It’s Hot!

Posted on July 26, 2011 by

It hot!

High temperatures like we’ve had this spring and summer can lead to perplexing and even dangerous problems.

Algae

Algae love water that’s in the 90’s. Stay on top of your free chlorine (or bromine) levels and use a good algaecide like SeaKlear 90 Day Algae Prevention and Removal to prevent or treat an algae bloom. When it’s this hot out and there are many swimmers, there’s no margin for error, so check your chemical levels daily. In a busy public pool, check those levels throughout the day. Learn more at http://www.hinespool.com/pages/chemicals.html

Pathogens

Human pathogens such as cryptosporidium thrive in warm, untreated water. In addition to chlorine, consider the use of SeaKlear PRS to prevent chlorine resistant crypto. Learn more at http://www.hinespool.com/pages/crypto.html.

Evaporation

Your pool will lose 1/4” to 1/2” of water daily in this hot weather. Don’t let the water level go below the bottom of your skimmer throat. If you do, equipment damage may occur. If you are losing more water than 1/2” an inch per day, you may have a leak. To learn how to test for the difference between normal water loss and a leak, go to http://www.hinespool.com/leak_detection.htm.

Ground Movement

In a period of extended drought, the ground shrinks. This can cause plumbing to crack and the pool shell or deck to become unsupported and shift. Be sure to water around the perimeter of the deck to keep the ground around your pool stable.

Motors

Motors heat up during normal use. When it’s 105 degrees out, it is especially important to keep the vents at the front of the motor clear to allow air to circulate.

Fountains

A great way to keep cool your water is to use a fountain at night when the air is cooler. Polaris sells a fountain that connects to the Polaris booster port or a a threaded return line. If you have a large public pool, Hines can build an aeration device that will cool your water at night. Call us for more information.

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Starting the Swimming Season

Posted on April 5, 2011 by

Leaves and Seed Pods

Your pool must circulate for the filter and the chemicals to do their jobs. Leaves or seed pods in your pump and skimmer baskets can stop the circulation. Not only does this allow algae to form, your pump seal can overheat and cause your pump to leak. This can ruin your motor and can even damage the pump.

Empty the baskets daily until the live oaks or other trees are finished dumping stuff into your pool. Keep the chlorine at 2-3 ppm and use a good algaecide. Backwash your filter as needed. Also, be sure to empty your automatic pool cleaner bags.

Leaks

This is a good time of year to test for water loss. The water is cool, and you probably are not swimming very much. If your pool is losing more than 1/4” a day, you may have an underground leak. Visit this Web page for instructions on how to tell if you have a leak. http://www.hinespool.com/leak_detection.htm

Safety

Now is a great time to double check the safety of your pool, spa, and enclosures. Your pool and spa area should be fenced and protected from unsupervised access from your house. Check your fence to be sure there are no holes and that your gates are locked and are self-closing. Access from your house should be locked from the inside to keep small children from wandering into the pool area. Consider a pool or door alarm as a backup to locked doors.

Even if your residential pool is not required to have signage, your pool area should have signs and tiles marking depths and diving restrictions. (Laws vary; check your local jurisdiction to see what laws apply.)

Always have a life ring with a throw rope, and a shepherd’s hook within easy access. Everyone who supervises your pool should know how to use these life saving devices. For more links to pool safety sites visit http://www.hinespool.com/pages/safety.html


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Welcome

Posted on March 8, 2011 by

Welcome to HinesPoolBlog. Here you will find discussions from our staff, our customers and anyone interested in swimming pools, spas or hot tubs.

If you are looking for general information about how to care for you pool or spa or if you would like to learn more about Hines Pool & Spa, Inc., visit our Web site at ww.hinespool.com.

 

 

 

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