Questions about filters:
When do I backwash? You backwash when the filter pressure gauge reads 10 lbs higher than the normal operating pressure when the filter is clean. This pressure varies on every pool system, so you need to know what your regular pressure is when you have a clean filter.
How do I backwash? Unroll your backwash hose. If you have a dial valve, turn off the pump, depress the handle and turn the handle clockwise to the backwash setting (180 degrees from filter). If you have a push/pull valve, turn off the pump, either pull the piston up or push it down, depending on which is the normal filter position on that particular filter. Turn the pump back on and you are backwashing. For a sand filter, run the pump for 3-4 minutes. If you have a DE filter, we recommend backwashing until the water comes out of the hose clear and the turn off the pump for 15 seconds, leaving the valve in the backwash position. Turn the pump back on and again backwash until the water runs clear. Repeat this until no more dirty water comes out upon turning the pump back on, usually 3 or 4 times. Turn the pump off, return the valve to the filter position and turn the pump back on to verify valve position. If you have a DE filter, you must now add more DE powder to your filter.
How long do cartridges (DE grids) last? In our experience, cartridges last about three seasons and DE grids last between 7-9 years.
How often do I need to replace the sand in my filter? Every ten years or so.
Is a DE filter better than a sand or cartridge filter? DE filters filter a finer particle out of the water, so if by best you mean best filtration, yes. They do require more maintenance and you have to replace the DE powder each time you backwash. So if by best, you mean easiest to maintain, then we recommend a sand filter. Cartridge filters are cleaned by hosing off the pleated cartridges so are usually recommended when the customer has no place to backwash. Because of our hard water, not backwashing old water out leads to draining pools much quicker.
My filter pressure is high, what should I do? Most often, a simple backwash is all that is needed. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you should have a service tech out to diagnose the problem.
My filter pressure is low, what should I do? Check the pump impeller for clogging or take the steps to eliminate an air leak on the suction side of the system.
Questions about pumps, motors and electrical:
How long should I run my pump each day? Why that long? We use the general suggestion of one hour per 10 degrees ambient temperature. With our summer temperatures reaching as high as 115 degrees, the pools are being run 8 – 12 hours a day in the hottest time of the year.
Pump motor loud, what should I do? Two options. Pull the motor and bring it to the shop for repair or set up a service call. A little sweat equity can save you a lot of money! We explain to the customer what is involved in bringing the motor in. If they, or we, don’t think they should do it themselves, we recommend the service call.
What can cause a pump not to pump water? Most commonly this is caused by one of two things. A clogged impeller which does not allow for the flow of water or, most often, it is caused by an air leak on the suction side of the pump. This could be the mechanical pump seal, o’rings or gaskets that are beginning to fail, or could be loose pipe fittings going in to or out of the pump. Valves before the pump could have bad o’rings or need new packing, depending on the type of valve. Underground plumbing leaks on the suction side or a bad skimmer are also possibilities, although fairly remote.
What pumps (cleaners, filters) do you carry? We carry equipment manufactured by Hayward, Pentair and Zodiac, the three major manufacturers but we also carry equipment made by some smaller companies as well. A&M Corson’s is one of the few places in the Valley you can get quality equipment for above ground pools.
Why do parts cost so much? Contributing factors are engineering, manufacturing, handling, shipping, warehousing, carrying inventory, rent, utilities, payroll, etc.
My breaker keeps tripping? If the breakers are tripping when a piece of pool equipment is turned on, we recommend a service call. If the breakers trip for any other reason, we recommend you call an electrician, as our license only allows us to work on the electrical from the time clock on to the motor.
How do you change the light in my pool? Light bulb or complete light? Light bulb – remove the screw on the top of the chrome ring around the light. There will be enough cord wrapped around the light unit to allow you to bring the whole light unit up onto the deck. You then disassemble the light (tabs & screws or wire clamp assembly) and change the light bulb. We recommend changing the light gasket at the same time to ensure a tight seal. DO NOT USE LUBE ON THE GASKET! Reassemble the light and replace into the niche in the wall and reinstall the screw. Complete light – This is a lot trickier. We recommend that you call our service department for an appointment and let them install the light!
My heater won’t fire, what should I do? Set up a service call to have an experienced service tech diagnose the problem.
Who do you recommend for service? We recommend our own service department for repairs at you home by experienced, professional Service Technicians
Questions about automatic pool cleaners:
Pool cleaners … not working, doing circles, on its side … what should I do? Bring the head of the cleaner into our store. Our shop techs will go through it, normally while you wait, and let you know what parts you need to get the cleaner running correctly. For cleaners that work on suction, we do not need the hose. If you have a pressure cleaner, the hoses need to be checked if the cleaner is not working properly. They may have holes or loose connections.
What is the best cleaner? What cleaner do you recommend? There is no one cleaner that is best for all pool surfaces and shapes. The first two questions we ask our customers are, “What cleaner do you have now?” and, “When the cleaner was new, did it do a good job keeping your pool clean?. If it did a good job for you, we normally will recommend that you purchase the same cleaner. If not, we will give you pros and cons on all cleaners that suit their pool and let you make the decision based on your preferences.
Questions on pool chemistry:
How do you treat a green pool? We have a standard recipe that works in our area. We recommend Aqua Pure by Bio Dex, a copper based algaecide, and Hasa liquid chlorine. The amounts of each are determined by two questions the staff is trained to ask. “How big is your pool?” and “Can you see the main drain grates through the water?”. We instruct the customer to add the algaecide first and circulate the pump for 30 minutes. Then add the liquid chlorine while continuing to run the pump for 24 hours. The green is gone within 24 hours.
I’m looking for the drops that make the water turn red when someone pees in the pool. Do you carry this product? For 30 years, we have offered a $100 reward to the person that can produce that product. To our knowledge, it does not exist. When the customer swears that Aunt Sue had it in her pool, we explain to the customer that Aunt Sue lied to all the kids to keep them from peeing in the pool. We also suggest that they go ahead and perpetuate the lie to the next generation! Hey, if it worked for Aunt Sue….
Is liquid chlorine or granular shock better? In the Arizona market, we strongly recommend Hasa liquid chlorine. We have hard water and the addition of calcium shocks with high non-dissolvability only makes the problem worse.
What if I have a dead animal in pool, what should I do? Remove the carcass and use PRS, a product by SeaKlear, which removes all bacteria.
What if I have fecal released in my pool, what should I do? Remove the waste and use PRS, a product by SeaKlear, which removes all bacteria, including cryptosporidium.
Why do I need to shock my pool? Shocking a pool eliminates chloramines in the water. Chloramines are combined chlorine which is inactive. They also cause the strong smells that are often mistaken for too high of a chlorine level. Shocking also oxidizes organic materials. In our area, we recommend shocking every two weeks during the swimming season.
FREE WATER TEST – Water samples – How much water, what type of container, where to take it from? Any CLEAN container will work. We like to have at least a cup, preferably two taken from elbow length depth in the pool.
Questions about other stuff:
How do I clean my waterline tile? If you don’t mind elbow grease, use a tile cleaner and a pumice stone. Otherwise, there are companies that bead blast the tile clean. In our area, that runs between $2.50 and $3.50 per lineal foot. I often suggest to the homeowner that they charge their kids and their friends 2-3 tiles cleaned to use the pool for the day. By the time swimming season is over, the waterline is clean!
The water level in my pool is too high, what should I do? If you have a DE or sand filter, you could backwash some of the water out. If you have a cartridge filter, you either use a sump pump to lower the water or wait for evaporation to do the job.
Do solar blankets work? Yes! If they have good exposure to the sun during the day, they will raise the temperature of the water 10 – 15 degrees over a few days. They also insulate the pool and keep the heat in overnight. By eliminating evaporation, they also save on chemicals and water.
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