Today’s from the pool truck is from a pool in Eagle Creek in Orlando.

This is a really basic post, but it’s something that gets overlooked all too often.

When adding chemicals to your pool – any chemicals – you need to change the place that you add them. In other words, don’t go to the same spot in your pool and pour chlorine or acid in each week….change it up. Pouring chemicals in the same spot will damage the shell of the pool. It doesn’t happen right away, but trust us, it will happen. We make it a habit to pour from the deep end one week, a side the next week, shallow end the next week, and the other side the week after that.

Again, this is a very simple concept, but it will help ensure a linger life out of the surface of your pool.

If you have any questions, ask us in the comments.

Today’s pool is located in Saint Cloud, near Steven’s Plantation.

You might not know it by going outside today, but it’s starting to get cooler in Orlando, and your swimming pool water’s temperature  has dropped considerably in the past month. Because of the warm-ish weather we’re still having, people want to swim, but most pools are just damn cold right now.

One very simple, and extremely affordable solution to this is using a solar pool cover.

The pool cover helps attract the heat from the sun, and keep that heat energy trapped by reducing heat loss due to wind shear. It all sounds very technical, but it simply attracts heat, and keeps it trapped in the pool.

Most pool stores carry these covers (we have them too!), and it’s probably an hour project.

We’ve seen pretty good results with these, but with everything, your mileage may vary.

If you’ve used a solar cover, we’d love to hear what you thought if it in the comments below.

Today’s pool is in NorthLake Park in Lake Nona.

“How high should my pool water be?”

We get asked this weekly, and lucky, there’s a pretty simple answer: Your water should be halfway up your Skimmer entrance.

If you aren’t sure what a Skimmer is, just look at the picture above…..it’s the white square with the flap.

The Skimmer helps keep the surface of your pool clean, but if the water goes below the Skimmer, your pump will start sucking in air and could burn out – causing you to have to have a new motor installed (not fun).

With the cooler temperatures upon us, you might not think to check the water level of your pool, but it’s one of the most important things you should be doing.

As always, if you have questions, ask us in the comments below.

Well, here we go again….another hurricane warning, and another mad rush to buy water and batteries.

As a native Floridian, I’m all too familiar with the image you see above. Will Irene smash into Orlando? Doubt it…but don’t take my word for it.

If Irene DOES decide to pay us a visit, and you own a swimming pool, you need to check out the list we made last year during hurricane season: 17 Tips to Protect Your Pool During a Hurricane

If you have any questions about your swimming pool during the hurricane, and our list doesn’t cover it, feel free to call us or ask your question in the comments section below.

This is a question we received via email, and it’s a very common question with usually a pretty simple fix.

Question: Recent first-time pool owner. We have an inground gunite pool with an elevated spa. After my first DE filter backwash the water level in the spa began to decrease to the water level of the pool when the filter was turned off. I thought that the problem must be the check valve, so I replaced that, but the decrease continues. Any thoughts or suggestions?

There seem to be two reasons this happens, but first understand what’s going on here – Gravity! Gravity is causing the water to balance out when the system is off, which means the elevated water in the hot tub is dropping to match the level of the water in the pool…which means it has a way to escape through the spa main drain.

Now that we know there’s something going on with the spa main drain, we need to figure out what’s causing the main drain to be open.

If the valves are on automatic actuators, the spa main drain valve could be stuck in the “open” position, allowing the water to slowly drain back into the pool. This could be a faulty actuator, or something as simple as a stuck relay switch. Sometimes turning off the breakers for 60 seconds will reset the relays, and when turning the breakers back on, it could fix itself. If not, it’s time to have a pool service company take a look at it.

Another very common reason for this is a faulty check valve. Check valves are in place to only allow water to flow in one direction. If the check valve goes bad, it allows water to freely flow in both directions, and leads to the nightly drain of the spa. This is usually remedied by replacing or installing a new check valve.

Hurricanes are an unfortunate fact of life in Orlando. The hurricane season begins June 1st and runs through November 30th. You know how to protect yourself from a storm, but what about your swimming pool? These are 17 ways you can minimize the damage to your swimming pool that might be caused by a tropical storm or hurricane.

1. Pool Covers – If you have a cover that is held on by water tubes or some other type of weights, do not put it on. These types of covers will be easily blown off into the yard or into the pool by high winds.

2. Attached Safety Pool Cover – If you have a safety cover (this cover is attached to anchors in the deck around the pool), put it on. These covers are designed to hold even in the winds of a hurricane. Make sure that your straps are taut but not so tight that the spring (if you have this type) is completely compressed. It is also a good idea to put some padding between the cover and the edge of the pool. This will prevent the cover from being abrased by the edge of the pool as it moves with the wind. You can use old towels, water tubes, etc. for this.

3. Remove your skimmer lids (these make good frisbees) and any other loose items.

4. Super-chlorinate your pool (Shock it). This will help prevent the pool water from becoming contaminated. Add a “shock” dose of liquid or granular chlorine.

5. Turn off your filter system before the storm hits, but do not drain the system. This will prevent the motor from burning up if the system becomes clogged or the line voltage drops. By leaving the water in the filter system, the extra weight will help hold down the equipment.

6. Do NOT drain your pool. A pool shell can float like a boat. They can literally “pop out” of the ground if emptied. This is caused by hydrostatic pressure. Basically, the pressure of all the water in the pool keeps it in the ground because on the other side of the shell is water that saturates the ground around it. The pressure of the water surrounding the pool shell squeezes the pool until it pops up. Therefore, keep the water level at a higher level than normal.

7. Turn the pump and any other power supply off. If you can remove the pump do so and store it in a dry place. If you can not remove it, wrap the pump motor, time clock, light transformers and electric heaters with a waterproof plastic membrane and tie it securely in place to prevent sand and driving water from entering.

8. Do NOT store pool furniture in your pool, but DO remove and store all pool furniture. Storing the furniture in your pool can damage the pool and the pool chemicals can in turn damage the furniture. Only do this if you have no other place to store them.

9. Protect the Screen Enclosure. Some damage to the frame of the screen structure may be prevented if you provide a “vent” for wind to flow through. Consider removing screen panels on opposite sides of the enclosure by pulling out the vinyl spline that retain the panels.

After the Storm

10. It may be tempting if your pool is a disastrous mess, but, again, do NOT drain it.

11. If you covered your pool, remove the pool cover and replace the pool furniture.

12. Remove Debris From Pool First. Remove large objects by hand and use a “pool rake” or “skimmer net” to remove smaller debris from the pool. Do not attempt to use the pool’s vacuum system for debris that is likely to plug the plumbing.

13. Let the motor dry for at least 24 hours. If you couldn’t remove your equipment before the storm and it was underwater, get it checked out. When electricity has returned, call a licensed, insured pool repair company to thoroughly inspect your pool and equipment.

14. Clean the filter and run the system 24 hours a day. When the water has attained proper clarity then reset the time clock for a normal daily cycle.

15. Balance water pH, superchlorinate or shock your pool, and run the filter until the water becomes clear.

16. Lower the water level to the middle of the skimmer and test the water and make any necessary chemical adjustments.

17. Monitor the Pool Operation: It is important to monitor the overall operation of the entire system for several days after the storm to be sure everything is operating properly.

Please call us after the storm and tell us your situation, we will do our best to get to you and help you get your pool up and running.

There are certain factors that can keep you pool water clean and clear. You can sanitize your pool water with the proper mix of chemicals. A properly sized pump and cartridge pool filter will keep it free from visible particles such as dirt and debris. Cleaning your cartridge pool filter can be taxing and time consuming. However, it is well worth the effort knowing that you, your family and friends are enjoying your swimming pool with clean and safe water.

Your filter works hard to keep your pool clear of dirt and debris. Once is filter is dirty, its ability to clear the swimming pool water is impaired and can become less effective. Fortunately, cleaning your cartridge filter usually doesn’t take much time or effort. The key is to do it regularly.

We clean filters the first week of every month, and if you’re servicing your own pool, we recommend doing the same.

Cleaning a cartridge filter is as simple as pulling the cartridge out, spraying on a good degreaser (optional), and hosing out all of the dirt and debris that has collected in it.

Once you have thoroughly cleaned the cartridge, you reinstall it in its housing, start the pump, and release the air-pressure built up from allowing air into the system.

Sounds easy, right? It is. Now here’s why it’s even being mentioned here. Most people DON’T clean their filter on a monthly basis. They look at the filter pressure gauge and say, “still ok…I’ll get it next month.” Before you know it, a few months have passed, and the pool goes green. When the filter is clogged, it reduces the flow rate. Once your flow rate has dropped, you’re basically dealing with stagnant water, and stagnant water is a lot harder to keep clean than filtered water. I promise that once the pool goes green, the clean up will take a lot more time than actually cleaning the filter would have taken you.

While you are swimming outside, you need to protect your skin from the sun’s rays – both UVA and UVB. There are a multitude of sunscreen and sun block products that can do this; how well they work, and how well you like them is going to take some trial and error on your part.

The first thing to consider is SPF (Sun Protection Factor). This gives a numeric value to compare one product to another. The SPF tells how much longer you can stay out before burning than when you are not using a sun protection product. This does not mean that you should stay in the sun longer, just that you are getting more protection from a higher SPF compared to a lower SPF.

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Cloudy water in your pools; what are the causes of this unsightly problem or why do I have it in my pool? There are many known factors or reasons for cloudiness in your swimming pool or spa. The fact of the matter is that; there is no single cause for this swimming pool water problem. When we go to a water facility, we want to enjoy a clear, sparkling pool or spa.

However a swimming pool or spa looses its beauty, when the water is cloudy. This is very uninviting to swimmers like you and I; simply because of the dull, hazy, and cloudy water look of the pool.

Causes of cloudy water in pools and spas

The most common causes of cloudiness in swimming pools and spas include:

• Improper or poor water filtration. Pool filters not functioning to their full capacity.
• Insufficient or poor water circulation. In other words, poor water flow and turn over rate.
• Poor pool water chemistry. Your pool chemicals are not properly balanced.
• The early stages of algae growth which is caused by poor sanitation and oxidation levels, is also a swimming pool water problem; which leads to cloudy water in your facility.

Why is my pool water cloudy?

Cloudy pool water is a very wide open ended issue that many pool/spa operators experience worldwide. Still it has to be addressed if we are going to avoid green, milky, and hazy looking pool water. The cloudiness that we experienced in our pools and spas, is the results of the presence of small or fine suspended particles that are in the water. I know you may be asking the question “why don’t my pool filters filter out these particles?”

Well, the truth of the matter is that these particles are so minuscule that they cannot be filtered. This means that they pass right through our pool filters and right back out to the pool/spa. Because these particle are too small to be filtered, they are also very difficult to be removed from our swimming pool water by oxidation.

Causes of cloudy water in swimming pools

As I stated above, the cloudiness in swimming pools and spas is caused by the presence of fine suspended particles in the water, which are too small to be filtered out. One major set back with this swimming pool water problem, is that environmental factors such as the wind, rain, and the surrounding vegetation, are contributing elements that are responsible for these small particles in our pools.

We’re unable to control the environment, but there are other contributing factors that cause pool cloudiness that we CAN control. The other causes of cloudy water swimming pools and spas are:

• Algae growth (green pool water) – This water problem is caused by low or inadequate pool sanitation/oxidation.
• Poor pool water filtration – This is the results of a pool filter system being too small for the job or a system that is not functioning properly.
• Insufficient time for filter turn over rate to be achieved.
• Backwashing too frequently – It is very important that we allow our pool filters sufficient time to collect or filter out the water. Filters work better when they get dirty; however, we don’t want them to get too dirty; because our pressures on the filters will increase and our water flow will be reduced.
• Poor pool water circulation – This is usually the results of a swimming pool pump being too small or not working at all.
• Heavy bather or swimmers loads – This problem depletes your pool sanitation or disinfectant capabilities; thus, contaminating your pool water with residues of human skin, bacteria, suntan lotion, and cosmetics.
• Pool heaters – If the heating system/s for your swimming pools and spas are inadequately treated chemically, you will have a build-up of bio-films and algae; which will lead to cloudy water eventually.
• Bio-films build-up in your pool filters – Other than your pool filters, you can also have a build-up of bio-films in your swimming pool pumps and plumbing lines.
• Insufficient sunlight in your pool or spa – Fact of the matter is that, we need the UV rays because they are a great source of natural oxidizers.
• The pH of you pool water is too high – This causes your pool chlorine to work more slowly or not at all. Therefore cloudy pool water is the result of algae growth.
• The alkalinity level of your pool water is too high.
• The stabilizer (cyanuric acid) level in your pool or spa is too high.
• Your pool chlorine level is too low.
• The calcium hardness level of your swimming pool water is too high.
• Your TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level is too high.
• You have high levels of metals in you water. This gives you a discolored pool water appearance.

How to clear up cloudy water in your swimming pool

Usually the first step in correcting a cloudy water situation, is by checking your swimming pool filtration system. You need to clean your pool filters as needed and re-establish proper water flow rates. There are certain products that are available which can aid in cleaning your filtration system.

These cleaning agents are designed specifically for cleaning different types of filter media. So once you know the type of filter media your pool/spa filter carries, you can purchase the correct filter cleaning aid. Now, once you have cleaned and corrected any filtration problems, you must obtain proper water balance.

This will help in getting rid of the cloudy water in your facility. If your swimming pool water remains cloudy after correcting your filtration, flow rate, and pool water chemistry; then the most likely cause for your cloudy pool water now is suspended microscopic particles. Your next course of action at this point, is obtaining a good quality pool water clarifier.

Using this product in your pool water will allow the suspended particles to clump together. At this stage, the fine suspended particles are now large enough that they can be properly filtered out. Also by testing and correcting the other problems and causes of cloudiness in your pool, you will correct your problem with cloudy water.

Have you had to deal with cloudy water? Have a tip that worked for you? Tell us about it in the comments.

Whenever you get pool supplies, the instructions say x ounces per 1,000 gallons or something similar. When you start new pool cleaning service, the company asks how many gallons of water your pool has. So how many gallons of water does your swimming pool hold?

The internet is full of instructions for calculating pool volume, and there are a ton of calculators, but one of the easiest we’ve found is the Pool Wizard calculator.

It’s as easy as measuring your pool, and putting the numbers into the calculator. We’ve tested it and it consistently gives decent results to the nearest 100 gallons. You don’t need an exact number (volume) when it comes to swimming pool volume and chemical dosing, so the results will work just fine.

If you’re already one of our clients, you can just call us for your pool volume, but if you’re going it alone, this should come in handy.

Have you found a better pool water volume calculator? Tell us about it in the comments.