Pool School

Below is a list of frequently asked questions that Home Dadeland Pools has complied over time to better serve it customers.  These questions are available to help pool owners self diagnose problems and better understand how their swimming pool was constructed and operates.  It also informs new customers about Home Dadeland's swimming pool services in Miami and company information.

If you have any questions that are not answered please send them to us and we will include them in our community bulletin.

Algae

Green Algae- Causes pool water to become cloudy and take on a greenish tint. It can be free floating or attached to the pool surfaces. Green algae will usually come off with a wire brush and removed from the water with high chlorination.

Mustard Algae (Yellow)- Usually lives in areas of low sunlight . This algae is a powdery texture on the pool surface and walls. Established algae is chlorine resistant and must be removed with strong chlorine, constant brushing and filter cleaning.

Black Algae (Blue-Green)- Looks like small circular spots that are firmly attached to the surface. Black algae builds itself on top of each other creating very strong algae with roots. Granular chlorine and a frequent wire brushing is recommended. Also a replace cartridge filters; replace sand in sand filters and backwash DE filters.

Air Bubbles with Solar Heaters

Your pump is probably undersized for a solar system. Solar systems require at least one pump size larger to push water to your roof. The increase in pressure causes an equal increase in vacuum.

Breakpoint Chlorination- Also referred to as super chlorination or Shock treatment.

This is the process by which combined chlorine is destroyed and converted into nitrogen, water, and chlorine salt. The levels of the total chlorine will reach a point where they will drop suddenly after rising steadily in response to a shock treatment. This is necessary to reach this point in order to rid the pool of chloramines. Shock treatments can be performed with products that do not contain chlorine such as potassium monopersulfate, potassium dipersulfate and hydrogen peroxide. These are all oxidizers not disinfectants.

If you accidently over-treat, Free Chlorine residuals may be too high and can be reduce instantly with Sodium Thiosulfate

Dark Slippery Spots

Low spots around the pool deck will cause standing water that allows mildew to grow. Pour a little liquid chlorine on the spots and broom it around. If you can drill a small hole ( a 1/8" will do ) through the slab with a masonry bit, you'll get rid of the small amount of water that causes mildew spots.

Dull Metal

The metal is aluminum and will eventually oxidize like just about every other metal around pool water. You can find aluminum polishes and waxes in any R.V. or boat supply store.

Leaking Pool Lights

Turn the light breaker off when you change a bulb and replace the lens gasket. Pull the light apart again and remove the rubber seal from the glass lens. If the light's still working, you haven't done any permanent damage.

Pool Light Leak?

Pool lights are cooled by the water surrounding them. Your leak could be in the niche or the conduit that carries the light cord out the back of the niche. Leaks around the light can be fixed quickly and easily and are the most common areas that leaks occur.

Marcite Leaks

The marcite coating on your pool is strictly for aesthetics. Pools never really need to be remarcited for functional usage but just to improve the appearance of the surface. Rarely do you have a leak in the actual structure of the pool but more often leaks occur around the inlets and outlets. .

Pop-offs

You can repair the spots with sanded tile grout matched to the existing surface color. Pool must be drained to reach the repair site. Extreme caution must be considered when draining a pool that is located at or below sea level.

Resurfacing and Leaks

Resurfacing the pool will repair most interior leaks. Remember that the marcite is just cosmetic but areas around the outlets and inlets must be prepared properly for new finish. During this process leaks are repaired and bonding is applied to accept the new material. Visit our video links to see a demonstration at one of our jobsites in Miami Dade FL

Sand in Swimming Pool

If you have sand entering your swimming pool, the likely culprit is your sand filter. Sand Filters are a very common filtration system for residential swimming pools in South Florida and occasionally the element at the bottom of the filtration system will get damage. This damaged can be caused over time but is often damaged when the sand is being replaced. A complete breakdown of the filter is required to replace the bottom element referred to as the under drain.

Caulk

Most silicon caulks will not hold a pool leak. It may temporarily but after a month or two the water will break down the caulk. A better alternative is 3M- 5200 marine sealant. Applied like a caulk and will hold underwater.

Stains

Stains are sometimes a mystery to everyone. Stains that occur after a new finish is applied is usually caused by a metallic contaminant, probably iron brought in with the lime in the cement. These stains will be evenly distributed around the surface of the pool. These types of stains are not controllable and are no fault of the contractor. Stains that are more controllable come from the water inside your pool. During a new start up with pool chemicals in a recently refinished pool, proper care must be taken. The water chemistry is on a roller coaster for the first month as the marcite hardens and release elements into the water. Staining can occur very quickly on a new surface and is important to maintain proper water chemistry for the first 6 months.

Most Stains can be removed by a light acid washing of the pools surface. Acid washing is generally under a $1000 and is a two to three day process.

Rust Stains

Rust from rebar or wire mesh is usually caused by a lack of concrete coverage over the steel. Over time the water will erode the metal and it will oxidize causing rust and stains. A homeowner can repair their pool by draining the pool to uncover the rusted areas, chip out the concrete and remove the rebar. Patch with gray masonry cement and cover with any material you like. If you can color match the existing marsite the patch will blend in. Otherwise a creative alternative is to cover the area with tile. Some pool stores or tile distribution companies have pre-made mosaic tiles and design.

Tile Cracks

Tile cracks are generally a caused by the deck surrounding the pool rather than the pool structure itself. Usually it is caused by the deck settling or the expansion and contraction of the two surfaces. Normally these cracks do not affect the integrity of the pool but are a cosmetic issue. A common repair is to fill the cracks with grout that matches the color of the tile or the tile will have to be replaced.

Tile Repair

For a quick fix, a two-part pool putty can be placed on a chip area of the tile but the tile will need to be removed and replaced with a new one.

Swimming Pool Filter

Filter Types

Cartridge- is easier to take care of and cheaper to install

Sand Filters- lower maintenance cost compared to a cartridge filter but more expensive to install. Does waste more water but filters competitively to the cartridge.

D.E. – Higher installation cost that the others and requires occasional trips to the pool store and little instruction. The DE filter is the best of breed and filters bacteria, algae spores and other material out of the water that goes right through the cartridge and sand filters. The D.E. filter is better for you and your pool.

Swimming Pool Heater

Gas Heater Broken

If your heater is newer a repair may be needed to the elements but usually a new heater is required.

Swimming Pool Pump

Pump Leak

Leaks cam come from a number of areas around the pump but if your pump is constantly leaking after a repair here is some tips:

Stresses on the fittings- the pump and filter must be secured to the pad, if this is not an option a rubber union will absorb the stresses of the pumps vibrations. Get a PVC Union fitted with a male adapter.

Make sure that your pump is picking up the prime right away. A leak on the vacuum side is much more important to fix right away than on the discharge side. The vacuum side of the pump (suction side) creates the prime. A dry- running pump will cause enough heat to melt any fittings including your pump.

Pump running but Not Working

Check the strainer basket on the pump and check for debris. Then place a hose in the basket and fill the strainer. Bump the pump 'on' for a moment and the water should disappear instantly. If not, you've got either a clogged filter or pump impeller that will greatly affect the pumps performance.

Make sure that your pump is primed. Allow the water to fill the strainer and continue to run the water will the pump is taking the water out. If you have a loss of prime there may be a leak on the vacuum side or the water levels in your pool is causing air to breach the system.

Skimmer Clogs

If your skimmer valve is original chances are it is a brass boiler valves and can become corroded and restrict circulation. If you have a brass valve on the main drain or cleaner line, replace them at the same time.

Skimmer Leaks

Usually leaks occur where the plastic meets the tile. Splash a little water into the skimmer from the pool and 'dye check' this lip. It's a common leak site repairable with 2- part pool putty.

Hard Water

Hard water is the most common problem found in the average home. Hard water is water that contains dissolved hardness minerals above 1 GPG and contains Calcium, manganese and magnesium.

Hard water can quickly destroy you pools surface and equipment with scale. This scale can plug your pipes and hot water heater, causing premature failure, necessitating costly replacement.  If your water tests over 3 GPG hard, you should mechanically soften it.

Feeders

Feeder systems consist of a small pump that injects small amounts of chlorine (usually) into the incoming water. The water must then be held for a short period of time to allow the hydrogen sulfide to precipitate out of the water. This tank should be designed in such a manner that the water that enters it will mix thoroughly with the water in the tank, to assure complete reaction. The water then should pass through a filter to remove both the precipitated matter and the chlorine remaining in the water. You should be aware, however, that whenever you mix chlorine with organic materials (remember where hydrogen sulfide come from!), the chances are very high that trihalomethanes (possible cancer causing carcinogens) will be formed. Also, feeder maintenance is high you should be prepared to "play" with the unit frequently.

Water that Stains

Red Stains

Red stains are normally caused by iron in the water. You must test to determine the amount and the type of iron you have. Some types are: oxidized, soluble, colloidal, bacteria or organic-bound. All are a problem! It only takes 0.3 ppm to stain clothes, fixtures, etc.

Blue or Green Stains

Copper is causing these stains to occur. The copper is either in your water supply or you have copper pipes and corrosive water. Test for copper in your water. Test the pH, total dissolved solids content and the oxygen content of your water.

Copper can be removed by ion exchange, i.e., a water softener. The removal rate is about the same as it is for iron.

Copper pipes and corrosive water. If your pH is from 5 to 7, you may raise it by passing the water through a sacrificial media. By sacrificing calcium carbonate into the water, the corrosively will be reduced. If the pH is below 5, you will need to feed chemicals into the water.

If the corrosively is caused by excess oxygen, the hot water will be much more corrosive than the cold. Treatment is by feeding polyphosphate or silicates to coat and protect the plumbing, or to aerate the water to release the excess oxygen

What information should I have available to get a price quote?

When you call for your quote, you need to answer the following questions:

• What is the approximate size of the pool (gallons or dimensions)?

• Do you have a covered (lanai) or open pool?

• Do you have a spa and/or fountains in your pool?

Your phone quote will usually be a range of price, from lowest to highest.  Once the technician arrives to the pool, he or she will inspect your pool equipment for proper pressure and flow. and give you the exact price before service is started.

Home Dadeland Pool Service takes great pride in providing our customers with an “upfront” way to price.  We will never quote you a low price on the phone simply to get your business and then raise the price once we are in your home.  This tactic is commonly called the “bait and switch” and it is what has given our industry a soured reputation. 

 I’ve called around to several places and you seem to be more expensive.

Why is that?

Our company uses only the best technology, products, and hires and trains the best staff in the area.  Being low priced has never been our goal.  Our goal is and continues to be to offer our customers the very best cleaning possible at a fair price.  In other words, we are a company who has put our efforts into the VALUE of the service.

A fair question to ask is why are some companies so inexpensive?  What steps are they leaving out of the process?  What is the quality of the products they are using?  What is the quality offered by their technicians?    All of these components, and many more, go into what a company will charge for their services.  At HOME DADELAND POOL SERVICE MIAMI, we may not be the cheapest, but we are the best value.  Our Customer Service Representatives will me more than happy to discuss our pricing with you. 

What if I’m not satisfied with the job?

Tell us.  If we don’t know you are not satisfied, we can’t try to put things right.  We don’t get everything right all the time, but we are always eager to better our performance.  If you are not satisfied for any reason, call our office within 5 days of your cleaning and we will return at no charge to try and fix the problem.

Isn’t it easier to just take care of the pool myself?

Taking care of your pool yourself is always an option. Proper pool maintenance does however, require weekly supervision. All of the chemical levels such as; Chlorine, Alkalinity, Free Chlorine, P.H. and T.D.S must be consistently maintained to have a safe swimming environment. In addition, we are trained to notice any changes in the performance of the pool. We can then immediately troubleshoot any problems and put into action a repair plan to bring your pool back up to 100%.   If you would like to do your pool yourself, ask us about our in home chemical delivery service.

How much does Do It Yourself pool maintenance cost?

With the recent rise in the cost of chemicals, the monthly expense of chemicals will average $50 - $60. Plus there is the extra cost of your time. Putting aside time every week to clean the pool and making trips to your local pool supply store.

Do you have to service the pool every week?

Weekly service is essential to maintain a great looking, healthy, sparkling pool. Consistency is vital to your pools overall health. That is why we come on the same day of the week, every week. By doing this your pool will always be ready for you to enjoy.

Doyou clean filters and if so how often should they be cleaned?

Yes we do perform filter cleanings. According to manufacturer recommendations, filters should be cleaned every 3 months. We follow these guidelines strictly, as proper filtration is vital for any pool.

Are you insured?

Absolutely! Home Dadeland Pools carries General Liability Insurance.

For more information, please call us at 786.232.1808 or free online estimate.