HOW TO CHOOSE AN AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER FOR YOUR POOL

Owning a pool offers a refreshing escape and a relaxing retreat right in your backyard. However, keeping it clean and inviting requires regular maintenance, with vacuuming being one of the most time-consuming tasks. With a variety of options available, finding the right automatic pool cleaner can seem daunting.

To choose the right pool vacuum cleaner, consider your pool's size, shape, and the type of debris you typically encounter, then select between a robotic, suction-side, or pressure-side cleaner, focusing on features like suction power, filtration, and build quality. 

1. Types of Pool Cleaners:

Robotic Pool Cleaners:

These are self-contained units that use their own motors and filtration systems to clean the pool. 

• Pros: Automatic operation, good for all pool surfaces, and can be used in various pool shapes. 

• Cons: Can be expensive and require more maintenance than suction-side cleaners. 

Suction-Side Pool Cleaners:

These cleaners attach to the pool's skimmer or dedicated suction line and use the pool's pump and filter system to collect debris. 

• Pros: More affordable and energy-efficient than robotic cleaners. 

• Cons: Require more manual labor to operate and may not clean as thoroughly as robotic cleaners. 

2. Factors to Consider:

• Type of Debris:

  • If you deal with leaves, acorns, or larger debris, a pressure-side vacuum or a robotic model with strong suction is best. 

  • If you're mainly dealing with fine dirt or sand, a suction-side cleaner or a robotic vacuum with ultra-fine filtration is a better fit. 

  • For algae or built-up grime, look for a vacuum with scrubbing brushes. 

• Pool Size and Shape:

  • Larger pools may require a robotic cleaner with a longer cleaning cycle or a suction-side cleaner with a longer hose. 

  • Irregularly shaped pools may benefit from a robotic cleaner with a flexible cleaning path. 

• Budget:

  • Robotic cleaners are generally more expensive than suction-side cleaners. 

  • Consider your budget and the features you need before making a purchase. 

• Suction Power:

  • Pay attention to the suction power, which is usually measured in gallons per minute (GPM). 

  • For good suction, anything above 70 GPM is what you want. 

• Filtration:

  • Consider the micron value of the filter, which indicates the size of particles the filter can remove. 

  • For filtration, you want a low micron value. 

3. Popular Pool Vacuum Cleaner Brands:

• Hayward: Known for their reliable suction-side and robotic cleaners.

• Polaris: Specializes in pressure-side cleaners.

• Dolphin: Offers a range of robotic cleaners for various pool types.

• Zodiac: Known for their suction-side cleaners and robotic cleaners.

• Pentair: Offers a variety of suction-side and robotic cleaners.

• Aiper: Known for their robotic cleaners, especially for above-ground pools. 

How To Prepare Your Pool For A Hurricane

Before The Storm

• Take time to trim trees and bushes of dead limbs or branches that may become airborne and cause damage to your house, pool equipment or screen enclosure.
• Patio furniture, toys, canvas awnings, patio umbrellas, grills, telescopic poles, and even some pool equipment can become dangerous projectiles. These can cause severe damage to surrounding property in heavy winds. Remove all possible unsecured items and store them indoors until the threat passes. Do not throw these items into the pool, where chemicals could damage the item and removal is difficult.
• Remove solar blankets and store indoors during periods of heavy wind. Lock the safety straps on portable spa covers or remove and store indoors. Store any steps or benches inside as well.
• If you decide to remove any child safety fencing, do not allow children near the pool after the fence is removed.
• If there is a chance the pool motor or other permanently plumbed electrical equipment could be submerged, shut down power at the breaker panel. Sandbag the area around the equipment if possible. Wrap the exposed equipment in a waterproof covering and tie it securely.
• Do not drain the pool completely. An empty pool is subject to “floating” or “popping” out of the ground due to lift pressure from excessive ground water. If you decide to lower the water level to help prevent overflowing, do not drain past the bottom of the skimmer, as running the pump dry can cause serious damage.
• If you have a gas heater, turn off the gas supply at the valve
• Add extra chlorine and circulate the pool as much as possible before the storm, or add a 4lb. floating chlorinator. This will provide sanitization in case you lose power and cannot run your pump.
• Don’t hesitate to add an extra dose of algaecide to prevent a possible algae bloom.

After The Storm

• Immediately remove branches, mulch and other foreign matter from the pool before you run the pump to prevent clogging the suction lines. If you have to enter your pool to clear debris, make sure you wear shoes to avoid injury to your feet.
• If you lost power during the storm, remember to reset your circuit breakers and pump timer(s) when electricity is restored.
• Remove any covering from the motor or other equipment to allow for airflow. If the pump motor has been submerged, it should be removed for professional cleaning and drying.
• Return the pool water to its proper level. Empty the pump and skimmer baskets and open the appropriate valves to allow water to circulate properly when the pump is turned back on.
• Super-chlorinate the pool and circulate continuously until clarity returns. Clean or backwash filters often, and recharge with new D.E. if applicable. There will be a higher volume of debris and particulate in the water than normal and your filter will need more attention for a few days.
•  After any rain, circulate the pool for at least a couple of hours prior to collecting a sample. This will combine the chemically treated water with the rainwater to ensure an accurate sample.
• Repair or replace any screens, doors, fences or gates used to prevent children from entering your pool unattended.
• When your pool is clean and clear, resume normal operation.

So why exactly is your pool green?

When the chlorine in a pool drops below 1 ppm, algae often grows. When algae grows in a pool, it will obviously begin to change color. In order to get rid of the algae, you may need to “shock” your pool. In other words, you will need to super-chlorinate the pool because chlorine kills algae. For regular pool upkeep, one lb of hypochlorite granular chlorine (calcium hypo-chloride) for every 10,000 gallons of water is necessary for shocking. During an algae infestation, it is going to take a lot more.

There are three causes of green pool water:

1. The first is a lack of chlorine. Without chlorine the pool water will quickly start to grow algae and turn green. Water without chlorine, especially if it has an algae bloom, is unsafe to swim in, and can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. 
    
2. The second thing that causes pool water to look green (or yellow) is pollen. Pollen gets carried into the pool water by the wind and is too small for the sand filter to remove. As the pollen builds up in the water and settles on the liner, it gives the water a green or yellow look. Despite its unattractive look, pollen is completely harmless and has no ill effects on the yourself or the pool.
    
3. The last cause of green water in pool water is metals, usually copper, that have oxidized. Metals can be introduced through source water, from some cheap algaecides, or, if the water is acidic, from the metal components of the pool, most commonly from copper heater elements. Shocking the pool will oxidize these metals, and, if there are enough metals present in the water, turn the water green. If left untreated, high amounts of metals will stain the finish of the pool. Anyone with blonde hair that swims in a pool with excessive metals will also have their hair turn green.

Call us and we will turn it back to sparkling blue!

Keep Furry Friends Safe by the Pool

The pool is an excellent place to spend your summers. There's the sun, the toys and the refreshing drinks with the tiny little umbrellas. Oh, and lest we forget — the water! However, pools can also be dangerous for our dogs. Not all dogs are good swimmers and some breeds like the bulldog may even drown if left unsupervised around a pool. Here are five great tips to help prevent such a tragedy from happening to your dog.

Always Supervise Your Dog
Accidents happen, and even if your dog can swim, it’s never a good idea to leave him around the pool unsupervised. Make sure that the area is fenced in with a fence that your dog can’t jump over, squeeze under, or push through. Bring your dog with you when you’re done swimming for the day, and close and lock the gate.

Introduce Your Dog to Water Slowly
Before you let your dog dive into the pool, make sure that he’s a strong enough swimmer to navigate the water. Take the time to slowly introduce your dog to the water, and make sure that you’re right by his side in case he needs help.

Get Your Dog a Life Vest
If your dog will be spending a lot of time swimming, then it’s a good idea to get him a canine life vest. This is particularly important if your dog isn’t a strong swimmer.

Provide Fresh Water
When you’re hanging out poolside with your dog, be sure to provide him with clean, fresh water to drink. Your dog may try to drink the pool water, which is unhealthy for him and should be discouraged. Be sure to present your dog with his water bowl and encourage him to drink from that bowl only.

Wash Your Dog Off
After your dog is done swimming, take some time to wash him off. The chlorine from the water can irritate his skin if not removed. If you’ll be washing your dog regularly during the summer, then make sure to use a gentle shampoo, such as an oatmeal-based shampoo, to keep your dog’s skin from drying out.

Have a great – and safe – time with your dog this summer!

The History of Swimming Pools

Swimming pools - at least man-made watering holes for bathing and swimming - go back at least as far as 2600 B.C.E. The first elaborate construction are probably The Great Baths of Mohenjodaro, an ancient and elaborate bathing site in Pakistan made from bricks and covered in plaster, with terraced decks that wouldn’t look out of place in a modern pool landscape. Mohenjodaro probably wasn’t used for general lap swimming, however.

More man-made pools surfaced throughout the ancient world. In Rome and Greece, swimming was part of the education of elementary age boys and the Romans built the first swimming pools (separate from bathing pools). The first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the first century BC. Gaius Maecenas was a rich Roman lord and considered one of the first patrons of arts - he supported the famous poets Horace, Virgil, and Propertius, making it possible for them to live and write without fear of poverty.

However, swimming pools did not become popular until the middle of the 19th century. By 1837, six indoor pools with diving boards were built in London, England. After the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 and swimming races were among the original events, the popularity of swimming pools began to spread

According to the book Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming in America, the Cabot Street Bath in Boston was the first swimming pool in the U.S.  It opened in 1868 and served a neighborhood where most of the homes did not have baths.

In the 20th century, a number of leaps in science and technology took swimming pools to a new level. Among the developments, chlorination and filtration systems that delivered clean water into the pool. Prior to these developments, the only way to clean a pool was to remove and replace all the water.

In the U.S. the pool business expanded with the invention of gunite, a material that allowed faster installation, more flexible designs, and lower costs than previous methods. The post-war rise of the middle-case, coupled with the relative affordability of pools accelerated pool proliferation even further.

And there were even less expensive options than gunite. In 1947, above ground pool kits hit the market, creating an entirely new pool experience. It wasn’t long before single unit pools would be sold and installed in a single day.  

Now you know ;)