Question:
My pool water is cloudy and I can't clear it up. What could be causing
this?
Answer:
Several things could be the cause.
First, check to make sure that the pH is within proper range. If the
pH is within range, it could be that you have a dirty filter and it
needs to be cleaned. If you have a sand filter, this doesn't necessarily
mean to replace the sand, but to use a filter cleaner, such as
GLB FILTER CLEANSE, that will remove both organic materials and
minerals.
Check to make sure the sanitizer in the pool is in proper range. If it
is not, raise the level.
Another cause could be the amount of calcium in the water. If too much
calcium is present, it can become cloudy. Adding a sequestering agent,
such as
GLB
SEQUA-SOL, on a weekly basis, can prevent this.
Lastly, particles too small to be easily filtered out could be causing
the cloudiness. A clarifier, such as Robarb
ROBARB SUPER BLUE, can be used in order to make these particles
filterable.
Question:
Should I use a water clarifier in my pool?
Answer:
Yes. A clarifier is designed as an aid to the efficient operation of the
filter by coagulating most materials, which cause cloudy and hazy water,
into larger particles that are removed by the filter. Because the
presence of these materials increases the disinfectant demand, the use
of a water clarifier decreases pool maintenance costs.
Question:
Why is filtration important to the quality of swimming pool water?
Answer:
Filtration is the mechanical system for removing visible matter from the
water. The filter medium is designed to remove hair, dirt, minute skin
flakes, metal or calcium precipitates and other visible debris that
would otherwise cause the water to be hazy and cloudy.
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Question:
How do I know when it's time to clean my pool filter?
Answer:
Normal, periodic rinsing or backwashing will remove most of the dirt
from a basically clean filter. However, over a period of time, grease,
oils and scale can attack and build up on the elements. When this
occurs, you will see build up on the removable elements, short filter
runs, reduced circulation and water that does not want to clear up.
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Question:
What does "Vacuum to Waste" mean?
Answer:
When you "Vacuum to Waste" you are pumping the debris you vacuum out of
the pool and sending the water to the waste line, and not through the
pool filter. This method removes a large amount of water from the pool
in a short time so be sure the pool is full before you begin. This
method is used for large amounts of debris and dirt. This method will
only work for circulation systems that use a 6-position filter valve. If
you have an older "Push-Pull" style filter valve you must vacuum through
the pool filter. Be sure to monitor the location where the waste line is
connected to the sewer system in your home, just in case the sewer line
cannot handle the large amount of water and overflows.
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Question:
I added algaecide to my pool, but the algae didn't go away. What did I
do wrong?
Answer:
First, you must add the algaecide according to the directions. If you
don't add the correct dosage amount, it won't kill any of the algae.
However, be aware that using the entire bottle of algaecide is also
ineffective. Not only will you spend additional money, large doses can
also lead to staining and foaming in your pool.
In addition to properly dosing your water, it is also recommended that
the algaecide be added in the morning on a bright sunny day for best
results. Algae are plants and grow in the presence of sunlight. Adding
algaecide during algae's best growth time will increase intake of the
algaecide and make it more effective. If black algae is present,
brushing the algae at least once daily will also help expedite algae
removal. Brushing the dead cells away makes the living algae more
vulnerable to the algaecide.
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Question:
Why do I need to shock my pool?
Answer:
Pool water composition always includes some undesirable elements that
actually contaminate the water and reduce the efficiency of the
disinfectant or sanitizer. Material such as hair spray, suntan oil,
cosmetics, perspiration and other organic material react to combine with
the chlorine in the water to form "combined chlorine".
Once "combined chlorine" forms, it acts as a very poor disinfectant,
contributing to eye and skin irritations and the forming of unpleasant
chlorine odor. Pools with this problem are often inaccurately accused of
having too much chlorine.
Routine shock treatment is necessary to destroy combined chlorine
compounds and restore the chlorine sanitizer to "free chlorine"
efficiency. A pool can be shock treated by adding large doses of
chlorine, commonly referred to as superchlorination, or by adding a
non-chlorine shock such as GLB
OXY-BRITE.
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Question:
My pool has a very strong chlorine odor. Is there too much chlorine in
my pool?
Answer:
No, you don't have enough "free chlorine" in your pool. Most pools
contain both good chlorine and bad chlorine. The good chlorine is called
free chlorine and is capable of killing germs. Bad chlorine, on the
other hand, is called "combined chlorine" and is a poor germ killer.
Too much combined chlorine in your pool causes the strong chlorine odor.
When the combined chlorine level reaches 0.2 ppm or more, it is time to
shock your water. Shocking will eliminate the odor.
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Question:
When I shock my pool, should I use chlorine or non-chlorine shock?
Answer:
Both treatments accomplish the goal of destroying and removing bather
waste and preventing the formation of combined chlorine.
Superchlorination, the addition of large amounts of chlorine, has some
drawbacks. Because it requires large amounts of chlorine, it can damage
liners and swimsuits and upset water balance. Additionally, it is
difficult to determine proper dosage amounts and it requires swimmers to
wait until the level of chlorine drops, often a day or more, until they
can swim.
Non-chlorine shock, on the other hand, does not require excessive
chlorine use and allows swimming almost immediately after application,
does not harm liners, has easily determined dosage rates and does not
upset water balance.
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Question:
Do I need to add a sanitizer regularly?
Answer:
Yes, an E.P.A. registered sanitizer should be added and maintained at
proper levels at all times. Non-chlorine shock treatments contain no
chlorine, therefore you must make regular additions of sanitizer to
ensure that you are disinfecting the water.
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Question:
I have an outdoor pool and I am told that the chlorine needs to be
stabilized. Why?
Answer:
The chlorine in a pool can be broken down by ultra violet light from the
sun. If stabilizer, also called conditioner, is not present, the
chlorine level will dissipate very rapidly over the course of the day.
It is recommended that you add stabilizer to the pool to prevent this
chlorine break down. The stabilizer level should be between 30-50 ppm to
properly stabilize the pool. The use of a stabilizer will reduce your
overall chlorine consumption and save you money. However, many of the
products available at your retailer are stabilized chlorine.
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Question:
What causes the "ring" around my pool's tile line?
Answer:
The accumulation of oils and dirt from bathers is the biggest cause.
Using a tile cleaner specifically designed for pools can clean it off.
Household cleaners do not contain the needed balance of both oil/grease
cutters and scale dissolving ingredients. In fact, these cleaners can
actually dull a tile line due to abrasives or cause unsightly foaming.
Even worse, they may react with the sanitizer, such as chlorine, in your
pool. One such cleaner is
TLC CLEANER
Another helpful hint would be to regularly use an enzyme based product
in your pool. These biodegradable products will control grease and oil
before it builds up.
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Question:
Following chemical treatment, how long do I have to wait before I use my
pool?
Answer:
With the exception of superchlorinating (which requires waiting until
the chlorine level drops to recommended levels), you can generally use
your pool when the chemical is dispersed throughout the pool. Fifteen
minutes to one hour is a good rule of thumb.
Question:
I have heard of people talking about pink algae. What is that and how do
I treat it?
Answer:
Pink algae is not an algae at all, but a bacteria. Normal algaecides
will not reliably work on them. We have products that are designed to
assist chlorine with removal of this bacteria. To eliminate pink algae,
you must superchlorinate your pool, turn off the filter, and clean it
with a good filter cleaner. Let the filter soak overnight then backwash
to waste. Let the chlorine level subside before using again. (Hint: a
good rule of thumb is to toss into the pool the equipment that is
normally used for pool maintenance, including hoses, brushes, etc. prior
to superchlorinating. These need to be disinfected too).
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Question:
What are enzyme based cleaners and how do they work?
Answer:
Basically, enzymes are substances that speed up chemical reactions. In
the case of enzyme based cleaners, they are designed to speed up the
process of breaking down oils, proteins, etc. that may be in your pool.
Enzymes will break up very large particles into smaller ones that can be
handled more easily by your sanitizer. Regular use of an enzyme will
help reduce scum line buildup and free up your sanitizer for the work it
was intended to do-sanitizing.
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