How Your Pool Works

From a conceptual standpoint, your swimming pool is basically just a containment of water.   We all love pools because on those scorching Phoenix Summers they seem to be better than sliced bread!  Although you want to just enjoy your pool there is actually allot going on and it might not be a bad idea for you to have a general understanding of how it all works.  You don’t have to do your own pool cleaning or pool maintenance but knowledge is power!

Swimming pools come in all shapes and sizes, but nearly all of them from the backyard personal pool to your local community swimming pool, work in the same simple way. They all use a combination of filtration and chemical treatment to continually clean the water used in your swimming pool.

Your Swimming pool have 7 major components:

• A basin
• A motorized pump
• A water filter
• A chemical feeder
• Drains
• Returns
• PVC plastic plumbing connecting all of these elements

 

The simple concept behind your pool is to pump the water in a continual cycle, from the pool through the filtering and chemical treatment systems and back to the pool again. In this way, the pumping system keeps the water in the pool relatively free of dirt, debris and bacteria. Some pools also include heaters in the mix, in order to keep the water at a certain temperature.  Look at the below picture for a visual reference.

Pool Diagram – Basic pool function and how your pool system operates together to keep your pool running and clean!

 

What to Remember when you own a pool

• Your pool will need regular cleaning and maintenance.
• Educate your guests and all pool users on pool safety.
• If you want a healthy clean pool the chemical levels are key
• Keep your Water Level, you might have to do this in between pool cleanings
• What kind of landscaping is surrounding the pool?  This will have a direct effect on upkeep.
• Do you need any pool upgrades or equipment replacements

 

What should a Pool Cleaning Service provide for you?

A pool cleaning company should keep your pool clean and in good working condition.  They will handle all the chemicals for you and keep the pool equipment running efficiently.  They should also have a good communication skills as they need to tell you when your pool needs repairs or replacement parts.  You should be able to trust your pool company and feel confident that they have your best interests in mind and not just considering how much money they will get paid.  A pool requires more than just pool cleaning on a weekly basis.  A pool cleaning and maintenance company should give you Peace Of Mind when it comes to your pool.  If you have to worry about your pool, your with the wrong company.

How can you tell if you have a healthy pool?

You can use your senses and observation to determine whether you have a healthy clean pool or one that needs more attention.

• Sight – Look at the water, does it look clear, clean and blue?  It should be without algae and the water shouldn’t be cloudy.  Look down to bottom of the pool; can you clearly see the floor and drains?  Is the water level correct?  The water should always be filtering through the pump system.

• Smell – Do you smell any strong odors?  If you smell anything that is too strong or not normal you have an issue with your chemical balance in the pool.

• Touch – By touching the walls and tiles of the pool they should feel smooth.  You can tell when a tile gets slippery or rough from organism growth and algae.

• Hearing – Are you hearing consistent normal noise from your pool system?  If its too loud or you listen and it sounds like something isn’t operating correctly, its probably not.  Its like a car engine, when you hear something that you don’t normally hear, you need to get it checked out.

 

Pool Pump & Motor Options

Qualified Phoenix area SRP customers can receive a rebate of up to $150 on a variable-speed pool pump with our Energy-Efficient Pools Program.

With hot year-round temperatures in the Valley, it’s no surprise that pools are a major cost concern for our customers. And as your home’s No. 2 energy user, your single-speed pool pump could cost you up to $560 per year to operate. You can reduce this expense by more than half with a variable-speed pool pump.

Variable-speed pumps save energy because they can be programmed to operate at a variety of speeds to deliver the correct flow needed for each task required to operate your pool. A pump that can run at only one speed must be sized large enough to run the most intensive task — typically a waterfall or pool cleaner. However, it takes far less energy to simply keep water filtered. Variable-speed pool pumps can be programmed to operate at a much slower speed to filter your pool’s water, saving energy and money.

How can I save money with a new pool filtration pump?
Today pool filtration pumps are available with motors that have a variety of speeds. Variable-speed pumps give you the option to pump at very low speeds during filtration and to operate the water features, cleaning equipment or solar heating at the optimum speeds to conserve energy. Remember that the faster you filter your pool, the more energy you use. Filter slowly and for a longer period per day and you can save approximately half of your current monthly pool electric cost.

Why does slowing the water down reduce pumping costs?
When your variable-speed pump is set to operate at a lower speed, the water moves slower through the piping system, thereby reducing friction. Lower friction decreases the system back pressure and as a result, the pump motor works less. Remember that the faster you filter your pool, the more energy you will use. If you cut your filtration flow or the pump speed in half and pump twice as long you will save about 50% of your current monthly pool filtration cost.

Single vs. dual speed motors
A single speed motor runs at the same speed all the time. A dual speed pump has two settings: low and high. The low setting is best for basic pool circulation while the high speed setting is great for use while vacuuming or operating water features. Because there is the option to ramp up the speed on demand, these pumps use less energy, extend the life of the motor, and save money on electricity bills.

Pool Sanitizer Options

Swimming pool sanitation refers to methods for ensuring healthy conditions in your pool.  There are 3 main options available for most pools today.

Chlorine Pools

Traditionally, the most popular pool water sanitizer used in residential swimming pools has been chlorine.  Chlorine is cheap, readily available, effective and relatively easy to use.  Although recently chlorine’s been losing ground to alternative sanitizers because they are safer and don’t have the normal downsides to a chlorine pool that isn’t kept up with weekly maintenance.  Some of the complaints of Chlorine pools are as followed:

•    strong chlorine odor
•    hair, eye & skin irritation
•    ecological concerns with chlorine production
•    bleached liners, towels & swimsuits
•    potential for equipment corrosion
•    storage & handling concerns

That said, with correct maintenance of your pool you won’t have to deal with issues.  Chlorine pools are the most common type of pools in the world and when kept up can be the most affordable option.

 

Salt Water Pools:

A salt system is a piece of swimming pool equipment that uses ordinary salt to produce pure chlorine in your pool water, naturally & automatically.

Salt Water Pool Systems utilize an electrolytic process to generate pure chlorine. The salt concentration is very low (less than a teaspoon per gallon of pool water), so you won’t taste or notice it in the water, but it’s sufficient to create enough free chlorine to sanitize your pool, naturally! Salt chlorine generators continuously kill algae, bacteria & contaminants. The benefits of a Salt Water Pool are numerous:

•    Safe and easy to use
•    Fast and easy to install
•    Sparkling clean water without the need to frequently monitor & adjust your chlorine level
•    Water is silky soft, and has none of the odor or  irritating qualities of traditional chlorine
•    Safe for use in all pool surfaces – including fiberglass, vinyl, plaster, and concrete swimming pools

Enzyme-Based Pool Chemicals

This method of pool sanitation uses natural enzymes to help reduce the need for traditional sanitizers like chlorine or bromine. They are 100% biodegradable, non-toxic and safe for people, pets, and landscaping. Our customers who use Natural Chemistry give them rave reviews, due to their effectiveness & eco-friendly ingredients.

•    Compatible with chlorine and all water balance parameters
•    Enzymes digest oils and scum to decrease sanitizer demand
•    Easy to use, just read the label, and pour it in the pool
•    Phos-Free removes phosphates from your pool to prevent algae
•    Enzymes also work inside of your filter, to help improve filtration