How To Take A Water Sample From Your Pool
If you don’t have a management company or a pool servicing company. Take a clean jam/jelly jar or similar. Put you hand over the mouth of it while dipping it into to the pool to collect a sample of water two feet under the surface...Water samples taken from the top are useless as they are unable to be effective indicators of the actual chemical contents of your pool water. The pool store will also want to know the size of your pool so they can work out how many gallons of water it holds. Take your water sample to the pool store they should be able to test it for you and sell you the right chemicals to go into your pool. They may suggest algae cleaner, clarifier, stabilizer and or chlorine. Unless you’re really sure about what you are doing please leave this in the hands of professionals. Follow instructions on the labels COMPLETELY and ensure all chemicals are stored as per the manufactures instructions and are kept well away from CHILDREN.

My Pool Has A Greenish Color
This is the start of Mustard Algae. There are a many reasons this could be happening. Call your property manager or pool servicing company. It might be best to ask them for an emergency call out. It isn't safe to swim in the pool unless it is clear blue. So, please ensure everyone in your home knows not to swim until the pool has been treated and has returned to normal. The chemical balance of the pool will need to be rebalanced.

Why Did My Pool Turn Green When It's Serviced Weekly
This could have happened due to inclement weather diluting the chlorine too fast. Pesticides and or fertilizers could have blown in there from any nearby grass, golf course, or any groves etc. Someone could have put something in the pool they were not supposed to. A severe downpour of rain or a lightening storm. The pool could be checked and serviced one day and the next day be green for no predictable reason. There are many reasons in fairness that pools turn green and this isn't necessarily someone’s fault. Each pool is different and they are a law unto themselves. The pool next door could be fine and yours could be bad and visa versa.

Why Would Algae Come Back After A couple of Days
It is possible after it has all been cleaned off? That the water has 'phosphates' and 'nitrates', both of which can encourage algae. This is a common problem especially when the pool is near a golf course, or any piece of grass or land that has just been fertilized. Special chemicals need to be added to your pool call your manager or pool company. Alternatively, take a sample of water as previously described to the pool store.

The Walls Of The Pool Are A Funny Color
Sometimes green or orange these stains have usually become in bedded into the marcite/diamond brite pool finish. This makes to pool look like it's green or yellowish.

The most common cause of these stains is having the pool heater on for too long. Remember your backyard pool is just that, a domestic backyard pool. The pool heater isn't meant to run 365 days a year. Turn it off when no one is using it and make sure it's off Mid April thro end of september, (if possible). Don't have you pool heater on longer than eight hours a day and keep the temp at or under 88 degrees.

Water heated over 92 degrees for long periods of time is in danger of distroying the chemical balance compeletely. You can correct this by draining some water off and adding a chemical magnet to the water. Make sure the pool heater is OFF before attempting this one, (the chemical magnet can affect the pool heater). Don't forget to take your water sample to the pool store as there maybe more than just a chemical magnet that needs adding.

Help My Hair Turned Green In The Pool
This can be due to a hign mineral content in the water. Well water is very good at turning hair green or orange etc. It will also turn expensive swim wear a funny color,
(before going into a pool while wearing a designer suit), check the label to ensure it's okay to swim in it. Some suits are meant for sun-bathing only and don't do well in pools.

If your hair is green or orange, the chemicals in your body, your hair dye and the chlorine all had a disagreement and you're hair lost! See a hair dresser immediately. They will need to put a special treatment on your hair that will take about an hour.

PH Level
What will happen if your pH levels are too low or too high? A pH below 7 means the water is acidic and it will 'eat' the pool and equipment, sting swimmers eyes etc. If not corrected in a timely manner. When pH is above 7.8 chlorine becomes very much less efficient. Keep pH in the 7.2-7.8 ranges. Your ph levels can go up or down depending on the pool itself, the usage and or the weather.

How Long Does Chlorine Stay In Water
Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine how long chlorine lasts in the water. The reason being is that chlorine as an element is unstable and as it is exposed to heat and ultraviolet radiation it destabilizes and becomes inert.

My Pool Has “Blackish” Bits In The Bottom
It may not have rained for a while and all the dust that has collected on top of your pool screens maybe washed by the rain into the bottom of the pool. If the shingles on your roof are nine years old or older the grit off the shingles can be washed off the roof surface by heavy rains and also end up in the bottom of your pool. What is at the back and or sides of your pool? If per chance there is a main road running at the back or sides of your pool. The cars and trucks driving by will kick up dirt into the air which will land in your pool. Dust from the road can be minimized by replacing regular screening with Florida Glass in the bottom one or two panels. Florida glass is a much tighter weave and hold out more of the dust and lend you the added advantage of privacy.

My Pool Area Is Always A Mess…Please Help!
Your pool may be near woodlands, a busy road, groves, a wind trap, trees or other perils that seem to take a lot of hard work to keep it nice. Algae on the deck may mean that you have a dead spot area where water stands, or that part of the pool faces north. See about getting the area bleached or pressure cleaned monthly. If this is the case please try and not to complain to your pool servicing company. Instead schedule a meeting with them on your pool deck. They might be able to come up with a few suggestions for improving the area without it costing a fortune. If the pool is less than a year old get the pool builder back in to assist you in coming up with a solution.

Why Does My Pool Have A Greasy Line Around The Tiles
There could be pollen in the air that has floated down into your pool. If you have any trees around the pool area. Oil from its leaves or any buds or flowers it produces will end up in your pool and will feel like there is grease floating on top. Another very sound reason is someone has got into your pool with sun tan oil or lotion on and has failed to let it dry into their skin properly before entering the pool. You will need to skim and clean the pool, scrub the tiles and clean or back wash the filter or the oil will end up right back in the pool.
How Can You Remove The White Line On The Tile? This is a calcium buildup. It leaches from the plaster into the pool. This can be somewhat controlled by watching your alkalinity level in your water if the water in your pool hasn't been drained in over 6 years, it could have calcium content in the water. Pool stores sell liquids and gels that can help you with this problem.

What Is The Proper Way To Vacuum A Pool
Attach a pole to the vacuum with wheels. Place the hose into the hole on the bottom of the vacuum. Lower the hose and pole, with the vacuum body with wheels into the water. Lower the hose fully into the water, so that it fills up with water - no air. Cover the end of the hose with your hand. Lift the end of the hose up and into the strainer area. With the skimmer baskets removed, place the hose into the water there, and place it into the black hole, or jet system, inside the skimmer area. That starts the vacuum. Move the vacuum head, pole, and hose around, while picking up all dirt and debris. If there is a lot of dirt and debris, clean out the lint strainer, and backwash. You must backwash, otherwise you will be sending out dirty water to clean with. After the backwash, continue until complete. After you is complete, backwash one more time, after cleaning out the lint strainer
How Do You Switch The Pump Over When You Want To Vacuum The Pool?Procedures for vacuuming. with the pump running, connect vac hose to vac head and lower into to pool (on vac pole), filling hose with water (push hose into water, hand over hand, to fill). When you get to the end of the hose you should see it full of water. Connect end of hose to skimmer - remove basket and push end of hose into suction hole in skimmer. Suction should now be via the vac head - you're vacuuming

Pool Valves
The best advise is Don’t touch them. To refill up your pool will cost around $450.00 plus chemicals. With one flip of the wrong handle you could accidentally start draining the pool and flooding the neighbors gardens plus the street. Boy, won’t you feel silly having to own up to that one and ask for help.

Pool Filters
When to clean or not to clean. Depends on the pressure ( PSI) your particular pool works best at. Some experts say clean this filter every week. Others say left a little dirty it will trap more particles from the pool. Two-three weeks is not unusual and maybe the normal for your pool. Filters should be replaced yearly. Don’t leave the old one around to indicate to others you have just had a brand new filter as it may go walk’s all by itself. Buy an permanent black marker and date and address the top of your new filter. This will avoid theft.

Cutting Your feet In The Pool
In order for the pools and decks to be non-slip they’re kind of rough. In order to avoid cutting your feet wear socks or beach shoes if you intend to be in there longer than 30 minutes. Running on the deck will also cut your feet in addition to being a safety hazard.

Never Swim Alone, No Diving, Running Or No Horse Play
Pools are great fun but can also be a death trap. Never swim alone or allow children under sixteen in your pool unsupervised. Use a pool alarm to ensure you are alerted to any children entering the pool area with supervision. Children do drown every year in Pools in Florida and in most cases the parents are within earshot. Diving in shallow waters, running around the pool can all cause nasty accidents.

Diving For Treasure
Please avoid dropping coins into the bottom of your pool for the kids to dive under and retrieve. The metal in the coins will react with the chlorine and leave stains on your pools floor. It isn’t the circle of life you’re seeing but the circle of coins!

No Glasses By The Pool
What we’re suggesting is that you have vinyl or plastic glasses, plates and dishes for your patio area. Real Glasses and tableware could cause an unintentional nasty injury
Special Cleaning Is Needed Upon Finding Small Dead Animals In Your Pool/ Filter Your pool should be shocked upon finding a critter in it.. and I don’t mean upset at all These little animals can carry bacteria

How Long Does Your Pool Surface Last
How long is a piece of string. It depends on the type of finish and how it was applied and also how it was maintained. Most pool builders will blame the chemical balancing if a pool surface starts to stain up and deteriorate within a couple of years. There are many other factors to consider with the application of the finish. The chemical content of your land, the concrete, finish and or maintenance all can play it’s part in ensuring the longevity of the finish of the pool. I’ve known some marcite pools that should last around five years before showing signs of age still look good after 12yrs. Other have lasted less than four years with the same due care and attention as the older ones. Diamond brite and or other stronger finishes on newer pools are expected to last as long as ten years before needing to be refinished. Surface stains can be acid bathed to get a pool looking good again. Pitted stains maybe lightened some with a acid bath but will not be able to be removed completely.

Checking For Leaks In An In Ground Pool
Before you hire a professional. See if you can deduce where you might be losing water. Look for pipes and plastic weir skimmers that are cracked and leaking. (Does the water level fall below the water outlet ports in the pool?) Look at the grouting on and around the tiles. Look at your spa (if you have one) a lot of leaks start here. Check seals ensure valves aren’t leaky walk the ground around the area for any unusual dampness. Look for changes in the pressure gauges which might indicate a crimped pipe somewhere. Look for signs of settlement or crack in your pool deck or around your pools foundations. How much water a week is it losing an inch or two? Could this be down to too much splashing around and water evaporating? If there are no visible clues call in a leak detection company. They usually offer no guarantees and costs start from a round $375 and up for a service call. If all else fails they say a leaky pool is a healthy pool !