(630) 845-1145 | info@signaturepoolschicago.com
Keeping up with maintenance on your swimming pool involves several things, including chemical balancing, equipment checks and cleaning of your pool. By far the most common way to remove dirt and debris from a swimming pool is to vacuum the steps, benches and floor of the pool. Here are a few reminders to consider the next time you vacuum your pool.
1. Turn off the heater: Most pool heaters require a high volume of water to be running through them in order to operate properly. Using a manual vacuum can restrict water flow and cause damage to your heater. Make sure the filter pump is primed and in high speed before turning the heater back on.
2. Fill vacuum hose with water: After assembling the vac head and hose to the pole, submerge the entire hose in the pool to fill it completely with water. Another easy way to do this is to hold the other end of the vac hose up to a return jet in the pool. Once the vacuum head stops bubbling air it will rest on the bottom of the pool. Now you can insert the hose into the skimmer line without sucking air through the pump.
3. Adjust equipment valves for better suction: On a typical equipment setup there is a valve on the filter pump that controls the amount of suction on both the skimmer line and floor/wall drains of the pool. Once you have hooked up the manual vacuum to your skimmer line you can adjust the amount of suction on the vacuum by adjusting the valve at the equipment. Make sure you don’t turn off the wall/floor drain completely. The vacuum will restrict water flow through the equipment and the pump will eventually cavitate if this happens. Only close off the wall/floor drain valve until your hear the pump start to hesitate, then back off just a little bit.
4. Work the vacuum aross the width of the pool: This may just be a personal preference, but I find that starting in the shallow end of the pool and vacuuming a section of the width of the pool rather than going the length is much easier. This way you can make sure you don’t miss any spots in the middle.
5. Remove the vac hose from the skimmer first: This is an important step that prevents sucking air through the skimmer and filter pump. Make sure to always keep the vacuum submerged in the water and never pull it out before first disconnecting from the skimmer first.
By following these 5 steps you will be able to vacuum your pool safely and efficiently every time! If you have questions about this or any other pool maintenance service, feel free to contact Signature Pools at 630.845.1145 or send us an email service@signaturepoolschicago.com
Very often customers will ask me if I think it’s necessary for them to hire a pool service company to maintain their fiberglass swimming pool and equipment. As with most things in life, the answer is not always short and easy. Your lifestyle, available free time and how you use your pool are all factors to take into account. Here are a few things to consider before making the decision.
1. How much time are you willing/able to put into your pool?
Some people think that as long as the water is clear, everything is working perfect in their fiberglass swimming pool. Daily chemical checks can get neglected if a homeowner is not aware of the necessary water chemistry balance needed. This process can take just a few minutes a day to test and adjust the chemicals in your pool water.
2. How often do you use your pool?
Are there always family gatherings and parties in your backyard and pool? If so, keeping up with routine maintenance is crucial. As more people get in the pool, so does the demand for sanitation and circulation of your pool water to stay clean and healthy. Conversely, if you are a homeowner who rarely uses their pool, or are not home very often, pool maintenance may be overlooked or ignored. Not only chemical balancing, but vacuuming and filter cleanings need to take place at regular intervals to keep your pool and equipment in perfect running order.
3. Do you have a salt water system?
If you are using a chlorine generation system, it is crucial that the cell be cleaned on a regular basis. Mineral deposits will build up on the cell over time and will eventually prevent the system from producing the chlorine necessary to sanitize your pool water. Manufacturers recommend acid-washing the cell every 3 months. Also, using a chlorine generator tends to make the pH of pool water drift higher, causing calcium buildup on the floor and walls of your pool. It is important to keep the pH within an acceptable range to ensure your equipment runs efficiently and lasts a long time. Check out this article for more information on adjusting the pH of your pool water.
How you answer these questions will determine if you really do need to hire a pool service company. For many customers it’s a matter of time and convenience. Signature Pools and Spas can help get you on the track to a worry free swimming season. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, and one-time ’check up’ services. Rates vary by location and scope of services performed. Contact Signature Pools if you have any questions about pool service, maintenance, or have questions about caring for your pool.
Part of what we do at Signature Pools, along with building fantastic in ground fiberglass swimming pools, is teaching our clients about the importance of maintaining their pool water chemistry. Many people have the impression that fiberglass pools are COMPLETELY maintenance free, and because of a salt water chlorine generating system, they don’t need to test or balance other pool chemicals. Although it is true that fiberglass pools are much easier to maintain than concrete or vinyl in ground pools, there are still a few things to keep an eye on throughout the week.
pH LEVELS ARE CRITICAL TO THE CLAIRTY OF YOUR POOL WATER AND LONGEVITY OF YOUR POOL EQUIPMENT.
By far the most important factor in keeping the overall health of your pool is the pH, or degree of acid or base in the water. pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral.
Pool water pH is best kept in the 7.2 to 7.8 range. When pH remains below 7.2, the water is considered to be corrosive and can damage metals in the equipment such as heat exchangers or lights. It is also more difficult to keep chlorine in the pool because it becomes much less stable and is consumed faster than would be used at normal pH levels.
Keeping the pH higher than 7.8 will increase the tendency to form scale or cloudy water. Calcium is an unstable mineral and when pH is high, the calcium has a hard time dissolving in the water. High pH will also reduce chlorine effectiveness resulting in the need to maintain higher chlorine levels to achieve proper sanitation. Be aware that using a salt water chlorine generator will naturally increase the pH of your pool water and will need to be adjusted more frequently than when using stablized chlorine.
If pH levels are low, sodium carbonate (pH Up) is added to raise the pH. If the pH is high, ph Down is used. pH Down comes in two forms: liquid acid (muriatic acid) or dry acid (sodium bisulfate).
By keeing a close watch on your swimming pool pH levels, you will have a more enjoyable, safer, and easier to maintain environment in your backyard! If you have further questions about the pH of your pool water, or would like any other information about maintaining your pool, please feel free to contact us or call Signature Pools and Spas at 630.845.1145
This past week we have received several calls from customers asking about their pool pumps. In many cases they are not able to prime the pump completely or it looses prime when turned off. Here are a few things to look for if you come across this issue yourself.
1. Pump Lid- Make sure the lid for the pump is seated correctly and tightened all the way. Also check and see that the gasket between the lid and pump housing is in place and lubricated. A damaged, worn, or misaligned lid or seal can cause the pump to suck in air- preventing a full prime.
2. Skimmer and pump basket-check both the basket in the skimmer and inside the pump housing to make sure they are sitting correctly in place. A skimmer basket should align flush to the bottom of the skimmer pot. The pump basket should always be seated in the bottom of the pump. Many pump manufacturers such as Jandy and Pentair have a notch in the top of the basket that lines up with a grove inside the pump.
3. Water Level- make sure the water level is high enough in your pool. If it’s too low, air can be sucked through the skimmer and into the pump. Over time, this air can damage your pool equipment.
4. Loose pump union- check the threaded plumbing on the front of your pump. A loose union fitting may be allowing air to leak into the pump. Make sure to also check that the gaskets between the union fittings are also seated correctly and in place.
Preventing air from leaking into your circulation pump is important to keeping your pool equipment working well for years to come. If you have any questions about pool pumps, or any other pool equipment and maintenance, feel free to contact us at Signature Pools or call 630.845.1145.
So your pool is up and running and the kids are ready to jump in the cool, refreshing water- but there’s a problem! The pool water is all cloudy, maybe even green!?! What gives?? You have a chlorine generator…no chemicals needed, right?
Not exactly….
Many pool owners have a misconception about what their chlorine generator (salt system) actually does. Here are a few ground rules to keep in mind when maintaining your system.
1. Salt Level: Make sure the NaCl (salt) is at the proper level in your pool water. This measurement is made in parts-per-million (ppm) and should normally range between 2700 ppm and 3400 ppm. Your pool equipment should have either a light indicator or internal digital salt tester to let you know if the level is correct. If you have doubts about the accuracy of the equipment, use an independent testing agent to verify the results. An easy test strip available from your local pool supplier will do the trick. I personally like the AquaCheck brand for ease of use.
2. System Diagnostics: Once you verify the proper salt level in your pool water, you may want to run a quick diagnostics check of the salt cell to make sure it is running properly. Most chlorine generator systems have a diagnostic mode that will measure the current that is running through the cell. This will indicate whether or not the system is functioning properly.
3. Clean the Cell: Over time, calcium and other minerals will collect on the internal fins of the salt cell. By cleaning the cell with an acid solution you will boost and extend the performance of the chlorine generating system. Refer to your owners manual and manufactures’ recommendations for this process because every system is different.
ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN HANDLING ACID AND OTHER POOL CHEMICALS!
4. Test your chemicals: Many people think that having a chlorine generator means they don’t have to worry about chemicals for their pool AT ALL. This is simply not true!!! Staying on top of pH, Alkaline, and Stabilizer will greatly enhance the performance of your chlorine generator. If these other levels are out of balance you may not be producing enough chlorine to safely sanitize the pool water.
Follow these simple steps to make sure your salt water pool runs smoothly, safely, and effeciently all season long. If you have further questions about chemicals, or would like to speak to us directly, please feel free to contact Signature Pools and Spas, Inc or give us a call at (630) 845-1145.
As the premier fibergass pool company in Illinois and as experts in fiberglass pool design and installation we take continuing education seriously so we can best serve our current and future clients. Every year the team at Signature Pools attends many conferences, trade shows, seminars, and webinars to further enhance our expertise. One show we attend almost every year is the Mid-America Pool & Spa Show. This is the largest pool and spa show in the Midwest so typically it’s a great opportunity for our team to meet with many of our different suppliers and learn about their new products being released. The Mid-America Pool & Spa Show will take place this year January 20 – 21, 2010 in St. Charles, IL.
While browsing through the seminars being offered this year I found one that caught my eye and if you’re currently researching or buying a swimming pool it should catch your eye too. The words I noticed were from a seminar entitled, “When Good Liners Go Bad”.
Here is the description given for this seminar:
Attendees will learn how to diagnose what is wrong with a liner and how to address the issue with their customer. Seminar discussion will include what problems can arise after liner installation and whether the issue is under warranty. Topics will include; wrinkling, leaking, fading, staining, dry rot, split seams, and customer expectations of how long a liner should last.
Keep in mind that this class is being offered by and taught by one of our country’s largest suppliers of inground vinyl liners and not from a concrete/gunite pool company or a fiberglass pool company. This class description spells out perfectly what we’ve been teaching the past 10 years about vinyl liner pools and why fiberglass pools are so superior. I’ll sum up for you here what this class really says about purchasing a vinyl liner pool:
1) You will have problems with your liner
2) You should hope that the company you purchased it from has been trained in how to address the situation with you
3) Problems can/will arise after liner installation
4) Some problems are not under warranty
5) Problems include wrinkling, leaking, fading, staining, dry rot, and split seams
6) Customers buying a liner should lower their expectations on how long a vinyl liner will last
Buying a swimming pool is a big investment and we’re here to help you make the best decision possible for your specific situation. You can find a review of the three different types of swimming pools by clicking here. If you’re currently researching different types of swimming pools we would love to talk with you about the benefits of building a fiberglass swimming pool from Signature Pools & Spas. You can contact our office at 630.845.1145, our sales manager Todd Emmerson directly at 630.973.8105, or visit us on the web at: www.signaturepoolschicago.com
These three terms are all used to describe the same thing: natural chlorine generation using sodium chloride. As magical (or complicated) as this may sound this process of generating chlorine is just some basic chemistry put to work. Simply put, salt is added to swimming pool water and then broken into the two chemical compounds that make up the salt (sodium and chloride). The chloride is then released back into the water providing sanitation for the pool.
This process of breaking salt into its elements is commonly known as electrolysis. Inside the pool equipment is a ‘cell’ with several metal plates that are mildly charged with a positive and negative current. As the saltwater pass by the cell, the current causes a reaction to happen, breaking down the salt into its two chemical compounds (NaCl). The sodium is collected onto the plates, while the chloride is released back into the water.
This system of sanitation is a very popular alternative to the chlorine feeders of the past. Prior to the salt chlorination development, most people added chlorine tabs or ‘pucks’ to an in-line feeder in the pool equipment. As water flows past these pucks, they dissolve into the water providing chlorine to the pool. The disadvantage to this type of system is two fold:
- You must remember to ‘feed the pool’ chorine on a regular basis. Customers with this type of chlorine delivery system must refill the tabs ever week to maintain proper sanitation levels in the pool.
- You can taste, smell, and feel the chlorine. The reaction is exactly what you might expect- burning eyes, faded swimming suites, and the residual smell of chlorine on your skin once you get out of the water.
A chlorine generating salt systems does not have these problems. Chlorine is constantly being produced by the salt in the water and you only need to add salt once or twice a season. The only way to loose salt from the water is by adding fresh water to the pool. Salt cannot be “burnt off” by the sun like chlorine or otherwise evaporate over time. Only the addition of fresh water from rain or a garden hose will deplete the amount of salt in the pool. Secondly, because the chloride is produced in its natural state, there is no smell, taste, or feel of chlorine in the pool water. No more burning eyes or faded hair!
The only maintenance necessary on the salt cell is a cleaning every now and then. Just like the oil change reminder on many modern cars, the system tells you when it is time to clean the cell (typically once a month). Follow the simple instructions from the manufacturer for the cleaning procedure and you’re ready to get back to the pool!
If you have further questions about chlorine generators, feel free to contact Signature Pools and Spas at 630.845.1145 or visit us at: www.signaturepoolschicago.com
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