Swimming Pool Man

More good pool advice online... not

2008-06-12T18:12:00.000-05:00

Three Must Have Chemicals for Your Pool
from EzineArticles.com
http://ezinearticles.com/?Three-Must-Have-Chemicals-for-Your-Pool&id=327882

I won't re-post all of this artcle...

"1. Chlorine tablets come in dimensions of either one inch or three inch. You put chlorine tablets in your skimmer, usually 3 - 4 tablets at a time. During the summer months, when you use your pool every day, you should change your tablets every week."

"If you intend to use two skimmers, you will need eight tablets every week. You can purchase chlorine tablets by the bucket, containing 30 - 50 tablets. They are not cheap, approximately $80 a bucket."

What does "you should change your tablets every week" mean?
they should be dissolving... so nothing to change.

Chlorine added to a pool is NOT based on how many skimmers you have!

No mention of a test kit or the need to test anywhere in this great piece of advice.

BTW... chlorine pucks or tabs in a skimmer is not a good idea, they make chlorine feeders for that. Heck even a floater is better than in the skimmer.

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More misleading information about salt pools online.

2008-06-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

I did a search on Google (blogs) to see if my blog was showing up...
it is and so is a lot more.
The first link after mine in the search results is this one.
http://www.today.com/view/saltwater-pools-an-economic-and-environmentally-friendly-option/id-2141029/
Looks like the site name is Today.com
The title of the article is:
Saltwater Pools - An Economic and Environmentally Friendly Option
(We already know that's wrong.)
They blow all their credibility in the first three lines...
"For years, chlorine pools have been the most popular type of pool to own. But these days, saltwater swimming pools are gaining in popularity for a number of reasons. They’re easy, they’re budget friendly, and they’re more environmentally safe than chlorinated pools."

ummmmm ok class once again....
the salt we put in the pool is converted to the same chlorine we always used but now we make it ourselves.

OH MY!
it gets worse!

"Saltwater swimming pools are lower in chemicals, meaning those who own them don’t have to store and handle toxic chemicals on a regular basis. This also makes saltwater pools more environmentally safe. And that absence of chlorine means there are no overwhelming odors. If you’re looking for a pool with that doesn’t require as much maintenance, look no further than saltwater. Saltwater pools virtually clean themselves and..."

Lower in what chemicals?
I think not, higher is more like it.
well they still have to store everything chemically the ever had to (and more) except chlorine... of course.
errr once again... about the "absence of chlorine" the salt does not replace chlorine... it is the chemical you now use to make your own chlorine!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved finding this nonsense... it was published yesterday...

The next site on the list was not as bad...

http://optempo.com/2008/06/02/compu-pool-salt-water-chlorinator-kit-good-deal/
OpTempo
only one quote from them here:
"Apparently these units are self-contained chlorine generators so you don’t have to carry around dangerous and heavy buckets of chlorine if you use one."

ummm guess what.... 100 pounds of salt weighs just as much as 100 pounds of chlorine... you will be carrying plenty of salt to your pool... so that won't fly.

oh well...

I couldn't help it had to point it out...

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Salt water chlorine generators swg why wouldn't you want one?

2008-06-10T21:26:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow at 9:00am central I will talk about the information on "The Pool Guys" blog.

You can find The Pool Biz blog by The Pool Guy on the right side of this page under sites I like.
Read it then answer the question asked in the title of this blog.

Call in to the show if you would like to offer some input.

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Air in your pool filter system? Call me and we can talk about it!

2008-06-09T08:25:00.001-05:00

Today I will be talking about air in filter systems.

call in from 10:30 am central time today 6-9-08 till 11:00 am.
Call-in Number: (347) 677-0634

Missed the live show?
call me now

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Swimming Pool Man's audio blog live call in show @ 11:30 pm today.

2008-06-06T21:16:00.000-05:00

I'm doing it again at 11:30 pm central

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Swimming Pool Man's audio blog live call in show @ 11:30 am today.

2008-06-06T09:28:00.000-05:00

Tune in today at 11:30 am central time.

Stop by and help make my first show a success.
listen live.
What a great concept!
BlogTalkRadio.com let's you call into my show by phone or voice chat using their voip on the website. Either way it's easy.
call (347) 677-0634
from 11:30 am till noon.

it's all free!

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Telephone help for pool owners!

2008-05-28T17:34:00.000-05:00

Phone help for swimming pool owners!

Need to ask a simple question?
A little conversation could change your whole summer!

In-Ground Swimming Pool Liner Designer Pattern Selection

2008-05-28T17:19:00.000-05:00

Choose from 20 or 30 gauge patterns!

Pool Cover seeping water

2008-05-15T11:39:00.000-05:00

This pool cover was leaking all over. It is what happens to poly covers after a while. They de-laminate, or start to come apart. They are woven at their core. They do have coating over that weave. once the sun and weather destroy the coating the weave begins to seep water.

The cover pump had been running for some time and was showing no progress. I was slowly draining the pool through the cover.
When I can, and I have to be very careful. I place a leaf blower under the cover to raise the cover and run the water to the pump. This also lifts the cover off the water to stop the seeping and I can try to find where the seep is located.
This cover was seeping pretty much all over.
I had to get my big submersible pump to get ahead of the leak.
If you try this be careful... too much air or a cover too close to the edge will cause it to slide right in. Even in perfect conditions you can't just leave the blower forcing air in. It must be regulated, on a while, off a while.

Pump shaft seal

2008-03-10T17:06:00.000-05:00

Changing a swimming pool pump shaft seal.

This pump had a leaking shaft seal.
It took about twenty minutes to replace the old one with a new one.
The first step was to remove the eight bolts/screws holding the wet end to the motor.
After that the pump just slides apart.

Once opened the diffuser and seal plate are exposed.
The diffuser just slides off the seal plate.

To remove the impeller you will need to hold the shaft from the back side of the motor. This one uses a large screwdriver in the slot on the motor shaft. Some use a 9/16" wrench. While holding the shaft unscrew the the impeller.

The impeller holds the seal plate to the motor, so it too will come off once the impeller is removed. As you can see the seal plate "O" ring also came off.

The new seal is in two sections, the spring loaded graphite portion and the ceramic portion. The graphite portion goes on the impeller and the ceramic goes in the seal plate, the rubber side inserts in the seal plate . Just as you see in the photo.
Once you have placed the seal portions, place the seal plate over the shaft and thread the impeller back on the shaft. Set the new seal plate gasket, slide the diffuser over the impeller and slide pump back together. Install the eight screws alternate every other screw while tightening.

*you may click the photos for a larger view.

Pool Cleaning

2008-03-05T21:56:00.000-06:00

I cleaned this pool today.
The house is vacant and has been since Oct. 07.

Ok so what did I do?

I grabbed my test strips and the gate key from the secret hiding place.
I first looked at the equipment, seemed to be ok.
More trash in the pump than I liked. We have had some bad weather.
Then to the pool, tested the water, it was perfect.
This is a big pool, I opened all four skimmers.
(if the house was occupied I would never leave skimmer lids open)
I wanted to see how much change in skimmer suction I would have after I emptied the pump basket. I think the power must have gone off, a couple of the skimmer baskets were floating. That would explain the extra trash in the pump. I knew I would be going to empty the pump a few times. To be sure everything was gone from the bottom of the skimmer and the suction lines.

The only debris on the surface was collected around the Polaris Vac Sweep hose.
Plenty of dust on the floor, The booster pump motor is making too much noise for me and the absent pool owner says he will deal with it when he gets a contract on the house. Fine with me I was hired to clean the swimming pool.
There is some construction in the area and in the winter with the rain making the surface impossible to see through and cold frozen vacuum hoses it does not get cleaned each week.

It was nice today so it got the works.
I brought my equipment around. I took a bucket and cleaned each skimmer, basket and bottom. A pole and net to remove surface debris. Then a vacuum to waste to remove all that fine dust.

A couple of puonds of shock and off I go.

The water is very cold and the chlorinator is still removed to prevent freezing.
Very cold, balanced water holds chlorine for a long time.

How to find a swimming pool builder.

2008-03-01T07:14:00.000-06:00

Finding a pool builder used to be one of two ways, the phone book or the guy your friend used.
That was then, this is now.
I have been telling my fellow pool industry associates for years the people they want to serve are online.
My own website has been around longer than Google and thanks to Google and others like Yahoo I get all the business I can do.
The Internet has changed everything about how people shop for swimming pools and pool products.

I made a point some time ago about how a lot of pool companies have good websites and still don't do well in the online search results.
That is one of the reasons I have my directory site. I have discovered another way for both swimming pool builders and potential pool buyers to connect.

It looks like one of those "Win - Win" things. I don't see a downside at all.
There is a website that will send you up to five pool builders who all want your business.
These pool builders must meet certain guidelines to enroll.
Not only do they pay to be included but they must qualify by proving they are licenced and insured.

The things that are most important to me are, the pre-screening of builders and those builders are motivated to serve you.

The site I am talking about is www.FreePoolQuotes.com.
I asked Gregg the creator and owner of this site if he had any swimming pool background.
His reply was, "Nope. My background is in website design, development and online marketing."

That could explain why his site is doing so well.
It's a great idea and his site is nearly perfect.
For the swimming pool builder that wants to promote his current website it's great.
For the pool builder who has no website it's great.

For the swimming pool buyer it's even better.
One quick form filled out online and in 24 to 48 hours you have up to five swimming pool builders waiting to serve you.

www.FreePoolQuotes.com does not serve all area's yet.
Visit their site to see if they can guide you to a good pool builder.

Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - Maintenance

Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaners

2008-02-28T20:13:00.001-06:00

There a lot of things about caring for swimming pools that the old saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat" applies.
Automatic Swimming pool Cleaners fit that to a tee, I know another saying...

Generally speaking I have learned that like there are two basic types of pool cleaners, pressure side and suction side. There are two types of pool owners when it comes to some automatic cleaners. Those with greater scientific and mechanical aptitude and the time to take care of their pool. Then there are others who because of time or not being scientific or mechanical don't do as well or need more help.

I clean pools each week. I have for years and years.
I have learned some pool owners, those with the time and aptitude to adjust and monitor, love suction side cleaners like the Kreepy Krauly. I don't see this unit often because my customers don't have the time to work with a suction side cleaner. They don't want to deal with chemicals, cleaners or anything they don't have to.

I have seen the Kreepy Krauly do a fantastic job for those who will tend to it.

For most of my customers, I help them choose the Polaris series with a booster pump and timer. This way in the early hours before they get up, the pool gets swept down once a day.
A little tip, I have all my customers keep a second Polaris bag. The trash comes out of a dry bag much better. I exchange the bag each week, hanging up the wet bag and cleaning the dry one before I install it.

If you are a real proactive pool owner and you already do everything else the lower priced suction side may be the answer. The more passive pool owner would do better using the most automated system the can find.

Chemicals - Pumps - Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaners - Maintenance

Swimming Pool Inspection Form

2008-02-25T23:19:00.000-06:00

Click the image, print the form.
Call me and I will help you inspect your pool.
We can discuss each item as we go down the list.

Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - Maintenance

Swimming pool light blown, light won't work.

2008-02-22T11:47:00.005-06:00

Today my routine for checking out a swimming pool light.
Just like the one in the image to above.

The tools, if you can't use these tools you should not try to work on your own pool light.
Screw drivers, medium size straight and slotted, voltage meter/tester, electrical tape, needle nose pliers, thick towel, sharpie pen, safety glasses and gloves.

First I look at the pool light.
If it has water in the fixture, that's a problem.
A new fixture may be in order, often after being wet inside they are ruined.

If I see no water in the fixture and the bulb is not clearly blown. Blown looks like a dark spot one the bulb if you can see past the lens.

When I arrive I ask to see the pool light switch. I always start there. Pulling out a light to find a tripped circuit breaker is not a good thing.
I test the switch both on and off for voltage.
If I have power and voltage the switch and breaker are good.

No transformer skip down to next section.
Next the transformer (low voltage 12 volts systems).
When you turn on the switch to a transformer it will produce a low hum and faint vibration to the outside box. You should be able to feel and or hear this.
If it does this you have voltage in and probably out as well.
If not, there often is a reset button on the unit.
If it will not reset or will reset and still have no light.
You could have a short or a bad bulb.

I then find the junction box behind the pool light.
It's under the diving board or at the edge of the pool deck.
The transformer may be the last junction point.

I then test for 12 or 120 volts.
If I have it good, if not, why?

Now to pull the light.
To remove this style light from the swimming pool.
There is one screw, generally at the top of the light ring.
This is all that holds the light fixture in the pool.
If your light was installed correctly you should have enough cord to bring the light to the deck. Open up your towel and lay the fixture in it. Dry off the fixture.

Now notice where the corded end is in relation to the outer ring.
The single screw you loosened before may point at or near the the direction of the cord itself. No matter where it points mark the can portion with the pen so you will return it to it's exact spot. The face ring needs to be in the same spot after rebuild. It will make returning the light to the pool wall easier.

Next look at the lens, notice how the pattern is running. This too needs to be where it was. If not you could be directing light every where but in the pool.

Time to open it up, take the screws or compression band from the light.
You may have to break the seal to open the light. Take something thin and dull and slide it between the rubber gasket and the fixture.

Once open remove the old bulb, inspect for water or burned places in the fixture. Dry and or replace it.

If the light lens needs cleaning on the inside now would be a good time.
Remove the rubber gasket from lens and wash lens with dish soap.

I generally replace the gasket when changing a bulb.

Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - Maintenance - Bulbs - Gaskets

Swimming Pool Parts Catalog - Parts Ordering - Parts Breakdown Illustration

2008-02-22T00:29:00.000-06:00

Swimming Pool Parts Catalog - Parts Ordering - Parts Breakdown Illustration
chemical feeders - cleaners - lights - filters - filter elements - pumps - heaters - controls timers

A & A Mfg. Aladdin Allied Innovations American Prod. Anthony & Sylvan A.O. Smith Aqua (Aquabot) Aqua - Flo Aquapower Aquapure Aquasol Aquatemp Aquavac Astral Prod. Atlantic Autoclear Autopilot Baker-Hydro Balboa Baptistry Products Baracuda Blue - White Brett Aqualine Cal Pump Cantar Caretaker Clayton - Lambert Clearwater Coates Heater Comfort Zone Compool Cooper Industries Custom Molded Del Industries Danner Mfg. Eaton Mears Ecomatic Emerson Feherguard Flo Control Goldline Grid Controls Grundfos Pumps Harmsco. Inc Harwil Corp Hayward Hydrel Hydro Air Hydro Quip Hydrotech Intermatic J & J Elect. Jacuzzi Bros. Jandy Ind. KAFKO Mfg. K-D Pools King Tech. Kreepy Krauly Laing Len Gordon Letro Little Giant Lochinvar Magic Plastics Magnetek Marlow Mazzei Injector Muskin Nature 2 Odyssey Pac Fab Pentair Pleatco Polaris Poolco Pool Tool Poolvergnuegen Potter Brumfield Praher Premier Pres:Air:Trol Prozone Purex Quikclean Rainbow Raypak Richardson Rolachem S. R. Smith Seablue Skimpro Smart Pool Sonfarrel Soph. Systems Spa Builders Speck Sta-Rite Stenner Swimquip Tecmark Teledyne Laars Tridelta Tropic Air UltraPure Unicel Uniclor Vak Pak Val - Pak Vico W. Q. M. Water Ace Waterco Waterpik Waterway Wet Institute WMC Zodiac

Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - Maintenance

Opening a swimming pool

2008-02-18T22:18:00.001-06:00

I opened a pool today.
!8x36 liner vinyl liner.
Opened it by myself in about an hour and a half.

It had a solid safety cover. The cover was clean and ready to come off.
I loosened the spring straps all the way around. Lowered the strap anchors around the shallow end deck. So I wouldn't snag the cover. I just pulled it back about five feet, then folded every other seam to seam. It was a lot of back and forth grabbing the seams where you can. Worked the wrinkles out, rolled it up, pulled the bag over it, tipped it on my two wheeler and down to the shed.

I brought the rails back from the shed, placed the stair panel rail then the deep end ladder. Tightened them down with a half inch wrench. Don't forget the ladder bumpers.

Removed the gizmo's from skimmers and placed the baskets.

Installed plug in the filter, site glass and pressure gauge.
Small plug 1/8", in the Polaris pump.
Two plugs in the main Hayward pump.
Prime the pump and go.

Tested the water, added some shock.
The pool was a little cloudy and tested a little high in pH.
We will retest and adjust after it has been running a few hours.

Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - Maintenance

Shattering leak in a vinyl liner

2008-02-17T11:37:00.002-06:00

I was called out to make a dive call.
I needed to find a leak in a vinyl liner. I was still a rookie pool guy.
I could put on a wet suit and find a liner leak in cold water.
The pool was old and the liner was bleached out and hard as a rock.
I looked around and found a few small holes. I went back up and cut some patches.
To help hold me down I used a pipe wrench, I would place it in my weight belt.

The next thing that happened was like a scene out of a movie.
The pipe wrench fell from my belt. This was bad, when something like that falls you will have a hole to patch.
Well that's how it goes always, except for today.
The wrench was hitting bottom, deep end floor.
The liner cracked a little, a star shape, about four inches.
Just as I reached for the pipe wrench, the liner split in every direction.
Just like watching glass break at every angle. It seemed slow motion for a short while.
The moment it happened I didn't really understand what was happening, I mean all around me in an instant the pool walls were splitting open.
This was a sand bottom pool and the sand was now pouring into the pool.

I had already told him the dive to patch may or may not work or even make things worse.
We had talked about him really needing a new liner. He said he would fill it in first.
That's what he did.

Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - Maintenance

Very acid water

2008-02-15T17:07:00.000-06:00

I was called out to service a swimming pool. It was a little old lady, she was a widow. She said since her husband died she had been taking care of the swimming pool herself. She had remembered he had told her to just add chlorine pucks to the skimmer and throw some granular into the water.

When he died he had a large supply of both types of chlorine on hand.
She had been taking care of the pool all summer herself.
He died right after the pool had been opened in early spring.
It was now very late summer almost fall.

She had called me out because her pool was losing water and her pump had quit working.
Well... she told me the pump had stopped weeks before and the pool had just started leaking.
I could see the pool from her backdoor where we were talking about it. The water was clear. This was surprising since she had said the pump had stopped weeks before.

As I walked up to the pool I was shocked! The water was crystal clear the debris in the bottom was all bleached white.
Her ladder was completely eaten away at water level. Her pool light was gone, all that remained was the glass lens cover and a little of the cord in the bottom of the pool.

The pool was very old, forty years or more.
Her old pump was the open face impeller brass seablue, it too was mostly gone, simply eaten away.

Her swimming pool was a bowl of acid. The tabs she had used before the pump quit were tri-chlor, very acidic. The shock she had was also tri-chlor.

I don't know but I suspect the pool was now leaking from the light niche finally being eaten through.

I felt really bad for her, this pool was a total wreck.
There was nothing I could for her. I sure was not going to dive in the pool to find and patch the leak. I told her she needed to either fill it in or get it completely remodeled. I gave her the names of a couple of guys who could do either for her.

You need to check the pH of your pool water, it will really cause problems if you don't.

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A fine example of trash advice for pool owners.

2008-02-13T22:49:00.001-06:00

This kind of total nonsense is all over the Internet.

Brought to you by E-How dot com
How To Do Just About Everything

Click here to see the page for yourself.

The page is titled "How to Clean a Cloudy Pool"

Pool water becomes cloudy due to inadequate cleaning and limited usage that causes the water to become stagnant. Failure to maintain a pool creates a variety of problems that ultimately make the pool water polluted and cloudy. Follow these steps to clean and maintain the water in your pool.

The paragraph above is what caught my eye right off.
Hmmm ok... "limited usage that causes the water to become stagnant"
I have pools owned by older folks that are never used, they aren't STAGNANT.
The fact is pool water that is moving (by running the pump), filtered and chemically treated will not become STAGNANT.

Now to the steps to follow.

Things You’ll Need:
Mesh pole
Pool vacuum
PH indicator device
Water purifying chemicals

What is a mesh pole?
I have never seen or used such a thing.

Step 1:
Diagnose the problem that is causing the pool water to become cloudy. If covered, remove the pool cover. Expose the pool to sunlight as it is a natural sanitizer and helps kill germs and avoid algae build up.

I wonder... if it is covered how did you know it was cloudy?
So sunlight kills algae and germs... really?
I gotta tell you, algae are plant life and they love sunlight.
It is also highly unlikely that sunlight is going to sanitize a pool with germs.

Step 2:
Run the filter for a few hours or and clean any debris floating on the surface of the water with a mesh pole. Remove algae growth from the base of the pool with a pool vacuum.

Ahh the mesh pole again... for removing debris on the surface.
Then just vacuum that algae away.
WOW I am learning so much here on the E-How website.

Step 3:
Test the PH of the pool water. A high PH increases acidity and causes the water to become hard. It also promotes cloudiness and bacterial growth in the pool. Let the pool filter continue to run for at least 12 hours or until the pool seems clean. Test the PH again--it usually comes out normal after the pool has been properly sanitized.

I think they have it a bit backwards here... high pH is base NOT acid!
Run the filter 12 hours or till it SEEMS clean... ahhh ha I see.
Ok so if I sanitize the pool it will adjust the pH... ok! got it!

Step 4:
Add a water purifying chemical to the water to get rid of the remaining cloudiness in the pool. Follow the manufacturer recommendations. Test the PH again. If the cloudiness remains, continue running the filter. Use chemicals in the pool water every four to six weeks.

A water purifying chemical?
HUH? WHAT? Oh yeah I can find that in the list of things I needed... oops my bad.
Use chemicals in the pool water every four to six weeks <--- this is what caused the whole cloudy issue in the first place, I do believe.

Tips & Warnings
Regularly clean your swimming pool to prevent cloudy water.
Run the pool filter every day for at least three hours.
Clean the filter twice a week so that it effectively removes cloudiness from the pool. Add oxidizing chemicals to the skimmer regularly to remove any bio-film.
Remove pool toys after each use as they contribute to pool cloudiness and bacterial growth.

Yeah... good advice on the tips and warnings.
Oh please...
Three hours a day running time should be sufficient turn over time, for your blow up pool!
ok do not add oxidizing chems to your skimmer,
I think I covered this here.
BIO-FILM? What? where did that come from?
Pool toys do attract debris, it collects around them then the trash gets water logged and falls to the bottom of the pool, they DO NOT contribute to pool cloudiness and bacterial growth.
The tips and warnings should say DO NOT follow any of these instructions!

Whoever wrote this should have done more research.
Just another fine example of the things pool owners find when they need real help.

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Sand filters - when to backwash

2008-02-12T20:46:00.000-06:00

I don't know if this post is about when to backwash a sand filter or if it is about the nonsense I read on the swimming pool forums.

I guess some people read books or watch television for entertainment. Lately I just cruise the questions and the awful replies to those questions on the swimming pool forum boards.
I no longer answer or even log into any of the boards I read. I don't care to debate any self described experts or spend thirty minutes trying to make a point that clearly would contradict the previous expert opinion.

It blows my mind to read the answers of those who just dole out "matter of fact replies" to pool owners who need real answers. I guess what prompted me to write about sand filters was the simple question of "Do I backwash each week like my local pool service said or to backwash at the 8 to 10 psi increase that the filter instruction call for?".

To keep things simple, just do it each week while you do your other pool chores. Load your chlorine feeder, empty your baskets, clean your pool sweep bag, vacuum your pool and backwash your filter.

To make it a little more complicated, yes the instructions are right.
However to get an accurate reading all things must be the same as when it was last checked. Meaning, if the pump basket was empty, as well as skimmer baskets, when you read the pressure they must be empty when you recheck the pressure. So too must all valves be positioned exactly where they were at the time of the initial reading.
If the automatic pool cleaner was attached to the wall when it was read at first it must be attached when you re-read it.
There could be other things unique to each pool that must be set or adjusted just like they were at the first reading.

The second bit of nonsense I read about was the pool filter level of filtration, the micron level. I won't go into all the plain crazy talk on the forum here.
A sand filter will filter about 60 microns at start up and as the sand compacts it will go down to about 25 microns. This is, on it's best day, like when the sand is brand new and when all is working perfectly.

So as time passes and the sand compacts after a backwash it does begin to filter finer particles. Sure you could wait it out and make sure "all is the same" with each reading you take. Some pools could take weeks to reach that 8 to 10 psi increase. Filter sand tends to try to congeal as time passes. Dust and debris combined with body oils and lotions make it tend to become gummy over time.
I have found it best to stir this sand up weekly to get the longest life from your filter sand. Holding out for the big 8 to 10 psi increase may in the long run, cause you to need the sand replaced sooner.

We need to keep in mind the guys who manufacture these things are not trying to only teach you pool operation they are trying to cover their butts too. The top of that filter can blow off if left unchecked, I have seen it happen, blowing straight up and into the overhang of the house.

The guys at your local pool service are the ones I would rely on as far as most operational suggestions go. They are in your area and perhaps in your backyard as well, looking you right in the eye, unlike the guys that wrote those instructions.

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Chlorine pucks or tabs in the skimmer.

2008-02-11T07:48:00.000-06:00

Placing chlorine pucks or tabs in your skimmer is not really a great idea. It is always best to use a chlorine feeder to deliver chlorine to your swimming pool water.

I remember an old Wal-Mart commercial they used to run on television. They would say "just drop a couple of these in your skimmer". Everytime I saw it I would think to myself, yeah, if you do it won't be long till I am at your home making a repair.

What happens when you do this?
The first thing is you get a blast of chemical running through all of your equipment on it's way back to the swimming pool. It's a pretty heavy dose coming out those return lines. Not the place to be while in the pool, a little too strong for some swimmers as far as the skin, eyes and hair.

Why not put a chlorine puck in the skimmer?
Chlorine pucks and tabs have a very low pH. I am talking about the typical stabilized tri-chlor type chlorine. The pH of these is about a four on the pH scale.
That is very acidic, far too acid for most of your equipment. As this acid water is drawn over and through your system it is eating away any metal parts and distroying any rubber parts it comes in contact with.

Let's follow the path it takes. The first stop is the skimmer valve, if it is a metal valve it is taking some metal with it on it's way through the system. If it's a plastic valve it is causing the rubber seal in the valve to deteriorate and swell.
Making it harder to operate the valve as time goes on.

The next stop is your pump shaft seal and diffuser screws along with the rubber gaskets in the pump.

The next stop is the multiport selector valve, just like with the skimmer valve the metal spring inside is being eaten away as well as the rubber gasket being ruined. This too will become hard to work to different positions, soon it will allow water to bypass the filter and either return to the pool as unfiltered water or allow the water to trickle out the waste port.

Next stop is the pool heater, this could be the worst of the trouble. The heat exchanger is made of copper, a soft metal anyway, these can be eaten away from the inside out in just a few days.

Where did all that metal go?
It went back into your swimming pool, in solution, like liquid metal.
What happens next depends on your pH and what other chemicals you have in the water.
If you have a good pH and some metal remover it may not show up as a problem for some time. It could even with good readings begin to show as a green tint to your water.
If your pH is low you may not notice anything until someone jumps in with normal color hair and gets out with green hair.

So how did that happen?
The pH of the swimmers hair is about 7.4 the pool water pH is low and contains that liquid metel mentioned above. Much like silver plating the metal has attached itself to the hair shaft and the chlorine has oxidized it, turning it green.
Just like the old copper pennies used to turn green from oxidation. Chlorine is an oxidizer, thats how it's kills the germs.

The next thing you may notice is when you add chemical to raise this low pH your pool walls and floor are becoming stained.
Again the metals are plating, only now on your swimming pool finish or the plastic parts in the pool.

For those that run their pool pump twenty four hours a day this is bad, for those who run part of the day it's worse. When turned off the water and chemical trapped there works even harder to ruin your equipment. Those who have a vinyl liner may notice a light bleach streak running down the wall below the skimmer, acid is heavier than water and that puck just sitting in your skimmer is acid.

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Coupon Code: W5AFF03

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Swimming pool salt systems, chlorine generators, saltwater pools, salt water pools, sws

2008-02-10T13:25:00.000-06:00

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!

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Coupon Code: W5AFF05

Swimming in public pools

2008-02-09T07:32:00.000-06:00

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.

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Time table for killing common illness-causing germs

2008-02-08T07:39:00.000-06:00

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.

Pool pump motor wired just plain wrong.

2008-02-07T08:55:00.000-06:00

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.

Swimming Pool Fence - Yes, you need one.

2008-02-05T19:51:00.000-06:00

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.

Swimming-Pool-Safety-Fencing

Hayward Super Pump Pool Pump - 3/4 HP - Pumps & Motors - Pool Supplies

2008-02-05T17:44:00.000-06:00

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!

Maintain and Care for Your Pool

2008-02-05T12:20:00.000-06:00

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!*

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Welcome To The Official Esther Williams Website

2008-02-05T00:54:00.000-06:00

Welcome To The Official Esther Williams Website

I was trying to think of celebrities who were national spokesperson's for the swimming pool industry.
Esther Williamswas the only one I could think of and I'm not sure she ever did any swimming pool promo work.
It is her name on a very large swimming pool brand.

Her short bio page will help let everyone know who their swimming pool is named for.

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Fired pool boy says Britney isn’t ‘nice’ - Gossip Archive- msnbc.com

2008-02-05T00:23:00.000-06:00

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.

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The Hayward Super Pump

2008-02-04T07:34:00.000-06:00

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

$10 off a $50 Purchase
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Brand new swimming pool liner ripped.

2008-02-03T13:17:00.000-06:00

The company I worked for installed a new liner once.
We had it filled,water balanced and running.
We handed the pool over, said goodbye,
That was friday morning.

Monday morning she was calling about water loss. YIKES! we hate to hear those words.
I was the lucky tech assigned to the case.
I got there and as I walked through the gate I could see the pool.
It looked very strange from this far angle. As I got closer the sides seemed to be moving in waves.
I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. I ran to turn off the pumps and water hose.
Back to the pool, as the motion of the water calmed down I could see it all.
About every foot, running in vertical lines on the walls there was a slice in the liner.
Here and there accross the floor the same thing.
Some of them were only an inch or two, others a foot or two.
I was shocked, how could this have happened?
Vandals? Those damn Vandals!
But why such even cuts? And why so many?
They were all the way around, spaced very evenly.

This was too strange... I pulled up a chair to sit and think.
She was gonna want an answer. So was the boss.
I sat there just staring at the pool, I then started scanning the area around the pool.
I saw a new vacuum head box...
I looked around to see the vac head, I could see it, I could see the bottom too.
There on the bottom, a little glint of something shiny, I knew this was wrong.
The vac head was really a gunite type head. Flat with eight wheels.
It had one of those springs to push the head down harder.
One end of the spring had pushed through the bottom of the vac head.
This lady sliced and diced her liner while vacuuming.

Moral to the story?
Always check your vac head.
Never struggle with a vac head and a liner, unhook the hose at the skimmer or vac line.

If your liner needs a patch.
If it needs a patch on any of these think about a new liner:
Seams, very hard to seal for a rookie.
Radius area, what I mean are stressed areas in corners,
and where the floor meets the wall.
tears over a couple of inches long.
Don't get me wrong, the newer the liner the better patching will work.
So new liners will take patching better.
The bonding material reacts better to new vinyl.
Not only that, larger holes on old vinyl, not only have trouble adhearing,
The rate the new material expands and contracts, as well as expansion from water pressure.
New viny liner material will stretch, old liner material won't.
They don't match on larger holes.
Trying to patch is always better than not. It could last forever or you may have to repaet each season or more.

NOTE- when you get a new liner save any vinyl material trimmed out.
no better patch material when needed. same age and pattern.

Mystery leak?
The only way to find it in a liner is to look for it.
You need a nice day, some goggles, maybe a dye test tool and some time.
I start at the shallow end wall at the top and circle the pool till I've checked every inch of the walls.
Then I start on the shallow end floor, back and forth, till I reach the deep end floor.
Then the hopper walls.
Any places you think look like a hole, squirt some dye in front of it,
if it draws it in the hole you have a leak there.
If your liner is loose with water behind it the dye won't work.
When in doubt patch it.

I cut patches about twice the size of the hole.
Patches are never cut smaller than a quarter.
Small holes get round patches, larger ones are sized as needed with rounded corners.

If you have patches under water the prep is more glue!
A good heavy coat is better, lightly fold the patch glue to glue and dive to your hole.
Open it back up and center it over the hole.
From the center out smooth the patch, some glue should be coming out.
You should now have plenty of glue on your hands, this is why you work from the center out, sliding your fingers off the patch.
So you don't lift your work back up with your sticky fingers.
Use a very gentle touch to help set the patch.
Check it a couple of times over the next half hour, if the edges raise up just gently pat them down.

If you don't have glue in your arm hair and maybe your head hair, you did it wrong.
Oh and you'll have to cut or pull out any gluded hairs or hair.
You were warned.

The links below will take you where you can buy dye tester and patch glue.
I use the same products, find them under liner/liner assy. I think.

$5 off a $50 Purchase
FREE Shipping
Coupon Code: W5AFF02

$10 off a $50 Purchase
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Swimming pool help FAQ, message board and blog pages.

2008-02-02T08:05:00.000-06:00

Swimming pool FAQ, message board and blog help pages.
The internet is loaded with places to find tips, tricks and free advice for your swimming pool.
The answers to swimming pool questions found there are often as varied as those who run those sites.
Some of the swimming pool FAQ's are part of a site that has FAQ's on hundreds of topics.
Frequently asked questions is what FAQ stands for, it could as well mean frequently answered questions.
Often the mix of answers is as varied as the users who visit there.
A simple question often has hundreds of answers, from the correct to the down right silly.
Many of these sites should adapt the wiki method and just let everyone fine tune one answer.

Message boards are another place where getting good answers is a hit or miss affair.
They try to have a conversation using short questions with short replies.
Often the message boards are run by true swimming pool experts who monitor those pages closely.
Others are run by someone who has had a week or two experience in the pool business and now know everything about all pools.
Some are filled with all kinds of pool owners and service people who tell about how they solved the issue at hand.
Still others I fear were created and run on their own, never really monitored at all.
Often I see answers to questions that I believe have to be placed to cause confusion.
Then there are the ones where, it seems to me, are simply a place for a few people to battle it out.
Not really wanting to help anyone, the only gaol is to have the last word.

The blog type help pages may or may not cover the topic or issue for which a pool owner needs answers.
I have a swimming pool blog, I try to post what I know about the things I think might be helpful.

While all these sites, FAQ's, message boards and blogs, can be very helpful they can also be very confusing.
The main problem is the lack of real communication. Every swimming pool is different.
Many times what seems to be an issues related to one thing is caused by a couple of things.
While we know there are all kinds of equipment combinations from all kinds of manufacturers.
Also we know the construction of each pool is not the same.
Something as simple and direct as the plumbing to and from the swimming pool can be slightly different on ten out of ten pools.
The location of the equipment in relation to the pool can alter the way you might expect it to run.
What may seem a simple question often leads to several more questions to find out the real issue.

As an example, the pool owner wants to know why their skimmer does not work?
Well to answer I need to know:
Is it tied to the other skimmer or main drain? Is the skimmer line valved at the system? Is the filter pressure normal?
Did the problem start while you were doing anything? Was it a gradual or sudden thing?
And so on...
More questions to answer the one main question.

The only real way to do this is to have a conversation.

Thanks for stopping by.
If you need some help, lets have a conversation about it.
Call me!
1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 02507429

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Swimming pool pump cut away view.

2008-01-31T13:07:00.000-06:00

Let's look at the pump guts.

Starting at the motor and moving to the front.
The motor turns at 3,450 RPM (revoloutins per minute), well the shaft does, the motor itself does not turn. The motor shaft is turning the impeller. These are the only parts moving when the pump is switched on.
The impeller is what is moving the water. Most pumps today use what's called a closed face impeller. Back in the day, as they say, they were open faced, and made of bronze or brass, now they are made of plastic.
Much like a propeller on a plane or boat motor, the rotation causes movement, in this case it's moving water.
Inside the impeller are vains that look like small propeller blades.
Water enters a small opening in the front center of the impeller, as the impeller spins it is ejected out the side through the vains.
Then inside the housing the water is diverted up and out of the pump.
The vains in the impeller are very small, only slightly larger than the holes that line the strainer basket.
Now on to the rest of the pump.
The water enters where it's marked influent line, or better know as the pump suction.
The water is pulled through the strainer basket into the impeller, at that point the water becomes pressurized. It then leaves the pump at the point in the diagram marked effulent line, or what we call the pressure side of the pump.
There you go, that is about it.
A little about pump problems now.
Slow or weak to prime, or low pressure could be trash in the impeller. Generally this is because the basket is broken or during the basket emptying process some trash/debris was left in the bottom of the pump strainer housing.
Pump leaks, if leaking from the bottom it is most likely the shaft seal or housing gasket or a broken or loose drain plug.
Leaks from the pressure output, the pipe in the top of the pump, are generally caused because the pump was allowed to run dry, low pool water level or too much trash in the skimmers. The plumbing overheated, when running dry your pump can reach 180 degrees pretty quickly. This is too much heat for the white schedule 80 pvc pipe. Once it reaches this temp it expands a little, then cools down and shrinks to smaller than it was to begin with.
If you have air in your system this too could be from the pump running dry and causing the fitting on the pump suction, in the front, to shrink and now allow air in while it draws water into the system.

Hope this was helpful.
Thanks for stopping by.

Swimming Koi Fish- red mouth

Swimming Koi Fish- red mouth

These brightly decorated versions of Japanese Koi swim with life-like action. Operate on 2 "AA" batteries (not included).
$19.99

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

TV in Japan: Dude Blows Perfect Bubble Rings Underwater

2008-01-30T19:32:00.000-06:00

A little fun.

A guy in Japan blowing air rings underwater.TV in Japan: Dude Blows Perfect Bubble Rings Underwater

Swimming Koi Fish- red mouth

Swimming Koi Fish- red mouth

These brightly decorated versions of Japanese Koi swim with life-like action. Operate on 2 "AA" batteries (not included).
$19.99

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Chlorine and the gas fumes at your home.

2008-01-29T07:30:00.000-06:00

If you store your swimming pool chemicals in your garage, shed or storage closet you soon if not already could be sorry. That is a fact.

Two quick stories from my own personal experience.
Both spring pool openings.

I asked the lady where her pool ladder was?
In the storage shed she says.
I could smell the chlorine as I opened the door. There on the floor were the ladder treads, one side rail against the wall the other one the floor. Oh yeah, I love finding things like this. Well it's interesting, I feel bad for the customer to have to learn this in a real hard way.
So I go get the lady. I was telling her the chlorine had caused the ladder to fall apart. She was asking how could it? It's not even in the pool.
We got to the shed door and she went to pull it wide open and it fell off the hinges. It was so hard not to laugh. Strike one, you can see the ladder, so strike two, now I pointed to the ladder, she wanted to see it closer. The lawn mower was in between us and the ladder. She says move the mower, I grab the handle and it comes off in my hand, I'm about to die laughing now. She too is now finding a little humor in it.
All this caused from a chlorine container that was not sealed well and located in a damp environment.
No metal object in that room was untouched, in fact everything, metal or not was affected some how.
This was a major loss, all her garden tools, lawn furniture, hand tools and misc hardware.

Part two.
Same story different customer.
Where's the breaker box?
In the closet off the garage she says.
I open the closet door and the smell was there.
The breaker box door came off in my hand, then the whole rest of the front fell to the floor. You know I was snickering.
I took her the breaker box door and said you need an electrician and maybe more.
I then explained about the chlorine gas. My work was done till the breaker box was repaired.

So what to do?
One or two of these bad boys is what.
Just place them out of the way, maybe near the pool equipment.
It's strong plastic so the fumes won't harm it.

Pool Deck Box - Blue/White

Pool Deck Box - Blue/White
Ideal for poolside use. Blue and white colors coordinate with pool accessories. Features a stay-dry design with durable wheels. 5-minute assembly - no tools required. Has a 73-gallon capacity and the dimensions are: 46-inches wide x 22-inches deep x 2

Deck Collection Cooler

Deck Collection Cooler
The Deck Collection Cooler is ideal for keeping your favorite beverages cold on a warm day! The Cooler features a drop leaf extension provides extra counter space. The cabinet below allos for extra storage space. The contemporary trend-right colors make

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Testing swimming pool water.

2008-01-28T21:19:00.000-06:00

K.I.S.S. you've heard of it, Keep It Simple Stupid.

First off this won't be an in depth lesson on water chemistry. There are dozens and dozens of message boards, FAQ and discussion pages, they do quite well explaining in great detail.

I am assuming in this little exercise your pool water is good and was good last week as well. It's Time for the once a week routine!
I.m using the Aquachek test strips.
I'll be testing for:
Chlorine, pH, Alkalinity, and Cyanuric Acid.

Before we test lets talk about what we expect to find at your pool.
Last week everything tested perfect. What changes am I sure took place?
First we loaded the chlorine feeder, that was four pucks, it is empty now.
So we have the remaining chlorine in the water.
And any make up water used.
These chemicals and make up water have changed the water chemistry most.
For this I will assume you did not add much make up water. Less than an inch.
Because the chlorine tabs are acidic, very acidic in fact, I am sure the pH and alkalinity are down. Need to raise them, I use good old baking soda to raise pH and alkalinity. I use just over one half pound per chlorine puck on average.
So last week we would have added about 2.5 pounds of baking soda to raise the readings. Our reading would have been high for the first part of the week, mid week normal and now a little low today.
Our test shows, a 1.5 reading on chlorine, 45 on cyanuric acid, 7.3 pH, 90 ppm on alkalinity.
Water looks good, so today it's 2.5 pounds of baking soda, four pucks in the chlorine feeder, 1.5 pounds of shock.
Please note the formula will not be exact for every pool, you need to learn to test and adjust your water, often, AT LEAST once a week.
My area happens to have water that is perfect for pools right from the tap. You know what is different about your water. If it is high or low pH or more acid or base.

About the test strips, I use and recommend Aquachek brand.
They could not be more easy to use. Just dip the strip, hold it horizontal wait fifteen seconds, read the colors on the side of the bottle against your test strip.

You can find them here.

$10 off a $50 Purchase – Coupon Code: W5AFF05

THE TEST STRIPS ARE ONLY SEVEN BUCKS!
Test your water often. The Aquacheck4 should last you all summer if you take Care of them.
Buy some other stuff too, here's $10.00 bucks off if you do.
Find the strips under:
maintenance & cleaning/maintenance supplies/water test kits & strips

Hope you found this helpful, Thanks!

Swimming Koi Fish- red mouth

Swimming Koi Fish- red mouth

These brightly decorated versions of Japanese Koi swim with life-like action. Operate on 2 "AA" batteries (not included).
$19.99

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Redneck Pool Heater

2008-01-28T16:03:00.000-06:00

Redneck Pool Heater

A few words about this.

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

My natural gas pool heater won't work.

2008-01-28T11:02:00.000-06:00

Well first off I don't ever recommend a pool owner servicing their own gas appliances.
Having said that...
There are a couple of things you can check before you call for service.

Is the pilot light on?
You will need to open the front panel and have a look.
Before you open it, turn down the thermostat and switch the unit to the off position.
If the pilot is out it could be a couple of things.
Perhaps the wind blew it out and there is not really any problem at all.
Try to relight it, the instuctions should be on the inside front cover door.

If it lights and stays lit, you could be on your way to hot water.

If the pilot will light but won't stay lit after releasing the light pilot button,
it is most likely the pilot generator that has failed, it could also be the gas valve itself.

Call a service tech.

If you opened it and found the pilot still lit, great!
Close it back up.
Now what we will check for is flow / pressure.
set the heater to high, switch it on, turn off your pump and move your filter valve to select recirculate (or on some filter valves by-pass to pool).
If the heater fires up, you most likely just need to backwash or clean your filter.
Do that and return the valve to the filter position and retry.
if it fires up you have solved the problem.
If not, call a service tech, it still could be as simple as a pressure switch, on the other hand it could be several things.

Note*
When the heater is working properly do not turn your pump off until your heater has been in the off position for at least twenty minutes.
This is always the case, this allows the internals of the heater to cool down.
Turning off your pump while the heater is still hot is not recommended.
There should be a sticker on the side of your heater saying this.
What happens is with no flow and a hot heater you have created a boiler, it could do nothing, it could cause damage as well.
It's a fifty fifty thing, so let the heater cool before stopping the flow from the pump.

Audio version of this post.

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Swimming Pool Talk- phone consultation

2008-01-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

Well Howdy y'all!
How about free phone help for swimming pool owners?
details below- limited offer

So just what am I doing here?
Well I'll tell you.
After being in the swimming pool business for twenty five years my bones are getting tired. The humidity has soaked me through and through, the sun and heat have dried me back out.
When I try to work like I did just a few years ago my heart feels like it's going to burst out of my chest.
The fact is I need to find a way to earn an income that won't be so hard on the old body.
Swimming pools are all I know, plain and simple. During this seasonal lull (winter time) I thought I would test the waters on the Internet.
Between creating web pages (my hobby anyway, I know it's weird) and finding ways to earn some income from those, I am also trying phone consulting, for a small fee of course.
I came across this site called Ether, they are now owned by ATT, anyway what they do is become the middle man. When someone wants to do a paid call they first get the Ether people, and they, Ether, in turn connects me and the caller. I never know the number of the caller and they do not know my number.
After the service fees I make just over half of the charge for the call.
I don't get any info besides what we share during the call. The guys at ATT will be the ones with your name, credit card info, etc.

So who am I?
Well I'll tell you when you call. I used to post my name online, I have stopped, I believe it contributed to few a little identity issues I've had.

I have the experience that only years of hands on work in the field can bring.
I have been around long enough and have the respect of some of my peers.

Both of these articles I contribute to:
In Good Company Changing the sand
These are from Pool & Spa News a leading industry publication.

Call now

1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 02507429

I have been researching this phone consulting business. Most of the others offering this kind of thing are the psychics, computer/internet geeks, real estate and legal people.
What I need now are good reviews, it seems, to get the ball rolling.
So my offer to you is, you call me, if you like the conversation, if you find it helpful, all I ask is that you write a review here on this page in the comments and over on the Ether site as well.
The call does not begin charges until I press the start charging button.
I'll forgo the charges for a thirty minute call in exchange for a few words from you saying you found it helpful and recommend me to others.
Today is Saturday 1/26/2008 for the remainder of the day those who mention this blog and tell me they will do the review thing will not be charged for the first thirty minutes.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and consider my offer.

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Looking at buying a home with an existing swimming pool?

2008-01-25T14:40:00.000-06:00

Looking at buying a home with an existing swimming pool?
Three words, Professional Pool Inspection, the only real good answer.

I could say look at the concrete deck, expansion joints and the tile.
Check out the interior finish.
Look at the equipment and plumbing.
Test switches and lights.

Lots of answers to be found in the FAQ's and message boards.
Don't get me wrong those resources are very helpful.
Most of what they say is dead on right.
Except all swimming pools are a little bit different.

A novice pool owner may not see every FAQ and be able to match each tip as needed.

Imagine this, a conversation with an experienced pool man by the side of your pool.
Take a walk around your pool while you tell me what you see. We'll start at the shallow end steps and go all the way around the pool, then over to the equipment.
Pick up some test strips and we'll test water too.

Over the phone, yes, over the phone in an hour or so we could cover a little water testing, overall condition and system operation.

As noted above the best answer is a real pool pro inspecting your pool and teaching you about it. After that I guess it's a toss up between the message boards and a phone call. The phone call isn't free, it is personalized, a direct conversation about your pool.

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Mr PoolBoy

2008-01-25T12:46:00.000-06:00

I was surfing around and found this.

I found it pretty funny.

Hope you enjoy it.

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Chlorine feeder just stopped working.

2008-01-25T08:32:00.000-06:00

When your chlorine feeder just stops working.
The first sign is you notice that your pool does not look right. After testing the water you can see that the reading is low. Last week you added a few pucks just like every other week. So what do we know? We know the reading is low and it should be much higher.

I helped this pool owner over the phone.

The first and most important point is safety!
If you loaded your feeder a few days ago and it's not working that means the chlorine has been trapped in the feeder for that time.
Chlorine is a green gas, a deadly gas!

You should expect when you open it to see a green tint to the pucks and water, and if not careful you could be overcome by chlorine gas.
You need a plan... here it is.
Turn off your pump, open the feeder while holding your breath, leave the area for thirty minutes. Allowing the time for the gas to dissipate.
This is serious!
Not the time to be tough and just take the eye burn and breathe the gas.
You may end up in the hospital or worse.

This feeder was the rainbow 300 off line.
The one I sell to my customers most often.
Generally speaking when it fails to deliver chlorine to the pool it's because the flow through the feeder has stopped.
The way this chlorine feeder is plumbed in could cause this, the line going into the canister, through the control valve is unfiltered water.
(This is normal correct installation)
That will be what we check first, taking the line loose right in front of the metering valve on the side of the unit. Once it's off look for any small debris that is trapped in the valve inlet. OK that looks good nothing there, next the tubing could be the problem, often chlorine tubing will look fine from the outside however it could be collapsed on the inside. While the tubing is still disconnected turn on the pump and check the flow from the tubing, it should be a full stream and coming out at a good pressure. If not remove it and replace it.
Next you will need to remove the chlorine from the canister, a bucket close by will be helpful. If you can just turn over the feeder and pour into the bucket, if not some coat hanger wire may be used to fish out the pucks.
Next, remove the tubing from the 90 degree elbow on the bottom of the unit. Again turn on the pump and see if water flows freely from the end of the tubing, this water will not be as strong and the flow from the first tubing we checked.
That is normal.
OK we have flow.
Next is that elbow on the bottom of the feeder, this devise has a check valve inside it. It has a small ball with a spring that allows flow only in one direction, out of the feeder.
Take off the elbow you should be able to see the ball at the top of the threaded end, take a small screw driver or a piece of wire to see if the ball will depress into the elbow.
It should move freely down and back up.

We have found the problem!
The check valve does not move, it's stuck.
It should be replaced, cleaning it may work for a short while.
The check valve has become gummy, with residue from the chlorine.
This combined with the fact we are using unfiltered water to supply the unit has caused it to fail.

With all the tubing clear and the flow valve and check valve clear the feeder should work like new again.

What I do with my weekly service pools to try to prevent this gumming problem is I never add more chlorine than I think it will use in a week.
When I arrive after the week has passed I hope to find no chlorine in the feeder, still having a good test reading in the water. This allows the feeder to basically rinse itself out, removing the remaining bits of debris and chemical.

I hope you found this helpful.
If you would like phone help for your swimming pool questions, we can do it.
For just .95 cents per minute I will share all I know with you.

By Swimming Pool Service Directory

Get live answers to your swimming pool questions right now.

2008-01-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

Get live answers to your swimming pool questions right now.

Click the player to hear about this page.

It's easy to speak with a pool care pro.
Let me help you find out what is going on with your swimming pool.
(.95 cents per minute)

Just click the call button and follow the instructions.
I can help you find and install parts.
I can help you figure out what the trouble may be.

Want to know if your pool guy is crazy?
Tell me what he says and I will tell you if it makes any sense to me.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Weekly service all year round.

2008-01-15T15:50:00.000-06:00

I once again had an attractive customer, well... my customers wife was attractive anyway.
Like most stops we would chat each time I came by. Sometimes longer than others generally short conversations.
Recently she had shown me portraits of her dogs, and her with her dogs.
Those are real nice Ma'am awwww don't ya'll look good there.

I had help one week, my buddy Bob, we had to work on the filter or something.
While there we were talking about her stepson driving soon.
All of sudden (as they say)(whoever they are) right there in the yard time stopped for a moment.
I could see her and my friend was behind her as she was asking me?
"You do know what a Hummer is? don't you?"
I just grinned from ear to ear, my buddy behind her was about to bust his gut trying not to laugh.
Eyes wide he was waiting for my answer, she too was waiting, and now wondering about my smile.
I said "Yes Ma'am I do know what a hummer is"

I told you about her dogs, a little, I mentioned them, they were Jack Russell Terriers.
Good little dogs always met me at the gate. Never in the way.
It was cold winter out side well below freezing, I was still doing my weekly service rounds.
I arrived as usual this time met by only one dog. I asked "where's your friend?"
I walked up to the pools edge and there in the bottom was something. It was confusing to look at through the water.
Now I could tell what it was, the dog, only the dog had a soccer ball collapsed around it's head.
I grabbed my pole and net, the dogs limbs were rigid, I pulled it to the surface right away.
The dog was dead, what an odd scene, a dog with this ball sucked down around it head.
The ball was the play ball for the dogs, I had noticed it was very frayed the weeks before this drowning.
I never thought twice about it though, it looked like to me the dogs were playing and the ball opened up enough for the dogs head, he looked inside and got stuck.
Once it was caught he most likely shook his head hard while backing up, backing right into the pool.

Oh well just another story of hundreds.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

I have worked for some cheapskates, to be sure.

2008-01-15T15:09:00.000-06:00

One guy who at the time ran the biggest construction company around.
The company was moving, converting a theater to a showroom and pool store. Needless to say lots of construction to be done.
This guys tells me to go to the hardware store and put ten pounds of nails in the bag and write down it's one pound.
Yeah right Mister... not today.
I then explained it was to not his benefit to hire and use theives because they might steal from him as well as for him.
He was also the Grinch... The guy had been hinting about Christmas bonuses.
Sure enough like two days before Chritsmas he was handing out cash bonuses.
Alright I was just waiting my turn, soon he got to me. He placed three hundred fifty bucks in my hand. WOW! All I could think of was how much better Christmas would be. While I was thanking him he reached over and snagged it back, then said "remember that mailbox you knocked over back in july?". Yes I did remember backing that huge truck out of that driveway and hitting a mailbox, I also remember working alone to cover for your missing service guy in a truck I never wanted to drive in the first place. I also remember working all those tickets off and catching the service guy up. I never said those things but I thought them.
Christmas reverted back to plan "A" in a hurry.

Another company and another boss. This guy decided to get a fat tax break and hire people from the local mental patient halfway house.
First off they are not well... they don't follow directions well, not good around a big hole with water, most didn't know if they could swim or not.
For a couple of weeks I had one guy then another, I guess I worked with all in the program once or more.
The last day I had the strangest one of all, he didn't talk just smiled. He would hold one hand or the other to his waist always.
When trying to work it was one handed, yippy, ok, I'll keep pressing on.
As we went to lunch, I was driving to McD's I guess, He turns to me and says I got a toothache.
I was thinking cool I can run him back to the lockup.
He then rolls down the window, spits, reaches in his mouth with only his fingers and pulls out a very big tooth roots and all.
Now in one move pulls the tooth, looks at it, then drops it out the window while turning to smile at me.
There on his face two big trails of blood from his mouth, thick dark blood.
He again spits a time or two, blood left trailing down the side of my white truck.
Well I'm still hungry, this was weird but not stomach turning.
He ate his bag lunch while I ate my burger. I told him he was going home right after lunch.
I didn't want him to pull off any more parts while I was watching him.
My boss was happy he got the tax break, the guys got to go out for a day or two, and I got this great story to tell.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Fred Burdin, Male Nurse

2008-01-15T12:54:00.000-06:00

Every time I say that guys name I crack up, I think of Fred Garvin, male prostitute on SNL.
Anyway Fred was a customer, Fred was a good size fellow, Fred was gay, and a little... well a lot on the sissy side.
Thank God I was married and was able to convince him I didn't cheat, at all ever!
Fred's pool was a swamp. It hadn't been covered or cleaned over the course of two winters and one summer.
I had a Younger guy named Chris who helped me out sometimes. I had him get a couple of friends to come and shovel the crap out of the pool. I was on the job at first after they had the routine down I left to do other things.
This was when a bag phone was all you could get if you wanted a cell phone. The point is no cell phones and only a few people had the bag phone, I was one who did.
Well apparently after I left, Fred and a few of his Friends started making Margarita's and decided to sit outside and watch the clean up.
I had four men on that job, four very young, thin, handsome men.
My phone started ringing and my pager was going off! Both at the same time, it was Chris the lead man from the clean up over at Fred's. Now Chris had to drive to a phone booth to call me and he was pissed off!
He said he and the other guys were leaving the job. Why? Why are you doing that?
Because Fred and his buddies were wearing speedo's and prancing around the yard drinking and cat calling the work crew.
I told him to call me back in five minutes, I called Fred, when he answered I said Fred you and your friends will have to put your clothes on and go inside if you want your pool fixed up.
Why he asked? and where was I because he didn't see me seeing them?
I told him Chris had called and they had to leave the boys alone if they wanted them to keep working.
Ok all straightened out, Chris called me back I told him they would go in and let the work go on. He agreed to go back to work.
About three hours later Chris called again this time I happened to be passing the store where he was calling from I was already on my way over there.
Well it seems, Fred Burdin, male nurse, and his buddies decided to come back outside.
I could not believe what I saw when I arrived... yep sure enough four thirtyish drunk overweight gay guys in speedo's cat calling to and booty shaking for my crew.
The radio was blaring, I went over and turned the music off pointed to the back door. Each time one of them tried to speak I just started saying no-no-no-no-no inside!
Fred was going in last as he went in I said me and none of my crew are to see you or your friends until I knock on the door to collect.
Got it? Good!

By Swimming Pool service Directory

So close I could feel her breath on my neck.

2008-01-15T12:05:00.000-06:00

I would arrive at about the same time each Wednesday. The pool was easy always one little spot vacuum over by the steps.
This was Mrs. Fletcher's home, and here she comes like always. We always talked about all kinds of things during my entire visit almost never talking about the swimming pool. I had been going there each Wednesday for over two years.
She was attractive, very much so, she had always come outside when I arrived and always kind of teased me a little. She would work on her flowers the ones on tables around her patio. She checked those flowers from every angle, I could easily see her while vacuuming. We kept the conversation going during these times.
The first few months she kept her distance always across the pool from me if I was moving around so was she. As the summer got hotter she began to offer me a soda during my visit each time. Soon she started to stay by my side after bringing me my soda. We still had our conversations only now they were face to face.
It was hard to look at my work while working and talking to her, her eyes were so easy to look into and the conversation was always interesting.
One day I said something funny, I don't recall what it was, but after laughing out loud and bending at the waist she grasped my arm pulling herself up she reached around my neck and hugged me. She pulled back a little and paused looking into my eyes then pulled herself closer her body to mine her head on my chest and sighed.
As quickly as this happened it was over just as fast, she pushed away turned and quickly went into the house. I was packing the truck as I noticed her in the kitchen window, tears in her eyes, her fingers waving me goodbye.
Our routine didn't change too much after that day, she still stood very close to me while I worked brushing against me when she could. The visit was fun each and every time, sure we had our little flirtation thing but we were friends too.
Well one week her husband was there he had decided to renovate one of their rooms and had taken a month off to do it. The first week she only said hello from the kitchen door, the next week he came out and walked around the pool asking me silly questions about it. She followed close behind him, it was hard to keep a straight face when answering him because I could see her behind him rolling her eyes.
The third week he was gone to get some supplies and she was on my heals, we were side by side, just talking and laughing.
We never noticed Mr. Fletcher watching us at the gate. It's not like we were doing anything, she was close and was touching my arm often while we talked. I guess she saw him first because she just stopped talking and walked away I was watching her leave when I saw him at the gate.
We looked eye to eye for a moment and he disappeared I finished my job and left never seeing either of them. I received a call about two hours later it was Mr. Fletcher telling me my service were no longer required and he had already sent me a check for all four weeks of the month. He also asked if I any property at his home I wished to claim, I told him no.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

My first day

2008-01-15T10:33:00.000-06:00

Ya know I kind of lost track of what I was doing here.
I've been pushing my Service Directory when I should have just been talking about whatever...
So today I stripped out most of the links on the side bar that were going to my other site.
I suppose if someone comes by here and they want to visit the directory they will figure it out.

Now I will tell you about my first day in the swimming pool business.
Before becoming a pool man I was in the Navy working on P3 aircraft, I was an AMH2, a aircraft hydraulics mechanic second class.
I got my good conduct medal and my walking papers, came home and did several other things before I was introduced to the pool biz.
I worked in a hydraulics shop rebuilding pumps and motors like the ones used on cement mixer trucks.
I also became a carpet man... oh yeah I laid carpet and cleaned carpets.
The list of other things included a little work at a laminating shop my buddy owned as well as a few other things.

I ran into an old friend from the navy one day he was in a pool service truck and asked me if I wanted to work on swimming pools.
Oh yes, he told me how nice it was to be pool side, lots of nice looking women lots of fun in the sun.
I said sure... why not?

The next day I went in for the application filled it out and turned it in.
A few days later the service manager called me to come in and have a talk.
I did and he hired me to start in a couple of weeks, cool, I had a job and one of my old friends worked there too.
Maybe I should mention I was still pretty young and that me and that friend of mine had a little history of some hard partying.

Ok so now my first day on the new job had arrived. I was introduced to the service staff and the ladies in the office.
I had been assigned to the weekly service department, this company was big then and is still big today, they had separate crews for repair service, cleaning, two construction crews, one for gunite and one for vinyl.
I was to be trained by a fellow named Mike, we went to the truck to set out on our pool cleaning of the day.
The first stop was a little convenience store, he asked if I wanted anything from the store, I said I did not but thanks.
Soon he came out with a bag, I had seen the shape of this before, yes indeed it was a quart of beer.
As he cracked the top open he said don't look at me like that, first off it's my birthday, and it was, second I know about you and Phil and all the trouble you two have caused.
Ok well I guess he had me, couldn't play the holier than thou card today.
This was the first day of lots of swimming pool work and lots of good times with lots of new friends, about four years worth in fact.
The rest of the day went pretty well I saw beautiful cleans pools and I saw a couple of the nastiest swamps you could imagine.
My first day was spent beginning to learn how to use pool tools and to test and treat pool water.
The rest of the week was pretty much net and shock and net and shock some more. The closer to the end of the week we made regular type stops for weekly cleaning instead of those clean-ups.
It was fun and Mike didn't make any more morning beer stops that week, there were plenty of stops for beer after the last job each day though.
I must have liked the work because twenty five years later I'm still doing it.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

So you want a saltwater swimming pool.

2008-01-12T13:17:00.000-06:00

So you want a salt swimming pool, Hmmmmm, perhaps not.
Check out the blog by The Pool Guy

Stray Currents Are Dissolving Your Salt Swimming Pool

I finally see how the manufacturers get away with selling you something that does so much damage to your pool while their sales continue to increase and no one comes along and shuts them down.

It’s because it’s hard work finding out about this stuff. And that’s what they’re counting on. They’re depending on the fact that none of us in the business who work on the user end of these Trojan Horses will have time to do more than bitch to each other about what their product is doing to all the pools, and that you pool owners, since you’re only looking at one pool, won’t have anything to compare it to and won’t ever draw the conclusion that if you get shocked when you reach for the ladder or hand rail and after extensive and expensive troubleshooting an electrician tells you that it’s because your bonding lugs have dissolved off your bonding wire, that it’s all because of your salt system.

Looks like those saltwater swimming pools could be dissolving your cash too sooner or later.
The Pool guy does enjoy the debate, I am just a messenger... Comments are welcome on his page... see you there.

The pool Biz on Blogger

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Maintain your water level automatically or Please add water!

2008-01-11T13:24:00.000-06:00

So I cleaned two pools today, yeah I know that's not much.
It's January, ya know, winter time... my feet are wet and cold.
I'll do a couple more tomorrow, all that is beside the point.
One pool looked great when I was done, the other looked OK.
Both about the same size with about the same amount of leaves and debris.
The difference was, on one I had enough water to vacuum the fine dust to waste and backwash the filter.
The other only enough water to backwash.
Last week both were told I would need water this week to do my job.
As you can already tell one had the water required the other did not.
Neither of them actually added water however.
The one who had enough always has enough all year round.
Because he uses one of these.

Automatically Maintain Water Level! Keep your pool water level stable around the clock!

So if you find notes from the pool guy that say PLEASE ADD WATER!
You need to add it so the job can be done or you can buy one of these and pretty much forget it.

The service directory is coming along just fine. Thanks for asking.
As always if you want to add a site to the directory just sign-up, log-in and add the url and a little info about the pool biz in question.
Over and out... gonna take off my wet boots now.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Pool Builders & Patio LLC in Alabama

2008-01-10T12:42:00.000-06:00

When you try to build a vertical or topic specific web portal you have to seed it with at least a few sites.
So I search the web to find ones to add to the directory.
Once in a while when I find one I really like I will do a spotlight thing.
Today I searched for "Swimming pool builders construction Alabama" no quotes.
The first result of 37,600 was
"Pool Builders & Patio LLC" In Birmingham Alabama.
I really like this website, very nice layout and all the information you could need about this swimming pool builder.

Find the link to them here:
Alabama - AL / Birmingham

You may add your own pool or spa related site to the directory by following the link below.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Swimming Pool algae - online

2008-01-09T13:57:00.000-06:00

I do love the internet...
I just did a search of "swimming pool algae" no quotes on both Yahoo and Google.
Yahoo returned 3,410,000 results while Google returned 63,300.

I would think for a swimming pool owner looking for help with algae, over 3 million choices is way too much to read or even too many to choose where to start.
The fact is, most of the returned results of those searches are online retailers.
They all have good information about swimming pool algae.
Bottom line it's pretty simple... if you have it you need to kill it.
It is a plant after all.
If you don't want it you need to prevent it. The same chemicals do both, the difference is the dose.

So if you are gonna shop online and you want some info try my friends at Poolgear.
Yeah I make a few pennies if you buy from them.

All-In-One Algaecide

I am happy to say I have customers who I actually see in their backyards who use these guys and they are happy with both the products and the service.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Alabama - AL - Birmingham - Huntsville - Mobile - Montgomery

2008-01-09T13:13:00.000-06:00

Alabama - AL - Birmingham - Huntsville - Mobile - Montgomery

I am looking for swimming pool service, retail, and builders to include in my service directory. This is a good way to promote your business website.
For the swimming pool professional a website is the most effective way to reach new customers. The people who need you and your services are looking for you on the information super highway right now.
Don't have a business website?
You can build one today for free.
I have some tips on how to do it right here.
Once you have it complete then just add it to the directory.

I have a category for these cites waiting:
Alabama - AL - Birmingham - Huntsville - Mobile - Montgomery

Now is the time to get your website ready for spring business, it does take time for the search engines to pick up new additions.

By the Swimming Pool service Directory

Jack of all trades master of none.

2008-01-08T12:37:00.000-06:00

In the quarter century I have been a pool service man I still have trouble using words like expert or master pool tech to describe myself.
I can fully understand how trades like plumbers or electricians could declare that level of expertise.
For me personally I won't ever make such a claim. I know there are people in the swimming pool business that are just plain smarter than me.
I know there are some more driven. I truly doubt however that anyone who claims to know it all really does indeed know it all.

The title of this piece says it all, and for me, I do believe it to be true.
I can think of no other trade besides swimming pool service people who need to know so much about so many different things.

Mason
I have cut and repaired tile and coping.
Set the stone and brick, mixed and placed the grout and caulked around the whole thing.

Plumber
From re plumbing an entire swimming pool to above grade repairs at the system.
I have worked with PVC, galvanized, copper and all types of flex pipe.
Repaired or replaced propane and natural gas lines to gas valves.

Electrician
Checking trouble shooting switches and wiring.
Testing and repairing to replacing the capacitors on motors to servicing milivolt heaters to electronic ignition heaters.
High and low voltage lights from bulbs to fixtures and now fibre optics too.

Chemist
Water chemistry, you name I have tested water for it.
Once the testing is done made the calculations and/or a good guess to bring swimming pool water back in the correct range.

Mechanic
Break out the wrenches, replacing shaft seals, heater headers, rebuilding of automatic cleaners to assembly of ladders and slides.

Carpenter
From mending a fence to repairing and/or rebuilding the skirt of a portable spa.

not what I would call trades... but others tasks or duties arise as well.

Public Relations
Try to smooth over a new client who feels screwed by the last pool guy or guys.
Try to work in such a way to improve the way the public feels about swimming pool service techs.

Salesman
The products and devices on the market for the swimming pool consumer is staggering.
I am supposed to know about all of them and to have an expert opinion about each of them as well as be able to operate them all.

Therapist
Over the years I have had weekly pool accounts that it was clear the homeowner had me around more to bounce ideas off of than clean the swimming pool.
For some, my visit was clearly the high point of the week, a fifteen minute stop was always an hour of talking about life, love and pursuit of happiness.

It is a living however, a tough job and someone has to do it.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

The Pool Boy is a Winner

2008-01-07T12:34:00.000-06:00

Check this out!
This new invention is the winner. I'm impressed,well for now. I've seen many new items come down the pike for swimming pools. Right now I wish a few of my weekly service swimming pools had this gizmo.
So just what did it win you ask?
ABC's The New Inventors program declared it so.

Like I said above I have a couple of weekly service pools that could use this right now. Perhaps not too far in the future I will see this leaf trap eating the leaves I now remove by net.

from both ABC and the inventors sites
About the Inventor
John Bailey is 40 years old and lives in Dundas Valley (a suburb of Sydney, NSW). He’s a family man with an interest in boats, pools, beer and electronics (not all at the same time, we hope).

John is an electrician by trade but he works for a company that runs support systems for various telephone companys’ text messaging systems. He’s also a home brewer, which goes well with pools.

About The Pool Boy

Pool Boy is an efficient and economical mains powered electric skimmer, that operates independently of your existing cleaning and filtering system and lets you know when it needs emptying. Pool Boy can be fitted to any existing swimming pool, or more discretely built into new or refurbished ones.

How does it work?

Not dissimilar to your existing skimmer box, Pool Boy skims the surface of your swimming pool by drawing water over a weir door. The weir door serves to optimise the movement of the water at the surface where it is most effective, carrying debris from the surface which is then captured in Pool Boys internal net.

The water drawn over the weir is expelled in such a way that it serves to encourage circulation of the water in the pool, and this then brings debris from around the pool to Pool Boy.

You already know that for any debris to reach the bottom of your pool it most likely spent some time on the surface, thus giving Pool Boy the chance to capture it before it can reach the bottom.

Running costs.

Pool Boy knows when your main pump is running, so it does not operate at the same time.

Pool Boy is energy efficient and only requires 40 watts. This means if your existing filtration system uses around 800+ watts and you run it for 6-8 hours a day, Pool Boy can run for the rest of the day,.. that's 16-18 hours at a cost of 8-9 cents. If you were to run your main filtration system for the same period it would cost around $1.50-$1.70.

Further savings regarding running costs exist because Pool Boy may not need to run all day, (although this is an option). This is because most pools are littered with debris mainly when it is windy, and as the Pool Boy controller has a simple yet effective wind detector (windicator), Pool Boy can be configured to run continuously in windy conditions, and cycle on and off when it is not. An example of this might be 30 minutes on, and 30 minutes off, that's a 50% saving on the daily 8-9 cent running cost.

How about no running cost at all..!

If Pool Boy is keeping your pool clean all day, and as such debris is not reaching the bottom, you could then run your main pump for around 20-40 minutes less, meaning the cost of running Pool Boy is effectively nothing.

Further to that, perhaps you run your main pump for longer than it needs to in an effort to keep your pool cleaner for longer. If that's the case Pool Boy will give you the better results, save you money, and help with the environment as well.

Find more info:
The Pool Boy Site
Abc's page about The Pool Boy

I do wish John well and I do hope this device really works.

By Swimming Pool service Directory

Serious conversation about Salt Swimming Pools.

2008-01-05T19:13:00.000-06:00

I have been in the pool biz for a long time. I have often questioned the products and approach to the sale of many of these products. None Has caused me more concern than the issues about salt in swimming pool water.

I have recently become aware of a fellow blogger who is... well... lets just say very passionate about his point of view. I have to say from what I have read on his blog, (I have read about half of his posts and the comments on those posts at this point) he does make some very good arguments. I strongly encourage you to read it if you have any interest in the swimming pool salt issue. I will reserve my thoughts on the issue for the moment. I also urge you to make any thoughts you have about salt pools, whether for them or against known over on his page, it will help the conversation.

One of the quotes from his page:
"5. Explosion Danger. I’ve written two pieces about explosion danger with salt systems, because the electrolysis process produces hydrogen gas, which is flammable and explosive. A very smart guy who I correspond with wrote to me after my second piece on exploding chlorinators. He was concerned that the video I referenced of the 15 year old kid making the flammable hydrogen gas with a mockup salt cell was giving salt pool owners the wrong impression. His e-mail precisely described the chemistry behind his reasoning why the video was an inappropriate example by stating that salt system manufacturers only needed about 1.4 volts to create chlorine without the byproduct oxygen that would make the hydrogen explode. The kid in the video was using a 12 volt battery. He summarized as follows; “So what is the bottom line of all this? If the salt cell were driven with too high a voltage, then oxygen will be produced in addition to chlorine. A properly designed and functioning SWG unit will produce little or no oxygen unless there is either a malfunction or if the SWG manufacturer is intentionally trying to produce more chlorine faster and creating an overvoltage to do so — which would begin to produce oxygen in addition to chlorine."
from page http://thepoolbiz.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

I read his last page first then I went to the front and started working back, no matter how you do it, you really should read it.

thepoolbiz.blogspot.com

The WikiHow swimming pool page.

2008-01-02T15:56:00.000-06:00

Want to share your Swimming pool tips, tricks or professional advice?

The WikiHow site could be the place for you.
WikiHow Category:Swimming Pools Spas and Hot Tubs

Need some answers about swimming pool troubles?
There could be some help to be found on the WikiHow site.

I checked out the site and there are some good articles...
there is some nonsense too...

read more here

Mr. Bean goes to the swimming pool

2008-01-02T13:09:00.000-06:00

A little fun video clip

You need a website

2008-01-01T12:17:00.000-06:00

The next article at the Swimming Pool Service Directory...

You need a website to promote your swimming pool business.
Swimming pool owners, the people you want to reach all use the information super highway.
You may already have your tools, truck, equipment, phone line, business cards and some customers.
You may work hard to advertise your biz, telling everyone you know, passing out cards, signs on your truck, even a newspaper ad here and there.
All that is great but it may not be enough.
To have a listing here in this directory you need a website.
Read the rest of this article and I will show you how to get that site free.
click here to read the rest of the story.
I have a sample swimming pool service site made, find the link in the article.

The swimming pool directory

2007-12-31T10:45:00.000-06:00

The swimming pool directory is coming along very well.
The site is set up and links to swimming pool service companies are being added.
Stop by and have a look. If you have swimming pool service to offer just log in and add your link.

An article titled "What is a swimming pool?" was added today.

A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is an artificially enclosed body of water intended for swimming or water-based recreation.
There are many standard sizes; the largest and deepest is the Olympic size. A pool can be built either above or in the ground, and from materials such as metal, plastic or concrete. Pools that may be used by many people or by the general public are called public, while pools used exclusively by a few people or in a home are called private. Many health clubs, fitness centers and private clubs have public pools used mostly for... read more here