Monday, December 20, 2010

Swimming Pool Filter replacements and cleaning

See how easy it is to replace and clean your currently swimming pool filter with products such as the Filter Flosser from Doheny' Water Warehouse, item 6304 Distributed by Tubemogul.

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Swimming Pool Accessories

Into DIY swimming pool care? Doheny's Water Warehouse can help you with all of your swimming pool needs. We stock every chemical, accessory, cleaners, etc that you will need to maintain your swimming pool year round. Distributed by Tubemogul.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Automatic Pool Cleaner Reviews

The purpose of this review is to compare two similar pool cleaners. I would like to start with the Baracuda and Kreepy Krauly. The brands mentioned come in several different models and are of the suction type pool cleaners.

I have been in the pool service business for 30 years. I personally own 60 pool cleaners. I know what you are thinking, why would I own so many cleaners? Well it is like this, I place the cleaner in my customer's pool to keep the pool as clean as possible. When I arrive to service the pool there is less work and I can service more pools in any given day. So as you can see I have a lot of experience with pool cleaners.

Now back to the review, the Baracuda and Kreepy, both work by being connected to the skimmer or a dedicated line. The best thing about them is that they only have one moving part so if anything breaks it is usually the part that moves.

The Kreepy uses a flapper or hammer as its moving part. When suction is applied the flapper starts moving back and forth in a chamber. The hammer action propels the Kreepy forward. It does make some noise as the flapper moves back and forth. The suction also vacuums up the dirt and small leaves.

The Baracuda has a diaphragm, as the water passes through the diaphragm it expands and contracts. This is what causes the cleaner to move across the bottom of the pool. The diaphragm makes no noise as it works which is something to be considered. The suction also vacuums up the dirt and small leaves as the sweep moves across the pool.

Having one part makes the two cleaners cheap to operate. Although the rubber disk and foot pad will at some point wear out. These are great cleaners if you understand they are not a perfect solution, one must still perform some maintenance on the pool.

Some of the problems with these cleaners is they can get stuck. You have to work with them to solve the problem. Some of the solutions are shorting the hose or weights can be added to the hose. One problem with the Kreepy is it can get stuck on the antivortex drains that are on the bottom of in ground pools. They do make a device that can be placed around the drain and the Kreepy passes over it with out any problems. The Baracuda can become stuck on the drain but this seldom happens.

The best solution for these problems is a steering device that hooks into the automatic pool cleaner hose. The name of the device is called the Twister. This is a great little device that rotates and turns the automatic pool cleaner in different directions. This helps the cleaner to become free if stuck.

The Twister is powered by the constant flow of water through the pool cleaner hose. A paddle wheel spins inside the Twister and transfers drive to the pool hose, counter-rotating the hose about 3 times per hour.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to purchase a pool cleaner, then buy the Baracuda Wahoo. This is a very low priced automatic pool cleaner. In fact it is meant for above ground pools but can be used with in ground pools. I have put it in several in ground pools that have a lot of leaves and dirt and it does a great job. In fact I have several that have worked trouble free for over a year. There is one draw back if the manufacturer finds out that it is used for an in ground pool the warranty is void. Like I said I have had no problems with any of the cleaners. The Wahoo and Twister make a great cleaning system and for the money they cannot be beat. For the price the Baracuda and Kreepy are excellent cleaners and should be placed on your list of possible buys.

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Saturday, October 9, 2010

Easy Swimming Pool Heating

Exploit Your Pool According To The Period:

Electric, solar, or gas pool heaters can carry on your swimming pool warm a sufficient amount to swim in even when supplementary pools have clogged. Many swimming pool owners are opting for swimming pool heaters to lengthen their swimming season, more than ever if their home is in an area with comparatively short summers. The sun is competent to keep your pool water at a contented swimming temperature during the long summer days. But in the intermediary spring and fall months, the days are shorter and the slant of the sun isn't high enough to heat your pool water very much. That's where pool heaters come in. If you live in northern climates, swimming pool heaters can basically double your swimming time of year.

There are numerous different types of pool heaters available, but gas pool heaters are the most widespread. Expressly, pool heaters are some of the best and most cost resourceful ways to heat your swimming pool. Gas pool heaters tend to be the least expensive to purchase. swimming pool heaters can heat a greater amount of water more quickly than electricity. Oil-fired pool heaters are also available in some areas, but are to a great extent less regular.

Electric pool heaters are most over and over again based on a heat pump devise. Comparable to electric heat pumps used to heat some homes, electric pool heaters take improvement of the heat that already exists in the outside air. The air heats Freon gas, which is then compressed to raise its temperature even higher. The hot gas is then piped to a heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to the pool water.

The heated water is then pumped back into the swimming pool As far as equipment is concerned, you should always have floatation strategy, a shepherds hook, safety vests, goggles, waist belts, a telephone, and anything else that comes to mind at your pool at all times. When you use your pool you should also leave a few flotation devices in the pool at all times, just in glasses case.

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Pool Heaters the Secret to Long Swimming Seasons

A swimming pool fun and healthy way to stay cool:

Pool blankets and cosmological heating units on the covering have both to a large extent amplified in status in homes allowing the exploit of the sun to take contentment in furnace water in pools. It can be enjoyed in the quiet of a twilight if the pool is frenzied using the sun which is the cheapest and easiest method. The main methods of heating a pool by the sun are a solar blanket .The solar collector on the roof. Electric heaters are most often based on a heat pump design. If you have children in your home, you are definitely advised to purchase safety equipment, as it can, literally, help to save the lives of your children one day. Even if you don't have children, you should still make sure that your pool is protected with safety equipment because you honestly never know who may end up building their line of attack into your enclosure.

Maintain Your Pool According To The Temperature:

A solar roof mounted heater installation by water being pumped through a network of plastic pipes. The sun heats up the black pipes which in circle heat up the water being pumped through these pipes. The heated water proceeds back into the pool - hence increasing the temperature of the water. A solar blanket is placed on top of the water surface and prevents heat loss of the water caused by wind passing over the surface. The sun also warms up the blanket which in turn warms up the water. A properly solar system fitted can double the swimming time in a pool and is low-maintenance and a long lasting heating system.

No matter which type of automatic cleaner you buy, you will be satisfied with the results. As we said, there are many benefits to using an automatic cleaner versus doing it yourself. The most important benefit includes the amount of time you will save. If you manually clean your own, you know that it is a long and hard process. In addition to saving yourself time, you will save yourself money by using an automatic cleaner.

There are a lot of leading manufacturer of swimming pool heaters, both for home and commercial. Water heaters can be easily converted to run on either natural gas or propane. Pool water heaters are known for their high-efficiency. Competence refers to the amount of energy in point of fact used for heating the water. These companies also manufacture electric heaters. Some cleaners are autonomous units that you put in as and when needed. They are more often than not plugged into an electrical channel using a really long cord. A transformer provides low voltage to electric motors inside the unit. One motor vacuums up dirt and the other moves the unit around. Some models swim around randomly, while others can be programmed to follow a specific pattern.

Pool cleaners can be used in any type. They have their own self-contained filter, and they also put no confrontation or back pressure on your pools filtering system. They can also salt away money because they don't require you to run your filtration system for cleaning. However, robotic cleaners can cost more than the other filter types. Aquavit, Dolphin and Equator are all cleaners.

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Maintain Your Pool Sheltered With A Pool Cover

Possessions you should gaze for when shopping for a pool cover for you're beyond ground or else in position swimming pool. Stumble on a swimming pool cover that is strapping and brawny. The cover should not only maintain your swimming pool unsoiled, it should append wellbeing as well for humans and animals identical. It should avert fortuitous drowning grime and wreckage from entering the pool. Make sure the pool cover has an excellent have regular uniqueness length. You should buy a size that is a little larger than your pool. This will enable you to steadily anchor the swimming pool cover without having to agonize about not being able to cover your pool completely. Make confident the swimming pool cover comes with an adequate amount of parts to securely anchor the cover without be bothered of slippage. Larger swimming pool covers come with a strap or anchor for each four feet of cover. You unquestionably want a good quantity of anchoring so the cover will prolong to be sheltered every time you employ it.

Continuance Of Pool Devoid of A pool Cover Is Not Potential:

A plastic pool cover can be incredibly effective in shielding the pool from different objects lessening into the water, and from the elements. Some purchase a strapping plastic cover to prevent children or pets from accidentally falling into the pool. Retain information that background up the pool cover is a lot of work, requires some time and effort. This is basic pool maintenance. Every swimming pool has a skimmer that is worn to collect dead leaves, branches, insects and other wreckage from the water surface.

A skimmer is a scrape that is used to heave out bits and pieces from the water, indisputably you learn by heart the life guard in the summer under your own steam around the pool and fishing out all the dead insects, leaves and such from the swimming pool. Pool maintenance and cleaning should be in direct correlation to how much it is used, and if you plan to use your pool frequently, you will need to use a good skimmer, so try and put some money into a quality one, you will get to use it a lot.

Pool covers come in quite a lot of different choices, such as net, mesh, vinyl, etc. Mesh pool covers are awfully popular, because they provide a tight fitting barrier which helps to keep your pool free of rubble, reduce maintenance and evaporation, and keep your pool from unauthorized access. Vinyl pool covers tender a remarkable source of security. These pool covers operate by means of key, and help to keep rubble out of your pool. They are also improbable for insulating and retaining heat, together with reducing any slaughter of chemicals. Vinyl is an extremely popular type of pool cover, being used by hundreds of thousands of people. If you live in a warm climate area, all you need is a basic plastic cover for your pool, which will keep it clean and protected.

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Hayward Pool Cleaners

Hayward, the brand name, has set an objective of making the pool experience hassle-free. The products available are pumps, heaters, filters, heat pumps, lighting and automatic swimming pool cleaners.

Hayward cleaners are recognized for its advanced clean-up performance and also the capability to maximize efficiency. The Hayward Phantom is designed to clear the bottom, walls and staircases and also absorbs float debris from the surface of the total region. Phantom's clear out process takes approximately 13 minutes for the bottom and sides whereas 7 minutes for the surface and the staircase. Phantom has a large capability to absorb large debris and cleans the entire area within the duration of 3 hours. The equipment holds a powerful sweep hose that chases dirt from tight corners, steps as well as edges. The Hayward Viper holds the widest vacuum nozzle, effective sweep hose and 6-quart large debris bag that assist in performing the work faster.

Viper's powerful sweep hose cleans the edges, steps, benches and also all the corners. The Hayward Viper is not restricted in absorbing large leaves to acorns, dirt, twigs, pebbles and more. The Pool Vac Ultra cleaner is well trained for all types of swimming bodies. It clears debris much faster compared to others. The equipments hold longer wearing components such as wings, flaps, shoes, etc. for better performance. The turbine or gearing system assures a balanced flow of water. The Hayward Phantom, The Hayward Viper and The Pool Vac Ultra are recognized branded cleaners for necessary hygiene and maintenance all over.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Importance of Carrying Out Registry Cleaner Comparison

Due to the advance technology, most people have to use computers on a daily basis and taking care of it to ensure that it performs in an optimal manner starts with ensuring that the registry is kept in the best and cleanest state. This is for the simple reason that this is where all the files are stored and as such failure to take care of the same would mean losing essential data. As such, it calls for a registry cleaner comparison before going out to buy the product. It is ideal to note that this comes in over 50 products to choose from and for this reason, not all the products are able to deliver maximum and effective results.

One of the products that comes up in most discussions is Registry Fix and is ideal for people who have been wondering how have questions such as how can to make my computer faster for free. This product is loved by many people for the simple reason that it is free. In addition to this, it is believed that it scans all corrupted or unnecessary files and deletes them immediately and as such, increases your PC performance. The only setback with the same is the fact that it can miss out some files and for this reason not as effective as most people would love them to be.

Another product that you would have to consider is RegVac. Though this product comes at a price, it is ideal to note that it is highly effective and you will not be charged for any updates required later on. It is also important to note that unlike with other products, you can get a thirty day trail period which gives you a better idea of how the product works. What is more, with this product, you will not have to worry about any computer problems.

At this point, it would be ideal to note that regardless of the product you choose, the essence of investing in the same is to ensure that your computer has high speeds and does not crash down. As such, always ensure that you carry out thorough research before buying any registry cleaner product. This can be done easily by reading reviews from some of the best reviewers and consulting with experts who are better placed to advice you accordingly. What is more, always ensure that you use these products at least twice in a month to ensure that you avoid all computer related risks.

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Monday, July 5, 2010

Pressure washing a pool deck with a surface cleaner

This pool deck hadn't been cleaned in maybe a dozen years. It was like an ice skating rink when wet.

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Friday, June 11, 2010

德國寶2合1空氣清新機及手提吸塵器

GERMAN POOL 2-in-1 Air Purifier + Handheld Vacuum Cleaner 電器| 櫥櫃www.germanpool.com

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Saturday, May 8, 2010

2008 US Open 9-Ball Championship: Match 2 = Gabe Owen v Ramil Gallego

www.billiardclub.net www.pooltablecleaner.com Chalk-Off Pool Table Cleaner presents: The 2008 US Open 9-Ball Championship Match # 2 Gabe Owen (USA) vs. Ramil Gallego (PHL) The US Open 9-Ball Championship is a production of Billiard Club Network, in association with Accu-Stats Video Productions. Brought to you by: Chalk-Off Pool Table Cleaner www.pooltablecleaner.com and The Billiard Club Pro Shop billiardclub.net .

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Friday, May 7, 2010

Pressure Cleaners And Sealing North Bay Village

www.PressureWasherMiami.com Licensed (CGC1511663) + Insured Pressure Cleaning North Bay Village Hot Pressure Cleaning And Sealing(driveways, pool decks, side walks, patios, walkways, steps, walks, roofs, walls) Call (800) 846-8179 - (954) 977-4347

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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Monday, May 3, 2010

Throw a Kiddie Pool Party

Summertime is vacation time for kids. The best way to cool off during this hot season is to spend it on a swimming pool. If you have a backyard pool, why not let your children invite their friends over for a pool party? Your kids will definitely be delighted with this idea and they will gladly call their friends to come over.

To make your children's pool party a blast, provide kids with pool supplies and equipment that they will enjoy. You can give them pool toys and squirts which they will happily play on. Perhaps, you can install a basketball hoop or volleyball net so they can form teams and have a friendly water competition. Providing them with an array of pool toys can create fun and excitement instead of just having them swim back and forth.

Children can get hungry with all the water activities. So, make sure that you provide enough food, snacks and cool refreshments for them. Play some cool music in the background to create a festive atmosphere. You can also provide the children with floating loungers so they can relax in between swims and after eating.

There may be some friends of your children who don't have that much confidence swimming in the water. These children can be provided with pool supplies to help them out. Arm bands and float jackets can be handed to them so they don't get left out in the poolside area.

Even if kids are good swimmers, don't leave them unattended. An adult should always be present to monitor their activities. Having a poolside chair and umbrella will make it easy for you to watch the kids.

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Saturday, May 1, 2010

Some Truths About Salt Chlorine Pool Care

The latest rage in swimming pool care is salt chlorine generation. Sometimes called saline generation, pool minerals, Mineral Springs, etc.

Now you can practically manufacture your own chlorine in your own pool. Sounds great doesn't it? Phenomenal money saver, right? Well...

Let's look at this holistically, especially in light of the tremendous press that salt or saline-chlorine generation has been getting.

The thought is, take common salt in the form of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) and break it into its elemental components. In layman's terms we have water (H2O) + salt (NaCl) passing through an electrolytic cell (sometimes called a turbo cell or ECG - electronic or electrolytic chlorine generator) which has specially coated plates and an electrical current running in them. The positively or negatively charged current breaks the molecular bonds into Hypo-chlorous acid (HCl) and sodium and oxygen. Hypochlorous acid is what we're looking for as our sanitizer. Sounds pretty simple and realistically speaking, it is. As you can figure out, there's a "BUT" coming!

The "but" is that there's a bit more to this chemistry. That ECG is also "creating" other compounds as the water, with various dissolved minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, sulfur, passes by. Salt-chlorine generation causes 3 basic issues that the pool owner needs to be aware of:

Difficult to manage pH levels, especially high pH.

Scaling of pool surfaces & equipment.
Stray electricity adding to the electrolysis corrosion & metal staining problem.

High pH is always a problem with saline pools. The method of generation continually pushes or forces the pH up. If you live in an area where the pH of the source or tap water is low or lower, such as in various parts of the Northeast US, that "problem" can actually help your overall water balance. As long as you are regularly monitoring the pH and making adjustments as necessary, you should be in good shape.

Other parts of the country are not so lucky. Areas of "hard water" such as in Arizona or Florida will constantly battle high pH. There are cities & towns where the pH out of the tap is in excess of 8.0. Acid will need to be added on an ongoing basis to maintain a "stable" pH level of 7.4 - 7.6. These areas also typically have higher contents of dissolved heavy metals such as iron, copper or manganese which can lead to staining.

The other high pH pool issue is associated with virtually any concrete, tile or aggregate finished pool. When new, these finishes will continually force the pH level high. And when the plaster finish is brand new, it's not unusual to see pH levels in excess of 10.0 or higher. In fact, newly plastered pools should NEVER add salt to the pool until 30 days after being filled to allow the curing process to begin. Neglecting this delay will cause abnormal staining or mottling of the pool's finish & surface (which MAY not be able to be treated).

Scaling is the second significant problem or issue that you need to be aware of. Scaling of pool surfaces, especially at the waterline, heater interior, filter media and most importantly, the ECG itself. Scaling of pool surfaces provides additional nooks & crannies for algae and bacteria to grow. Plus it's not easy to clean or remove. Heater scaling dramatically reduces heater efficiency thereby driving up your pool heating costs. When a filter is scaled, it also looses efficiency and is a royal pain to clean.

More importantly, we are concerned about scaling of the chlorine generator itself. That cell is one of the most toxic places on planet earth. On one side of the cell plates, the pH is close to ZERO! On the other side, the pH is at the opposite end of the scale, about 14. Scaling is bound to happen. "But I have a self-cleaning generator," you say. Not really; although the polarity reverses, the scale will still build up. There are 3 kinds of scale that will form reducing chlorine generating efficiency: phosphate scale (almost invisible, leaves a dull patina on the cell plates), calcium scale (a heavy to heavier white scale), and sulfate scale (gray scale that's VERY difficult to remove).

Where do these scales come from? Phosphate scale is from phosphates. Phosphates come from certain pool chemicals (ironically anti-scaling & anti metal-staining chemicals) and environmental sources such as dead skin cells or "fly over" bird waste (even more concentrated with highly touted "Solar Salt"). Calcium is dissolved in water everywhere! Heck, our bones are largely calcium. If you have a plaster or gunite pool, calcium is in the plaster and grout. Sulfur? From sulfates. Certain pool pH reducing chemicals contain sodium bi-sulfate.

Better qualities of pool salt contain less contaminants, including heavy metals as mentioned above and more "pure" salt. Even some of the pool salt "additives" contain "high" concentrations of phosphates and sulfates to control staining, scaling & pH (such as BioGuard Mineral Springs, Capo Salt Saver, and other products). Bottom line, don't simply trust "how good" the water looks or feels; keep a close eye on pool water & mineral balance. And careful with acid washing the cell; you will strip the protective coating from the cells in a very short time. With many ECG costing several hundreds of dollars, shortened life due to premature scaling needs to be avoided.

Electrolytic corrosion & staining is difficult to describe as well as prevent, but the effects are soon noticed by every pool owner over time. One of the interesting things that happens when salt is added to the pool water is that the water becomes better able to conduct electricity. It's kind of like putting a fine "chemical wire mesh" in the water. Stray electrical currents "flow" through the water attacking metal surfaces & finishes, including stainless steel. Stainless steel ladders and rails loose their "shine" and get this patchy black or gray look. Aluminum ladder or slide anchor sockets corrode completely. Concrete deck finishes pit and become grainy (remember how your home steps or patio look after applying salt to rid the deck of ice?). The electrolysis may also contribute premature degradation of steel and aluminum aboveground pools - especially if they are not properly grounded. Excess salt clinging to pool bio-films on the pool's surfaces will cause staining & scaling of the waterline that will be difficult to remove.

By the way, there are newer, more pure brands of pool salt and additives coming available. Take care to find the most pure salt for your pool.

That's the chemical side of pool salt. We'll next look at the REAL economics of pool salt.

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

A Beginner's Guide on Swimming Pool Cleaning

Primarily, be aware that notwithstanding how well you think it's easy to cleanse your swimming pool by hand, there are countless things pool cleaners purge when disinfecting swimming pools that you cannot when you cleanse your swimming pools by hand.

It has obviously become a lot easier now to cleanse your swimming pool by acquiring a kind of automatic pool cleaner which you just drop into the pool to do all of the disinfecting for you, robotically as well as without human help... and most importantly-quicker than a human would. I'm critically not favoring the idea of going to pay for your swimming pool cleaners without first speaking with your buddies or relatives that have swimming pools to suggest the most effective pool cleaners they make use of for their pools.

Technological devices freaks state that what they are passionate about the most concerning the remote controlled knack that robotic pool cleaners have is truly that they can basically be far away and still control the pool cleaners; this is particularly exciting to them. To effectively maintain the years of your pool cleaner you have to take care of it like other gadgets in your residence; if you do not take care of your pool cleaner it is likely to develop hitches and cost you huge chunk of capital to amend or change.

I do not think it wise to NOT make use of pool cleaners simply because of the price, but expose yourself and your lovely family to healthiness dangers which are part of swimming in harmful or dirty pools. If you are having snag finding out the precise pool cleaner you want, make use of the Internet to explore; with the control of the Internet it's easy to locate precise pool cleaner info you are looking for without problems.

Robotic swimming pool cleaners basically function with the precise same form of artificial intelligence creation which robotic kinds of vacuum cleaners work with; they do the disinfecting so that you do not have to. What's really marvelous about the robotic sorts of pool cleaners is the pace at which they get your swimming pool cleaned; within minutes you'll be amazed to behold your dirty looking pool sparkling lots more than ever.

In ending, if you wish to lengthen the lifespan of your pool cleaner, take the time to manually eradicate any huge trash and toys which are in the pool, before using your pool cleaner.

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Monday, April 26, 2010

Repair & Maintenance Tips for the Hayward Pool Vac Ultra : Install Turbines on Pool Vac Ultra

Repair and assemble the parts of the Hayward pool vac ultra. Pool cleaning tips from an expert. Expert: Allyn Christopher Bio: Allyn Christopher has decades of experience in the swimming pool industry. He managed a pool store for more than 10 years, and is an expert at repairing cleaners...

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

dumb doggies!

two crazy Labs try to conquer the pool cleaner

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Friday, April 23, 2010

Why Robotic Pool Cleaners Are Better Than Manual Ones

Manual pool cleaners were once the only option for homeowners who had a backyard pool, but recent developments in technology have resulted in a whole new line of products. These new pieces of equipment are often referred to as robotic pool cleaners, and they are superior to their predecessors in several ways.

The first and perhaps most obvious reason that automatic cleaners are better is that they require virtually no labor on the part of the pool owner or homeowner. In decades past a person would have to spend several hours a week pushing the cleaner back and forth across the pool liner in order to remove dirt and debris. This made the ownership of a pool a major headache for many people and a was huge investment of one's free time. Today, all a person has to do is drop the pool cleaner in the water and it goes to work, requiring absolutely no supervision or oversight.

The second advantage to having an automatic or robotic pool cleaning system is that it simply does a better job than a human ever could. Cleaning a pool with a manual cleaner is extremely boring for most people, which leads to a situation where there are missed spots or areas that aren't given enough attention. An automatic cleaner, on the other hand, devotes an equal amount of attention to every square inch of the pool liner, which ensures that the surface is cleaned completely and sufficiently.

Those are just a few reasons why robotic cleaners are better than their manual counterparts, but there are several others. Because they are superior they also tend to carry a larger price tag, but when you consider the time savings it is probably a worthwhile investment.

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Winter Pool Covers-How To Put Them on Right

Solid winter pool covers are by far the most common type sold today. They do a good job of protecting a pool during cold weather and retarding the growth of algae as the weather warms prior to opening a pool. Unfortunately, improper installation destroys many covers long before they should require replacement. Improper installation is often the reason. Here's how to do it right and save money.

Once your pool is drained to the proper level, lines blown out, anti-freeze and winter chemicals added it's cover time. The correct way to install a cover is very similar whether your pool is above ground or in-ground. Lay the cover over the top of the pool and ensure that the overlapping material is even all the way around. Once this is done place the securing hardware in position. For above ground pools this means threading the cable the loops or grommets and attaching the winch or tightener. For in-ground pools, install the water bags or Aqua Blocks through the retaining loops sewn into the cover.

The next step is to form the cover to the sides of the pool around the entire perimeter. The idea is to have the cover lie on top of the pool water for support and stay against the sides to prevent wind from getting underneath. After the cover is in properly in position, get out the garden hose and spray water on the cover to the depth of an inch or so. This holds the cover down. At this point you're almost finished. For above ground pools, tighten the cable as tightly as possible and get the cable up under the top rail. For in-ground pools, fill the water bags or blocks about two-thirds full of water and make sure they are securely in position.

Tips and Tricks:

-Always buy a solid cover with as much overlap as possible. The standard 3 ft. above ground cover overlap in particular is a bare minimum. Four feet is better. Wind is a pool cover's worst enemy. The best ways to ensure that wind doesn't destroy a cover before its time is having enough overlap to more than cover the top rail. A new product called cover seal provides great insurance. Essentially a roll of industrial stretch film, cover seal is wrapped around the top rail over the cover and down the sides of the pool virtually eliminating any way for wind to get under a cover.

-Air pillows can save you money. Don't use them and you'll save.

-Hanging milk jugs on a winter cover is the best way to ensure you'll replace it right away. Not only does the weight of the jugs put unnecessary stress on the cover, they virtually invite wind damage.

Installing your winter cover correctly pays dividends. Your cover will last longer and your pool will be easier to open in the spring. This is also the method winter pool cover manufacturers recommend. Not following their directions could void your warranty!

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Monday, April 19, 2010

You Should Own a Robotic Pool Cleaner

Let's face it, the American dream has changed. What was once a vision of hard work and dedication as the prelude to a comfortable retirement has become a search for that next "get rich quick" product and instant wealth. Spending more money on advertising and marketing than product development has become the norm not the exception. Such is the current business climate that the modern consumer is berated with advertisements from every direction on a daily basis. It is almost a daily occurrence in which some company big or small is trying to convince the masses that they have invented the next I-Pod. However, more often than not, the product falls far short of expectations.

With businesses concentrating on that quick sale and not a product's quality or longevity, how is the consumer to avoid being fooled? Unfortunately, there is not an exact formula but rather, the consumer must rely on their own good sense and most importantly sound research. When purchasing any product it is important to determine how it will change or better your life. Does it make life easier or simply more enjoyable? Both are desirable attributes and make any product worthy of purchase. It is with these questions in mind, that one is able to determine if a product will be useful and worth purchasing, or end up in the back of the garage next to the do-it-yourself soil tiller, and abs in a thirty seconds contraption.

It is precisely these questions that this article attempts to answer regarding one of today's most en vogue products, robotic pool cleaners. First, does this product make life easier or more enjoyable? It can be argued that it does both. Anyone who owns a pool and either cleans it themselves or pays for a service to do it for them knows how much time and money can be spent on such a mundane activity. When one decides to use a robotic pool cleaner to clean their pool rather than doing it manually, one can spend more time enjoying their pool and less time worrying about the up keep. In fact, after employing a robotic pool cleaning system, a pool owner can forget about cleaning their pool altogether. All they have to do is set the cleaner up and let it go to work. This is what makes the robotic pool cleaner truly special. It allows you to cross something off on your to-do list without lifting a finger. In as much as it cleans your pool it gives you the peace of mind and freedom to concentrate on life's bigger problems. After all, nobody buys a pool to give themselves more work to do, but rather to relax. In this sense it can truly make your life easier and in so doing make it more enjoyable.

Second, is the issue of money and whether it fits into your budget or not. Robotic pool cleaners range in cost from $100-xxx. Since this is a luxury item, it is really up to the person making the purchase to determine whether the cost is worth the enjoyment you will get out of it. It is important with products such as this to consider how often you will be using it. If you are someone that only requires marginal infrequent use of such an item, it may be prudent to consider the less expensive products first. Remember, when purchasing such an item, it is the enjoyment or satisfaction that you receive from it that justifies the cost. In other words, you probably do not want to spend half a week's salary on something that you will only be using once a month two months a year. However, if you are someone who is going to get a lot of use out of such an item then the higher quality, more expensive options may be for you. It is important then, when considering the cost worthiness of this product to think about the amount of enjoyment you will receive from it.

All things considered, robotic pool cleaners can in fact make your life easier and allow you more time to enjoy your pool. Since there is a wide variety of cleaners at all price ranges, they could be a sensible purchase on any budget. So what are you waiting for? Stop cleaning and start enjoying your pool!

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Saturday, April 17, 2010

An Efficient, Multi Functional and Compact Piece of Equipment - The Kreepy Krauly Cleaner

It has a variety of excellent advantages and has excellent performance characteristics. The pool cleaner will do a cleaning job of your pool as quickly as you'll do it by hand, saving your time, effort and your back in the process.

The Kreepy Krauly Cleaner operates from the suction side of your pool's filtration system, which it is a reliable and hassle free cleaning system. The maximum power of the device is additionally provided by its swivel head, its unique turbo style and reliable regulator valve. The latter feature also permits the cleaner to travel at an optimal speed that allows for a complete cleaning of all components of the pool.

You will be absolutely bound that your swimming pool can shine from top to bottom because of the float and dive capabilities of the device and the flawlessly operating movement system. The throat of the device is massive enough for the removal of small plus of relatively large debris, that is another manner in that optimal cleaning is ensured. No programming of the Kreepy Krauly Cleaner is needed as it follows a pre determined program. All you need to do is set the device up, flip it on and it will do its clean cycle.

One of the main reasons why the Kreepy Krauly Cleaner is the popular choice of voluminous pool homeowners is that it can work effectively in all types of pools as well as concrete ones.

The cleaner has only one moving part, so the unit is very durable. It is created out of high impact plastic which is sturdy, durable and corrosion resistant. With no gears of wheels of any type, the cleaner lasts a very long time before any servicing is needed. The pool cleaner just goes along its merry manner while not interfering with any fun within the pool. The unit is compact, sturdy and lightweight which prevents any kind of accidents. The reliable performance and the durability of the device are guaranteed irrespective of the type of wall and bottom surface. Apart from being multi functional this cleaner is also quite inexpensive especially compared to its competitors.

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Importance of Good Water Balance For Your Swimming Pool

What good water balance means to you...

Our customers ask, "why do I have to worry about testing & balancing my swimming pool water? If it looks clear, everything must be good. Right?" The answer is, "Usually not." The short answer is if the water isn't properly balanced, you're not safe, the pool & its components (filter, pump, heater, pool surfaces, fittings, etc) just won't last long, and finally, you'll be wasting your money!

Here's what we mean:

Pool Water balancing for you & your body: When the pH & Total alkalinity are out of balance, your chlorine, bromine or other sanitizer don't work as efficiently as they should. When the sanitizer doesn't work efficiently, bacteria & other stuff you don't want in your spa start gaining control. You could easily end up with skin rashes and eye irritations at least.

Pool Water balancing for your pool: Without proper chemical maintenance, you can get water line scum build-up, much shortened heater life (the heater either corrodes away due to low pH & Total Alkalinity; we've seen people buy 2 heaters in one season because they don't think they need to balance their water!) or scale build-ups (high pH, high Total Alkalinity, high Total Hardness) prevent efficient heating (scaling of the thickness of just 1 sheet of paper can easily cause you to use at least 10% MORE electricity or gas), clogged filters and shortened filter life. Left completely alone, we've even seen the pool liners become faded & brittle & other damage because of it's constant contact with out-of-balance water. Consistent, low total alkalinity & especially calcium hardness over a period of several months can lead to a shortened vinyl liner life (lots of little, tiny pinholes - no warranty coverage). You didn't buy your pool for that mess!

Remember that the source water for filling your pool can have certain properties that can cause chemical changes as you top off your pool; especially pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness & metals & minerals. If your tap water is "soft" or "hard", those chemical make ups, make a difference. The use of water softeners makes a difference. Certain salts will directly affect the water balance.

Here are the proper water balance parameters to keep in mind:


pH - 7.4 - 7.6
Total Alkalinity - 80 - 120 ppm in concrete pools, 120 - 150 ppm in vinyl or fiberglass pools
Calcium Hardness - 200 - 250 ppm in concrete pools, 175 - 225 ppm in vinyl or fiberglass pools
Total Dissolved Solids - less than 2500 ppm (in NON-salt pools)
Iron or Copper - ZERO
Cyanuric Acid - 40 - 100 ppm (chlorine pools ONLY; bromine CANNOT be stabilized; biguanide pools - Soft Swim or Baquacil - do not require stabilizer)

Maintaining Total Alkalinity & Calcium Hardness in the middle of their respective "good" ranges is just a really good idea. Everything works just the way it should. The water looks great, feels comfortable, chlorine & bromine are acting properly, water balance is bouncing around.

Total Alkalinity is a measure of carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. Total alkalinity works as a buffer for the pH helping to eliminate "pH bounce" or pH sensitivity. In other words, let's say your pH is low, under 6.8, and your total alkalinity is low as well, under 50 ppm. You may add the correct amount of pH increaser and fix the problem but you find that the pH is back low again within 3 days. It's difficult to get the pH correct and keep it there. If the TA is high, you may notice that it is difficult to get the pH down to a proper level. We often see this problem with pool owners who indiscriminately add baking soda to their pool on a regular basis. Increasing Total Alkalinity is pretty simple. Lowering it because of improper chemical use can be tough.

Calcium Hardness is on parameter that many people choose to ignore; mainly because they don't understand it. Calcium hardness is a measure of dissolved calcium and other minerals in the water. When the CH is low, the water is aggressive and wants to satisfy its calcium deficiency. The water will "rob" calcium from ANY pool surface, including vinyl liners (vinyl becomes brittle) and fiberglass (spider cracking of the surface). Concrete or plaster finished pools will experience "etching" of the walls & floor, almost like scraped, scaly grooves in the pool surface. High CH will potentially cause cloudy water and scaling of pool surfaces and equipment such as the filter and heater because calcium is one of those minerals that dissolves best in cooler (under 85 degrees F) water. These problems are seen over a longer period of time as compared to pH and Total Alkalinity.

You can virtually witness low pH damage in a matter of days. Low Total alkalinity & Calcium hardness damage is noticed over a series of weeks.

Rain water can dramatically effect your water balance, depending on its pH & obviously the quantity of rain. The pH of rain varies across the country generally becoming more acidic as you go from west to east. As rain falls, it carries down particulate matter that is suspended in the air. This suspended particulate is dust, dirt, soot, chemicals, even bird droppings.

Adding fresh make up water after evaporation or backwashing will eventually have an effect on the water balance. Additions of more than 2 inches of fresh water should be allowed to circulate for 24 hours then tested to make any necessary adjustments.

Also keep in mind that rain water (especially when heavy or copious) can add to chlorine demand.

Wasting money: I think you're beginning to understand the reason why from the above information. You'll be purchasing more chemicals when you don't need them. More frequent filter changes (proper cleaning of the filter cartridge should give a life of 2 to 3 years minimum, DE filter elements should last about 5 years with proper cleaning & maintenance). Par Pool & Spa wants you to have fun. Proper water balancing, testing & care shouldn't take more than 15 to 20 minutes per week on average.

Be sure to test your water with a good quality test kit or test strips. Remember to change the strips or testing reagents each swimming season. For added accuracy seek out a local pool professional who is able to properly and thoroughly test your pool water. These test need to include: Total chlorine or bromine, Free chlorine, combined chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, acid demand, alkali demand, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, water temperature, mineral or salt level (saline or salt chlorine systems), iron and copper levels. Don't wait to adjust the water balance. Like most things, it costs more to fix than to maintain.

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Microsoft Project Server and Its Purpose

Microsoft Project Server is the core member of the Microsoft Enterprise Project Management solution, a solution presented by Microsoft to the market as a Project Management tool. The product was first launched as Microsoft Project Server 2002. The main purpose of the product is to have a centralised storage location for all projects that have different types of user with corresponding roles to manage the project's timetable, cost and resources.

Since the first release of the product to the market, Microsoft had invested in developing the product and adding more members to the EPM solution product suite. It was able to release Microsoft Project Server 2003 and 2007 versions that came with even stronger integration than other Microsoft products such as SharePoint. In 2006, Microsoft introduced a new product called Microsoft Portfolio Server, the software they acquired from UMT Company.

Microsoft Enterprise Project Management Solution also known as Microsoft EPM Solution developed some key areas of Project Management and addressed the following:

Consistency of quality project information across the organisation

Microsoft EPM Solution can support a standard approach in initiating and managing small, medium and large projects and programs. The solution enhances the ability to achieve a defined process. Each project in the Project Server can have its own set of standard attributes, thus providing results with consistency and a regular set of information in which they can base their reports.

Resource Capacity Management and Planning

Microsoft EPM Solution can be used to represent organisational resource capacity by introducing an enterprise resource pool. The centralised resource pool will store resources from availability of data based on calendars and assignments, including project and non-project task assignments and actual work. This combination provides solution to support the management and planning of resource utilisation and capacity.

More efficient and accurate reporting

Microsoft Project Server and Portfolio Server have the ability to produce real-time reports using system-generated data, providing organisations with more efficient and accurate reporting capabilities. It also reduces the required resources needed for the provisioning of these tasks. These include automated and consolidated reporting of projects, programs and portfolios.

Improved visibility and collaboration among project teams

It also provides a centralised project workspace site that is based on Microsoft SharePoint technology and allows the visibility of project artefacts such as project documents, risks, issues, change requests, etc., without the need to manually process request and email these artefacts. It also provides a platform that supports mechanism for communications including team sites, discussion logs, task lists, announcements, etc.

Improved time tracking

It also provides team members with a web interface to capture project task updates and a timesheet interface that will provide a more detailed and accurate time record for each project by focusing each team member's attention on its authorised activities and task duration.

Better Estimation of Project Delivery

It also introduces solutions to provide estimation of project (optimistic and pessimistic) timeframes. EPM provides project planning and tracking features that will support accurate methods for predicting project delivery dates. When these features are used within the framework of improved planning and tracking processes, project schedules and budgets can be more reliable and can be used as historical data for future projects.

Both Project Server and Portfolio Server are highly configured and customised platform. Organisations can configure them in a way that aligns with their business requirements and expectations. It can configure workflows, object attributes, security model, and reporting. Both applications come with API (applications programmable interface) that gives the ability to extend the application and allows it to provide more functionality. It also allows organisation to integrate Project Server or Portfolio Server with other tools and applications such as the ERP systems.

Microsoft is planning to release the next version of Project Server (Project Server 2010) on the first of half of 2010, the new version will have more enterprise ready architecture.

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Troubleshooting an In-Ground Pool Cleaner

My cleaner doesn't move

Cleaners depend on several factors to make them operate. There must be enough water flow past the turbine. Use a vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" vacuum per section of hose.

Second, the four small "shoes" must be able to grip the pool surface. Make sure that the "shoes" are not worn out and that the surface of the pool is not slippery because of a buildup of algae. Note: some algae is clear, be sure to feel the underwater pool surface.

Third, the shoes and "pods" must be working correctly. Any wear in the "drive train" can cause problems. To check for wear, hold the left and right "pods" in your hands and firmly, try to rock the pods. All force on the pods should be transferred to the turbine and no "play" should be evident.

As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. All the time, the "pods" should be kicking. If you can reach under the cleaner and stop the pods with your hand, there is either excessive wear on the internal parts or inadequate suction. Remember to check the vacuum reading before calling for assistance.

The hoses are twisting

Cleaner hoses cannot be coiled up for storage. If you have coiled them, take the sections apart, lay them straight, and leave them outside for an entire day and night. Once the curls are removed, the hose should be usable.

Cleaner won't climb the wall of my vinyl liner pool

Depending on the angle of the pool floor to the pool walls, the cleaner may not be able to "climb" the "slope." Picture the cleaner on the pool bottom at the intersection of where the pool wall meets the bottom at a sharp angle, (like the walls in your house.) The cleaner will not be able to make the transition, don't worry, it's not supposed to. After all, the dirt is on the bottom.

The cleaner sticks at the steps

The hose might be too short.


Check to see that the hose extends two full sections past the furthest point in the pool.

Check to see that the return line(s) are not affecting the cleaner's movement.

Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1 inch of vacuum per section of hose.

Check the shoes, wings and flaps for wear.

Check the rear flap adjuster, and move it to the I position.

As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. All the time, the "pods" should be kicking. If the cleaner is not doing the "test" movements, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

My cleaner floats above the pool floor

The cleaner is heavier than water, and should not float.


Make sure that all the air was removed from the cleaner head and hoses during installation.

Make sure that the hose extends two full sections past the farthest point in the pool.

Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1 inch vacuum per section of house.

Check to see that the return line(s) are not affecting the cleaner or the cleaner hose.

Check for signs of air returning to the pool through the return line(s). Look for air bubbles attached to the cleaner hose and head. If present, pull sharply on the cleaner hose to release bubbles. Then, correct the source of the air leak to prevent further "floating."

My cleaner moves slowly

Check the shoes, wings and flaps for wear.

Check for obstructions in the cleaner.

Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. It should be 1 inch vacuum per section of hose. If the cleaner still moves slowly, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

The pods at the front of the cleaner are worn

The cleaner is sticking at the steps or against a wall. See cleaner sticking at the steps section above.

Cleaner climbs to the surface and sucks air

The vacuum is probably too high. Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1 inch vacuum per section of hose.

Check the rear flap adjuster, and move it to the I position.

Check the shoes, wings, and flaps for wear.

As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. If the cleaner is not turning, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

The bottom of my cleaner is worn

The shoes are worn, and the vacuum in the cleaner hose is probably too high. Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" of vacuum per section of hose. Replace worn shoes.

The top of my cleaner won't turn

You will not be able to turn the cleaner top when the cleaner is full of water. Drain the water from the cleaner head, and try to rotate the top both left and right - there might be some debris in the gears. If the top does not turn, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

Air comes into my pool when the cleaner is installed, and stops after the cleaner is removed

There is a leak on the suction side of your filter system that only shows up when you stress the system. i.e. - install your manual vacuum cleaner or an automatic vacuum cleaner. Check for obvious leaks at the pump housing, check the lid and o-ring. If the air persists, contact Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

The flappers/wings have fallen off

There is excess wear on the bottom of the cleaner, and the wing hooks have probably broken off the pods. The shoes are worn, and the vacuum in the cleaner hose is probably too high. Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" of vacuum per section of hose. Replace worn components.

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Friday, April 9, 2010

WEDA B600

The most powerful and efficient cleaner on the market With 1200 litres/minute suction capacity, rotating brushes, the B600 is the most powerful and efficient cleaner on the market and easily cleans outdoor olympic size swimming pools. The powerful pump sucks up all dirt into two filter bags which the rotating brushes have removed from the bottom of the pool. B600 can be operated on vertical walls due to its powerful suction capacity. The two filter bags (standard 125 micron) collect the dirt at full capacity since they are located after the pump. The B600 can be equipped with a discharge hose for direct connection to the pools filter without going through the filter bags. Specifications Dimensions: (L x W x H) 860 x 600 x 300 mm Weight: approx. 52 kg Weight in water: approx. 7 kg Suction width: 600 mm Suction capacity: 1200 lit/min Speed: 0,2 and 0,4 m/s www.weda.se

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Troubleshooting an In-Ground Pool Cleaner

My cleaner doesn't move

Cleaners depend on several factors to make them operate. There must be enough water flow past the turbine. Use a vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" vacuum per section of hose.

Second, the four small "shoes" must be able to grip the pool surface. Make sure that the "shoes" are not worn out and that the surface of the pool is not slippery because of a buildup of algae. Note: some algae is clear, be sure to feel the underwater pool surface.

Third, the shoes and "pods" must be working correctly. Any wear in the "drive train" can cause problems. To check for wear, hold the left and right "pods" in your hands and firmly, try to rock the pods. All force on the pods should be transferred to the turbine and no "play" should be evident.

As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. All the time, the "pods" should be kicking. If you can reach under the cleaner and stop the pods with your hand, there is either excessive wear on the internal parts or inadequate suction. Remember to check the vacuum reading before calling for assistance.

The hoses are twisting

Cleaner hoses cannot be coiled up for storage. If you have coiled them, take the sections apart, lay them straight, and leave them outside for an entire day and night. Once the curls are removed, the hose should be usable.

Cleaner won't climb the wall of my vinyl liner pool

Depending on the angle of the pool floor to the pool walls, the cleaner may not be able to "climb" the "slope." Picture the cleaner on the pool bottom at the intersection of where the pool wall meets the bottom at a sharp angle, (like the walls in your house.) The cleaner will not be able to make the transition, don't worry, it's not supposed to. After all, the dirt is on the bottom.

The cleaner sticks at the steps

The hose might be too short.


Check to see that the hose extends two full sections past the furthest point in the pool.

Check to see that the return line(s) are not affecting the cleaner's movement.

Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1 inch of vacuum per section of hose.

Check the shoes, wings and flaps for wear.

Check the rear flap adjuster, and move it to the I position.

As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. All the time, the "pods" should be kicking. If the cleaner is not doing the "test" movements, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

My cleaner floats above the pool floor

The cleaner is heavier than water, and should not float.


Make sure that all the air was removed from the cleaner head and hoses during installation.

Make sure that the hose extends two full sections past the farthest point in the pool.

Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1 inch vacuum per section of house.

Check to see that the return line(s) are not affecting the cleaner or the cleaner hose.

Check for signs of air returning to the pool through the return line(s). Look for air bubbles attached to the cleaner hose and head. If present, pull sharply on the cleaner hose to release bubbles. Then, correct the source of the air leak to prevent further "floating."

My cleaner moves slowly

Check the shoes, wings and flaps for wear.

Check for obstructions in the cleaner.

Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. It should be 1 inch vacuum per section of hose. If the cleaner still moves slowly, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

The pods at the front of the cleaner are worn

The cleaner is sticking at the steps or against a wall. See cleaner sticking at the steps section above.

Cleaner climbs to the surface and sucks air

The vacuum is probably too high. Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1 inch vacuum per section of hose.

Check the rear flap adjuster, and move it to the I position.

Check the shoes, wings, and flaps for wear.

As a test, hold the cleaner by the hose. Keep the cleaner below water with the pump running. Hold the cleaner off the bottom of the pool and observe, the cleaner should: rotate right - not rotate - rotate left - not rotate - rotate right - etc. If the cleaner is not turning, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

The bottom of my cleaner is worn

The shoes are worn, and the vacuum in the cleaner hose is probably too high. Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" of vacuum per section of hose. Replace worn shoes.

The top of my cleaner won't turn

You will not be able to turn the cleaner top when the cleaner is full of water. Drain the water from the cleaner head, and try to rotate the top both left and right - there might be some debris in the gears. If the top does not turn, call Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

Air comes into my pool when the cleaner is installed, and stops after the cleaner is removed

There is a leak on the suction side of your filter system that only shows up when you stress the system. i.e. - install your manual vacuum cleaner or an automatic vacuum cleaner. Check for obvious leaks at the pump housing, check the lid and o-ring. If the air persists, contact Blue Haven Pools & Spas Supplies Direct.

The flappers/wings have fallen off

There is excess wear on the bottom of the cleaner, and the wing hooks have probably broken off the pods. The shoes are worn, and the vacuum in the cleaner hose is probably too high. Use the vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. You should have 1" of vacuum per section of hose. Replace worn components.

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Thursday, April 8, 2010

Swimming Pool Maintenance 101 - To Cover or Not to Cover

Before I owned a pool I always thought that pool maintenance was going to be a real pain and troublesome. I had heard many horror stories from friends and acquaintances about all the problems they had in keeping their pools clean and balanced

Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that after our inground pool was installed, that maintenance of it really wasn't a problem. How did I achieve this? I don't know -- but this is what I do.

First we never invested in a pool cover. Since we live in SC we have a few months of 'cold' temperatures but the remainder of the winter isn't too bad. We don't swim much from October to March but we don't cover it either. We simply leave the pump and filter running. If the temperature drops below about 40 deg F, the pump automatically comes on to keep things from freezing. So, the first thing we don't have to do is to cover the pool.

By not covering the pool, you save hundreds of dollars by not having to buy a pool cover every couple of years. But, in the long run, you might potentially pay more for electricity to run the pump all year than a new cover would have cost.

By not covering the pool you also save the hassle of 'opening the pool' every spring. First, you don't have to mess with the debris of leaves and the murky water that accumulates on the top of the cover. (On the flip side, if you do cover the pool, do yourself a favor and skim the debris off the cover every so often.)

To combat the problem of debris (in an uncovered pool), we have a Polaris automatic pool cleaner which runs at least 2 to 3 hours a day. This keeps the pool clean of leaves, worms, bugs, and other similar yuck.

By not covering the pool but running the pump all winter long, you don't have to contend with the stagnant green algae infested water that develops when it sits idle for months at a time. Thankfully this is not a problem when you run the pump throughout the winter.

By not covering the pool, you can take a quick dip anytime you please since the water is always pretty darn clean. While few people would ever take a quick dip in the winter, the point here is that the cleanliness and clarity of the pool stays so good that you could swim in it, but more importantly, getting it balanced is as simple as taking a sample to be tested and learning what chemicals to add. In other words you can be swimming in a day without any serious effort or exhaustion.

The only other things that I do are 1.) Keep the chlorine reservoir full (or nearly full) with chlorine sticks and 2.) Clean the Polaris and filter trap every week. 3.) Watch the water level. If it gets too high, the skimmer does not work properly

Please keep in mind that we live in South Carolina. This type of pool care may not be appropriate for much colder climates. If you live in the north and have an inground pool, please contact your local pool company and they will be able to recommend something appropriate for your colder climate.

To read about the next steps I take in getting the pool ready please go to http://www.keepyourpoolclean.com/Swimming_Pool_Covers_.html

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Treating Yourself To An Automatic Pool Cleaner

One of the things which comes as a rude awakening to many an owner of a newly installed swimming pool is just how labor intensive caring for a backyard swimming pool can be. While the idea of summer afternoons whiled away in the sun at poolside while the crystal clear water beckons whenever the sun gets just a little too hot have enticed many a family into pool ownership, the work which goes into maintaining that crystalline water can quickly tarnish the fun.

But there is a solution. The automatic pool cleaners which have recently become available for home swimming pool owners can turn the least pleasant aspect of pool ownership into a simple, hands-off task. An automatic swimming pool cleaner can handle any kind of pool surface from vinyl to fiberglass, and any pool contour, not only its floor. Pool walls and steps are no match for an automatic pool cleaner.

Regardless of whether you have an in ground or above ground swimming pool, there will be an automatic pool cleaner to suit you. All you need to do is verify with the swimming pool supply vendor that the one you are purchasing is appropriate for your needs.

How An Automatic Pool Cleaner Works

An automatic pool cleaner is actually a waterproof vacuum which can be connected to your pool's filter, eliminating the need for to empty the collection bags which are part of the robotic pool cleaners which crawl along the bottom and sides of a pool. Automatic swimming pool cleaners will pick up everything from pebbles to twigs and leaves, and remove insects as well. They perform a time-consuming task and yet are not at all difficult to either assemble or install.

Price Of An Automatic Pool Cleaner

A typical automatic pool cleaner has a single moving part, making it both simple to care for and energy efficient. The cost of an automatic pool cleaner will depend on the sophistication of its technology; there are some which have advanced cleaning capacity and some which are jet propelled. But an automatic pool cleaner can be purchased for as little as a few hundred dollars.

Buying an automatic pool cleaner will free you from the drudgery of cleaning your pool and let you spend more of those long lazy hours in the sun, while crystalline waters which you didn't have to clean lap at the pool's edge and invite you to enjoy their coolness whenever the sun gets just a little too hot.

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Pool Cleaner Information You Need to Know Before You Buy A Pool

Backyard swimming pools can be a lifesaver in the height of summer, but those blissful afternoons splashing and cavorting in the crystal clear water don't come without their chores.

Pool cleanliness for your family's health is essential and it would not be possible for those without suitable equipment, if many mornings were not devoted to cleaning the pool. Now, take it from me, the manual unassisted cleaning of a large backyard pool is no easy task for most of us, that is unless you are very strong and fit, or of course you have a robot type pool cleaner. These are nowadays available in a great many styles and the is a model to suit most budgets. However, just as for most things in life the more you pay the better these things tend to work and the longer they last.

There are backyard pool cleaning accessories from Dolphin and Hayward for example (to name just two of the most popular on the web) and many more to give you the choices you need to personalize your private resort to the maximum. And, once you have sorted out your pool cleaner purchase you can continue to select other products from your favorite hardware supermarket where most tend to stock everything from outdoor patio heaters and grills to the finest in casual furniture able to add the finishing touch to your very own private getaway.

So, cleaning is a major problem associated with pools. Since, manual cleaning is tedious and boring there is genuine interest in automating the task by choosing a pool cleaner which can be one of two types; pressure and suction models.

Good automatic cleaners are programmed to randomly cover and vacuum the entire pool floor and walls. Debris on the pool floor is vacuumed up as well and trapped in the pool filters.

All the health experts seem to say that it is essential to clean your pool frequently, as the pollutants that get in the water can lead to bacteria and algae, which if not controlled will quickly contaminate your water. Sanitizing your pool on a regular basis will keep it clean and safe.

Check before you buy the equipment and see if you have a separate booster pump. Then once in service do check the O-rings on pump trap lids regularly as these may become worn and compressed over many years. Also check for any kind of hole in the visible surface of the plumbing before the pump (suction side) or after (pressure side).

Replacement parts are costly and unfortunately necessary, as this sort of equipment works hard and has been prone to wear at times. I easily spend $100 per year on replacement parts for quite a small pool.

Pressure cleaners operate on both the pool pump and a separate booster pump. A portion of the water from the pool pump is diverted into the pool-cleaner booster pump through a cleaner line. Pressure-side cleaners work best in open areas (not screened in) where lots of solid debris, such as leaves and twigs, are present because the unit can collect and house those items internally.

Robotic cleaners, which also trap debris via filter bags, work well for almost any pool shape, surface type or environment. Pressure-side cleaners have wheels and roll across pool surfaces, propelled by water pressure passing through the filter (some manufacturers recommend installing a booster pump to increase this propulsion). Some models offer high-tech, disposable micro-filtration bags, although these tend to be more costly they are very effective.

Suction cleaners attach via a hose to your skimmer box and use the suction created by your filtration system to suck up the dirt. They work by scrubbing the pools surface up to the waterline and picking up leaves. Debris and dirt is then sucked toward a filter system, cleaned and removed.

Design vary but in principle dirt and debris are sucked up by the cleaner and then through the hose, past the suction port, through the pipe, and is trapped in the filter pump strainer basket. This design makes suction side cleaners very much like pool vacuum cleaners.

The majority of pool cleaners will quickly clean any above ground pool regardless of size or shape, including dished out bottoms. The unit easily hooks up to your pool's pump and filtration system to get its remarkable cleaning power.

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Do It Yourself Livingston Pool Safety Installation Versus Professional Installation

Add Pleasure In Your Life With A Clean Pool:

Enormous integer of populace possesses swimming pools. A swimming pool provides pleasurable and excitement however, it can also be dangerous. It only takes several seconds for a kid to drown. To stop this from taking place, you should make use of a swimming pool cover. In addition to protecting your swimming pool, covers have other good uses as well. If you buy a solar powered pool cover, you will keep your water warm from the heat of the sun as well as keep your pool. If you wish for the finest in defense, you can use hard top swimming pool covers that are very brawny. A swimming pool is a wonderful thing to have in your yard, although you must remember that drowning is one of the most frequent deaths with children. If drowning takes place in a swimming pool, in the majority of cases the cause is the lack of regulation. If you possess a pool, you plainly must have security equipment approximately all the time.

Save Your Children By using Pool Covers:

In toting up to cleanliness, a different factor that needs to be taken into deliberation, when looking to buy a pool cover is safety. If you are a parent or if you subsist in environs that are full of kids, you may want to keep safety in psyche when buying a pool cover. In addition to cheap, traditional pool covers, did you know that you can pay for safety pool covers? You can. There are actually pool covers that are strong enough to clasp the weight of an adult! A strong and durable pool cover is the perfect way to make sure that your pool is safe for children to be in the region. Pool Safety for Kids & Families The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all families with children under the age of five install a 4-foot-tall (or more) pool fence or guard (many states, such as Florida, already have pool fence or pool barrier laws in place) around all sides of the pool or that they hold off on pool building until the children are over age five.

No issue what category of pool you have, you'll need to perform regular maintenance on it. Potentially, the biggest charge you'll face is observance your pool clean. Unless you want to squander hours of time scrubbing your pool as a replacement of swimming in it, you should take a look at automatic pool cleaners. It may be possible to trim down your pool supply costs if you can procure your swimming pool supplies wholesale. However, you should make sure that the quality isn't compromised, especially when it comes to your pool chemical supplies.

As the total you spend for pool supplies adds up, you may begin to wonder what made your pool such a great investment. It's factual that swimming pools do have ongoing maintenance costs. But as long as you have the pool supplies you need and don't let pool problems get ahead of you, then you should be able to spend nearly everyone of your time relaxing and enjoying your speculation.

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Monday, April 5, 2010

How To backwash a saltwater pool with Polaris EOS brand control panel.

How to Backwash a saltwater pool with EOS brand controls. Keith Zars pools San Antonio.

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Monday, March 29, 2010

The Twister - Power steering for your pool cleaner, epools.com.au

The Twister power steers your pool cleaner automatically so your cleaner can completely clean your pool without getting stuck in corners. The Twister is powered by the constant flow of water through the pool cleaner hose and will counter-rotate the hose about 3 times per hour. A unique...

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Trouble Shooting Suction Side Automatic Pool Cleaners

Popuar Names

Some of the most popular brands of suction side pool cleaners include such names as Aquabug, Kreepy Krauly, Ranger, E-Z Vac and Polaris just to name a few. While they do an adequate job of cleaning in non heavy use situations, if malfunctioning in any one of a number of areas their effectiveness will become degraded.

Moving Through Your System

The first place to check if a suction side pool filter isn't doing its job correctly, is the pump basket and the filter. Make sure that both are clean and not clogged with debris. More often that not, this will be the source of your problem. However; if both the filter and the pumps debris basket are clean, you then have to work your way progressively through your system.

Your Next Step

Next, check the throat of the cleaner itself to see if it has become clogged by something that is too large to pass through it. Another place to check for obstructions is anywhere that the hose connects to anything, as debris can be caught by a coupling. If that isn't the source of your problem then move on to the next step.

Check The Hose

That is to carefully check the entire hose for cracks or holes. Start by bringing the hose up out of the water and lay it across a patio or deck with the end in the pool. Then connect it to a pressure coupling and turn the water on. Over at the end in the pool, place your hand over it to clog it slightly and then look to see if water is gushing from any leaks in the hose.

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

PC POOLS TESTIMONIAL - DIRT DEVIL AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER



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How Often Should I Clean The Swimming Pool Filter Cartridges?

The most common question from pool owners is about how often they should clean their swimming pool filter cartridges. Although the answer can vary from filter to filter, there are a few general guidelines that will give you an idea as to when it is time to clean your cartridges.

The easiest way to determine the effectiveness of your pool filter cartridge is your filter's pressure indicator. This is usually a gauge or meter that is on the outside of your filter housing. This gauge will also show you the maximum pressure at which your filter should operate. Be certain that your filter does not exceed this pressure.

As your cartridge begins to accumulate dirt and debris it becomes more difficult for the pump to circulate water through the filter. As a result, the pressure on your filter system increases and less water is circulated through your system. Not only does this increase the workload on your pump, it also reduces the quantity of water that is filtered. This leaves more dirt and debris in your pool. Most cartridge filters run at a lower pressure than sand or DE.

To get an accurate reading of your filters effectiveness you should make note of the pressure reading on your system when you install a new filter cartridge. This will be your baseline reading.

As time goes by and your filter begins to accumulate debris, the system pressure will increase. When the pressure increases by about 8-10psi (8-10 pounds per square inch) it is time to either clean or replace your cartridge.

With the low cost of cartridges, replacement is easy and inexpensive. If you decide to clean your cartridge be sure to not use too much pressure. Too much pressure can actually push debris further into the cartridge. Your goal is to simply rinse off the larger debris. After you rinse the cartridge you should soak it in an alkaline based cartridge cleaning solution. After you have finished soaking it you should gently rinse any remaining debris.

After you replace your cartridge the system pressure should be lower. If it isn't then it's probably time to replace it. A properly functioning filter system will have lower pressure which allows it to circulate more water and remove more debris.

By making sure that your swimming pool filter cartridges are in proper working order you will extend the life of your pump, your cartridges and most important, you will have a sparkling pool that is clean, clear and beautiful.

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