Sunday, June 20, 2010

SWIMMING POOOL VACUUMS - Important Tools For Your Pool

Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, SWIMMING POOL OWNER!!! You can Save Money with a Pool Vacuum


The whole point of having a personal swimming pool in your garden is to spend time taking pleasure in it with friends and family. However, if you end up spending more time on pool maintenance than you do swimming, your pool might begin to seem like a hassle rather than a source of fun. If that's the circumstances that you're presently facing, there are methods to solve the problem. First and foremost, you need the right tools to assist you keep your pool sparkling clean without the need for hours of backbreaking work. This is where quality swimming pool vacuums come into play. In fact, efficient and effective pool vacuums are essential tools for your swimming pool, as they will allow you to keep your pool clean and free of debris while making your life far easier.

Having clean and clear pool water is not only significant visually, it's also very important for health reasons. Dirty, contaminated water can create a serious health risk for swimmers as bacteria and other particles can cause infections and irritation. This is why regular pool maintenance is so significant. In addition to using chemicals to kill bacteria and other contaminants, you also need to get rid of visible debris such as dirt, sand, bugs and leaves. While swimming pool filtration systems will remove some particles and debris from the water, other debris will need to be removed by using a vacuum.

There are many dissimilar kinds of swimming pool vacuums available on the market today that will allow you to clear many types of debris out of your pool. There are both above ground pool vacuums and in-ground pool vacuums that have been designed to clean up the whole lot from fine sand and silt to twigs and pebbles. While some above ground pool vacuums are specifically designed for use on flat bottom pools only, there are also models available that can be used on both flat bottom pools and dish bottom pools. As for in-ground pool vacuums, many of the best models can be used to clean a variety of different types of surfaces including vinyl and fiberglass. So no matter what particular type of swimming pool you may have, you can find a great selection of both above ground and in-ground pool vacuums to select from.

When picking a swimming pool vacuum, you would like to make sure that you prefer one that will provide effective, thorough cleaning without any hassles or difficulties. One of the best ways to make certain that you purchase a vacuum that will give you the results you want and need is to go with a trusted and respected brand name. It's also important to consider the individual features and characteristics of the different pool vacuums and make a decision which ones will be the most fit for you and your swimming pool.

For example, if you have a square or rectangular pool rather than a round swimming pool, you might want to consider purchasing a vacuum that is designed to clean hard-to-reach corners. Such swimming pool vacuums will naturally feature triangular vacuum heads and angled brushes. In the same way, other characteristics of swimming pool vacuum heads are also important to consider. While some swimming pool vacuum heads are designed to mainly provide strong suction that will pick up mud, rocks algae, and leaves without clouding the pool water, others will also include brushes and will be designed to provide scrubbing as well as suction.

Whether you're looking for in-ground pool vacuums or above ground pool vacuums, you should also think about which add-ons and accessories you will need to make your pool maintenance routine even easier. For example, telescoping poles are one of the most accepted types of vacuum attachments, and they can significantly reduce the hassle involved in cleaning your pool. Available in different lengths, telescoping poles will attach to many different types of swimming pool vacuum heads and will allow you to access hard-to-reach areas without straining your back. Other swimming pool vacuum accessories include Hose Huggers, which provide a convenient way to carry and transport vacuum hoses, and vacuum hose reels, which eliminate tangled messes of hoses on your pool deck and make it easy to maneuver your vacuum cleaner.

From in-ground pool vacuums to above ground pool vacuums, there are many brands, models and designs to select from. However, all of the highest quality swimming pool vacuums share certain characteristics in that they will provide you with the cleaning power and maneuverability that you need to quickly and easily rid your pool of dirt and debris. By helping you keep your pool water sparkling clean and by cutting down on the time and effort involved in pool maintenance, high quality swimming pool vacuums allow you to spend less time working and more time enjoying your pool, making them truly important tools for your swimming pool.

Monday, June 7, 2010

pH LEVEL IN SWIMMING POOL-How to make it under your control


Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, FILTERS AND PUMPS OF SWIMMING POOL: Important tools for Pool Maintenance

It is said that having a good swimming pool pH level is essential in making certain that all of the equipment and chemicals which are used in your pool are doing their job accurately. That's why it's so significant to check the levels at least every week. Even in the off-season you will need to keep an eye on it, since as an open water system, you will have nasty algae growth, fungus, bacteria and the like.

It's not unusual for your pool pH level to move up or fall depending on a number of conditions. What is essential is to know exactly what steps to take in order to get it back into best possible range depending on if it is too high or too low.

Swimming pool pH is a measurement of acid to alkaline ratio. At 7.0, your pool water is completely neutral, above that number and it becomes alkaline, while below it means your pool is too acidic. The most desirable range we'd like to keep our pool pH level at is between 7.2 and 7.6. It's in this range that our equipment and chemicals can function to the most excellent of their ability.

If pH is too high, what to do:

In general, pH will have a trend to increase. This is because of human waste such as sweat. Therefore, in this instance we will need to take a few simple steps to get it back to standard.

Firstly, you will need to pay for an acid designed to be used in swimming pools. The most general forms of these acids are dry acid and muriatic acid.

Next, we will start by making sure our pool pump is on. Then at the deep end of the water we will start slowly adding in whichever form of acid you decided to go with. Be sure to pay attention to the label as it will give you instructions on how much acid per treatment depending on the size of your pool, and how much water there is.

This will be a continuing process. Adding acid bits at a time, and leaving the pool for some time, then rechecking your levels. Do again until the pH level is back in best range.

If pH is top low, what to do:

Principally you will be doing the same steps as above, however, instead of using an acid we will be using an alkaline such as soda ash. Again, keep the pool pump on and add bits at a time letting the alkaline flow while still testing the waters until the pH is back in best range.


Thursday, June 3, 2010

SWIMMING POOL OWNER!!! You can Save Money with a Pool Vacuum


Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, FILTERS AND PUMPS OF SWIMMING POOL: Important tools for Pool Maintenance

When the summer comes, it is time for you and your family members to enjoy swimming. If your pool is not maintained on a regular basis, biologics, rain and dust can make the pool polluted. It is said that you have to carefully check your pool chemistry. Using the proper chemicals in the correct concentrations is very essential. Keeping good records and a routine that includes shock treatments at key intervals is also very significant. Additionally, you will need to physically hygienic your pool using your pool vacuum to keep everything looking good. Proper and timely cleaning will decrease the amount of pool chemicals and energy which is necessary you will need to handle your pool.

Watchful maintenance of your pump and filters including your skimmer will make your job easier. Every day cleaning of your skimmers is very essential particularly if you are receiving a lot of rain or wind. Backwashing your sand filter or cleaning your filters every week will save you money in terms of energy use.

The reduced resistance will make the pump operate cooler and more efficient. This is very important when using the pump to run your pool vacuum. The more suction power at the end of the vacuum tool the more dirt and grime will be eliminated from the walls and bottom. Using a pole pool vacuum is the best method to assure that your pool will be clean. It can be boring work and requires a level of tolerance and discipline if you are to do a good job. In some cases, a brush will have to be employed to get rid of the most stubborn dirt or algae from the pool walls.

Many pool owners find the process of using a hand or pole pool vacuum far too time consuming and have selected for an automatic pool vacuum cleaner. These units can be a huge time savior and are good for preventing your pool from getting so polluted that it must be cleaned by hand. These crawlers creep along the bottom powered by the suction from the pool pump. You will commonly hear a snapping sound as they work and this is the pool vacuums valve opening and closing as it moves. It should be noted that even the best automatic pool vacuum will miss areas in your pool. You will have to identify these areas and physically clean them by hand.

Most pools have a pool cage around them to reduce both insects and the amount of leaves and other debris from getting in the pool. However, there is a lot of dirt, pathogens and biologics that are relatively small and will end up in your pool even with a screen. Even though, your pool seems good to the naked eye it may in fact have hidden grime or biologic problems. Many times your chemical checking will give you a sign that something is not accurate. Giving your pool a good brushing and cleaning will in many cases solve the difficulty. It is a lot cheaper than purchasing expensive chemicals to bring your pool back into balance. Again, routine scheduled cleaning will a lot to prevent troubles. Then you can get pleasure from your pool knowing that it is a safe and hygienic place for your family to swim.

Monday, May 31, 2010

10 Most Unsafe Parts of Your Swimming Pool


Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, "SWIMMING POOL INSPECTION"


It is said that all swimming pool owners recognize the danger of having a silent, lurking body of water in their house. Even more so for families with children, a swimming pool can be a silent killer. Consider this top ten list of the most common and most risky swimming pool deficiencies:

10) Electrical


Suitable electrical wiring for a swimming pool and all its components is critical because water, electricity and people are an unsafe mix. Swimming pools, and all metal components within one meter of the water line should be bonded with a heavy ground wire loop. Moreover, all electrical pieces of equipment that come into close contact with water such as pumps and lights must be appropriately connected with a GFIC or ground fault interrupter.

9) Slippery Decks

As swimming pool deck surfaces age and weather they will develop algae and become very slippery, especially in wet conditions. To cut the likelihood of falling or slipping on a pool deck, you should force clean your deck yearly. In addition, silica sand can be put in to your concrete sealer to provide a more textured and slip resistant surface.

8) Ladders & Stairs

Stairs and ladders are a very general place for injury in a swimming pool. Colored nosing tile is used to accentuate step edges in many pools, which helps to define the step edges under the moving water. The likelihood for a fall or injury increases at night, and also even more so if there is no underwater swimming pool light to illuminate the water. Ladders often have hand rails installed into the pool deck which can become loose over time. If the ladder rails shift as you are climbing out of the water, this will greatly increase the risk of a fall.

7) Water Quality

Do not undervalue your green swimming pool. Dangerous bacteria can reside in poorly maintained water. It is critical to ensure that the water quality is appropriate for swimming to prevent infections and staph infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat. Chemical levels in the water can also affect those prone to skin reactions.

6) Chemical Storage

Your swimming pool chemicals are a potent mix of strong acids, alkaline and poisons. Even worse is that many of these chemicals purposely react with one another, yet they are often stored in the same location with little effort to keep them safe. Chemicals should be researched and stored in a controlled, dry and locked location at all times.

5) Pool Winter Covers

Winterization covers are often just large tarps stretched over the pool with sand or water bags pinning them down at the edges. These are not strong enough to support the weight of a medium pet or small child without pulling into the pool. They can look tempting to walk on, but any person or animal that walks out onto a swimming pool winter cover is in serious trouble.

4) Suction Lines

The swimming pool suction points, most commonly the skimmer and the main drain are directly connected to the front of powerful swimming pool pumps. The power of a pool pump is more than enough the cause sever and life threatening injury. The warning label that comes on new main drains, skimmers and pool pumps states that the pool pump has enough force to trap, drown and disembowel you should you unwittingly cover the suction point with any part of your body. Tragically every year more kids are killed this way from single suction main drains which are now illegal. Dual suction main drains spaced apart are now required so that you cannot cover both suction points at the same time. Suitable use of main drain lids is critical to ensure the safety of your swimmers.

3) Pool Toys

A wonderfully common source for swimming pool related accidents is a consequence of swimming pool toys which are not fitting for use in a pool. Some floatation devices can cause young swimmers to flip over and get trapped upside down under the water. Large inner tubes or inflatable boats are prime examples of items better suited for the beach.

2) Pool Slides

Swimming pool slides seem like a good idea when you consider children playing in the pool. At the same time, a pool slide is literally like letting your children play on a 9 foot tall ladder overtop of concrete. Pool slides are less and less common these days, and for good reason as they are the second most common cause of serious injury in a swimming pool.

1) Diving Boards

By far the most hazardous part to your swimming pool is the diving board. The enormous majority of swimming pools are not deep enough for a diving board. The jeopardy of spinal and head trauma are extremely high in pools less than nine feet deep, which most are. Even a moderately steep dive will cause a collision at the bottom for the swimmer, and the long slope of the pool shallow end is a tricky obstacle to avoid when pulling up from the dive. Removing the diving board from your pool and encouraging a no diving policy will decrease the likelihood of a swimming pool accident or injury by as much as 50%.


Bear in mind - these swimming pool risks relate to the average swimmer, but an unused pool can be just as deadly. Be sure to install an automatic swimming pool safety cover to take the single most proactive step towards increasing the safety of your swimming pool.

Friday, May 28, 2010

TOP 5 MISTAKES SWIMMING POOL OWNERS MAKE


Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, FILTERS AND PUMPS OF SWIMMING POOL: Important tools for Pool Maintenance

When the hot summer comes there is no better place to make you cool and relax than your own swimming pool. There are lots of funs to have a pool, but they do need a little regular maintenance to keep running appropriately.


There are assured things every pool owners has to do on a fairly regular basis to remain your pool operation in the best condition. And while you may be tempted to omit a maintenance matter every once in awhile, finally, you may find your pool is not working appropriately. In the worse case, you may face a huge repair bill to fix it.


Top 5 Most Normal Mistakes Pool Owners Make:


1. Not running your pump long enough. The operation of your pump is critical to the operation of just about everything else related to your pool. Your filter, heater, automatic pool cleaner, and chlorinator will not work unless your pump is operating efficiently. A good pool pump has 2 speeds and we suggest that you operate it 24 – 7.


2. Not maintaining the right water level in your pool. If the water level in your pool is at or near the base of your tile line in your pool, the pump starts to draw air (rather than water) into your circulating system. This causes your pump to lose its “prime.” When the pump loses its prime, water is no longer moving through the circulating system and none of your equipment is working.

CAUTION: The water inside of your pump housing can reach over 200 degrees if your pump operates for an extended period of time without a “prime.” The heat and the steam created can melt piping, fittings, and your pump. If you open the pump strainer, SCALDING WATER CAN SPRAY OUT WITH DISASTEROUS RESULTS!!! Never open the strainer housing on your pump if you even think that this condition might exist. Turn the pump off and wait for the water to cool before opening the pump strainer housing.


3. Not adding pH adjustment chemicals to your pool water. Salt chlorination raises the pH of your water. If you don’t add enough muriatic acid to your pool water on weekly basis, YOU WILL DEVELOP SCALE. Scale will appear as white streaks and encrustations on your pool plaster. This will be especially troublesome on colored plaster pools.

4. Don’t regularly clean your equipment. Your swimming pool is built with specially designed equipment such as the pump strainer basket, chlorinator cell and filter elements. And without regular maintenance these parts will malfunction and eventually need replacement. Furthermore these are considered normal maintenance procedures that you have to perform and are not part of your warranty.

For instance, if your pump basket is not cleaned regularly, and re-inserted properly, debris will clog the impeller and the pump will not perform properly. Or if you neglect your chlorinator cell it can become encrusted with calcium and other minerals dissolved in your water, the chlorinator will not work. And if your filter elements get dirty, it becomes harder for the water to pass through and will eventually shut your whole system down!


5. Not testing your water. This is one of the “golden rules” of pool ownership - you CANNOT determine the condition of your pool water simply by looking at it. Of course if your water is cloudy or green, it certainly needs attention. But did you know that your water can be hazardous to your health, even if it “looks” good?


Weekly testing of your water, followed up by monthly testing by your local pool chemical store, is the only way to keep your water up. A little time and money spent on adjustment chemicals can save you lots of money in the long run.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

EVALUATE HAYWARD POOL PUMPS


Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, SELECT RIGHT SWIMMING POOL PUMPS…HOW???



If you believe that selecting what sort of pool pump that you are going to use as the key factor of your pools plumbing and filtration system is an unimportant decision in that case you have radically undervalued their consequence. From a distance, pool pumps may look alike on the outside but further than that there is much difference that set them apart.

Quality and Reliability

Hayward pool pumps stand at the front position of technological advance with an enormous variety of high quality, reliable pool pumps that can be counted on for the life of your pool. Generally speaking, it is said that Hayward pool pumps aren't the cheapest but they are the best.


No Difficulty with Spare Parts

Moreover, it is said that spare parts for Hayward pool pumps are snap to find and order. This may not look like big deal presently but if your budget priced pool pump needs a minor part that turns out to be impossible to find it will be.


Simple Access Filter
Hayward's “Super Pump” series right now features the very most up-to-date in hi-tech innovations and convenience features. For example, their swing away handle on their filter makes for uncomplicated cleaning with no instruments required.


Cooler and Quieter

This series of Hayward pool pumps also feature a see through filter cover that lets you promptly test if it needs cleaning in a fraction of a second. In addition, Hayward's high performance motors with “airflow” ventilation indicates cooler and quieter operation.


More Water Pumping but Less Power Consumption

This innovative series of Hayward Pool pumps also add in a new energy proficient devise that outcomes in more water being pumped than other pumps of equivalent horsepower.

Monday, May 24, 2010

SELECT RIGHT SWIMMING POOL PUMPS…HOW???

Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, FILTERS AND PUMPS OF SWIMMING POOL: Important tools for Pool Maintenance



When you have made decision to invest in a swimming pool, one thing that you need to think is how to select a proper swimming pool pump. It is said that swimming pool pumps are very significant to appropriately maintaining your pool. They help to keep your pool hygienic, save money on chemicals, and they make your pool from turning into a green algae mess.

Now it is time for you to make a decision which pump will perform best with your pool. Selecting the Suitable pool pump will depend upon a number of key factors.

Pump Size: Not to big not too small

Selecting a swimming pool pumps size will rely on the size of your pool. If you pay money for a pump that is too undersized it will be ineffective at cleaning your pool. On the other hand, a pump that is too large can make your pool swirl and very uncomfortable. Your regional swimming pool dealership should be able to assist you in finding out the proper size. In most cases the dealership can look up the model of your swimming pool and determine the size. However, if you have a custom built pool the motor size can be calculated based on the size.

Energy Efficient Models

The environmental awareness is a factor that you need to think about. There are many energy efficient swimming pool pumps on the market today. You should think about this choice when purchasing a new pump, in order that you can save money. On balance, if you consider the number of hours you will run your pump for a whole period the cost can add up very rapidly. As an alternative would be to buy a pool pump that has an automatic timing system. With this machine you can program when your pool pump will turn on and when it should turn off. If you fail to remember to shut off the pump you do not have to worry it will shut off automatically.

Noise Level of Swimming Pool Pumps

Noise intensity of swimming pool pumps is the one factor that you need to reflect on. Swimming pool pumps can range in the level of noise they make from a small hum to a loud roar. When selecting a swimming pool pump you will maybe need a model that is quiet. Finally, nothing can run an excitement pool party like trying to talk over a loud roar. Min addition you may want to run your pool pump in the late afternoon when no one is using the pool and a loud pump could upset your neighbors. Most swimming pool supply dealerships will have models on display in order that you can see how loud they are. However, if you cannot sample the swimming pool pumps make sure you ask for a guarantee and return policy in case the pump is too loud.

Swimming pool pumps are very significant component of owing and maintaining your swimming pool accurately. Make sure you select a model that is heavy-duty and will last for a long time. In spite of everything, a swimming pool pump can be very expensive so you want something that will stand up to the components for a long time.