Recent content by Steve456

I am concerned to rely on local pool companies without more knowledge. If I lived in an area like south Florida with many reputable pool companies I might just follow their advise without question. After we purchased our house I discovered that the pool electrical equipment was wired with bare...

I have two related problems. First my pool needs to be replastered. Second black algae started this winter. The black spots disappear after treatment with trichlor. The poor condition of the white plaster may have allowed the algae a place to start. Our pool is about 23 years old and I...

Your pool service may have been using copper to prevent algae. The tabs have probably increased your CYA way above recommended levels. Normally I recommend that pool owners stay out of pool stores and test their water themselves. A properly maintained pool does not require phos-free. In...

Shawn, I have simple advise. Use the BBB method for one year. Do not use any chemicals other than the one recommended by the BBB method. One pool store pushed hard for me to purchase their “blue bottle”. I asked what was in the bottle. There were no labels on the bottle. The pool store...

When I tested my pool water for Cl on Friday night I determined that the Cl was too low. I checked the SWG and found that the filter pump was on and the Autopilot Check System light was blinking. The display was not working properly; the display showed only vertical lines. No error messages...

Re: New Pool owner - just got the test kit! Couple questions The overnight FC test will become your best friend. Read how to conduct the OCLT by reading this article in the Pool School. pool-school/overnight_fc_test The OCLT will help you decide if you have algae that must be killed using...

You have learned the hard way that if you depend on test strips, pool store testing, and pool store advice you will end up hating your pool and spending more money than you can afford. On the other hand read the threads of pool owners that use the BBB method and conduct their own testing with a...

My fill water has 220 TA. Since we are experiencing one of the longest droughts of the century I have been adding fill water several times per week. I have worked all summer to reduce my TA.

We have used an AutoPilot Digital for three years and have not experienced any problems. Your mileage could differ. I did not think that the expense and maintenance of the ORP was wise for us. I set the % run time in June and rarely have to make a change. Our Cl loss does not vary during the...

If you want to save $1,000 consider a DIY. Our local pool store also wanted over $2,000 for a SWG install. I purchased a better SWG on the Internet and I hired my handyman to help me. We had to move valves and eliminate an old chlorinator. Total install time was around 4 hours. A new...

The Nature2 system uses silver. You may need to purchase chemicals to keep the silver in solution to prevent stains. You shock a pool to kill algae. There is no reason to shock if you properly maintain your pool. You should add chlorine on a daily basis. You shock a pool with chlorine...

I thought that a solar cover helped to warm the pool water by allowing the sun to heat the water and preventing cooling of the pool by preventing evaporation.

I recommend that you save the Viagra for other purposes! Pool stores tests for CYA are usually not very accurate. CYA does not change very much over the course of the summer unless you replace the water. It is unlikely that your CYA went from 100 to 50; it is more likely that the tests were...