Thursday, 20 June 2013

Reduce pool heating costs

How to cut pool heating costs

Swimming pools in ,almost all parts of the country need some kind of a pool heating device to keep the temperature of the water at a comfortable level. The problem is that unless for fully automatic pool cleaners, most pool heaters are not efficient enough to produce desired results and also use up a lot of energy. Propane, natural gas or other fossil fuels and also electricity is used to heat up pools and that adds to the cost of pool maintenance. A few simple tips could save you those bucks and also keep your pool warm.

You could use a solar pool heater or solar pool cover to heat up your pool effectively and in a cost effective way. A solar pool heater traps the heat from the sun to heat the pool water and doesn’t need electricity or fuel to keep going. Solar pool heaters [sold as solar sun rings] have special insulation on their surfaces which allow the suns heat to pass through them, but can’t escape back into the atmosphere. The trapped heat warms the water and keeps it warm even after sun down.

If you’re worried about the efficiency of the solar sun rings on a large pool, let you be informed that solar sun rings do not come in large “one-piece” sheets like other pool covers. These solar pool heaters come in small sizes and you’ve got to place a couple of them on your pool surface to cover the entire pool area – the number of pieces required depends on the size of the pool. Solar sun rings can deliver optimum performance irrespective of pool size and shape.

A big disadvantage with common pool covers is the formation of algae. Owing to their “one piece” design, common pool covers promote algae growth when the pool remains covered. With solar sun rings your pool can breathe through the gaps between two units of solar pool heaters.

Water has a high specific heat capacity, as a result of which hot water remains hot for long and vice versa. So, even after sundown the water in your pool will stay warm through the trapped heat from the day.

Solar sun rings can cut pool heating costs considerably and nothing heats the pool better and in a “greener” way.

Inground pool heaters

Extending the swimming season with in-ground pool heaters will allow you to enjoy more days of fun and fitness each year. Gas, electric and solar swimming pool heaters will all effectively raise and maintain the temperature of pool water so that you and your friends and family can start swimming sooner and continue to swim later in the year.

While the size of heater that you will require will depend on the size of your in-ground swimming pool, the type of heater that will work best for you will depend on your pool usage and your personal preferences. Below you will find information on gas pool heaters, electric pool heaters and solar pool heaters so that you will be able to make a confident choice when it comes to purchasing a heater for your swimming pool.

Gas in-ground pool heaters are powered either by natural gas or propane and are capable of maintaining any temperature no matter what the weather may be. Gas-powered models also work very quickly and can raise the temperature of a swimming pool by five to seven degrees Fahrenheit in just two hours. However, gas in-ground swimming pool heaters have the highest operating cost of all three types of swimming pool heaters . That being said, in-ground gas pool heaters are ideal for pools that often need to be heated quickly, such as when guests are arriving.

The fast heating action of these pool heaters also makes them a great option for swimming pools located at vacation homes or pools that are only used on weekends.

Despite the relatively high cost of operation associated with in-ground gas pool heaters, these units can generally be purchased for anywhere from $875 to $5500, with many high-quality options available at the lower end of that range. This makes gas pool heaters for in-ground swimming pools the most affordable option initially. However, it’s important to take the cost of operation into account when determining whether a gas heater will fit your budget. When choosing in-ground gas pool heaters, look for a model with an efficiency rating close to 80% as such a unit will provide you with more effective heating. While the efficiency of gas heaters for in-ground pools may decrease over time, the units themselves should last for at least five years.
Electric heaters provide one alternative to gas in-ground pool heaters and are also known as heat pump swimming pool heaters. Although heat pumps require electricity to operate, they are actually a form of solar heating, using heat from the sun-warmed air to raise the water temperature. Once the heat has been removed from the air, it is upgraded with the heater’s compressor and then transferred to the water.

The good part about these pool heaters is that they extract heat from the surrounding air and are capable of keeping the water warm even after sun down. The surrounding air’s jut got to be around 45 degrees. Even if the air around is below 45, the water temperature wouldn’t drop and that’s because water has a high specific heat capacity – eight grade physics :)

Electric pool heaters for in-ground swimming pools are a great choice for people who enjoy swimming even during cloudy weather. These swimming pool heaters are also popular with pool owners who want to use solar energy to heat their pool but who cannot accommodate a solar heater on their property. Although the unit cost of heat pump heaters for in-ground pools tends to be higher than that of gas pool heaters, falling somewhere in the range of $1600 to $4600, their cost of operation is very low. Also, heat pumps will generally have a lifespan of between five and 10 years, although they may require periodic service to maintain the internal electrical parts.
Solar swimming pool heaters make up the third main category of in-ground pool heaters available on today’s market. These in-ground swimming pool heaters are powered by the sun, using its heat to raise the temperature of the pool water as it circulates through the unit. Accordingly, although solar pool heaters for in-ground swimming pools can have a system kit cost in the range of $300 to $4800, they have no cost of operation. Also, as solar energy is a green and renewable energy source, these pool heaters provide an environmentally friendly heating option.

While these heaters should only operate during daylight hours for the best results, they usually come with a timer that makes this very convenient. Although having a heater of the proper size for your particular swimming pool is important for any type of heater, it’s particularly critical with respect to getting good performance out of a solar heater. However, when you have a solar heating system that is a good match for your in-ground pool, you will be able to enjoy a very effective yet very low maintenance form of pool heating. Moreover, solar heaters for in-ground pools are an excellent investment as they will generally last for 10 to 20 years.

Polaris 360 automatic pool cleaner

Polaris 360 automatic pool cleaner

 Polaris pool products is known across the country for its state-of the art pool products and manufactures an baraay of high performance automatic pool cleaners. Polaris automatic pool cleaners are known for their better functionality and easy manouverability combined with a high style element.

 The polaris 360 pool cleaner is an advanced pressure side automatic pool cleaner and the follolwing specs should help you understand this Polaris automatic pool cleaner better.

 The polaris 360 pool cleaner is a pressure side pool cleaner and operates without a booster pump.  The Polaris 360 is to be used for inground pools and easily connects to a pressure line dedicated solely to the automatic pool cleaner. The Polaris 360 is an all rounder – it sweeps, scrubs, acts as a swimming pool floor cleaner and vacuums the pool walls, steps and all pool surfaces efficiently. The Polaris 360 has its own dirt collection bag and collects large debris like leaves, pebbles and twigs in it. The POlaris 360 is a must have for all pool owners.

 Most suitable for – The Polaris 360 is suitable for all inground pools irrespective of pool size and make – vinyl, fiberglass or concrete.

 Features of the Polaris 360

 1. The Polaris 360 scrubs, sweeps and vacuums all pool surfaces which include the pool walls, pool bottom and steps.

 2. Te Polaris 360 is equipped with an in-line backup valve which helps this automatic pool cleaner move around with ease and frees it when it gets cornered. This makes pool cleaning uninterrupted.

 3. The Polaris 360 is powered by the presure of clean water returning to your pool. This leaves the pool filter and the pool skimmer free to eliminate the contaminates.

4. The Polaris 360 prolonges the life of your pool filters because it has a unique bag that removes the debris before it reaches the pump basket or pool filter.

The Polaris 340 automatic pool cleaner

Polaris 340 Automatic Pool Cleaner

Polaris pool cleaners have been around in the U.S for quite sometime now and thousands of pool owners take pride in owning a Polaris pool cleaning equipment. The Polaris pool cleaners are built for high performance and style and reflect innovation. The Polaris 340 automatic pool cleaner is a technologically advanced automatic pool cleaner achieves feats very few other automatic pool cleaners can.

Polaris pool supplies and also thousands of pool owners claim that the Polaris 340 is the most powerful of the whole lot of automatic pool cleaners that Polaris has. The Polaris 340 is a suction side automatic pool cleaner that can be easily connected to a dedicated suction line. This automatic pool cleaner is equipped with a built in drive mechanism to help it clean in reverse in any inground swimming pool. With the Polaris 340 in action all debris – from twigs to sand will get deposited into your pool filter system.

It is recommended that you add another Polaris pool accessory – the Leaf canister and Skimmer [LCS] to your Polaris 340 capture large debris without a hitch.

 Application of the Polaris 340 automatic pool cleaner

The Polaris 340 automatic pool cleaner could be used in any pool irrespective of shape and size. Be it a vinyl, fiberglass or concrete pool, the Polaris 340 can clean it all.

 Some excellent features of the Polaris 340 automatic pool cleaner

 1. The Polaris 340 is the most advanced and fast automatic pool cleaner from the Polaris stable. It can vacuum the floors and walls of all inground pools irrespective of dimensions.

2. The built in reverse drive mechanism helps it clean in reverse.

3. If the throat gets clogged an exclusive auxillary inlet will keep the water flowing to the pump and eliminate pump cavitations.

4. The Polaris 340 automatic pool cleaner is equipped with a flow regulator that automatically adjusts the flow of water to the cleaner.

Go grab your Polaris 340 today and see your pool sparkling like never before.

Automatic Pool Vacuum Cleaners

Reasons For Buying An Automatic Pool Vacuum Cleaner And Choices

 Many pool owners hire people to clean their pools and this thing really adds up over time – the money, the low efficiency, the time…everything that goes behind manual pool cleaning isn’t always worth the effort.

 The best way out is to have an automatic pool vacuum cleaner handle the job of pool cleaning. Automatic/robotic pool cleaners are easy to operate, are low on maintenance, cheap and suck off every bad thing present in your pool!

  A robotic pool cleaner will not only save you money on energy, but also on clean up time, chemicals and water. So go grab your automatic pool cleaner today and save yourself the hassle of manual pool cleaning.

 Once you’ve made up your mind to go for an automatic pool cleaner, you’ve got to consult your pool professional so you choose the best robotic pool cleaner for your pool type. To begin with, for example, you need to know if you have an in ground or above ground pool. There are different types [and makes] of pool cleaners and you could get optimum performance from your automatic pool cleaner if you know the details about your pool.

 A suction based automatic pool cleaner for example will dump large debris into your basket and the finer debris into your pool filter directly.

 A pressure return automatic pool cleaner on the other hand will have its own debris collection bag. If you have a concrete pool, then a Polaris automatic pool cleaner could be a good choice.

Goldline Controls®

Reinventing the pool experience

Goldline Controls® understands that the less effort you put behind pool maintenance, the more time and energy you have for fun and excitement. Pleasure and fun is the very reason why you built a pool in the first place, didn’t you?

A swimming pool was nothing more than “wet fun” when you were a kid and Goldline wants pool owners to feel that way again by eliminating the troublesome “maintenance” factor associated with all pool types. Goldline Controls has been around in the pool and spa products segments for over thirty years now and is one of the most trusted names amongst thousands of pool owners across the country. The state-of-the-art pool products from Goldline make pool maintenance easier than never before.

Sanitation of pool water is one of the top priorities for a pool owner and Goldline products have made water sanitation simpler.

The Aqua Rite and Aqua Rite Pro Salt Chlorine Generators from Goldline Controls have revolutionized the way pool water is sanitized – these chlorine generators use ordinary salt to generate chlorine for pool sanitation. Goldline is the #1 in the US and across the world as far as chlorine generators are concerned.

The Pro Logic and Aqua Plus Automation Controls from Goldline Controls are the next generation swimming pool controls that allow you to control every function your pool and spa with the touch of a button. Isn’t it great to be able to control your whole backyard at the touch of a single button?…that’s what we call innovation.

With Goldline Controls you can feel like a kid again.

Six steps to Clean an In Ground Swimming Pool

An in ground pool can be a little more difficult to keep clean than an above ground pool mainly because of its size and location. Being at ground level you have more dirt and debris that blows into the pool and that can cause some cleaning problems. Keeping the chemicals at their optimum levels will help keep algae and bacteria from growing, but there is still the matter of getting out the leaves and heavy dirt. The key to cleaning success is to stay with a schedule. Not only will it help to keep the pool clean, but you will notice any algae growth right away.

 1. Decide on a day that the pool cleaning will be done each week. Vacuum the pool with a manual or automatic pool vacuum. Take a small scrub brush and brush off the parts of the pool that cannot be accessed by the larger long handled brush.

 2. Brush the walls and floor of the pool with the long handled brush and loosen up any dirt, debris or algae hanging on to the surface of the pool.

3. Shock treat your pool once a week. This shock treatment will be different depending on the type of chemicals that you use everyday for your pool.

4. Turn on your filtering system and let it run for about six to eight hours. You can periodically brush off more of the walls and floor while the filter is running if there are any noticeable algae there. However, do not get back in the pool until the chemical level has come back down to normal.

 5. Backwash your filter and then put a chemical filter cleaner in it if you saw any algae. This will clean out leftover algae or bacteria that were stuck in the filter and not allow it back into your pool.

 6. Allow the pool to sit overnight and start your robotic vacuum back up, if you have one. If not, vacuum the pool as soon as the chemical level goes down enough for you to reenter the pool.

Pool Filter Cartridge Care

Why should you have a well maintained pool filter cartridge?

It is imperative your pool filter cartridge is well maintained to get the most out of your pool filter. The filter should be protected from “clogging”. All foreign elements including detergent, chemicals, fats, oils…etc. can clog the filter.

Increase the longevity of your Cartridge Pool Filter:

1. Pool chemistry is of utmost importance. Make sure proper balance is maintained.
2. Read the user’s manual and clean the pool filter cartridge accordingly.

3. Do not use a hard scrubber or hard brush to clean the cartridges. They might get damaged.
4. Use two cartridges in rotation. This will reduce wear and tear of both.

Cleaning Instructions:

* Take out the cartridge from the filter lodging.
* Use a water jet to wash the pool filter working from top down.
* Soak the cartridge in mild detergent overnight, flush out all impurities and then fit it back.

Do not over use a pool filter. Pool filters usually need to be replaced every one or two years depending on the intensity of use. If maintained properly you can expect your cartridge to last that long.

Polaris ATV Suction-side Pool Cleaner

Polaris pool accessories are known across the country for their excellent performance, innovation and eye for minute details. All Polaris pool products stand for out of the box thinking and are equipped with the most advanced features – culminating into an enhanced pool experience. Let’s take an in-depth look at the Polaris suction side automatic pool cleaner and see what it’s capable of.

 The Polaris ATV suction side pool cleaner is the most powerful and advanced automatic suction side pool cleaner available in the market.  This automatic pool cleaner has been completely redesigned and now has a translucent UV resistant housing and snap -on hubcaps. The pool cleaner boasts of spoke wheels and reversible tires, the second feature being a patented one.

 The Polaris ATV is a tough automatic pool cleaner and offers superb climbing performance. The ATV can vacuum pool floors and walls of all inground pools, irrespective of dimension and finish. The built in reverse mechanism frees the Polaris ATV from obstacles and this is the only automatic pool cleaner that offers reverse cleaning.

 The Polaris ATV directly deposits all debris into the pool filter. The flow regulator regulates the flow of water to the pool cleaner and facilitates hassle free vacuuming. There’s an auxiliary inlet that keeps the water flowing to the pump, eve when the throat gets clogged with debris.

 Usage – The Polaris ATV automatic pool cleaner is suitable for all inground pools.

The best part – The Polaris ATV automatic pool cleaner adds beauty to your pool with or without its agile parts in motion – it simply looks too good!

How to Use Chlorine in an Above-Ground Pool

 Sometimes the all important job of keeping the chlorine level up in your pool is not so easy, especially when the weather is either very hot or rainy. When the chlorine level drops, bacteria and algae can grow, making your pool the not so healthy place to be. Although nothing will take the place of taking a daily reading of the chlorine level, there are some things that can make it a little easier to keep up with your pool.

       1. Using Floating Chlorine Dispensers – Test the pool water with the testing kit to see if your pool is low on chlorine.

       2.  If the water is very low on chlorine, place a chlorine dispenser that floats around in the pool with granular chlorine in it. The granular chlorine will dissolve fast and bring the level up to where it should be.

        3. Place chlorine tablets in the chlorine dispenser. The chlorine will dissolve over time and keep the water chlorinated.

            4. Using Automatic Chlorine Feeders – Install an off-line chlorine feeder made for an above ground pool to your filter system. Follow manufacturer’s directions for installation; they are easy to install.

         5. Set the control valve to regulate the feed rate for your size pool.

       6. Fill with granular chlorine and it will automatically dispense the chlorine at the rate you set for it. Test with a test kit every day for a week or so to make sure the feed rate is correct. Adjust if necessary.