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Heating accounts for as much as 29 percent of energy use in the average home, according to Energy Star. Swapping an electric or gas furnace for a solar heating system allows you to harness the free, renewable and eco-friendly power of the sun instead of relying on fossil fuels. While solar heaters are relatively uncommon, homeowners interested in solar heating systems will find a multitude of choices, from units designed to heat the entire house to those designed to warm a single room.
Heating up a pool without a heater is something you can do with a pool cover. Heat up water in a pool without a heater with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
Clogged orifices in a pool heater can really spell havoc for the temperature of the pool's water. Fix clogged orifices in a pool heater with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
You always want to make sure that you're testing the chlorine in your pool on a regular basis. Learn about recommended swimming pool chlorination with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
How you'll repair a pool vacuum depends largely on what is wrong with the vacuum in the first place. Learn about pool vacuum repair with help from an experienced swimming pool and spa industry professional in this free video clip.
You can take a few key steps to make sure your pool heater is well protected and that it continues to function perfectly for years to come. Protect a pool heater with help from an experienced swimming pool and spa industry professional in this free video clip.
Swimming in a chlorinated pool can cause dry skin if you're not careful. Find out how to cure or prevent dry skin when swimming in a chlorinated pool with help from a health and beauty professional in this free video clip.
Being sanitary is very important, especially when you get in and out of a pool. Learn about swimming pool sanitation basics with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
Acrylic concrete sealer can protect concrete surfaces from moisture penetration; but if the sealer is applied improperly or lacks the ability to fully block moisture, then moisture may become trapped beneath the coating. If not remedied, this can lead to the growth of an unpleasant, chalky film, usually white in color. Acrylic sealers are especially vulnerable to this problem because acrylic coatings can crack, which provides moisture with an entry point.
Koi pond bead filters are a type of water filter designed for filtering garden ponds or koi ponds. A filter keeps a small pond clean and looking good. For ponds with fish in them, this is crucial for the survival of the fish. Bead filters are more effective than sand filters, and they require less cleaning and less backwashing. In addition, bead filters are more effective at removing fish waste and feces than sand pumps.
Desjoyaux in-ground pools use an integrated membrane water filtration system consisting of a series of membrane filters housed in a plastic enclosure that hangs over the pool wall, and a circulating pump in a heavy plastic in-ground vault right outside the pool wall. But you can avoid the mess and expense of cleaning and replacing the membrane filters by converting to a more traditional sand filter even though you can’t reuse any Desjoyaux filter components with a sand filter.
Instead of contracting with a professional pool cleaner to skim your backyard pool or investing in expensive mechanical pool cleaners, you can attach a suction-side automatic pool cleaner to the skimmer installed in your pool. This budget option will not solve all your pool-cleaning problems, and pool professionals might be needed for some tasks. But for simple, routine cleaning, attaching an automatic pool cleaner to a temporary skimmer is a viable option.
A pool leaf net keeps falling leaves and debris out of the pool, minimizing cleanup and preventing clogged filters and pumps. These nets are especially useful in autumn when large amounts of leaves are drifting down and they can also work well as a winter cover in mild climates that don't experience heavy snowfall. You may fashion your own quick and inexpensive leaf net with only minimal sewing skills, although it may not be as sturdy as the commercial versions.
Salt water pools use salt (sodium chloride) to generate chlorine, which eliminates contaminants such as algae and bacteria. The salt level in these pools is low enough so swimmers don't notice a salty taste or smell, and the water is not cloudy. Care for saltwater pools is similar to chlorine pools, but salt is added less frequently. In addition, salt is gentler on vinyl pools than chlorine.
A flow sensor for a pool heater monitors the passage of water through the pipe to the heater. If water flow is interrupted, the sensor signals the heater to shut off. Pool heaters are designed to operate only when water flows through the system. Running a pool heater dry can damage or break the heating element. If the heater is not activating, a faulty flow sensor may be to blame. Running a bypass is a quick way to test the flow sensor, but is not a solution for a defective sensor.
Cleaning the inside of your Triton TR 60 sand filter requires you to remove the closure on top of the unit. When attempting to remove the closure, it might seem to be stuck. Usually, however, rather than being stuck, the closure is still under pressure. Releasing a stuck closure on a Triton TR 60 fiberglass sand filter involves releasing all air pressure from the system. If the closure is still stuck once you relieve the pressure, it is most likely due to some sand granules in the threads. This is often a quick matter of grinding the granules in the…
Water return pool jets pump water back into the pool after the water is drawn into the skimmer. The skimmer connects to the pool filter where dirt, leaves, and other debris is removed and trapped from the water. To increase the movement of the water toward the skimmer, you can adjust the jets. This adjustment encourages increased water flow into the skimmer, increasing the amount of filtering taking place.
Prevent additional damage to your pool when one of the walls starts to collapse. During colder times of the year, you may be unable to address the problem promptly; however, ensure you do take precautions to protect the pool materials. Collapsing problems can occur if too much pressure is exerted on the frame, often the result of frozen water, and a pool wall may start to buckle if the pool is not sitting flat on the ground. These problems are preventable, but learn from your mistakes. Repairing the collapsed wall involves replacement, not just a simple repair.
In-ground pools have a skimmer, typically on the wall, that removes dirt and debris from the pool. Some pools have multiple skimmers, but generally, one skimmer is enough to effectively clean the pool and circulate the water. The skimmer connected to an in-ground pool is underground next to the pool's wall. The skimmer cap is exposed for accessibility.
A skimmer is an opening in the side of the swimming pool through which water penetrates into the filter system. The skimmer traps and retains debris, bugs and leaves, allowing only water with tiny dirt particles to flow through into the filtration system. When installing a skimmer to your concrete pool, ensure the desired spot is easily accessible for repairs. For best results, drain the water out of your concrete pool before beginning the installation process.
Laars pool heaters are large-scale gas-powered boiler units designed to heat commercial swimming pools. If there seem to be problems with the pressure switch, such as no gas pressure to the burners and the boiler is installed less than 3 feet below the surface of the pool, contact Laars for service and have an eyeball fitting placed on the end of the return line. If the boiler is placed more than 3 feet below the pool surface, troubleshooting may be performed to adjust the switch. Note that the pressure switch is set at 4 psi, and this pressure setting should…
Teledyne Laars pool heaters use a natural gas-fired burner to heat the water. These efficient units keep swimming pool water at a constant temperature by cycling the water through the system and pumping warmed water back into the pool. The reason for a nonfunctioning Teledyne Laars pool heater may be as simple as a clogged filter or as complicated as a problem requiring professional assistance. Before calling in your pool maintenance team, follow some basic troubleshooting steps to help eliminate simple problems.
Vinyl is a fragile type of liner used in some swimming pools. Over time, the vinyl wears down and can spring leaks. Determining whether you have a leak is the easy part. The tricky part is finding and fixing the leak. Fixing an Anderson vinyl pool leak will take two people and a vinyl patch repair kit.
Pool heaters allow you to dial in a comfortable swimming temperature at any time of day or part of the year. Pool heaters are broken down into three categories: solar, electric and gas. Gas heaters are preferred by many because they heat water faster than the other two alternatives. Gas heaters run on either natural gas or propane. The best type of heater for you depends on your living conditions and your personal preferences.
Once winter arrives, your roof likely will become the victim of invasive snow. A small amount of snow isn’t a cause for a concern, but once a couple of inches turn into several inches, you need to find a way to remove the snow from your roof. Climbing on top of your roof in winter is dangerous, so the best option is to melt the snow and have the subsequent water drain off of your roof.
Water loss is among the most wide-spread problems with pool ownership. There are a number of reasons behind the problem, among the most serious of which is aging of drains and associated plumbing. When the pool requires more than 2 inches of new water per week, it becomes necessary to seek out and repair the leak. The bottom drain serves to remove debris from the bottom of the pool and is one likely source of leaks.
While you should send a pool vacuum to an authorized service repair technician for motor repairs, there are some repairs that you can make to this piece of pool cleaning equipment. In fact, some companies offer a vacuum repair kit so a do-it-yourselfer can take care of routine pool vacuum repair tasks. Most of these repairs center around the wear and tear on the vacuum's shoes and wings, or flaps, that regularly come in contact with the pool’s surface.
Through-the-wall pool skimmers draw water from a swimming pool and feed it to a filter, where it is cleaned and returned to the pool. Water must be filtered over a certain time period to ensure clean swimming water; the time necessary to complete a full filtering varies based on the size of the pool and volume of water. Skimmers must have a pulling capacity that allows the volume of water to be filtered within the given period of time.
Building a retaining wall is an effective way to shore up or brace a dirt wall around a swimming pool. Creating a dry wall of concrete blocks is one of the simplest ways to do this. The blocks interlock, thus providing a strong wall without the use of mortar or rebar. Although the task is time-consuming and requires strenuous labor, the strength of the retaining wall protects the swimming pool and surrounding area from erosion of soil and other debris.
Pool stain or pool paint protects a plaster pool from etching, pitting, stains and mottling. As plaster on an unpainted pool wears away, it can flake and irritate the skin. Staining the plaster finish yourself requires intensive prep beforehand to clean the pool and many days of cure time after. Make sure no rain is forecast during your work time since rain affects the finish.
Salt pools are an alternative to managing chemicals associated with chlorinated pools and use a generator to convert salt into chlorine. They have less salt than the ocean, making the taste of salt unnoticeable. Salt pool systems eliminate the need for shock chemicals and algaecides. Also, they do not irritate your eyes or turn hair green. Salt pools use either solar, water softener or food grade salt. The pool must have a certain level of salinity, which is the number of grams of salt per 1,000 grams of seawater – though the testing meters usually measure the salt in ppm.…
Winterizing kits for in-ground pools are relatively inexpensive and help close your pool in anticipation for the winter season. Using a winterizing kit will ensure your pool’s water stays clean until you are ready to use the pool again in the summer. Winterizing kits are available in both chlorine-based and chlorine-free versions and typically include a winter control or winterizer, rust and scale preventer and winterizing shock. Each brand of winterizing kit has its own specific usage instructions. Follow the directions included with the kit you have.
Endless swimming pools are a type of upscale temporary swimming pool. The pool comes in a kit, which includes the exterior panels, the frame, the heating system and everything else you need for installation. You put the pool up and take it down when needed. The Fastlane pools from Endless come with some problems, including installation issues.
Digital cameras, astronomical cameras and powerful microscopes all depend on CCD chips to capture incoming photons and generate images. These sensitive devices are vulnerable to many forms of damage. While professional camera shops have the tools and expert staff people to repair many camera issues, purchasing a new camera is often the more economical decision.
Polaris pool cleaners automatically sweep the bottom of the pool to clean up debris and pull water into the unit where the water can be filtered and then dispensed back into the pool. The pool cleaner has wheels for movement and is connected to a feeder hose above the water. If the pool cleaner gets stuck, there are a few possible reasons why.
Pool heaters make the water more comfortable for swimming in areas where temperatures vary widely. Many types of pool heaters are available, including gas, solar and heat pump-type heaters. Gas pool heaters can be expensive to use, so careful attention to temperature regulation and the use of energy-saving covers can help to reduce fuel costs for these units.
Concrete sealers and waterproofing compounds perform similar functions in different ways. Sealers primarily form protective layers over concrete surfaces, while waterproofing compounds penetrate into surfaces to fill in gaps. Each type of water repellent or blocking compound has disadvantages and advantages. Choosing which type to apply in your home can be a matter of aesthetic appeal just as much as protective abilities.
Swimming pool lights install inside a fixture mounted on a side of the pool wall. Routine maintenance can include replacing a burned-out bulb or repairing the gasket, tasks within reach for the pool owner.
Pool heaters are often heated via natural or propane gas, which means the heater must have enough gas pressure to operate properly. If the pool heater does not have enough gas pressure, a variety of problems may occur, so understanding the typical gas pressure necessary to operate the pool heater can help avoid potential issues.
Most pool heaters offer an automatic ignition system and monitor the pool water temperature to maintain the temperature as set on the thermostat. The heaters vary in heat output, usually between 92,000 BTUH and 133,000 BTUH and can be turned up or down according to pool-temperature needs. The unit also has a temperature limit switch that will trigger an automatic lockout if the temperature is exceeded during ignition. Troubleshooting this problem may help prevent the ignition lockout from happening in the future.
Swimming pool construction requires careful planning and utmost precision in construction. Factors, such as soil composition, layout, materials and design, all can affect the outcome of the job. Weather conditions also can affect the success or failure of pool construction, with heavy rains or sudden freezes that can collapse the walls or cause degradation of the materials. An experience swimming pool contractor will take all these factors into consideration to ensure the success of your pool construction project.
You can't use a pool with a falling wall without risking further damage to the pool structure and possible physical harm to yourself and other swimmers. A collapsed pool wall is caused by various conditions, including shifts in the ground soil below the pool and even weather changes. The first step in minimizing pool damage is discovering what caused the wall to collapse.
Rheem residential pool heaters have large air coils, a high capacity pan for better air flow and heating, a scroll compressor and a digital control panel. The pool heat can be controlled from the digital control panel and an on-board diagnostic tool informs users if there is a problem with the heater by displaying an error code. The SNS error code indicates that one of the pool heater sensors is not working and some troubleshooting is necessary.
Pool sand filters help clear away all unwanted particles in a swimming pool. Water is drawn through the filter in cycles and allowed to sink through a cylinder of sand, which catches large particles while allowing water to flow through. While algae are a common problem in swimming pools, they are more likely to grow outside of a filter than in it.
Solar pool heaters extend the swimming season substantially, with the amount varying according to the region and the amount of sunshine your solar heater gets. With a large variety of pool heaters available, however, choosing a solar pool heater requires some technical knowledge of your situation and a fair amount of product research. The best solar pool heater in one part of the country may not operate efficiently in another, so you need to identify the best system for your application, area and needs.
Ore is a mineral aggregate that needs to be processed in order to extract the metals present in the rock. Chromite ore contains the metal chromium as an iron chromium oxide mineral. Besides chromium, chromite ore can also contain platinum group metals--PGMs--that usually refer to metals such as platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium. In order to extract PGMs from chromite ore, you first need to remove the iron followed by separation of chromium metal from the PGMs.
Some flat roofs have problems with pooled water following rain and snow. Unlike older homes, the flat roofs on modern homes usually have a membrane covering that prevents water from pooling. Most flat roofs are not actually flat but typically have a slight slope to prevent water from pooling. Some flat roofs have drainage systems, which can fail if they are blocked with debris. Water pooling problems can cause roof failure. You can prevent water pooling on your flat roof with a combination of maintenance and, if necessary, repair or renovation of the roof.
A Venturi vacuum pool maintenance kit cleans aboveground pools and spas. Use it to clean the pool or spa as often as once a day, or as needed, depending on how often the water is used. The kit comes with a three-piece pole to which you connect a leaf skimmer or vacuum head attachment. The leaf skimmer removes leaves and other debris from the top of the water, while the vacuum cleans the bottom of the pool or spa. When used together, the attachments should keep the water relatively clean.
Polyacrylic provides shine. It is great for swimming pool area walls because it is water resistant. Many homeowners choose polyacrylic because it is one of the least toxic wood finishing options. It's great for use outdoors where pets and children play. However, polyacrylic is best used for swimming pool walls underneath the shady cover of structures or surrounding tree cover. In areas subjected to direct sunlight for most of the day, polyacrylic must be re-applied once annually.
Regular water treatments for swimming pools help ensure pool waters remain clean and germ free. Standard pool water treatments use chlorine chemicals or tablets on a regular basis. The CIO2 method uses chlorine dioxide applications in the place of, or in addition to, standard chlorine treatments. While effective, CIO2 treatments do come with certain precautions.
