Swimming Pool Owners Blog

5 Benefits of a Variable Speed Pool Pump

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Rob CoxMarch 6, 2021

The deadline is fast approaching! In just a few months, most standard pool pumps will be phased out as obsolete equipment, in favor of the federally mandated variable speed pool pump. The new regulations go into effect on July 19, 2021.

If you need a new pool filter pump (over 1.0 Total Horsepower), after this date, you will be required to install a variable speed pump. But that’s good news! Variable speed pumps, or VS pumps as some call them, are packed with features and benefits. In fact, the financial savings alone can rapidly pay back your cost to purchase. But the incentives don’t stop there. These are the top 5 reasons to invest in a variable speed pool pump.

1. Huge Energy Savings

Studies by the Department of Energy have shown that swimming pool pumps are one of the largest energy consumers in the home. Saving energy is good for the environment, but it’s good for your wallet, as well! Variable speed pumps save money and energy because the motor spins at lower speeds, which requires fewer amps and watts. Compared to a single speed pump, you can save 50-80% just by running the pump for longer hours each day, but at lower speeds.

The great part about variable speed pumps is that you can program your pump to use the right speed needed for your unique pool setup. Fine tune the VS pump settings to power cleaners, heaters, water features, or even attached spas to maximize your energy savings (more on that below).

2. Whisper-Quiet Operation

The permanent magnet motor of a variable speed pump runs at lower speeds, which makes less sound. You may struggle to hear a VS pump at all when it’s running at lower speeds. Even when running at higher speeds, VS pumps are so much quieter than a standard pump. Due to a difference in motor design, variable speed pumps produce 25% less decibels, about 40-50 dB, compared to 60-70 dB for standard pool pumps, all else being equal.

Bad motor bearings are the most common cause of excessive motor noise. However, VS pumps use inverter duty bearings, which are more durable and longer lasting than standard pump motor bearings.

3. Optimum Flow for Specific Tasks

Variable speed pumps give you flexibility to find the best speed for filtering, heating, cleaning, or running spas and water features. With standard pool pump motors, you have only one speed (3450 RPM) for all the functions and features of your pool. One of the largest advantages to variable speed pumps is that you call “dial in” the correct speed for a variety of needs.

Water features work best at a specific flow rate range. Likewise, lower flow rates make heating more efficient (and economical) and pool cleaners more effective. Filtration flow rates are lower than other pump functions, with enough speed to have some skimmer suction. You can program a VS pump to match your needs, and you can easily override or re-program it whenever you want. Figuring out the perfect balance will help save a lot of money each month, which we talk about in a previous blog post: Optimizing Variable Speed Pumps.

4. Better Water Filtration

Water is filtered best at lower speeds. It is easier for filter media to trap and retain small particles when the flow rate is reduced. For pools using a standard pool pump that runs all the time at 3450 RPM, there can be some amount of filter bypass, or very fine particles returning to the pool unfiltered. Lower flow rates allow your filter to work more efficiently by reducing this effect. Reduced flow also helps to extend the life of your filter media, which wears out faster under the daily force of higher flow rates. With a VS pump running nearly 24 hours per day at low speeds, your pool stays cleaner, and your water is always circulating, never stagnant.

5. Advanced Control Systems

Most standard pool pumps are controlled by a time clock or perhaps a switch on a post next to the pump. Variable speed pumps, however, include an on-board computer that replaces the old mechanical time clock, allowing you to easily step through menus to program pump speed and operation times. Many VS pumps allow the interface to rotate, and Hayward VS pumps have an adapter kit available for wall mounting of the control panel. If you’re looking for next level technology, Jacuzzi JVX pumps have a Bluetooth app for smartphone or tablet control. One of the biggest benefits of VS pumps is their compatibility with automation systems, a.k.a. pool controllers, to allow truly remote operation and full control.

In addition to all these benefits, using a variable speed pump will soon become law and a federal mandate. For more information on these new regulations, check out our previous blog post: National Variable Speed Pool Pump Law. That said, a standard or single speed pool pump (over 1 THP) will be hard to find after the summer of 2021.

Indeed, there are many benefits to owning a variable speed pool pump. Installation is basically the same as connecting a standard pump, as we discuss in our Installing a Variable Speed Pump post. The main difference is that you no longer need your old time clock.

If you’re ready to make the switch, take a look at In The Swim’s full lineup of variable speed pool pumps. This year we are offering ten different VS pump models from five manufacturers, suitable for every pool size and need.

And yes! Above ground pools can also use VS pumps!

2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Pool Lovers

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Alicia HarrisFebruary 9, 2021

Gift Ideas for Swimming Pool Lovers It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us! 2020 has been a year full of twists and turns, and there’s still a lot of uncertainty as we all start making holiday plans. Whether you’re planning a virtual gathering or an in-person celebration this year, now’s the prime time to get a jump on your holiday shopping list.

With many families opting for the virtual route, shipping companies are expecting record numbers of gift packages to be mailed across the country this year. If you want your gifts to arrive on time, don’t wait til the last minute to make your list and check it twice! To help you get started, we’ve assembled a pool lovers’ holiday shopping guide with some of the hottest gift ideas of the year.

STOCKING STUFFERS

First up is an item that everyone can enjoy, and it’s especially relevant this year. It’s the UV-Turtle Phone Sanitizer! This compact, useful device sanitizes your phone and other small accessories with powerful ultraviolet light. UV light is proven to kill 99.99% of all germs, bacteria and viruses, and effectively kills the virus that causes COVID-19. The UV-Turtle includes a USB-A port, which allows you to charge your phone while it’s being sterilized.

With hot tub season in full swing, aromatherapy fragrances are another fun and easy stocking stuffer. These are great for anyone with a spa, hot tub, Whirlpool Bath, or any other type of hydrotherapy setting. Available in both liquid and crystal forms, there are many different fragrances to choose from. Fun and fruity aromas can rejuvenate and energize, or therapeutic aromas can alleviate muscle tension and enhance relaxation.

FOR THE KIDS

Just because the pool is closed for the winter doesn’t mean you can’t give a cool pool gift. This just adds to the anticipation of the upcoming swimming season! No matter who you’re shopping for, you can’t go wrong with a fun, trendy pool float or poolside accessory. From holographic and glittery inflatables, to animals and dinosaurs, to cartoon characters and floating games, there’s a little something for everyone. There are even adorable animals that can be used as a pillow, or seats that can be used indoors. See our full selection of fun accessories in the Pool Floats, Toys & Games category.

Can’t wait for swimming season to start using your gift? Then you’ll want to check out the Voyager Neutrino Electric Skateboard. This hot item is flying off the shelves, and for good reason. With a 12.5 MPH max speed and a 7 mile range per charge, this revolutionary skateboard is just as fun as it is useful. A wireless remote control allows you to manage speed and braking, and also displays the remaining battery available in both the remote and the board. Easily toggle between beginner and advanced modes to adapt the speed to your experience level. The lightweight, sleek design makes it easy to bring this board anywhere.

FOR THE ADULTS

The gift of convenience is always well received. For the pool owner in your life, you can help make their life a lot easier this spring with a Start-Up Kit from In The Swim. Our Start-Up Kits make opening the pool a hassle-free process with everything needed to get the job done right. Test strips, algaecide, clarifier, shock, an oil absorbing sponge and stain prevention products are all included with the kits.

If you’re searching for a versatile gift, take a look at the Altec Lansing Sonic Boom 2. This portable bluetooth speaker is not only waterproof, dirtproof, shockproof, and snowproof, it also floats! With up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, the Sonic Boom 2 speaker includes three USB charging ports so you can also charge your smartphone while you listen to tunes. This is the ultimate pool party machine. It can be used with any laptop or smartphone, or it can be connected to a guitar or microphone for a live performance. Even better, you can pair up to 50 speakers at a time for a truly immersive music experience. The convenient carrying handle and modest 12 pound weight make it easy to take this speaker anywhere. From swimming parties to tailgates, and from sports practices to camping trips, the options are endless.

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Instead of buying lots of smaller gifts this year, some families are instead saving up to splurge on the single most popular item of 2020: an Above Ground Pool Kit. With the pandemic putting many travel plans on hold for the foreseeable future, many families are investing in home activities that everyone can enjoy.

Now is the best time to reserve your new above ground swimming pool and lock in the lowest prices of 2020. Reserved pools will start shipping in Spring 2021, meaning you won’t have to worry about looking at the disassembled kit laying in your yard all winter. Your family will be among the first in line for a pool next season, eliminating the risk of inconvenient supply shortages on above ground pool kits. If you’re looking for a low cost, budget-friendly option, our Bestway Fast Set pools are in stock and ready for delivery. Intex Soft Sided Pools are also ready for immediate shipment.

For the big reveal, wrap up a small teaser item, such as an inflatable float, a pool game, or a funny pool sign. If your family does Elf on a Shelf, you might even set up a few hints with pool-related scenes in the days leading up to the gift reveal.

No matter what your plans are for this year’s holiday season, In The Swim can help you find the perfect gift for the pool owner in your life. Search our broad selection of outdoor accessories, pool equipment, chemicals and so much more.

Have questions, or need help finding a specific product? Give our friendly customer service team a call at 1-800-288-7946, and we’ll do our best to help you find the perfect pool gift.

Comments on the In The Swim blog have been turned-off. We regret the inconvenience. For pool tech support, please dial our call center at 1-800-288-7946.

DIY Pool Heater Maintenance

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Davy MerinoOctober 30, 2020

pool heaters and heat pumps For most pool owners, a pool heater represents a substantial investment, and one that you want to keep in good condition, to avoid expensive heater repair and replacement.

This post will focus on gas pool heaters, but I will reserve a some space below for maintenance tips for pool heat pumps.

Heat Exchanger Cleaning:

VERY sooted heat exchanger Your heat exchanger is a set of copper-finned tubes (or can be salt resistant Cupro-Nickel). It sits on the top of the combustion chamber, absorbing the heat from the Burner tray, located at the bottom of the combustion chamber.

Your heat exchanger also allows air to flow through it, and although new heaters have ‘fan-assisted’ exhaust, heat exchanger obstructions can slow the flow of air out of the heater, resulting in over-heating, sooting and flame roll-out.

Every year or two, remove the heater top to inspect the heat exchanger. Use a wet/dry vac to remove any leaves or debris, and look for evidence of bird or rodent nests. Use a flashlight to inspect the spaces between the tube coils. If sooting or galvanic corrosion is noticed, remove with a wire brush to restore air flow.

Heater Floor Cleaning:

heater that needs cleaning Now that the top of the heater is clean, let’s take a look at the bottom of the heater, under the burner tray. It is common to find leaves, acorns, rust and dust, which should be removed to improve air flow and reduce corrosion.

Use a hand brush or a wet/dry vac to remove the dirt and debris once per year. Make sure the drain holes on the side of the heater are not obstructed, to allow condensation and ‘sideways’ rain to exit the floor of the heater.

If you notice any nesting material in the spring time, do a thorough cleaning and take action the following fall, to keep out birds and mice.

Fix any Heater Leaks:

leaking heater hayward - courtesy of TFP It’s not uncommon for pool systems to have a drip or ooze of water here or there, a completely water-tight filter system is rare. Pool heaters too may have drips on the pipes that bring water in and out of the heat exchanger, perhaps not a big problem.

Water leaking INSIDE the heater however, that’s another story. Water inside the heater can cause corrosion and lead to rusty components, wiring and circuit boards.

Look for any source of internal leaks, such as the pressure switch, drain plugs, header gaskets or even pinholes in an eroded heat exchanger, caused by very low pH water, or too much water flow.

Condensation can form when heating very cold water, and may puddle water in the floor of the heater, and is not considered a leak. Heater condensation will subside once the pool water comes up to temperature.

Inspect the Burner Flames:

new pool heater burner tray complete For this one, you may need to remove the burner shield, or use a handheld mirror to inspect the height and color of the flames, as the heater is ‘firing’, or in operation.

The first check is to ascertain that all burners have flames. If one or more rows of burners has not ignited, the issue is usually a clogged burner orifice, which can be cleaned out with a paper clip, or thin wire.

The second check is that the flames are strong and blue, not lazy and red/orange/yellow. A lazy flame can indicate poor exhaust from a sooted heat exchanger or defective fan. It can also indicate low gas pressure or a defective gas regulator.

Inspect the Wiring:

pool heater wiring Pool heaters have a lot of wiring in the ‘safety circuit’, much of it hidden behind the control panel. Inspect the wiring to look for any evidence of melted wires or wires chewed by rodents. Also check that wires are firmly connected at their end points. ‘Hot Spots’ on the front (shown here) or sides of the heater can mean that the insulation or ‘fire brick’ has failed in that area.

If you find melted wires, you likely have heater exhaust issues, creating high temperatures inside the heater, or flame roll-out , also likely tripping the high limit switch. If you find chewed wires, you likely have winter residents inside of the heater. Use mint sachets or other means to discourage mice or birds from making a home of your heater.

Around the Heater:

Prune bushes and overhanging trees around the heater, to allow the area to dry out quickly after rain. Plants and trees block air flow and increase humidity, which leads to corrosion. A sunny, dry spot is best for your heater. Covering the heater during winter with our Universal Pool Heater Cover is an inexpensive way to keep out moisture, dirt, animals and insects.

Mulch around the heater is another problem. Mulch has a very low pH, and produces an acidic humidity, which can be corrosive. Mulch also traps moisture, and attracts insects. Gravel and paver stones are a much better surface around your pool heater.

Pool Heat Pump Maintenance:

Clean the Coils: Shut off power to the heat pump at the breaker, and use a garden hose with nozzle to spray the external coil of the heater, from top to bottom. If unfamiliar with the term, the heater ‘Coil’ is the metal vanes seen around the outside, through which air is drawn into the heater. The coils absorb heat from the outside air, but become inefficient when clogged with dirt and debris. A simple hosing is sufficient (do not use a pressure washer). If greasy dirt is a problem, use a mild cleanser like Simple Green.
Clean the Inside: Shut off power and clean out the leaves and muck that has found it’s way to the bottom of your pool heat pump. A wet/dry vac can be useful here, or for tall people, just bend over and scoop it out by hand. Take care to clean out the side openings so that rain will quickly run-out of the bottom, and not build-up inside.
Clean the Fan Blades: Shut off power and use a cleanser and a rag to clean off the tips of the fan blade, which can develop a dirty edge. Inspect the fan blade for any wobble, which can indicate a bad bearing.
Inspect the Wiring: For your safety and the proper operation of your pool heat pump, be sure that the wiring from the breaker box is encased in a proper conduit with tight connections at both ends. Look inside the control panel for any loose or chewed wiring. Contact an electrician for anything that looks improper.
Inspect the Refrigerant Line Insulation: You know the black foam insulation on the pipe – it can deteriorate over the years. Pick up some new pipe insulation at your local home store to keep your heat pump operating efficiently.

I hope you enjoyed this look at how to service a pool heater. Keep your pool heater in well maintained condition and it will reward you with fewer repairs and a longer life.

Take Care ~

rob cox
Rob Cox
In The Swim Blog Editor

Comments on the In The Swim blog have been turned-off. We regret the inconvenience. For pool tech support, contact our call center at 1-800-288-7946.

Halloween Swimming Pools

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Jaquelynn PettinatoOctober 23, 2020

scary-halloween-lifeguard Halloween is on a Saturday this year! And even though Halloween 2020 requires some social distance protocols, there is still fun to be done.

Northern pool owners are already closed for the season, but southern pool owners are still enjoying their pool through October. Before it officially becomes ‘off-season’, have some fun with a Halloween party.

Here are some spooky décor ideas and Halloween pool activities for all you sunbelt pool owners out there – there’s still more time to enjoy the fall weather around the pool!

Halloween Décor

1). Pumpkins Galore

halloween-floating-pool-pumpkins It’s time to harvest pumpkins in the garden or the multitude of pumpkins at the local pumpkin patch. Floating pumpkins in your pool is a really neat way to decorate the swimming pool. You can carve real pumpkins and place small candles inside so your designs can light up the pool. If you don’t want to use real pumpkins, your local craft store carries an array of plastic pumpkins that will look just as appealing.

2). Party Pool Dye

skeleton-in-pool Swimming pool dye is a fun way to get into the Halloween mood. Whether you choose creepy red or goblin green, swimming pool dye is a terrific way to decorate. Party Pool dye is non-toxic and won’t stain your pool and in 3-5 days the color will filter out, and you’ll be back to a beautiful blue pool.

3). Bubbles and Candles

soap-bubbles Add laundry soap and point your pool returns at the surface to create a foamy swimming pool. After the party, shock the pool to break up the foam, and run the filter. Decorate the swimming pool with candles to make a magical backyard that is perfect for an outdoor party.

4). Dry Ice

dry-ice-in-pool For Halloween this year, make a spooky swimming pool with dry ice or fog machines. A foggy atmosphere gives a spooky aurora to the yard. If you put dry ice in the pool, take safety precautions and make sure that no one is swimming. Touching dry ice can cause skin burns.

5). Plexiglass Pool Cover

plexiglass-party-pool-cover If you want to expand your backyard and create a dance floor or dining area, you might consider having a party rental company install lighted plexiglass panels over the pool, or a stage over water for the band to play, or for a costume contest catwalk. Pricey, yes and a super creative way to transform your pool area into an incredible space for big events.

6). Spider webs, Tombstones and Skeletons

skeleton-in-pool-chair-float It’s time to dig out your go-to decorations in in the basement. Don’t be afraid to use the decorations you already have and spice them up with some new décor from the store. Spider webs are a classic decoration that can be placed in bushes and trees surrounding the pool. Get some tombstones and make a creepy scene in a corner.

7). Glowing Hands

glowing-hands Need some unique lighting ideas in your swimming pool? Get some latex gloves and put a glow stick in each of them. Inflate the gloves and tie them off, and set them afloat. At night it’s really creepy to see glowing, floating hands in the swimming pool.

8). Sound Effects/ Halloween Music

halloween-pool-party-music Music and sound effects are the perfect way to set the mood for the Halloween season. Sound effects might be good if you are not outside the entire time, otherwise the repetition might get a tad annoying to your guests. There are plenty of Halloween CDs out there for adults and kids that incorporate fun/creepy music. Or, make your own Halloween playlist! (see list below)

9). Scary Floating Stuff

Float something scary in the pool. Floating skeletons in a pool float, or laying on a pool lounger can enhance the spookiness. Carvable funkins, made from low density foam. Cut some scary faces and float them in the pool with a tea candle or small battery light. Floating plastic hands, large spiders or severed heads can be extra gory, if you want to go that route.

10. Final Touches

Last but not the least, you will need a few Jack-o-Lanterns to make this party authentic – Halloween is incomplete without some scaring and glaring pumpkins. Use candles or LED lights to place inside your carved pumpkins for a spine-tingling stare.

How about spider webs, skeletons, grave stones, zombies and witches? Hang the spider webs on your deck and patio furniture and put the skeletons and zombies by the entrance so your guests can feel the chill as soon as they enter your backyard. Rent a fog machine and/or strobe lights to add to the supernatural effect.

Halloween Party Games

1). Dive for Your Pumpkins

dive-for-pumpkins For Halloween parties for kids, get a dozen pumpkins and place them in the pool. The kids can swim to their pumpkins that they want to carve. After they carve the pumpkins and it begins to get dark, they can float them in the pool with candles inside, or set them in various places around the pool.

2). Halloween Hunt

halloween-hunt-in-the-pool For the Halloween hunt, fill some Halloween colored eggs with small toys, hard candy or coins and place them in the pool. Make it a fun competition and let the children race in the swimming pool to get as many eggs as they can. If there are many ages, divide the hunts into age groups.

3). Costume Contest

phelps-swimmer-costume The possibilities are endless really…whether you want to be a pirate or Olympic swimmer, a themed costume party is a lot of fun for not only kids but adults as well. At least the party host should dress up! Fortunately adult Halloween costumes are easy to buy, rent or make yourself!

Any boy willing to go shirtless could dress up as Michael Phelps. A great idea for babies that are not swimming is a shark or fish costume. Finding Nemo, anyone?

Party Food and Snacks:

Your guests may lose their appetite after all the scare and fear we caused, but a party is never complete without good food and snacks. You can check with your guests if they would like to bring in some treats or prepare food yourself.

FUN! Mummy Hot Dogs Idea (Pigs in a Blanket)

Photo Credit: Pillsbury.com

Halloween is all about the treats! No Halloween pool party is complete without a bowl of candy and creepy munchies. There are many fun recipes to be found (like these cute mummy hot dogs) that can make your Halloween pool party fun for young and old. Don’t forget to brew up a cauldron of witches’ brew punch, complete with dry ice for a spooky fog!

You can find great recipes online or call your friends and family for tried and tested, delicious recipes. Ghoulish cocktails or a scary punch bowl will give your guests something fun to sip on while the zombies mingle. A small cube of food grade dry ice will create a creepy fog over the punch bowl, or you can drop in a few floating “eyeballs”.

Make any type of punch you like, and add these ‘shrunken heads’, which are actually apples that have been soaked in lemon juice, carved and then baked for a few minutes to shrivel them up. Scary!

Another way to make any punch scary is to add a cube of dry ice so that it fogs up and spills over onto the table. Or, add a ring of regular ice, frozen in a bundt pan, with gummy worms in the ice.

Pool Safety First:

You have covered all the basics for throwing the best ever Halloween party, but don’t forget that pool party safety comes first and foremost. If you live in cold climate and are not going to swim, make sure that the access to your pool is restricted so your guests, especially the little ones, don’t accidentally fall into the pool.

If you are lucky enough to live in a warmer climate and plan on swimming, ensure that pool equipment is in proper working conditions and your water is chemically balanced.

halloween pool party lifeguard It is a good idea to hire a trained life guard to keep an eye on the swimmers, so that your guests (and you!) can relax. Many local pools or schools will have some trained lifeguards you can contact for your party. If you have trouble finding one, designate a responsible adult to watch the pool in shifts of less than an hour.

Make your Halloween pool party UNFORGETTABLE

Boo! Happy Halloween, image by istockphoto

Now it’s time to sprinkle in the Halloween magic! This is where your creativity will take your Halloween pool party to the next level. On top of traditional Halloween decorations, you now also have an entire new angle to spin – a creepy haunted swimming pool!

First, decorate your backyard and the area around your pool with spider webs & fake spiders, pumpkin leaf bags, ghosts, bats and anything else your heart desires. A great spooky pool party tip is to lay a stuffed scarecrow/zombie/mummy on a floating chaise lounge which slowly moves around the pool. Playing some eerie music and sound effects tracks helps create a spine-tingling ambiance.

Second, install a red or green color pool light bulb or lens cover and a lighted tiered fountain in your pool to give it that spooky hue when the sun goes down. For those that want to go the extra mile, adding some light rolling fog over the pool will give the illuminated water the illusion that it’s alive! Black Lights can also be used in different areas around the pool.

Finally, during the party, take those freshly-carved Jack O’Lanterns and arrange them around your pool for an even spookier evening glow. Gather your guests around the pool [or in the pool] for one of the most incredible group photos!

Halloween Pool Party Music

You could just turn on the radio, but if you have time to assemble a party music mix, here’s a playlist that will be sure to please your guests, and also create a little musical tension.

Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London
Awolnation – Sail
Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers – Monster Mash
Stevie Wonder – Superstition
The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Time Warp
The B-52’s – Rock Lobster
Michael Jackson – Thriller
Pink Floyd – Careful with that axe, Eugene
Beatles – Helter Skelter
Rob Zombie – Dragula
Marilyn Manson – This is Halloween
Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead
Ministry – Every Day is Halloween

Enjoy!

All the bases are covered, now it’s time to hit a home run! Enjoy yourself watching your friends have a ton of fun and admire your creativity. It’s easier than you think to throw a Halloween pool party that no one will forget!

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

jp2
Jaquelynn Pettinato
InTheSwim Staff Blogger

Spa & Hot Tub Essentials

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Sheryl SomersOctober 19, 2020

As summer becomes a fading memory, the crisp fall air and colorful leaves usher in a new kind of aquatic activity. It’s Hot Tub Season! 🙂

Today we un-cover ten popular and essential accessories for hot tub owners, including my own favorite spa gear!

Sun-Sorb

Happy little suns, floating sponges attract oils at the water line, to prevent scum lines, foamy water and oily spa filters. Just toss one Sun Sorb into your spa or skimmer, and it will soak up body oils, cosmetics, sweat.

Each Sun Sorb absorbs more than 40 times its own weight in oils and lotions. They can be easily cleaned with regular dish soap and re-used many times. A low-tech alternative to using spa enzymes (see below).

Filter Wand

Cleaning a filter cartridge with water only, can push small dirt particles deep into the woven polyester fabric, where they can clog and damage your filter element. In addition, large streams of water can separate filter fibers, reducing the dirt trapping ability.

The Filter Cleaning Wand extends filter life by gently scrubbing between pleats to loosen dirt and grime, while 24 fine, focused jets of water quickly wash them away, without separating filter fibers.

Instant Cartridge Clean

New from Leisure Time, Instant Cartridge Clean is a combination degreaser and descaling chemical that removes both oils and mineral deposits from spa filter cartridges, for better filter performance.

What I love about this particular spa filter cleaner is that it sprays on in a visible blue color, so that you know when you have complete coverage. The spray head also conserves the chemical, so you only use the amount you need.

Digital Thermometer

I must admit, it may be hard to get excited about a floating spa thermometer, but if you are going to have a thermometer in your hot tub, this is the one to buy. Most spas have a digital read-out of water temperature, but it’s important to cross-check it, just to be safe.

Without my glasses, I cannot read those standard thermometers, but the Digital Thermometer has large numbers that pop, and it measures down to 1/10 of a degree, in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Spa Perfect

Spa Perfect by Natural Chemistry is an all-natural patented natural enzyme and botanical extract formula for hot water.

If you are not familiar with enzyme water treatment, they are very effective at bio-degrading oils, make-up, skin and other non-living organic materials that cause cloudy and foamy water, scum lines and gunked-up spa filters.

InSPAration Liquid Aromatherapy

I always thought “pfft! Aromatherapy?!?”, until I tried a sample pack dropped off by a product rep, and from then on I was a complete convert.

InSPAration makes many, many spa scents, for all types of olfactory experiences – relaxation, invigoration and even passion, woo-hoo!

My latest favorite, which may sound a bit low-key or pedestrian, is Rain, I just love it!

Floating Spa Cover

A thermal spa cover serves two purposes, it will increase your R-value, saving money on heating and treating the water. Secondly, it reduces the amount of moisture and chemicals that come in contact with the spa cover, which can be the biggest contributor to spa cover damage.

I also use my Floating Spa Cover when we are using the spa during hot summer nights, as kind of a ‘summer cover’ for the hot tub.

Frog Serene Sanitizing System

This is a floating brominator and mineral purifier in one. If you have not used a spa mineral stick before, it adds copper and silver ions to the water, to reduce the amount of bromine or chlorine needed.

With the mineral and bromine combo of Frog Serene, all of my spa sanitizing needs are met, and the spa needs much less bromine, for less odor and softer skin.

Cover Care & Conditioner

Taking care of your insulating hot tub cover is important if you want it to last as long as possible.

If your spa is located outside (like mine!), and subject to wind, rain, snow and sun ~ regular use of Cover Care will keep it looking new and can add years to your cover lifespan.

Pool Blaster Catfish

The Catfish is a battery operated vacuum with a vacuum head, or remove the head to spot clean in corners.

Cleans fast, recharges fast and is fast (and easy) to empty the fine mesh debris bag. I also use it in my pool to spot clean steps and swim-outs.

I’ve had my Catfish for over 5-years now, without a single hiccup. Not sure what I would do without it!

Sheryl Somers
InTheSwim Staff Blogger

Energy Awareness Month – 7 Ways to Save Around the Pool

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Davy MerinoFebruary 9, 2021

October is National Energy Awareness Month, aimed at promoting the importance of energy for sustainability and environmental health.

On the In The Swim blog, we have always had a green streak in our approach to pool management, and even have an entire category of posts under Eco-Friendly Pools.

Most of these methods and equipment I use on my own in-ground pool, as ways to reduce my water and energy usage, and recycle or reuse what I can.

7 Ways to Save Energy Around the Pool

1. Run the Pool Filter Pump Less

You probably know this one already, and you probably already have a time clock on your filter pump, because for most pools, 24/7 operation is unnecessary and wasteful.

pump run time graph

During the cooler, ‘shoulder’ months especially, you may be able to cut back on pump run time even more, without sacrificing water quality or increasing chemical usage.

Experiment with your time clock, reducing daily run time, until you notice the water quality begin to suffer, then add back an hour or two. Keep in mind however, that as summer weather turns from warm to hot, your pool will need increased filtering and chemicals.

2. Install a Variable Speed Filter Pump

When you reduce the RPM of a pump impeller by half, you cut energy consumption by nearly 85%. This is known as the Pump Affinity Law.

hayward VS pump By July 2021, all new or replacement filter pumps over 1.0 THP are required to be Variable Speed Pumps. When your old clunker gets tired or noisy, you know what to do!

Variable speed pool pumps can save even more energy when thought is given to reducing overall system resistance. Using Sweep Elbows instead of regular 90’s, 2″ PVC plumbing instead of 1.5″ pipes and cartridge filters instead of sand or DE are 3 such methods.

3. Turn Down the Pool Heater

According to Teledyne Laars, now owned by Zodiac, turning the pool heater thermostat down just one degree, can result in a 10% savings on fuel costs.

If you are like most people you already know this, but unlike when Mom tells you to “Put on a Sweater if you’re cold”, swimming in cold water with a sweater just isn’t the same.

However, when not using the pool as much, you can reduce energy costs by turning down the heater during the week, and turning it back up for weekend enjoyment. Or, switch to the energy-sipping pool Heat Pumps.

4. Cover the Pool

That’s right, using a solar pool cover, as cumbersome as they are, can save big on heating costs. Solar covers can also reduce evaporative water loss by as much as 95%.

solar-reel-covers-blankets In addition to the floating solar blankets, we also have Solar Sun Rings, which are more manageable, or less effective but super-easy to use, is Liquid Solar Blanket.

Someone once said “heating your pool without a pool cover, is like heating your house without a roof!” And if you see steam coming off the pool surface, just imagine it as dollar bills with wings, flying up into the atmosphere.

5. Clean the Pool – the Old Fashioned Way

Automatic pool cleaners are wonderful inventions, but unless you use a suction cleaner connected into the skimmer, they are consuming energy when they operate.

photo of vacuum hose, vac head and tele pole cleaning a pool Pressure cleaners, arguably the most effective pool cleaner, run on a separate pool pump and timer. Robotic cleaners are low voltage, but still consume dollars every day.

My suggestion here is to go back to the ways of our forefathers, and clean the pool with the vacuum head and hose. You may find it to be relaxing and maybe even… fun?

6. Close the Pool Sooner, Open Later

This idea is not going to sit well with the bean-counters on the 7th floor, but you can definitely save energy by shortening the pool season.

solid safety cover

You will probably need more chemicals at closing and more at opening each season, but if you cut your season length by 10%, that’s 10% of energy you won’t be using!

Another option is to keep the pool covered into early summer and early fall, but run the pump less. Since a covered pool needs less filtering and chemicals, you may only need to run the pump 3-4 hrs per day, to maintain clean and clear water.

7. LED Pool Lights

A typical 500 watt pool light bulb consumes 0.50 kilowatts of electricity every hour of operation. If you run the light 3 hours per night, that would use 10.5 kWh per week.

led-pool-lights-of-the-future LED pool lights, on the other hand with bulbs using as little as 14 watts, consume only 0.1 killowatts of electricity per hour. At 3 hours per night, that’s only 2.1 kWh per week.

That’s 5x less, people! Of course we are speaking about small-change here, as the price per kilowatt hour ranges from 5 to 50 cents, depending where you live. But as we all know, pennies do add-up over time!

So there you have it America, 7-Ways to Save Energy Around the Pool! And one more Bonus Tip: keep your water balanced and sanitary, and you will need less filtering, and less pump run-time, which means more energy savings and money in your pocket!

Dr. Pool

Has Fall Landed in your Pool? Extreme Leaf Removal

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Davy MerinoFebruary 9, 2021

Autumn breezes and warm fall days. Beautiful to look at, but if your pool is surrounded by lots of deciduous trees – it can also make a lot of work to keep the pool clean.

I consider myself an expert in pool leaf removal, having personally removed over a million floating and sunken leaves, by my own estimation.

Here’s how to reduce the work, and get the leaves out of your pool with less effort.

Optimize the Skimmer Flow

Adjust the skimmers so that they are pulling at their strongest. You may want to close or nearly close the main drain valve to increase skimmer suction.

Check to make sure that your skimmer weirs are in place. Weirs help increase the flow of water into the skimmer, and help to lock leaves inside the skimmer when the pump shuts off.

Skim-It attaches easily to most inground and above ground pool skimmers, an arm that reaches out and grabs leaves passing by, directing them into the skimmer. One of our best sellers, it can increase your skimmer performance, and the spring loaded design installs or removes in seconds without any tools.

Optimize the Return Flow

A circular flow of water around the pool helps to gently guide floating leaves in front of the skimmer, helping to trap them before they sink. Aim one or more eyeball fittings towards the surface, to get a small amount of surface action or ripple in the water. This helps to carry leaves around the pool to the skimmer more effectively. Eyeball fittings like the

Extreme Leaf Removal Tools

Leaf Gulper: When the leaves are so deep that they are clogging up the vacuum head or you need to empty the basket every 5 minutes, the Leaf Gulper is the answer.

Modeled after the Jandy Leaf Master, it works with the pressure from your garden hose, the better the hose pressure, the better and faster it will vacuum.

Leaf Rakes: Still using the dip ‘n flip type of pool skim net? For heavy pool leaf problems, there is no tool better suited than a good Leaf Rake. For surface work, you can drag it behind you at the tile line, or use a push and pull method across the pool surface, from side to side.

Leaf Rakes are also great for scooping leaves off of the floor. When you get really good at it, you can move faster than with a Leaf Gulper. Push the net slowly across the floor bouncing just slightly to create a small current. Do a quick flip turn and hard pull back when you reach the end of your pole, or the other side of the pool.

Leaf Catchers: Catching the leaves before they fall into the pool – now that’s genius! Leaf catchers are commonly used to go over top of a solid pool cover, and then removed (with all of the leaves) once the leaves have fallen.

Leaf Catchers also be used without a cover, as a leaf net cover during autumn. Use the grommets in the corners to pull the Leaf Catcher tight over the pool, so that leaves stay dry, and can blow off the cover.

Leaf Canisters: If you are vacuuming a lot of leaves in through the skimmer, you know how quickly the pump basket can fill up. You can use a Skimmer Vac Plate, and vacuum into the skimmer basket instead, which is much larger than the pump basket.

For those really big jobs however, the skimmer basket is even too small. With our in-line Leaf Canister and a 3 ft extension hose, connected to your vacuum hose, you can vacuum for longer without stopping. The design allows for consistent suction, even when the canister is full of leaves.

Leaf-Bone Leaf Net Skimmer Clip, a $12 tool that falls into the It’s-So-Simple-It’s-Genius category of new additions to the pool maintenance world. The Leaf Bone fits any 1.90” in ground pool ladder handrail, installs in seconds, and will save you and your skimmer baskets from excessive manual leaf removal.

Leaf Baskets: Not just any skimmer basket, but a SkimPro skimmer basket with a tower design that allows water flow even when the basket is full.

If you’ve ever had a skimmer basket break due to getting clogged with leaves, you’ll appreciate the smart design. The tower also functions as a handy handle to lift the basket out easily, even with

Circular flow patterns are best to keep sending the leaves in front of the skimmer. Aim your return fittings so that there is a slight ripple on the surface, to keep the leaves moving. Use eyeball fittings to direct the water flow from all returns, in the same direction of flow, creating a slight ripple that continues around the pool. So important, we’ve said it twice.

Water level – Keep your water level in the middle of the tile so that the skimmer can do its job. If the water level is too high, the leaves will just but up against the top of the skimmer, and not be skimmed. Of course if the water is too low, the skimmer sucks air, and you may lose prime or even damage the pool pump. Skimmer weirs! If your flapper-door thingy is missing, your skimmer does not work half as well, and when the pump shuts off, leaves come floatin’ on out again!

Landscaping is either part of the solution, or – part of the problem. A substantial trimming to your surrounding trees every few years, in addition to pruning the dead branches every fall, will keep your work load down. Trimming back the length of very long and heavy branches, may prevent an unexpected break due to it’s size, especially in heavy wind or ice storms.

Pool Covers are an obvious solution to your leaf problem. In addition to the Leaf Net mesh cover mentioned above, Auto pool covers or solar covers keep your pool clean while keeping heat in the pool. Cleaning the auto cover or solar blanket is a bit of a trade-off, but may be easier than cleaning the pool.

To clean an automatic cover, pump most water off, and use a leaf blower or garden hose to clean the cover as it rolls up. When you are left with only 5-6 ft of cover still over the pool, use a leaf rake on a pole to scoop the leaves up. For solar covers, pull them over to where you have most deck space, and use a blower or hose to clean. Then make a fold, clean, make a fold, clean, etc.If you have a reel, clean it off as you roll it up. In both cases, be ready to scoop out the last bit that falls in the pool.

Leaf Blocks – hedges and bushes, low fences, storage boxes and retaining walls – set up to block the prevailing wind across the pool, can help keep leaves out of the pool. If trees are shedding a lot of litter around your pool, bushes, ground covers and decorative fences, or low retaining walls, can help keep the leaves up against a barrier and away from the pool.

Pool Stains from Leaves

After correcting a leaf overload problem, plastered pools may be stained from the tannins in the leaves. Balancing the water and shocking the pool will usually remove leaf stains. Extreme leaf stains in a plastered pool may require acid washing to see any real removal success.

Vinyl pools may stain on the steps and ladders more easily than the vinyl. If balancing the pool and raising the chlorine level for a few weeks doesn’t help to remove leaf stains on a vinyl pool, look to Stain Free to remove it naturally, with Vitamin C!

Do you have any horror stories of extreme leaf removal? (I’ve cleaned many pools more than a foot deep in leaves), share with us in the comments below!

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Davy Merino
InTheSwim Blog Editor

Hot Tub Covers & Year-Round Outdoor Spas – Cover Smart!

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Sheryl SomersOctober 19, 2020

As we move into the fall season, it’s a great time to take a look at your hot tub cover – especially if your hot tub sits outside. If your spa cover looks a little rough, worn or you can even see steam escaping from cracks and tears when the air temperatures dip, you’re essentially watching dollar bills with wings, vanishing into thin air. It’s time for a new spa cover.

While a spa cover seems like a rather straight forward purchase (as long as it fits!), there’s a lot more you should take into consideration when searching to buy a new cover – especially for outdoor, year-round use.

The #1 thing your spa cover does, is insulate your hot tub, trapping the heat and moisture under the cover. If you live in a cold weather winter region, you will want a spa cover with a higher foam weight and foam density to improve the cover’s R-value.

R-Value and Hot Tub Covers

A larger R-value number means the foam, and the cover, has better insulating properties that will better retain the heat in your hot tub, thus saving you a ton of money in energy costs. A low R-value spa cover in a cold region will allow a lot of heat to escape, and your spa heater will work overtime to keep up with the heat loss.

R-value increases in several ways for spa covers. First, the foam core panels can be purchased in different weights and thickness. 2 lb foam is twice as dense and heavy as 1 lb, and a 6″ to 4″ foam panel thickness has more than twice the R-value than 4″ to 2″ taper covers. Other R-value factors include the weight of marine vinyl used, vapor barriers around the foam core, the type of zippers and stitching used, skirt length and hinge seals that help prevent heat loss.

In simple terms, if you go for a lower-cost spa cover that has a lower R-value, that cheap spa cover could end up costing you a lot more money than the most expensive spa cover on the market. Running your pump and heater overtime will not only hit you in the wallet each month, but can cause premature equipment problems or failure.

In even more simpler terms, a spa cover that works fine all winter in southern California is not going to work in Colorado. And, I should not fail to mention that a cover that does not fit properly, too small or too large, or one with incorrect corner or radius dimensions, will be less efficient and effective at keeping the heat in the water.

In short – Buy the Best Spa Cover for your Climate!

FOR VERY MILD WINTER CLIMATES with rare freezing – southern sunbelt regions that stay warm all winter (usually), you can use a 4″ to 2″ taper, but do your wallet a favor and get the denser foam core, 1.5 lb or 2 lb. foam.

FOR MILD WINTER REGIONS with occasional snow or freezing temps, a cover with a 5″ to 3″ taper should work just fine, with the 1.5 lb. or 2 lb. foam. The foam thickness is sturdy enough to withstand some snow resting on the cover.

IN COLD WEATHER AREAS in the ‘snowbelt’, with heavier snowfall and long periods of cold temperatures, you’ll want the 6″ to 4″ taper, which also has a heavier duty channel along the fold for greater support. Get the 2 lb. foam for the best efficiency.

All of our spa covers include a 2″ skirt, 2 bonded handles, and 4 locking cover straps – all standard! We use polypropylene stitching and webbing, and our foam cores are vacuum wrapped with heat sealed seams.

spa-cover-color-swatches-sm Spa covers are available in 14 standard colors, one that’s sure to match (or contrast) your spa patio decor.

To best differentiate among our 4 grades of hot tub covers, look at the warranty and the foam core density and thickness.

Spa Cover Warranty:

They range from a 1-year warranty, all the way up to our 5-year warranty, which covers not just materials and workmanship, but water absorption, too! It’s one of the strongest spa cover warranties available!

Foam Core Density:

Foam density is measured by pounds per square inch. The lower the foam density, the more air contained in the foam. Much like the foam thickness, higher foam density makes a stronger spa cover that can handle heavy snow or sleeping dogs. Denser foam also has a higher R-value, to provide greater heat trapping insulation to reduce heat loss.

Foam Core Thickness:

Outdoor spa covers are tapered to allow rain to run-off. The hinge is the thicker end of the cover taper, running across the middle of the hot tub for support and strength. We have three tapered thicknesses available; 4″ to 2″, 5″ to 3″ and 6″ to 4″.

Other Ways to Improve Heat Retention

Adding a floating spa blanket can also help a cover that is struggling in cold winter temperatures. The Floating Spa Cover Protector is a thick thermal spa blanket to trap heat, chemicals and ozone from escape. Comes in a 4 sizes, and can be trimmed to fit any spa.

Using a floating spa blanket underneath your spa top can help reduce the moisture beneath your spa top, and can help retain more heat in your spa on the coldest of winter days.

Using a Spa Cover Cap can also help protect your spa cover from damage when the snow melts up against your spa cover and refreezes, I use a spa cover cap on my spa, it blocks the wind and rain and keeps my spa cover looking clean and new. The reflective surface also helps to melt snow faster.

The Protecta Hot Tub cover does the same thing for your spa cover, but also protects the side of your spa cabinet, covering your entire spa, which also discourages unsupervised hot tub users. Comes in 3 square sizes to fit nearly all spa shapes and sizes. I use this on my own spa!

Beyond heat and moisture insulation, a hot tub cover also provides important safety measures, helping keep unsupervised children and even pets out or your spa. Be sure to adjust snugly, and always securely fasten your spa cover clips. This will make it harder for children to tamper with as well as keep your spa cover in place in gusty winds.

Spa Top Care & Maintenance

Once you receive your spa cover, care for it properly to ensure the longest life possible. Leave the cover off for at least 15 minutes after adding chemicals so that the chemical vapor can evaporate into the air instead of in to the underside of the spa cover.

Remember to remove your spa cover completely when you use the spa, and place it in a clean and dry location. Spa tops that hang partially into the spa water, or are left to sit in a mud puddle for too many nights will take on water, or may risk breaking of the foam plates inside.

You can also protect the vinyl covering from dirt and UV rays and keep it looking nice and shiny by using a spa cover conditioner. Never use harsh chemicals on your spa top to clean, but use a mild cleanser monthly before using a vinyl protectant. Automotive products for cleaning and protecting interior finishes could also be used on your spa top to keep it looking new.

There are several products available for maintaining the cover, including our Spa Cover Cleaner. Avoid cleaning products that contain alcohol, oils, detergents or bleach. Anything with the word ‘flammable’ on the label means that it will damage the marine grade vinyl of your hot tub cover.

Remember to keep the water balanced – poor water chemistry leads to damage to the stitching and seals on the underside of a spa cover.

When removing a cover, Spa Cover Lifts can be handy because it prevents stress on the cover, and on you too!

When using a Spa Cover Lift, it is important to use the handles. To prevent damage to the spa cover, don’t let it slam open or closed, and never lift the cover by the skirt – use the handles.

Buying a Custom Spa Cover

Compare Spa Top Thickness:
Spa tops come in various thicknesses and foam densities. The higher the foam density and the thicker the cover, the more heat it will help you to retain in the spa. The foam used on your spa top has a particular R-value, the standard used for comparing insulation.

The downside to a thicker, denser cover is that they will be a bit heavier and a bit more expensive. The upside is increased heat retention and strength. Outdoor spa covers will have a taper to allow for rainwater run-off. For example, a 4” to 2” taper cover is 4 inches thick in the center of the cover, tapering down to 2 inches thick along the edges. Indoor spa covers can also be tapered, or for maximum efficiency, can be 4″ thick all the way across.

Compare Spa Top Options:
Once you’ve chosen the thickness of spa cover you’d like, you can move on to the options available to you. If you have a freestanding spa or hot tub, you should have a skirt on your spa cover. A skirt is simply additional vinyl material that hangs down off the cover to reduce heat loss where the cover meets the outside edge of the spa.

If you still have your old cover, measure the skirt to determine what it should be on the replacement cover. If you do not have the old cover, a 2 inch skirt is fairly standard, but there is usually no additional charge for skirt lengths up to 4 inches. You may consider having the corners of the skirt split instead of running in one continuous piece around the spa cover edge. This helps to ensure the skirt hangs nicely and does not bunch up around the corners of the spa cover. It should be noted though that while a split skirt looks nicer in some cases, it may allow some heat to escape.

In The Swim carries 4 different kinds of spa covers. The specifications of each are listed below.

spa-cover-comparison-chart

Spa covers can be ordered by spa manufacturer, or if that’s not known, by shape and size of tub. Print our spa cover measuring form to email or fax, or just fill out all of the questions on our online spa cover ordering tool.

The location of the hinge, running across the middle – can also be specified if you like. If not specified, our fabricator will place it in the middle of the longest side. Large spa covers, over 96″ are generally a 3 piece spa top; one single piece and a double folding piece.

You can also choose the number of handles you would like. 2 handles generally come standard with a cover, but you may want more, or perhaps you don’t need any at all depending on the shape and location of your cover.

lock downs for spa tops Most spa owners want the ability to lock the spa top down to the spa cabinet. Usually 4 locks will be included with the cover along with 4 fasteners attached to the cover. You will install the locks onto the spa cabinet so you can clip the fasteners on the cover into the locks so it is secured in place. In ground spa tops do not generally have such clips to secure them in place.

Taking Spa Cover Measurements:
The measurements you need to provide will vary based on the shape of your spa, but when measuring, take the dimensions of the spa from outside edge to outside edge.

If you have an in-ground spa (such as the one pictured below), and the spa cover will be lying on the ground, be sure to note that for the manufacturer. The spa cover needs to be large enough to lie on the coping around the spa without falling in. Generally this means the cover will need to be about a foot larger than the spa itself. The best thing to do would be to provide the inside dimensions of the spa and allow the manufacturer to determine the necessary overlap.

To determine the specific measurements required for your spa, please see our spa cover measuring form. Always be sure to note if you have any obstructions or a control panel that you would like to access while the cover is on the spa. A cut out in the foam may be required for the proper fit.

Spa Cover Measuring Tips

Use a real tape measure, and not a ruler. Take your time.
Measure from outside to outside; to the outer edge that the spa top will cover.
Round up all measurements consistently to the nearest inch.
Do not measure your old spa top but measure the spa or hot tub shell itself.
Check your measurements against our Spa Cover Designer tool.

Round Spas: These are the easiest to measure you just need to take a diameter or overall width. Check it twice measuring perpendicular to your first measurement. This double checks your accuracy and ensures that the spa is a true round and not slightly oval.

Square Corners: Square spa shells are rare but they do exist. I am not talking about the shape of the spa skirt around the spa but only the spa shell. These shapes are also fairly straight forward to measure. Measure from outside corner to outside corner, and record your measurements.

I’ve discussed some of your basic options and measuring tips, but be sure to specify your needs if I haven’t touched on them here; odds are your request can be accommodated. Any size, any color, any shape – we gotcha covered!

Sheryl Somers
In The Swim Staff Blogger

National Pool Closing Day

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Davy MerinoOctober 16, 2020

National Pool Closing Day is nearly here! It takes place the third Saturday in September, falling on September 19 this time around!

It’s the kick-off to a fall frenzy of activity around here, otherwise known as pool closing season, which begins to bubble-up in August, and runs through October.

In celebration of National Pool Closing Day, we’re having special sale pricing on winter covers, winter kits and winter accessories. Find the lowest pricing of the season, but it ends this weekend!

Winter Kits on Sale! In The Swim pool closing kits are the most popular winter chemical kits in America! With thousands of 5-star reviews and hundreds of thousands sold every year, they’ve got to be good! Save on the Winter Kit & Pill combo, or choose the Ultimate Winter Kit, shown left. Use only quality winter chemicals, and avoid one of the many Pool Closing Pitfalls!

Winter Covers on Sale! This fall find our lowest prices of the year on winter covers! If you have any doubt that your pool cover might not make it another winter, Murphy’s law says that it will split down the middle, spilling tons of yucky, mucky sludge into your pool – avoid this Mid-Winter Cover Disaster!

Safety Covers on Sale! This season, order a new safety pool cover of your choice, and receive a free Winter Kit! It’s a great deal on top quality stock and custom safety covers from GLI, Meyco and our own In The Swim brand of safety covers. Find out more about ordering a Replacement Safety Pool Cover!

When Do You Close the Pool?

For pools in northern states, mid-September is the usual best time to close the pool, while those in the mid-section of the country can wait another 2-6 weeks before weather turns cool. It’s best to wait until air and water temperatures are below 65° to close the pool.

Each calendar week as we head into autumn, another 100 mile strip across the country sees their trees change color, and weeks later lose their leaves.

For sunbelt pools in the southern regions, if you experience freezing temperatures regularly during winter, common in northern Arizona, Florida and Texas among other areas – you should consider winterizing your pool.

First Time Closing a Pool?

2020 has been an unusual year for sure – and the Staycation plans this summer created thousands of new pool owners! Intex pools have sold like hotcakes this year, and now many of you are wondering whether to leave the pool up all winter, or take down the pool.

In most cases, it’s best to take down the pool, before freezing night temperatures come to your area. Here’s a post on How to Drain & Store an Intex Pool for Winter.

For other new pool owners, above ground and inground, winterizing your own pool is something you should grab by the horns and learn to do yourself – before you get in the practice of paying someone else to do what you can do yourself. It’s easy to do and we show you how to Winterize your own pool and save $7000!

10 Steps to Winterize a Swimming Pool

For those of you needing a refresher on the steps involved in a DIY pool closing, here’s the 10-steps to winterize any backyard swimming pool – in-ground or above ground.

Clean the pool thoroughly, vacuum, brush and skim the pool.
Test and balance the water – pH, Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness levels.
Add our non-chlorine pool shock and run pump for 4 hours to circulate.
Add our Stain & Scale preventer and run pump for 4 hours to circulate.
Lower water below the skimmer; 3″ for winter covers, 12″ for safety covers.
Remove equipment drain plugs, filter cartridges or DE grids for cleaning.
Blow the pipes clear of water, with our Cyclone blower or air compressor.
Plug the wall returns, cleaner lines, and skimmer snugly to keep out water.
Add our winter algaecide and floating sanitizer, skim the pool once more.
Cover the pool with a floating solid winter cover or drum-tight safety cover.

5 Reasons a Sunbelt Pool Should Winterize

There’s a dozen reasons why closing the pool or at least covering the pool, makes sense for pools in the sunbelt states. If you have winter temps of 40-60° during winter, cover the pool to block winter cold, wind and sunlight.

No worry about freezing temperatures and costly repairs
No pool duties for 3-6 months – take a few months off!
No pump/filter/heater operating costs and very low chemical cost
No wear and tear on pool equipment and pool surfaces
No worry about safety, with a safety pool cover installed

For those of you that get no use out of your pool for 3-6 months out of the year, but still have to maintain it – instead winterize the pipes and equipment, add a winter chemical kit, put on a winter cover – and take a vacation from pool maintenance!

Safety Covers look great, protect your pool, protect your family, and they can last for 15 years or longer. Even if you don’t ‘winterize the pool’, using a winter safety cover has many benefits for a sunbelt pool. Your pool will stay perfectly clean, with very little chemicals and filtering. And during our National Pool Closing Day event, safety covers are priced lower than ever!

Freeze Sensors can also be added to your covered pool, for complete peace of mind during cold winter nights. The Intermatic freeze sensor mates with the Intermatic Digital timer, which snaps into any Intermatic pool time clock box. Turns on your pump(s) when outside air temperatures get close to freezing. Battery back-up and program memory are always ready, to prevent a Freeze Damage Repair!

So enjoy your pool closing this weekend, or if you have a few more weeks (or months) of swimming or at least enjoying the view – you have more time to get ready.

Leave a reply below if you have any questions on winterizing your pool!

Davy Merino
In The Swim Blog Editor

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Hayward Pool Filter Multiport Repairs

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Larry WeinbergOctober 16, 2020

When Hayward multiport valves start to age different problems can arise, some are just annoying and some are actually detrimental to the filter system working properly. And in other instances I’ve seen multiport problems occur from an incorrect valve installation on a sand or DE pool filter.

The most common problem when installing a new multiport is over-tightening the threaded fittings going into the valve. If you are putting a wrench or channel locks on the fitting your chance of putting to much torque on it is a good possibility. One turn too many and you will create a crack in the valve body where the threaded fitting connects to the valve. Read the label on the valve, it will usually advise hand tight, plus 1-1/4 turns.

Also another mistake that causes issues with the threads is putting on any type of cement or PVC glue. The fitting should be wrapped 3-4 times with Teflon tape and that is enough. Wrap the Teflon tape around the fitting in a clockwise direction, so that it stays put as you thread in the fitting. If you want some extra thread sealant, smear on some gasket sealer before the Teflon tape is used. Tighten the fitting in by hand and then use large Channel type pliers and give it another full turn and that’s enough.

Common Hayward Multiport Valve Repairs

Leaking Multiport Valves: If the valve is leaking around the outside of the top its usually the cover o-ring that’s right under the cover. When water is leaking out the backwash port its usually the spider gasket also, you can get by temporarily by putting a 1.5″ winterizing plug with o-ring and that will stop the leak but this is just until you can replace the gasket. If the stem through the center is leaking there are some parts to change on the valve stem. There is 2 o-rings and washers and on top of the valve under the handle is a plastic bearing (spacer ring) that helps the valve handle move easier.

Broken Valve Handle: A broken handle can happen from falling tree branches, or just too much force put on it while turning. Remove the 6 bolts and nuts that holds the multiport top on. Then remove the complete assembly. Set the bottom of the assembly on a hard surface and you can push down on the top with your stocking feet and the center rod in the assembly will raise up, once that occurs you can knock out the pin that holds the handle on and replace the handle and put the pin in that holds it in place.

Valve Handle Hard to Turn: If the Handle is hard to turn there could be grit or dirt in the valve or the spider gasket needs to be cleaned or the stem shaft needs to be lubricated. Shut off the pump and push down on valve handle for a few seconds to allow water to flow over the spider gasket. A spray Teflon lubricant can be sprayed around the handle, but do not use WD-40 or any oil based lube.

Floppy Valve Handle: If the valve is floppy with no resistance its usually a broken spring, located between the lid and the rotor. Chemical corrosion can weaken the stainless steel spring, and cause it to rust and break. The replacement of a spring is similar to replacing the valve handle, described above.

Spider Gasket Replacement: Every 5-10 years, the gasket on a multiport valve may need to be replaced. First, make sure that you order the correct spider gasket, there are literally dozens of different sizes. Find your correct spider gasket on the Filter Valve parts page that matches your multiport valve make and model number. To change the spider gasket, remove the key assembly by removing the screws around the lid and lifting on the handle (you may need to pry the lid up slightly).

The old one spider gasket is probably glued in place, so dig it out with a small screwdriver, to clean the groove out completely. After all the rubber bits are removed, place dabs of superglue or silicone (or Hayward gasket adhesive), into the grooves of the valve body. Then place the new gasket into the grooves and replace the key assembly in the correct position, with the cover o-ring in place.

Loosen lid screws, pull out the Key Assy

Scrape out old gasket with sharp flat head

Get every little bit!

Use Blue RTV, or Super Glue to affix new gasket

Place new gasket – no lube necessary

An easy way to fix issues with handle, lid or rotor is to replace the Key Assembly – everything that comes out when you remove the 6 or 8 screws around the valve lid, and lift up the handle. A Key Assembly is all assembled, just drop it into place. it is a quick simple fix. Especially for valves that have the spider gasket molded onto the rotor, replacing the Key Assy is the way to go.

You can find the key assembly by finding your Filter Valve parts schematic on our website.

Replacing a Multiport Valve: If your valve has quite a few problems, or major problems such as valve body cracks, you can replace the valve. Remember to order a replacement multiport valve by filter make and model, and keep in mind that multiport valves for sand filters are different than DE filter multiport valves. Side mount valves and top mount valves are also different sizes, and one cannot be substituted for another. To find your correct multiport valve, visit our Backwash Valves page at ITS, or give us a call if you need assistance.

After finding a correct replacement multiport valve, you will cut the pipes coming in and out of the valve, and after connecting the new valve to the filter, you can use couplings or unions to reconnect the pipes, and also reconnect the backwash line.

However, most multiport valve problems do not require a complete multiport valve replacement – there are quite a few simple fixes that you can do, all of which you do not need to be a professional pool guy to handle.

Larry Weinberg
SPP Pool Expert