Articles
Corrosion Mitigation and Control in Swimming Pools
04.20.2021
Aquatics International | By Ray Engelhardt | March 2021
This is the third installment of a three-part series on corrosion. In the first part, I presented a basic overview of the corrosion process from a physics viewpoint. The second column defined the specific types of corrosion attack. In this article, I will provide some insight into how to prevent or slow down the corrosion process. But, before we discuss how pool technicians and builders can m…
How to Get the Most from Your Chlorine
04.20.2021
Pool and Spa News | Emily Johnson | February 2021
In order to protect customers from harmful microorganisms, pool-care experts and pool owners alike should have an understanding of sanitization. Sanitizers protect swimmers by killing pathogens introduced from sources such as rain, source water, swimmers, and nearby vegetation. Chlorine is the most commonly preferred among these products. Demand for granular and tableted types will likely rema…
Pool Start-Up Guidelines
04.20.2021
Horizon Pool Supply
The following procedure should be used whenever a pool is being filled for the first time, refilled following maintenance or other major repair, or when restarting the pool for the swimming season. 1. Before first filling a pool or adding substantial amounts of fresh water to the pool, either test the water using a good quality test kit or have it tested for pH, total alkalinity, calcium har…
Recognizing a Compromised Reagent
04.20.2021
Taylor Technologies
A reagent's suitability for testing is suspect if it is over one year old. Considering the active ingredients need to be just that, active, then any reduction in a reagent’s concentration or effectiveness will compromise test results. How can you tell if the concentration or effectiveness is not what it should be? If the reagent is not the color you are used to seeing (or has changed colo…
The Many Ways of Corrosion
04.20.2021
Aquatics International | January 2021
Corrosion remains a pervasive problem in the industry. However, understanding how this happens can help pool and spa professionals to diagnose and fix the issues while on the site. Last month, we had a very basic overview of the physics and chemistry involved in the corrosion process. In this second installment of a three part series on corrosion, we discuss the various forms of corrosion and …
A Closer Look at Corrosion in Swimming Pools & Spas
01.12.2021
Pool & Spa News | Ray Engelhardt | December 2020
Corrosion is a serious and expensive problem not only for the pool industry but for mankind as a whole. Per the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the estimated total cost for corrosion damage in the USA for 2016 was 1.1 trillion dollars. In the pool industry, corrosion destroys heat exchangers, pool lights, niches, ladders and even the rebar that supports the shell. Anyone who has b…
Avoiding Pump Room Hazards
01.12.2021
PoolPro | David Conrads
Numerous hazards lurk within the walls of the swimming pool pump room, toxic chemical fumes and carbon monoxide chief among them. In some commercial properties — apartment complexes, condominiums, hotels, country clubs and the like — the pump rooms are properly ventilated, but in far too many, this is not the case. The result is an unsafe work environment for pool maintenance techni…
Find Out What That Blinking Light Means On Your Controller
01.12.2021
Aquatics International | Dustin Kauffman | May 2020
Who among you has ever noticed that blinking red alarm light on your controller? When this happens, do you simply clear it and continue with your day? Or do you stop, learn as many details as you can, and figure out how to prevent it from occurring again? For context, let’s look at the situation from a different perspective. Pretend you’re driving down the road, and your check engi…
Heading Outside
01.12.2021
Aquatics International | Fortress
As families are spending nearly all their time at home, more apartment complexes and condominiums are increasing their shared outdoor spaces—particularly around the swimming pool and the rooftop decks. Not only are existing developments adding more outside amenities, new construction of multifamily buildings are adding more outdoor spaces--individual balconies and terraces, private parks…
Non-Chlorine Shock: What It Is, What It Does
01.12.2021
Aqua | Ed Lightcap | October 2020
Throughout the history of the pool industry, chlorine has been the dominant oxidizer, and because of that position, many people in the industry remain unaware of the role non-chlorine shock can play in swimming pool water care. As part of a series of articles this year explaining major components of pool water care, this month AQUA takes a look at non-chlorine shock. Pool chemistry expert Ed L…
