Poolcare 101 Morning Show - May 19, 2003
The only pool care TV show, featuring pool expert Judd Smith.

Hello again TV3 viewers,

Did we have a beautiful spring or what? The crisp morning low temperatures followed by daytime highs found only in your favorite vacation hot-spot. If I didn’t know better, I’d of thought I was in the Caribbean. So here we are, slipping ever so rapidly into another blazing summer. Are you ready?...or a more important question…is your swimming pool ready? If not, we hope you take a little extra time to do a few minor things that could save you aggravation, time and money. A little preventive maintenance can assure the pool and equipment operates at maximum efficiency. Remember, we want the pool to be ready to handle the worst-case scenario. Here are a few tips that can help you. Remember; if you feel you are not qualified to do these maintenance items, always hire a professional to make sure the job gets done right. Safety is our primary concern. The pool pumping equipment can be under extreme pressures. Be safe.

Lubrication - Lubricating the backwash valve is necessary about every 3 months to prevent it from sticking. We want it be able to slide up and down during backwashing, without binding. To do this, turn off your pump and remove the backwash valve. Using a lubricant like Magic Lube (available at the local pool store), apply some lube on the rubber o-rings, then re-assemble the valve into the backwash valve body. Turn on the pump and bleed off the air at the top of the filter. That's it. You are done!

The pump lid o-ring must also be lubricated. This can be done by removing the lid and applying Magic Lube to the rubber o-ring, then re-installing the lid. This will ensure a good seal, so the pump will not suck air (it also makes the lid easy to remove).

DE-Type Filter Cleaning - Your DE filter is, in our opinion, the best filter available for a swimming pool. To keep it operating at its best, backwash at least once per month and re-coat the filter with DE after every backwash. Once every 2 years, or as needed, have the filter disassembled to clean and inspect the filter. Check the grids inside to see if they are torn or worn out. When in doubt, replace them. The better shape they are in, the better the filter will perform. Make sure you follow manufacturer recommended assembly instructions when re-assembling the filter.

That Yellow Stuff on the Walls - What you are probably seeing is yellow algae. It loves to grow when the chlorine is low and the water starts to warm up in the summer. It also prefers to grow in shady spots on the pool walls. One characteristic of yellow algae is it seems to re-appear on the walls right after you brushed them. So how do we get rid of it? Nuke the pool!!! Chlorine shock is a good way to eliminate this problem. Regular shocking will help keep it away for good. Add the proper amount to your pool per the shock packaging instructions. Stay out of the water until the chlorine level drops to a safe swimming level. We recommend shocking your pool at least once per month (or after a party or storm) to kill of the buildup of chloramines. Chloramines are a by-product of chlorine that causes irritation of mucous membranes and sensitive skin. When shocking the pool, you can use either liquid or granular types. A general rule of thumb is one bag of granular (calcium hypochlorite) is equal to one gallon of liquid. For each 10,000 gallons, you will need to add one bag (or one gallon) to achieve the proper shock. Never shock a pool that has a fresh dose of algaecide in it, or the pool walls may become stained. To keep your pool looking great everyday, we recommend using 3-inch stabilized chlorine tablets in a floating chlorinator. (Don’t let anyone play with the chlorine float). For most residential pools, 2 to 3 tablets will do the trick. We always recommend you check the water however, since no 2 pools have the same needs. This is due to bather loads, the environment, trees, etc.

Caution Notes - We recommend having a qualified service technician perform maintenance on your filters. Assembly is critical for safe operation. When the pump is operating, the filter is under extreme pressure. If not assembled properly, the filter could rupture and cause serious injury or even death. Don't take chances. Hire a qualified technician to do the job. Also observe all warnings on filtering media (i.e. DE powder or silica sand). They can be hazardous to your health.

Well friends, that’s it for today’s session of Poolcare 101. Look for upcoming classes on Good Morning Arizona’s Tool Time segments, airing June 5, July 3 and August 7.

Remember…BE WATER-WISE…..ALWAYS SUPERVISE
(480) 699-8926. • www.poolcare101.com • info@poolcare101.com

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