Back To School
It is that time of year again. Buying school supplies, figuring out schedules, what day is cheer practice, what is the bus number? These are all questions that every parent asks themselves this time of year, along with the other question “Where do I find the time to do all of this?” On top of all this there is still the pool in the backyard. Realizing that with the hectic schedules there will be very little time to use it, but periodic checks do need to be made. This will insure that the basket is not packing with leaves, or the pump is not running dry from the lack of rainfall and not dropping the hose in. As the old adage says ” An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Chris
Toys
Recently I was at a grill out at my father-in-laws, and I noticed all the kids were in the pool, but they weren’t playing anything. Maybe it was because they didn’t bring anything with them or nothing was at the house. Regardless, they should have something to play with like a beach ball, dive sticks or water guns. At Eastgate Pools and Spas we have a great selection of toys, floats and other games to keep your kids entertained for a long time. Stop in today!!
Automatic Pool Vacuums
A hint: When you are not using the unit, do not coil the hose. It will develop a ‘memory’ and then when you put it in the pool, it will miss large areas. Keep the hose straight and if you must coil the hose, reverse the direction of the coil every time you do so.
Safety Cover Storage
I often get asked about what to do with the winter cover after the pool is opened. My suggestion would be to clean it really good, let it dry and store it in something dry if possible. I have seen people use garbage cans, and that seems to work really well. Whatever you decide, do not leave it outside. It can get wet, dirty and mice can get into it and eat thru the cover. By leaving it outside it will also shorten the life span of the cover. Over the years it will shrink and dry root. So when you are taking off that cover, don’t just throw it off to the side, give it the attention it deserves. – Tim
Liners
We have many customers call us every year in a panic over their liner. If they get a small hole in the liner they believe it’s the end of the world when in fact it is not. A hole in your liner can easily be patched with the water still in the pool and anyone with a set of goggles can do it themselves.
We also have the customers that call in and ask about what the warranty of their liner covers. The liner warranty covers only seam separation or in their terms manufacturer defect. I have seen customers cut out a portion of the liner and bring it up for us to look at only to realize they have nothing more than a tear right at the seam. The manufacturer will not cover this under warranty and it can be easily patched.
Thomas
Safety Cover Storage
I often get asked about what to do with the winter cover after the pool is opened. My suggestion would be to clean it really good, let it dry and store it in something dry if possible. I have seen people us garbage cans, and that seems to work really well. Whatever you decide, do not leave it outside. It can get wet, dirty and mice can get into it and eat thru the cover. By leaving it outside it will also shorten the life span of the cover. Over the years it will shrink and dry root. So when you are taking off that cover, don’t just throw it off to the side, give it the attention it deserves. – Tim
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
New Sand
Tip: When you change the sand in your filter, the very first time you turn the motor back on, have the filter set on ‘Backwash” and let it run for about 2 minutes. This will wash out the impurities, dust, and extra fine particles that are in the sand. If you start it up on ‘Filter’, all these unwanted things will go in the pool. And remember-whenever you change settings ALWAYS turn the motor off to avoid damage to the spider gasket in the filter head valve.
– Max
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.
Added Thought On An Earlier Posting
In an earlier posting, Scott talked about getting as much information as possible about the pump, filter, or other product that needs a part. Scott is absolutely correct, but I will add one more way for us to help customers get the right part. Besides writing down the model name and number, if you have a digital camera or a phone that takes pictures, snap a few photos of the item to go along with your notes. The more information the better, and it might save you an additional trip. It is kind of like the old rule of measure twice, cut once!
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
Above Ground Liner Rehang Hint
If you are changing your above ground pool’s liner, we offer a step-by-step guide to do it right. Go to: http://www.eastgatepools.com/tips/linerinstall.htm
BIG HINT: If you have a sand base under the liner, make sure you compress the sand thoroughly on the coves. If you don’t, you will get little pieces of sand roll up between the liner and the wall when the cove compacts from the weight of the water. These pieces are then trapped, and when you vacuum the pool, the vac head brushes up against the liner and trapped sand. This causes tiny pinholes that will ultimately lead to rust and wall failure. Pack that sand. The last step should be to wash down the inside wall. Make sure to attach the spray nozzle so that you have a gentle stream of water, not a full blast that would wash the sand away. –Max
Bubbles Down
One of the more common phone questions that we receive here at Eastgate Pools & Spas this time of year involves solar covers. Specifically, do the bubbles go up or down? The answer is down, as the sun heats the air in the bubbles, and this heat is then transferred to the water that comes up between these bubbles. So, keep those bubbles down and enjoy the warmer water that solar covers provide.
Like @&*t Through A Goose . . .
Okay – we get the calls every year. Ducks and geese have ‘fowled’ someone’s water (sorry for the pun), and they want to know what needs to be done to makes sure the water is safe. My recommendation is to vacuum the pool thoroughly, then shock the daylights out of it – about a triple dose. Don’t let anybody in for 24 hours while filtering continuously, then get in and swim.