Like you said tho, you saw it be effective twice in your storied career due to the rarity of the need for it. You could have called heads/tails successfully twice as well.
Even in the 5 or so times it appeared to be helpful here, was it really ? We just don't know.
Now that Matt points it out, for such a broad term as 'enzymes', we might as well be sending folks to the pool store for 'sanitizer'. They could come home with Baqua or Bromine because we didn't have a specific product that we sent them for, within the 'sanitize
Like you said tho, you saw it be effective twice in your storied career due to the rarity of the need for it. You could have called heads/tails successfully twice as well.
Even in the 5 or so times it appeared to be helpful here, was it really ? We just don't know.
Now that Matt points it out, for such a broad term as 'enzymes', we might as well be sending folks to the pool store for 'sanitizer'. They could come home with Baqua or Bromine because we didn't have a specific product that we sent them for, within the 'sanitizer' realm.
Don't know how "storied" a career I have had (a SLAM?). What I do have is experience, which is not the same thing.
Go to a pool store and ask for an enzyme product and you will find products labeled as an enzyme, no ambiguity.
Never said that I only saw it effective twice. Said that I only saw the need for it, and its effectiveness, on two
residential pools. Both times the owner's children were members of a high-school swim team. They would, both, have weekly swim parties during Summer with the entire team and their significant others. Sometimes twenty to twenty five kids, with all their attendant body oils, sweat, suntan lotions, etc. Do the math.
Went from having to clean a Sta-Rite 450 System 3 (the largest cartridge filter at the time) weekly to monthly, still too often. At the time VSP's weren't out and builders were still installing 1.5 and 2hp pumps on everything. The oily sheen on the pool surface also went away, to the delight of the customers.
At the time, I also serviced many commercial pools, mostly apartment complexes, and enzyme products were a mainstay. That's where they really shine and are needed the most, in my opinion. I have always been skeptical of new pool products, but also willing, at my cost (though some manufacturers would give out full-size samples) to try them. In the mid 90's, when enzymes were first widely available, I did just that and learned of their effectiveness
when needed. Most service techs in my area who do commercial pools wouldn't stop using them at any time.
They were designed for use in pools to get rid of organic substances, but also work on petroleum, as I mentioned earlier. During a drought, throwing away and replacing 75,000 gallons of water because an idiot decided to throw used motor oil into it was worth the option of trying it, and it worked. Oil gone, no oil-soaked mats, fibers, cloths, etc. (hazardous waste) to dispose of. Oil gone, "digested", turned into water and Co2, even most off the tile line. A lot of water saved. Yes, filter media had to be replaced, petroleum and pool plastics aren't a good mix.
This thread was started by a poster, who's husband is a mechanic, asking what to do with the oil that came off him when he swam after work. Just a recommendation of what to try.
So far, all the negative posts seem to be from ones who have never used the product, but by virtue of what appears to be very a extensive education, a blanket, "It's a waste of money." I do envy them their knowledge as chemistry was never something I was good at.
The "scientific" method doesn't seem to apply here for some reason. Its, essentially, what I did, and my conclusion and documentation is my recommendation. Of all the lists that I found, the last step seems to be left out, it needs to be repeatable. Always was for me.
For simplicity:
- Make an observation or ask a question. ...
- Gather background information. ...
- Create a hypothesis. ...
- Create a prediction and perform a test. ...
- Analyze the results and draw a conclusion. ...
- Document the results of your experiment.
