Owner: Tales of Swimming Pool Man URL:http://poolservicedirectory.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:53:05 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Swimming pool tips, tricks, information, stories and more. Site statistics:Click here
Pool Cleaning 2008-03-05 21:56:00 I cleaned this pool today.The house is vacant and has been since Oct. 07.Ok so what did I do?I grabbed my test strips and the gate key from the secret hiding place.I first looked at the equipment, seemed to be ok.More trash in the pump than I liked. We have had some bad weather.Then to the pool, tested the water, it was perfect.This is a big pool, I opened all four skimmers.(if the house was occupied I would never leave skimmer lids open)I wanted to see how much change in skimmer suction I would have after I emptied the pump basket. I think the power must have gone off, a couple of the skimmer baskets were floating. That would explain the extra trash in the pump. I knew I would be going to empty the pump a few times. To be sure everything was gone from the bottom of the skimmer and the su Read more:Cleaning
How to find a swimming pool builder. 2008-03-01 07:14:00 Finding a pool builder used to be one of two ways, the phone book or the guy your friend used.That was then, this is now.I have been telling my fellow pool industry associates for years the people they want to serve are online.My own website has been around longer than Google and thanks to Google and others like Yahoo I get all the business I can do.The Internet has changed everything about how people shop for swimming pools and pool products.I made a point some time ago about how a lot of pool companies have good websites and still don't do well in the online search results.That is one of the reasons I have my directory site. I have discovered another way for both swimming pool builders and potential pool buyers to connect.It looks like one of those "Win - Win" things. I don't see a downs
Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaners 2008-02-28 20:13:00 There a lot of things about caring for swimming pools that the old saying "there's more than one way to skin a cat" applies.Automatic Swimming
pool Cleaners fit that to a tee, I know another saying...Generally speaking I have learned that like there are two basic types of pool cleaners, pressure side and suction side. There are two types of pool owners when it comes to some automatic cleaners. Those with greater scientific and mechanical aptitude and the time to take care of their pool. Then there are others who because of time or not being scientific or mechanical don't do as well or need more help.I clean pools each week. I have for years and years.I have learned some pool owners, those with the time and aptitude to adjust and monitor, love suction side cleaners like the Kreepy Krauly. I
Swimming Pool Inspection Form 2008-02-25 23:19:00 Click the image, print the form.Call me and I will help you inspect your pool.We can discuss each item as we go down the list.Chemicals - Pumps - Cleaners - MaintenanceVisit Swimming
pool Services Directory for info on swimming pool builders retailers and service companies. Read more:Inspection
, Swimming Pool
Swimming pool light blown, light won't work. 2008-02-22 11:47:00 Today my routine for checking out a swimming pool light
.Just like the one in the image to above.The tools, if you can't use these tools you should not try to work on your own pool light.Screw drivers, medium size straight and slotted, voltage meter/tester, electrical tape, needle nose pliers, thick towel, sharpie pen, safety glasses and gloves.First I look at the pool light.If it has water in the fixture, that's a problem.A new fixture may be in order, often after being wet inside they are ruined.If I see no water in the fixture and the bulb is not clearly blown. Blown looks like a dark spot one the bulb if you can see past the lens.When I arrive I ask to see the pool light switch. I always start there. Pulling out a light to find a tripped circuit breaker is not a good thing.I test the sw Read more:Swimming
Swimming Pool Parts Catalog - Parts Ordering - Parts Breakdown Illustration 2008-02-22 00:29:00 Swimming Pool Parts
Catalog - Parts Ordering
- Parts Breakdown Illustration
chemical feeders - cleaners - lights - filters - filter elements - pumps - heaters - controls timersA & A Mfg. Aladdin Allied Innovations American Prod. Anthony & Sylvan A.O. Smith Aqua (Aquabot) Aqua - Flo Aquapower Aquapure Aquasol Aquatemp Aquavac Astral Prod. Atlantic Autoclear Autopilot Baker-Hydro Balboa Baptistry Products Baracuda Blue - White Brett Aqualine Cal Pump Cantar Caretaker Clayton - Lambert Clearwater Coates Heater Comfort Zone Compool Cooper Industries Custom Molded Del Industries Danner Mfg. Eaton Mears Ecomatic Emerson Feherguard Flo Control Goldline Grid Controls Grundfos Pumps Harmsco. Inc Harwil Corp Hayward Hydrel Hydro Air Hydro Quip Hydrotech Intermatic J & J Elect. Jacuzzi Bros. Jandy Ind Read more:Swimming
, Swimming Pool
Opening a swimming pool 2008-02-18 22:18:00 I opened a pool today.!8x36 liner vinyl liner.Opened it by myself in about an hour and a half.It had a solid safety cover. The cover was clean and ready to come off.I loosened the spring straps all the way around. Lowered the strap anchors around the shallow end deck. So I wouldn't snag the cover. I just pulled it back about five feet, then folded every other seam to seam. It was a lot of back and forth grabbing the seams where you can. Worked the wrinkles out, rolled it up, pulled the bag over it, tipped it on my two wheeler and down to the shed.I brought the rails back from the shed, placed the stair panel rail then the deep end ladder. Tightened them down with a half inch wrench. Don't forget the ladder bumpers.Removed the gizmo's from skimmers and placed the baskets.Installed plug in t
Shattering leak in a vinyl liner 2008-02-17 11:37:00 I was called out to make a dive call.I needed to find a leak in a vinyl liner. I was still a rookie pool guy.I could put on a wet suit and find a liner leak in cold water.The pool was old and the liner was bleached out and hard as a rock.I looked around and found a few small holes. I went back up and cut some patches.To help hold me down I used a pipe wrench, I would place it in my weight belt.The next thing that happened was like a scene out of a movie.The pipe wrench fell from my belt. This was bad, when something like that falls you will have a hole to patch.Well that's how it goes always, except for today.The wrench was hitting bottom, deep end floor.The liner cracked a little, a star shape, about four inches.Just as I reached for the pipe wrench, the liner split in every direction. Ju
Very acid water 2008-02-15 17:07:00 I was called out to service a swimming pool. It was a little old lady, she was a widow. She said since her husband died she had been taking care of the swimming pool herself. She had remembered he had told her to just add chlorine pucks to the skimmer and throw some granular into the water
.When he died he had a large supply of both types of chlorine on hand.She had been taking care of the pool all summer herself.He died right after the pool had been opened in early spring.It was now very late summer almost fall.She had called me out because her pool was losing water and her pump had quit working.Well... she told me the pump had stopped weeks before and the pool had just started leaking.I could see the pool from her backdoor where we were talking about it. The water was clear. This was surp
A fine example of trash advice for pool owners. 2008-02-13 22:49:00 This kind of total nonsense is all over the Internet.Brought to you by E-How dot comHow To Do Just About EverythingClick here to see the page for yourself.The page is titled "How to Clean a Cloudy Pool"Pool water becomes cloudy due to inadequate cleaning and limited usage that causes the water to become stagnant. Failure to maintain a pool creates a variety of problems that ultimately make the pool water polluted and cloudy. Follow these steps to clean and maintain the water in your pool.The paragraph above is what caught my eye right off.Hmmm ok... "limited usage that causes the water to become stagnant"I have pools owned by older folks that are never used, they aren't STAGNANT.The fact is pool water that is moving (by running the pump), filtered and chemically treated will not become STA
Sand filters - when to backwash 2008-02-12 20:46:00 I don't know if this post is about when to backwash a sand filter or if it is about the nonsense I read on the swimming pool forums.I guess some people read books or watch television for entertainment. Lately I just cruise the questions and the awful replies to those questions on the swimming pool forum boards. I no longer answer or even log into any of the boards I read. I don't care to debate any self described experts or spend thirty minutes trying to make a point that clearly would contradict the previous expert opinion.It blows my mind to read the answers of those who just dole out "matter of fact replies" to pool owners who need real answers. I guess what prompted me to write about sand filters was the simple question of "Do I backwash each week like my local pool service said or to
Chlorine pucks or tabs in the skimmer. 2008-02-11 07:48:00 Placing chlorine pucks or tabs in your skimmer is not really a great idea. It is always best to use a chlorine feeder to deliver chlorine to your swimming pool water.I remember an old Wal-Mart commercial they used to run on television. They would say "just drop a couple of these in your skimmer". Everytime I saw it I would think to myself, yeah, if you do it won't be long till I am at your home making a repair.What happens when you do this?The first thing is you get a blast of chemical running through all of your equipment on it's way back to the swimming pool. It's a pretty heavy dose coming out those return lines. Not the place to be while in the pool, a little too strong for some swimmers as far as the skin, eyes and hair.Why not put a chlorine puck in the skimmer?Chlorine pucks and tab
Swimming pool salt systems, chlorine generators, saltwater pools, salt water pools, sws 2008-02-10 13:25:00 Swimming pool salt systems, chlorine generators, saltwaterpools
, salt water pools, sws, no matter how you say it, I don't think I want one.It seems to me the potential for problems are too great.I've read enough on my fellow bloggers page, The Pool Biz, to wonder why anyone would want one.Assuming all he says is true, and I believe it is, because it all makes sense, not only makes sense, he backs it up with data to prove his points.So much information it would take hours and hours to read it all, so far I've come close to reading it all.Not one of his points has been challenged in a way to make me think he is wrong.I don't know who he is beyond "The Pool Guy" at his blog.He is, in my opinion, a champion of the swimming pool owner.He has no ads on his page, does not promote his own pool se Read more:Swimming
Swimming in public pools 2008-02-09 07:32:00 Personally I am all swimed out.There is little or no chance I would be swimming in a public swimming pool.I am talking about apartment, condo, hotel or motel pools
.If you plan to swim in a public swimming pool, for the protection of you and your family there is one thing I would do.Every time without fail, test the water myself.Each day before any swimming starts, I would use my own test to see how the pH and disinfectant was reading.I would not under any condition swim in a pool that uses anything other than chlorine for the disinfectant, period.You can still get sick swimming in a pool that is perfectly balanced, the risk is much lower if it is in balance however. I would not swim in a pool that has small children swimming, those still using diapers. I don't care what kind of rubber pant Read more:Swimming
Time table for killing common illness-causing germs 2008-02-08 07:39:00 Click image for larger view.Time table for killing common illness
-causing germsFree chlorine at neutral pH kills most bacteria such as E. coli 0157:H7 in less than a minute if the free chlorine is maintained at proper disinfection levels throughout the pool. However, a few germs are moderately (Giardia, Hepatitis A) to highly (Cryptosporidium) chlorine-resistant. The table above shows the approximate disinfection times for these germs in chlorinated water.Above from the CDC website.As you can see, even in perfectly balanced water it takes time to kill some germs.If you or your children are sick, don't swim and risk getting others sick as well.If you take care of a swimming pool please buy and use good testing products.Test often and adjust chemicals as needed.Chemical products other than c
Pool pump motor wired just plain wrong. 2008-02-07 08:55:00 I got a call from a new customer once. I was very busy and I didn't need to add any more work to my schedule.He said he really needed some help. Well, it was spring time and a lot of pool owners needed some help.He wanted help that day, I was already trying to put him off till the next week. I asked what the problem was?He told me that when he got within six feet of his filter equipment his feet would start to tingle.He added that as you got closer it would become stronger.Well, well, well... hmmmmmm....A mystery service call. I like those.Not only a mystery, but what sounded like what could be a real safety issue.I arrived at his home, and as usual for that time of year, the cheers from the children "the pool man is here!"He came out and greeted me in the driveway. Told me how happy he wa
Swimming Pool Fence - Yes, you need one. 2008-02-05 19:51:00 Through the years I have been over the fencing issue many times.With customers, face to face.Their best answer to NOT get one is always the same.They are ugly.Some of you may not like what I say here or how I say it.When I get this I just want to shake them!My reply is always as standard as their protest of ugly.No sir... I'll tell you what ugly is.Ugly is watching a dead body pulled from your swimming pool.Ugly is being blamed, ugly is looking into every eye you see knowing they blame you.The people who sell these won't talk to you like this.But I will, If you do not lock your swimming pool area some how...Shame on you!I will now take the time to thank you for installing a fence.THANK YOU!I thank you and the life you may have saved thanks you.That's it, that's all you get for doing it. YE Read more:Swimming
, Swimming Pool
Hayward Super Pump Pool Pump - 3/4 HP - Pumps & Motors - Pool Supplies 2008-02-05 17:44:00 Hayward Super
Pump Pool Pump - 3/4 HP - Pumps & Motors
- Pool SuppliesI did a little story yesterday about the Hayward Super Pump. couple of weeks ago I wrote review over at Aqua Superstore.The thing about that review was I won a 100 dollar gift cirtificate for my efforts.well I got a confirmation email today saying I did.Pretty cool HUH?They have alot of real nice pool, patio, lawn & garden stuff over there.The links above will take you to the page with my review.I want to thank them for the GC!Visit Swimming pool Services Directory for info on swimming pool builders retailers and service companies.
Maintain and Care for Your Pool 2008-02-05 12:20:00 Maintain and Care for Your PoolThe link above will take you to the Lowes hardware website.Another place to find all the swimming pool info and advice you need.Like this little bit of information:pH determines the water's acidity. Maintain pH for equipment and swimmer protection. If the pH is less than 7.2, use sodium hypochlorite to raise it. If the pH is higher than 7.6, use granular acid to lower it.find it about 1/3 of the way down the page.I spotted this some time ago, I went back today to see if it was still there.I even emailed them to point it out, over two years ago.When last I checked sodium hypochlorite was bleach or liquid chlorine. suppose they are saying to add liquid chlorine to raise pH.The pH of sodium hypochlorite is around and 11.-disinfection/disinfectants-sodium-hypochl Read more:Maintain
Welcome To The Official Esther Williams Website 2008-02-05 00:54:00 Welcome To The OfficialEstherWilliams
WebsiteI was trying to think of celebrities who were national spokesperson's for the swimming pool industry.Esther Williamswas the only one I could think of and I'm not sure she ever did any swimming pool promo work.It is her name on a very large swimming pool brand.Her short bio page will help let everyone know who their swimming pool is named for.$10 off a $50 Purchase Coupon Code: W5AFF05Visit Swimming pool Services Directory for info on swimming pool builders retailers and service companies. Read more:Welcome
Fired pool boy says Britney isn’t ‘nice’ - Gossip Archive- msnbc.com 2008-02-05 00:23:00 Fired pool boy says Britney
Spears isn’t ‘nice’ - GossipArchive
- msnbc.comYEAH, too bad for the pool boy.I've been fired before for spending too much time with the Lady of the house.So I kinda know how he feels.I switched from "Pool Boy" to "Pool Man" after about a year in the business.I wonder if maybe while hanging out he forgot to really service the pool.Yeah, I've been fired for that too.Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.The Pool Boy in the story is Jack LaLane's son.You know who he is if you're over 40 you do, if you're under, he's the juicer man on TV now.Anyway old Jack has to be like 99 years old now.So I wonder how old the son is?If Old Jack was still spawning at 50 the Pool Boy must be fifty.If Old Jack was still spawning at 70 the Pool Boy must be thirty.If Old Jack w Read more:Fired
The Hayward Super Pump 2008-02-04 07:34:00 The Hayward Super
PumpThis pump is a great pump.I have always liked the Super Pump.I use it for a service pump. My service pump goes through alot.One day I will be vacuuming mud,dirt and small rocks from a new swimming pool construction.The next day leaves and slime from the bottom of a swamp pool.Then the pump may just ride in the back of the truck for weeks before I need to use it.It always starts right up, it can pull a prime when others won't.I even use it to un-clog skimmers,I just take a hose and pull the trash in the skimmer line out the way it came in.It's convertable from high voltage 220 volts to low voltage 110 volts.Low profile so it fits almost anywhere you may need to place it.It has a big strainer basket, easy to see through lid.It has two knobs to hold the lid on, easier to
Brand new swimming pool liner ripped. 2008-02-03 13:17:00 The company I worked for installed a new liner once.We had it filled,water balanced and running.We handed the pool over, said goodbye,That was friday morning.Monday morning she was calling about water loss. YIKES! we hate to hear those words.I was the lucky tech assigned to the case.I got there and as I walked through the gate I could see the pool.It looked very strange from this far angle. As I got closer the sides seemed to be moving in waves.I couldn't hardly believe my eyes. I ran to turn off the pumps and water hose.Back to the pool, as the motion of the water calmed down I could see it all.About every foot, running in vertical lines on the walls there was a slice in the liner.Here and there accross the floor the same thing.Some of them were only an inch or two, others a foot or two.I Read more:Brand
, ripped
Swimming pool help FAQ, message board and blog pages. 2008-02-02 08:05:00 Swimming pool FAQ, message board and blog help pages.The internet is loaded with places to find tips, tricks and free advice for your swimming pool.The answers to swimming pool questions found there are often as varied as those who run those sites.Some of the swimming pool FAQ's are part of a site that has FAQ's on hundreds of topics.Frequently asked questions is what FAQ stands for, it could as well mean frequently answered questions.Often the mix of answers is as varied as the users who visit there.A simple question often has hundreds of answers, from the correct to the down right silly.Many of these sites should adapt the wiki method and just let everyone fine tune one answer.Message boards are another place where getting good answers is a hit or miss affair.They try to have a conversat Read more:Swimming
Swimming pool pump cut away view. 2008-01-31 13:07:00 Let's look at the pump guts.Starting at the motor and moving to the front.The motor turns at 3,450 RPM (revoloutins per minute), well the shaft does, the motor itself does not turn. The motor shaft is turning the impeller. These are the only parts moving when the pump is switched on.The impeller is what is moving the water. Most pumps today use what's called a closed face impeller. Back in the day, as they say, they were open faced, and made of bronze or brass, now they are made of plastic.Much like a propeller on a plane or boat motor, the rotation causes movement, in this case it's moving water.Inside the impeller are vains that look like small propeller blades.Water enters a small opening in the front center of the impeller, as the impeller spins it is ejected out the side through the v Read more:Swimming
Pump shaft seal 2008-03-10 17:06:00 Changing a swimming pool pump shaft seal.This pump had a leaking shaft seal.It took about twenty minutes to replace the old one with a new one.The first step was to remove the eight bolts/screws holding the wet end to the motor.After that the pump just slides apart.Once opened the diffuser and seal plate are exposed.The diffuser just slides off the seal plate.To remove the impeller you will need to hold the shaft from the back side of the motor. This one uses a large screwdriver in the slot on the motor shaft. Some use a 9/16" wrench. While holding the shaft unscrew the the impeller.The impeller holds the seal plate to the motor, so it too will come off once the impeller is removed. As you can see the seal plate "O" ring also came off.The new seal is in two sections, the spring loaded grap
Pool Cover seeping water 2008-05-15 11:39:00 This pool cover was leaking all over. It is what happens to poly covers after a while. They de-laminate, or start to come apart. They are woven at their core. They do have coating over that weave. once the sun and weather destroy the coating the weave begins to seep water
.The cover pump had been running for some time and was showing no progress. I was slowly draining the pool through the cover. Wh Read more:Cover
Telephone help for pool owners! 2008-05-28 17:34:00 Phone help for swimming pool owners!Need to ask a simple question?A little conversation could change your whole summer!Visit Swimming pool Services Directory for info on swimming pool builders retailers and service companies.
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