Frequently Asked Pool Service & Cleaning Questions

We are staffed and ready to work with three levels of service. They include our Water Management Service, Partial Cleaning and Deluxe Full Service programs. A service record will be kept inside your time clock which documents the date and time of our service technicians’ most recent visit. Swimming should be delayed for a period of two hours minimum after chemicals have been added to your pool. This is a standard recommendation for most forms of pool chemicals.

Your pool cover should be pulled off on service day. Our service techs are instructed to leave the pool uncovered upon completion of service. The cover should remain pulled back for at least two hours after service. We recommend that your pool be uncovered at least 50% of the time. A pool that is covered all of the time lacks adequate oxygen which can cause chemicals to react abnormally and result in the pool’s water chemistry being out of balance and/or eye irritation. Frequent removal also helps to prolong the life of your cover.

These readings, when achieved in conjunction with the use of our chemicals, are both safe and ideal for your pool and equipment. You may feel confident knowing that our 26 plus years of experience have proven these readings to be the best and safest for you and your pool.

Please provide easy, unobstructed access for our service tech. If you keep your gate locked, please provide the service tech with a key. Unfriendly dogs should be secured when the pool is being serviced. If a key is not provided and the gate is inadvertently locked on service day, or an unfriendly dog is loose in your backyard, it will be necessary for us to charge for a return service trip. Because our low service charge is based on promptness and efficiency, we do not ring doorbells to gain access. Also, it is very important for safety reasons that no one but the service tech be in the yard while the pool is being serviced.

We take every precaution to keep your dog in your backyard. However, if your dog attempts to get out when you open your gate, he probably will do the same with us. We therefore cannot assume responsibility for your dog getting out. Our service tech will not enter your yard if you have an unfriendly dog that is not contained, and it will be necessary for us to skip service or charge for a rescheduled run.

If the plumbing of your pool is connected to your spa, the chemicals will automatically circulate into the spa. Cleaning it is included in our Deluxe Full Service program. You may take a few buckets of chlorinated water from your pool and pour them into the spa as a supplement to your normal spa maintenance procedures in those cases where the spa is not plumbed to the pool.

If your pool has algae, it will be cleared up at no extra charge as part of our Partial and Full Service plans. Because some types of algae are more resistant than others, please allow a reasonable period to completely eradicate it. Black algae must be brushed often with a stainless steel wire brush. It will turn gray as it starts to die and will eventually disappear. Keeping the pool clean and properly filtered will aid in the treatment of algae. PLEASE DO NOT ADD ANY CHEMICALS OR ALGAECIDE TO YOUR POOL as this can cause inaccurate test results and lead to other problems. We do not store any chemicals at the pool site. Our service tech will complete all necessary testing and add any required chemicals during each weekly service visit. Your pool equipment must be maintained regularly to ensure proper working order. A poorly running system will result in algae blooms.

Adequate filtration is as important as good water chemistry. With the dramatic increase in energy costs, some people try to economize by reducing the filtration time of their pool. This often counteracts our efforts to keep your pool clean. We will provide the proper water treatment but you must see to it that your pool is properly filtered. It should be noted that our Basic service does not include cleaning or otherwise maintaining the pool filter. Our office does provide these services for a modest charge, upon request. It is important that each and every drop of your pool’s water is pumped through the filter three times each day to assure that it has been properly and adequately filtered. To accomplish complete filtration of the water we recommend the following:

  • Sand Filter 10 – 12 Hours
  • Cartridge 9 – 10 Hours
  • D.E. 8 – 10 Hours

Increase the time by 50% if you have a solar heating system. Allow longer filtration periods if the pool activity is heavy. Our personnel will advise you, by means of a door hanger on your front door, if your pool requires more filtration. It is in your pool’s best interest to follow the recommended filtration time. Filters should be cleaned when the pressure indicated by the pressure gauge on the top of the filter rises 7-10 lbs above the clean pressure or once a month, whichever comes first.

The most common cause of cloudy water is inadequate filtration. Increase the filtration time and the problem should resolve itself (see Filter and Filtration). If it does not, you may have a malfunction in your filtration system. We offer filter repair services. Please contact our service department for an appointment and prices.

You may have heard that chlorine causes eye irritation. This is simply not true. The fact of the matter is the eye irritation is caused by:

  • In adequate filtration (most frequent cause)
  • Ammonia introduced into the pool water by means of urine. (One small child urinating in your pool can cause very heavy eye irritation for up to 24hrs.)
  • Organic material introduced into your pool by adding fresh water before swimming. (Always add water AFTER you swim – Never BEFORE)
  • Leaving a pool blanket on your pool during the day. Water needs to be exposed to air. Please remove the blanket during daytime hours.
  • Perspiration in pool – always shower before swimming.
  • Lotions such as sunblock or hair care products.

On our first visit, the service tech will perform numerous tests on your water, including a test of Isocyanuric Acid, commonly called Conditioner or stabilizer. Conditioner screens out ultraviolet rays and prevents the sun from taking chlorine from your pool water. Without it, sunlight will take the chlorine almost as fast as we can put it in. Once added, it stays permanently as part of your pool water and does not evaporate or dissipate. It only disappears when water is lost through emptying your pool, plumbing or pool leakage, excessive splash out, heavy rain, water overflow, etc. We will add only the ideal range of 60-100ppm. Additional requirements to obtain or maintain the recommended levels, will be billed each summer to you. An average size, leak-free pool operating in good condition would take approximately 15+ pounds a year.

There are many sources that contribute to the accumulation of metals or minerals in swimming pool water. These often cause “staining” of the pool surface. It is not possible to guarantee that staining will not occur in a pool or that the simple addition of chlorine will not cause the settling of metals from the water once it becomes saturated with metals. Scale, stains, discoloration and cloudiness in a pool are caused by the settling out of (precipitation) metals in the water. If the precipitation metals form a hard deposit on the pool walls, it is referred to as scale. If the precipitated metals have a color and are deposited on the pool walls, they are called stains. Super chlorination is essential for proper swimming pool maintenance. When a super chlorination is done with any form of chlorine, i.e. gas chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, sodium dischloroisocyanurate, or trichloroisocyanuric acid, there may be an immediate settling out or precipitation of metals from the water and subsequent staining of the pool. Chlorine or acid in and of themselves cannot cause stains. Chlorine bleaches and acid are used to remove stains from pool finishes. Therefore, even though staining may seem to be caused by the chemicals themselves, this is not possible. In other words, iron stains can only be caused if iron exists in the water. Copper stains, only when copper is in the water, and so on. Lack of filtration may cause stains to appear sooner. The pool water needs to be circulated the recommended time for the type of filter. Otherwise, the precipitation of the metals on the plaster is accelerated. If you do find staining to be a problem with your pool, contact our service department for information regarding our special stain treatment.

The swimming pool industry is fully aware that all colored plaster pools become mottled and blotched sooner or later. Quite often a light colored ring will appear around the main drain or the plaster will appear uneven in color. This condition is typical of all colored plasters and is simply the nature of colored plaster pools. There is nothing that can be done from a service point of view to prevent or cure the blotching, streaking, or mottling that will occur. Blotching may be gradual or appear seemingly overnight even after the pool is several years old. All pool builders or plaster companies require their customers to acknowledge that blotching is a normal occurrence in colored plaster pools.

We have fully trained and qualified repair techs for all your pool needs.

All swimming pools require weekly cleaning maintenance twelve months a year. Summers require more vigorous cleaning than winter. Auto vacuums significantly reduce manual cleaning chores. Screen enclosures reduce this work even more. Chemicals are enablers which assure healthy and aesthetically correct outcomes when treatment protocols, proper filtration cycles, cleaning maintenance, and equipment maintenance are performed in harmony with each other on a timely and consistent basis.

It is the responsibility of our gated community customers to ensure our company is registered for access with your gate guards.

Contracts are not required but on request of the customer we can provide one.

Yes, you may choose from salt chlorination, liquid chlorine, or trichloro-s-triazinetrione. We recommend chlorine be handled by trained professionals. All forms are effective.

The most common include liquid chlorine, dichlor, trichlor, lithium, and cal-hypo. The formal names include:

  • Gas (Chlorine)
  • Bleach or Liquid (Sodium Hypochlorite)
  • Trichlor Tablets (Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione)
  • Granular (Calcium Hypochlorite) or Cal-Hypo

With the exception of gas, all are chlorine compounds containing additives that will cloud the water over time and may adversely impact pool surface, equipment and swimmers.

Due to the extreme cost of Biguanides and Bromine, and the unreliability of UV systems (which only minimize chlorine use), we sanitize with chlorine only.

Finally, regardless of what you may hear, salt systems create chlorine!

Swimming Pool Service & Cleaning Tips

List of Equipment for Every Pool

  • Telescopic Pool Pole up to 16ft
  • Full size nylon brush
  • Leaf Rake (Pool Net)
  • Vacuum Head – match to your pool surface type, vinyl or marcite, vinyl has brushes on the bottom and marcite have wheels
  • Vacuum hose, 40 ft is adequate for most pools
  • 6 inch metal brush-marcite pools only!
  • Optional: Automated Pool Vacuum – you will still need the manual vacuum equipment listed above

Skimming Debris

Skimming or surface netting is one of the quickest and most effective ways to keep a pool clean. A few simple swipes will remove floating objects such as leaves before they sink to the bottom, greatly increasing the efficiency of the pool’s circulation system.

Cleaning Out the Baskets

Keeping the strainer baskets (pump basket and skimmer basket) clear will also boost the efficiency of the circulation system, resulting in a much cleaner pool.

Remove leaves and anything else that could obstruct the water flow at least once a week, especially if your vacuum is connected to the mechanical skimmer. Strainer baskets may be in the pool deck or, for an above-ground pool, attached to the side.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming every week helps keep the water clear and reduces the amount of sanitizing chemicals. Vacuums come in many designs and styles. All manual vacuums should be worked back and forth across the swimming pool, overlapping slightly on each stroke. See below for detailed instructions.

Filter Cleaning / Backwashing

On the filter you will find a pressure gauge. Clean or backwash the filter thoroughly (don’t forget to use the rinse setting for 10 seconds after backwashing DE and sand filters). Turn the pump on and after the system fully primes itself take a pressure reading from the gauge. This is your normal operating pressure. When the pressure gauge rises 8 – 10 pounds of pressure is when the filter requires cleaning. I.E. if your clean pressure is 10 psi then the filter will need to be cleaned when the pressure rises to 18 – 20 psi. Again, due to chemical dilution please try to restrict backwashing to the day prior to your service day.

Cleaning the Walls

Brushing the pool walls at least twice a week helps eliminate everything from calcium scale to algae buildup before they start to become serious problems.

In-ground or Above ground Pools 

If your pool is equipped, be sure that the valve on the suction line coming into the pump is selected for the port (either skimmer or lower suction fitting) you will be using to vacuum.

Attach the vacuum hose to the vacuum head (the piece with the brushes or wheels on it). The better quality vacuum hoses come with a swivel end to prevent tangling of the hose. Be sure that this is the end that is attached to the vacuum head; if not the system will draw air & not work properly.

Make sure the hose is secure and the vacuum head is firmly attached to the pole.

Place the vacuum head, hose & pole into the deep end of the pool (make sure one end of the pole is sticking out of the water!)

Take the UN-attached end of the vacuum hose & hold it in front of one of the water return fittings. This will fill the hose with water & prevent binding of the pump with air. You know you’ve got enough water in the hose when the vacuum head bubbles up to the top.

Put your hand over the end of the hose to keep the water IN.

Place the hose into your skimmer adapter or directly into your skimmer pipe.After you have placed the hose on the adapter fitting or in the skimmer pipe, you will probably notice a sudden drop in filter activity.

This is normal. The filter system is just readjusting itself to the change in suction. Let it operate for about 30 to 90 seconds. It should automatically bleed any air out of its system and return to normal operation. You’ll hear the sound becoming “normal” again.

Vacuum away!

***NOTE*** An automatic pool vacuum will reduce the frequency of the needed vacuuming as stated above, but it is NOT intended as a complete substitute for manual vacuuming.

Troubleshooting

No suction. The hose has come off of the basket, the filter has lost its prime (not sucking water) or the hose has a leak (make sure you’ve got the proper end of the hose on the vacuum head). If you have more than one suction line, be sure you’re drawing from the proper one.

Dirty water is returning to the pool. If you have a sand filter, DO NOT BACKWASH THE FILTER BEFORE VACUUMING. Backwashing stirs up the sand & prevents good trapping of dirt for several HOURS. In cartridge or DE filters, this rarely happens. If sand or DE is blowing into the pool, you need a service call to determine if you have any broken parts.

I vacuum for a few minutes & then it doesn’t work anymore. How dirty is the pool? If it’s REALLY dirty, you may be better off vacuuming to direct waste (sand filter) or otherwise vacuuming directly out of the pool by-passing the filter.

Green Pool Clean Up

If your pool has turned green, following this procedure will expedite the recovery.

  • Brush the pool vigorously, walls and floor, right before, or right after your service visit (Water Management Service customers)
  • Our technician will apply all the necessary chemicals.
  • Run the filtration system for 24 to 48 hours to clear the water.
  • Vacuum the pool following the steps above.
  • Clean the filter and return to normal filtration times.

Recommended Minimums:

  • Filter
  • Sand Filter
  • Cartridge Filter
  • D.E.
  • Run TIme
  • 11-12 hours daily, all at one run
  • 10-12 hours daily, all at one run
  • 9-11 hours daily, all at one run
  • Vacuum the pool weekly
  • Empty the skimmers and pump pot daily
  • Sweep/brush the pool at least 2 times a week.
  • If the pool will be unattended due to vacation, illness, etc. please contact our office to arrange for temporary Full Service coverage while you’re away.

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