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What You Can Do About Pool Water that Turned Green

Green Pool Water

There is nothing more frustrating or discouraging than when the family heads out to your swim spa or pool only to discover that the water has turned green. While this may mean that your swim is going to be delayed for a bit, it doesn’t mean that there is no solution to the problem.

Of course the best solution is prevention. This is mostly taken care of with the right maintenance, but there are times when proper maintenance is not performed, resulting in green water. This doesn’t mean that you have to drain your pool, but you do have some work ahead of you.

First, you want to start with some manual labour, which involves skimming the pool to get rid of any large debris that has gotten into your pool. If there is a lot of debris that has accumulated at the bottom, you will want to use a large leaf net skimmer. It may begin to get difficult to see what is on the bottom as you disturb the water. If necessary, give the water a chance to settle periodically, so you can see what you are doing.

It might be tempting to run for the pool vacuum, but don’t do this as these large items could end up clogging your filter. For the smaller debris, you can use your hand skimmer following the removal of the big debris. You also want to ensure that your filter system is clean and working properly as it has a big task ahead of it to help restore your water.

You are now going to have to rely on some pool chemicals to assist you. You want to be sure that the PH and alkaline levels are where they should be. Then, you want to shock your pool. There are several pool chemicals on the market designed just for this. Most of them are chlorine based. This is what is going to kill off the algae and the bacteria. How much you will need depends on how green the water has become, as well as what the manufacturer of the pool-shocking product suggests. When it begins to do its job, you will see the water turn to a light green to a cloudy white colour, then back to a clear state.

You will need to run your filter consistently until you reach this stage, as well as back wash a couple of times during this restoration process.

If these procedures aren’t giving you results, there may be problems with your filter, which you will have to investigate further.

Once the water has become clear, you may need to skim the bottom once again for any left over debris.

Why You Need to Keep up with Your Hot Tub Treatments

Testing pH

Keeping your hot tub in great condition is not a burdensome task and only takes a few moments of your time, while allowing you to avoid potential problems in the future.

If you have one of the newer high-quality hot tubs, your work should be easy. The condition of your water is an important consideration. Your hot tub provider should be able to advise you as to which is the best water sanitizer to use. This may be either chlorine or bromine. On average, a PH between 7.2 to 7.8 is acceptable, but 7.4 is ideal. You also may want to check for calcium hardness. Everyone’s water is different depending on the area you live in. If you follow the manufacturer’s directions for your hot tub, compare the ranges they provide, and the recommendations they make regarding chemicals, you should have some good guidelines to follow.

These form part of the treatments that are necessary for keeping your hot tub in good condition. Ideally, you should test the water every couple of days to make sure you don’t let anything that may be occurring go unattended to. In time, you will get to the point when you notice right away if the water is running into trouble, such as if it becomes hazy looking or slimy.

For some hot tub models, you may find that they suggest changing the water. This is usually only done every three to six months. How often is going to depend on a lot of factors. How often your hot tub is used and by how many people on a regular basis is one of them. If you stay on top of the required treatments and take some extra steps to keep your hot tub in good condition, you will be well on your way to a hot tub that will serve you well for years to come.

You may want to ensure that prior to using your hot tub, everyone takes a quick shower. This helps to remove a lot of the body oils or skin care products that can come off the skin into the hot tub. Also, making use of a hot tub cover will really help to keep your hot tub clean.

If you are just in the market for buying a new hot tub, be sure to check out the self-cleaning models that Hydropool has. A self-cleaning hot tub cuts down your hot tub treatment work even more.

If you neglect to keep up with your hot tub treatments, you can run into problems, such as unfit water that becomes murky looking, while forming bacteria, which makes it unhealthy. The water can also go from clear to green, which means that you are dealing with an algae problem. Other problems include slimy water, which makes the hot tub easy to slip on, as well as clogged filters that can lead to future repair costs.

Should You Buy an Energy Efficient Hot Tub?

Energy Efficient Hot Tub

If you are going to make the investment into a hot tub, it’s best to set your mind on buying one that is going to meet all of your needs. Your first thought may be the great pleasure a hot is going to bring you and your family, and rightly so. You also want to consider the overall investment. While enjoying all of the wonderful benefits, consider the features that save money like energy efficiency.

Many people are really cutting back on their household expenses. For this reason, they sometimes use the excuse of not buying a hot tub or pool because of the maintenance cost. If you are concerned about the cost of running your hot tub, you may be worried about older versions that were not nearly as energy efficient.

Some of the top quality models that are available now are built with energy efficiency features, like Hydropool hot tubs. There is a lot of technology in a quality hot tub that maximizes energy efficiency. What the lining and insulation is comprised of is highly important in helping to retain the water temperature, which reduces the operating costs. In addition to this, you can take additional steps to make your hot tub even more efficient by using a cover that serves several purposes.

Hot tub covers help to keep the debris out, which means less maintenance and avoiding potential repairs. Plus, it helps to keep the heat regulated when not in use.

After doing some research on hot tubs, you will quickly realize that they can be a very cost-effective addition to your home that brings great pleasure for the family. Once you are ready to move forward with adding a hot tub to your home, you want to look at the different alternatives when selecting the right one for you.

We have already mentioned Hydropool hot tubs. You also have additional choices, such as soft tubs, a bespoke line, or even a customized hot tub that is built exactly to your liking.

You will want to take your time and perhaps compare these well known brands to see which one suits you the best. They have many things in common, such as their quality and workmanship, but also each has some unique features. If you want a hot tub that virtually cleans itself, you are going to be pleased to know that Hydropool offers this feature to make maintenance simple.

You have lots of exciting decisions ahead of you when it comes to choosing a hot tub. Don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. You can even come in for a wet test to test one out!

What Questions Do You Need to Ask When Buying a Hot Tub?

Choosing a hot tub

You really should ask a lot of questions before buying your hot tub. For example, is the hot tub something that you want to enjoy for many years to come? You also want to make sure that you are asking the right questions and that the company you may be purchasing your hot tub from is reputable and experienced.

While the internet is a wonderful place to glean information from, it is not the resource you want to use to make your hot tub purchase.

You can go to a dealer’s website to gain some basic knowledge as to what they have to offer, but they should also have a showroom available where you can get to see these items first hand. You want to deal with a reliable company, so ask how long they have been business. Try to find out what awards and recognition they have received from within this industry.

Your chosen dealer should be able to give you some options as to the different brands of hot tubs. This way you can do some comparisons.

You want to know about the water care system that the models you are looking at possess. Some are easier to maintain than others. There are actually some self-cleaning hot tubs that make hot tub maintenance a very easy task.

You need to know what chemicals will be required to maintain your spa.

Water filtering is another important feature. Ideally, you want your hot tub to be able to filter the water on a continuous basis.

One of the most exciting parts of the hot tub is the jets. You want to take a close look at how the jets are situated and how many pertain to each seat. Determine how you control the jet flow and what options are available to control the jets.

The insulation of the hot tub is an important consideration. This is what is going to help keep your water at a constant temperature. The better the insulation, the more energy efficient and cost effective it is.

You want your hot tub to look good and fit in with your decor. Check out what the options are for color and style of the cabinet.

Ask what accessories come with the hot tub or at least what you could buy extra to extend your hot tub pleasure. For example, in some spas you can use aroma therapy oils which bring a lot of different and wonderful experiences with them.

Setting the Right Rules for Your Swim Spa

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No matter what type of swim spa or pool you have at your home, it’ important to put some rules in place for the safety of everyone. Although swim spas are small and compact, they still have to be treated with respect in regards to safety.

The first thing you need to determine before you have your swim spa installed is whether there are any rules and regulations regarding these spas in your area. Make sure that you have your swim spa installed by reputable installers. This is not a do it yourself project.

Once your swim spa has been installed, you want to ensure that it is protected with some type of fencing. It is no different than what you would do for a regular swimming pool. What you may want to do is have a self closing gate installed. You also want to have the lock high enough so that little toddlers cannot reach them.

The entire family needs to know what the swim spa rules are and take their fair share of responsibility.

There are going to be various chemicals that you will need to use to keep your swim spa in pristine condition. Make sure you have designated a safe storage space for these preferably in a cabinet that can be locked. Always be sure to read the labels of your spa chemicals carefully.

When you have added chemicals to the water, do not let anyone use the spa until you have tested the water to make sure it is properly balanced. Always wash your hands after handling the chemicals and do a visual inspection of the water prior to use. That way if you see anything wrong, you can tend to it immediately before use.

The swim spa comes with many benefits that each family member will enjoy. Some will focus on its relaxing capabilities while others will enjoy it more as an exercise venue. The smaller kids will love the water play that can take place within. Just as you would set rules for a regular pool, such as no running around it or jumping in, you want to set the same rules for your swim spa.

If the kids are bringing guests over to use the spa, your kids should make sure that their guests are made aware of the rules and that they follow them.

Many of the rules that are put in place for the swim spa is for personal safety reasons. Other rules are made in order to keep your swim spa in good condition, so it will last you for many years to come.

How You Can Keep up with Your Hot Tub Treatments

Hot Tub Filling

Owning a hot tub is something that is going to bring you a lot of satisfaction for many years to come. Some people feel that there is so much work to maintain a hot tub that they don’t see the value of investing in one. Fortunately, this is not true as there is very little maintenance required. If the minor maintenance that is required is performed, it does not take very much to keep up your hot tub.

Those that have purchased a hot tub will often buy a cover, which cuts down on the work even more. Here are some quick maintenance tips.

Skimming

For hot tubs that are located outdoors, the wind and outside environment causes debris to fall into the water. Having a skimmer on hand to remove this makes it easy. If debris is not removed, it eventually floats to the bottom of the hot tub and starts to contaminate the water. Get a skimmer with a long handle, so you can use it to remove anything that may be at the bottom of the hot tub.

Vacuum

Some particles are too small to be retrieved by the skimmer, so a special pool vacuum will do the job. Actually, some vacuums actually attach to the skimmer, so you can do both jobs at the same time.

Brushing

You want to buy a special brush to make sure you are not getting one that is too harsh for your hot tub. Brush the sides and bottom of the hot tub to remove any debris that is beginning to build up. If you find that a lot of residue is coming off the sides as a result of the brushing, you should vacuum the hot tub again once completed.

Water line mark

You may be seeing a line running around the hot tub where the water line is. This often is from the body oils or those who have used the hot tub without taking a quick shower first to remove any sunscreen or body creams from their skin. When you are cleaning with a brush, focus on removing this line.

Check the water quality a couple of times a week to make sure it is properly balanced and add what is necessary. Be sure to follow the hot tub guide that came with your hot tub for the specific cleaning regime applicable to your hot tub.

Also, if you are just about to buy your hot tub, consider one of the self-cleaning units and you will have even less cleaning to do.

The Little Things that Count in a Hot Tub

Hot Tub Jets

Most people that are looking to buy a hot tub have had the wonderful experience of using one. It may have been at a friend’s or family member’s house or even in a hotel when away on vacation. They know it was a very pleasant experience and that is why they want one for themselves. What they may not have given much thought to, however, is all the additions that can come with a hot tub that contribute to this amazing experience.

The seats play an important role in the comfort of the hot tub. Most people want to stay in the tub as long as possible, and when doing so it is the comfort of the seats that make this possible. Seats that are ergonomically shaped like the body are excellent for this. Reclining comfort loungers really allow the user to stretch out and immerse their body in the warm water. Added to the seating choices, you may want to be sure that the hot tub you are choosing includes a cool off seat. This way, just prior to getting out of the hot tub, you can allow your body to cool down, which is a pleasant experience in itself.

If you are going for one of the larger hot tubs like a six person tub, you want plenty of room for socializing. You don’t want to feel cramped. You also want entry steps to make it easy to get in and out of the hot tub.

Having a variation in the seating sizes means that you can accommodate people of different heights, which is a real bonus.

While there is a lot to consider with the various types and styles of seating, the massaging jets are a huge factor and have a significant impact on your hot tub pleasure. The jets provide the hydrotherapy that is highly therapeutic and soothing.

Cleaning your hot tub is another important consideration. A self-cleaning hot tub allows you to enjoy the benefits of the hot tub instead of wasting time cleaning and maintaining it.

You may be tempted at first to buy the smallest hot tub available if there are only two of you. Keep in mind, however, that the hot tub is a wonderful entertainment venue. When you have company, you may want to spend time in it. To avoid disappointment, consider going with a slightly larger unit, such as a four or five person hot tub.

Tips to Buy the Right Swim Spa or Hot Tub

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One of the greatest things about buying a swim spa is that you have the option of buying one that is also a hot tub. Having this amazing two in one water feature has the capability of meeting all of the needs of the entire family when it comes to enjoying the many benefits of spas.

Naturally, you are going to have a budget that you want to stick to. Don’t make price the main priority when deciding which type of swim spa to select. You definitely want quality otherwise you could be compromising the functionality and life of your spa.

Comfort is going to be a big item on your list of must haves for your swim spa. Comfort can be built into these spas through their seating if they have been ergonomically designed. Having built in pillows is an added bonus and additional consideration.

When it comes to the jet pressure, everyone has their own likes and dislikes. You want a swim spa that allows you to adjust the jets according to what brings you the most comfort.

One of the important factors about a swim spa is insulation. A high quality spa will maximize energy efficiency and reduce the cost of heating. Most swim spas are insulated with foam, but a better choice is a swim spa that has the double thermal shield insulation system.

Once you have your swim spa installed and it is ready to go, you want to spend your time enjoying it, while minimizing the amount of time maintaining and cleaning it. This won’t be a problem if you purchase one of the self-cleaning models that are available. With these hot tubs and swim spas, the water is changed every fifteen minutes.

You also want a swim spa that is easy to service if the need arises. However, when you purchase a top quality swim spa, there rarely is a need for this.

The decision you are about to make with the purchase of your swim spa is a big and important one. It is exciting and you should be able to enjoy a pleasant buying experience from beginning to end. You want to deal with a swim spa provider that is experienced not only with spas but other related pools and spas as well. This way they can help you make comparisons between the swim spa and pools or strictly hot tubs, for example.

You also want to do business with a pool and spa company that has experience and are willing to take the time needed to help you with your decision-making.

You want to take the time to learn about the various features of the swim spa you are considering. You want it to meet the needs of your entire family. Some members of the family may want a spa for water exercise. Others are interested in its hot tub capabilities. Your decision to purchase a swim spa is one that you won’t regret and one that will bring you a lot of great benefits for many years to come.

It may seem like a lot of work the first time you open your pool in the spring, but after you have done it once, you will see that it really isn’t that difficult. You will soon be ready to enjoy another season of swimming and fun in the water.

Tips for the Spring Opening of Your Pool

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If this is your first year of owning your pool, perhaps this may be your first experience opening the pool in spring. As soon as there is a hint of warm weather, the kids want to be able to use the pool.

If you are not comfortable with the task of opening your pool, you can always hire the pool and spa professionals in your area to do this for you.

The first thing to determine is if the pool uses chlorine or bromine. If it’s chlorine that you use for the maintenance of the water, you are going to want to shock the pool. This means adding a large amount of the chlorine to the water, so it can kill any bacteria or algae that is present. Read the instructions on the brand of chlorine that you are using to see how much is needed to shock the pool and how long it takes to dissipate.

If you are using bromine, you will want to follow the specific instructions on the label. Pools vary in their size, so it’s important to follow the instructions for any chemicals that are being added to the water.

You will also need other chemicals such as algaecide, water clarifier, and stain and scale inhibitors.

All of these chemicals are the same as what you used in the previous season to keep the pool water fully optimized.

Be sure to remove any water that is sitting on your pool cover before removing it. You don’t want this water running into the pool.

You can use a net to remove any large debris from the water.

You probably disconnected your pump in the fall and stored it away, so now you will want to hook it back up. You will need to prime your pump.

Check that the valves below the water line are flowing properly. You will also want to top up the water.

Be sure that the filters, skimmers and drains are all in good condition and working correctly as well.

Depending on the condition of the water, you may want to run the filter for a few hours to make sure the water is clear.

Don’t forget to check the levels of the various chemicals that were added to the water prior to using the pool.

It may seem like a lot of work the first time you open your pool in the spring, but after you have done it once, you will see that it really isn’t that difficult. You will soon be ready to enjoy another season of swimming and fun in the water.