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Contaminants enter the pool because of environmental factors like rain and wind or transfer off of swimmers. The purpose of the swimming pool’s filter is to keep the pool clean. So, how exactly does your pool’s filtration system work?

First of all, there are three main types of swimming pool filters:

Sand filters. These are probably the most common type of filter. Water is pumped through a bed of sand and contaminants are sifted out. After the contaminants build up, the filter must be backwashed.

Cartridge filters. This kind of filter is known for being easy to contain. It uses a typically polyester cartridge to remove particles from the water that lasts a very long time. Rather than having to constantly replace the cartridge, most cartridge filters only require that after the particles build up, you remove the cartridge and wash out the contaminants. Read the rest of this entry »

Installing a Polaris 280 is fairly straight forward, with a little patience, you will have a clean swimming pool. Before you even purchase this cleaner, you need to make sure that your swimming pool is set up to accept it. There are a few things that you will need. The most important is a dedicated pressure line which must already be installed. The other parts required will be a timer, electrical, and a booster pump.

Inside the box you will find the cleaner, hose and fittings, bag, instructions and warranty card. There is a fitting at the end of the hose, this attaches to the side of your swimming pool. It is 2 pieces, one is threaded and the other has a quick disconnect with pressure relief valve. Separate the 2 and thread the cuff into the wall until snug, don’t tighten too much or you will crack the fitting inside the pool wall which is a big problem, now push in and turn the quick disconnect valve into the wall cuff. Read the rest of this entry »

Home owners and businesses often look for a pool maintenance company to help keep swimming facility clean and safe for users. Trying to keep-up on the maintenance by themselves can be a daunting task and is something that should be left for a professional. A professional will have knowledge on maintaining a pool, as well as modern equipment to accomplish the task.

There are many things to consider when searching for the proper professional for the job. It’s important to hire a business that will be faithful to keep a regular schedule and will keep a log of every time the facility has been cleaned. They should have highly trained employees, modern equipment and a reputation for good customer service and quality work.

Ask others who have a similar swimming faculty about who they work with and if they would recommend their services. Personal recommendations are the best way to find a reputable company for the job. A personal recommendation offers an unbiased, experienced opinion that should be considered valuable. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many aspects to pool maintenance, and even more to knowing which pool supplies are right for you. Check out these frequently asked questions for more information on pool and spa supplies.

What type of cover is right for my pool?

This depends on the time of year and what kind of pool you have. There are special winter covers for the cold season; these will help keep your pool clean until until you reopen again in the spring. The winter can bring harsh weather and with this thick, durable cover, you won’t have to do major shocking and cleaning after every single storm. In addition to these covers, you can put a leaf net over a winter cover that is lighter and easier to remove along with the accumulated leaves and debris. Leaf nets can be used on their own during warmer weather, too. Mesh covers are lighter and allow water to seep it but keep debris out. Safety covers are designed to keep children, animals, and other unwanted visitors out of your pool. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a few reasons why a pool turns green. You could have an unbalanced water chemistry. You may not be adding enough chlorine or have a more advanced chemical problem. You also might not be running the filter long enough or it could be an algae problem.

Your next step depends on the level of debris in the pool. If the water is both green and is either so murky that you cannot see the bottom or you can see larger debris, you should clean it out with a leaf net. Removing these debris with a net prevents them from clogging your skimmer or filter. If you have an overwhelming amount of algae in the pool, you may want to manually scrub the sides and bottom or consider using an algaecide so that things will get cleared up more quickly. Whether or not you use a vacuum or automatic cleaner to get rid of the algae depends on the amount of algae and whether or not the appliance is equipped to handle it. Read the rest of this entry »

A lot of the phone calls and emails we get about pools ask about the cost, which makes sense! When you’re looking to purchase something like a pool, it is important to look at all the facts and figures. Not only how much the pool is going to cost you, but how much a more expensive option may save you in the long term, and looking at a variety of options to see what you really want and what is not important.

Buying a pool is a lot like buying a car — if you REALLY want those leather seats, you’d better get them from the start. So, it’s good to look at all available options and make sure you are educated on what is available to you in your area.

Start simple: How much does an inground pool cost? Read the rest of this entry »

If you have a child who struggles with asthma, you know that everything you do is ruled by their asthma. You constantly find yourself worrying about what will and won’t trigger an asthma attack. Parents of asthmatic children find themselves wondering if they should allow their children to swim in swimming pools.

There is some evidence that the chlorine that is commonly used to keep the pool sanitized and the water really clean could actually trigger an asthma attack. Not only do many experts feel that chlorine can trigger breathing problems in individuals who already have asthma, some experts wonder if the reason that there are so many asthmatic swimmers could be because the chlorine causes some people to develop the respiratory condition.

In the past the only way your child could enjoy a cool dip in their swimming pool was if they were willing to risk an asthma attack. The good news is that it might now be possible for your asthmatic child to enjoy swimming in your swimming pool and not have to worry that they won’t be able to breathe when they get out of the pool. The answer could come in the form of pool salt water chlorinators. Read the rest of this entry »

Besides the obvious benefits of hot tub spas in removing tiredness and refreshing your body, spa tub also have many hidden benefits that most of us are unaware of. A dip in products helps in regulating the blood flow in your body and improving your blood vessels. While you relax in hot tub, the hot water dilates your blood vessels and widens them. This makes it easier for blood to circulate through your body. This also prevents the blood from forcing its way to blood vessels and thus reduces the chances of high blood pressure to a significant extent. Thus, can help in controlling high blood pressure, dilating your blood pressure and improving blood circulation in your body.

Mentioned below are some other benefits of using a hot tub spa: Read the rest of this entry »

If a pump is switched on and working when not fully primed then it will not be working efficiently and could become damaged. It is therefore essential that a pump is regularly checked for prime and re primed if necessary.

A pump is primed when all the air has been purged from the pump and it is moving water.

If a pump is either not moving water, or is moving water mixed with air, then it is said to have lost its prime.

It may be necessary to re-establish prime in a pump for various reasons, such as when you re-connect the pump at the beginning of the season, when you have cleaned the strainer basket in the pump or if you have a leak in your filtration system. Read the rest of this entry »

It is important to continually monitor a pool’s chemical balance to ensure the pool is at the proper quality. The chemical health of a pool determines the effectiveness of the chemicals to kill bacteria and other contaminants and also assures that the pool is safe to swim in.

It is simple and easy to test a pool’s chemical balance. Test kits will usually provide a test sample tube to collect a water sample with. They will have several different tubes for each chemical being tested. Submerge the tube at least eighteen inches underwater to ensure a proper sample is being collected. Read the rest of this entry »