Buying or Selling a Home with
a Pool
Pool inspections can be done to give a buyer an objective
assessment of the condition of a swimming pool. Of course if
the pool is closed (during the winter months especially), only
a visual inspection can be made. The swimming pool equipment
cannot be effectively assessed until the pool is running. An
experienced pool professional should be able to give you their
best estimation of the condition of the pool, surface, patio,
and equipment based on their visual inspection. Of course once
the pool is opened, up and running, the rest of the systems
can be checked. To schedule your pool inspection within the
Pool Guy’s service area, please call 248-478-4978.
Lifespan of Sand in a Sand
Filter
Q: Just watched your awesome VIDEO on YOUTUBE, “When to change
sand in a sand filter …” …
very helpful and insightful,
especially the explanation about “the filter working better
over time …”. My sand filter was installed in 2008, ran for
approx a month before pool closing. We reopened the pool in
2009 for several months and have not opened again since.So the
filter (while winterized) … has been sitting for 3+yrs now. We
are basically at the 5 year mark as far as your recommendation
for changing sand …. however the filter really has only been
run for 1 season and sat idle for 3 seasons thereafter.
Thoughts?? You advice is appreciated., Sincerely, Robin A, a
fan from Richfield, Ohio
A:
HI Robin,
Thanks for the question. I would be fine to extend the life of
the sand in your filter since it really only ages while the
filter is running and adding new trapped debris to the top
layer of sand. Just keep an eye on the water, and after
another year or two if you notice the water doesn’t clear up
and stay as clear as it used to that it would be time to
change the sand.
Thanks for watching the video – and the nice note. Al
Watch the Video about the lifespan of the sand in a filter
here:
Causes and Cures for Cloudy
Water
We get calls, emails, and comments about cloudy water all the
time. It’s one of the most common problems in a swimming pool,
and the reasons for cloudy water are almost endless. Here,
we’ll walk you through the most common causes of cloudy water
and what you can do to cure it.
The first step is to decide what type of cloudy water you
have–what color is it? We’ll break it up into three color
categories to help you begin to narrow down the cause: milky
water, green water, and rusty water. Identify what color your
water is and let’s get started! Keep your test strips handy;
they’ll help a lot as you work through determining the cause
of your cloudy water.
Milky Water
If your swimming pool water is milky like this one, there are
four likely causes.
The first possible cause is small, suspended particles
in the water. This is typically caused by high pH or
high alkalinity–dissolved minerals can “precipitate,” or
come out of solution in the water and transform into
small, solid particles. To remedy this, you’ll need to
lower your pH or alkalinity. There are a number of
products you can use to lower alkalinity and pH. We
recommend Pool Solutions. Follow package instructions to
lower the pH or alkalinity to the proper level (here’s
where it’s important to know your current reading, so
you can use the proper amount of product!) Important
note: never put the whole amount in at one time; we
recommend the rule of halves. For example, if you have
determined that you need 10# of pH-, put 5# in to start.
Let the pool run for a day, and then test the water
again. If the pH is still high, add half of the
remaining dose (2.5#). Wait another day and check the
water clarity and chemical levels. Water is incredibly
responsive, and it always seeks to balance itself. The
prescribed dose of chemicals is often too much, leaving
you with an over-correction and the
opposite problem than you started with.
The second possible cause is a buildup of dirt and
pollution as a result of poor filtration or not enough
chlorine. To remedy this, backwash your filter and shock
your pool. You can add a clarifier when you’re finished
to add a little extra polish to your water.
This third possible cause is over-stabilized water.
Stabilizer is an important part of the chemical makeup
of your pool; it keeps the chlorine from being zapped by
the sun and helps keep your pH level stable. However,
too much stabilizer in your water can reduce the
effectiveness of your chlorine, increasing the time it
takes to kill the organisms that cause haziness and
cloudiness. To remedy this, you’ll need to remove some
of the water from your pool and replace it with fresh
water. You can remove water from your pool by performing
an extra-long backwash through your filter. Be sure you
don’t completely empty your pool–you should only need to
remove a couple of inches to fix your problem.
The fourth possible cause is a blocked or ineffective
filter. Whether you have a sand, cartridge, or DE
filter, you’ll need to service it every so often. Sand
and cartridges need to be replaced eventually, and a DE
filter will need to be cleaned. This is on top of your
normal backwashing routine. If this is a recurring
problem for you, and you’re having to service your
filter more often than you used to, it might be time to
replace the filter. Call your local pool company if
you’re not sure.
Green Water
If your pool is green, the most probable cause is algae. Algae
forms when there is not enough chlorine in the pool, as
chlorine keeps algae from growing. Your chlorine has probably
either fallen below the necessary level, or has become
ineffective. The quickest way to fix this is to shock your
pool–the high dose of chlorine will kill the algae quickly.
You can also use an algaecide. After adding the correct dose
of chemicals, be sure to brush the surfaces of your pool,
paying extra attention to easily-missed spots like behind
ladders and around the light. 24 hours later, backwash your
filter to fully remove the algae.
Rusty Water
The most probable cause for rust-colored water is iron or
other metals. Important note: sometimes iron can turn water a
greenish color, too. You’ll want to take action on this
quickly, as iron can stain your pool surfaces. Our absolute
favorite product for removing iron from swimming pool water
is Ferri-Tabs. They’re the most effective product we’ve ever
seen at removing iron–it’s truly incredible. If the iron in
your water has settled onto the surface of your pool, you’ll
need to use a stain remover to get it back into the water.
Once the iron is in solution, drop the recommended number of
Ferri-Tabs into your skimmer (1 tab per 3,000 gallons). Let
your pool run for 24-48 hours, and then backwash your filter.
Your pool should be sparkling clean and ready to swim!
Video: How to Properly Test
Pool Water
Maintaining proper water chemistry in your swimming pool is
essential. Improper chemistry can negatively affect pools and
swimmers, and unchecked water over time can lead to serious
damage to your pool and equipment. But checking your water
chemistry is easy to do! Make sure you have test strips with
several different measurements–you’ll need to keep an eye on
more than just the pH. We recommend AquaCheck 7-Way Test
Strips–they give quick, easy-to-read, and accurate readings
for Total Bromine, Total Chlorine, Free Chlorine, Total
Alkalinity, pH, Total Hardness and Cyanuric Acid.
Check out this episode of Ask the Pool Guy TV about testing
your water chemistry.