Your Pool System
Filter
Salt Cell
Filter
Most likely, you have purchased either a sand filter or a cartridge filter for your pool. Both types of filters work with your pool pump to filter the water before it re-circulates back into your pool. They are designed to trap dirt, debris and other particles from your water.
Sand filters use pool filter sand that is specially designed to remove the dirt and debris as your water runs through the system. The clean water then flows through the bottom end of the filter and back into the pool. As the filter sand gets older and dirtier, the water pressure through the filter will decrease. This will increase the pressure rate of the filter, a clear sign telling you that it is time to backwash.
Cartridge filters have a larger filtration area which allows water to push through the cartridge collecting the small particles, dirt and debris. Once the cartridge gets very dirty, it is either able to be rinsed and reinstalled or replaced with a new one depending on its condition after use.
Pump
Salt Cell
Filter
The pump is the heart of your swimming pools operation system. This is the power that pulls the water from your pool, pushes it through your filtration system and then puts it back into your pool. The motor and the impeller rotate at the same speed to provide the pressure required to circulate the water. The strainer basket captures any large debris to prevent the pump from clogging which could reduce or prevent your pump’s performance.
A variable speed system is designed to save you energy costs and runs much quieter than a one or two speed pump. This can either be controlled by a simple standard system or a computer automated EasyTouch system. They operate over different ranges of speeds that can be programmed to certain speeds needed for different applications (e.g., circulation, heating, etc.).
Salt Cell
Salt Cell
Easy Touch
Salt water chlorination is a process that uses dissolved salt as a store for the chlorination system. A Salt Cell uses electrolysis in the presence of dissolved salt to produce chlorine. As such, a saltwater pool is not actually chlorine-free; it simply utilizes a chlorine generator instead of direct addition of chlorine.
Easy Touch
Easy Touch
Easy Touch
The EasyTouch system allows full control over your pool and spa feature. Those being lights, waterfalls, heater, pump, salt chlorine generator, pH control dispenser, etc. It is programmed into your control panel and allows for either 4 relays or 8 relays depending on the amount you require to operate. This can work together with ScreenLogic2 Interface which is on your mobile device or computer, allowing you the convenience of control where ever you may be.
PH Control
Easy Touch
PH Control
The IntellipH pH controller is designed to automatically dispense muriatic acid into your pool, keeping your pH level balanced. This will protect your pool equipment from corrosion. With your pH kept at a proper level you pool system can sanitize more effectively. This is designed to be controlled by the EasyTouch system.
Lights
Easy Touch
PH Control
Depending on the model of pool you have chosen, your pool comes with various numbers of under-water lights. The colour can be adjusted to suit your mood or taste (depending on the light technology you have). You also will have a remote to control them for your convenience.
Water Chemistry
The chemistry of your pool water is very important! If the water isn’t balanced properly, your water will be uncomfortable to swim in and could do damage to your pool and operating system.
Chlorine
Free Chlorine indicates the amount of disinfecting chlorine in your pool water. The optimal range you should keep your water at is between 2 to 4. If the chlorine levels are too low you are at risk for getting algae and therefore the water is unsafe to swim in.
PH
PH indicates how acidic your pool water is. Keeping the level between 7.2 and 7.8 is important. If the levels are low your eyes will sting when in contact and it can also damage your pool operating system. If the result is too high you may develop calcium scaling in your pool.
Calcium
Calcium Hardness indicates the amount of calcium in the water. At low levels, the water may dissolve calcium out of the pool material surfaces. Calcium helps fiberglass pools resist staining and cobalt spotting.
Alkalinity
Total alkalinity indicates the water's ability to buffer PH changes. At low levels, the PH tends to swing around wildly. At high levels, the PH tends to drift up.
Pool Cleaning Kit
Your pool comes with a cleaning kit. This includes a metal extendable pole that is designed to attach to a brush, a skimmer net, and a vacuum piece for easy reach. Also included is a vacuum hose and a backwash hose. The backwash hose attaches to your filter system and the vacuum hose attaches to both the vacuum head and the skimmer vacuum plate.
Process of Vacuuming Your Pool
First, turn off your pool system. Attach your vacuum head to the pole. Then attach the blue end of your hose to the vacuum head and drop these into the water, still holding onto the pole, and let it sit on the bottom of the pool.
Next, siphon the hose so that it is full of water and there is no air left. Do this by pushing the hose into the water straight down until you reach the white end of the hose and water comes out. Make sure your skimmer plate is sitting in the skimmer on top of the skimmer basket. Pull the white end of the hose out of the water quickly and attach it to the skimmer plate, trying to allow as little of water to escape from the hose as possible.
If your pool is very dirty, you can set your filter system to waste, therefore pushing the dirt and debris straight out of your pool through the backwash hose and not through your filtration system. By doing this, your pool water will drain fast and you will have to stop vacuuming when the water level is at the bottom of the skimmer opening. Just throw your garden hose in the pool and fill it back up before returning to vacuuming. If this is just a routine clean then you can set your system to filter.
Now you can turn on your pool system, with the bottom drain and the skimmer drain open. If you find you are lacking suction, close the bottom drain.
When you are finished vacuuming, you should backwash for a couple minutes, then set your system to rinse for about 30 seconds to allow the access dirt and debris to leave the filter system. Then turn off your pool system and empty your skimmer baskets from both your pool skimmer drain and your pool pump. Turn your system back to filter when finished.
Routine Maintenance
- If you own a fiberglass pool you should boat wax around the rim above the water on your pool surface once a year.
- If you own a vinyl pool, you should use a vinyl cleaner on the top few inches above the water around your pool once a year.
- Check your skimmer basket and empty if necessary at least twice a week.
- Check your pump skimmer basket as well but usually only needs to be emptied a few times a season.
- Clean your salt cell every 500hours.
- Change the gaskets on your pool operation system every two years.
- Backwash your system after every vacuum and on average once a week.
- You should get your water tested (by a professional) every one to two weeks and treat as recommended by a professional so that your water stays properly balanced.
Troubleshooting
Q: Why will my heater not fire up?
A: The common cause of this problem is that you need to backwash your pool system. There may not be enough pressure for your heater to fire up. Backwashing will help increase the pressure.
Q: Why is my heater moaning?
A: If it is moaning when starting up this can be normal. If the moaning is persistent then first you should backwash your system. This will increase the water pressure and help your heater function better. You can also try turning up your pump speed. If none of this helps, you may need a new thermostat.
Q: Why am I not getting any suction/low suction when I vacuum?
A: If your system is equipped with a lower drain valve, turn the blue handle so that it is off and that your skimmer drain (where your vacuum is attached) is the only drain open. This will allow only skimmer drain suction. Another issue could be that you did not siphon your hose properly and there is too much air. Try re-siphoning your hose and ensuring all the air is out. If these are not the issue, you may have a leak or crack in your vacuum hose which in this case you will need to get a new one.
Q: My pool is losing one to two inches of water per week.
A: This is normal. You will lose, on average, 3 feet of water from your pool per year. Common reasons of this are splashing and water evaporation.
Q: I use a creepy crawler vacuum and it is having problems getting good suction.
A: If you have the type of machine that attaches directly to the skimmer drain (we do not recommend this type of vacuum), then it is most likely clogged and will require a service person in to fix this issue.