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QUESTION: Pool care today is more sophisticated than it used to be. Why is that?
ANSWER: The environmental conditions of today are much different. Pollutants such as airplane fuel, pesticides, automobile and truck traffic to name a few have increased severely. Newer, more advanced chemicals are needed to combat the negative effect of these environmental factors.
QUESTION: What can I do if my chlorine residual continues to be too low even after shocking?
ANSWER: You may have an overload of contaminants causing this problem. Use Burn Out Extreme or Burn Out 35 to remedy this situation. Visit us with a water sample for more personalized instructions.
QUESTION: My water looks cloudy. How can I fix that?
ANSWER: It depends on what's causing the cloudy water:
- Lo 'N Slo when pH is high
- Strip Kwik or Kleen It when filter is dirty
- Burn Out Extreme or Burn Out 35 for shocking when Free Chlorine level is low
- Polysheen Blue is also an excellent water clarifier
Your best course of action is to take a water sample to us. We can test your water and provide personalized instructions on the best corrective measures.
QUESTION: Why must I circulate the water daily?
ANSWER: Proper circulation will help prevent bacteria and other contaminants from becoming problems. As the water circulates it passes through the filter, trapping suspended particles. Properly circulating SpaGuard® products helps keep the water inviting and ready for your soaking pleasure. Be sure to run your spa's circulation system every day and make sure it's always in good working order.
QUESTION: How do I clean the filter?
ANSWER: Most spa problems are caused by poor filtration - when the filter is dirty or clogged, debris stays in the water. A properly cared for filter captures hair, oils and cosmetics. Because spa filters trap many contaminants, cleaning has two steps: spraying off loose debris, then using SpaGuard Filter Cleaner to remove oils and other contaminants embedded into the filter. You need to clean your filter every four to six weeks. Check your owner's manual or ask your D1/SpaGuard Dealer for information on how to remove and clean your filter.
QUESTION: Why do I need to clean the surface?
ANSWER: Contaminants such as dirt, oil and even bacteria can accumulate at the waterline, much like a bathtub ring. Regular cleaning of spa surfaces preserves the surfaces and prevents unwanted build-up of minerals and potential bacteria.
QUESTION: How often should I drain and refill my spa?
ANSWER: Regular draining and refilling is a normal part of spa maintenance. Over time, the water absorbs and dissolves minerals, chemicals and other soluble material. We can perform a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) test to help determine if it's time to replace your water. High TDS can make the water look dull, become foamy, and develop an odor. How often you drain and refill your spa depends on how often you use it. This simple formula can help: Spa Gallons ?ily Bathers ?= Days Between Draining. Example: 300 gallons ?daily bathers ?= 50 days.
QUESTION: Why do I need to get my water tested?
ANSWER: The chemistry of your spa water needs to be checked regularly. Use SpaGuard® products to maintain the correct levels, including: sanitizer residuals, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, and total dissolved solids. Maintaining the proper levels will make the water clear and comfortable, kill bacteria that can multiply rapidly in a spa, protect spa surfaces from stains caused by metals, and protect spa equipment from scale.
QUESTION: What is balanced water?
ANSWER: There are two primary components that affect spa water quality: sanitizer (bromine or chlorine) residual and pH. When both are within their recommended ranges, your water is comfortable, protected and clear; sanitizers and "shock products" work efficiently; and spa surfaces and equipment are protected. Recommended bromine or chlorine residual levels are: Bromine Residual (using Brominating Concentrate) = 3-6 ppm Chlorine Residual (using Chlorinating Concentrate) = 3-5 ppm Maintain pH between 7.4-7.6 (the ideal range; acceptable range is 7.2-7.6). If not using SpaGuard Spa Sentry™, total alkalinity should be maintained between 125-150 ppm and calcium hardness should be from 100-200 ppm. Initial testing for metals should be done every time you refill your spa and 0 ppm metals maintained in the spa. Work with us to learn more about your local water supply.
QUESTION: How do I maintain pH?
ANSWER: The Carbonate Buffer System method involves adjusting total alkalinity, pH, and calcium hardness. Total alkalinity (TA) should always be in the 125 to 150 ppm range. Low TA can cause the pH to bounce from one level to another, potentially causing scaling or corrosion of surfaces. Add SpaGuard? Total Alkalinity Increaser to raise low TA. High TA levels contribute to scale, cloudy water and other pH problems. Next comes pH. If pH is high (above 7.6) chlorinating sanitizers are less effective, surfaces and equipment can scale, water may cloud and shorter filter runs may occur. Correct this by adding SpaGuard pH Decreaser. Low pH (below 7.2) causes sanitizers to dissipate more rapidly, increases corrosion of surfaces and equipment, and may make water irritating to spa users. Adjust low pH by adding SpaGuard pH Increaser. Never add more than three capfuls (4 tsp.) of pH adjuster per 250 gallons of water. Add while pump is operating. Maintain pH level between 7.2-7.6.
QUESTION: Why do I have colored water or stains?
ANSWER: Various metals are present in source water. These can cause colored water and/or stains. 0 ppm of metals is recommended in all spas. See us on how to remove metals from your source water.
QUESTION: What metals cause stains?
ANSWER: Stains are usually caused by metal in the water such as iron, copper or manganese.
QUESTION: What is this rough coating on the walls?
ANSWER: It is called scale. Rough, sandpaper-like deposits can coat spa walls, clog circulation and filtration systems and plug heaters. Scale is a result of excess dissolved calcium in the water.
QUESTION: What causes foaming?
ANSWER: Foaming is fairly common due to agitation and the presence of lotions, laundry soaps, cosmetics and other substances.
QUESTION: How often do i backwash my filter?
ANSWER: You should backwash your filter when your psi increases 7-10 parts or when the flow going back into your pool is weak.
QUESTION: What are chloramines?
ANSWER: Chloramines occur when your total chlorine and your free chlorine numbers do not match. This is a chemical bond that occurs due to environmental conditions. To break this bond you need to superchlorinate your water.
QUESTION: What happens to pool water when it rains?
ANSWER: Rainwater is acidic and will drop the chemical levels in your pool, especially your pH and alkalinity.
QUESTION: After adding chemicals, when is the water safe to swim in?
ANSWER: After using BurnOut 35 or BurnOut Extreme you should wait 6-8 hours before swimming. (The best time to shock the water is at night.) All other chemicals permit swimming to continue in about 15-30 minutes.
QUESTION: How often should I get my water tested?
ANSWER: Unless there are problems with the pool water, you should get your water tested once every 3-4 weeks.
QUESTION: What needs to be done to the pool before vacation?
ANSWER:
1. Bring in a smaple of your pool water.
2. Make sure the water is balanced.
3. Use BurnOut 35 or BurnOut Extreme to remove skimmer wastes and restor water sparkle.
4. Circulate pool water, keep your pump running for at least 12 hours a day.
5. If the pool has a chemical feeder, maintain normal settings.
If pool employs skimmer, make sure there are 1-2 sticks or pucks in the basket.
6. For each week the pool will be unattended, add 16 oz. of Back Up per 25,000 gallons of pool water.
QUESTION: How much DE (Diatomaceous Earth) should I use?
ANSWER: The amount of DE used varies with each filter. This information can be found on the sticker that is located on the front of your filter. Another way to figure out how much DE to use is by the model number of your filter. For example, a DEL48 uses 5 pounds of DE and a DEL60 uses 6 pounds of DE.
QUESTION: What is the difference between BurnOut 35 and BurnOut Extreme?
ANSWER: BurnOut 35 is lithium based and therefore vinyl liner friendly. The appropriate dosage of BurnOut 35 is one pound of product per 6,000 gallons of water. On the other hand, BurnOut Extreme is calcium based and geared towards conrete pools. However, this product can be used in a diluted state with vinyl liners. The appropriate dosage of BurnOut Extreme is one pound of product per 10,000 gallons of water.
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