Test with accuracy

Are test strips accurate?

This is a very common question we are asked in the store. The answer is yes they are very accurate in fact I think the only reason we question it is because we are all so use to seeing liquid test kits used. Take a moment and consider that test strips are used all the time for medical test results, diabetic's use them constantly with out any question to there accuracy.

Here is the catch though we have found some import brands test strips to be a little off and don't offer a very good scale to compare the results with. We strongly suggest you stick with known trusted brands we prefer Aquachek. Additionally how you test and where you store your test strips is super important. To start store your test strip bottle inside the house not out side with the chemicals. Test strips, as with liquid reagents, are very sensitive to temperature and storing them outside can often cause them to go bad. Along with temperature the UV from the sun can negatively affect the strips. Additionally double check the expiration of the strips printed typically on the bottom of the bottle or near the UPC code.

Proper testing is equally important which is as simple as following the directions. Often this is where customers go wrong either they just grab a strip dip in swish it around and then compare the colors or they do what the instructions of another brand told them to do. Different strips have different instructions and take the minute to read them before testing and you will a quick accurate result.

You can take your testing to the next level by using a TruTest Meter from aquachek. This meter will quickly and super accurately read your test strip giving you results that are simply unmatched. We use a very similar meter in the store for all our testing, frankly the only difference is ours reads more types of test and is directly tied into our computer but the concept is the exact same.

A final note there are a few apps on the market right now for reading test strips and then giving you the results and a to do list. We have test everyone of them from the free to the paid one and at this point we have not found one the is consist ant and accurate. We strongly recommend against these apps for the time being but are sure that sometime hopefully soon this is something that will work.

We do have a $10.00 off coupon for the trutest reader on our website if you would like to try it.

Have a question about swimming pool testing or the results in general drop us a note or post your question, others may have a similar question.

Your swimming pool prescription

There is no doubt summer is here and just in time for a fun filled fourth of July weekend.  Swimming pools are warming up and getting used more and more each day.  We mentioned on our previous post that we use two special ingredients in the swimming pools on our service route the fist was the pool perfect we discussed previously.  The second in a Pool Rx. 

Let me first take a moment and eat a little crow for throwing the sales rep out of the store so many times several years ago and thank him for being so persistent.  At least once a week the latest and greatest item is pitched to us and so often it is just snake oil made to take your hard earn money.  Since we feel, and rightly so, that if we are asking you to spend your money on a product it need to do what it says it will do and provide a value doing it.   The sales rep finally left us 3 units to try in "our worst pools" so we said sure we give them a try.  With in a few weeks we had to call and say he was right the pool rx really does work and work well.

So what does the Pool Rx do for you, well there are a few things.  First it kills all algae types in fact it is so good it is part of our no algae guarantee in the store. Equally nice it allows you to lower your chlorine level from the standard 1.5 - 3.0ppm to a very low .5 - 1.0ppm level.  This is a level often lower then your shower water.  Imagine swimming in that and how it will feel on the eyes and skin.

The Pool Rx is good for one year with a booster pack required after 6 months.  It requires no special installation or hardware simply place in your pool pump basket.  Since the Pool Rx is compatible with all form of chlorine including salt water pools we can not recommend it strongly enough.

 

Thats a Perfect Pool

A customer asked how it was his friends pool felt so much better on his skin this his own pool.  Since it was a pool that was on our service route he was directed to come in the store and ask us.  While there are certainly several possible reasons there are two things we do on our pool service route that makes the pool water much nicer to be in.  One them is we use Pool Perfect which is an enzyme product, the other is we use minerals.  I will talk more about the benefits of minerals on the next post, for this one I will discuss the advantages of using a product like Pool Perfect.

Pool perfect is a natural enzyme based product so what does this mean?
Enzymes naturally break down organic material to carbon-dioxide and water which is absorbed naturally by the swimming pool water.  Organics are extremely common in pool water and come in many forms from natural body oils, to cosmetics, sun screen lotions, urine, sweat, leaves and other airborne contaminants. Fun experiment take a little bit of cat food and set it in some pool perfect return in a bit and you will come back to cup of water.

Pool Perfect equals less work
Additionally pool perfect will reduce your pool maintenance work.  By keeping organic material out of the filter you will find that you need to clean your filter about half as often.  Additionally you will notice your pool tile stays cleaner.

While chlorine will break these items down it forms a chloramines requiring more chlorine to then remove that.  Chloramines cause the dry skin, eye irration and strong chemical odor.  By naturally removing the organic material chlorine is able to just santize the pool water making for a much more enjoyable swimming enviroment.

Simply add 5 ounces of pool perfect per 10,000 gallons of pool water weekly when the pool is above 70 degrees and you will see how much easier the pool is to maintain. We do recommend you add pool perfect when you are not shocking your pool water with chlorine.

Visit our facebook page for a special discount you can use on pool perfect.

Save Huge with Vaviable Speed Pool Pump

With today’s rising energy costs, conserving energy is a must.

Probably the single best investment you can make on your swimming pool is a new variable speed pool pump. We have now installed over 100 of these type of pumps and the feed back has been nothing but positive. Customers are telling us of savings from $75.00 to over $120.00 a month!
There are few investments that can pay back like that. Along with putting extra money in back in your pocket every month you are consuming far less energy which is wonderful for our environment.

Besides the money and environmental savings these pumps are incredibly quite. No more loud pool pump kicking on upsetting the neighbors. With the quietness of these pumps and new smart meters going in on most houses many customers are running the pumps late a night during off peak hours.

Currently SDG&E is offering a $200.00 rebate on the installation of qualifying variable speed pool pumps which makes them far more affordable. These pumps are not cheap on average they run about 1000.00 before rebates, call us for free on site visit for an exact quote at 619-209-8939. This means after rebates you are looking at about a 9 to 12 month break even point. Another way to look at it is you will get a 100% return on your money with in a year is your bank offering you a rate like that on their CD's?

All this said it does not always make sense to make such an upgrade and we will be the first tell you that it might not pay off and to wait till your pump really needs be replaced before you make the change. However most swimming pool owners could benefit from changing now regardless of the condition of their current pool pump again we are happy to come out for free and assess your situation.

We have several variable speed pumps to choose from, though after over a 100 installs we have found both the Jandy Stealth E-Pump an the Hayward Eco Star to be our favorites. Both have pro's and con's and we can recommend the best one based on your personal needs.

*** Main Drain Cover RECALL ****

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products on May 26 2011. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

A Little History:

In December 2008, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act required the use of drain covers, as well as pumps equipped with safety vacuum release systems, a mandatory requirement for commercial pools and spas and it was highly recommended for residential use. Most builders and remodels have followed these requirements on residential swimming pools as. This came about after seven year old Virginia Graeme Baker, granddaughter of former Secretary of State James A. Baker, drowned in her family’s spa in 2002 after becoming trapped on the drain. Entrapment can occur easier then you might think and while it is often described as being sucked to the drain it can also include hair or material being pulled in and then tangled trapping the swimmer.

What Should You Do:

We recommend that you visit the manufacturer of your drain covers to see if it is involved in the recall. Most manufacturers have more then one drain type involved so we can not picture them all here. We have included a table of the more common manufacturers.

If you are not certain which manufacturer made your drain covers you can call and schedule an appointment for one of techs to stop by and check by calling 619-209-8939. You can also take attempt to take a picture of the cover and email it to us and we will try and match it based on the picture.

PLEASE DO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO MAKE SURE YOUR SWIMMING POOL IS SAFE.

The following manufacturers have drain covers included in the current recall:

Company	Model Information	Dates Sold	Remedy
A&A	www.aamfg.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
AquaStar	www.aquastarpoolproducts.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Color Match	www.poolfittings.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Custom Molded	www.c-m-p.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Hayward	www.hayward-pool.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Paramount	www.paramountpoolproducts.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Pentair Water	www.pentairpool.com	06/09 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Rising Dragon	www.risingdragonplastics.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit
Waterway	www.waterwayplastics.com	12/08 to 4/11	Replacement or Retrofit

Other manufactures maybe included in this recall please visit CPSC site for a complete list.

New favorite automatic pool cleaner.

After having installed enough of the Baracuda MX8 to have a real good sampling and feel for it.  We have to say the MX8 from zodiac is hands down our favorite pool cleaner.  At least if we do not compare it with the robotic pool cleaners which are in a class all there own. The MX8 is quite, effective, powerful and good looking unit.  So why do we like it so much.... first off every pool we have put one in it has covered it perfectly.  It climbs the wall like no other non robotic cleaner we have seen, turns it self out of spots others would get stuck in.  Nice and quite is another great benefit.  Finally it takes a very low flow which means we can set the variable speed pumps to any even low level saving more on the energy bill.

Stop in a take a look at it or take one home if you don't agree with us that it is the best we will take it back.   Oh did we mention there is a 100.00 rebate on them currently and don't forget we always offer prices that beat the best internet price (in fact we would get in trouble for listing the price).  Call us or stop in the store today 619-209-8939