When should I backwash my filter?
The industry standard for backwashing is when the filter gauge shows a pressure that is ten pounds higher than a ‘clean’ pressure. All filters work by forcing water through a porous media which traps the larger particles from the water. When the filter media is clean, the water passes easily through and the gauge pressure is lower. As debris is caught in the media it is harder to push the water through the filter which makes the gauge pressure higher. When enough debris is trapped in the filter to raise its pressure by ten pounds, it’s time to backwash. Call us to schedule a visit to insure your equipment is optimal.
How often should my pool water chemistry be tested?
Residential customers should test the water and make adjustments NO LESS than once a week (the more often, the better). The sanitizing chemical in a swimming pool makes it safe for the swimmers, if the pH and other chemical balances are correct.
How often should my D.E. filter be manually cleaned?
While periodic backwashing takes care of most of the debris inside a D.E. filter, only ‘breaking down’ the filter and manually cleaning it will get rid of all the debris. Filter manufacturers recommend that a filter be manually cleaned twice a year (spring and fall are best). To prevent mishap the filter should be cleaned by a professional, however, anyone who is mechanically handy can take on the task of opening the filter, cleaning the grids, inspecting the grid assembly, and reassembling the filter. Call us to schedule a visit to insure your equipment is optimal.
My pool is cloudy, what do I do to fix it?
Pool water clarity is dependent on two things: the effectiveness of the filter and the chemical balance in the pool. The pool’s filter provides much of the water clarity while the chemicals used to treat a pool alter the contaminants to a filterable state.. Chemicals or filters alone cannot keep a pool clear. If the filter media is old it may need replacing. If the pool ‘balance’ is wrong it needs fixing. The problem often associated with a cloudy pool is the filter media. A D.E. filter may need a manual cleaning, a sand filter may need backwashing or replacement of the sand, a cartridge filter usually always requires replacement of the cartridges. If the pool water chemistry is correct, it’s time to perform maintenance on the filter.
My pool pump is very noisy, is it time to replace it?
There are several reasons a pump can be noisy and each poses a different repair aspect. When air is introduced into a pump it is called cavitation. Sometimes air is introduced because of a poor hydraulic design in the plumbing. Most of the time, air is introduced due to a leak in the pipes that lead into the suction side of the pump. All pumps have two ‘ball bearing’ assemblies, one at the front of the motor and one at the back. The most common bearing failure is due to a leaking seal which allows water to enter the motor through the front bearing. Bearing failures usually start as a ‘whine’ and quickly develop into a loud grinding noise, or an all out ‘screaming’ sound. As a motor repair or replacement is fairly technical, we recommend you call us for a service appointment to determine and fix the source of the noise, or consider replacing the pump.
My pool light stopped working.
There are several possible reasons the pool or spa light doesn’t work. If the bulb is burnt out, the bulb and lens gasket should be replaced. The ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protecting the light circuit may have tripped and needs to be reset. The light is activated with a timer or a photocell that has failed. The light circuit at the breaker panel has tripped and needs to be reset. While other issues are possible such as a broken wire or lose connection, these are the most common.