DOE Pool Pump Changes and Facility Operations
Extend the Life of a Chlorine Generator Cell
As a chlorine generator technician, I often get asked why is a replacement chlorine generator cell so expensive & how can they make the cell last longer? For starters, the …
Why is There Sand in my Pool?
Do you know why there is sand in your pool? David discusses this maintenance issue in his latest blog.
Maintenance Tip: Check Your Sample Lines and Feeder Lines
I recently was replacing & installing new chemistry controllers at a facility. Before I started the install, I performed a visual inspection of the existing equipment and existing polyethylene water …
Can You Smell That Smell?
We received a call from a long-time client of ours in Alaska, they have a large, quite old indoor pool with a surge tank. The pool is chemically treated with …
How Do Pool Salt Systems Work?
With the growing chlorine shortage continuing to raise prices for the foreseeable future, many are wondering why they are dependent on spending so much money on a product every single …
UV Maintenance is Important!
If you have an Ultraviolet system (UV), you should always be aware that the systems require regular servicing to maintain the proper UV dosage. Failure to maintain the units will …
SALT POOL TALL TALES
Having been in this business for over 25 years I have heard some “interesting” stories about salt pools; here are a few that have stood out over the years: * …
Commonly Used Lingo and Abbreviations for Pools
Just like any industry, running a commercial pool comes with a lot of lingo, abbreviations and terms. What is CC, TA, “bicarb”, and others? Here’s a quick breakdown of some …
Why is My Pool Green?
Algae. It’s the most common cause of water turning green. It’s important to understand how the algae got there in the first place so it can be prevented in the …
Chlorine, what chlorine?
If you are in the pool industry you have no doubt heard of the looming chlorine crisis, if you have not then brace yourself for a shock (pardon the pun). …
The Importance of Pump Room Maintenance
We have talked about it before, but it is probably the most important part of running a commercial pool. The pump room of a commercial swimming pool is critical infrastructure …
What is interlocking?
Interlocking is typically connecting (slaving) one piece of equipment to another piece of equipment’s main electrical shutoff often with the utilization of a contractor or other means. Over the years I have …
What happens in winter if you freeze your pool?
The preferred way to winterize an outdoor pool in Texas was pretty much the same as it is here in the Pacific Northwest; when it looks like we are going …
How to use LSI for my pool?
Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is a method of measuring how “balanced” the water in a pool is. This determines if the pool water is going to have any effect on …
Read Pool Chemical Labels!
Please, red pool chemical labels! It’s important to always understand what the chemicals you’re adding to your pool do. Read the labels carefully for dosing instructions and side effects. Example …
ALL FEET ON DECK
What is on and around your pool deck can affect your pool.
How Much Salt Should I Add to My Pool?
Maintaining the proper salinity levels in your pool or spa is paramount when running a chlorine generator. If you run the salinity too high or low, you could damage your …
Power Outages at the Pool
Even if power outages at your pool are not frequent, it is good to plan for them.
Fill water – Don’t take it for granted
When we take on a new commercial pool, we like to gather baseline data from the Pool Operator to better understand the account we are going to support. One of …
When Should You Call A Certified Licensed Pool Professional?
During the day to day operations of running an aquatic facility, Pool Operators are very commonly tasked with not only the maintenance of the equipment but also the troubleshooting and switching …
Which Valves Need To Be Open Or Closed In The Pump Room?
As TMI’s field tech I would say 80% of the pump rooms I enter have shutoff valves that are unlabeled. I have also seen in a vast number of these …
Swimming Pool Maintenance Steps You Should Never Forget
Time is often more precious than gold in the working day of a pool operator. There never seems to be enough of it. And in a hectic day of maintaining …
Pool Noodles Can Carry Pathogens! How To Keep Them Sanitized?
At a very busy indoor pool complex (a client of ours) swimmers and staff began complaining of itchy skin. Over the next few days the incidents of itchy skin continued …
Keep Spare Parts for Your Aquatic Facility On Hand At All Times
Keeping spare parts on the shelf in an aquatic facility is a common point of contention between administration and maintenance. It can be hard, for the powers that be, at …
Tech Tip – Dealing with Rust & Corrosion in Pumprooms
Beyond the cosmetic impact, rust and corrosion can be major headaches for aquatic facility operators, maintenance technicians and pool technicians. As TMI’s field/repair technician, I have seen my fair share …
Top 10 Must Have Tools in a Pump Room
Our field technician, Ed, had seen more pump rooms than he can count. We asked him to give us a little insight into what he’s learned over his years in …
Pool Maintenance Pro Tips
One of the biggest differences between East and West Coast pools, that I’ve seen anyway, is when the outdoor pool season starts. East coast has a groundhog that bites a …
Knowledge is Power – Swimming Pool Pump Room Survival Guide!
In my last installment, I wrote (some would even say waxed eloquently) about the benefits of modern technology helping the ever vigilant pool operator keep the pool crystal clear, …
LSI, part 3- Practical tips
Welcome to the 3rd and final installment on my chat on LSI. If you’re reading this, thank you for sticking with me! Let’s talk about some practical steps that …
LSI -The Math Explanation For Pool Maintenance
In my first LSI installment, I wrote a bit about the history and concept of the Langlier Saturation Index. Now it’s time to explore the mathematical equation and some examples, …
Let’s explore LSI – Langlier Saturation Index
I’m in the wind up week after a fantastic CPO class, so water chemistry is fresh on my mind. Days of working through math problems focused on all manner of …
Scaling On The Pool Surface – Is Calcium The Only Cause? What Is Really Causing Scaling?
When we talk about scaling in the pool industry, most of the time the offender that comes to mind is calcium. We all know that high calcium levels can lead …