SnowFall

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Are you ready for Fall Part 6. To cover or not to cover


Fall is fast approaching, and the question right now is is a swimming pool cover really worth it? The first thing to tink about is what a heave load of leaves can do to a pool. In short and to be expanded on later, a heavy load of leaves can cause staining, chemical balance changes, clogged skimmer and pump baskets and lines, and lets not forget the most important, more labor. So the easiest solution to the question of "to cover or not to cover" comes down to a simple equation...Swimming pool + Trees = Winter Cover.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Are You Ready For Fall Part 5: Check Your Skimmer & Pump Baskets


The skimmer and pump are an important part of your pool water's circulation and cleaning system. The skimmer is the device built under the deck of the pool next to the sidewall at the tile and water-line. A large, square opening about 10 to 12 inches in length opens to the inside of your pool to allow pool water to flow from the water's surface to the pump and filter. Inside the square opening is a collection basket, or skimmer basket, which catches large dirt and debris such as sticks, grass, leaves, bugs, and etc. that have been pulled from the surface of the pool's water by the pump. Smaller dirt and debris may pass the skimmer basket to another collection basket at the pump called the stainer or pump basket. This basket is built into the pool pump. It has a clear see-through lid to see if the basket needs cleaning.
Swim Clear Pool Supply recommends that the pool skimmer basket and the pool pump basket should be checked on a weekly basis, especially in the fall and winter seasons due to excess falling of leaves and twigs. If you live where there are windy conditions, you may want to check those baskets daily or every other day. Failure to clean these baskets will result in basket damage and possibly damage to the pool pump or the pool filter.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Are you ready for Fall Part 4 Check your freeze guard.

Having a freeze guard on your system does give you piece of mind, however it is a good idea to verify the freeze guard is working prior to that first freeze. There is an easy way to test freeze guards. First, choose a time that your pool system is not in its normal run time. Freeze guards have a copper coiled wire attached to the thermostat. (Sometimes this coil is behind a metal plate attached to the freeze guard). With the copper wire exposed, set the freeze guard thermostat as high as it will go. Dip the copper coil into a glass of ice water. After 1 to 2 minutes of the coil in the ice water your pool system should turn on. If your system turns on, reset the freeze guard to 37 degrees. If not, aren't you glad you checked.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Are you ready for Fall Part 3. Time to check those POOL HEATERS!


Now that we are getting into the fall season, it is time for those of you that have pool heaters, to have them checked. You always want to check the heater connections for leaks, make sure the display is working properly, and fire the heater up to make sure it is indeed heating the water. The check-up only takes an hour to two, depending on if you will be attempting to heat the water to check for heater issues. Pool heaters are a valuable asset, because it allows the pool owner to extend the pool season well into the winter months. Do your heater maintenance check-up, and repair any needed problems and you will be enjoying the warm pool/spa water into the fall and winter months. If your heater does not turn on, call your local swimming pool service professional and if you live in the North Dallas area, Swim Clear is here for you.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Are you ready for Fall Part 2 Leaf bagger your best friend


As fall approaches us, those of us pool owners know what fall is for a pool with trees around it. If you are trying to get past that fall leaf season, a quality leaf bagger is the right equipment to have. A leaf bagger is a device which attaches to a garden hose, as well as your telepole. When the garden hose is turned on, the leaf bagger creates a venturi suction into a bag attachment. Leaf baggers are for an above-ground pool with brushes under the unit, or for the above-ground unit, it has wheels for easy movement. As you move the device around the pool, it easily picks up any leaf on the surface of the pool. Once the bag is full of leaves, just empty the bag and reattach back onto the bagger for more leaf pick-up. This device will easily make the leaf pick-up in pools quick and less stressful. So, if you are a pool owner with trees around your pool, then the leaf bagger is the right pool equipment to have.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Are you ready for Fall Part 1 Filter Clean



Swim Clear is here again with more swimming pool help. As summer is coming to an end, we will be doing a get ready for fall campaign to help prepare you and make taking care of your swimming pool easy this fall and winter.

Filter maintenance is important to long life expectancy for your equipment. Filter cleans on Cartridge and D.E. filters should be completed every six months if not more. Having trouble remembering to do so? Let us help, we will be blogging reminders every March and September for filter clean maintenance. So if you have not cleaned your swimming pool filter in a while, or maybe it is a month early, join our schedule for the September/March filter clean months.
For more information about your D.E. filter check out our 3 tips.