Don't Wait Too Late to Prepare Your Pool for Summer Fun

Winterizing chemicals only last through the winter! 

As temperatures rise in the spring, the water under the pool cover begins to heat up. Even though the pool is not exposed to the sun, the warm water under the cover begins to encourage the growth of bacteria, water molds and algae. Very quickly, any traces of sanitizing chemicals left in the water disappear as they react with the growing organisms. This leaves the pool water unprotected. This has now become the perfect environment for bacteria, water molds and algae to grow and multiply very rapidly.

Problems always cost more than prevention!

Some pool owners think they are saving money by waiting until the end of May or early June to uncover and begin operating their pool for summer. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Consider the following, CHEMICALLY, you would need:

For a really green 10,000 gallon pool, you would need, on the average at least 10 lbs (usually much more) of a superchlorinating product, a bottle of flocculant, a bottle of stronger-more costly algaecide to fix the problem.

For the same sized pool, opened 4 weeks earlier, you would need on the average 1lbs of superchlorinating product per week, 2-3 Smart Sticks per week, 3 ounces of algaecide per week.

Not factored into the first scenario above...YOUR TIME and TROUBLE!

BELOW: Steps to open your above ground pool: (For a personal prescription and friendly advice, bring us a water sample! We will tailor your opening to your needs.)

Plan to attend Pool School at POOLCO!

Clean the cover with BioGuard StowAway (or it WILL SMELL really, really bad next fall when you need to winterize your pool!) Do yourself a favor and dispose of any cover that has developed pinholes from the cover fabric pulling apart (or you will be pumping pool water from under the cover next spring when you open the pool....)

Tighten all hose connections -  SUPER TIGHT! 

Tighten connections

The manufacture of flexible filter system connection hose recommends changing these annually. 

Biofilms develop inside the hoses that will require additional chemical treatment. 

In addition to this, the sun is very harsh and drying on the plastic. The bend in the hose can crack and then leak (and unwanted "fountain"...)

Remove skimmer plate.

How high is the water level? If there is enough water added to the pool - and the water is clear (you can easily see the bottom) - then beginning running the filter system.

Immediately test and chemically treat the pool water.  Winterizing chemicals are often used up by end of April, sometimes sooner, if winter and spring temperatures were above average.

Bring a sample of water (16 ounce) to POOLCO for a complete water analysis. We will make opening dosage recommendations and customize your instructions based on your pool's needs, your budget and your time!

Run the filter 24 hours a day for several days until the water clarity and chemical balance are perfect! Then you may reduce filter time to 8 - 12 hours per day (with the use of a timer - or you WILL forget to run filter!)

** If there is a layer of fine dirt (or worse) on the bottom of the pool you must remove this from the pool. Come see us with a water sample for how to best handle this situation.

Our friendly advice is always free!

Algae Free Guarantee - PoolCo Peace of Mind

 The Basics

– Algae should not grow if you properly care for your pool.

– Algae will not grow if you use BioGuard products and follow

   one of our proven pool care systems.

– Algae can’t grow because you’ll get free product to kill it does! 

 

   

PoolCo Guarantees it!



Poolco Guarantees It!

PoolCo guarantees that if you, our valued customers,
follow one of our easy chemical programs,
your pool will remain FREE FROM ALGAE.







1. Follow a BioGuard Pool Program



If you follow our program and your pool develops algae, PoolCo will troubleshoot the chemical problem and...

GIVE YOU THE ALGAE  KILLING CHEMICALS FOR FREE that we feel are needed to clear your pool. 

2. Run the pump and filter

at least 10 to 12 hours a day.





Algae clearing chemicals included in our program are shock and algaecide products of our choice that we feel will eliminate your algae.  



3. Have your water tested every 4-6 weeks





Any other chemicals needed to balance the water (which should already be balanced according to our plans) or to help eliminate any non-algae problems such as mineral or pollen problems, etc. will be the sole responsibility of you, the consumer.                

 

 



4. Maintain BioGuard
Optimizer Plus at 30 to 50 ppm.



For the GUARANTEE to work, your pool must test in the proper sanitizer range and the pool must be balanced. Otherwise, we know that problems will develop.

If the pool tests properly and you have algae after following one of our algae-free plans, we will step up and give you the chemicals to kill the algae.

But guess what? If you follow our rules, we don't think you'll have to worry about it.

Visit PoolCo today and find out how to qualify for our

Algae Free Guarantee.   



Ask for a copy of how to qualify for  PoolCo's Algae Free Guarantee 



To be fair PoolCo cannot, obviously, be responsible for:

1. Algae present upon opening the pool or any algae problems present before starting one of our programs or algae due to the discontinuation of one of our programs.

2. Inadequate filtration - we recommend that you run your filter a minimum of 12 hrs per day.

3. Dirty filters - backwash and clean your filter as needed to maintain proper flow.

4. Improper maintenance - empty baskets regularly to maintain proper flow, vacuum and brush pool walls as needed.

5. Improper water balance - the key base to all plans is a balanced pool so that other chemicals work effectively and for swimming comfort and equipment care. This includes pool water displacement from rain during periods of heavy and continued days of rainfall and water displacement frequent topping off of pool water from your garden hose during periods of drought.  Generally speaking, bring your pool water in for testing and rebalance if more than 12 inches of new rain or fill water has been added to the pool in less than a week.

STEP 2: How to Open Your Pool - Before You Remove the Winter Cover

The winter pool cover should be free of all water and debris.

You just don't want to risk ANYTHING from on top of the cover getting into the pool. That "stuff" on top of the cover is the nutrient rich food for algae and bacteria. Take the extra time to siphon off as much of the water off the top of the cover as you possibly can. What looks like just "a few gallons of water", will turn out to be 100 lbs or more of water. Just too heavy for one or two people to heave over the side of the pool.

Here's PoolCo's recommendation:

The night before  Start siphoning the top of the winter cover the night before what is predicted to be a sunny and slightly windy day. (*See Below)

Early the next morning  Early the next morning, attach the leaf net skimmer to vacuum pole. Extend the pole and use the leaf net to spread any remaining water ( that can't be siphoned ) across the surface of the pool. Now would be a good time to begin setting up your pump and filter system. Or you can busy yourself with other outdoor projects for several hours.

Later that afternoon  Most of the time when you return later in the afternoon and the cover will be completely dry. Now you can loosen the plastic coated wire to free the cover. If you have a few (3-5) large plastic clamps, attach these to one end of the pool. Now when you start dragging the cover off from the other side, you should be able to keep anything from going into the water.

Clean your winter cover
with BioGuard Stow-Away

                                        



* Do not mistakenly pump water from the pool.   

Older and lighter weight winter covers can allow a minimal exchange of water between the pool cover surface and the pool itself.  Also, a minor hole in the cover can allow a much greater exchange of water.  When pumping water from the cover, we strongly recommend that the water level on top of the cover be monitored closely to avoid pumping a large amount of water from underneath the cover.  Resecuring the cover to make it more taut  when the water on top of the cover is reduced can help eliminate erroneous removal of  pool water. Try placing a "frisbee" - top side down - under your siphon or pump. This should direct water from on top of the pool cover to the frisbee.

Cover Saver siphon available at PoolCo
Save $5.00 Off, while supplies last

 Algae Free Guarantee Sale

SAVE NOW! All the perfect pool products you need to get started this spring are at Poolco

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