Ask the Residential pool Expert
May 2012 Article
What does it mean when they talk about water balance in my pool?
Water balance deals with the tendency of water to corrode or scale. Scale formations can form abrasive deposits on pool surfaces, plug filter sand, reduce circulation by depositing scale inside piping, and cause cloudy pools. Allowing a scaling water condition to continue does irreparable damage to pool surfaces and equipment.
In the pool environment, corrosion may cause the pitting of concrete surfaces, dissolve copper elements inside the pool heater or, pin holes in metal filters and piping.
Balanced water is neither scaling nor corrosive.
How do I balance my pool water?
To balance your water, you should check your “ Total Alkalinity, PH, and Calcium Hardness”
Total Alkalinity is the measure of the amount of alkaline salt in the pool water. It is important to the pool water chemistry as it is a buffer to the PH in the pool. Water that is low in Alkalinity has a hard time holding the PH at a certain level. What this means is that the PH will bounce around quite easily, and you will be constantly trying to correct it by adding the appropriate chemicals. Also, low alkalinity in the water tends to corrode .To raise the alkalinity, add “Alkalinity UP” to your pool. Low alkalinity can lead to the following:
• PH bounce
• Corrosion of pipes and staining of pool walls
If, on the other hand, the Alkalinity is too high the PH will tend to drift up therefore leading to scaling water. Also, higher PH levels affect the effectiveness of the chlorine. To lower the alkalinity in your pool water requires the use of Muriatic Acid. Talk to a pool professional before using Muriatic Acid. Alkalinity that is too high can lead to:
• High acid demands
• Scaling
• Cloudy water
• PH will drift up
PH is a term that measures how acidic or alkaline your water is. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. 0. The higher the number the more acidic the water. If the PH is too low, your equipment may corrode. If the PH is too high, then you may get scaling.
The effects of improper PH are: Too low:
• Skin and eye irritation
• Equipment corrodes
• Vinyl liners can wrinkle
Too High:
• Chlorine loses effectiveness
• Water Clouds or scales
• Skin and eye irritation
To adjust the PH, simply add PH UP or PH Down.
Calcium Hardness is a measurement of the calcium ion content of the water. Low calcium in the water may do serious damage to concrete pools. On the other hand, high calcium will increase the probability of scaling. To increase the Calcium Hardness, add “Calcium Hardness Increaser. To lower the Calcium Hardness, add a product like “Pool Secure by Tabex” or a similar product.
Once you get the hang of it, maintaining a balanced swimming pool is not that dificult. When you open the pool in the spring start by adjusting the Hardness, then the Alkalinity, then the PH and finally the Chlorine. After you have your pool up and running adjust your Alkalinity first, then your PH, followed by your Chlorine level and finally the Calcium Hardness.
April 2012 Article
I have read that it is now possible to automate your pool. Is this correct and does it cost an arm and a leg?
If you have a salt water system in your pool you are on your way to full automation. One of the simplest systems on the market today is made by Hayward Pool Products (http://www.hayward-pool.com). The “Sense and
Dispense” by Hayward is designed to work along side of the Pro Logic, Aqua
Plus and Aqua Rite Pro, also by Hayward.
The following information has been provided by Hayward:
This professional – grade ORP and PH Sense and Dispense technology was previously only available for commercial pools. Hayward offers an economical approach, with the same level of accuracy, for residential pools.
Unlike others on the market, Sense and Dispense, uses a proportional feed that continuously tests the water, sampling pH and chlorine activity, adjusting chemical feeding on a basis proportional to the demand. Other approaches don’t sample the water often enough and release larger doses which is far less effective and can create highs and lows similar to a manual approach.
Sense and Dispense consists of two basic functions. AQL-CHEM kit senses pH and chlorine levels and dispenses a self-renewing supply of pure chlorine generated from salt. pH dispense can be achieved using a second kit which connects t a carbon dioxide tank or a peristaltic pump acid feed tank. Either method is effective at controlling the pH drift that naturally occurs with the use of salt chlorination.
What can a Sense and Dispense system do for my pool and how will it make my live easier?
Once you add the Sense and Dispense you will set your requirement for your Chlorine levels (ORP) and for your PH levels. Your water will be continuously monitored and your levels will be adjusted automatically. The Sense and Dispense does not do everything for you. You will still have to
test your water on a regular bases but it will certainly make your life a whole lot easier. Having a pool with improper Chlorine levels or a really high PH will almost be a thing of the past. Depending on what is require to operate your pool, full automation is now available for the average pool owner. To get an actuate cost please contact your pool professional.
March 2012 Article
When should I open my pool for the summer?
The best time to get your pool running is right after the ice is gone. This year that could be as soon as the middle of March to the beginning of April. When your pool water is cold, algie has a hard time growing. The warmer your water gets the more likely you are to have algie.
After the ice is gone, remove your winter cover, and check your water. It should be clear, and any dirt and leaves should be sitting on the bottom. Slowly remove the leaves and other large debris. If you have to add water to your pool to get it circulating, try not to disturb any dirt that has settled on the bottom of the pool. To get rid of any dirt that has settled on the bottom of your pool, start your pump, and if possible, vacuum your pool “to waste.” The dirt is usually so fine that it will clog up your filter in as little as 3 to 5 min. If you end up stirring up the water and the water becomes cloudy, turn off the pump, and let the pool sit for a few days. All the dirt will settle back to the bottom. Once you have removed the dirt, you should balance your pool water and add chlorine. If you don’t plan to use your pool for a few months, try and bring the chlorine level up to 1PPM. Keep the heater off. Cold water requires less chlorine than warm water. If you have a winter safety cover, you can re-install it for safety reasons and to keep out debris.
As long as the water is cold, you do not have to run your pump 24 hrs a day. Depending on the temperature, you can probably run your pump as little as 4 hrs every 3 or 4 days. Check your water, and keep your chlorine level between 1 and 3PPM. Do not try and heat your water if it contains algie. It is much easier to clean up your pool if the water is cold than if it is warm.
When you are ready to open your pool for the summer, just turn on the heater, and you will be ready to enjoy your pool.
If you have any questions about opening your pool or about installing a pool, please call Russel at 502-5082.
February 2012 Article
I’ve heard that maintaining a swimming pool is a lot of work and requires a lot of time. Is that correct?
The amount of time you spend maintaining your pool should be no more than about an hour a week. If you own an outdoor pool the weather will play a big role in how much work you do. EG: How sunny is it, how windy is it, or is there a lot of debris blowing into you pool.
Once you understand how your swimming pool is operated and what the varies systems do, it becomes a matter of simply monitoring the water and adjusting the levels accordingly.
Depending on the weather you should vacuum your pool at least once a week.
If you own an automatic vacuum this will take about 10 min to put it in water and in about 8 hours you have a clean pool. You pool water has two systems that you have to monitor and maintain. One is proper water balance (Ph and alkalinity) and the other is proper sanitation (some form of chlorine). Both system require you to test the water on a daily bases. After you take your test you either adjust your water chemistry or do nothing at all. Once you get to know your system, you may be able to test the water once a week instead.
I normally find that new owners of swimming pools will usually call me about once a day for a week and then they call once a week. After the 2nd or 3rd month most owners have the system done pat.
If you have any questions about maintaining your swimming pool, feel free to call me , at 403-502-5082
January 2012 Article
I would like a swimming pool this summer. When should I be looking at ordering the pool?
If you are looking for a swimming pool for the summer, you should start your search as soon as possible. If you are looking at an above ground pool you have a bit more time than if you are looking for an inground pool. Just like everything else, time flies by when you are in a hurry or you are trying to meet a deadline. Once you decide that you would like a pool, you may want to get a couple of estimates. Depending on who you choose to build your pool, it is always nice to get a couple of referrals. Once you have decided on the pool company, plans have to be drawn up and the necessary permits have to be applied for. All of this takes time. Before you know it 3 to 4 weeks have passed and you are just about at the beginning of April!
On average an inground pool will take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks to install. Weather is one factor to consider when trying to figure out the time required to build a swimming pool. Getting the subtrades there on time is another factor.
For more information contact Russel Koch with Backyard Vacations Pools and Equipment at 403-502-5082
December 2011 Article
I would like a pool, but I’m concerned about my property taxes going sky high. Is this true?
In Medicine Hat and most municipalities your taxes are based on property values. An above ground pool, because it is not a permanent structure, does not change your property taxes. If you are installing an indoor/inground pool, your taxes will go up because the structure for the pool is part of the building. The actual pool will not raise your taxes as much as the building. For an outdoor/inground pool your taxes will go up between $50.00 and $200.00 per year, or about $4.00 to $16.00 per month. Part of this increase could be a result of the total landscaping of your property. Remember; taxes are based on property values and a pool does not necessarily increase your property value.
Do I have to carry more insurance if I have a pool in my yard?
If you have a pool in your yard, you should advise your insurance company that you have a pool. All pools over 2 ft in depth require a 6ft fence and a locking gate. This is a requirement of the Alberta Building Code. Your insurance company wants to know that you are complying with the building codes. As long as you are carrying liability insurance on your property, your pool is covered. You may want to increase your liability portion, but as far as how much, you should sit down with your insurance agent and discuss it.
If you have any questions about taxes, feel free to call your local municipality and also remember to keep your insurance company informed.
To discuss your new pool call Russel at 403-502-5082
October 2011 Article
Do I, or should I cover my pool in the winter?
Installing a cover on your pool whether in-ground or above-ground is not mandatory. One reason for installing a cover on your pool before winter sets in, is to make starting your pool in the spring or summer easier. A simple black cover that is held down with water bags or used tires will help to keep the water clean and free of algae. Come spring, you will still have to remove the standing water and leaves and dirt from your cover before you pull it off the pool. Depending on how much snow we have in the Medicine Hat area over the winter, this job can go quickly or take hours to achieve. Once you remove the water and debris, you will remove the cover to reveal a pool that has nice clear water. This is assuming that you closed your pool properly in the fall.
On the negative side of the simple black cover, it is important to remember that they are not a safety cover! Under no circumstances should you or your children or even your dog (or other four-legged creatures) ever walk on one. Even if the water below the cover is frozen, never walk on top of a black winter cover that is held down with water bags or used tires. Also, in Medicine Hat there tends to be chinooks. If your cover is not secured properly, the wind can pick your cover up and leave it in your neighbours yard.
The cost of a simple black cover for a 16X32 pool is about $200.00.
I have children who play in the backyard during the winter, and I want to protect them from the pool. Is there a cover or some way of keeping them out of the pool area in the winter?
One option is to have a locked fence around your pool. This should keep children and pets away from the pool area.
Another solution is to install a safety cover. A cover made by Covertech Fabricating Inc. is an excellent choice. Their safety cover called “Safe-N-SecureTM” is made of tough, durable polypropylene mesh material with 500lbs tensile strength webbing on both sides of the cover with heavy duty triple reinforced stitching. This cover allows rainwater or melting snow to pass through, thereby avoiding the safety hazard posed by water buildup. Dirt and debris simply blow away. Fine dust can go though the cover .
In the spring, you do not have to pump dirty, leaf- infested water off of your cover before removing it. Any dirt in your pool will be a fine dust which can be vacuumed to waste and your pool should be just about ready to balance and sanitize.
Another advantage of this safety cover is that it will not blow off in the next wind storm to hit Medicine Hat. This cover meets or exceeds all ASTM (American Society for Testing & Materials) standards.
What this means to the consumer is that this cover is capable of supporting at least 485 lbs. This safety cover and most other safety covers are not designed to become the winter play areas for your children, but rather are a safety net or cover should your child or pet enter the pool area and walk on the cover.
The Safe-N-Secure Safety Cover is designed for your particular pool and takes about four to six weeks to receive. The cover is secured to your deck by installing brass hooks in your deck that screw up in the fall/winter and down in the spring/summer. The first time the cover is installed it will take about four or five hours. After this, it can be removed and re-installed in about 20 to 30 min.
September 2011 Article
What is water chemistry when we are talking about pool water?
About 90% of all pool problems arise from faulty water chemistry. The chemistry of your pool water is constantly changing or being altered because of rains, hot spells, heavy bather loads and even falling leaves or grass clippings.
What does it mean when they talk about water balance in my pool?
Water balance deals with the tendency of water to corrode or scale. Water Balance tells us one of three things:
Is the water scaling?
This means does the pool water precipitate or deposit a crusty, white substance called calcium carbonate or scale? This is the same as the deposit one sees at the bottom of a kettle used to boil water. Scale formation can form abrasive deposits on the pool surfaces, plug filter sand, reduce circulation by depositing scale inside the piping and cause cloudy pools. Allowing a scaling water condition to continue does irreparable damage to pool surfaces and equipment.
Is water corrosive?
Most pool owners understand the concept of “corrosion” Rusting is an example of corrosion of steel. In the pool environment corrosion can mean pitting of concrete surfaces, dissolving copper elements inside the pool heater or pin holes in metal filters and piping. The only way to correct corroded equipment or pool surfaces is by replacement… a very expensive proposition.
Is the water balanced?
Balanced water is neither scaling nor corrosive and does no damage to pool equipment or surfaces. Obviously, our objective is to have Balanced Water! There are three main factors or parameters which determine if water is balanced or not. There is pH, Calcium Hardness, and Total Alkalinity.
August 2011 Article
When should I close down my pool?
Closing your pool is really a personal choice and depends on your lifestyle. In the past, we have had some incredibly spectacular weather in September. Temperatures in the mid to high 20s for the entire month have blessed Medicine Hat in the past. The weather in September is similar to June.
Keeping your pool operational in September does not have to cost a lot more than the rest of the summer. Pay attention to the weather, and check the 7 day forecast If the weather does not look favorable for the near future, or if you don’t think that you are going to use the pool for the next couple of days, then keep it covered and turn off the heater until the day before you are going to use the pool.
Keeping your pool operational in October is also a possibility. Again, by watching the weather, you can keep your cost down by covering the pool and turning on the heater only when you think you are going to use the pool.
Are my pool’s chemical needs any different in the fall than in the summer?
If you are going to keep your pool running in the fall, you must continue to balance your water and sanitize it with some sort of chlorine. The only difference is that if you don’t keep it heated all the time you will not need as much chlorine. You will also find that water evaporation is not as great in the fall as it is in the summer. If you do not add water to the pool, you do not have to treat it. One of the biggest drawbacks to running your pool in the fall is having to remove the leaves that fall into the water. Make sure you check the skimmer basket on a regular basis when the leaves are falling.
When I do decide to close the pool, what is the correct procedure?
Just before you shut down your pool, you should give it one final cleaning. Vacuum the pool, and do a thorough backwash (if you use a sand filter) or remove the cartridge filters and clean them. Run the pump for another 12 hrs, and during this time, shock the pool to about 10 ppm with a good chlorine shock.
Now, you can turn off the pump and start to drain the pool to just below the return inlets of the pool. After you have drained the pool, blow out all the lines and the skimmer. Depending on the system, I will usually run plumbing or RV antifreeze in the lines. Now, it’s time to cover your pool for the winter with either a safety cover or a black tarp. Before your finish, make sure that you blow all the water out of your heater, pump and filter. Now, you can sit back and wait for winter to end so that you can open your pool in the spring and enjoy it again!
If you have any questions, please call me, Russel Koch at 403-502-5082
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