What is pH?

The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is, like hot and cold describe extremes in temperature, acidic and basic describe extremes in chemicals. This means in your swimming pool pH is the measure of acidity and alkalinity. Maintaining proper pH levels in you swimming pool water is important to the health and cleanliness of your pool environment.

The pH Scale

A logarithmic scale, the pH scale measures from 0.0 to 14.0 with 7 being neutral, the pH in your swimming pool should be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8. Keeping pH between these levels will keep swimmers comfortable, as pH outside this range will cause skin and eye irritation. As pH also determines your sanitizers effectiveness,  pH maintained between 7.2 and 7.8 will also allow your sanitizer to work optimally keeping your pool clean.

Effects of High and Low pH

High pH causes problems in your water such as:

• Scale and calcium buildup at your waterline and on accessories
• Cloudy or dull water
• Burning of eyes or nose in swimmers
• Dry itchy skin and scalp for swimmers
• Drop in effectiveness of chlorine sanitation allowing for algae growth
• Clogging of filter elements and media

Low pH causes problems such as:

• Eroding of pool plaster and grout
• Corrosion of metal pool accessories (pool ladder, pool heater…)
• Staining caused by metal corrosion
• Breakdown of swimwear, pool toys, and accessories
• Swimmers experiencing burning eyes and nose
• Swimmer experiencing itchy , dry skin
• Rapid dissipation of sanitizer like chlorine, requiring more frequent dosage

As always the best way to avoid these types of problems is frequent water testing and making adjustments as needed.  Stay tuned in the coming weeks for tips on how to adjust pH when you find it is too high or too low at Sunplay.com.

Total alkalinity is a very important element in swimming pool water chemistry. As the measure of the buffering capacity in the water, alkalinity is like a shock absorber for pH. Having high or low alkalinity can adversely affect water conditions and make pH difficult to balance.

High/Low Alkalinity

Low alkalinity makes water acidic causing corrosion of pool surfaces and equipment.  On the other hand, high alkalinity makes water to be alkaline causing cloudy water and scale buildup. High/low alkalinity also causes your pH to bounce around; having alkalinity outside the recommended values will make it very difficult to control your pH.

Proper Alkalinity Levels

The proper alkalinity levels that should be maintained vary a little based on what type of pool you have, gunite and concrete pools should have alkalinity levels of 80-120 ppm (parts per million), while vinyl, painted, and fiberglass pools should maintain alkalinity levels of 125-170ppm.

The best way to make sure proper total alkalinity levels are maintained is through regular water testing with a swimming pool test kit and then making adjustments to correct any problems as promptly as possible. Good water chemistry is the key to a clean and healthy swimming environment!

What is Pool Chlorine?

As the name implies, pool chlorine, is the chlorine used in swimming pools.  Pool chlorine is a member of the chemical family known as halogens which includes both chlorine and bromine. By attacking microorganisms, such as bacteria, halogens use oxidation and kill them. Many pool and spa owners choose chlorine and bromine as their preferred sanitizer, because of their ability to kill bacteria and clean water.

Proper Levels of Pool Chlorine

Ideal pool chlorine levels as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are between 1.0-3.0 ppm (parts per million). It is important to test pool chlorine levels regularly as many factors can affect the chlorine levels, such as: dirt, debris, sunlight, and things brought into the pool on swimmers bodies.  The effectiveness of your pool chlorine is also dependent on other elements of water chemistry, like pH, so it is important to keep all chemical elements in the pool balanced at proper levels. The best way to make sure your pool chlorine and other chemical levels are correct is with the use of a water test kit.

Chlorine is a great way to keep your swimming pool clean, however being that it is a chemical certain risks do accompany it so it is very important to use it safely and properly and make sure it is used at the recommended levels. Chlorine use over the recommended levels may cause bleaching of clothing, and skin and eye irritation.

Types of Pool Chlorine

Chlorine can be used in your pool in a couple of different forms. The type used is often determined by the type and size of your pool.

Tri-chlor, Trichloro-s-triazinetrione,is a tablet form of stabilized chlorine. This is the most popular type of pool chlorine; it is stabilized by cyanuric acid salt that binds the chlorine gas into a solid tablet form that is 90% chlorine. Tri-chlor tablets have a low pH of 3. Tri-chlor tablets should not be thrown directly into a pool as they can deteriorate vinyl and etch plaster when thrown directly in. They are normally introduced into the water with the use of an in-line feeder.

Di-chlor, Sodium Dichloro-s-triazinetrione, normally comes in a granular form allowing it to dissolve quickly and work immediately. At only 62%, di-chlor levels of available chlorine are lower than tri-chlor but it is stabilized with cyanuric acid which gives it a long-lasting quality. Di-chlor has a more neutral pH value than tri-chlor at 7. Di-chlor can be one of the more expensive forms of pool chlorine treatment.

Cal-hypo, Calcium Hypochlite, comes in both tablet and granule form, it is often used as a pool chlorine shock treatment. Containing 65% available chlorine and having a pH level around 12 it is very effective at killing algae quickly. It is also normally low in price.

Just remember no matter what type of chlorine or sanitizer you use in your pool it is important to always follow the directions and maintain proper levels to ensure a clean and safe swimming environment for all swimmers.

1. Take Inventory

Check your pool chemicals leftover from the prior year; make sure they are not expired and that they have been properly stored throughout the winter and have not been exposed to any moisture. Make a list of any you are out of or running low on.

2. Check for Anything That May Be Broken or Needs Replaced

Check all of your equipment thoroughly, your pool filter, cleaner, pump, and accessories, make sure that everything is in working order and not parts or piece are broken or worn out.  It is always better to take care of any issues up front before your swimming pool opening.

3. Clean and Remove Your Pool Cover

If you use a winter pool cover make sure it is clean before removing it. We recommend using a pool cover pump to remove any water that is sitting on the cover making it much easier and safer to remove.  Sweeping any debris that has collected from the cover will also be helpful  so it does not fall into the pool upon removing the cover and it is always better to store a clean cover!

4.  Put Everything Back Where It Belongs

Often when closing your pool for the winter you or your pool man may have removed small plugs from your pump, filter, or heater, make sure they are all back in place and nothing is missing. If you removed accessories such as ladders, diving boards, slides or anything else replace them and ensure they are secure.

5.  Top it Off

Add water to make sure your water level is where it should be at about the middle of your skimmer opening or halfway up your pool tile. If you have trouble keeping your water at this level a automatic water leveler may be something good to consider.

6.  Spring Clean

Just as you would clean your house for spring, you want to give your pool the same thorough cleaning at the time of your swimming pool opening.  Here is what we recommend:

Skim the surface and remove and debris

Wipe down your tile or vinyl surfaces

Empty the skimmer baskets and pump strainer baskets

Use your pool vacuum.

Check that your filter is running properly, service if needed.

Clean your pool deck and areas surrounding the pool, including your equipment area.

7. Balance Pool Chemicals

Adjust your pH and alkalinity, shock treat your pool, adjust sanitizer levels, add algaecide if needed.

8. Maintain Regularly

By keeping up regularly on your cleaning, and chemicals by regularly using a water test kit and making adjustments when needed you will enjoy the comfort of your clean pool all year long!

Because we won’t be number five-hundred-one Sunplay content is things you will care about!  We don’t post spam, or clutter your news feed with a bunch of silly pictures of our cats and dogs, we post content that pool owners like you care about, plus we post great coupons and awesome giveaways!

Content You Care About

Every week we post an informative article on our blog about swimming pool products, maintenance, or pool care that is helpful for you as a pool owner.  Each week when the article is posted, we will let you know via our Sunplay Facebook newsfeed the subject of the article simply inviting you over to our blog to read it. If it is not something you are interested in right then simply scroll past, or make a mental note and visit the article in the future when you need the information. If it peeks your interest one simple click puts the article at your fingertips.

Coupons= $$$

Periodically, we offer great discounts on our already great prices! As a Sunplay Facebook follower you will get exclusive coupons that only Sunplay Facebook fans receive. We will post these coupons right on our page allowing you to reference them anytime you are making a purchase. Who doesn’t love to save some moo la whenever they can?

Giveaways= FREE stuff

And who doesn’t like a little free swag?  This week on our Sunplay Facebook page we gave away two floating basketball games, completely FREE, no gags or gimmicks here, our giveaways are just that GIVEAWAYS! They are just a way for us to say thank you for being our customer, and thank you for liking our Sunplay Facebook page. So as a Sunplay Facebook follower you will be eligible for future giveaways and see when they are going on in your news feed.

So hopefully that is enough to win you over—useful helpful information about your pool, discounts on items you are already purchasing, and free stuff! How could it get any better??? Hurry on over and “like” our Sunplay Facebook page today!

Energy Savings with a LED Pool Light

Studies show that a LED pool light can save energy by 50-90% over running a regular pool light.  A LED pool light will not only give a brighter cleaner light but it will help you save when it comes to the monthly utility costs of running your swimming pool.

White and Color LED Pool Lights

Available in both traditional white and color changing bulbs, LED pool lights give many options depending on your personal taste and the feeling you want your swimming pool to have.

If you are looking for a relaxing, soothing glow a traditional white LED pool light maybe just right for you.

However, if you are trying to set the mood for your late night pool party, color LED pool lights will do just the trick. With multiple still color options, or a light show sequence they are sure to set the mood and get the party hoppin’!

What Makes an LED Pool Light Better?

Not only will an LED pool light offer energy savings, a bright clean feel, color and white options, its technological design will but it far ahead of your traditional light. Superior lens distribute light in an optimum way to avoid “hot spots” on the pool bottom. Color and light intensity are distributed more uniformly throughout your pool. LED bulbs have a much longer life, some up to 50,000 hours.  LED pool lights are operated with a swimming pool automation system making all the options available right at your fingertips.

Cost of LED Pool Lights

While an LED pool light may cost more initially to purchase than a traditional light, the energy savings and life expectancy will more than make up for the initial cost if you intend to keep your house/pool for an extended period of time.

At Sunplay, we carry a full line of LED pool lights from name brand manufacturers Jandy, Pentair, and Hayward, so visit us today at www.sunplay.com for a LED pool light!

Unless you live in a very warm climate, heating your swimming pool at certain times of the year is necessary to keep swimmers comfortable and maximize enjoyment. Over the next few weeks we will be featuring a mini-blog series discussing all the different types of swimming pool heaters. This week we will take a look at a gas pool heater.

The category of “Gas” swimming pool heaters includes both natural gas swimming pool heaters and propane swimming pool heaters.  While there are differences depending on which fuel option you choose, both types of gas pool heater are effective way to heat your swimming pool.

Propane vs. Natural Gas

As their name implies these heaters run off of natural gas or propane, a natural gas pool heater needs a natural gas line for fuel, while a propane pool heater draws fuel from a propane tank.  Up front cost for a gas pool heater can range from about $1000-$5000, depending on the size and unit needed. Monthly costs will depend on usage and current fuel prices for either the natural gas or propane.

Cost

Gas pool heaters can be more costly to install up front than an electric heater but as natural gas is normally less expensive than electricity may be less expensive and efficient to operate over and extended time period. Gas heaters are often considered ideal for large pools because they can heat a larger volume of water in a shorter period of time.

Variety

Here at Sunplay we carry a large variety of propane and natural gas swimming pool heaters from household names Pentair, Jandy, and Hayward. When determining what heater to purchase you will want to consult with your pool technician on the BTU needed for your size of pool, and what features are important to you. All of our swimming pool heaters are covered by the full manufacturer’s warranty, so you can purchase it, let your pool technician do the work of installing it, and then sit back, relax, and enjoy your extended swimming season!

As their name implies, Solar Pool Heaters, collect energy/ heat from the sun that is then transferred into your swimming pool water and used to heat it. While solar heating is the most environmentally friendly way to heat your swimming pool, it is often not the most effective. Depending on where you live,  the size of your pool, desired temperature, and  how long you plan to keep your house a solar pool heater may or may not be the right choice for you.

Where You Live

If you live in a warm climate where the water does not need to be heated significantly and you use the pool often, even in cooler months a solar pool heater might be a good option for you.  If you live in a colder climate, a solar heater may not be the best option as most solar pool heaters will only increase water temperature 10-15 degrees at the most.

It is also important that you live somewhere that gets a lot of sun, in order to heat the solar panels. A solar pool heater in Seattle is probably not the best option, but in Phoenix it could be.

Size of Your Pool

The size of your swimming pool will determine how many solar panels you will need to heat that many gallons of water, the more solar panels you need the more your initial cost will be.  Here at Sunplay, we carry Eco Saver Solar Panels which come with the following recommendations for panels based on size.

How Many Solar Pool Heater Panels Do I Need? It depends on your pool size. The recommendations are as follows:
Round pool up to 24 foot – One (1) 20 foot panel
Round pool up to 30 foot – Two (2) 20 foot panels
Rectangle / Oval up to 15′ X 30′ – One (1) 20 foot panel
Rectangle / Oval up to 18′ X 36′ – Two (2) 20 foot panels
Larger pools may require more than two 20 foot solar panel systems.

Desired Temperature

Again, this is where climate could come into play— The manufacturer of the Eco Saver Panels estimates the correct number of panels for your pool size can heat water 10-15 degrees on a sunny day, so it all depends on the temperature your water is starting out at. If you are in Utah in January and its 10 degrees outside a solar heater is not going to help you, even if it is a very clear sunny day. However, if you are in Miami and your water temperature is around 70 degrees the solar pool heater could help increase it to a comfortable 80-85 degrees.

How Long You Plan To Keep Your House

This is a question homeowners have to ask themselves often, will my investment payoff?  With the solar panels you are making an initial investment that will pay for itself over many years so it is important to consider how long you are going to be there to reap the benefits of your investment when it comes to a solar pool heater.

There are many things to consider when determining which type of swimming pool is right for you but if you live in a warm climate with lots of sun and plan to keep your house for several years a solar pool heater may be a good option for you.

When it comes to heating your swimming pool, a pool heat pump is an incredibly environmentally friendly and efficient way to do it.  Heat pumps are cost-effective, eco-friendly, reliable, energy efficient, and speedy.

What is a Swimming Pool Heat Pump?

A pool heat pump, is a swimming pool heater that absorbs heat from the air surrounding the unit and transfers that heat into your pool water. Heat pumps are sometimes considered a cross between a solar heater and an electric heater.

How does a pool heat pump work?

Pool Heat Pumps are powered by electricity but as the sun heats the air around the heat pump it is able to absorb that heat and transfer it to the pool water.  Though powered by electricity, heat pumps actually run on very little electricity making  them a very inviting choice for pool owners who want to keep things as “green” as possible.  The only swimming pool heater that is better for the environment is a solar heater but you may find those to be far less efficient.

Benefits of a Pool Heat Pump

Not only are they environmentally friendly, swimming pool heat pumps are also very cost effective.  Though the initial cost may be more when comparing to a gas or electric heater, the cost to operate a swimming pool heat pump and  the energy savings it provides will quickly payoff.

Most pool owners who use a heat pump find that they are very reliable and easy to use.  At Sunplay, we carry UltraTemp Heat Pumps by Pentair.  The Pentair UltraTemp Heat Pumps come standard with an AutoSet feature that continuously monitors water temperature and turns the pump on and off as needed to maintain optimum water temperature while conserving energy.  The UltraTemp’s also feature a titanium heat exchanger that assures corrosion free performance for added life and value.

If you are looking for a cost-effective, energy efficient, reliable pool heat pump,  a UltraTemp Heat Pump from Sunplay may be just right for you!

Here at Sunplay we offer many different options for your swimming pool toys, games, and float needs; which will surely allow your “sun play” time to begin!

Pool Toys for Kids

For the smallest swimmers we carry the Intex Lil’ Star Baby Float and Kiddie Float, recommended for babies 1 year and up with a maximum weight limit of 33 lbs. these are the perfect starter floats for your littlest swimmers.

For the little guys and gals who are getting ready to learn to swim on their own, we carry the Swimline Comfy Armbands, Skill School Swim Tee-Trainer, Intex Fun Fish Swim Vest, and Pool Master Arm Floats. All of these items will help with floatation and confidence while they learn to swim. However, please keep in mind these are not lifesaving devices and strict adult supervision is still needed.

Pool Toys for Teens and Adults

For the more advanced swimmers, we have a large variety of diving toys that allow them to practice their swimming skills while fetching things like dive bombs, play sticks, and fun balls and rings from the bottom of the pool.  If diving is not their forte we also have many ride-on floats and pool games like Intex Ball Dartz, Floating Hoops, and Swimline Ladder Ball that are sure to keep them entertained for hours!

For the adults looking to just sit back, relax, and soak up some sun with a cool drink in hand, our loungers are for you! Check out the Intex Comfy Cool Lounge, the 18 hole Sun Tanner Lounge, or Floating Recline Lounge, also check out the Swimline SunChaser Lounge or the Supersized Floating Matress—all are sure to please!

At Sunplay, we also carry kids goggles, nose and ear plugs, beach balls and much more so visit us online today at www.sunplay.com and let your “Sun Play” begin!