Hayward Pool Products now offer’s a very cool way to control not only your pool and spa, but also your entire home. From anywhere! Using Aqua Connect Web you can use a computer or smartphone to manage your pool and seamlessly integrate your home automation. One interface gives you complete control over your . . . → Read More: Remote Pool Management System]]> Aqua Connect Web

Hayward Pool Products now offer’s a very cool way to control not only your pool and spa, but also your entire home. From anywhere! Using Aqua Connect Web you can use a computer or smartphone to manage your pool and seamlessly integrate your home automation. One interface gives you complete control over your pool, spa, entertainment center, lighting, sprinklers and other home functions.  Use the Internet to manage your pool from anywhere in the world. With a subscription to Aqua Connect website, you can monitor and react to more than 100 parameters and settings from anywhere. All that’s required is a landline Internet connection or web-enabled device such as a Blackberry®, iPhone®, iPad® or iPod Touch®. You can monitor multiple residences such as vacation homes, as well as include your pool service company in the network so they can monitor your pool too.

Available on Pro Logic, Aqua Plus and Aqua Rite Pro.

Aqua Connect Home Network

Manage your pool by creating a network inside and outside your home. Aqua Connect Home Network bridges your Hayward pool controller to your home network. It allows you to manage pool and spa functions using any desktop or laptop computer, or mobile WiFi devices such as an Blackberry®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod Touch®.

Available on Pro Logic, Aqua Plus and Aqua Rite Pro.

Aqua Connect Home Automation

Pool management with one universal remote control. Wouldn’t it be great to have your pool and spa controller interface seamlessly with your home automation system so that one keypad or display panel can handle home theater equipment, security, lighting, landscape sprinklers, and other backyard functions? Aqua Connect Home Automation provides the simplified control you’ve been wanting. It’s fully automated, blissfully simple and compatible with home automation platforms manufactured by Crestron and AMX.

Available on Pro Logic.

Today I’ll cover the monthly chore of backwashing your D.E. pool filter. Backwashing your D.E. (diatomaceous earth) swimming pool filter is a vital part of maintaining your swimming pool. In addition to backwashing, it is also very important to completely disassemble your D.E. filter and clean thoroughly every 6 months (but, I’ll cover this in another . . . → Read More: How To Backwash Your D.E. Pool Filter]]>  

Today I’ll cover the monthly chore of backwashing your D.E. pool filter. Backwashing your D.E. (diatomaceous earth) swimming pool filter is a vital part of maintaining your swimming pool. In addition to backwashing, it is also very important to completely disassemble your D.E. filter and clean thoroughly every 6 months (but, I’ll cover this in another blog). Proper filter maintenance will extend the life of the elements inside your filter, which can be very costly to replace. So let’s get started!

This is a Hayward push-pull style filter, but the steps are pretty universal if you don’t have this brand filter.

Before you do anything make sure the equipment is OFF!

pool equipment breaker

With the equipment off twist handle from “lock” to “open” and pull up to set to backwash position. If you’re having a hard time getting the handle up the seals might need to be lubricated – you shouldn’t have to use too much force.

backwash valve locked position

backwash valve open position

Make sure to extend your backwash hose to wherever you want to put the mess. Make sure the hose is nice and straight, if there are any kinks you might blow a hole in the hose.

With the backwash valve in the backwash position you’re ready to begin backwashing. Turn the equipment breaker back on and start the filter pump. Backwash until the discharge runs clear.

Note: Down is the filter position, up is backwash.

Optional step (super cleanse) – After backwashing, turn equipment back off and put the backwash valve in the filter position. Turn equipment back on for a few seconds. Then repeat the backwash procedure. Repeat this process until water runs clear. This is how I backwash D.E. filters, it helps to break up stubborn dirt and D.E. that might be stuck in the grids.

backwash valve in backwash position

Once the water runs clear you’re done backwashing. Turn equipment off. Put backwash valve back into the filter position. Lock handle. Turn equipment back on.

Now that your filter is nice and clean on the inside, you still need to recharge your D.E. filter. Take a look at the specifications label on your filter for the amount of d.e. to use. In the picture below you can see this filter requires 7.5 lbs. A d.e. cup (purchased anywhere you can buy d.e.) is designed to give you 1 pound of d.e. so in this case you know you need 7 cups. You can also use a small coffee can.

With the filter pump running, the backwash valve in the filter position (of course), AND suction to your skimmer, you can begin adding d.e. powder to your skimmer. The powder will be sucked into the filter where it coats the grids.

Note: You should never operate your filter without D.E., the grids inside your filter are not designed to clean water, they are designed to hold D.E., the D.E. filters your water.

Filter data

There, that wasn’t so bad now was it?

N12.bikini – Intro Video from Continuum Fashion on Vimeo.

Here’s how you do it. Start by turning off all the power to your pool equipment at . . . → Read More: Salt Cell Cleaning]]> For optimum performance, manufacturers recommend a visual inspection of the cell every three months, or during filter cleanings. While keeping your pool water in balance will help prevent build up in your cell, periodic cleanings may be necessary.

Here’s how you do it. Start by turning off all the power to your pool equipment at the breaker panel. Remove cell and inspect for build up, looks like a white flaky crust. If it looks clean, through it back together and have a nice day. If you see build up or debris that have passed the filter, take a high pressure garden hose and rinse. If this doesn’t work, use a plastic or wooden tool (don’t use metal, unless you like breaking expensive things) such as a wood shim.

In severe cases, where all else fails…acid wash it. Use a clean bucket, preferably something wide enough so that the cell can lay flat at the bottom. Use about a quart of acid to a gallon of water, adding acid to water, not water to acid. Make sure to wear your hazmat gear such as goggles and gloves, and work in a well ventilated area. Place the cell in mixture, making sure mix is strong enough so that there are bubbles coming out of the cell. Bubbles means the build-up is dissolving.

The cleaning process can take a while, anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Ok, now rinse the cell and repeat if necessary. When reinstalling your cell make sure seals are lubricated and DO NOT over tighten the unions, or you’re going to have a bad day.

Excessive build up in the cell is a indicator of unusually high calcium levels. If not corrected, you’ll find yourself cleaning your cell all the time, which can reduce the life of the cell if you’re always scraping and acid washing it. The best way to avoid this is to maintain proper water chemistry.

Poor circulation? One of the first things I do is check the pump basket for cracks and shrinkage. A damaged basket is a good indicator that debris could be clogging the impeller.

Making sure pump will not turn on, remove basket and stick a finger into the impeller hole and feel around. If . . . → Read More: Clogged impeller]]>  

Poor circulation? One of the first things I do is check the pump basket for cracks and shrinkage. A damaged basket is a good indicator that debris could be clogging the impeller.

Making sure pump will not turn on, remove basket and stick a finger into the impeller hole and feel around. If you feel debris grab yourself a coat hanger and Macgyvera handled hook and dig it out. Most of the time this should take care of it. If it’s really bad you’ll need to disassemble the pump a little bit.

Don’t forget to get yourself a new basket.

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Here are a few photos of pool tile I cleaned in Scottsdale the other day. On top of cleaning the tile I also removed all the old caulking between the deck and tile and applied a fresh, new, solid seal, which really made this pool look great. There was also a minor . . . → Read More: Pool tile cleaning in Scottsdale]]>

Here are a few photos of pool tile I cleaned in Scottsdale the other day. On top of cleaning the tile I also removed all the old caulking between the deck and tile and applied a fresh, new, solid seal, which really made this pool look great. There was also a minor tile repair done in the skimmer where a tile was missing.

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Required Supplies:

Test showed that after only 3 days of adjusting pH to . . . → Read More: Salt Pools Need More Than Weekly Service, Study Says]]> According to recent research done by the National Pool Industry Research Center, pools using salt chlorination need more chemical attention than a weekly visit can provide. This conclusion is the result of a five-month study commissioned by the Independent Pool and Spa Service Association.

Test showed that after only 3 days of adjusting pH to the “ideal” range of 7.2 to 7.6, the pH would drift back up to 8.0 or above. Not a surprise to service professionals as we see this all the time, but should concern pool owners for the following reasons:

Affects of pH on your pool

When swimming pools are allowed to become too acidic (low pH) the water will become corrosive, dissolving metals such as hand rails and heater elements. On the flipside, when pool water becomes too alkaline (high pH) the water will deposit scale throughout pipes, pool equipment and surface of your pool (particularly pool tiles). I’ve seen pools that had severe scale build up throughout the pipes, which can be a problem because scale provides the perfect surface for black algae to latch onto and never let go.

Affects of pH on other chemicals

pH can determine the effectiveness of your sanitizer (chlorine, bromine) an affect known as oxidation reduction potential (ORP). Chlorine is most effective at a pH of 7.4, when pH raises only four-tenths, from 7.4 to 7.8, the effectiveness of chlorine will be lost by as much as one third. That’s a lot. This can allow bacteria and algae to grow even though your pool appears to have plenty of chlorine. This should be a concern when swimming in a public or residential pool, considering the crypto problems we experienced here in Arizona just a few years ago.

Affects of pH on skin and eyes

Our bodies are typically balanced at a pH of 7.2 – 7.4 . When your swimming pools’ pH becomes out of balance it can agitate the skin and eyes, causing itching and burning that I’m sure we’ve all experienced once or twice.

Overall, I think this should concern those with sensitive skin the most. I recommend you take a sample of pool water to a pool store for testing on a regular basis and make the necessary chemical adjustments as needed. Or, stock up on muriatic acid and testing agents, but there is always safety concerns when storing pool chemicals. Lastly, you could always hire a quality pool service and specify your concerns. A quality pool service should test every week and make necessary adjustments. You can even specify to have the test results logged for you.