Cleaning a salt generator

If you own a swimming pool and own a salt generator, it is important to clean, or have your pool professional clean the salt cell.

If your wondering how often to clean your salt generator there is really no answer, every pool is different, certain pools with too much calcium require almost weekly cleaning, while others almost never require it.

The easiest way to clean a salt generator would actually start by purchasing one that is self cleaning in the first place, you will still need to clean it, just less often.


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Never Mix Chemicals

Never let any two or more swimming pool chemicals touch!  NEVER, don't let them mix in the skimmer, don't mix them in a bucket, always add chemicals SEPARATELY, according to the directions.  any chemicals that you think might be safe ARE NOT. 

Liquid Chlorine

Liquid Chlorine, often referred to as bleach, is actually sodium hypochlrite.  Many service companies prefer the use of liquid chlorine because of it's lightning quick results, and because it is an economical sanitizer for swimming pools. 

Types - Liquid chlorine is most often purchased in 1, 2.5, and 5 gallon containers usually averaging anywhere between $4 to $8 dollars per gallon. 
It is important to realize that some chlorine are 6% strength whereas others may be 12.5%, this is where as a consumer you need to do some math.

Pros

1. fast acting
2. unstabilized, (only a pro if you have high stabilizer)
3. economical
4. ease of use
5. High PH

Cons

1. Must be handles with EXTREME care
2. Unstabilized, this means your actually going to use more chlorine in the long run as compared to a stabilized tablet.
3. Weak in comparison to many other types of chlorine

One solution to the stabilization product would be to buy some "cyanuric acid" at your local pool store, this usually only needs to be added once per year, you want your reading to be from 40ppm-70ppm, and that will lengthen the life of your liquid chlorine.

Another tip, and this is a big one!  If you chlorinate after the sun goes down you will get much more kick for your buck!  Always handle chemicals as instructed by manufacturers and professionals, they are ALL dangerous in there own way.  NEVER MIX CHEMICALS!!!!!!!!!!!

Sand Filter Operation!

SAND FILTERS

Sand is the filter medium for this filter. It utilizes a multi-port valve to operate the filter which can have 6 or 8 functions, depending upon the manufacturer. The functions are as follows:
Common settings on dial:

Filter: Use for normal filtration or vacuuming the pool, this is the setting that should be on minimum 8 hours a day, more if possible.  Having a variable speed pump can make this much less expensive due to massive energy savings

Backwash: Use for cleaning the filter bed.After a heavy cleanup it is very alleviating to the sand to give it a good backwash.

Rinse: Use for resetting the filter bed after washing.

Waste/Drain: Use for vacuuming heavy concentrations of dirt directly to waste. This action bypasses the filter bed. It also can be used to lower the water level or drain the pool to the bottom of the skimmer.

Closed/Test: Use for shutting off the flow to the filter and pool. IMPORTANT: When using this function, the pump should be in the OFF position.


Recirculate/Whirlpool: Use for bypassing the filter bed. Useful during extended periods away from the pool. (i.e.. Several days vacation). This function permits automatic chlorinating systems to maintain proper chlorine levels while eliminating concern over pressure build-up in the filter.





IMPORTANT: Never move the M.P.V. handle unless the pump is off. The handle must be kept firmly depressed while being moved and in position before the pump is turned on.

IMPORTANT: Never move the M.P.V. handle unless the pump is off. The handle must be kept firmly depressed while being moved and in position before the pump is turned on.

Backwash: Back washing is cleaning the filter bed. The filter should be back washed, generally, when the pressure gauge reads 8-10 lbs (psi.) above normal. See your filter owner’s manual for mfg.’s recommended frequency of back washing. Olympic Pools recommends back washing your filter at least once a week, regardless of whether the pressure gauge indicates to do so or not. It is important to know your starting pressure.


BACKWASH CHECKLIST:

1. Turn pump off.
2. Place M.P.V. is in the closed position.
3. Clean debris from the skimmer basket. Rinse or replace, if necessary.
4. Clean debris in the hair & lint strainer. Rinse or replace, if necessary.
5. Place M.P.V. in the backwash position.
6. Turn pump on.

IMPORTANT: Backwash time should be at least 4 minutes or until the water in the sight glass runs clear.

COMPLETE BACK WASHING BY:

7. Turning off the pump.
8. Putting the M.P.V. in the rinse position and turning on the pump, again, for at least 30 seconds or until the water in the sight glass runs clean.
9. Turn the pump off.
10. Put the M.P.V. back in the filter position.
11. Turn on the pump, again.

Vacuuming: Vacuuming cleans the horizontal and vertical angular surfaces of the pool. Vacuuming is at the discretion of the owner.

VACUUM CHECKLIST:

1. Turn the pump off.
2. Place the M.P.V. in the closed position.
3. Remove all debris from the skimmer and the hair & lint baskets. Rinse or replace, if necessary.
4. Affix the swivel end(you should be able to twist one end) of the vacuum hose to the vacuum head.
5. Affix the stationary end of the vacuum hose to the vacuum plate.
6. Fill the vac hose with water by hand feeding the vac hose into the pool. This is done in a hand-over-hand motion. (I cheat and stick the hose ion front of the return(jet blowing into pool)
7. Put the vac plate in the skimmer, placing it over the skimmer basket. DO NOT REMOVE THE BASKET WHILE VACUUMING!  You may need to check if it's clogged every so often, but not using may create a terrible clog!
8. Turn the M.P.V. to the filter position.
9. Turn on the pump.

IMPORTANT: Vacuum pool surfaces utilizing a geometric pattern, to clean all necessary surfaces. When vacuuming is complete, the filter should be back washed, although optional. Then, continue as follows:

10. Turn the pump off.
11. Put the M.P.V. in the closed position.
12. Remove all vacuuming appliances.
13. Empty all the debris from the skimmer and hair & lint baskets. Rinse and replace, if necessary.
14. Place the M.P.V. in the filter position.
15. Turn the pump on.Off topic, i received one of these as a gift today, and if you enjoy reading it's a


Off topic, but I bought one of these today, amazon's new kindle, and I have to recommend it, $139 is worth it in my book, if your into reading, which I really am, this is a treat.

The amazon kindle has an easy to read simple display, and is so simple to use even an adult can do it!
I'm not trying to trick or convince you to buy it, just giving you the opportunity to check out something that I think is cool.

I plan on doing this every once and a while in order to fund my hobby for blogging, I'm not here to rip anyone off, or pressure you, but If I think something is worth talking about, I'll review it, and if you do buy it, hopefully you buy it from me! :)