SPA-Aticles #1: Regular, Routine Maintenance Steps to Clean, Healthy Water

"SPArticles"

A Brief Introduction

Whether you are a new or experienced hot tub owner, we hope you will benefit from our newly created series of "SPArticles". Each SPArticle will provide you with information about the do's and don'ts of successful spa ownership...one topic at a time. Our information is based on real life experiences and - of course - factual information taken from reliable sources.  (BTW - We don't claim to have the definitive way to take care of your hot tub. There are many different approaches to hot tub maintenance.  We simply recommend what has worked best in the past for us, our customers and the hot tub.)

How to use SPArticles

We recommend that you just take a few minutes each day or week to read a new SPArticle. We will start with the basics and each new article will build upon past articles. Don't try to learn everything in one day or evening. You will retain more if you try to learn just a little at a time.

The PoolCo Difference

Learning all on your own? Well you don't have to! Poolco SPArticles will shorten the "learning curve". Very quickly you will discover how easy spa maintenance really can be.

That's the PoolCo difference.

PoolCo helps you save time and money by providing you tried and true information. Our staff is friendly and helpful. You can turn to us for advice, just like all of southern Illinois has since 1979 - Mark and Mary Carvell, owners Tri State Pool & Spa, LLC


We do like feedback, so please visit, call, text or email us with your questions or comments. Feel free to stop by our store with a pint sized water sample (in a very clean container).

Our friendly staff will gladly test your water for free.

PoolCo SPA-Article #1

Basic Spa Care

Get in the habit of practicing some basic spa care rules everyone should observe.  Preventing problems before they occur will give you more enjoyment from your sparkling clear spa - not to mention the perfect environment for relaxing with family and friends. SpaGuard 6 Keys to Spa Care (View Video)   1. Circulation Proper water circulation will help prevent ensure even distribution of products as well as promote filtration. As the water circulates, it passes through the filter, trapping suspended particles. Properly circulating SpaGuard spa care products help keep the water inviting and ready for your soaking pleasure. Be sure to run your spa's circulation system every day to ensure good working order. (Hot Spring Models run automatically everyday.) 2. Filtration Many spa issues are caused by poor filtration-when the filter is dirty or clogged, debris stays in the water.  A properly cared for filter captures hair, oils and cosmetics. (Most spas have a cartridge filter.) Because spa filters trap many contaminants, cleaning has two steps: spraying off loose debris, then using SpaGuard Filter Cleaner to remove oils and other contaminants embedded into the filter. You need to chemically clean your filter with SpaGuard Filter Cleaner every 4 to 6 weeks. Important: Replace old, dirty clogged filters with new filters. Depending on the size of filter and if you chemically clean the filter on a regular basis, this will be generally every 12 - 24 months. Reduced water flow (from the jets) is usually an indicator that the filters are clogged and even a chemical cleaning will not revive them. 3. Cleaning Contaminants such as dirt, oil and even bacteria can accumulate at the waterline, much like a bathtub ring. Regular cleaning preserves spa surfaces and prevents unwanted build-up.  Off The Wall® Surface Cleaner and SpaGuard Cleaning Mitts are powerful, low-sudsing cleaners that work specifically with spa water chemistry. Use them to remove the ring of oil and dirt that serves as a breeding ground for bacteria and to prevent residue from building up around the waterline and inside skimmers. 4. Draining and Refilling Regular draining and refilling is a normal part of spa maintenance. Over time, the water absorbs and dissolves minerals, chemicals and other soluble material. As your SpaGuard Dealer, Poolco can perform a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) test to help determine if it's time to replace your water. High TDS can make the water look dull, become foamy, and develop an odor. How often you drain and refill your spa depends on how often you use it. This simple formula can help: Spa gallons ÷ Daily bathers ÷ 3 = Days between draining Example: 300 gallons ÷ 2 daily bathers ÷ 3 = 50 days Note: a bather is one person in the spa for 15-30 minutes. 5. Chemistry There are two primary components that affect spa water quality: sanitizer (bromine or chlorine) residual and pH. When both are within their recommended ranges, your water is comfortable, protected and clear; sanitizers and "shock products" work efficiently; and spa surfaces and equipment are protected. Recommended bromine or chlorine residual levels are: Bromine Residual using Brominating Tablet  2 - 4 ppm Bromine Residual using Brominating Concentrate: 3 - 6 ppm Chlorine Residual using Chlorinating Concentrate: 3 - 5 ppm  6. Testing The chemistry of your spa water needs to be checked regularly. Use SpaGuard products to maintain the correct levels, including: sanitizer residuals, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, and total dissolved solids. BioGuard® 4-way Test Strips - and Soft Soak® 4-way Test Strips for Soft Soak spas - test pH, total alkalinity, and sanitizer levels with only one strip. Maintaining proper levels will make the water clear and comfortable, kill bacteria that can multiply rapidly in a spa, protect spa surfaces from stains caused by metals, and protect spa equipment from scale. There are 3 essential chemical areas to maintain. Sanitization - kills bacteria to help prevent the transmission of disease. Oxidation/shock - removes residues and restores clarity and comfort. Water balance - ensures spa user comfort, water clarity, sanitizer efficiency, and longevity of spa surfaces and equipment.

Pool School How to Properly Winterize Your Pool

On Saturday, Sept 11th - Poolco owners - Mark and Mary Carvell - will give a hand's on demonstration on the proper way to close your pool for the season.

And everything's on sale!

Check out special offers on BioGuard pool care programs.

Such as---Non-chlorine SoftSwim

Mineral Springs, our most exciting pool care program that allows you to swim in the most luxurious, comfortable mineral water.

Optimizer Plus, winterize your pool with the longest lasting algicide available!

Check out our Big Green Egg demonstration. Sample snacks and see how easy it is to prepare delicious meals on the world's most popular smoker/grill! On sale too!

IT'S FREE!! IT'S FUN!!

Call PoolCo at 529-3200 to reserve your spot today!

Class starts 2pm and last about an hour.

The Winterizing Sale lasts all month long.

Go to http://www.poolco.net/ for futher discounts and details.

Don't Close Your Pool Too Soon!

*Pool owners typically close their pools around Labor Day and in many cases that's too soon, setting the stage for a costly and time consuming process of opening in the spring.

*Closing by the weather and the calendar is a good combination to use. Simply put, if the temperature outside is at 75 degrees and it's the first of September, it's too early to close because historically the temp will increase once again. That increase in temperature will cause bacteria and algae to grow under a covered pool. (The cover also has a solar effect and will INCREASE the temperature of the water under the cover!) As a result any and all winterizing sanitizers will react with these microscope invaders and THERE GOES ALL YOUR WINTER PROTECTION!

*The water temperature for closing should be around 60° and in some cases may not take place until well into the month of September or even later.
*When you are ready, always have your water balanced at PoolCo and inform the person testing your water that your are preparing to close.
*As water gets colder, it has a larger appetite for minerals, and calcium needs to be balanced to higher winter levels to prevent damage to pool surface. Alkalinity levels will also need to be higher in order to help ensure a more stable pH throughout the winter.

Don’t open too late next spring!*IMPORTANT WINTERIZING TIP: If closed properly, winterizing chemicals are made to
properly WORK for a maximum of about 4 months. If the pool is going to be closed for a longer period of time (example closing before October 1 and opening after May 1), it is absolutely necessary to add additional shock and algaecide to the winterizing process. Some pools should also apply additional doses of winterizing chemicals late fall and early spring. (To prevent damage to your pool's surface, see PoolCo for how to properly add chemicals to the pool while covered.) This will help to prevent not only algae growth but chlorine and SoftSwim C demand at pool opening.
Optimizer Plus® Highly recommended for any pool that is closed after Oct 1st is opened after May 1st.



 Save NOW! Optimizer Plus is on sale now. Stop algae growth over the winter and save later with reduced opening chemical cost!