Precision Pool Services

05/01/2023

Precision Pool Service is located in Boca Raton,

05/01/2023

05/01/2023

https://www.facebook.com/BocaPrecisionPoolServices?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Precision Pool Service is located in Boca Raton,

04/28/2022

Pool Cleaner Reviews – Best Pool Cleaners
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/bb/11/A03B99D9-257E-4FB2-A3D1-5C41D130C08D/Pool-Cleaner-Reviews-Collage-2.jpg.webp Pool Cleaner Reviews – Best Swimming Pool Cleaners
My goal is to help you choose the best pool cleaner for your type of swimming pool (above-ground / in-ground). In this pool cleaner reviews article, I compare and review top automatic swimming pool cleaners. The insights, as well as all the pros and cons I highlight about these popular automatic vacuums, are my opinions based on 30 plus years working in the swimming pool industry.
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/87/07/DB6817EE-C260-44F1-856F-22C397E1C6F7/Pool-Cleaner-Reviews-%E2%80%93-Best-Pool-Cleaners.jpg.webp I have read many other pool cleaner reviews on the internet, and none of them take into consideration the swimming pool surface. If you have a cement/gunite pool, you may not use the same swimming pool cleaner as you would in a pool with a vinyl liner. Also, the best models for above-ground swimming pools are not likely suitable for in-ground pools.
Many other reviewers that discuss the pros and cons or top-rated models are either just looking at one pool cleaner with no comparison, or have a clear marketing agenda. I am looking at all vacuums and automatic robot cleaners, and just telling you what I would do in your position, based on what I know and your pool type.
Disclaimer
I must confess before we get into this article, that I am a sucker for shiny cool gadgets. If these guys wanted to get me to buy something, all they would have to do is chrome it out, and make it look modern. Well, if I didn’t know better 😉
This article has a lot of information for both above-ground and inground pools, but I have since written an article specific to automatic vacuums for above ground pools. A reading of both would help for those with above-ground swimming pools, as I did not go over the exact same material.
PRO TIP* All automatic pool cleaners are designed for swimming pool maintenance, not for pools “loaded” with leaves and algae (mom are you listening?).
1st A Review of Pool Cleaner Types
There are currently three types of automatic pool cleaners.
• Suction Side Cleaners
• Pressure Side Cleaners
• Independent Robotic & Automatic Pool Cleaners (Electric)
Suction Side Pool Cleaners
I am not a massive fan of suction-side pool cleaners. Mainly because for most people they have to disable their swimming pools skimmer to use one. The swimming pool surface is where the most dirt is. So disabling the surface skimmer to clean the pool-bottom makes little sense to me.
Used in moderation, they have an upside, and one unique feature none of the other pool cleaners have. Suction side cleaners will get small particles of dirt that robotic and pressure side cleaners can’t. Unlike other cleaner-types, they don’t collect debris in a basket or bag. They use suction and vacuum dirt into the filter where it stays. DE filters catch dirt particles as small as 4 microns; you can’t even see that with your eyes.
Robotic Cleaners & Independently Powered Cleaners
I just don’t see the value in these cleaners. If your handy and mechanically inclined, they could be a good fit for you, but they break down a lot. It is a rare unit that gets you a third pool season, so I say stay clear of the high priced units. The more expensive electronic robotic cleaners don’t clean any better than cheaper models, so there is no value to be had.
I am talking about the high-end TigerSharks and Dolphin Dx Models etc… All these units have a power box that you plug in. If you are going robotic, consider the cheaper Aquabot Models. They have tons of parts available, youtube videos, and user support. They are also going to break down in a year or two, but they cost half what the others do. If you’re handy, parts are simple to replace.
Cutting Down On The Ickiness Factor
I say I don’t see the value, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the models that have come out in the past couple years 2016/2017 do have a new easy to clean debris basket. Kind of like a skimmer basket, you just pull it out by a handle and tap out the contents. Older models use a bag to collect debris; many liken it to cleaning a diaper.
Also, unlike the less expensive Aquabot models I recommend below, these more expensive models will climb and clean your swimming pool walls. So if you have the extra cash, you might see the benefits to the Tigershark and Dolphin models with the new basket collection design.
Pressure Side Pool Cleaners
Here we have my favorite type of cleaner. Polaris has dominated the market in pressure side swimming pool cleaners as far back as I can remember. But there are some new sheriffs in town, talking about Hayward and Pentair Pool Cleaners. Hayward has finally upped their game and came out with, dare I say it… A bad-ass new pool cleaner called the Trivac 700.
The upfront setup cost of all pressure side cleaners is much higher than other models, as all inground units require a booster pump. That is a pump different than the one you use to filter the pool water. But if you already have a dedicated pump and pressure line, there is no better pool cleaner type! Bar none!
New Models from Pentair and Hayward – Industry Stalwarts
In truth, I have only seen the Trivac 700 work in videos, but I love the concept. It is overpriced, and maybe for a year or two more, but wow. This unit cleans the walls, floor, and the surface of the pool! I will discuss the model later in the article.
Pentair’s new Kreepy Krawley Racer is catching attention too. It caught my eye, stay tuned for my review of this new unit also further on down this page.
Only Above-Ground Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner
Luckily there is an inexpensive above ground unit that works amazingly well and does not require a separate pump. I am of course talking about the Polaris 65; the whole system is available on Amazon with free shipping for you prime members for just $180.- Amazon Link
I will discuss this unit a bit more further on as well.
Independent Robotic
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/51/01/18CABCA1-4BD7-43A0-B70F-AFB2D861EA81/Tiger-Shark-QC.jpg.webp These units range from $450.00 to $1500.00. And without getting into every detail as to why I chose one model over another. I will just list the pros and cons of all of them and tell you which one I would buy.
Negatives First, the cons!
Some of these expensive robots don’t do any better job cleaning a pool than the less expensive units. Many also weigh a lot and make it a chore to get out of the water for many folks.
Units like this Tiger Shark wear out faster in cement/gunite pools, and because of there weight, are more likely to damage a vinyl liner while removing it from your pool.
They run on electricity, and so require another power source. Instead of using the suction or pressure already being created by your pool pump.
The Positives, The Pros
You don’t have to disable your skimmer to use these types of cleaners. If you have a large swimming pool with a small skimmer or only one skimmer, it is a good idea to buy a pool-cleaner that does not require you to disable the only surface cleaner you have.
Being independent of other systems, you can run this even when the pool pump is not in operation. Also, it will not interfere with other cleaning systems so that it will do its job more efficiently.
My Top Pick For “Independent” Robot Cleaners Of Inground Pools
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/f2/02/4BEE4634-2504-4B8C-B415-71A23185718E/Aquabot-Turbo-T-Jet-Inground.jpg.webp For inground pools I choose the Aquabot Turbo T-Jet for several reasons:
• Aquabot pretty-much invented the industry
• Low Cost / Price Lowest on Amazon (click here) ($403.28)
• Works as good as any other robotic independent cleaner
• Wheels over tracks – Good for all pool surface types
• Parts are cheaper and more available
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/00/00/85851CE0-295B-4206-BBF7-F1412F2E33CB/Aquabot-Pool-Jr-above-ground.jpg.webp Top Pick For Above-Ground Swimming Pools
If you want an “independent robotic” cleaner for an above ground pool, go with the Aquabot Pool Rover Junior. Also least expensive right now on Amazon (click here) ($259.98).
An excellent choice when buying for large above ground pools. The Aquabot comes with a 40-foot cable expanding its cleaning area ability.
Negatives: These units do not crawl the swimming pool walls, also use the older more familiar style debris collection bags.
Suction Side Swimming Pool Cleaners
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/83/03/3FF228EC-99A8-4911-BDAB-CF1A9449DAC8/Pool-Cleaner.jpg.webp There are only a few suction side pool cleaners available on the market. The power to operate these units comes from the suction created by your swimming pool pump. So they work by hooking up to your pool’s skimmer, or dedicated suction line found on some in-ground swimming pools.
The first four names in the list below are the same cleaner with a different shell/mask on it.
Suction type pool vacuum:
• Diver Dave
• Lil Shark
• Lady Bug
• Wanda the Whale
• The Pool Cleaner/Poolvergnuegen
• Kreepy Krawly
Negatives
Because most use the skimmer to operate, pool surface cleaning is disabled while using it. Also, they can only handle a small amount of debris without an extra debris canister.
The first four suction side models listed above require a flat pool bottom and should be used only on above-ground swimming pools. Also, they just clean the bottom, no walls.
Positives
• Catches smaller debris than other cleaners
• Runs off the suction created by existing pump, so it requires no extra energy cost
• Least expensive
• Lightweight
Top Choice Suction Side Cleaner for Inground Swimming Pools
For pools up to size 16 x 32, we recommend the Hayward Aquanaut 200. For Larger Pools, we Recommend the Aquanaut 400.
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/24/04/ED1B0014-96C6-4477-81F8-710E578B645D/aquanaut-200.jpg.webp This cleaner was known as the Poolvergnuegen. When Hayward bought the company, they kept a legacy model (Poolvergnuegen), while also rebranding it as “The Pool Cleaners.” This year they have given it a new look, and the model’s third name is The Aquanaut. They still have the two-wheel and four-wheel models, choose your model based on pool size.
This unit will clean swimming pool walls too!
2 Wheel Model $429.00 (click here) 4 Wheel Model $449.00 (click here)
Top Pick For Suction Side Above Ground Cleaners
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/45/05/2F5F453C-9F74-496F-92D1-67163CE65392/Above-ground-pool-cleaners.jpg.webp You can’t go wrong with any of these models, though Wanda the Whale seems to break her tail quite often.
These units are available on Amazon for about $130.00 which�includes the cost of shipping (Click Here). They come complete with a hose and everything you need to use it right away.
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/96/06/A7C780A3-902C-42A3-8DE7-B9BE52DAE80E/standard-leaf-canister.jpg.webp My mom abuses her Lady Bug all the time, and she can’t kill it! I tell her its not for cleaning lots of leaves, but she uses it for that anyway and never has a problem.
I do recommend using a leaf canister with any suction side cleaner. Also available on Amazon for short money, Click Here. It keeps you from having to clean leaves out of your pool pump basket.
Diver Dave, Wanda The Whale, Lady Bug, and Lil Shark requires that your pool bottom not be overly bumpy. Most above ground swimming pools have a sand bottom, just make sure yours is smooth and flat if you are going with this model and you should be fine.
If your above ground swimming pool bottom is not smooth and flat, and you want another inexpensive alternative, I would recommend the Kreepy Krawley cheaper brother (click here).
Pressure-Side Swimming-Pool Cleaning Brands
•
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/84/04/B3AE4A8C-F5D1-49FB-87D3-661B4A8856BE/Pool-Filter-Reviews-Upgrading.jpg.webp MGK – Pool Filter Reviews
Zodiac (better known as Polaris)
Pressure Side Cleaner Negatives/Con’s
• Set up and equipment cost are high
• Requires a dedicated pressure line
• Cleaning the debris bag is slightly ickier than the newer electric pool cleaning models.
Pressure Side Cleaner The Positives/pro’s
Inground models climb pool-walls well and have a whip that helps with scrubbing and cleaning. They are reasonably light-weight. They catch a significant amount of large and small debris.
Polaris Pool Cleaner reviews
Polaris has many models; I like the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360. It has been around for years, there are lots of parts available, and they last a long time.
Polaris always dominated the pressure side cleaner market. Most high-end in-ground swimming pools were designed and built with Polaris systems. Not sure if Pentair bought Polaris, but the Pentair new pressure side cleaner, “The Pentair Kreepy Krawley Racer” is the new standard, and works fine with the old Polaris equipment, so there is no need to upgrade.
Pentair Pool Cleaner Reviews
The Pentair Kreepy Krawley Racer is better than Polaris in every way. 1st they increased the hose diameter and strength, increasing the volume of water translating into more power. 2nd they made the collection hole three times as large as the old Polaris models. It can now capture larger leaves and debris! 3rd They not only made the debris bag much much-bigger, but they also made it easier to clean. 4th they gave it a handle to get it out of the pool. You had to pull the Polaris to the side by the wimpy hose and then most people used it to lift the cleaner out. Finally, they gave this new cleaner brushes for better scrubbing.
Hayward Pool Cleaner Reviews
Hayward offered two new models late in 2016, but only one has made it into my 2018 pool cleaner reviews and given me pause, the Trivac 700. There are a couple knocks on this product. 1. It’s high ticket price, and 2. It is not available for online purchase. It is only available in stores. If you send me $850.00, I will mail you one.
What makes this unit unique is the fact that it can clean the surface too. What? Yup, check out this video

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Top Pick Pressure Side Pool Cleaner for Inground Swimming Pools
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/10/00/D9D694A0-A570-435B-AAF5-370DBF295993/Pentair-Kreepy-Krauly-Racer.jpg.webp If my pool already had a booster pump and a dedicated pressure line, there is no doubt I would buy the new Kreepy Krauly Racer model (seen here). It is better than the old Polaris pool cleaner models, which were the best for a long time.�It is also the coolest looking thing I’ve seen in a while. Like I said at the beginning, I am a sucker for modern and shiny. Guess what else? It has led lights for night cleaning.
At the time of the writing of this article 2015, this unit was available on Amazon.com (click here) for $615.00.
Top Pick For Above Ground Pressure Side Cleaners
Of all the above ground automatic pool cleaners, my top pick is the Polaris 65. Seen here below (looks like a kite). I like it better than the Diver Dave Suction cleaners, and even the pool rover junior.
It does not get jammed up with leaves and dirt because instead of sucking dirt through a small hole/orifice it scoops up particles and leaves with a bag that trails behind it.
Operating off the pressure/ return water side of the system, so the skimmer is still free to catch debris on the surface, and it does not require an additional power source like the Pool Rover Jr.
file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/5a/10/45E67F78-9B14-4859-8009-657914819975/Polaris-65.jpg.webp This thing is mesmerizing to watch too. Like watching a fish tank, as it glides through the water catching its prey. On Amazon for like 169.00 (click here) It comes with everything you need.
Automatic Surface Pool Cleaner
I waited to mention this one because it is not a traditional automatic pool cleaner. This pool cleaner only cleans the surface of a pool. It is solar powered and pretty badass. If you have a large pool and one small skimmer to clean the surface, this will save you from having to skim the surface to remove those unwanted bugs.
It is called the Solar-Breeze and usually cost $500.00. It is more for in-ground swimming pools and I did a write up on is some years ago now. You can check out that article Click Here. I have never heard one bad thing about them, except all the complaints the year they didn’t make any 😉
Conclusion
If I were buying a new pool cleaner for an above ground pool, I would buy the Polaris 65. Or maybe two cleaners, A Ladybug for one a month and the Polaris 65 for an hour or so a week
For inground pools, If I had a booster pump, and a dedicated pressure line, I would buy the new Kreepy Krauly Racer (click here).
For inground pools without a dedicated pressure line and booster pump, I would buy a booster pump and rig it to work without the dedicated pressure line and buy the Pentair Kreepy Crawley Racer anyway.
Dollar for dollar over a five year period the Pentair Racer pool cleaner is the least expensive.
RELATED ARTICLES
• LAST POOL VACUUM HOSE YOU WILL EVER BUY
• POOL PUMP UPGRADING & REPLACEMENT
• POOL FILTER REVIEWS
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02/08/2022

Florida has over 1 million inground residential swimming pools, second to only California’s 1.2 million plus. Keeping all these pools clean is a lot of work, especially for your pool pump.
Pool pumps keep swimming pools clean by ‘turning over’ the water — circulating the pool water through the filter daily to remove bacteria, algae, and particles. It then sends clean water back into the pool with all the necessary chemicals.
Ideally a pool pump should turn over the water at least once every 12 hours. Most modern pumps turn the water over in 8 hours or less. Some do it in only 6 hours. For your Florida pool, the amount of time your swimming pool pump runs depends on factors like:
• How much you use the pool
• Pool size and shape
• Type of filtration system
• Pump size
• Filter size
Pool Pump Rules of Thumb: How long to run pool pump
On average, a properly cleaned and maintained pool only needs to run 8 hours each day under normal circumstances. However, Florida pools have different needs than pools in other places. Because Florida is warm year-round and summer is hot, humid, and rainy, pool pumps should run more. Below are a few rules of thumb for running your pool pump in Florida:
• Run your pool pump 1 hour for every 10 degrees F that the outside temperature is above freezing. During the mild Florida winter, run your pool pump for about 6 hours daily. In the hottest part of the Florida summer, when it’s 80 degrees F or higher, run your pump 10 to 12 hours.
• To save on power, some people run their pool pumps at night. However, you should run your pool pump during the daytime. Why? Since, warmer water breeds algae, your pump should run when the water is warm and people are using the pool.
• Running your pump all day isn’t a problem. Pool pumps and filters can function for up to 12 hours at a time without issues. However, not running it long enough each day will cause issues, leaving you with a dirty pool.
• Clean filters are more efficient than dirty ones. Old, dirty filters make your pump work harder. So clean and replace your filter when necessary so your pump can run less.
• Systems with smaller filters might need to run longer. At the same time, pool volume and filter capacity affect run time.
Running Your Florida Pool Pump
On average, your Florida pool pump should run for about 8 to 10 hours a day. Yet as we’ve seen above, the actual run time depends on a number of factors including the time of year, your pool’s size, your filtration system, and other factors.

02/08/2022

Efficient filtration is crucial if you want to get the most out of your swimming pool 💦

A pool filter will dictate the clarity of your water, so you owe it to yourself to buy the best filter 💧 Even though you’ll still need to perform some maintenance like vacuuming and ensuring the water chemistry is balanced, investing in a filter will keep your pool blissfully germ-free 💦

Swipe to see which one we recommend.

And if you need installation, give us a call ☎️

01/23/2019

Importance of a Balanced Pool

One of the most important steps of swimming pool maintenance is water balance. Generally, understanding water balance can also be one of the most confusing processes of pool maintenance. Because of its complexity, some new pool owners may not know everything they have to do to keep their pool water safe, comfortable and corrosion free.

Why is Pool Water Balance Important?

Below are a few of the reasons why having a balanced swimming pool is so important:

Safety

If you are using either a salt based pool producing chlorine or a chlorine based tablet pool, then your pH needs to be correct. If pool water is not balanced correctly then the chlorine sanitizer won't be working at full strength killing germs and bacteria.

Comfortable

Your water balance needs to be correct or it will affect your skin and eyes. The pH should be neither too acidic nor basic in order to feel comfortable.

Chlorine Level in Pool
Corrosion

An imbalanced pool can be corrosive to the liner, ladders and hand rail and other equipment such as the pump.

What is entailed in Water Balance?

Total Alkalinity

Total alkalinity refers to how much alkaline is in the water. TA and pH go hand-in-hand. High alkaline water leads to high pH. Low alkaline water leads to low pH. That the average swimming pool should have an alkalinity reading of 100 ppm.

Pool pH Level
Stabilizer

Stabilizer helps retain your chlorine longer just as insulation helps retain heat or air conditioning. Stabilizer can be added to some chlorine compounds to protect them from the breakdown effects of sunlight. When your stabilizer level is low, you'll use a lot more chlorine. When it's high, you may need to dilute your pool water to bring it back into the 40 to 100 ppm ideal range.

What Does Stabilizer Do?

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

All water contains dissolved minerals. As pool water evaporates, minerals remain behind and become concentrated. The more concentrated these minerals become, the harder it is for chemical additives to work and stains can form. If you have 3000 ppm or more of total dissolved solids or TDS, you may need to drain some water and add fresh water.

11/17/2018

Salt Water Pool

Whether you’re weighing the pros and cons of choosing a salt water pool over chlorine or already have a salt water pool, it’s important to know how to maintain it.

Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to maintain a salt water pool and typically more cost efficient than the alternative. That doesn’t mean it’s a completely hands off experience, though. Salt water pools still require weekly and monthly maintenance in order to be safe and healthy for swimming.

Before we begin, it’s important to note that, as with chlorine pools, shocking your pool ahead of the pool season and after heavy usage is also a necessary part of pool maintenance.

WEEKLY SALT WATER POOL MAINTENANCE

It’s strongly recommended that you vacuum and spot clean your pool and empty out your pool pump basket on a weekly basis and take inventory of water chemistry as well. Understanding water chemistry can be quite challenging and time consuming, but the pool industry has made technological advancements in recent years, making way for devices that can give you exact measurements and dosing instructions via a smartphone app.

A healthy salt water pool requires for cyanuric acid, free chlorine, stabilizer, and pH levels to be kept within a healthy range on a weekly basis.

Cyanuric Acid should be between 30 – 80 ppm to prevent sun rays from absorbing the pool’s chlorine.
Speaking of chlorine, aim to keep your pool’s free chlorine levels between 1 – 3 ppm.
Each week, try to make sure that your stabilizer level is within the 70 – 80 ppm range as well as a keeping pH between 7.2 – 7.8. Maintaining these numbers will be your best line of defense against germs and bacteria.
MONTHLY SALT WATER POOL MAINTENANCE

There are certain aspects of your pool that only require monthly maintenance, such as calcium hardness, total alkalinity, salinity and total dissolved solids.

Calcium hardness is best set between 200 – 400 ppm. Anything below 200 has the potential to erode your pool and surrounding accessories, while anything above 400 may clog your filters.
A total alkalinity of between 80 – 120 ppm is optimal for keeping your pool’s pH stable. Keeping your pool’s total alkalinity level stabled is quite the process as we’ve previously blogged.
The final two components we listed above are salinity and total dissolved solids, which should be maintained between 2700 – 4500 ppm and 3000 – 6000 ppm, respectively.

12/08/2017

Failing Salt Generators: The Phosphate Connection

How salt generators work

It has been said that, "There is nothing new under the sun." While salt generators have surged in popularity in the last decade, the technology goes back to 1800. Scientists back then discovered the technology of splitting molecules in a solution using what is called electrolysis. Salts like sodium chloride or sodium bromide are used in a solution that is subject to low voltage electrical current between a pair of cells with opposing charges. One cell, the Anode, contains positive charges and the other, the Cathode, contains negative charges. Electrical ions flow back and forth between the two cells. The result is that molecules are split and chlorine gas is produced at the anode. Hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode. Salt generators produce hydrogen gas, chlorine gas and a solution of sodium hydroxide. When salt generators are working properly they are continuously producing free available chlorine at set levels.

What happens when salt generators fail?

When a unit begins to fail it will not produce sufficient free chlorine to keep up with demand. There are numerous reasons for failure including dirty or calcified cells that need to be cleaned, no power to cells and insufficient levels of salt in the water. There is one main factor to consider first when a salt chlorine generator fails, and that is the presence of phosphates in the pool water.

When levels of phosphate exceed 500 ppb the unit can cease to produce enough free available chlorine to keep up with demand. Most manufacturers of salt chlorine generators will confirm that when there is a problem with production of free available chlorine, a phosphate test is recommended. If the phosphate levels are near or over 500 ppb, a phosphate removal treatment is advised to help the salt chlorine generator function properly.

A typical example of salt generator failure is what happened recently to Steve White, owner of Underwater Pool Masters in Massachusetts. He installed a new salt chlorine generator at an outdoor commercial swimming pool but could not get a decent chlorine reading for over two weeks after the installation. “The situation was such that we ended up having to continue to shock the water to sanitize the pool until we could make sure the new salt generator was producing the optimum chlorine levels,” he said.

The phosphate connection

So, what is going on when phosphate levels climb in a salt pool? We need to look to the industrial uses of orthophosphate in water treatment. First of all it is important to understand that orthophosphate is the detrimental form of phosphate that exists in water. Orthophosphate will not only interfere with salt generators, it can also cause excessive algae blooms to occur in both traditional and salt pools as well.

A product known as zinc orthophosphate is used in drinking water systems because it adheres to metal pipes and acts as an anti-corrosion agent. So, from this we know that orthophosphate likes to cling to metals. The real interference of phosphates in chlorine generators is still somewhat theoretical. It appears that since orthophosphates attach to metals they attach to the anode and cause an interference with the flow of electrons between the anode and the cathode of the salt chlorine generator. We do know that higher levels of orthophosphate seem to cause a definite interference with the normal operation of the salt chlorine generators.

Where are the phosphates coming from?

Phosphates can be introduced into swimming water from a multitude of sources including: fertilizers, organic debris and soil, detergent cleaners, tile cleaners and metal sequestering chemicals. Also, phosphate can come from human perspiration and urea.

There are several different forms of phosphate depending on the source; all however eventually end up in the form of orthophosphate. Metal products can be one of the main culprits which cause failure in salt chlorine generator pools. This is because staining from metals is more prevalent in salt chlorine pools due to the potential of galvanic corrosion from high TDS of the salt and dissimilar metals present in the water. Most manufacturers of salt chlorine generators will recommend a metal sequestering product be used. Most metal sequestering products available for pools are phosphonic or phosphoric acid based formulas. When these are added to a salt pool, the result will be a breakdown of the phosphate to free orthophosphate which is what will cause the problems with cells in the chlorine generator. For this reason it is best to use a phosphate free metal sequestering product.

White's experience at the pool in Massachusetts turned out to be the result of high phosphates introduced by the city’s water supply. The swimming pool in question used approximately 15,000 gallons of water which was replaced at the time of installation of the salt generator. About two-thirds of the new water added was delivered by truck while the remaining one-third came from the local town water supply. This community is known to have high levels of metals in its water — especially iron. As a result, the community regularly adds metal sequestering agents which are high in phosphates to avoid having the metals from pipes cause unsightly metal stains in sinks and toilets.

In doing his detective work to figure out why he wasn’t getting a good chlorine read, White checked the water in the bathroom of this pool facility and found that the phosphate levels were 1,500 ppb. He immediately started treating the pool with phosphate remover, and brought the phosphate levels back down to 100 ppb. This solved the problem and quickly restored chlorine production from the unit.

Removing the phosphates

Phosphates can be removed from the pool water by a simple use of a phosphate remover. It is important to understand that orthophosphate in pool water exist in a soluble form. The most effective phosphate removers work by making the soluble orthophosphate precipitate out as a solid. This will cause some cloudiness to the water which can be filtered out readily with the use of a clarifier. However, keep in mind that the more phosphate, the more cloudiness there will be. Also, in extreme cases it can take up to 2 to 3 days for the cloudiness to clear completely. It is important during this cloudy period to have the salt chlorine generator turned off until the water clears. During this period liquid chlorine can be used to keep the residual up. The other option for extreme levels of phosphate — when levels are near or over 5,000 ppb — would be to drain and dilute some or all of the water. The drain and dilution method may be better used for commercial pools where shut-down time is limited and cloudiness of the water is regulated. In these cases it is advisable to dilute out as much phosphate as possible and then use maintenance doses of phosphate remover to keep levels managed.

Keeping them out

It is important in a salt chlorine pool to be diligent about keeping phosphate levels down. The following are some guidelines that can help:

1) Test water for phosphates on a weekly basis.

2) Treat with a phosphate remover weekly to keep levels down.

3) Use only non-phosphate metal products and cleaners.

4) Clean and remove grass, leaves and any organic debris from pool as quickly as possible.

5) Test tap water to see what levels of phosphate are in the source.

6) Test for and treat for phosphates after any periods of extreme weather or heavy use.

7) For commercial pools, avoid using any phosphate-based cleaners on the decking or tile.

😎 Operators should discourage patrons from visiting the pool after swimming in nearby lakes.

9) Care should be taken when fertilizing lawns and plants near pool area.

10) Source water should be tested for phosphates as well. Many water municipalities treat with straight orthophosphates at different times. If this is the case then phosphate treatment is recommended at filling and whenever topping off.

Winterizing A Salt Generator Pool

The method for winterizing a salt generator pool is not that different from a regular pool. In areas where winter is extreme and a hard shut down is used, the pool should be drained down and winterizing chemicals added as usual. The salt generator should be deactivated and in some cases disassembled and stored for the winter. Check with the generator manufacturer for specific winterizing instructions. In some areas a complete shutdown may not be necessary. In these areas you would simply turn down the hours of filtration operation and reset the generator to run in accordance with that schedule — typically this is 2 hours. For winter water temperatures, there should be sufficient chlorine produced from the unit in two hours a day.

Knowing he underlying water chemistry is pools is a key component to making sure that salt generators work properly. In a salt chorine pool, keeping the phosphates low is the secret to letting the free chlorine flow!