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Frank and Jacque go through their list of what makes some pools difficult and how to correct it.

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We discuss many of the things we see regularly that make some pools much more difficult to properly maintain. Pools with heavy debris, pools with leaks, pools with heavy usage, pools with poor circulation, pools with poor filtration, pools with water features, natural stone under the waterline

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Jacque sings Frank's 12 tips of pool care in this holiday episode.

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00:00-04:20 introduction

04:21 the twelve tips of pool care the Deepend gave to me

Circulate to remove the dead spots

Maintain proper chlorine levels

Maintain good water balance

Effective filtration

Remove dirt and debris

Watch, monitor and control CYA

Proper water testing

Know clean filter pressure and monitor filter pressure

know the sound of your pool equipment when it is running properly

Brush pool surfaces

Use and monitor borate levels

Don't put off repairs.

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Frank and Jacque introduce their sponsors for 2024, and then discuss back to the basics of pool care.

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00:00-11:00 introduction.

11:00-11:25 pool news update by Pool Magazine poolmagazine.com

12:44-13:39 Frank explains that the way he says Wisconsin is a Mike Tyson spoof.

13:40-16:10Frank discusses why he is lowering the maximum pH target mark on the pools he services. Chlorine was not holding as well and with the extreme weather this year there were a few issues with the higher pH.

17:45-17:46 make sure you are considering the lower water temperatures when calculating your LSI or CSI. Colder water is more aggressive and adjustments to pH, alkalinity, or even calcium may be necessary to maintain proper water balance.

17:47-20:00discussing the basics of pool maintenance. the 5 most important things in maintaining a swimming pool. 1. Water chemistry 2. Circulation. 3. Filtration. 4. Removal of dirt and debris. 5. brushing

20:01-24:44water chemistry 2 parts water balance is keeping your water from being aggressive or scaling by managing your LSI or CSI. Two of biggest factors that change the LSI are pH and alkalinity. Cacium, TDS, CYA, and water temperature also need to be measured and monitored to maintain balanced water. there are several apps available to help you calculate LSI.

24:45-27:00 in warm water over 65 degrees, Sanitizer levels. if you are a borate pool then you should maintain 5% of your CYA in free chlorine, if you do not use borates then you should maintain 7.5% of your CYA in free chlorine. in cooler water you can simply super chlorinate to 8-10 ppm once a week or every other week with a shock product like liquid chlorine

27:01-28:00circulation is extremely important in proper pool maintenance. water needs to be exchanged in all parts of the pool. we recommend turning the pool either clockwise or counter clockwise to help eliminate dead spots in the pool.

29:00-30:12we also recommend turning the pool over a minimum of 2 times per day. a turnover is moving the entire volume amount of water in the pool through the filter once. in our area of north texas we recommend 3 times per day when the water is over 70 degrees

30:13-34:18filtration. removal of fine particles from the water in the pool. 3 types of filters Sand filter (with sand media) filters 20-30 microns, which is pool. with glass media the sand filter can filter 5 to 7 microns which is excellent. cartridge filters filter 8 to 20 microns, and DE or diatomaceous earth filters filter down to 3 to 5 microns. proper filter maintenance is critical. know your clean filter pressure so you can evaluate how well your circulation system is operating.

34:19-37:15removal of debris and dirt. organic material will release nutrients into the water that is algae food. do not allow dirt and leaves and debris to sit in the pool for extended periods. empty cleaners, baskets regularly

37:16brushing. important to remove organics, algae, and other organisms off the walls and surfaces and into the open water where your sanitizer levels are typically more consistent and can kill the organisms.

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Frank and Jacque discuss how to set reasonable expectations with pool service whether you run a service or are a pool owner.

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00:00-04:48 introduction

04:49- pool owners need to understand that service pricing will vary from pool. and services offered by different service company's will vary greatly also. Pool owners need to make sure the service company knows

pool service company's should be pricing service based on an estimated minimum and maximum amount of time spent on the pool per service visit. It should be made very clear what is included in weekly or monthly fees and what will be an additional charge.

chemicals used to maintain the pool should be either charged separately for chemicals, in the service of that pool or a good estimate with an allowed maximum. If the amount of chemicals used exceeds that maximum the pool owner should have to pay for that extra chemical used. if a pool leaks or has other issues that require an unexpected additional amount of chemicals, the pool owner should be responsible for those chemicals.

it should be made clear what is and what is not included in service fees.

unexpected events or problems that require additional labor, materials, or chemicals should be charged over and above the agreed upon fees for service. pool owners should make their service company aware if they have occasional or frequent issues after weather events, like wash in from the yard during heavy rains, and expect to pay extra in these situations.

pool owners should make their service company aware asap if other than normal conditions exist on the pool before they show up for service. this will allow the service company to plan for the additional time, equipment,, and chemicals that may be required to address the issue.

as a pool owner you need to share with the prospective new service company what issues you've had with previous service companies to be sure that there are no misunderstandings in reasonable expectations.

make sure it is clear how communication between the service and the pool owner will be conducted. should the client call the service tech, the manager, or the office. businesses put processes in place to make sure proper information is collected the information is given to the correct personnel. disruption in these processes can lead to issues not being properly addressed.

it needs to be clear if filter cleans or other additional required maintenanceare included in service fees

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Frank and Jacque discuss his journey into and through the swimming pool industry. What got him into the business, the training that helped him greatly, mistakes he made and learned from, and where they are now.

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The Frank and Stank Show. Frank sits down with Rudy Stankowitz, of Talking Pools Podcast to discuss unsafe safety barrier exception requirements that have been lobbied for and adopted by many code enforcement entities, and what is black algae.

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[email protected] email Rudy and get your form to send to your representatives to remove the safety barrier exception.

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05:03 - What is black algae? black algae is a cyanobacteria, and is not an algae. it requires different treatment than algae. black algae creates a biofilm that can harbor and protect other organisms within it, like Naegleria fowleri the brain eating amoeba, Legionella (Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever), and algae. the biofilm protects whatever is living in it and makes it much more difficult to kill or eliminate.

09:00 - even though the modern swimming pool industry has been around for decades, there is surprisingly inadequate research done on many of the issues dealing with modern pools.

09:40 - the PHTA Mission/Vision states on their website https://www.phta.org/ Core PurposeTo promote safe and healthy pool and hot tub environments for people to share enjoyable aquatic experiences.". They are advocates for the swimming pool industry. from their page:

ADVOCACY

PHTA is the industry's trusted voice in government. PHTA advocates on our membership behalf to Federal, state and local governments on issues impacting their businesses.

The PHTA has lobbied from state to state to adopt an exception in barrier codes for swimming pools and hot tubs. This exception opens it up for local jurisdictions to not require a fence barrier around swimming pools if they have a powered safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346, or spas have a lockable safety cover that complies with ASTM F 1346.

The problem with this exception is there is no way to ensure that powered pool covers are closed after use, or the spa lockable covers are locked. In fact, the general consensus of pool service techs that Frank or Rudy have talked to will say that during the swim season many, or even most powered safety covers, are left open. So without the presence of a fence barrier, the pool cover is a potential drowning hazard for people or pets.

Everyone agrees that approved fence barriers reduce drowning and near drowning incidents by 88%. We are asking that everyone that finds this exception to be unacceptable to please contact their local, regional, and national government representatives and request that this exception be removed from residential swimming pool codes. email Rudy at [email protected] to receive a form letter to fill out and send to your representatives.

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Listen up and make sure none of these ever happen to you. Frank and Jacque discuss some of Frank's scariest and most odd memories he's had over his many years in the pool industry. Some of the worst that Frank has seen, felt, and smelt.

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00:00 - Inroduction

07:50 - customer's children were getting shocked every time they swam in the deep end of the pool.

08:55 - customer's pool floated out of the ground because they drained their swimming pool to fix their pool, which was unnecessary. destroyed their pool

12:20 - pool friend drained an abandoned pool to clean it out and found a dead cow in the bottom of the pool

14:10 - pool heater was having a delayed ignition issue. heater cabinet would fill with natural gas before it would ignite, causing a small explosion whenever it would finally ignite. be careful when checking heater ignition

18:30 - rats in heaters, some of the creepiest pool heater issues I have ever dealt with were due to rat infestations.

20:10 - turned a heater on a 4 ft long rat snake came out, half burnt from the heater ignition. this partially burnt snake was extremely aggressive and not happy

22:35 - 3 live baby opossums in a skimmer.

24:17 - giant bullfrog in a skimmer, the worst Frank has ever been hurt working on a swimming pool

24:57 - Frank walked up on a young lady nude sun bathing.

26:45 - Frank was diving on a swimming pool doing a leak detection. while exiting the pool he realized there was a copper head coiled up in his air hose.

30:40 - Frank opened up a heater cabinet to find the largest red wasp nest he's ever seen. 4 to 5 wasp stings to the head taught him to always be prepared when opening any kind of outdoor cabinet. be careful with the type of wasp spray you use around electrical components. there are non-conductive wasp sprays

34:10 - frank went into a backyard with two very large Rottweiler dogs. at first these dogs were friendly and playful, but the mood changed quickly when one of them bit Frank by accident. dogs can turn on you, even after first being friendly

38:55 - Frank had a Chow bite him, and a Saint Bernard in the yard protected Frank and kicked the Chow's butt

40:05 - Frank severely burnt both eyes with muriatic acid.

44:15 - customer got killed by his pool filter coming apart. this client was fortunate to have someone nearby that was able to resuscitate him, which saved his life. pool filters under pressure can be extremely dangerous.

48:55 - mixing pool chemicals in any way can be dangerous. many of these chemicals can react resulting in spontaneous combustion or dangerous gasses. Frank has seen pool scoops ignite while in someones hand, and has had associates almost burn the service vehicle up

51:00 - use caution when working with chlorine. chlorine can gas off. chlorine is extremely acidic and can burn your lungs and cause very bad health issues, or damage property.

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Frank and Jacque discuss conserving poo heat with solar covers, solar rings, and liquid solar blanket and cold water balance.

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00:00 - introduction

07:50 – solar blankets, liquid blankets, solar rings to reduce heat loss and evaporation. Solar blanket does actually transfer some heat into the water, but we believe the biggest benefit is it reduces heat loss by reducing evaporation. Frank has a problem with solar blankets because he believes that increase the possibility of drowning risk. Small children and animals are more likely to step onto solar covers. When they do they can easily fall between the edge of the pool and the cover. Once under the cover they panic and can’t get out. If you have a solar blanket, please have extra barriers to prevent animals and small children from getting to the pool. Pool guys typically despise solar covers. They are a pain to deal with when servicing swimming pools. Some studies show that a solar cover can prevent around 75%-90% of heat loss and evaporation if they are properly fitted for the pool. Solar blankets can be a complete pain in the butt to put on and take off.

14:15 – solar rings are smaller sections of solar material, typically with a rigid border, that can be placed on the surface of the pool. You can use several of these at a time to achieve as much complete coverage as you wish. These can also transfer heat from the sun to the water. Since rings do not completely cover the surface of the pool, they are less beneficial for reducing heat loss and evaporation.

14:50 – liquid solar blanket are chemicals you add to the pool that create a layer on the surface of the pool that reduces evaporation which reduces heat loss. There are several different brands of liquid solar cover available. These are an inexpensive easy way to reduce heat loss and evaporation, but some studies show they are 25%to 40% as effective as an actual solar cover. These are typically less effective in windy or rainy conditions or on pools that have a lot of surface disturbance due to waterfalls or other features.

17:02 – break

17:50- water balance (LS)I is affected by water temperature. The colder the water the is the more aggressive the water is. When maintaining pool water in the winter you may find that running a little higher pH or alkalinity to keep the LSI in a proper range. In areas with low calcium issues, you may want to increase your calcium levels when the water is colder. For about every 10 degrees Fahrenheit drop in water temperature your LSI will drop about .08. So during the winter, if your water temperature drops 50 degrees, you can expect about a .4 drop in your LSI. So with that considered, all other factors remaining the same. If you were keeping your LSI at 0.0, and the water temperature dropped 50 degrees, then your water is going to be aggressive and can damage your pool surfaces and equipment.

24:00 – adjusting pH. Pool pros and pool owners need to understand what chemicals you should primarily use to raise pH. There appears to be some confusion. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) should be primarily used to raise alkalinity. It will raise pH a little bit, but it is best used to raise alkalinity. Sodium carbonate (soda ash) is best used to raise pH. It will raise alkalinity a little bit, but it has a much greater effect on pH. Using the proper pool chemical for the proper purpose is extremely important. Using the wrong chemical can easily cost you money, time, and possibly require you to use excessive chemicals to achieve your goals of properly balanced and sanitary water.

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Frank and Jacque take a listener question asking what are some products he would recommend to get or avoid. Rated on the 1 to 5 quack scale, even have a couple with the ultimate low butt quack rating.

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00:00 intro.

03:30Our service business, Poolwerx Keller was awarded "Top 50" Service Companies in the U.S by Pool and Spa News. Thank you to all of our awesome staff.

06:05 - listener question. What are some good and bad purchases for swimming pool owners and service people?

07:20 - 1 quack- cheap pool poles, extension poles. Don't waste your money on a cheap pole.

10:37 - 2 quack - solar covers, I see so many pool owners use them once or twice and then never use them again, I strongly believe solar covers increase drowning risk for children and pets

12:30 - 2 quack - Pentair Racer and Polaris 360 automatic pool cleaners, both seem to be extremely problematic and high failure rate. There are so many better choices out there.

14:50 - Butt Quack - skim around pool skimmer basket. made cheaply, problematic. A properly operating weir door serves the same purpose, and maybe even better. The pool skimmer is designed for a proper weir door, make sure the pool has one.

18:50 - 4 quacks - Waterco Multicyclone. Does a great job separating small dirt and debris before it gets into the filter.

22:25 - 5 quack - leaf master, big sucker, leaf eater, there are several manufacturers of these units. They are fairly inexpensive and hook to a water hose and have a large bag attached to them to catch leaves. The hose creates a venturi that picks up leaves and light debris very well. They do not work well with dirt though.

24:10 - 5 quack - For the pros - Hammer Head or Rip Tide pool cleaner. These use a battery and basically a trolling motor to suck debris into a large bag. These work great in the field for pros, but probably not something a pool owner would want to buy.

25:25 - 4 Quack - vacuum cart with pump and cartridge filter. I like the Waterco Ultra Vac, with or without a multicyclone. This is an excellent way to fine filter a pool without putting the dirt into the pool filter. Many pros like to build their own vac carts and save a little money, but I like to just buy the ready to go unit and not have to mess with designing and building the cart system.

28:15 - 4 Quacks- pool skim leaf skimmer. These hook to a pool return and floats on the surface of the water and suck leaves off the surface into a large capacity bag. These are great for pools that get overwhelmed with leaves.

30:45 - 4-5 Quack - Polaris robotics. Alpha IQ+, Epic 8640 or 8642. Work great and we have had no issues with support and warranty when needed. Dolphin cleaners appear to have dropped a little in quality, and support, which had dropped to butt quack level, has gotten better, but still trailing Polaris.

32:25 - 5 Quack - Pal LED lighting. Some others also make good lights, but there are many issues with some of the major brand LED lights.

33:25 - 5 Quack - Cyclone Filter Tools. made to clean cartridge filters. Extremely well made. Does a great job cleaning, saving time and even cleaning better. Soon they will release a smaller less expensive model, The Shark, which is made for smaller cartridges, but still clean the large cartridges.

36:30 - 5 Quack - a good pool brush. I love the blue torrent 360 brushes. Does a great job in corners and angles on pools. The Wall Whale is also a great brush that helps you scrub better when brushing.

38:38 - 5 Quack - Frog Log, great for helping critters get out of a pool.

38:24 - 4 Quack - Skim Pro Baskets, and SP HP basket

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Part 2 of Frank and guest Greg Leschber discuss common regrets pool owners have shared with them.

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Continuing with water features from episode 92. Greg brings up how pool owners have regretted not having a separate dedicated pump for their water features on their pool. A separate pump allows you run the features during spa mode or at any time.

deck jets. Frank is not a fan of deck jets. He has had several pool owners tell him that deck jets did not deliver the bang for the buck that envisioned. They are loud and they affect pH.

Frank and Greg talked about the obvious regret that some pool owners have about not knowing how to properly winterize their pool equipment during a freeze emergency in areas that do not typically winterize. The lack of a proper pool school, or paying attention during pool school is a common regret we see from pool owners.

Many pool owners find that adding a hot tub to their pool was a waste for them. Some love their spas, but many find that they do not use their spa enough to justify the extra cost.

large rock waterfalls, rock below the waterline, not having a separate feature pump, choice of stones are all common regrets that we hear from pool owners.

Salt water chlorine generation systems are not a great choice for everyone or for every area. Many pool owners realize they had unreasonable expectations of the ease, care, maintenance, and results they receive from their salt water pool systems. Many pool people find that managing water balance in a salt pool can be more difficult.

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