Pool Care 101 Class April 12, 2023 7pm!

Our annual free Pool Care Class is scheduled for April 12, 7 pm at our store. 

Please email or call 513-574-0061 to reserve your spot. 

Pool Care Class covers the five keys to pool care along with best practices for opening and maintaining your pool. Please let us know what questions you have. We are you pool care experts and are here to help. 

If you cannnot make it to Pool Care Class, we have the video version for you on the right. 

Chlorine Conservation Tips

Chlorine tablets are in short supply, and this situation will continue into 2022. But there is no need to panic as we have compiled a list of best practices to maintain your pool during this shortage.

SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE CHLORINE CONSUMPTION

CHEMICAL BALANCE AND TESTING

1. Pools only need between 1 and 3 ppm of free chlorine to maintain clear blue, safe water. Adding more doesn’t do anything more than waste it!
2. Maintain a CYA (cyanuric acid) level at a minimum of 30ppm but not above 50ppm.
3.  Maintain your pH between 7.4 and 7.6. The pH controls the effectiveness of free chlorine – too low and you will burn off chlorine more rapidly – too high and your chlorine becomes inefficient.
4. Test your free chlorine and pH at home a MINIMUM of twice per week and bring a sample into us every 3 weeks or once per month.

CHEMICAL AMENDMENTS

1. Use an algaecide on a WEEKLY basis. Pools using algaecides weekly exhibit better water quality and less chlorine consumption.
2. Use enzymes! They are designed to break down body oils, sunscreen, and other non-organic contaminants that consume chlorine.
3. Borate based water enhancers (like Optimizer) can cut chlorine consumption by up to 50%! They also make it easier to maintain proper balance and increase bather comfort.
4. Use a phosphate remover (like Pool Juice Phosphate Remover Weekly). They will remove the elements that help algae grow.
5. Use a liquid solar blanket (like Cover Free) which allows the chlorine to work properly.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

1. Keep the pool running! At least 12 hours but ideally 24 hours per day. This will increase the number of times the water goes through the filtration system and will filter out more unwanted contaminates.
2. Keep your filter elements (cartridge, DE grid, sand filter) clean and clear with Kleen It or Strip Kwik. This will help them filter out waste more efficiently.
3. Once per week, brush all pool surfaces and vacuum. This will reduce the amount of biofilm formation, which is a breeding ground for bacteria and algae.
4. Skim the pool surface every day to reduce the amount of debris that will be oxidized.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

1. Shower before using your pool! The average adult can introduce between 10 and 100 MILLION bacteria to the pool. Granted not all those bacteria are “bad” but chlorine doesn’t distinguish between good and bad bacteria.