A Move Toward More Efficient Swimming Pools

January 4, 2011 — PeteThePoolGuy

This month’s Aqua magazine (for spa and pool professionals) reports a movement in the industry toward more efficient swimming pools.  The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals is working to establish national efficiency standards under APSP-15.  In the past, efforts like these have come haphazardly at the state and local levels through laws and regulations.  APSP-15 will offer the industry a more uniform standard.

What does this mean for your pool?  Aqua reports,

Pool efficiency laws are ushering in a new age of pool equipment design for residential pools.  The movement is having a strong effect on the way the pool circulatory system is put together.  This includes pump selection, filter size, automation for the pump and heaters.

Single-speed swimming pool pumps under 1 HP will no longer be allowed and more emphasis will be placed on automation.  Multi-speed swimming pool pumps offer lower settings with greater energy efficiency when the pool is circulating.   They also offer the higher speeds needed when backwashing or vacuuming.  Installing a single-speed pump that always runs at high speed and consumes a lot of energy will be a thing of the past.  The regulations will not apply to booster, spa or feature pumps and piping but are focused on the main swimming pool filtration system.

Swimming pool controllers also help to alleviate some of the energy waste in pool care.  They ensure that swimming pool pumps only run on their higher speed setting for precise intervals and also ensure that they return to their lowest, filtration, setting within a 24-hr period.  This eliminates the potential for the swimming pool pump to be inadvertently left on its highest setting. 

APSP-15 also includes efficiency standards for swimming pool heaters and the plumbing around the swimming pool pump.  The plumbing must meet an efficient flow rate on both the suction and return sides of the pump.  This is achieved with a larger minimum pipe size.  Regarding the  swimming pool heaters, Aqua reports,    

 …they (swimming pool heaters) have to have a readily accessible on-off switch mounted on the outside of the heater that allows the heater to be turned on and off without adjusting the thermostat setting.  This is a rather brilliant idea that prevents waste through monkeying with the thermostat in a vain effort to make the pool heat more rapidly.

The efficiency standards found in APSP-15 should come into place within the next year.  Initially, this may result in higher pricing for pool equipment but will afford pool owners great savings in the long run relating to energy consumption.

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Orlando Pool Filter Valve Repair

February 20, 2010 — PeteThePoolGuy

We have many unique tools that enable us to work on and repair pool equipment that a vast majority of other Orlando pool repair companies do not have. For this repair, the pool filter valve also known as a multiport valve needed the spring to be changed in order to stop water leaking out of the discharge line.

You will usually find these valves on a Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filters as well as on sand filters. These valves are used to backwash your filter tank when it gets dirty as well as draining your pool when the water is too high. Over time the metal spring loses its form and has less tension to press the valve down onto the valve seat gasket. This is where the leak occurs. To make the repair and change the spring with just one person is a very frustrating and difficult task for a pool repair service technician without the proper tools. With this multiport valve repair tool it enables us to effortlessly work on your pool filter valve in a matter of minutes.

Other Orlando pool repair companies do not take the time to work on these valves. They simply order the whole valve assembly when just the spring needs to be replaced because they do not have the tools necessary to work on them. Is it that they do not know about these tools or perhaps do not repair enough valves to warrant buying the tools to make these repairs? Who knows and who cares? I’ll tell you who cares, YOU DO! To give you an idea of what I am talking about, a multiport valve key assembly retails for $101.86 versus parts to repair it for under $20. That saves you some serious money. We use these same money saving principles on all of the pool repairs we do in the Orlando metro area.

We know you want functioning pool equipment with the least amount of money out of your pocket. We will always treat your pool repairs with the proper care and attention it deserves. So for complete satisfaction with your pool repairs in the metro Orlando area call a company you can trust, call Professional Poolcare. Our customer service reviews speak for themselves.

Posted in Pool Filters, Pool Plumbing. Tags: , , , , , , . 1 Comment »

Check Valve Replacement

April 7, 2009 — PeteThePoolGuy

Today I replaced a check valve.  This little device prevents the water in your swimming pool system from flowing in the wrong direction.  If you have an issue with your spa draining when your pool shuts off, it is due to a malfunction of the flapper inside the check valve.  This is a good indication that your pool is in need of a new check valve.  

The swimming pool check valve that I prefer features unions that allow for easy removal and replacement.  The unions eliminate the need for cutting pipe and lengthy plumbing with installation.  As you can see from the old check valve pictured above, I had to cut it out of the plumbing to replace it.  This will not be necessary with the new check valve.  Also, as shown in the picture, the replacement check valve is transparent and will allow for easy diagnosis of this issue in the future.     

Replacing the check valve is something that happens randomly for each pool and is not something that would included in annual swimming pool maintenance.  It is however a common issue and I’ve completed this replacement on swimming pools all over the Orlando area.  As I mentioned above, the best indicator is a spa that drains when the pool shuts down.

Also if you notice DE powder blowing back into your pool through the main drain or skimmer, installing a check valve will prevent this problem.

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