Frequently Asked Questions
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Residential
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What is Chlorine Demand?
Chlorine Demand is the consistent inability to maintain a chlorine residual in a pool. It is caused by a build up of contaminants which creates and "overload" on the sanitizing system. Quite simply, it means that more sanitizer is required than is being provided to the water.
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My water looks cloudy. How can I fix it?
Your best course of action is to take a sample of water to The Pool & Spa House and have a member of the friendly retail staff test the balance of your pool water for personalized instruction on the best corrective measures.
Some suggestions may be:- Adjust the pH. High pH can cause cloudy water
- Clean the filter with Strip Kwik for better filtration
- Shock to free available chlorine
- Water clarifier
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What is Free Available Chlorine?
This is the active chlorine in the water that has not combined with organic matter and is therefore available for killing bacteria and algae. The proper range for free chlorine residual is 1-3 ppm. Below 1 ppm can cause swimmer irritation, cloudy water and even allow algae to grow.
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When & how do I close my pool?
It's best to wait until the pool water temperature drops below 65o to begin your off-season closing. Then it's just a few easy steps!
- Assess the general condition of you pool water. The best way to do this is to bring a sample of water to The Pool & Spa House and have a member of our friendly staff test it for correct balance. Make sure you take care of any existing problems such as visible algae or cloudy water before you close your pool. If you close your pool with an unresolved problem, the situation is likely to get worse and your winter products will be consumed more rapidly.
- Brush and vacuum. Brush the pool surfaces and vacuum the pool to remove all visible debris. Chemically clean the pool filter with Strip Kwik. Clean the waterline with Off The Wall.
- Add the Arctic Blue Winter Kit. Apply Arctic Blue Shock first, then use Arctic Blue Algae Protector.
- If covering your pool, make sure that there are no visible holes that would allow debris to get underneath the cover and into the water. The cover should be on top of the water surface, pulled tightly. Remove any excess debris that falls on the cover and could weigh it down during the winter months.
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What is Ultraviolet (UV) technology?
UV technology is an environmentally-friendly way to utilize ultraviolet energy to neutralize the microscopic microorganisms that live in pool water.
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How does UV work?
Unlike most disinfectants, ultraviolet (UV) radiation does not use a chemical reaction to neutralize microorganisms. Rather, UV radiation inactivates organisms through the absorption of light to cause photochemical damage to the target organism by altering components essential to cell function. This does not necessarily kill the microorganism, but the disruption of the DNA or RNA prohibits future replication rendering the microorganism incapable of infection. It is important to note that only the water that comes into direct contact with the UV light is being disinfected.
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What type of microorganisms does UV neutralize?
E. coli, Legionella, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Hepatitis A, and many more. Inactivation is dependent upon many factors such as UV dosage, water quality, and contact time which is based on the flow rate through the device.
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What are the advantages of UV technology?
- UV light is effective at neutralizing microorganisms including chlorine resistant parasites like Cryptosporidium and Giardia, thus enabling more efficient use of chlorine to kill bacteria and eliminate swimmer waste.
- This technology is a physical process rather than a chemical disinfectant; therefore it does not affect water balance.
- UV technology is environmentally-friendly and the devices are user-friendly for operators.
- It reduces combined chlorine by up to 47%, which reduces the "chlorine smell" caused by chloramines to enhance bather comfort.
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Do I still need to use chlorine with my UV device?
Yes, you must maintain a 1-3 ppm free available chlorine residual in conjunction with the UV device.
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Can I use UV with biguanide treated systems?
No, UV technology is only compatible with pools using a chlorine program.
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Can I use UV with an ionizer like Nature 2® or Frog®?
Yes. Even though such sytems use metal ions, the concentrations are low enough to not interfere with the UV transmission. Remember that any auxiliary equipment such as an ionizer is to be installed after the UV system.
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What is calcium hardness (CH)?
It is the amount of dissolved calcium in the water. Keeping the CH at the proper range will help protect the equipment and keep the water sparkling. It also helps to prevent cloudy water and buildup of scale.
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What is total alkalinity (TA)?
It is a measure of the water's ability to resist changes in pH. pH can be affected by environmental factors such as acid rain, pollution, run-off from the surrounding land and fertilizers - just to name a few. Keeping the TA at the proper range will help prevent pH from fluctuating and help prevent scale buildup and cloudy water.
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What is pH?
It's a way to measure the acidity or alkalinity of water. This is the most important part of chemical balance because it protects the equipment, allows the sanitizer to do its best job and increases swimmer enjoyment.
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We use our pool only on weekends & don't want to spend more time cleaning it than using it. How can we reduce our work & have more time for play?
Keep upkeep to a minimum with a Pool Care Program from BioGuard. From start to finish, it takes just minutes. All programs from BioGuard do the following: Step 1: Sanitize to kill bacteria. Step 2: Keep the water clear with BioGuard SmartShock. Step 3: Prevent algae growth with BioGuard BackUp preventive algicide. There is a BioGuard system to meet every pool personality & owner's needs. See the professionals at The Pool & Spa House for expert advice on picking a program that is right for you.
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I'm considering switching to a non-chlorine sanitizing system. Tell me about SoftSwim.
Say hello to chlorine-free sparkling water with the ABC SoftSwim program. Without a whiff of chlorine, the ABC system of SoftSwim provides an easy-to-follow pool sanitizing method that's gentle to eyes, skin & hair. Supplement with Assist to help keep your water sparkling clear & to prevent any mold growth in your pool's plumbing. NOTE: SoftSwim works best in vinyl liner or fiberglass pools with less than 15,000 gallons.
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What do natural enzymes do for my pool water?
Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that 'catalyze' or speed up the natural breakdown of organic materials into smaller & smaller molecules until they are finally reduced to their elemental forms such as carbon dioxide & water. No other compounds break down organic waste as efficiently as natural enzymes.
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What is the purpose of sanitizing my pool?
Sanitizing pool water kills bacteria that can be harmful to bathers and aids in controlling algae. You need to constantly check and maintain your sanitizer level because bacteria enter the pool continuously from many sources.
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Why do I have to "shock" my pool water?
"Shocking" your pool water chemically destroys the organic contaminants introduced by bathers and the environment. They restore water clarity, help maintain water balance and eliminate the main causes of eye and nose irritation.
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How often should I clean my pool filter?
It is recommended that pool filters be cleaned at least twice a pool season - mid summer and in the fall - or more often if needed. The filter should also be cleaned at spring opening if it wasn't cleaned as part of the pool closing procedures in the fall.
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Does UV work with traditional alternative chemical feeders and generators?
Yes, BioLab® UV systems work with any chlorine chemical feeder or saline chlorination. However, the BioLab UV LC10 must be used since its plastic components are compatible with pools equipped with saline generators. Because of its stainless steel construction, the LC20 housing will not be covered under the limited warranty if installed on a saline generator pool.
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Commercial
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How do you close a pool for the season?
Buying a pool cover is probably the best solution. You should remember to maintain your pool though, throughout the year. Maintaining correct pH and Chlorine levels, at a minimum, will help keep the nasties at bay.
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What is calcium hardness (CH)?
It is the amount of dissolved calcium in the water. Keeping the CH at the proper range will help protect the equipment and keep the water sparkling. It also helps to prevent cloudy water and buildup of scale.
-
What is Chlorine Demand?
Chlorine Demand is the consistent inability to maintain a chlorine residual in a pool. It is caused by a build up of contaminants which creates and "overload" on the sanitizing system. Quite simply, it means that more sanitizer is required than is being provided to the water.
-
My water looks cloudy. How can I fix it?
Your best course of action is to take a sample of water to The Pool & Spa House and have a member of the friendly retail staff test the balance of your pool water for personalized instruction on the best corrective measures.
Some suggestions may be:- Adjust the pH. High pH can cause cloudy water
- Clean the filter with Strip Kwik for better filtration
- Shock to free available chlorine
- Water clarifier
-
What is Free Available Chlorine?
This is the active chlorine in the water that has not combined with organic matter and is therefore available for killing bacteria and algae. The proper range for free chlorine residual is 1-3 ppm. Below 1 ppm can cause swimmer irritation, cloudy water and even allow algae to grow.
-
When & how do I close my pool?
It's best to wait until the pool water temperature drops below 65o to begin your off-season closing. Then it's just a few easy steps!
- Assess the general condition of you pool water. The best way to do this is to bring a sample of water to The Pool & Spa House and have a member of our friendly staff test it for correct balance. Make sure you take care of any existing problems such as visible algae or cloudy water before you close your pool. If you close your pool with an unresolved problem, the situation is likely to get worse and your winter products will be consumed more rapidly.
- Brush and vacuum. Brush the pool surfaces and vacuum the pool to remove all visible debris. Chemically clean the pool filter with Strip Kwik. Clean the waterline with Off The Wall.
- Add the Arctic Blue Winter Kit. Apply Arctic Blue Shock first, then use Arctic Blue Algae Protector.
- If covering your pool, make sure that there are no visible holes that would allow debris to get underneath the cover and into the water. The cover should be on top of the water surface, pulled tightly. Remove any excess debris that falls on the cover and could weigh it down during the winter months.
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What is the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act?
The recent Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act has mandated additional safety methods to avoid suction outlet entrapment.
According to the National Safe Kids organization, more than two-thirds of parents are not at all or only somewhat familiar with the topic of suction entrapment & entanglement.
According to the CPSC, there are five categories of potential suction entrapment hazards & there is no single product that protects against all five entrapment hazards.
The five hazards are:- Hair Entanglement
- Body Suction Entrapment
- Limb Entrapment
- Evisceration / Disembowelment
- Mechanical Entrapment
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What is total alkalinity (TA)?
It is a measure of the water's ability to resist changes in pH. pH can be affected by environmental factors such as acid rain, pollution, run-off from the surrounding land and fertilizers - just to name a few. Keeping the TA at the proper range will help prevent pH from fluctuating and help prevent scale buildup and cloudy water.
-
What is pH?
It's a way to measure the acidity or alkalinity of water. This is the most important part of chemical balance because it protects the equipment, allows the sanitizer to do its best job and increases swimmer enjoyment.
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How do I test my pool water?
Water Testing Procedure
- Follow directions inside the test kit carefully.
- Do not touch the inside or top of the vial or its cap. Do not directly touch any testing reagents. This will falsely contaminate the test sample.
- Choose a testing location away from an inlet that returns water from the filter to the pool.
- Rinse the vial thoroughly with pool water.
- To fill vial, turn upside-down and submerge the vial 12"-18" below the surface water level. Turn the vial right-side up and allow it to fill. Remove the vial carefully.
- Remove water to the appropriate fill line by gently shaking the vial. If you shake out too much water, start over at Step #3.
- Complete the appropriate test by following directions inside the test kit carefully.
- Read the results by holding a white card behind the vial and position yourself so the sun is behind you.
- Record results in the Pool Log. Recording must be done in pen, not pencil. This is a legal document.
- Rinse the vial thoroughly and dry with a paper towel. Any reagent that remains inside the vial may stain the plastic and give false future readings.
NOTE: If the DPD #1 test turns clear almost immediately after inserting the tablet or liquid, it is likely that the Chlorine levels are too high. If this is the case, the DPD #3 test will usually turn bright yellow or ‘murky brown’. A low Chlorine reading will show "no color" at any point in time.
-
What do natural enzymes do for my pool water?
Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins that 'catalyze' or speed up the natural breakdown of organic materials into smaller & smaller molecules until they are finally reduced to their elemental forms such as carbon dioxide & water. No other compounds break down organic waste as efficiently as natural enzymes.
-
What is the purpose of sanitizing my pool?
Sanitizing pool water kills bacteria that can be harmful to bathers and aids in controlling algae. You need to constantly check and maintain your sanitizer level because bacteria enter the pool continuously from many sources.
-
Why do I have to "shock" my pool water?
"Shocking" your pool water chemically destroys the organic contaminants introduced by bathers and the environment. They restore water clarity, help maintain water balance and eliminate the main causes of eye and nose irritation.
-
How often should I clean my pool filter?
It is recommended that pool filters be cleaned at least twice a pool season - mid summer and in the fall - or more often if needed. The filter should also be cleaned at spring opening if it wasn't cleaned as part of the pool closing procedures in the fall.
-
What is Ultraviolet (UV) technology?
UV technology is an environmentally-friendly way to utilize ultraviolet energy to neutralize the microscopic microorganisms that live in pool water.
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