Frequently Asked Questions about Norfolk NE Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs
Support for Pool & Hot Tub Customers in Norfolk, NE Area
What causes blonde hair to turn green after swimming?
Answer: Blonde hair turns green due to the copper in the water and not the chlorine.
Solution: Test the water for copper and apply Pool Magnet and Sparkle for Chlorine Pools and SoftSwim Stain Control and Sparkle Up for SoftSwim Pools.
What is a chlorine demand?
Answer: Chlorine demand is the inability to keep an adequate amount of free chlorine residual in pool water. The demand is caused by various contaminants entering the pool that increase oxidation levels or tie up free chlorine. Symptoms can include slimy or slick pool walls and cloudy water. Specific causes can include: heavy use of pool over a few days, inconsistent maintenance, or external sources such as fertilizers, pesticides, and nearby roadwork.
Solution: Test the water to find the exact amount of Burn Out Extreme or Burn Out 35 needed to break the demand. In some cases, the amount of product can be quite high. It may be a more ideal to perform a partial drain and refill with fresh water to reduce the demand.
What causes Cloudy Water?
Answer: Cloudy water can be caused by a number of factors. It includes poor filtration, poor sanitizing and oxidizing, algae growth, a buildup of insoluble compounds, and keeping pools covered while the chlorine is trying to gas off.
Solution: Check the filter daily and keep running the pump for at least 12 hours per day. Clean the filter regularly and fix or replace as needed. Keep up with weekly maintenance and check pH and alkalinity weekly.
What is pH?
Answer: pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. pH should be maintained at 7.4 to 7.6ppm. pH is affected by airborne contaminants, rain, fill water, pollutants, and swimmers. If pH drops below 7.4 the water is too acidic. This can corrode surfaces and equipment and cause burning eyes and skin irritation. If the pH rises above 7.6 the water is too alkaline. The sanitizer loses some effectiveness, causing cloudy water, scale buildup, and equipment and surface damage.
Solution: pH changes frequently due to the outside influences and it should be tested at least twice a week. Raise pH with Balance Pak 200 in pools and pH Increaser in spas. To lower pH use Lo N Slo in pools and pH Decreaser in spas.
What is alkalinity?
Answer: Alkalinity is a measure of the amount of buffering capacity in the water. It acts as a shock absorber for the pH. If the alkalinity is too low, the water is acidic and can corrode equipment and pool surfaces, also causing the pH to bounce. If the alkalinity is too high, the water is alkaline and scale buildup and cloudy water can result. The pH will tend to drift up and will be very difficult to adjust. The ideal range is 125-150ppm.
Solution: Test your alkalinity weekly as it helps maintain the pH. To lower the alkalinity use Lo N’ Slo or Muriatic acid for pools and pH Decreaser for spas. To raise the alkalinity use Balance Pak 100 for pools and Total Alkalinity Increaser for spas.
What causes brown water?
Answer: One of the most common reasons for brown water is iron from the fill water. It is found in wells and other rural water sources. It can be found in some fertilizers, and from outside debris. Iron can stain the pool surfaces if not treated.
Solution: Remove the iron with the proper chemical. In SoftSwim pools, use SoftSwim Stain Control. In Chlorine pools, use Pool Magnet with Sparkle Up as needed.
What causes coffee-brown, rose or even purple water?
Answer: Manganese is not very common metal in water but can pop up occasionally. It mostly comes from a well or other rural source.
Solution: Use PowerFloc, Pool Magnet, and Sparkle Up. DO NOT SHOCK the pool.
What causes extra Scale Build up in my hot tub?
Answer: Scale build up occurs in the tub due to the hard water.
Solution: To remove excess scale in the tub, up the dosage of Stain and Scale Control to one cup and let the water circulate for a couple of days and then drain and refill the tub. It is better not to use the tub while doing this procedure. On a weekly basis, add 1 to 3 oz of Stain and Scale Control to maintain.
Answer: Blonde hair turns green due to the copper in the water and not the chlorine.
Solution: Test the water for copper and apply Pool Magnet and Sparkle for Chlorine Pools and SoftSwim Stain Control and Sparkle Up for SoftSwim Pools.
What is a chlorine demand?
Answer: Chlorine demand is the inability to keep an adequate amount of free chlorine residual in pool water. The demand is caused by various contaminants entering the pool that increase oxidation levels or tie up free chlorine. Symptoms can include slimy or slick pool walls and cloudy water. Specific causes can include: heavy use of pool over a few days, inconsistent maintenance, or external sources such as fertilizers, pesticides, and nearby roadwork.
Solution: Test the water to find the exact amount of Burn Out Extreme or Burn Out 35 needed to break the demand. In some cases, the amount of product can be quite high. It may be a more ideal to perform a partial drain and refill with fresh water to reduce the demand.
What causes Cloudy Water?
Answer: Cloudy water can be caused by a number of factors. It includes poor filtration, poor sanitizing and oxidizing, algae growth, a buildup of insoluble compounds, and keeping pools covered while the chlorine is trying to gas off.
Solution: Check the filter daily and keep running the pump for at least 12 hours per day. Clean the filter regularly and fix or replace as needed. Keep up with weekly maintenance and check pH and alkalinity weekly.
What is pH?
Answer: pH is a measure of the acidity of the water. pH should be maintained at 7.4 to 7.6ppm. pH is affected by airborne contaminants, rain, fill water, pollutants, and swimmers. If pH drops below 7.4 the water is too acidic. This can corrode surfaces and equipment and cause burning eyes and skin irritation. If the pH rises above 7.6 the water is too alkaline. The sanitizer loses some effectiveness, causing cloudy water, scale buildup, and equipment and surface damage.
Solution: pH changes frequently due to the outside influences and it should be tested at least twice a week. Raise pH with Balance Pak 200 in pools and pH Increaser in spas. To lower pH use Lo N Slo in pools and pH Decreaser in spas.
What is alkalinity?
Answer: Alkalinity is a measure of the amount of buffering capacity in the water. It acts as a shock absorber for the pH. If the alkalinity is too low, the water is acidic and can corrode equipment and pool surfaces, also causing the pH to bounce. If the alkalinity is too high, the water is alkaline and scale buildup and cloudy water can result. The pH will tend to drift up and will be very difficult to adjust. The ideal range is 125-150ppm.
Solution: Test your alkalinity weekly as it helps maintain the pH. To lower the alkalinity use Lo N’ Slo or Muriatic acid for pools and pH Decreaser for spas. To raise the alkalinity use Balance Pak 100 for pools and Total Alkalinity Increaser for spas.
What causes brown water?
Answer: One of the most common reasons for brown water is iron from the fill water. It is found in wells and other rural water sources. It can be found in some fertilizers, and from outside debris. Iron can stain the pool surfaces if not treated.
Solution: Remove the iron with the proper chemical. In SoftSwim pools, use SoftSwim Stain Control. In Chlorine pools, use Pool Magnet with Sparkle Up as needed.
What causes coffee-brown, rose or even purple water?
Answer: Manganese is not very common metal in water but can pop up occasionally. It mostly comes from a well or other rural source.
Solution: Use PowerFloc, Pool Magnet, and Sparkle Up. DO NOT SHOCK the pool.
What causes extra Scale Build up in my hot tub?
Answer: Scale build up occurs in the tub due to the hard water.
Solution: To remove excess scale in the tub, up the dosage of Stain and Scale Control to one cup and let the water circulate for a couple of days and then drain and refill the tub. It is better not to use the tub while doing this procedure. On a weekly basis, add 1 to 3 oz of Stain and Scale Control to maintain.