Well the holidays are over now what?

www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

Well the holidays are over now what?


It back to reality and the tasks at hand, paying off the credit cards and getting back to some normal life and responsibilities. 


Now for those of you that have a spa and love using it over the winter now is a great time to get back to monitoring the water chemistry and since there most likely were a lot of users over the holidays it probably needs close attention right now.


This will be the time you need to give that filter or filters a good filter soak as to get rid of all the body oils and things that have built up over the last month or so.


Just hosing the filter off will not do it, you need to get a filter cleaning solution such as Filter Perfect made by natural chemistry. Take the filter out and place in a bucket of water, be sure that the water covers the filter. Remove the filter from the water and add the filter cleaning solution and mix, then place the filter back in the bucket and soak over night.


The next day remove from the solution and lightly hose off the grids. Re-install the filters into the spa and you should be back in business for another couple of months. Those of you who have a back up filter are in great shape as you can take your time and just swap out the dirty filter for a clean one and then soak that one at your leisure.


Be sure to test the water to see where everything is at now, usually the PH will be low after a heavy bather load so be prepared to add PH and or Alkalinity to get the water back in shape, REMEMBER to add the products one at a time at a rate of no more than 2 tablespoons per 500 gallons of water and allow water to circulate for 20 minutes then retest and add more as necessary.


Always adjust the Alkalinity first then the PH and then the Calcium Hardness, get those levels good BEFORE you start the chlorine or Bromine treatment.  If these chemicals are off the sanitizer will not work effectively and you will find it a pain to get the water back in balance.


If you take your time and do it one step at a time you will have the water back in shape in no time at all and can get back to enjoying the spa for yourself again.


Until Next Time...

Pool Chemicals are no joke.They can hurt you.




www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

 

Pool Chemicals can hurt you.

It has come to my attention lately that people are not taking proper care in storing and handling pool chemicals.

Chlorine being the biggest concern I will discuss a little bit about proper storage and handling.

There are several different types of Chlorine.

1. Sodium Hypochlorite- This is also know as Liquid Chlorine and is the most popular. This has a 15% available chlorine level and a high PH factor of 13 so this will most likely raise the PH levels in your pool but it hits hard and fast.
2. Calcium Hypochlorite- This is a granular form of chlorine mostly used in concrete pools
3. Lithium Hypochlorite- This is a granular chlorine designed for vinyl liner pools as it dissolves better than the Calcium version so as to not bleach or stain the liner. It is 35% available chlorine, it takes almost 3 lbs of lithium to equal one lb of tri-chlor. Its has a pH factor of 11 which means you will have to add acid to adjust the pool water to within proper PH range. 
4. Tri-Chlor- This is a tablet form of chlorine usually put in a floater or chlorine dispenser it has cyanuric acid pressed into the tablets. This has 90% available chlorine, but has a PH factor of 3 so it will draw the ph level in your pool water down.
5.  Di-chlor another from of Granular chlorine is made in roughly the same manner as tri-chlor;The pH is a factor of 7 so it is closer to the neutral range as far as acid content and it dissolves quickly. Di-chlor has 62% available chlorine

So the above is just the basics of Chlorine we can get a little deeper into it on a later blog.

As for storage of these chemicals keep this in mind....

Chlorine in any form is a corrosive and it WILL rust anything you keep near it that is metal, those of you that keep it in your shed with your lawnmower know exactly what I mean.

Chlorine gas that is emitted from its container when opened can knock you out and in larger doses can be lethal. Rule of thumb is to wear protective gloves, eye protection and a mask when handling chlorine.

NEVER EVER MIX CHEMICALS TOGETHER ESPECIALLY CHLORINE THIS CAN PRODUCE AN EXPLOSION OF GREAT FORCE. ALWAYS ADD CHEMICAL TO WATER NEVER WATER TO CHEMICAL.

Just to give you something to think about I have enclosed a link to a story of a Chlorine leak at a commercial pool complex.

Read this and listen to my warnings.

Until Next Time...

www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2013/07/15_hospitalized_after_being_exposed_to_chlorine_at_washington_township_swimming_pool.html

Follow these steps now and avoid any issues going into winter

www.rickrobinson.kwrealty.com

Well the summer is mostly over and I have to say it went by too quick, I did not even get a chance to go to the beach this year.

I will say that this summer was a beautiful one very mild temperatures nothing way too hot and not a lot of rain so all in all I would say we had a great summer.

Now it is the end of September and most people are closing their pools and opening their spas for the fall and winter months.

If you have a spa and you use it all winter then you will want to follow these steps now and avoid any issues going into winter.

• Drain the spa and wipe down the surface with an approved surface cleaner (no abrasive cleansers as they can scratch the acrylic)
• Soak the filter in a filter cleaning solution overnight if your filter is over 1 year old you may want to consider replacing it now.
• Make sure you have all the necessary chemicals to start up the spa once you have it refilled with water. You will need a metal remover, PH up, PH down, Alkalinity boost, calcium increaser, and your sanitizer either chlorine or bromine.
• Fill the spa with water, put the hose down into the filter compartment first to push through any air bubbles in the lines, as the spa is filling add 8 oz of metal remover.
• Once the spa is full test the water with your test kit and determine where the PH and Alkalinity are at. Always add the Alkalinity first as this is a buffer for the PH and will help stabilize it. Once the Alkalinity level is good move on to the PH, then the Calcium Hardness.
• Providing all the previous levels are now good wait till the temperature of the water reaches 70 degrees or higher then add your sanitizer either chlorine or Bromine.

Now the spa should be good to go and ready for the winter use, you should not have to drain the water again till march if you do this by Thanksgiving the rule of thumb is every 4 months.

Now is also a great time to invest in a Fire pit, these units are a great way to still enjoy the outdoors for a little while longer without freezing your --- off. I am getting my fire pit ready this weekend so go out and get your today and don't forget to stock up on some fire wood.

Until Next Time...

It's Closing Time...

Well summer is almost over and it is back to school time, for kids this stinks but for us parents it's a time to rejoice...

For my readers in New Orleans area my heart goes out to you and my hopes are that you can withstand mother natures vengeance and keep up your spirits.

The weather pattern effecting the south will soon travel north east and hit this region and bring with it lots of rain etc. Now is the time most people start to think about closing their pools both above ground and in ground. Remember that if you close your pool now be sure that you have a good cover pump to remove all the excess water that will build up.

For my spa readers now will be a great time to do the quarterly drain and refill of your spa, be sure to have all the chemicals you need to start up the spa again once full such as Bromine/Chlorine, PH up and Down, Alkalinity increaser, and a metal remover. I also advise replacing the spa filter if it is more than a year old, you should be hosing off your filter at the very least to ensure that the spa runs good and the heater operates normally. Check the spa cover and be sure that it is in good shape, if your spa cover is getting heavy then you should replace it BEFORE the winter months hit as heavy snow loads will certainly damage the cover and leave you in a desperate search for a replacement in the freezing months.

Bottom line, take the time now to inspect your spa and close that pool so you can begin the fall with a clear head to help your kids get all they can from the coming school year. LOL

Until Next Time...

Buying a home with a pool? What should you do?

www.rickrobinsonhomes.com

So you are thinking about buying a home that has a pool? What should you do?

I hear these questions often and here are some of my suggestions:

First thing you need to do is get a professional to do a complete pool inspection that includes a pressure test of all the plumbing lines. When they do a pressure test they will fill all the lines with water and get the pressure in the lines up to 10-15 lbs and they will watch to see if the pressure starts to drop this could indicate a leak in one of the plumbing lines.

An inspection will also give you an experts opinion on the condition of the pool equipment it's possible age and if there is any repairs they feel should be made right away, the biggest issues I have found is an older heater that leaks and or does not fire up. Repairs can be costly if you need to replace equipment. If you have a concrete pool then you may need to have the pool re plastered or tile and coping repairs these can be a costly repair that you should not have to be responsible for. Re plaster jobs could be in excess of $5000.00 tile and coping could be the same.

A vinyl liner pool is different as long as the vinyl liner is in tact and not leaking you should be OK a liner can fade, but this will not change the integrity of the pool itself. A new liner can run from $2000-$3000 for the liner and then another $1000 for the installation.

Once you determine that the pool is sound and you have a good report from the inspector you can go to the homeowner and ask for credit for any pool repairs needed before you close on the house.

Once you own the home take a water sample from the pool to your local pool supply center and have the water tested. They will tell you what you need to add to the water to keep it clean and safe for swimming, they can also guide you on proper maintenance and operation. A pool is a great feature to have in the backyard, it can be fun for the whole family and give your kids some great summer fun.

With a little knowledge and patience, a pool can be a great STAYCATION at home and save you a great deal of money on those costly trips to the beach.

So go ahead and buy that house and go swimming.....

Until Next Time....

It's Snowing, Get out there and use that spa!

Rick the Spa Guy

It's Snowing, Get out there and use that spa! Well the NJ finally gets the first real snow of the season, it is cold out there but it is a great time to get out  and get in the spa and enjoy the snow piles and that hot 100 degree water while you relax and watch the stars.


I live in northern NJ and we received about 6 inches today, it looks nice out there with all the white stuff. Don't forget to shovel a path to your spa so you can get out there and enjoy it.


Since the air temp is still very cold there is a chance the the electric wires could freeze and cause power outages if this happens, DO NOT FORGET to go outside after you get power back and check to see that the spa has powered back up. This is when most people forget about their spa and when they do go outside to check, it is frozen already and too late this could be a very expensive mistake.


Check your chemicals as well, be sure the PH and Alkalinity are good, the PH should be between 7.2 and 7.6 ppm and the Alkalinity should be between 90-130 ppm, the Calcium Hardness should be 250 ppm and Chlorine or Bromine should be 2.0 - 3.0 ppm for regular users, if you use a mineral stick or other supplemental sanitation to assist in the disinfecting you will still want a 1.0 ppm level of Chlorine or Bromine.


Next week is supposed to warm up and it would be a great time to change the water in your spa if it is that time again, just make sure once you start you complete the task, never leave a drained spa overnight unless it has benn winterized because IT WILL FREEZE.


Until Next Time...

A Guide to Maintaining Your Pool and Spa

A Guide to Maintaining Your Pool and Spa







If you have a pool at home, it is evident that you have to undergo regular cleaning and maintenance in order to keep it clean and conditioned. Initially, you have to be knowledgeable about the symptoms of an unhealthy pool, and ensure that your pools water is clean. More often than not, the symptoms of an unhealthful pool require further addition of chlorine for clearer water, an abrupt upsurge in the quantity of dirt in the pool, and unnecessary sounds in your pool cleaner or pool pump that works differently than it usually does.






While most pool owners utilize the services of a swimming pool service technician, know that it is possible for you to clean and maintain your pool without any other persons help. If you simply have the determination and the initiative to do it on your own, you will realize that you can acquire numerous items such as circulation, plumbing, and surge-tank float valves, pool test kits, and vacuums, which you can use as the primary tools in cleaning your pool.






The aforementioned cleaning tools are necessary, since you have to invest in the fundamentals of pool cleaning if you want to save money and time. In addition, it is substantial that you assess your pools water health, and bear in mind that clear water does not always signify that its health is in good condition. Generally, there are three primary means on how you can measure your pool health namely, through its alkalinity, Ph level, and algae build up.






The Ph level refers to the level of alkalinity or acidity in your pool. It is important that the Ph level of the water be close to the neutral level of seven, since a higher or lower Ph level is not idyllic for your pool. On the other hand, alkalinity indicates the amount of ionic salt of alkaline elements that are present in your pool. The ideal level for alkalinity is between 80-155 parts per million, which will keep your pool from alga or bacteria.










This helpful guest post is created by the Happy Health editorial lineup. Are you searching for finding out which hearing aid will best meet your needs? We suggest you visit our webpage to check out our ratings for hearing aids.

It's cold out there Don't forget to check on your spa

Rick the Spa Guy

It's cold out there so don't forget to check on your spa. When the weather gets very cold like this in the north east and all parts winter, we tend to neglect our outside spaces because it is just to cold to be outside but this could cost you some big money.


It is happening once again, I am getting many calls from people saying they just went outside and their spa is not running and the water in the spa is frozen.


The issue is they wait to long to check on the spa and by the time they realize something is wrong it is too late. A frozen spa can cost you a lot of money in repairs, one person I know had to spend over $1500.00 to get the spa repaired once they thawed it out and the spa was only 1 year old.


There is no warranty for a frozen spa. If your like most of us you get busy this time of year and the backyard takes a backseat to the holidays, and that is ok as long as you do your diligence and check in on your investment at least once a week.


If you keep your spa water tempreture at about 98 or 100 degrees and something happens to the spa it should take at least a week to drop the temp down to freezing temperatures where you have to worry. Some spas are more insulated than others so that estimate depends on your brand of spa.


It only takes a minute or two to go out and lift the cover and see if the spa is OK and check the chemical levels,and if you do find something wrong you should have plenty of time to call and get someone out to make the repairs it may need so you do not loose any great and relaxing time in your spa.


Happy Holidays


Until Next Time...

"Pay It Forward" Help others to have a great holiday season.

Rick the Spa Guy

"Pay it Forward" to me means to go out of my way to help someone I may or may not know to have a better day, week, holiday or what ever I can do for them.

Being in the service industry I get to meet and talk to a lot of people everyday. Most of us today are in the same boat, working to survive and trying to give our family a great holiday season. I love this time of year, don't you?

The best in people comes out. This time of year I am the politest, and happy person I wish I was all year long. I decided 2 years ago to "Pay It Forward", during the holiday season I met a woman who's husband had recently passed away and she was having to deal with the household chores and the pool herself and did not know who to trust. My heart went out to her. She called me to close her pool since her regular guy would not call her back, this is when I found out the details about the husband,(she volunteered the info).

Well once you hear that kind of thing you just have to help out don't you? So, I offered to close the pool for cost and told her to call me in the spring and I would help her out with the vinyl liner replacement that she needed.

She called me the next April and we discussed the upcoming job and what would be involved, it was then I decided to "Pay It Forward" I replaced the liner at a my cost and closed her pool for free. This made me feel great knowing I helped her out and did something that was not just for me, I saw the way her kids loved the pool and I wanted to make thing great for them and make it so she knew she could trust me and I would do it right for her.

She has since referred me to several of her friends even though they did not need my services, this is how she Payed it Forward for me. To this day I still take care of her pool and we are good friends. I hope all of you that read my blogs will find a way to "pay it Forward" for someone this holiday season, you will not believe how good you will feel. Kindness is the best medicine for all that ails you.

I am trying to write about things that are close to my heart during the winter months when most of my industry is trying to figure out how to survive another year. I love to blog and my only wish is that I can help some people out there by giving them some info that they needed to do it themselves and save some time and money, and if they tell people about me all the better, if not I am still doing what I love so all is good.

If there is a topic that you would like me to write about, send me a comment and I will do my best. I also have a face book page that I do get comments on so you can always visit me there as well. Rick the spa guy is my new handle, what do you think? LOL

I again want to wish you a Happy and Healthy holiday season, and I hope we can help each other out in the future. Tell your friends....

Until Next Time...

Time To Drain And Clean That Spa

Is it time to drain and clean that spa already? Here's some info that you may find useful..

When draining the spa be sure to turn the breakers off first so the pumps will not run with no water and burn up.

You may find that purchasing a small submersible pump much faster and easier than hooking a garden hose up to the gravity drain built into the spa plumbing. Little Giant makes a great pump that can drain your spa at a rate of 1200 gallons per hour. This pump will empty a 500 gallon spa in less than 30 min.

Use a NON-ABRASSIVE cleaner to wipe down the spa surface, so you won't scratch the acrylic. Be sure to rinse the spa thoroughly and get rid of the left over water before you refill the spa.
This is the time to soak those filter cartridges. Use a good filter cleaner so you can break down the organics that are stuck to the filter and you can not see them. If you soak your filters every time you drain your spa, you will have less trouble keeping the spa clean and clear. The paper filters are good for about 2 years if maintained properly.

If you have signs of mildew on the under side or the spa cover you can use a LIGHT bleach solution to clean the mold. Use 3 parts water to 1 part bleach. ALWAYS ADD BLEACH TO WATER NEVER WATER TO BLEACH. Use a soft brissle brush to scrub the cover and rinse off with fresh water.
Use a cover protectant after you clean the surface debris off like 303 protectant. This will put a new coat of UV protection on the vinyl and your cover will last much longer and look great.
When you start the refilling process, stick your garden hose down into the filter area first and let the spa fill from the plumbing lines fist. This will push any air that may be trapped in the pump out and allow the pumps to start up smoothly and not cavitate and become air locked.
Once you have a foot or so of water in the bottom of the spa add a metal remover to the water while it is filling. Once the spa is full you can turn the breaker back on and test for full operation.

Now test the water with a test kit and determine the level of Alkalinty and PH in the water. Always adjust the Alkalinity first, then the PH and finally the sanitizer. Wait for the spa temperature to get above 70 degrees before you add and Bromine/Chlorine as these products work more efficiently in warmer water.

Now you should be ready to start using your spa again. Remember the better care you take of your spa the less problems you will encounter and the less money you will have to spend on repair bills.

Until Next Time...

Are You Buying A House With A Spa

Rick the Spa Guy

So you are thinking about buying a house with a spa outside and don't know what to do? A spa is designed for therapeutic value. They are portable units, so if you do not want it you can simply have an electrician disconnect the power and sell the unit or cut it up and throw it away, but before you do that consider the relaxing nights outside under the stars enjoying that warm water and therapy you would be getting from being a spa owner.

Spas are just an over sized jetted bath tub, most homes built today are designed with a master suite and master bath with a jetted bath tub in them, and people love to see the jetted tub in their bathroom but do not like spas outside. The reality of it is that most homeowners that have jetted bath tubs say that they rarely if ever use it. They have to wait for it to fill, if the unit does not have a heater in it then the water cools off quickly and you have to keep draining a little and refill with the hot water, it becomes a hassle and they just end up showering instead.

With an out door spa you are under the stars, the water is always full and at the temperature you prefer. In the winter you can be soaking in 100 degree water with snow all around and enjoying the company of your spouse or significant other at the same time. The chemical balance is easy if you monitor the spa once a week, and you are only adding a few ounces of chemical to keep the water clean and clear.

If you have never owned a spa or been in one before I recommend that you get in one and see how great it can be to own a spa. Go to a spa showroom at your local pool dealer and ask for a wet test, they usually will have a couple of models full and running, get in and enjoy the message therapy and see if a spa is for you.

So again, do not turn that house away that has a spa before you see if you will enjoy it. You can always get rid of it if it is not for you.

Until Next Time....

Pool Closing Instructions

Rick the Spa Guy

Time for that dreaded pool closing... So you want to close the pool yourself... Here are a few tips to get you going...

ABOVE GROUND POOL CLOSING: Drain out the pool water to just below the skimmer faceplate. Plug the pool return and dissconnect all hoses going to pool, drain out filter and pump of any water. Open filter and clean completly. Inflate air pillow and center pillow in pool and tie off each end to sides of pool so air pillow will stay in place, drape cover over pillow and leave about 1 foot of cover over edge of pool and use wire tie looping through each eyelet and fasten with winch.

INGROUND POOL CLOSING: This is tricky... you need to lower the water in pool to below skimmer in vinyl pool and/or 6" below tile line in concrete pool. Drain out filter system of any water, take filter apart and clean throughly, you will need a blower or shop vac to blow out the plumbing lines. Blow out the suction lines first, and be sure to put in an empty bottle or compensator in each skimmer in case of and water getting in and ice forming. Blow out the return lines with the blower and start to plug each return line starting with the return closest to the equipment and working your way to the furthest one, once this is complete you will need to blow out the pool equipment, again starting with the piece of equipment that is the furthest from the pump, ie; filter then chlorinator, and finally the pump plugs. Now you can put in the closing chemicals and antifreeze in the skimmer lines, and cover the pool, be sure if you hjave the solid water bag type cover that you get a cover pump and keep the water from getting to high on top of the cover as this can then freeze and cause damage to the cover and or pool.

Well these are the basics and of course not every pool is the same so you may need to adjust some things, just remember it is all common sense, take your time and you will be fine.

Until Next Time....

October Pool Closings

Rick the Spa Guy

October is the month that we all realize that summer is over and the pools need to close. I find this month depressing as I love the summer and being outdoors and the sun shining. Living in the north east I get to look forward to the grey cold winter days and frigid nights, but I will say that I do like the fire pit and sitting around a roaring fire and enjoy some family time.

Well getting back to the pools, it's time to get those pools closed so make sure to shock the pool at least a day before you close as the chlorine can fade your liner or pool surface if you super shock and then put a cover right on the pool and trap that high chlorine level under the cover. Make sure the PH and Alkalinity is balanced as well. The better the pool looks at closing the easier the opening will be and you will be glad come spring that you took the extra time now.

Those of you with spas, you should be draining and cleaning your spa for the end of summer. If you drain it now then you should be good till March of 2012 and not have to worry about the cold months and having to drain it out, make sure to clean those filters good or replace them if it has been a year.

I will be posting from my new e-commerce site soon, so keep an eye out for it. www.fixmypoolandspa.com I will have all your pool and spa parts and accessories that you need as well as some very nice backyard heater and fire pits etc.

Well that about it for now I will right again soon, hope all is well with you my loyal readers and I thank you for following my blogs I hope I can help someone with each and every blog I write.

Until Next Time...

Why Is My Pool/Spa Filter Blue?

It's been a while since my last post, I have been very busy opening pools and spas and getting everybody's water balanced. I have come across some new issues as of late that I would like to share with you.

I had 2 separate customers call me and say that  the pressure in their filters went way up and even after they back-washed the pressure still was high. So after a few phone calls and a service call I have come to the conclusion that this is a metal's issue.


In both cases when I opened up the filter the elements were a blue color, I find this to be a by-product of Magnesium that has been oxidized. When copper is oxidized it turns a greenish color,  Iron will turn reddish, and Magnesium can turn Blueish, or a Grey tone.


 My solution to this problem is a metal remover such as Conquest etc, these product's will shield the metals in the water from the Chlorine so it will stay in suspension and not discolor the water of filter. These product's also helps in the removal of set in staining on vinyl liners and plaster pools. If you can't find Conquest, Natural Chemistry has a Metal Free product that works real well.

 So if you are experiencing discolored water or a funky colored filter take a water sample to your local pool store and have the metal content checked and pick up some metal remover and bring the sparkle back to your pool or spa.

Until Next Time...

Rain, A Pool and Spa Chemical Nightmare

All this rain reminds me that every pool owner should be checking their chemicals in the water. Rain has the ability to lower the PH level considerably. In turn this will lessen the effectiveness of the chlorine leading to cloudy water and if un-checked will turn to Algae rather quickly.

This time of year people tend to neglect their pool because they are not using it as much as in the summer, but like all bodies of water you need to keep an eye on it so it does not turn into a problem. Most pool supply stores offer pool and spa water testing to see if you are on track with the chemistry. This should be a free service as long as you purchase products from them to correct any problems.

 Soon the weather will be much warmer and the pool season will be fully underway, why not get into the habit now of checking the water once a week and after every rain storm. If you have a heater it is especially important to monitor the PH and Alkalinity levels in your pool, as low PH is acidic and can damage the heat exchanger in the heater very quickly.

I talked about a new product a few blogs ago but I want to touch base on it again. Aqua Finesse has both a Pool and Spa product line that when used properly, will control the PH and Alkalinity for up to 6 months with very little effort. You add this product once a week and it will keep your pool/spa looking and feeling great. It will soften the water so your skin will feel smoother after you get out. I have talked to several customers that use Aqua Finesse and they all say that they love this product and have never had it so easy maintaining their water chemistry.

So get out there and test your water. Look into Aqua Finesse you'll be much happier with your Pool and Spa.


Until Next Time...