PLEASE READ: Why it is Important to Test Your Water After Your Pool Opening!

You’ve waited all winter for this and the time has finally come- it’s time to open your pool! You see your pool is crystal clear and you may be ready to dive right in BUT before you do, it is important to have your water tested within 24-48 hours of starting your equipment after your pool is opened. Clear water can be HIGHLY ACIDIC water. Acidic water can severely damage your pool and its equipment within days of operation.

Poor water quality can lead to:

• Corrosion and damage of pool equipment (especially the components in heaters!)

• Damage to ALL pool surfaces (vinyl liners, gunite & fiberglass)

• Additional, potentially costly, expenses to return the pool to a useable condition

• Cloudy, murky and unsightly water

• Swimmer eye and skin irritation

• AND MORE!!

Here at Colley’s Pools & Spas, all 4 of our locations offer COMPLIMENTARY computerized water testing. While your water may look clear and safe, it has been sitting stagnant all winter and may be unsafe for swimming and damaging to the pool and equipment!

Maintaining quality pool water is vital to keeping your pool and pool equipment in tip-top shape all summer long. Frequent water tests (we recommend weekly, but at minimum, twice a month) will help you figure out which chemicals you need, which helps increase the longevity of your pool and its equipment and, in turn, SAVES YOU MONEY! Just because your pool water looks clear- doesn’t mean it is safe!

Testing your pool water with Colley’s Pools & Spas is easy!

1. Use a Colley’s water sample bottle or any clean container.

2. Take the sample away from jets and skimmer.

3. Dip container upside down until elbow deep, then take the sample.

4. Bring it into one of our 4 locations for a COMPLIMENTARY water test.

Based on the computerized outcome, our pool experts can recommend which chemicals you may need to improve your water quality.

How to Properly Maintain Your Loop Loc Cover

If you have a Loop Loc cover, you know it is the strongest pool cover on the market. While it is virtually maintenance free, there are steps you should take to promote the longevity of your Loop Loc cover.

1. Proper Storage: When storing your Loop Loc, fold it up and roll it into the provided storage bag. Hang the bag on a hook or nail (or any way to keep it off the floor). By keeping your Loop Loc off the floor, you are allowing the cover to drain through the bag as well as protect it from rodents. Rodents notoriously like to make a home out of pool covers; chewing holes and causing rips.

2. Handle with Care: Loop Loc covers can be bulky and heavy, but it is important to handle them with care. It is best to avoid dragging the over across the deck or placing it near any sharp edges which will damage the cover.

3. Snow Support: During Western New York’s inevitably cold and snowy winters, your water level should be 15”-18” below the top of the pool. The water (and eventually ice) will act as a support for your Loop Loc when the snow accumulates. This support will help relieve the stress the weight of the snow is placing on the cover.

4. Stay Off: While Loop Loc is touted to be able to hold an elephant, it is best to keep off of your cover to maintain its strength. Not only can being on the cover put stress on it, but pets and other animals can put rips in the cover with their paws/claws.

There are just a few helpful tips that will allow you to get the most out of your Loop Loc cover! Visit the Loop Loc page on our website for more information: www.colleys.com/loop-loc-covers

What to Know When Considering a Salt Chlorine Generator

Are you thinking about transitioning from a chlorine-based pool to a salt chlorine generator? Here are some things to know when deciding which salt chlorine generator to purchase:

1. Power Supply- The power supply takes high voltage and changes it to low voltage, which energizes the cell and allows it to generate chlorine. A control board lets you control how much chlorine the cell is generating. Using either a dial or push buttons, you can set the chlorine output level anywhere from 0-100%.

   Some systems allow you to adjust the level in small increments, while others allow adjustments in larger increments. Naturally, the 1% incremental control will allow a much finer tuning of the salt system to match the pool equipment’s normal operation. The higher increments may require some adjustments of the pump run times to ensure that you maintain the proper chlorine level.

2. Cells- All cell designs are generally similar and usually consist of a PVC housing and titanium blades with ruthenium oxide coatings. The number of blades and the amount of power going to the cell determines how much chlorine the cell generates. The amount of ruthenium oxide on the blade determines how long the cell will last.

   Important to note, calcium scale formation on the blades is detrimental to cell life and should be prevented. Allowing calcium scale build up on the blades will shorten cell life and reduce chlorine output and efficiency. Power Supplies are designed with a self-cleaning mode for the cells to help prevent calcium scale buildup. However, if water chemistry conditions are not maintained properly, calcium scale will build up and will require manual acid washing to rid the cell of calcium.

3. Flow Protection- Two methods of flow protection are available: mechanical flow switch and electrical gas trap. The mechanical flow switch is a device that senses water flow prior to the cell, and pushes a flow paddle towards a magnetic switch. When water flow is correct, the switch sends a signal to the power supply to let it know there is sufficient flow.

   The gas trap design requires there to be sufficient flow to evacuate any air or gases that can accumulate within the cell body. Gas traps typically require an initial high flow rate to rid the gases, and then it can operate at lower RPMs. However, the gas trap may still require a higher flow rate than that of a flow switch.

   Flow switch designs allow for flexibility in the cell orientation, whereas the gas trap requires the cell to be mounted horizontally. Flow switch designs will work better with variable speed pumps (remember this from the 3rd blog?!) by allowing a lower RPM, and lower flow rate, to activate the flow device.

A salt chlorine generator is not for everyone- but if it’s something you are considering, it is always best to consult with your local Colley’s expert!