How Long Does Pool Clarifier Take to Work

Since not all household has swimming pools, they tend to draw attention from visitors. Meaning, they can either make or break the overall impression. Using a pool clarifier can help keep your pool water clear-looking, and it does not require a lot of effort. How does it work and how long does pool clarifier take to work are some of the questions answered in this article.

Pool water can get hazy for several reasons: Ammonia; an imbalanced level of PH and alkalinity that speeds up the algae growth; and high calcium carbonate. Clogged or damaged water pool filters are also responsible for making the water cloudy. Even sunblock lotions can affect the clarity of the water.

A cloudy pool has a lot of tiny particles, which filters can't catch.
A pool clarifier is a polymer-based product that put positively charged ions to the water. Like a magnet, it coagulates these tiny bits to make it big, so your filter will be able to catch them.

A pool clarifier, be it on liquid or solid form, comes with instructions about how to use it. The amount may depend on how big your pool is, as well as the cloudiness of the water. Pay attention to this guide because if you add too much, it will make the water even murkier. Also, to avoid harmful chemical reactions, owners should know how to use their pool products. Contact your pool service provider if you are not sure about the right measurement and how to keep your water balanced.

The effectiveness of pool clarifiers depends on the water's degree of cloudiness. It may take a day or two before your water to clear up, but it will require less work for users. Unlike with flocculant, which sinks the particles at the bottom, vacuuming is not necessary with this water cleanser, although regular backwashing of the filters is required. Pool clarifiers work best on slightly cloudy water. So, if the water is too milky and you can no longer see the bottom of the pool, it is best to check other options.

Before you apply the clarifier, make sure that your pump and filters are working and ready to trap the coagulated particles. Removing large and visible debris with a leaf net can help speed up the clarification process. Again, do not forget to check on your filters and backwash it every 4 hours. If you do not see any progress or trapped particles after 6-8 hours, try to check the level of your chlorine or see if your filters may not be damaged and require replacement.

Furthermore, if a pool is not well-maintained, bacteria and pathogens will populate, and it a risk to your health if you swim through them. Plus, contaminated water attracts deadly disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Most pool owners clean their pool before the summer season begins, but if you want to keep the crystal blue look of your water, then clarify your pool at least once a week.

Pool clarifiers can be a lifesaver, especially if you have an upcoming pool party. The clarifying process is just easy as long as you know how to balance your water well. Knowing how long does a pool clarifier take to work can help manage your time. Although it may take a little time to finish, it will surely get the job done.

Sequestrant Pool

If you have a pool, maintaining it is one of the main priorities to add on your list. Every week you should try to stay on top of the chemicals in your water. To do that, you will have to test the different levels of chlorine, pH, and calcium as well as adjusting them as you need. 

Too many metal compounds can lead to water changing its color and becoming green or other shades. The same effect happens when algae accumulate inside your pool. Depending on the metal that contaminates your pool and the level of contamination, your walls could develop stains of different colors too. You can avoid such situations by using a good pool sequestrant. 

What is a pool sequestrant and why you should use it

Sequestrants are chemical solutions used to clean metals in your swimming pool. You can use these products to get rid of metal contamination as well as to prevent such a situation from affecting your pool. To get the maximum results, you will have to add the sequestrant to your cleaning solution regularly. This practice will keep metals away and your pool clean for a long time. 

You will also find these sequestrants under the name of chelants, and there are several products to choose from on the market. 

Also, sequestrants are efficient at eliminating scale of different kinds from almost any surfaces. They maintain hardness ions from precipitating as well, including calcium and magnesium ions. 

If you use an alkaline solution to clean your pool, you will need to add sequestrant to activate it and get rid of hardness ions. Strong acidic cleaning solutions are efficient at dissolving scale, so they might not need sequestrant. But this is not the norm for all of them, so it is only wise to have some sequestrant handy when you take care of your pool. 

You will have to choose between a sequestrant that treats metal contamination and one that prevents it. Once you got your product, all you have left to do is use it for your pool maintenance. 

How to use a pool sequestrant efficiently

Using these chemicals is not a complicated task. All of them come with instructions that you should try to follow to the best of your abilities. Here are a few steps to consider so you get the results you want. 

Test your pool levels

Before treating your pool water, you should be well-aware of its original standards, so you know how you have to adjust them. Test your calcium, pH, chlorine levels by using a pool test kit. You can find these kits on the market at reasonably convenient costs. This step is easy to take so you can identify if there are unbalances in your pool that you need to address. 

Clean your pool manually

Before adding any sequestrant or cleaning solution in your pool, you should try to remove as much residue as you can by using your hands and tools. Scrub the walls and the bottom of your pool until you eliminate as much waste as possible. You might get rid of significant stains and metal particles during this process. 

Add the metal sequestrant

You can use a metal sequestrant by itself or mix it with your regular cleaning solution. This choice depends on the product and how much metal contamination you are dealing with in your pool. Check out the instructions of the sequestrant and use it accordingly. After you added the sequestrant in your pool, turn your filter on and give it up to 48 hours to get rid of all the metal particles. 

Shock your pool

You might need to shock your pool by using chlorine when the 478 hours are over. Do this as you usually would and make sure your pool levels are in normal parameters by the end of the shocking process. It is better to give your filter an additional 24 hours of running after shocking the pool.

Check your water levels

To make sure everything is back to normal and you can use your pool again, check the levels of your water. You might need t increase or lower your pH during this final check. To increase it, use sodium carbonate, and to reduce it try muriatic acid. 

If you did all the previous steps correctly, the sequestrant would get rid of the metal residue with no hassle. The quality of your sequestrant is also essential, so make sure you choose the right product for your pool. If you want to avoid metal residue from invading your pool, you should add sequestrant every time you clean your pool. 

Solar Covers Bubbles Up or Down

What Makes Solar Covers Efficient

While some pool owners are skeptical, others are getting the benefits of having solar pool covers. If you are reading this because you are still not convinced why you should get solar blankets for your pool, then you are on the right page. This article will discuss how it works and the proper installation of whether the solar covers bubble up or down.

The purpose of solar covers is to keep the pool water warm. It works like a water heater. It absorbs the heat coming from the sun and converts it to useful energy. During the night, the covers preserve the heat energy so it would stay warm even when the temperature drops. Meaning, you are not going back to zero the next day.

Another helpful feature of pool covers is to prevent water from evaporating. Humid temperature is a factor that can either slow down or speed up evaporation.

To further understand, you are likely to feel fresh if you sweat out on a hot, sunny day. It works the same way when water evaporates at night. The water absorbs a lot of heat energy during the day. At night, the wind and temperature will cool down the water, and it will start to evaporate.

Meaning to say, when the water evaporates - the absorbed heat during the day will vanish with them. It is the reason why it is a must to keep the cover on the whole evening until your next use so the heat energy won't go to waste. The next day, the solar cover would be able to heat the water faster.

Pool covers look like bubble wraps. These bubbles work like insulators that trap the heat inside. They are responsible for heat energy absorption and transfer to the water. Many users get confused about whether to have the solar covers bubble up or down - it should be downward.

If you mistakenly installed your pool solar covers and the bubbles are facing up, the process of heating the water may take longer than usual. The bubbles will still absorb the energy, but before it hits the water, it will go through another layer, which is the exterior cover. Plus, the sun's rays could cause damages to the bubbles.

Other than being an effective water pool heater, the solar covers also protect the pool from dirt and dust. It also means more savings from pool chemical solution cleaners.

While it is good to exercise in the morning, most people use the pool after the water has been sun-heated as they don't want to dip in cold water. Using water heaters each time you are going to swim can be time-consuming, plus it would cost a lot.

The use of solar cover is an advantage since it is the cheapest alternative for gas or electric pool heaters. It will make your pool ready to use at any time of the day.

This pool blanket is very easy to use. If your pool is irregular in size, you can trim it to fit. But remember, measure your pool first to get the right size. Try to lay it on your pool first and check the fitting before trimming it so you will not lose the warranty if there's any.

Today's technology cannot guarantee efficiency if the user is not knowledgeable about the products. The solar covers are among the advanced equipment for a swimming pool, which provides us convenience.

It is helpful to have information available like this to make users knowledgeable. It would help avoid confusion, like whether installing your solar cover bubbles up or down as this would allow pool owners to get the maximum benefits this equipment provides.

  

Best Pool Surface Finish: Diamond Brite vs. Pebble Tec

Building a pool can be overwhelming, particularly the part where you need to choose the design and materials. When it comes to resurfacing finish, some pool builders recommend the Diamond Brite, while others would go for Pebble Tec. These two are the most used swimming pool resurfacing materials. To know more about the difference and which one would benefit you the most, read on as we cover the pros and cons of Diamond Brite vs. Pebble Tec.

What You Need To Know About Diamond Brite Pool Finish
Diamond Brite is one of the leading brands of swimming pool aggregate finish available today. Blend with natural quartz, and polymer-modified cement, it can promise to make your pool stand out.

The manufacturer guarantees that the Diamond Brite surface finish will last longer and may uphold their beauty up to 10-15years. Natural quartz makes this possible. Quartz is a natural substance that is best known for its durability and can resist heat, as well as other chemical substances. It can protect itself from any harsh pool cleaning chemicals, and it does not leave stains on the surface.

The Diamond Brite also uses polymer concrete. A cement with synthetic polymers can effectively resist cracks and chips. The idea behind blending cement with polymer is to make the plaster stronger. Also, the polymer helps the cement to resist water.

The smooth finish of Diamond Brite provides comfortability and guarantees slip-resistant. When it comes to designs and colors, most are in the shade of blue to give a natural look, with white streaks that sparkle like a diamond under the sunlight. They also have pebbles design, but still with a smooth finish.

Something you need to know about Diamond Brite is its tendency to discolor faster compared with Pebble Tec. After years of using, you may notice spots and patches, which are the normal side-effect of strong chemicals and acidic or low pH water. One more, since it has a smooth surface, the bond that holds the finish and where it is attached to may appear to be weaker unlike finishes with a rough surface.

Is Pebble Tec The Right One?
While Diamond Brite has a smooth surface, Pebble Tec finish is from mixes of shined pebbles mixed with cement, which makes the surface a little rough. They quarry their stones and use advanced technology to make sure a high level of quality pool products. Also, Pebble Tec exclusively designs their pool finish to promote uniqueness.

Most pool builders agree that Pebble Tec gives luxurious interior designs and more natural feeling. Made only from the prime quality pebbles, users may feel like walking on a riverbed. It is the perfect choice for vacation houses or pools near the mountains.

Pebble Tec finish may also last for more than a decade. It proved to resist stains, and they are easy to clean. Moreover, it has anti-slip features to promote safety.

Although Pebble Tec reasonably priced their resurfacing finishes, they still appear to be a bit pricey compared to plasters and other brands. Another problem with Pebble Tec is its rough finish. Prolonged stay in the water can soften feet, and the pebbles can give an uncomfortable feeling. Moreover, because of the uneven surface, algae and other microorganisms can easily stick to the finish.

Finally, pebbles are a softer kind of stone since they are sedimentary rocks. As compared to quartz, pebbles may crumble easily and cracks, which makes durability questionable.

Pool owners only get to design or redesign their pools once in five to ten years, and they don’t want to mess it up. Price may only take a little part in decision making since choosing the best pool finish could offer quality, elegance, and could prolong its use. But with the broad choices for materials and designs, some people even hire pool builders to help them decide. With the information and comparison provided on this article, you now have a broader idea which surfacing finish between Diamond Brite vs. Pebble Tec could fit your pool the best.

 

How To Deal With Pool Liners Pulling Away From The Wall

Swimming pools, be it above the ground or in-ground, use pool liners. These liners help contain the water within the pool walls to avoid leakages. Being knowledgeable about the importance of fitted liners is a must for pool owners since improperly installed or loosed liners may impose danger to users. Aside from that, pool liner pulling away from the wall may cause damages to the base of the pool, and that could be a huge problem.

With the weight of water in the pool, the liners tend to fall off, especially if not properly tucked in. The most common reason why pool liners pull away from the wall or the coping track is that it has already lost its elasticity. Whatever the materials used, like any other consumer goods, pool liners also expires.

As they age, pull liners lose their plasticity and become stiff, especially outdoor pools as they are getting direct heat from the sun. They also tend to fade because of the UV rays. Applying the proper care for swimming pools may prolong the life of the liners.

Additionally, some pool liners require coping tracks to hold them. These coping tracks, once broken or cracked, will lose its effectiveness to clasp. However, if you think that the coping still looks fine, you may place back your liners by heating it with the use of a heat gun or by pouring boiled water. Heat can make liners stretchable. If the pool liner stiffened and did not stretch out, then replacement is needed. 

Some pool owners fix their liners issue by sticking in coins to the coping tracks, but this is just a temporary solution and not recommended. Coins are hazardous to kids and could ruin the beauty of your pool. Instead, check the compatibility of the coping tracks with liners locks. This type of lock can hold your liners in place, but it is only advisable to use it for small slits.

When placing the liners back to the coping track, start with the middle part to make sure that they will be placed evenly. It requires patience since one side may pop out while you are working on the other side. Use wooden clothes pegs to help you hold the pool liners temporarily.

Other than pool wall protection, liners add aesthetic appeal to swimming pools. A common mistake most pool owners do is that they choose the pool liners’ designs over the quality or suitability. Remember, the use of liners is mainly to protect the substructure of the pool. Always keep an eye to pool liners pulling away from the wall and be ready with temporary solutions to avoid serious problems. So, whether you are redesigning or building your pool, having the basic idea of how to choose the most suitable liners for your pool would be beneficial.