Q. The cover is laying on the pool water. What should I do?

A. Open the cover at the step flap and lower the water just enough to keep the cover from laying on the pool water. Never lower it below the bottom of the skimmer.

Q. There is debris like leaves, sticks and dirt on the cover. What should I do?

A. Use the vac pole and pool brush to push the stuff off the pool cover. The water will stay nice and clean that way.

Q. We are not planning to use the pool until June. Should we wait until then to open it?

A. No. Always open the pool as early in the spring as possible. Then set the pump timer to run just a few hours each day. This will keep the pool water clean and fresh with new sanitizer.

Q. It looks like the pool is leaking under the cover because it's all sunken down where the pool is. Is it leaking?

A. Probably not. The snow that falls on the patio builds up, whereas the snow that falls over the pool melts since the pool water is deep and gets warmed by the ground under it. It makes it look like the water is leaking out.

Q. Do I have to add DE powder every time I backwash my filter?

A. Yes. I f you have a DE filter and you have just backwashed it, you need to add new powder to it.

Q. I forgot how to backwash my filter. Can you remind me?

A. First, turn off the pump. Switch the main valve to backwash and restart the pump. Run for 1 - 2 minutes, then turn pump off and switch to Rinse. start pump and run for 30 seconds. Repeat this process a few times only running pump for less time ( 30 seconds on backwash and 10 seconds on rinse). After the backwash process, with the pump turned off, clean out the pump basket, skimmer baskets and throats, then turn the main valve back to Filter and restart the pump. Make sure to add new DE powder if you have a DE type filter. Sand filters do not normally use DE powder. Make sure that the system is operating properly and the there is normal water flow back to the pool.

Q. Do I have to close the suction valves and place the main valve to Closed when I clean out my pump basket?

A. You don't have to, but it is less messy for you if you do. Just remember to open them again after you are done cleaning baskets and before you turn the pump back on.

Q. Do I have run the pump all the time?

A. No. Our pools are designed to turn over the total water volume in 6 - 8 hours. Most pools only need 2 - 3 hours in the early spring and late fall; 8 - 12 hours in season. It might be best to run the pump more in the last 2 weeks of July and the first 2 weeks of August when the pool is getting heavy use. Also consider your heating needs........    the heater can only operate when the pump is running. You can also buy some additional timer triggers so that you can run several cycles per day. That will keep the pool temperature up and keep the water cleaner than 12 hours on/12 hours off.

Q. We like to turn off the heater during the week and then start it up again for the weekend. Is that a good idea?

A. It is a better idea to turn the temp setting down 6 - 8 degrees lower than your normal setting. This will save fuel more than bringing the temperature back 10 or 20 degrees. You should also use some type of heat retention system like a blanket or liquid film retention.

Q. Liquid film retention? What the heck is that?

A. During the regular swim season, when the nights aren't getting too cold, you can use film retention to keep heat in the pool. The film is odorless, tasteless and is alllbut undetectable in the pool. It is dispensed in a packet shaped like a fish or in a ball that is placed in the skimmer. The film floats on the surface and keeps heat in the pool. If the night temps are more than 20 degrees cooler than the day time, then a blanket will work the best. The two sysytems can be used at the same time. The film can be used with the blanket.

Q. Do we have to use a roller for our blanket?

A. No, but it is really, really hard to put the blanket on or take it off without one. Also, it stores a whole lot easier on a roller.

Q. I like to shut my pool pump off in September and let two tons of leaves fall into it. Then I let the water turn green before I close it. Is this a good idea?

A. No. It is a lot of work to clean up a mess like that and It takes a lot of chlorine too. if You are done using the pool, just go ahead and close it, especially if you are in a leaf ridden area. If you think we'll have some more swim time, at least keep the pump running and keep the skimmers cleaned out so that leaves don't build up. You could put the cover on the pool temporarliy  and wait until October to winterize completely.

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