Water Chemistry
Family Pools
provides FREE Water Analysis, contact our Water Lab
at our Lawrence store - (978) 688-8307 - extension 16
Family Pools provides pre-selected packages of Chemicals to help
you for the whole season (Maintenance)
and for problems that occur through the season (Balancing).
Water, Algae, and Mold Problems
Choose one of the problems below for information on how to solve your
problem.
Stains on Your Pool
Biguanides are hydrogen peroxide based chemicals.
We do not recommend them at Family Pools. We find them to be expensive and to
be totally harsh on the equipment, particularly on diatomaceous earth filters.
These products are not chlorine compatible, therefore, if you try it and don't
like it, you have to convert back to chlorine unlike other chlorine alternatives
such as Pristine Blue which are chlorine compatible.
We, of
course, suggest that you follow any recommendations or instructions given by
your installer. we have some
additional information that may help you as well.
Ahhhh...the spa. Aren't
they just so relaxing? They can be if your water chemistry is right. Personally,
I am very sensitive to spa water chemistry. I can't stand strong fumes as I am sitting in the hot water, breathing in all the steam...and fumes. My skin
gets very itchy too if the balance is not just right. Something about hot water
makes it all more critical to get it right. Hot water breeds more bacteria.
That's why it's important to properly sanitize your spa. You've got that balance
of enough sanitizer but not so much you can't stand the fumes or skin
irritation.
You think you are just treating a few hundred gallons of water. How hard can that be? Actually, you are treating the germs in that body of
water, regardless of the volume, and that's what is so critical. Personally, I
use Pristine Blue in my spa. I find it much more comforting than chlorine or
bromine. You can use the Pristine Blue system totally chlorine free and just add
chlorine, occasionally, as needed for cloudiness.
Most often, cloudiness will appear after heavy use. The Pristine Blue is a
sanitizer so it will sufficiently sanitize your spa. It is also EPA and NSF
approved. You need to maintain your water balance as with any system to avoid
corrosion to your heater and equipment. This means periodic testing of your pH
and Total Alkalinity. The Calcium level should be tested and adjusted when
freshly filled but that level stays pretty good unless diluted out.
Pristine Blue works excellent with ozonators which many spas are now equipped
with. Ozonators simply oxidize. This constant oxidation helps to rid the spa of
contaminants and keeps your sanitizer active. Ozone works with both chlorine and
bromine also.
There are many alternatives for spa chemistry. Basically, you need to
maintain water balance for comfort and lack of corrosion to equipment. You need
to choose a sanitizer such as chlorine, bromine, an approved copper, or
sanitizing system. You need to oxidize routinely. We recommend it each time you
exit the spa.
You can add metal control such as Pristine Check when freshly
filling a spa. You can use the Frog or Nature2 cartridge to minimize chlorine
use. You can add a spa clarifier or chlorine shock treatment as necessary for
cloudiness. It is recommended that you drain and fill your spa every three
months.
Our store provides a full line of spa products for the water, as well as, the
cover and to clean the tub itself.
Many
of you think Salt Chlorine Generation is a brand new thing. It's not.
We carried chlorine generators twenty years ago. People loved them too. We have
installed quite a few of them. The problem was that the technology of the unit was not
quite advanced enough yet. The concept and water quality was excellent but the
power supply boxes were too sensitive. A strong thunder and lightning storm or
power surge could blow the boxes out. We found ourselves constantly sending
these boxes back to be rebuilt. Meanwhile, our spoiled customers, who were used
to doing nill maintenance and having beautiful water had to put tablets or some
other form of chlorine in their pools now... and they didn't like it. Due to
this constant repair maintenance, we stopped installing these units and turned
to other alternatives.
A new generation of generators is among us now. There are, actually, several
on the market. We shopped carefully to choose just the right one for our store.
As I may have mentioned, we are big on customer service and standing behind our
products. We needed a product from a company who would stand behind their
product. We have been working closely with the people at My Blue Pool for about
fifteen years now. The My Blue Pool name is relatively new but the people are
not. They are the same people we have grown to know and appreciate and we know
we can call upon them for service if ever needed.
The My Blue Pool Chlorine Generator encompasses a titanium cell and a power
supply unit. The cell is advanced so that it will not get damaged if your salt
level falls above or below the desired level. When installed, the proper amount
of salt is added directly to your pool. This salt is converted through a process
in the generator into sodium hypochlorite or liquid chlorine. When the proper
salt level is maintained, the unit continually uses this salt to continually
make sodium hypochlorite, thus, eliminating you from having to add chlorine
tablets or any other form of chlorine. The power supply box is simple with no
unnecessary bells and whistles that can break down. It utilizes a simple system
to check the salt level also. Simply turn the knob all the way up. If the lights
don't go all the way to the top, add a bag of salt. All set.
If you would like more information on our Chlorine Generation system, please
contact our store at 978-688-8307 ext 14 or 17.
Sanitation is vital to our health! That's an understatement, isn't it? It is
crucial that you keep your pool properly sanitized. It is necessary for your
physical and mental health because, if you let your sanitizer level fall below
the recommended range, you will grow algae and then you may go insane trying to
get rid of it!
Unfortunately, algae is a plant growth and it does not dissolve with
chemicals. It must be physically removed by vacuuming or brushing and filtering.
In any case, it is important to choose the proper sanitizer and to apply it
properly. In our store, we sell chlorine in all different forms, bromine in
tablets or flakes, and Pristine Blue. We also sell products to help you reduce
your sanitizer needs. If you stop into our store, we would be more than happy to
explain your choices to you and set you up on a simple program.
Sanitation alone doesn't cut it for water quality. Sanitizer, shock, and
algaecide are your three basic ingredients. See these pages for more
information:
ShockingShock Treatment is necessary to keep chlorine free and
available to kill bacteria by helping to burn off or "oxidize" out unwanted
contaminants. We have information on how to
best shock your pool.
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