P.O. Box 2148
Amagansett, NY 11930
ph: 516-455-9413
alt: 631-745-5722
Pools
Service includes:
· Cleaning, removing, folding and storing of pool cover.
· Install ladder, diving board and handrail.
· Assembling and starting up pool system.
· Power vacuum of pool to waste. Opening includes first vacuum only.
· Brush swimming pool floor and walls.
· Check and stabilize water chemistry by adding chemical as needed.
· Circulate swimming pool pump on filter for 24-48 hrs.
· Checking of pool equipment (for proper functioning).
Service includes:
· Pool vacuuming
· Net out Pool surface
· Clean Pool tiles and Pool edges
· Adjusting of water level
· Test water chemistry
· Add chemicals as needed
· Clean skimmers baskets
· Back wash Pool filter
· Check pool system (for proper functioning).
Service includes:
· Complete shutdown of pool system and winterization of pipes and
equipment
· Pumping the water down below the pool returns
· Blowing out all the pool lines; adding antifreeze and winter kit
· Plugging of the pool lines
· Removing of the diving board, ladders & railing
· Collocation of pool cover
· Disconnecting or removing pool pump(s)
NOTE: Gas heaters owners should contact your gas company for the
removal and storage of your heater tray to extend the life and
performance of your heater.
ACID: A chemical substance containing hydrogen with the ability to dissolve metals, neutralize alkaline materials and combine with bases to form salts. Acid is used to lower (decrease) pH and total alkalinity of swimming pool and spa water. Examples are muriatic (hydrochloric) and dry acid (sodium bisulfate).
ACID DEMAND: The amount of acid required to bring high pH and total alkalinity down to their proper levels. Determined by an acid demand test.
ALGAE: Microsopic aquatic plant life that contain chlorophyll. Algae are nourished by carbon dioxide (CO2) and use sunlight to carry out photosynthesis. It is introduced by rain or wind and grows in colonies producing nuisance masses. Algae are not disease-causing, but can harbor bacteria, create a high clorine demand, and it is slippery. There are 21'000 known species of algae. The most common pool types are black, blue-green, green and mustard (yellow or brown). Pink or red-colored algae-like organisms exists but are bacteria and not algae. Maintaining proper sanitizer levels, brushing and superchlorination will help its occurence.
ALGAECIDE: Also called algicide. A natural or synthetic chemical designed to kill, destroy or control algae.
ALKALINITY: Also called total alkalinity. A measure of the pH-buffering capacity of water or water's resistance to change in pH. Composed of the hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates in the water. One of the basic water tests necessary to determine water balance.
AMMONIA: Introduced into the water by swimmers as waste (perpiration or urine) or by other means. Quickly forms foul-smelling, body-irritating chloramines - an undesirable, less effective form of chlorine. See chloramines or combined chlorine.
AVAILABLE CHLORINE: The amount of chlorine in the pool water that is available to sanitize or disinfect the water. Sometimes called residual chlorine.
BALANCED WATER: The correct ratio of mineral content and pH level that prevents the water from being corrosive or scale forming.
BROMAMINES: By-products formed when bromine reacts with swimmer waste (perspiration or urine), nitrogen or fertilizer. Bromamines are active disinfectants and do not smell.
BROMINATOR: A mechanical or electrical device for dispensing bromine at a controlled rate. Most often a tank, canister or floater filled with tablets of bromine.
BROMINE: A halogen element in the same group as chlorine and flouride. Also a common name for several chemical compounds containing bromine that are used as disinfectants to destroy bacteria and algae in swimming pools and spas. Most commonly available as organic bromine in a tablet ot granular, or as sodium bromide, a granular salt.
BUFFER: A substance or compound that stabilizes the pH value of a solution. It is also the water's resistance to change in pH.
CALCIUM: The calcium content of the water. Calcium hardness is sometimes confused with the terms water hardness and total hardness. Too little calcium hardness and the water is corrosive. Too much calcium hardness and the water is scale forming. One of the basic water tests necessary to determine water balance. Minimum level is 150 ppm. Ideal range is 200 to 400 ppm.
CHELATED COPPER: Copper algaecides that contain a special ingredient to prevent the copper from staining the pool walls and bottom or producing colored water.
CHLORAMINES: Undesirable, foul-smelling, body-irritating compounds formed when insufficient levels of free available chlorine react with ammonia and other nitrogen containing compounds (swimmer and bather waste, fertilizer, perspiration, urine, ect.). Chloramines are still disinfectants, but that are a much weaker, ineffective form of chlorine. Chloramines are removed by superchlorination or shock treating
CHLORINE: A term used to describe any type of chlorine compound used as a disinfectant in swimming pool and spa water to kill, destroy or control bacteria and algae. In addition, chlorine oxidizes ammonia and nitrogen compounds (swimmer and bather waste).
CHLORINE DEMAND: The amount of chlorine necessary to oxidize all organic matter (bacteria, algae, chloramines, ammonia and nitrogen compounds) in the pool or spa water.
CHLORINE RESIDUAL: The amount of chlorine left in the pool or spa water after the chlorine demand has been satisfied.
CLARIFIER: Also called coagulant or flocculant. A chemical compound used to gather (coagulate or agglomerate), or to precipitate suspended particles so they may be removed by vacuuming or filtration. There are two types; inorganic salts of aluminum (alum) or water-soluble organic polyelectrolytes.
COAGULANT: An organic polyelectrolyte usd to gather (coagulate) suspended particles in the water.
COMBINED CHLORINE: Undesirable, foul-smelling, body-irritating compounds formed when insufficient levels of free available chlorine react with ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds (swimmer and bather waste, fertilizer, perspiration, urine, ect.). Combined chlorine is still a disinfectant, but it is a much weaker, ineffective form of chlorine.
CONDITIONER: In this guide, conditioner is a chemical called cyanuric acid. It slows down the degradation of chlorine in the water by sunlight. The minimum effective level is 20 ppm as measured by a test kit. Very high levels of Cyanuric acid (above 300 ppm) can slow down chlorine activity or effectiveness. Conditioner does not protect bromine from sunlight.
COPPER ALGAECIDE: A chemical compound that contains the element copper. Copper sulfate was one of the original copper algaecides. Too much copper in the water can cause green-colored stains. Newer copper algaecides contain an ingredient that prevents the copper from staining but does not affect copper's ability to kill algae. These special copper algaecides are called chelated copper algaecides.
CYANURIC ACID: Also called conditioner or stabilizer, this chemical compound protects chlorine in the water from being destroyed by sunlight. The minimum level is 20 ppm. Very high levels of Cyanuric acid (above 300 ppm) can slow down chlorine activity or effectiveness. Cyanuric acid does not protect bromine from sunlight.
D.E. FILTER: Diatomaceous Earth Filter. A filter designed to use diatomaceous earth (D.E.) as the filter medium. The D.E. is added through the skimmer with the pump on, which takes the D.E. and deposits it on a grid. The D.E. then becomes the filter medium.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: Also called D.E. A white powder composed of fossilized skeletons of one-celled organisms called diatoms. The skeletons are porous and have microscopic spaces. The powder is added through the skimmer with the pump on and deposits itself on a grid. The powder then becomes the filter medium.
DICHLOR: The common name for sodium dichlorisocyanurate. A fast-dissolving chlorine compound containing chlorine and cyanuric acid (stabilizer or conditioner). It has a neutral pH and is quick dissolving, so it can be used for regular chlorination or superchlorination.
DRY ACID: Chemically, sodium bisulfate. A dry white crystal that produces acid when added to water. It is used for lowering pH and total alkalinity. Safer to handle than muriatic acid.
EFFLUENT: The water that flows out of a pump, filter or heater, usually on its way back to the pool or spa.
FILTER AID: A chemical compound added to the water or to the filter that allows the existing filter to become more efficient. Examples are alum, water clarifiers and D.E. (diatomaceous earth).
FLOC: The clump or aggregate formed when suspended particles combine with a flocculating agent. See floculation.
FLOCULATION: The combination, agglomeration, aggregation or coagulation of suspended particles in such a way that they form small clumps (called a floc).
FREE AVAILABLE CHLORINE: The amount of active chlorine in the pool or spa water that is available to sanitize or disinfect the water. Sometimes called residual or available chlorine.
HARDNESS: The amount of calcium and magnesium dissolved in the water. "Water" or "total" hardness refers to the total magnesium and calcium dissolved in the water. Calcium hardness refers to just the calcium. Measured by a test kit and expressed as ppm. The proper range is 200 to 400 ppm.
HYPOCHLORITE: The name given to a family of chlorine containing compounds, including calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite and lithium hypochlorite, that are used as disinfectants and sanitizers in pool and spa water.
LITHIUM HYPOCHLORITE: A dry, granular chlorinating compound with an available chlorine content of 35%. It is rapid-dissolving and can be used to superchlorinate vinyl-liner pools, painted pools or fiberglass pools as well as spas and hot tubs.
MINERAL: A substance that is neither animal nor plant. It is a chemical compound, usually inorganic in nature (no carbon atoms), which occurs naturally. Examples are quartz, feldspar or compounds of crystaline structure. It sometimes includes soluble "rocks" such as limestone. Ground water can dissolve all or a portion of these rocks and the minerals contained these rocks, thus causing these minerals to be present in tap water. Certain geographic locations contains a high level of minerals which can cause staining and scale problems in pool and spa water.
NON-CHLORINE SHOCK: A term given to a class of chemical compounds that are used to oxidize or shock the water (destroy ammonia, nitrogen and swimmer waste). They contain no chlorine or bromine and do not kill living organisms. Swimmers may re-enter the water in only 15 minutes after adding a non-chlorine shock.
ORGANIC: Refers to volatile, biodegradable and sometimes combustible chemical compounds containing carbon atoms bonded together with other elements. The principal groups of organic substance found in water are proteins, carbohydrates, fats and oils. See organic waste.
ORGANIC WASTE: Also called swimmer or bather waste. All of the soap, deodorant, suntan lotion, lipstick, makeup, cologne, body oils, sweat, spit, urine, ect., brought into the water. They also form chloramines, which are foul-smelling and body irritants. Requires large amounts of chlorine or non-chlorine shock to destroy.
OXIDATION: To rid the water of ammonia, nitrogen compounds and swimmer waste (organic compounds). These organic compounds disable chlorine, are body irritants and have a foul smell. Removal is accomplished by superchlorination or by shock treating with a non-chlorine oxidizer.
OXIDIZER: A shocking or sanitizing compound that removes or destroys built-up contaminents and chloramines in pool water. Most chlorination, brominating, and oxygenating compounds are considered oxidizers. Usually the fast dissolving oxidizers which contain chlorine, such as the hypochlorites, are typically used to "superchlorinate" the water.
RESIDUAL BROMINE: The amount of measurable bromine remaining after treating the water with bromine. The amount of bromine left in the pool or spa water after the bromine demand has been satisfied.
RESIDUAL CHLORINE: The amount of measurable chlorine remaining after treating the water with chlorine. The amount of chlorine left in the pool or spa water after the chlorine demand has been satisfied.
SCALE: The precipitate that forms on surfaces in contact with water when the calcium hardness, pH or total alkalinity levels are too high. Results from chemically unbalanced pool and spa water. Scale may appear as gray, white or dark streaks on the plaster, fiberglass or vinyl. It may also appear as a hard crust around the tile.
SHOCK TREAT: The practice of adding significant amounts of fast-desolving oxidizing chemical - (usually the hypochlorites) - to the water to destroy ammonia and nitrogen compounds or swimmer waste.
STABILIZED CHLORINE: A family of chlorine pool sanitizers that contain conditioner (cyanuric acid or isocyanuric acid) to protect the chlorine from the degrading UV rays in sunlight. Most common types are sodium dichlor and trichlor. The granular form is dichlor, which is fast-dissolving and can be used for regular chlorination or superchlorination by broadcasting into the pool or spa. Tablet or stick form is trichlor (which is usually used in a chlorine feeder - either the floating type or in-line erosion type) used for regular chlorination only.
STAIN: A discoloration or a colored deposit on the walls or bottom of a swimming pool or spa. Most often, stains are metals such as iron, copper or manganese. They may appear as green, gray, brown or black. They may even discolor the water. Sometimes a sequestering agent or chelating agent will remove them. If not, usually an acid wash is necessary to remove them from the walls and bottom. The metals get in the water because the pH was too low or someone has added a low pH chemical directly into the circulation system. The low pH chemical dissolves a small amount of metal from the equipment. The metals come out of solution and deposit or sain the surfaces of the walls and bottom of the pool. Stains are sometimes confused with scale.
SUPERCHLORINATION: The practice of adding an extra large dose (5 to 10 ppm) of chlorine to the water to destroy ammonia, nitrogen and swimmer waste, which can build up in the water. This level of chlorine is required to destroy all of the combined chlorine in the water which is called breakpoint chlorination.
TOTAL ALKALINITY: The total amount of alkaline materials present in the water. Also called the buffering capacity of the water. It is the water's resistance to change in pH. Low total alkalinity causes metal corrosion, plaster etching and eye irritation. High total alkalinity causes scale formation, poor chlorine efficiency and eye irritation.
TOTAL CHLORINE: The total amount of chlorine in the water. It includes both free available and combined chlorine.
TDS: Total Dissolved Solids is a measure of the total amount of dissolved material in the water. It is comprised of the spent or carrier chemicals in the water every time chemicals chemicals are added, as well as the hardness, alkalinity, chlorides, sodium, magnesium, calcium, ect. The maximm amount in pools is 2500 ppm. Maximum in spas is 1500 ppm over starting TDS. The only way to effectively lower TDS is to drain part or all of the water and replace it with low TDS water.
TRICHLOR: A slow-dissolving tablet or granular, stabilized organic chlorine compound providing 90% available chlorine. Used for regular chlorination but must be dispensed using a floating feeder or an in-line feeder (chlorinator). Trichlor contains an ingredient (cyanuric acid or stabilizer) that prevents the chlorine from being destroyed by the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Trichlor haas a pH of 2.8, and regular trichlor tabs should not be placed in the skimmer as the low pH will corrode the metal components in the equipment.
TURBIDITY: The cloudy condition of the water due to the presence of extremely fine particles in suspension that cannot be trapped by the filter because they are too small. Adding a clarifier will coagulate the particles and make the filter more efficient.
WATER CLARIFIER: Also called coagulate or flocculant. A chemical compound used to gather (coagulate or agglomerate) or to precipitate suspended particles so they may be removed by vacuuming or filtration. There are two types; inorganic salts of aluminum (alum) and other metals or water-soluble organic polyelectrolytes.
pH: A term used to indicate the level of acidity or alkalinity of pool water. Too low a pH causes etched plaster, metal corrosion and eye irritation. Too high a pH causes scale formation, poor chlorine efficiency and eye irritation. The ideal range for pH in swimming pools is 7.4 to 7.6.
ppm: An abbreviation for parts per million. It is a weight-to-weight expression. It means 1 part in 1 million parts, such as 1 lb. of chlorine in 1 million lbs. of water. Many of the common pool water tests, as well as acceptable ranges, are stated as ppm. For example, free available chlorine should be kept between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm; total alkalinity should be between 80 and 120 ppm; and water hardness should be between 200 and 400 ppm.
P.O. Box 2148
Amagansett, NY 11930
ph: 516-455-9413
alt: 631-745-5722
Pools