Got Questions??? just call us: 480-818-8971
What is the purpose of the aerator?
What type of Maintenance Programs do you have for my Pool?
What type of Filter should I get?
What should I do if my pool light is not working?
What is the normal water pressure for my filter?
How often should the backwash valve "O" rings be lubricated?
How often should I clean the grids on my D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth filter)?
Why does the pressure gauge seem normal or high?
Why does the pressure gauge read low or no pressure?
Why are there air bubbles coming through the cleaning heads?
Why does the spa drain or overflow when pool is in normal running mode?
Why does the spa drain or overflow when pool is in spa mode?
How do you clean murky and green pool water?
How do you get rid of black algae in your pool?
How do you get rid of yellow algae in your pool?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to salt versus chlorine systems?
My pool water is cloudy and I can't clear it up. What could be causing this?
Should I use a water clarifier in my pool?
How do I know when it's time to clean my pool filter?
What does "Vacuum to Waste" mean?
When I shock my pool, should I use chlorine or non-chlorine shock?
Do I need to add a sanitizer regularly?
I have an outdoor pool and I am told that the chlorine needs to be stabilized. Why?
What causes the "ring" around my pool's tile line?
Following chemical treatment, how long do I have to wait before I use my pool?
What do I really need for my pool, and what is the best place to get it?
The pool store keeps selling me all kinds of chemicals, do I need all that stuff?
How easy is it to take care of my pool?
Do I have to spend a lot of money on chemicals?
How does Cool Times Compare to other pool Companies?
What type of maintenance does a sand filter need?
Why is my pool cleaner not working?
Can you guys just come out and show us how to do everything?
Does my pool need an acid wash?
Will an acid wash damage my pool?
How often should I change the water in my pool?
Does my pool need a chlorine bath?
What is the rust spot in my pool?
When is a good time to do an acid wash?
Does my pool need to be replastered?
What is covered under home warranty?
Does Cool Times charge to just come out and see what my pool needs?
My pool just doesn't seem to have enough suction why?
Nothing seems to be happening in my pool, is it working?
Although I have good chlorine and ph, why is my swimming pool still green?
My swimming pool is just not staying clean, how come?
Why am I getting DE back into the pool?
Why am I getting Sand in the pool?
Why is my pool motor so noisy?
How often does the cell in my salt chlorinator need to be cleaned?
Can Cool times come out and check my pool once a month?
Do I need to do anything different to my pool in the winter?
What is the purpose of the aerator?
The Purpose of the aerator is to cool the pool water. As it sprays over the pool water, the process of evaporation, as the water changes state from water to vapor, this process absorbs heat, and thus cools, just like your house evaporative cooler.What do I really need for my pool, and what is the best place to get it?
With normal maintenance of a pool you really should need just the basics and those are: Chlorine tablets for your floater, in the summer you should be putting about 4 to 5 tablets a week, ph down which is muriatic acid usually should be putting in about a cup a week unless you have a fiberglass pool in which case it doesn't need muriatic acid. You should be shocking the pool about every other week in the summer so a bag of shock per treatment should keep you out of trouble. If your filtration system is working you shouldn't need anything else, otherwise you may want some water clarifier handy to use before the pool parties. Before the summer heat especially or at least twice a year you should have Cool Times test your water for Conditioner, the conditioner is very important in that it helps retain the chlorine level in the summer heats, the UV rays from the sun break down the chlorine in the pool water. The conditioner level in the water helps with retain the chlorine in the water so that the chlorine can do it's job. Conditioner level in your pool should be kept at about 100 ppm. If you are unsure, or need help, call us. If you keep a good chlorine level and ph in your pool, then you shouldn't need any other chemicals. If you are buying lots of chemicals from the pool store every time then something is whacked, call us. The best place to get stuff is Cool Times online store coming soon.The pool store keeps selling me all kinds of chemicals, do I need all that stuff? If you are buying lots of chemicals from the pool store consistently, then there may be an imbalance in the chemistry of your pool water, filtration, etc and what you really need is a professional like Cool Times to come out and solve the problem. Sometimes counter help just doesn't cut it, besides pool stores are in business to sell you lots of chemicals.
How easy is it to take care of my pool?
Pool care is really easy once you know what to do. Most important part of pool care is the consistency. If you are not going to consistently check the chemicals, empty the baskets, sweep the sides and steps etc etc then maybe you should consider hiring Cool Times to take care of your pool. Otherwise, stains, calcium deposit, murky water, bad filtration, algae of all kinds can develop in your pool and hence can create more expensive repairs down the line. It gets expensive to clear up a green pool, or other problems for that matter. If you are interested in learning how to take care of your pool, we offer pool school where we will come out and teach you everything you need to know. It will be custom training, hands on training of how to operate your pool own pool, how to set the valves, labeling off all the valves knowing exactly what valve does what, etc etc. After we are done training you, you will become the local expert of your pool, besides if you have further questions in the future, we can answer all your questions exactly, since we've already been there and already know your equipment.Do I have to spend a lot of money on chemicals?
You don't have to spend a fortune to have a gorgeous sparkling pool. As a matter of fact, if you want to spend the least amount of money on chemicals once in for all, then you might want to consider buying a floatron! The floatron is a solar ionizer which just floats in your pool, no installation required. It only costs $249 and you can use this in your fountain, pool, or can take it with you if you move. Call us for more detail.How does Cool Times Compare to other pool Companies?
We are very competitive in price and quality of service. Customer feedback says we are the best at what we do. Not everybody will treat you as good as we do, nor they will be as nice as we are.What type of maintenance does a sand filter need?
A sand filter does need the sand replaced about every 5 years. If you have moved into a new house and don't know when the sand was changed, you may want us to check it out to see if it does need one. When in doubt just have us replace the sand, this way your pool won't take a toll on the problems that bad sand can cause. Bad sand in filter can cause many problems like, higher than normal pressure, inadequate filtration, bad filtration, higher energy bill because motor has to work harder, improper backwashing, cloudy water, water not being filtered, hence multitude of problems like algae growth, cloudy water, unclean and unfit for swimming. Lots of times a customer will tell me that the chemicals are perfect and yet the water is green or cloudy. After replacing the sand for the customer, the pool regains its balance and sparkle.Why is my pool cleaner not working?
Pool cleaners can be a pain in the butt. Especially if you have lots of leaves and rocks around the pool they will get stuck in the cleaner. If you see the cleaner is not working then shut off the equipment, take out the cleaner and check the bottom for rocks, leaves and branches that could be stuck. Once you have removed the obstruction then submerse the cleaner back in the water turn on pump and wait for it to prime back up and check cleaner operation again. If it still doesn't move, then cleaner probably needs new parts. Also a cleaner may not work right because there is a problem in the system such as, no suction, valve not set right, impeller clogged, bad sand, improper flow, etc etc. We can help you with this.Can you guys just come out and show us how to do everything?
You bet! We offer pool school. We can show you how to do everything from testing your water to operating the equipment, valves, even can show you how to do minor checks and repairs.Does my pool need an acid wash?
If the pool has stains, dark and light spots, it needs an acid wash. If your pool water hasn't been changed in 2 to 3 years, a drain and acid wash is a good idea. Refer to www.cooltimesinc.com web pages for pictures of acid wash and tile clean jobs. When a pool hasn't been taken care of properly and you have all kinds of calcium buildup on tile and plaster, then an acid wash should be done in order to get rid of the nasty buildup on the plaster before it gets worse. Many times if you don't do an acid wash or at least change the water, in as little as 6 months a considerably worse condition can develop. When the plaster gets a heavier buildup, a stronger acid wash solution is necessary to get the nasty stains off.Will an acid wash damage my pool?
Acid washing basically etches the plaster, it renews it. In essence yes you are taking a very thin layer of plaster off to clean it and make it look good again. We do what's called an Upgraded Acid Wash, in which case we make a nice solution and we spray the acid on the plaster, rather than the method everybody else uses and that is the pour method. If your getting an acid wash, in order to minimize the damage on the plaster you should get an Upgraded Acid Wash from Cool Times. We can help you save from replastering.How often should I change the water in my pool?
Well, you should change the water in your pool every 2 to 3 years. Our water in Arizona is very hard and thus by evaporation it leaves lots of minerals behind which builds up to undesirable levels in a pool. When the hardness and the total dissolved solids gets up there in you pool, then it is harder to balance the chemicals and is harder to prevent stains. For a minimal fee, we will do drain your pool, fill it up and add all the necessary start up chemicals.Does my pool need a chlorine bath?
The only time you should need a chlorine bath is if the pool is or was green. If there are traces of algae in the pool, then a chlorine bath is the choice, since the chlorine will kill and destroy the algae. You can't just do an acid wash on a green pool, since the algae would be untouched by this. You must do a chlorine bath first, and then do a acid wash.What is the rust spot in my pool?
Most likely you have a rebar stain. Sometimes you will get rebar under the plaster that will rust out and the rust spot will come through. This happens because when the shotcrete was shot, the was a rebar that was not deep enough in the concrete, and thus the rebar not protected enough and the chemicals get to it and rust it out. The best way to fix rebar spots is to drain pool, cut out rebar and then patch area.When is a good time to do an acid wash?
An acid wash should be done when the outside temperature is below 80 degrees farenheit consistently day and night. Plaster pools can be a problem to do when it is extreme temperatures outside, what can happen is it can delaminate, and crack.Does my pool need to be replastered?
If the plaster can't take another acid wash then it should be replastered. If there is excessive corrosion on the plaster and it looks very rough and sometimes you can see dark marks underneath the plaster, this could be the concrete itself. We can come out and make a determination whether to do an acid wash or to just go ahead and replaster.Do I need a new filter?
I always give my customers some sort of break and or consideration for a new filter if I know the filter I'm working on is going to be a pain in the butt for the customer years to come. I make the decision based on if I was that homeowner, would it be a better investment to make the repair, or pay just a little bit more and get years of good service without problems. If you're going to sell the house, that is one thing, but if the repair is not a good investment for the remainder life of the filter, then I will advise and cut a break for a new filter.Do I need a new cleaner?
Cleaners can become costly to repair, but also cleaners are expensive to buy new. The best thing is, if your going to buy a new cleaner, invest in a baracuda or a kreepy Krauly cleaner. Although they don't have the best cleaning coverage there are less moving parts, hence much less expensive to repair than a hayward poolvac or any of polaris automatic cleaners.What is covered under home warranty?
Home warranty companies are out to make money, so they're not going to cover something if it hasn't been properly maintained or serviced by a swimming pool professional. You will have to pay a deductible for somebody to just come out to look at it whether they decide to fix something or not, whether they think something is in warranty or not.Does Cool Times charge to just come out and see what my pool needs?
We don't charge anything for estimates. We will be happy to come out to your pool and determine what is the problem and the cost for fixing the problem.My pool just doesn't seem to have enough suction why?
The cleaner could be clogged with rock, or dirt, leaves. The pump suction side and plumbing could have a suction leak. The lid o ring might be bad or missing. Pump impeller could be clogged, or bad weir ring or diffuser. Motor bearings might be going out, to much drag on the motor. Cleaner hoses might be sucking air, cracked. The problem might be a high side restriction. Clogged filter, faulty backwash valve preventing the water to go through. The return lines might be accidentally closed off. If the problem is in the high side, the pressure guage will read above normal. The pop-up gear set assembly might be stuck between stations in which case the guage pressure will also read high, this is indication of blockage in the high side.Nothing seems to be happening in my pool, is it working?
Check the return line for water pressure returning to pool. The water level might be too high and thus will looks like there isn't much agitation. Is there plenty of suction? If there is and the pressure reading is normal than the filter and flow is good. If you have a cleaner, disconnect the cleaner and just run the skimmer to see if everything is normal first, and then start trouble shooting the cleaner suction side/cleaner.Although I have good chlorine and ph, why is my swimming pool still green?
Well, Your filtration might be inadequate or bad. Sand might need to be replaced in your filter. The DE grids in your filter might be bad, in which case the water is just bypassing and not being filtered. If cartridge filter, maybe it is bypassing at the top of cartridge nut or manifold. It may also be that you have too much stabilizer in the pool and it is latching up all the chlorine so you don't have any available chlorine to fight the algae. It may also be that your water conditions are so bad as far as harness and TDS that a water change is best. Cool Times can help you trouble shoot this problem and fix it.My swimming pool is just not staying clean, how come?
A swimming pool should be tweaked enough until it is keeping itself fairly clean. If a pool is not staying clean then you should consider a new automatic pool cleaner, or need to adjust the automatic pool cleaner. Maybe you don't have enough skimming so all the stuff is staying on top until it gets water logged, and then it falls to the bottom so the cleaner can pick it up. Or the water level is too high and the skimmer can't do its job effectively. You may have a missing weir door. Or your pool guy might not be showing up, or goofing off, in which case it's time to call Cool Times.Why am I getting DE back into the pool?
Ways you can get DE back into the pool. First, inside the filter, you may have damaged grids, housing, manifold, bleeder, something in the filter is destroyed or has a hole in it. The other way, if you're putting DE in the skimmer and you get some back in the pool, that means your backwash valve o rings may be bad and hence it is bypassing DE back into the pool. You can also get DE back into the pool while the system is off. This happens because there is a small air leak in the system and when this happens the tank is actually siphoning down. The DE from the top of the tank is working it's way back down backwards through the system out through the pump and into the main drain and skimmer. You will notice that a pile of DE will be laying near the main drain. The leak or leaks must be fixed so that when the system is shut off the water level in the tank stays instead of it coming down. There must be no leaks in a DE filter system, otherwise you will experience DE draining back to the pool.Why am I getting Sand in the pool?
Well, You may get sand coming back to your pool from the swimming pool filter if the laterals in the filter are damaged. Also if your backwash valve orings are destroyed, you can get some sand that will come back through into the pool.Why is my pool motor so noisy?
Probably because the bearings are going out. If there is rocks and dirt stuck in the impeller, this also could become noisy. If there is air trapped in the filter, the system will sound a little more noisy. If the suction on the pump is not very good, or the suction side is loaded down too much by the cleaner this will also become noisy. If the pump basket is not completely full of water the system will sound noisier. You might also have a suction leak. Also the pop up assembly gear set might be stuck and not rotating, this will cause it to be very noise and you will experience high pressures, not good, this should be fixed right away, otherwise you are going to develop some leaks in the system.How often does the salt cell in my salt chlorinator need to be cleaned?
Well it varies from chlorinator to chlorinator but for the most part as soon as you see white accumulation on the cells then it's time to clean it. Usually about once every three weeks you should clean the cell. When we provide weekly service, we usually will clean the cells every two to three weeks, unless you have a non self cleaning model and in this case we will clean it weekly. To clean the cell mix a solution of about 10 percent muriatic acid with water and soak the cell in the solution for 5 to 20 minutes until the cell is clean again.Can Cool Times come out and check my pool once a month?
We can do this if you like. Weekly pool service would be preferable if you don't have the time to look after your pool because we can keep the pool clean and the chemicals right to minimize staining and problems. If you have budget constraints we can work with that as well.Do I need to do anything different to my pool in the winter?
You still need to clean your pool just like summer, otherwise you are going to get staining in your pool. Most of the damage to a pools happens in the winter when the pool is being neglected. Protect your investment, trust me, it gets more expensive to fix when you let it go this is why consistency is the key. You stop adding acid to your pool in the winter cause you think it don't need it, or you don't vacuum the pool in the winter cause you don't need to use it, well guess what, that is when you get the nice calcium buildup around the pool and the dirty stains at the bottom. Remember, high ph causes calcification, which means you don't add acid to your pool for months at a time, calcium deposits are going to be evident. Low ph, causes corrosion. I would rather have lower ph to keep my pool plaster clean, then high ph and have stains and calcification.What Type of Maintenace Programs Do you have for my Pool?
We offer weekly pool service, where we come out to your pool once a week to clean and put the sparkle back into your pool. Our full weekly service includes, all chemicals, balancing of the water chemicals, vacuuming pool as needed, brushing of steps and sides, skimming the top of the water, emptying skimmer basket, emptying pump basket, checking cleaner for operation, backwashing the filter as needed, check equipment for proper operation, if you have a salt chlorinator we will clean the cell, we will also keep the cool deck clean by washing it down periodically as it needs it. Pretty much total maintenance without the hidden fees like others charge. We also provide Vacation and one time cleanings as well. Keeping a good water level and adding water to the pool is the homeowners responsibility, unless we have special arrangements. If your automatic water leveler is broke we can fix it, if it doesn't have one we can install one. Automatic pool cleaner repairs are extra.
What type of Filter should I get?
Well, there are advantages and disadvantages to the different types of filters. If you call us we can further discuss the pools need, evaluate and get the right filter for the job. Here are the common filters and some advantage and disadvantage over the other.
Sand Filters are nice in that all you have to do is backwash the thing and your up and running again. The interval for when it needs to be backwashed varies on the pressure reading, anytime the pressure goes up 8 to 10 lbs above normal pressure, the filter should be backwashed. If your going to backwash the filter backwash it for about 3 mintues, longer on larger filters. If you don't backwash long enough some of the dirt will initially come back in the pool and cloud up the water. Sand in sand filters should be replaced after 5 years, this is pretty much the maintenance of a sand filter, well and lubing the multi-port or push-pull backwash valves also. Although the sand filter is the worst of the three filters in filtering fine media, it sure is the easiest and less maintenance overall.Diatamaceous Earth filters (DE) should be backwashed as well when the pressure goes up 8 to 10 lbs above norm. Evertime you backwash a DE filter, you must add DE back through the skimmer once you finish and put it in circulation mode. You want to coat the grids back up so that the filter can do it's job. If you don't put DE back in, your pressure will go up quicker, cause dirt particles will clog up the fiberglass material "the grids" and you will experience abnormal high pressures, not good! This will rip up the grids
after a while. When you backwash the white powder coming out will also stay on the rocks and dirt, making it look unatractive. Also DE filters need to be torn upart completely cleaned, inspected and put back together at least once a year. If you haven't done
this, call Cool Times and we'll take care of it before damage occurs to it. DE filters are more maintenance but they filter the best. More filtration surface area as well. Maybe need to backwash once a month, or once every two months all depends on how much dirt goes in the pool. After a good storm, every type of filter should be backwashed, or cleaned. Because more fine dust and dirt particles go in the pool, thus the filter media gets more clogged.Cartridge filters also have more surface area over sand filters. You can't just backwash a cartridge filter, you have to open the tank, take them out and rinse them well. This rinsing process can take up to half an hour. It can be a lot of work if you have lots of dirt going in the pool all the time. Cartridge filters filter the water way better than sand, I would say as good as DE filters. Again, if you don't clean them often enough damage can occur to the cartridges and hence you'll be replacing the cartridges. Nice large cartridge filters on a pool you may have to clean about every two months.
What should I do if my pool light is not working?
First, Check your circuit breaker and reset if necessary. Check your G.F.C.I. (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) and reset if necessary
If your pool light is tied into a remote system, test your batteries. Are the remote frequencies set properly? The little trun thing with letters on it, A B C etc. If that doesn't work, please call Cool Times. It may be a job for a professional as we may need to install a new light bulb or replace the fixture.Why is my pool losing water?
The pool will experience normal water loss to the process of evaporation. The rate of evaporation varies but if you are suspecting a greater than normal loss: Inspect the pool interior shell for cracks and defects. If you see a crack or defect, we recommend that you call us, we can do a leak detection and tell you exactly where the leak is. Are there any wet spots around anywhere? Maybe you need to shut off the sprinklers for a week and see if you still have that wet spot around the pool. Check the flexible backwash hose for any water leakage. If water is leaking out of this hose, the "O" rings will need to be replaced inside the backwash valve.What is the normal water pressure for my filter?
Every system has different water pressure range. Please refer to your original owner's equipment manual and/or startup instructions to identify the range of proper pressure for your pool. Your Normal intial pressure will be the pressure when everything is working fine no clogs, filter is clean. This pressure could be anywhere from 5-25psi. If you think the pressure is too high, check and clean out all debris from baskets. Check to see if all your equipment valves are set properly and backwash your filter for several minutes. Note if you are backwashing a sand filter, backwash it well. If the pressure is too high, confirm that the pressure gauge reads zero when the equipment is off, maybe guage is not working. If it doesn't fall back down to zero, you will need to replace the gauge. If you think the pressure is too low, check and clean out all debris from baskets. In addition, check to see if all your equipment valves are set properly. Your cleaner may have a large piece of dirt stuck in it, this would make pressure reading low becuase it loads down the suction side. If you suspect that the pressure is too low, check to see if the gauge reads zero when the equipment is off. If it does not fall back down to zero, you will need to replace the gauge.
How often should the backwash valve "O" rings be lubricated?
They should be lubricated regularly or at least twice a year. Your standard push/pull backwash valve is a plunger valve commonly found in DE and Sand filter systems. Inside the valve is a plunger with two o-rings. When the valve is put into the backwash position, the flow of water through the filter is reversed. After putting valve into the backwash position, the water is pumped out through the
backwash rather then being returned to the pool. Usually a hose is attached to the valve so the operator can direct the water flow away from the pool. The best thing is to call Cool Times and have us replace the o rings and do a complete tune up of your system. This includes replacing all the o rings, lid, jandy valve o rings etc. If the O rings get damaged, worn or dried out, unfiltered water may return to the pool and/or the pool will begin to lose water.How often should I clean the grids on my D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth filter)?
This should be done at least once a year.Disassemble the filter, clean with garden hose, inspect the grids for tear and holes and re-coat new D.E. Sounds easy, but could be a nightmare for a pool owner doing it for the first time. I have had people call me to redo the filter because either they couldn't get it back together or they somehow put it back together and it was still passing dirt. We only charge $69-$89 dollars to do a complete tear down maintenance. Once we put it together we guarantee it will work right for you. Do it once, do it right.Why does the pressure gauge seem normal or high?
Things to check:
High side of pump is shut down, are any valves closed off? Filter needs backwashing.
If your filter is sand then check for dirty sand, if sand is matted it must be changed. If filter is DE then check DE grids and clean as necessary.Why does the pressure gauge read low or no pressure?
Things to check:
Pump lid may not be on right, dirt might be stuck between the o ring of the lid and the pump housing, take lid off, inspect the o ring and put it back on and tighten, hand tighten only. Skimmer basket and/or pump hair and lint basket needs cleaning. Leak at suction side of pump. Could be sucking air. Pool water level too low. Skimmer weir door stuck. Pump could have lost prime due to leaks in the system.
Why are there air bubbles coming through the cleaning heads?
Leak at suction side of pump.
Pump lid may not be on right, dirt might be stuck between the o ring of the lid and the pump housing, take lid off, inspect the o ring and put it back on and tighten, hand tighten only.
Pool water level too low, skimmer is constantly sucking air.
Skimmer weir door stuck.
Leak at pump is causing it to drain down when system is shut off, causing air to get into system, when system starts back up again, there is lots of air stuck that has to be forced out of the filter. Sometimes the air stays in the filter and if you don't bleed it out, when system shuts off, the built up of pressure inside the filter causes the water to burst back out of the skimmer. If this happens and your not there to prime the pump, you pump is going to run dry, and burn out!Why does the spa drain or overflow when pool is in normal running mode?
Check spa control valves they could be improperly set, or maybe the valves are set to overflow the spa. Suction side might be adjusted to suck from spa instead of skimmer and cleaner and hence the spa water level is going down. Not good in the heat of the summer especially if you have a plaster pool. Plaster damage can occur. Spa control valves may be defective.Why does the spa drain or overflow when pool is in spa mode?
Check spa control valves they could be improperly set, or maybe the valves are set to overflow the spa. Suction side might be adjusted to suck from spa instead of skimmer and cleaner and hence the spa water level is going down. Not good in the heat of the summer especially if you have a plaster pool. Plaster damage can occur. Spa control valves may be defective.
How do you clean murky and green pool water?
The easiest way would be to call Cool Times, we can sell you a small packet of the right combo that will get rid of your green overnite, and have your water looking good by the next day. Or you can spend a lot more money at the pool store and still not achieve the results is the case in most cases, people call us after having tried everything the pool store had told them to do. But just as helpful advice, make sure your ph is balanced in any case, usually murky cloudy water can be a result of poor ph, and total alkalinity balance. Just call us we'll take care of it. Guaranteed results.How do you get rid of black algae in your pool?
Black algae develops as dark black spots on the pool's surface. It has a protective coating that makes it resistant to most chemical treatments. It must be aggressively brushed, then treated with special chemicals. This is some of the worst pool trouble you can have. There are some chemicals that will help, but you may never get rid of it, and only keep it in check. It will require lots of brushing AND VACUUMING and high chlorine levels. Acid washing pool will be the best way to really get rid of them.How do you get rid of yellow algae in your pool?
Orange or yellow-colored spots in pool water or on pool surfaces is generally called mustard algae. This can be brushed off, but unless you use a strong algaecide they'll come back.What are the advantages and disadvantages to salt versus chlorine systems?
A salt system is still a chlorine system, it's just the media, being salt is already in the pool and the system is just breaking up the salt and making chlorine that's all there is to it. All salt chlorinators do the same thing. Some are a lot more expensive for what they do. Some cells are a lot harder to deal with and to clean. Well the bottom line is every two to three years be ready to spend another $350 to $450 dollars on a new cell. They work good when they work, but normal tesing of the water should be done weekly, incase the system doesn't work, you can catch it in time before your pool turns green. The best way to choose a chlorinator is make sure you get one where you can see the cell through the transparent plastic housing. If you can't see the cell to see if it's dirty or clean, then don't buy that kind. Buy a salt chlorinator that is easy to maintain. Better yet, if you want a truly low chlorine pool, one you can maintain a chlorine level of 1.0, then get the floatron.
The floatron costs only $249, the replacement cell for this is only $25 dollars, that's right. You do have to throw a tablet a week in the skimmer with a floatron system. You will have truly a chlorine less pool, it works great. The floatron is being used worldwide. You can order the floatron from Cool Times, just give us a call.
What is the easiest way to clean heavy calcium deposits that form on the tile around the water level?
Cool Times utilizes the glass bead method for tile cleaning, it is the most effective and we guarantee we'll get all the calcium off. We then seal the tile to prevent further accumulation of calcium. After we are done the pool will look almost like new again.My pool water is cloudy and I can't clear it up. What could be causing this?
Several things could be the cause. First, check to make sure that the pH is within proper range. If the pH is within range, it could be that you have a dirty filter and it needs to be cleaned. If you have a sand filter, this doesn't necessarily mean to replace the sand, but to use a filter cleaner, such as GLB FILTER CLEANSE, that will remove both organic materials and minerals. Check to make sure the sanitizer in the pool is in proper range. If it is not, raise the level. Another cause could be the amount of calcium in the water. If too much calcium is present, it can become cloudy. Adding a sequestering agent, such as GLB SEQUA-SOL, on a weekly basis, can prevent this. Lastly, particles too small to be easily filtered out could be causing the cloudiness. A clarifier, such as Robarb ROBARB SUPER BLUE, can be used in order to make these particles filterable.Should I use a water clarifier in my pool?
Yes. A clarifier is designed as an aid to the efficient operation of the filter by coagulating most materials, which cause cloudy and hazy water, into larger particles that are removed by the filter. Because the presence of these materials increases the disinfectant demand, the use of a water clarifier decreases pool maintenance costs.How do I know when it's time to clean my pool filter?
Normal, periodic rinsing or backwashing will remove most of the dirt from a basically clean filter. However, over a period of time, grease, oils and scale can attack and build up on the elements. When this occurs, you will see build up on the removable elements, short filter runs, reduced circulation and water that does not want to clear up.What does "Vacuum to Waste" mean?
When you "Vacuum to Waste" you are pumping the debris you vacuum out of the pool and sending the water to the waste line, and not through the pool filter. This method removes a large amount of water from the pool in a short time so be sure the pool is full before you begin. This method is used for large amounts of debris and dirt. This method will only work for circulation systems that use a 6-position filter valve. If you have an older "Push-Pull" style filter valve you must vacuum through the pool filter. Be sure to monitor the location where the waste line is connected to the sewer system in your home, just in case the sewer line cannot handle the large amount of water and overflows.When I shock my pool, should I use chlorine or non-chlorine shock?
Both treatments accomplish the goal of destroying and removing bather waste and preventing the formation of combined chlorine.
Superchlorination, the addition of large amounts of chlorine, has some drawbacks. Because it requires large amounts of chlorine, it can damage liners and swimsuits and upset water balance. Additionally, it is difficult to determine proper dosage amounts and it requires swimmers to wait until the level of chlorine drops, often a day or more, until they can swim. Non-chlorine shock, on the other hand, does not require excessive chlorine use and allows swimming almost immediately after application, does not harm liners, has easily determined dosage rates and does not upset water balance.Do I need to add a sanitizer regularly?
Yes, an E.P.A. registered sanitizer should be added and maintained at proper levels at all times. Non-chlorine shock treatments contain no chlorine, therefore you must make regular additions of sanitizer to ensure that you are disinfecting the water.
What causes the "ring" around my pool's tile line?
The accumulation of oils and dirt from bathers is the biggest cause. Using a tile cleaner specifically designed for pools can clean it off. Household cleaners do not contain the needed balance of both oil/grease cutters and scale dissolving ingredients. In fact, these cleaners can actually dull a tile line due to abrasives or cause unsightly foaming. Even worse, they may react with the sanitizer, such as chlorine, in your pool. One such cleaner is TLC CLEANER. Another helpful hint would be to regularly use an enzyme based product in your pool. These biodegradable products will control grease and oil before it builds up.Following chemical treatment, how long do I have to wait before I use my pool?
With the exception of superchlorinating (which requires waiting until the chlorine level drops to recommended levels), you can generally use your pool when the chemical is dispersed throughout the pool. Fifteen minutes to one hour is a good rule of thumb.
What are enzyme based cleaners and how do they work?
Basically, enzymes are substances that speed up chemical reactions. In the case of enzyme based cleaners, they are designed to speed up the process of breaking down oils, proteins, etc. that may be in your pool. Enzymes will break up very large particles into smaller ones that can be handled more easily by your sanitizer. Regular use of an enzyme will help reduce scum line buildup and free up your sanitizer for the work it was intended to do-sanitizing.