How Does Your Pool Look?
It’s the end of summer and the Labor Day fireworks blew us all away with amazing things they are now able to do. We have had a great season to enjoy our pools this year but now maybe your water looks a little dingy. It is most likely a build up of oils and lotions from all of the skin care products or sunscreens. A good way to combat this is with a SunSorb, which floats in the skimmer and absorbs the lotions. We also carry a product call Pool Pizzazz that breaks down those lotions and oils. Remember, whenever you have a question about your pool don’t be afraid to call in and ask. Trust me we have heard them all.
Rain And It’s Effect On Pool Water
It’s a pretty common occurrence that after a big rain storm, a lot of customers come in complaining of green pools. I will try to explain, as best I can, what rain does to your pool water and how to treat your pool to prevent it from going green from a heavy rain storm.
When it rains a lot, it brings in a lot of contaminants into your pool. It brings in pollen and other organic debris from many valleys over and your chlorine is often used up getting rid of these contaminants. Therefore your pool has used up its sanitizer and there is nothing there to prevent algae from gaining a foot hold in your pool.
Rain is very acidic and chlorine is also very acidic. If PH is not regularly adjusted and your pool drifts on the acidic side it burns off your chlorine in a much faster rate then it normally would.
So, sometimes it’s a combination of things that will lead to your green pool after a rain storm. The simplest and best recommendation is to maintain your PH in a regular fashion and when a big rain comes, shock your pool. Shocking your pool, in most cases should keep your pool clean and clear. The dosage for shocking your pool is 1 gallon of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. I often hear customers that have a 25,000 gallon pool, explain that they’ve shocked their pool with a gallon and it didn’t help. It’s not enough. If your are having problems, at least put the recommended dosage. Sometimes, you’ll even need to double it or triple it depending on the severity of your issue.
Ring Around The Collar
If your pool has a nasty waterline ring, try our Pool Pizazz. It is a natural enzyme that breaks down oils and helps minimize that waterline buildup. And because it’s all natural, it won’t hurt you or the environment. And the nasty ‘ring-around-the-tub’ won’t be quite so nasty. –Max
pH vs. Total Alkalinity
I once had a customer ask me what the difference was between pH and Total Alkalinity. She was convinced they were the same thing, and that it was just a way for pool companies to make more money. First of all, I assure you this is not the case. To understand the importance of both of these components, let’s first look at pH (potential Hydrogen). The pH scale runs from 0-14 with 7.0 being neutral. A pH of 0-6.9 is acidic (more acidic as you get closer to 0), and a pH of 7.1-14 is basic (more basic as you get closer to 14). When looking at pool water, you want the pH to be slightly basic with the ideal range being 7.2-7.6. Problems can arise if your pool’s pH falls too low or gets too high. If your pH becomes too low, and therefore is acidic, the water could potentially:
- corrode surfaces and equipment (especially metal!)
- etches plaster and concrete surfaces
- lead to excess sanitizer use (chlorine burns off much faster!)
- irritate bather’s skin and eyes
If your pH becomes too high, and therefore is more basic, the water could potentially:
- allow scale deposits on surfaces and equipment
- become cloudy
- lead to poor sanitizer efficiency
- cause eye irritation
Obviously, keeping your pH where it should be is very important for pool maintenance and swimmer safety.
Now let’s look at Total Alkalinity. There are minerals in your pool’s water that act as buffering agents. Total Alkalinity is the measurement of these alkaline materials the help prevent changes in pH (which we now know is bad). The recommended range is 80-120ppm. If your Total Alkalinity is low, the pH will easily drift making frequent pH adjustments necessary (therefore more chemical costs) and will allow the water to have more corrosive tendencies. If the Total Alkalinity is too high, there are other potential issues that can arise. High alkalinity can keep the water’s pH rigidly fixed so that it cannot be easily adjusted when needed. If pH adjustments are necessary, you will need to use an unusually large amount of treatment chemical to correct the pH. With high alkalinity, you can also potentially have issues with cloudy water, scaling on pool components, and high pH and low sanitizer efficiency (since sanitizer…aka chlorine for most…is pH dependent).
So, like I said before, pH and Total Alkalinity are both very important components of your water chemistry. While yes they are related, they both have different jobs that are crucial in maintaining a healthy pool. With regular pool water testing, you can easily keep these levels in check and prevent many potential problems.
-Stacey
Cincinnati Weather
It almost feels like that is what should be said about the weather in Cincinnati. Several days of high heat and humidity followed by some rain then a couple of cooler days. I know that on these cooler days the pool is not in the forefront of your thoughts. However don’t push the pool too far back in your mind. On the days where it is a little cooler, this was preceded typically by rain, and with that being said it drops a ton of organic materials in your pool. Make sure that there is an acceptable chlorine level in the pool, and if it is slightly low make sure to add shock. This will prevent the pool from turning cloudy, or green, and making you miss out on some prime swimming time.
Chemicals – Is This Some Kind Of Magic?
The answer is…NO! This time of year is very difficult on pools, not to mention pool owners. Chemical levels are all over the place, algae is running wild, and some water just won’t get rid of that cloudy, murky appearance. After spending many, many hours back at the water test center over the past several weeks, I want to clarify something about chemicals: they aren’t magic. Chemicals take time to work. If you were to come in one afternoon to have your water tested, add the chemicals that evening, then come back with another sample the next morning, chances are we won’t be getting an accurate reading. Chemicals take time to completely work their way into the pool’s system (some longer than others). Cloudy water for instance- patience is key. A clarifier won’t typically work overnight to completely clear your cloudy pool water. A tip when using clarifier is to find a line of visibility somewhere in the pool (Example: I can see the top of the first step on my ladder). After you add the clarifier, let your filter run continuously, and instead of just waiting to see perfectly clear water, watch your “line of visibility.” You may notice that the next morning you can see clearly down to the third step of your ladder. With more time, will come increased visibility. So, like I said before, patience is key. Also remember that with chemicals, more is not better. Too much clarifier can actually do the opposite of what you want it to do. Too much algaecide at once can keep you from maintaining a chlorine level for several days, even weeks. Sometimes, more than one treatment is needed, but please consult a pool professional before doing so. Finally, please remember that while Chemistry is a science, pool water chemistry is not an exact science. There are so many other factors that contribute to your water chemistry that it is impossible to know exactly what to do that will work 100% of the time.
-Stacey
Algae Infested Pools And Chuck Norris
…Continuing my movie and actor related blogs…
It is the time of year where we get some customers that come in to get water tested. (It’s a free service here at Eastgate Pools & Spas!) Unfortunately, some of our customers have pools that have algae in them and want to know how to get rid of it. Well, if the pool was maintained by Chuck Norris, he’d simply walk up to the pool, scare the %#@* out of the algae, and it would go flying off to the neighbor’s pool, thankful to still be alive and free of the “Wrath of Chuck”. But chances are, Chuck Norris isn’t available for an algae exorcism on your pool. So…just bring us a sample of your pool’s water and let us run it through our state-of-the-art testing station. We are happy to get you back on the right path to clean clear, sparkling water. –Max
Fighting A Green Pool
Some helpful hints to people who open to a very green pool this spring. For starters, please do not simply guess that chlorine tabs and liquid shock will cure all. What that is the most common treatment, sometimes the problem runs deeper than simple solutions. For example if you live in an area where people frequently treat their lawns, you could have a phosphate problem. Chlorine will not cure a phosphate problem and as such you could end up wasting a lot of money mistreating your pool. Bring us a water sample and we will be more than happy to make sure that all of the chemicals you purchase are necessary and effective. Having your water professionally tested can also help catch unbalanced water before it becomes a major problem. The benefit here is that catching poor water chemistry before the pool turns green can save you a lot of money. To make a long story short, having your water professionally tested will save you a lot of money, plus the test is free.
Rich
Let’s Try To Clear Something Up
Perhaps the most frustrating and most common complaint we get to hear is the dreaded “My water is cloudy”. While cloudy water doesn’t prevent swimming and is merely an aesthetic issue, it is without a doubt one of the biggest concerns customers have. There is nothing worse than having a murky looking pool the day before your youngest is hosting the big summer pool party. Well, I’m here to tell you that patience is your best friend in this scenario. It takes time to clear of cloudy water. Pool clarifiers can help dramatically reduce how cloudy that water appears, but you must proceed with caution. All too often I hear complaints that the clarifiers aren’t doing anything to help the water. I can assure you they do work and are most likely working the whole time. If you use too much clarifier you are only going to make things worse so please be sure to follow the instructions indicated and be patient. Find an area toward the top of the pool and use that as a marker. You will likely see that the cloudiness is gradually disappearing over a few days. This process generally will not work overnight and dumping the whole bottle in will only make a bigger mess of things. Just remember there is not a miracle fix for cloudy.
Liquid Chlorine (Shock)
It’s here and it is fresh! In case you don’t know, liquid chlorine, commonly referred to as ‘shock’, has a very short shelf life. If you’ve been sitting on a case over the winter, it is pretty much useless. Stop in and get some of the good stuff. –Max
Salt System Chlorine Generator Special . . .
If you are tired of dealing with chlorine tablets and liquid chlorine we will be running a special on new inground salt system chlorine generators. At $999 installed with your start-up salt you are saving $300 and the saving won’t end there. Over the life of the generator you will save significantly on chemicals for your pool. In addition to your monetary savings you will save a significant amount of time in maintaining your pool. The salt system gives you a gentler and safer water quality that will add years to the life of your liner and those clothes that always seemed to get bleached by splashing liquid chlorine. Environmentally friendly and simple to operate, this system will help take the work out of your pool and get you back in it. Stop in and we will be happy to show you all of the advantages.
Water Test Center Under New Management
For those of you who don’t know yet, Chet the water test manager here has decided to retire and has since moved out of the area. Rest easy however as we are still doing professional water tests and will be more than happy to give our expert diagnostic help. With the vast amount of experience we have here we are still fully equipped to meet your every water test need. Remember to stop in during the spring and get your water chemistry balanced early in the year to allow for a hassle free pool season.
A Frog You Want In YOur Spa
For users of the Nature 2 system, we now carry the Frog Stick. The Frog Stick is similar to Nature 2 in that they are both mineral disinfectant systems, yet the Frog is compatible with Bromine, Chlorine and Oxidizer while the Nature 2 system is not compatible with Bromine. If you are currently using the Nature 2 system you will be happy to know that the Frog Stick works in a very similar manner as Nature 2, you simply insert the Frog Stick into the filter cartridge core (or into the skimmer well of some spas) and allow it to go to work for the next four months. The Frog Stick works together with lower levels of bromine or chlorine for a much more enjoyable spa experience.
Winterizing Your Pool With Proper Chemicals
Some of our customers insist on using liquid chlorine (shock) to winterize their pool. They dump in a case or two of shock and then slam the cover on the pool. The problem is that chlorine is an oxidizer and when the water is super-chlorinated and it comes in contact with the winter cover, it immediately starts chewing up the winter cover.
Big mistake!!! Use a professional winter kit that has components that won’t damage the cover. Plus, most (all of ours!) have time release ‘ingredients’ that work all winter long. Closing with proper chemicals pretty much assures a clean pool in the spring and extended life for the winter cover. Winterizing with liquid chlorine assures that somewhere along the line, you are going to have a cover that splits out with all the gunk on top going into the pool.
Bursting Your Solar Cover Bubble
Every once in awhile, I’ll get a call from a customer who is concerned about their solar cover “popping.” They describe it as the bubbles bursting and falling off into the pool water. Unfortunately, issues like this are not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty because it only covers seam separation. However, I do have some helpful advice to extend the life of your cover. First and foremost, the most common issue contributing to solar cover deterioration is water chemistry. If your water is out of balance it can damage the cover that is resting on the surface. The main culprit of this is your pH level. If your pH is too low it becomes acidic and will eat away at the cover. If the pH is too high it will be very basic and can disintegrate the material. Either way, it’s not a good thing. Chlorine can also cause damage to your cover if the level is too high. Any time a pool is shocked with liquid chlorine, the cover should be removed and left off for at least 24 hours. By allowing the chlorine level to drop back to a normal range, you are avoiding unnecessary damage to your cover. Along with chemical damage, the sun itself can actually hurt the solar cover as well. The little white plastic cover that comes with the solar cover is meant to protect it from the sun when the cover is off of the pool. Rolling up your cover and letting it just sit in the sun will cause it to literally bake itself. The bubbles will “burst” and the cover can actually melt together. Always clean off the cover and allow it to dry for a brief time. Roll or fold the cover, cover it with the white plastic, and store it out of direct sunlight/heat. By following these guidelines you can avoid unnecessary wear on your cover. – Stacey
