Many of our families have reached out this Spring after or during their opening, surprised at the amount of 'gunk' in their pool. Filters may seem ineffective and / or they feel like they need to clean their filter much more often. Yes... To all of that.

Changing weather can mean varying pool conditions and chemical needs. As most of us are finishing up a terrible year for openings and algae growth, our pools need different care. If you have dumped an unusual amount of liquid chlorine in your pool, the water is still not completely clear, and your CL test is zero, you need more chlorine. Larger doses. Keep your PH down as you go but YES you need more CL. Feels wrong but your pool has an infection.

Calcium hardness (CH) refers to the amount of calcium mineral in your pool water. When CH is above 275ppm we refer to the water as being 'hard.' When the water is below 175 we refer to it as being 'soft.' If you have ever lived with well water you may be familiar with high or low levels of 'hardness.' And what that feels like.

The IntelliConnect from Pentair is a handy piece of automation designed for the 'simple pool.' It offers pool owners basic automation via a wi-fi connection and the 'Pentair Home' application, giving you control of you pool systems anywhere in the world. It has a lot of horse power when you consider what it is, AND what it costs.

Autocovers are an amazing system to have on a fiberglass pool. They keep the pool safe and secure of course, but for many pool owners the real benefits are the other ones. The pool is warmer, cleaner, it uses even less chemicals, doesn't evaporate, and overall, it is easier and cheaper to own. Safety covers do however need some care to keep them at their best and operating properly.

Autocovers are an amazing system to have on a fiberglass pool. They keep the pool safe and secure of course, but for many pool owners the real benefits are the other ones. The pool is warmer, cleaner, it uses even less chemicals, doesn't evaporate, and overall, it is easier and cheaper to own. Safety covers do however need some care to keep them at their best and operating properly.

The Lux Capacitor (yes we are Back To The Future fans) is a device that is installed on your pool filtration equipment that offers a few special and unique benefits that may seem like magic. At its core, the Lux Capacitor is a device that creates structured water. It is passive, so it requires no power or servicing, and will last nearly indefinitely.

It's not the news you want, but the truth is there is no immediate antidote to scale removal. All water has the potential to scale particularly if the 'wrong' conditions are permitted. This fountain maintained by the team at NASA has even been allowed to scale out. But what can be done now?

The connection between the fiberglass pool shell and the concrete slab is a delicate point. If either the pool shifts OR the concrete shifts, it can cause a crack and break off. Despite our custom forms having a very favorable and durable return, there is no way to mitigate the risk completely. There are several causes of these shifts but the solution is the same.

Having a crack or series of cracks in your skimmer is not abnormal. We wish it didn't happen but it does and is difficult to mitigate. The skimmer itself is a 'weak spot' in the concrete slab. It is a void in the concrete and is naturally much more susceptible to becoming a crack point.

Your automatic pool cover represents a sizeable investment. It will help save you money from chemical loss, heat loss and water evaporation as well as provide an additional safety barrier for your pool. Your pool cover needs care and maintenance for you to see the maximum life and return on your investment.

Salt chlorine generators are a fantastic part of any pool. They are not without maintenance however. Depending on the usage of your unit, the life expectancy of certain components could vary quite a bit. The amount of chlorine you need and the system makes, could potentially wear out a system in just a couple short years.

There are occasionally times when you might notice a small drip coming from your 'drain to waste' (DTW) or 'cleaner' valve. This is not uncommon or really a problem.

White or cloudy areas on a decorative concrete patio can be caused by a few different things. The most common cause is the use of incompatible sealer. When most professionals seal decorative concrete we use a solvent based sealer. Due to VOC laws, hazmat rules, and costs, these can be hard to obtain unless you're in the trade, but they are best.

An Automatic cover makes a fantastic winter cover. It keeps the dirt out, the sun out, is safe, and looks nice. There are however some things to keep in mind, and attention should be paid to your cover though winter.

In addition to cracks occurring in the curing process, cracks also can occur from ground movement – up or down. Some of this movement happens as a result of ground shifting, water flow and erosion, settling, and or the ground freezing in the winter and pushing the slab up. Through metal reinforcement and strategically placed relief joints most of these cracks can be kept in the joints and visually not be 'cracks.' If a crack shows up in the joint – then the joint or cut did i

In certain situations pool water can be so dirty that the water is not worth filtering or simply cannot be filtered clean. These situations are often related to a pool being left open during the winter, the construction process, a flooding event, or an extreme algae infestation.

It is not uncommon for the drain to waste valve to develop a small leak and drip onto the equipment pad. They need occasional lubricant applied (magic lube silicone grease) the same as any O ring or seal on your pad does.

It is not uncommon to experience air in your pump at some point. Obviously there is going to be air in the pump when you open your pump to service your system or when you first open the pool and are purging the lines from winterization. Excluding air from those events air entering your pump is related to some sort of air leak or a low water level. Here are some things you can check to eliminate an air leak.

As much as we look for 'maintenance free' products, everything needs some level of maintenance. Wood decks, paver patios, and even concrete. Concretes primary maintenance task is sealing. It should be sealed about every 1.5 to 2 years. Many concrete contractors recommend sealing decorative concrete every year because it DOES look nicer and definitely protects the concrete. If we were talking about concrete anywhere else except around a pool I would agree.