be twenty.
Now maybe... just maybe.... Old Jack may have something with that juicer.
Sorry, I Know the story is old news.
I couldn't resist commenting on the whole thing.
Telephone consultation for swimming pool owners
Monday, February 04, 2008
The Hayward Super Pump
The Hayward Super Pump
This pump is a great pump.
I have always liked the Super Pump.
I use it for a service pump. My service pump goes through alot.
One day I will be vacuuming mud,
dirt and small rocks from a new swimming pool construction.
The next day leaves and slime from the bottom of a swamp pool.
Then the pump may just ride in the back of the truck for weeks before I need to use it.
It always starts right up, it can pull a prime when others won't.
I even use it to un-clog skimmers,
I just take a hose and pull the trash in the skimmer line out the way it came in.
It's convertable from high voltage 220 volts to low voltage 110 volts.
Low profile so it fits almost anywhere you may need to place it.
It has a big strainer basket, easy to see through lid.
It has two knobs to hold the lid on, easier to open than the screw type lids.
This high performance pump sets the standard for performance excellence and value!
All components are made of corrosion-proof PermaGlass XL for durability and long life.
And the heavy duty, high performance motor delivers super quiet and efficient operation.
Other convenient features include a Lexan see-thru cover,
exclusive swing-aside hand knobs for easy cover removal,
extra large strainer basket and a service-ease design for simple access to all internal parts.
For replacement or new pool installation, the Super Pump sets the standard of excellence and value.
Hayward super pump parts breakdown
This pump is a great pump.
I have always liked the Super Pump.
I use it for a service pump. My service pump goes through alot.
One day I will be vacuuming mud,
dirt and small rocks from a new swimming pool construction.
The next day leaves and slime from the bottom of a swamp pool.
Then the pump may just ride in the back of the truck for weeks before I need to use it.
It always starts right up, it can pull a prime when others won't.
I even use it to un-clog skimmers,
I just take a hose and pull the trash in the skimmer line out the way it came in.
It's convertable from high voltage 220 volts to low voltage 110 volts.
Low profile so it fits almost anywhere you may need to place it.
It has a big strainer basket, easy to see through lid.
It has two knobs to hold the lid on, easier to open than the screw type lids.
This high performance pump sets the standard for performance excellence and value!
All components are made of corrosion-proof PermaGlass XL for durability and long life.
And the heavy duty, high performance motor delivers super quiet and efficient operation.
Other convenient features include a Lexan see-thru cover,
exclusive swing-aside hand knobs for easy cover removal,
extra large strainer basket and a service-ease design for simple access to all internal parts.
For replacement or new pool installation, the Super Pump sets the standard of excellence and value.
Hayward super pump parts breakdown
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