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Pool Maintenance Tip from your provider of Pool Service in Houston, The Pool Man, Inc.

Here is some helpful advice for getting your pool ready for the swim season from our friends at S. R. Smith. We hope everyone has a safe Memorial Day weekend. In the pool business, we know Memorial Day weekend is the kickoff to pool season!  In addition to getting the water in ship shape, it’s a good time to inspect your deck equipment and ensure it is safe and ready for use: Check the undersides of diving boards for wear, look for any cracks or damage, and tighten any loose hardware. Dama

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Pool Service Tips from your Houston Pool Builder & Service provider, The Pool Man, Inc.

Some simple tips to help make things easy around your pool equipment: Always stand clear of the pool filter when you start your system up. Pump pressure can cause the tank to expand and if the clamp(s) are loose there is a potential for the lid to come off. Keep records of your pressure readings on the pressure gauges. This will help tell you when the pool filter needs cleaning and will help your technician diagnose problems with the system. Check your system for leaks – catching l

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Employee Spotlight from your Houston Custom Pool Builder

Congratulations to Donny Overcast for his new position as Pool Repair Technician. Donny has been training for the last couple of months and has now joined our Repair Technician crew.  Great job Donny! For pool maintenance tips, health and wellness tips and poolside recipes, please subscribe to our blog or find us on Facebook. The Pool Man Inc., is a Houston Pool Builder serving the Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia and Houston areas since 1981. We are a BBB (Better Business Bureau) accredited member, r

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Pool Service from your Pool Builder in Houston, The Pool Man, Inc.

Spring is almost here! Get your pool ready for swimming season with help from The Pool Man. Give our Pool Service Manager a call to schedule an equipment check-up to make sure you are ready for the upcoming swim season.  Don’t forget to add a filter clean also. For more pool maintenance tips, please subscribe to our blog or find us on Facebook. The Pool Man Inc., is a Houston Pool Builder serving the Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia and Houston areas since 1981. We are a BBB (Better Business Bureau) a

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Pool Maintenance Tip from you Houston Pool Builder, The Pool Man, Inc.

Salt Cell Service – Pools that use salt and an electronic chlorine generator (salt cell) need service that is unique to that product. The cell itself will gradually accumulate “scale” on the fins inside the housing that has to be cleaned off. This is a natural byproduct of the process of converting salt to chlorine, so be sure to clean your cell every couple of months. All salt cells have a built in sensor the reads the salinity of the water, if your system thinks the salt is always too high or

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Pool Service Tip from your Houston Pool Builder

If you are having a hard time keeping your pool water clean and clear – it might be time to service your filter. Some of the signs of a dirty or damaged filter are: pressure reading on filter gauge is 5 – 10 lbs. above normal dirt and debris blowing back into pool DE blowing back into pool when recharging after backwashing heater not operating because of restricted water flow through filter Give our Service Department a call and we’ll have your system quickly back to normal.

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Pool Maintenance Tip from your Cypress & Houston Pool Builder

Leaks on pool equipment or plumbing should be a cause for concern – it’s not going to get better on its own. Many leaks can rapidly get worse and can cause other issues with your plumbing and pool equipment. Your pump can run dry or hot causing damage to the pump itself and the surrounding plumbing. A leak on a salt water pool can cause any exposed metal to corrode if left unchecked. If you see constant wet areas on your equipment pad give our Service Department a call – we would be happy to com

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Pool Chemical Tip from your Houston and Cypress Pool Builder

Cloudy Water: Cloudy water can be attributed to either chemical or physical causes. Common chemical causes include the following: High PH High total alkalinity High calcium hardness Low (or No) free chlorine residual High levels of combined chlorine Improper product addition If the water is in proper balance, and chemicals have been added properly, then you should look to physical contributions to cloudy water. These include: Inadequate circulation Poor fi

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Pool Maintenance Tip – Swimming Pool Water Testing – from your Houston Pool Builder & Service provider, The Pool Man Inc

Pool chemistry is affected by many different factors including bathers, chemical additions and environmental influences. These conditions can change constantly so testing your pool water is vital to ensure proper water balance and sanitizer levels. Here are some testing tips to help you: · Obtain an appropriate water sample. The water sample should be taken in a clean, plastic container approximately 18 inches below the water’s surface. · The sample should be taken from an area away fro

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How to Get Rid of Yellow/Mustard Algae – Houston Pool Builder Pool Maintenance Tip

Pool Maintenance Tip #4 – the last in our Pool Algae Series – Yellow/Mustard Algae Yellow or Mustard algae is very similar to green algae, but it is much slower growing and does not have the green pigment (chlorophyll) which accounts for its yellow color. Because Yellow algae is slow growing, it is very difficult to destroy. By the time you see it in your pool, it has probably been growing for several days or even weeks. Also, since it is low in chlorophyll which likes light, it can grow in dark

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Pool Service Tip from your Houston Pool Service Provider

Is your pool pump running dry or hard to prime? With the warmer weather already here, we are experiencing many pool service calls due to pool pumps running dry. Dry running pool pumps cause heat which in turn damages equipment and pipes. Here are a few quick checks you can make to ensure your pool pump is running properly. 1.      Check to make sure your pool filter is clean – poor flow can cause many problems with your pool equipment. 2.      Make sure the water level in your pool is at least h

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Getting Rid of Black Algae – Houston Pool Builder Pool Maintenance Tip

Pool Maintenance Tip #3 in our Pool Algae Series – Black Algae When dealing with algae, the worst of the bunch is Black algae. Black algae tends to form in cracks/crevices in the pool surface, starting as black or blue/green spots about the size of a pencil eraser. It has strong roots and a protective shell which makes it highly resistant to chlorine. The key word for eliminating black algae is persistence. You need to brush the spots firmly, with a wire brush if available, and then apply chemic

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Pool Maintenance Tip from your Houston Weekly Pool Service Provider – The Pool Man, Inc.

ALGAE SEASON!!!      – With the warmer weather upon us, Mother Nature has also returned to us every pool owner’s nemesis….algae. This year, algae blooms are expected to be more prevalent, as well as to contain more aggressive strains than in previous years, as algae from dried up rivers, lakes, etc. has found its way into the air…and it is a much heartier type than your blooms in years’ past have been. Not to worry though, as there is a cure for all types. We will do these in a series over the c

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Pool Maintenance Tip from your Houston Pool Builder – Why is my pool water cloudy?

Why is my pool water cloudy? Cloudy pool water can be attributed to either Improper Chemical Balance or Physical Causes.Common chemical causes can include High PH, High Total Alkalinity, High calcium hardness or improper product addition.When several chemicals need to be applied, it is usually necessary to space out the application of the chemicals. When adding larger amounts of chemicals to adjust water balance, the key thing to remember is add small amounts over a wide area of the pool, over t

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Super Service Award from Angie’s List for The Pool Man, Inc – your Custom, Houston Pool Builder

The Pool Man, Inc. was awarded the “Super Service Award” from Angie’s List for 2011. With all the options available to you on the internet to research and use recommendation or referrals, we are proud of our feedback on Angie’s List. We encourage you to use all the information you can obtain to make your decision on choosing a Houston Pool Builder.

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Pool Maintenance Tip from your Houston Pool Builder

As Spring approaches, you may want to go through your pool maintenance supplies and check the expiration dates for all of your pool chemicals. Most chemicals have a shelf life and when expired will not be as effective as they are supposed to be. Be sure to check your water testing reagents; if they are expired, your test results will be inaccurate. Double check all of your pool cleaning equipment and you’ll be ready to go for the upcoming swim season. For more pool maintenance tips, check out ou

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Employee Spotlight from your Pool Service Company in Houston

Meet Chris Scaife one of our Repair Technicians. Chris is one of four technicians responsible for keeping your pool equipment up and running. All of our Technicians are Certified by the State of Texas and we provide ongoing training to keep them current with all types of pool equipment.

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Chemical Tip from your Custom Pool Builder in Houston

Total Dissolved Solids Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is a measure of dissolved material in the water such as bather waste, algaecides, disinfectants, specialty chemicals, dirt & debris. High TDS can be an indication of “old” water. An acceptable TDS level is less than 2500 ppm (or less than 1500 ppm above source water). Note that these levels do not apply to pools equipped with a chlorine generator. At high TDS levels, the water can become cloudy. If the level is higher than 2500ppm, it is re

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Pool Safety Tips from your Houston Pool Builder – The Pool Man, Inc.

Watching Children in and Around the Pool Keep an eye out for children in and around the pool area, Teach children basic water safety tips, Have a cell phone close by at all times while using the pool, And share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors. Check out this website for more safety information – www.poolsafely.gov


Happy New Year from your Houston & Cypress Pool Builder

All of us at The Pool Man wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year!


Irrigation System Winter Tip from your Houston Pool Builder

It is time to look into protecting the backflow device on your irrigation system from potential freeze damage.  Wrapping the pipes and the copper bell housing with insulation and following the draining procedure below will help lessen the likelihood of the backflow device cracking or busting. http://www.backflow-supply.com/backflowcd/pdffiles/Febco/Pressure%20Vacuum%20Breaker/765%20FREEZE%20PROTECTION.pdf

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Chemical Tip from The Pool Man, Your Houston and Tomball Pool Builder

What is Total Alkalinity (TA)? It’s the amount of alkaline components in the water. TA acts as a buffer against rapid PH fluctuation. PH can be affected by environmental factors such as acid rain, pollution, run-off from the surrounding land and fertilizers – just to name a few. Keeping the TA at the proper range will help prevent PH bounce if it is too low and help prevent scale from forming if it is too high.  The ideal range is 80 – 120 parts per million.  Contact our Service Department if yo

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Service Tip from your Houston Pool Builder

The next time you replenish tablets in your chlorinator, lubricate the lid oring with a teflon based lubricant. This will extend the life of the oring and help prevent leaks. Contact The Pool Man for any of your service needs.

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The Pool Man, Inc. – Your Houston Area Pool Builder and Facebook

Join our Facebook page. “LIKE” us and have access to safety and maintenance tips, pictures, recipes of the month, videos, landscaping tips, pool chemical instructions and much more. Keep yourself informed. Become a part of The Pool Man Family!www.poolmaninc.com


Winter Landscaping Tips from your Houston and Magnolia Pool Builder

Below are some seasonal tips to gear up for cooler weather.  It is that time of year to plant some seasonal color before the Holidays.  Some popular types of flowers are snapdragon, pansy, alyssum, viola, dianthus, and cyclamen.  When installing your new flowers, make sure that the area you are planting in has fresh / loose soil.  Make sure you locate your flowers where they can best accent your landscape and add the best amount of pop for the Holiday season. Now is the time to mulch the beds to

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Happy Thanksgiving from your Houston Area Pool Builder

The Pool Man is thankful for all of our great customers. We hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with your families.


Chemical Tip from The Pool Man, Providing Pool Service in the Houston and Cypress Area

What is PH? PART 2 Yesterday we explained what PH is – Today we will cover what happens when your PH is not properly balanced. PH too low – your water becomes acidic which will etch and pit your plaster surface, creating a roughness which is ideal for algae growth and uncomfortable to swimmers.  Pool equipment can become damaged. Chlorine is activated and lost to the atmosphere quickly and you throw money away by adding chlorine when the PH is too low. While swimming your eyes and nose will burn

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Chemical Tip from the Pool Man, Providing Pool Service in the Houston Area

What is PH? PH is one of the most important factors in pool water balance and it should be tested and adjusted every week. PH is a way to measure the acidity or alkalinity of water. Proper PH balance protects the equipment, the plaster surface, allows the sanitizer to do its best job and it increases swimmer enjoyment. The ideal range for PH is 7.2 – 7.6 ppm (parts per million).  Look for our follow-up Pool Service tip tomorrow on what happens when the PH is too high or too low. You can “like” u

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Employee Spotlight at The Pool Man, Your Cypress Pool Builder

Meet Noble Roberts. He has been with us for 13 years and is still going strong. Noble is our resident fishing expert. When he’s not servicing your pool you’ll find him on one of the local waters with his fishing pole. Thank you Noble for your years of service and we look forward to many more. Check out our facebook page for more information and tips.

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Potential New Client for The Pool Man, your Houston and Cypress Pool Builder

At The Pool Man we can relate to customers of any age! Here’s Karen following up on a  lead right away! What kind of pool do you think she wants? Let us know what you want. Our Designers want to fulfill your dream!


Toys For Tots and your Houston Pool Builder

Just a reminder – The Pool Man is again helping the Marines with their toy drive. You can drop off a toy anytime during the day or just give a toy to our service or maintenance tech while they are at your house. Please help us bring smiles to the kids and their families. It will do your “Heart” good! Thank You! We can also stop by and pick up your donation – contact us and we will make arrangements.

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Service Tip from The Pool Man, Inc. – Your Houston Pool Service Provider

Leaves, Leaves Everywhere! This time of year is when the leaves start falling.  If you have a lot of trees around your pool you must be mindful about emptying your skimmer baskets and pump baskets as often as needed. You need to “net” the leaves floating around in the pool also. Clogged skimmer and pump baskets can cause your pumps to run “dry” and severely damage your pool equipment and plumbing. As inconvenient as emptying the baskets several times a week can be (not to mention sticking your h

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Pool Service Tip from your Houston Pool Builder

How long does my filter pump need to run when the weather gets cooler? As we start to move into the cooler months, you should decrease the run time of your filtration pump. The exact time varies for each pool but a good starting point is to cut your running time down to 6 hours and monitor the condition of your pool. If you notice any negative change, increase the run time. You might find that you may be able to decrease the run time even more. This process will take a few days but you will

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Pool Service Tip – Houston, is it time to clean my filter?

How do I know when it is time to clean my filter? The frequency of filter cleans can vary greatly dependant upon the type and size of your pool filter and the bather load (the maximum # of people who can safely swim in your pool at one time) of your pool. Filters that use cartridge media or diatomaceous earth (D.E.) usually need to be cleaned at least bi-annually, while sand filters can go much longer before needing to change out the sand. Both sand & D.E. filters can be backwashed to reduce

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Important Pool Service & Maintenance Tip – Houston, know your Pool Chemicals – Cyanuric Acid

What do you know about Cyanuric Acid?  It is commonly referred to as a pool water stabilizer or conditioner.  Cyanuric acid is an odorless, white granular substance.  It is often added to chlorine products to increase the longevity of the free chlorine in your pool water by inhibiting it’s destruction by sunlight.  Studies have shown that when your pool water has a level of cyanuric acid of 25ppm (parts per million), free chlorine will remain 3 to 5 times longer in the water than it would withou

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The Pool Man, Inc. Employee Spotlight

Meet Steven Page our Service Manager. Steven handles all of the repair/service calls and all of our weekly cleaning customers.  We keep him extremely busy but he makes customer satisfaction his number one goal. Thanks Steven for your dedication to our customer’s needs!


An Important Pool Service Tip from your Houston Pool Builder

Our Pool Service Tip of the week – Hopefully we all remember to clean out the skimmer and pump baskets, but have you checked to see if they are cracked, warped or damaged? Remember to check your pump and skimmer baskets regularly for damage. A small crack in your basket today can cause big problems tomorrow. Debris can pass through these baskets and cause internal damage to your pump and filter which can result in expensive repairs or replacement. So, remember to check your baskets, and if t

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Houston Pool Builders Chemical Safety Tip

As Houston Pool Builders, we know the dangers of pool chemicals and wanted to remind everyone about basic pool chemical storage.  Keep your pool chemicals in a well ventilated area with the containers sealed and keep them away from children.  An important note, if you keep your pool chemicals in the garage, the fumes can be corrosive to any metal objects.  One last safety issue – NEVER mix pool chemicals with each other.  Remember – SAFETY FIRST!


The Pool Man, Inc.

We hope everyone enjoys this Labor Day – Great food, good times, and a job well done!


The Pool Man, Inc. Employee Spotlight

Meet Carol Basford – one of the “friendly” voices in our front office.  Carol handles many of the administrative duties of the Company and makes sure our customers concerns are directed to the right people.  Thanks Carol!


Swimming Pool Maintenance Tip

The kids are back in school! Now that your pool will have less usage each day, it’s a good time to check your chemicals. With less usage of your pool, your chemical dosage will change. Keep your chemicals balanced to eliminate problems, especially with these 100+ temps we have been experiencing here in Houston. Extreme weather can play havoc on our Houston pools. Always add less chemicals than what is prescribed – you can come back later and add more if needed. Once you’ve added too much, it’s h

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The Pool Man, Inc. – Houston Pool Builder

Be a “FAN” of our facebook page!  Access to pictures, videos, tips, safety information and more.  We’re currently building in Houston, Tomball, Cypress and Magnolia.  Let us know what you think!


The Pool Man, Inc. – Pool Safety Tip

Many owners of Houston pools are experiencing problems with “hot decks”. Children and adults are burning the bottom of their feet because of this. Keep the garden hose handy to spray down the deck to help keep it cool. Also keep your flip-flops in the shade and always have a responsible adult present when children are swimming.


Houston Pool Builder – The Pool Man, Inc. – Employee Spotlight

Meet Danielle Bowman, our New Construction Coordinator. She is the one behind the scenes working on the schedules, communicating with subs and making sure we all stay in line!  Keep up the great work Danielle!


Maintenance Tip

While we are all trying to “keep cool” in this heat – don’t forget to run your filter pump at least 10 – 12 hours per day.  This weather is perfect for “algae blooms”.  There is nothing worse than wanting to jump in the pool to cool off and it’s “green”. Keep an eye on your chemicals and test your water every day.


Houston Pool Builder, The Pool Man, Inc.

We are posting more photos on facebook.  “Like” our page and check them out! www.facebook.com/poolmaninc – also visit our website – www.poolmaninc.com


Houston Pool Builder – The Pool Man, Inc.

We have added more videos to our website and on youtube,  Check out our “about us” videos.  www.youtube.com/poolmanincvideos


New Videos for The Pool Man, Inc.

Check out our new videos on YouTube – www.youtube.com/poolmanincvideos


The Pool Man, Inc. Houston Pool Builder Videos

We have added videos to our website and our facebook page!  Our first videos are testimonials from some of our customers.  We will be adding more including a series of new pool construction videos, “about us” segments and more testimonials.


Houston Pool Builder Employee Spotlight

Meet Vidal Lozano.  Vidal has been maintaining pools in the Houston area while working at The Pool Man for 20 years. His knowledge and level of customer service is an asset that is greatly appreciated by all.  Thank you Vidal!


Water Safety

May is water safety month! Here are some general safety tips: Watch out for the “dangerous too’s” – too tired, too cold, too much sun, too much strenuous activity. Use plastic instead of glassware around the pool. Watch the weather, especially when lightning is present. ALWAYS supervise children when they are in or around the pool.  Enjoy your pool and be safety conscious.

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Be a part of our Facebook Family

“LIKE” our facebook page and be a part of the “Poolman Group”.  Check out new pictures, tips and trends, Q & A, safety and service issues and much more.  Let us know what you want!


Service Tip

Don’t let balancing your pool water intimidate you!  Keep it simple! Always remember to test your PH and Alkalinity first, adjust them, and then test your Chlorine.  If your PH and Alkalinity are not balanced, your Chlorine reading will be off.  Another good practice to follow is to always “use less”. Example: if after testing your water you have determined that 2lbs. of shock is required, add only 1lb. and retest a couple of hours later.  Remember you can always add more but you can’t take too

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Service Tip

Just a quick reminder –  when adding tablets to your free standing or inline chlorinator, follow these steps – first make sure all equipment is turned off,  then unscrew the lid slowly and turn your head away from the opening (the water inside is highly chlorinated and gives off a very strong odor), next drop in the tablets and screw the lid back on tightly.  Turn your equipment back on and check for any leaks. Now you’re ready to enjoy the pool!


Pool Safety

We hope everyone is enjoying this great weather.  More and more people are getting their pools ‘in shape” for the upcoming season. A quick safety tip about diving in a residential pool – Most backyard pools are not designed for diving and everyone using the pool should be cautioned about that. Backyard pools are normally not deep enough to allow diving and serious head and neck injuries can occur. Please inform family and friends about this concern so that you may continue to enjoy your backyard

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Service Tip

The warmer weather is on the way and swimming season will soon be here.  Make sure your equipment is operating correctly and running for longer periods of time due to the warmer temperatures .  Also inspect and clean your filter to avoid problems before you begin enjoying your pool.  Contact us if you need help – check out www.poolmaninc.com  or call our office – 281-351-2577.  We service Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Magnolia and other surrounding areas.


Employee Spotlight

Meet Joel Fitzgerald, one of our Service Technicians.  Joel has been with us for three years and has been an asset in every way for our Company.  His knowledge, dedication to customer service and attitude has not only been appreciated by us but also by our customers.  Many of them “request” Joel on their service calls.  We are lucky to have him on our team.


Pool Renovations

Is it time to update?  Give your pool that “Extreme Makeover” and turn something old into something new!  We have been doing pool renovations for thirty years.  From a simple re-plaster to a complete re-creation!  Let us give that old pool a face lift!


Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

We hope everything in your day today is green – except your pool!


Quick Service Tip

Remember to always check/empty the pump baskets when you empty the skimmer baskets.  A clogged pump basket will restrict water flow, cause damage to the internal parts of your pump and cause possible motor failure.  Another item to check as the warmer weather is on it’s way – keep your pool at the proper water level.  Water level should be at least half way up on the skimmer throat opening.  Check back in the future for more tips and safety items.


Cold Weather Precautions

With this cold weather upon us, you should do the following to protect your pool: Make sure your “freeze protection” is working. If you don’t have automatic freeze protection on your timers or controllers, keep your pumps running 24 hours or until the temperature rises above 35 degrees. This includes all of your pumps (filter pump, cleaner pump and any water feature pumps). If you are experiencing  “rolling blackouts”, check your pool equipment on a regular basis to make sure everything is comin

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