According to equipment manufacturers and industry standards the following procedures should be
performed regularly to help ensure a safe, efficient and long lasting pool environment.
Diatomaceous Earth Pool
Filters should be
carefully disassembled and thoroughly cleaned every year (more often on pools
with heavy usage (pets, parties, etc.) or high foliage/debris levels).
We inspect the grid fabric and structure, the manifold, the air relief screen,
the tank clamp and o-ring, and the air relief assembly. It is
always recommended to replace all the grids at the same time since the failure
of one grid is an indication that the other grids will also soon need
replacement.
Cartridge Filters
should be carefully disassembled and thoroughly cleaned 3 - 4 times per year
(more often on pools with heavy usage (pets, parties, etc.) or high
foliage/debris levels). We inspect the fabric and structure, the air
relief screen, the tank clamp and o-ring and thoroughly
clean the elements and re-assemble the filter. Keep in mind that
cartridges only have an expected life of 2 - 3 years with proper maintenance
and should be replaced accordingly.
Sand Replacement should be performed every 5 years. Suntan
lotion, body oils, dirt and chemical residues cause the sand to become thick
or clump together
with buildup which prevents the sand from efficiently filtering the water.
When this occurs the sand filter will usually operate at a higher than normal psi level
and/or algae will form. Depending on the size of the filter and the
gallon capacity of the pool the sand filter may only require the sand to be
replaced every 7 - 10 years. Please call Arizona Pool Pros to have us
come out and check the condition of the sand in your filter. There is a
$75 service charge for this initial visit however if your sand does in fact
require replacement then the $75 will be put towards the overall service
price.
Plunger
Backwash Valves should be disassembled and lubricated twice per year.
We take apart the valve, install new piston o-rings and lubricate the internal
assembly. Cost: $35 (includes o-rings)
Multi-port Backwash Valves
should be disassembled and lubricated at least once each year. We take apart
the valve, inspect the diverter, gasket and valve body and apply lubricant to
the diverter and gasket. We also check the valve body o-ring for
deterioration. Cost: $55 + parts
Jandy Valves
should be disassembled and lubricated once each year. We take the valve apart
and clean and lubricate the internal diverter with silicone lubricant. We
also replace internal o-rings as needed. This is not necessary with the newer
Jandy Never Lube valves.
Hayward Pool Vac Ultra & Navigator are the two
most popular pool vacuums installed in Maricopa County. To prolong the
life of your vacuum make certain that all rocks, bottle caps, etc. and other
debris are kept off the bottom of the pool.
Pool Draining should be done every 2 to 3 years in Maricopa County.
The purpose of draining a pool is to lower the level of Total Dissolved Solids
(TDS), Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid. Chemicals, including chlorine
and other sanitizers, find it more difficult to do their job when TDS is high.
Elevated TDS levels also cause corrosion of equipment and fixtures, as well as
scale build-up. Our process for draining a pool is as follows:
Day 1 (Part 1) – Drop pump into the pool and run drain hose to the sewer
cleanout for your home. We use a special attachment to connect the hose to the
cleanout which prevents the hose from coming out of the cleanout and possibly
damaging your front yard. City code requires that pool draining be done in
this matter. The average play pool will drain in approximately 10 - 12 hours.
Day 1 (Part 2) – Return to your home and remove the pump. Any additional
services (acid wash, etc.) are performed at this time. Then the filling
process is started and performed solely by us meaning that the resident/tenant
is not responsible for shutting off the water. The average play pool will
refill in 24 – 48 hours.
Day 2 or 3 – Once the pool is completely refilled we will return and add all
the necessary chemicals to properly balance the water. Due to the cost,
quantity required and time needed to properly dissolve salt needed for salt
pools it is not included in the service price and is charged at a flat rate of
$15 per bag needed.
Acid Wash should be performed every 3 to 5 years. However,
poorly maintained pools may require an acid wash as frequently as every 1 - 3
years. An acid
wash will remove a very thin layer of plaster from the pools surface
to bring out a brighter, whiter finish. Mineral stains and/or deposits,
chlorine stains, even dirt stains...an acid wash is always a dramatic
aesthetic improvement. Refer to Pool Draining for process details.
An Acid Wash can also be performed on Pebbletec and other brands of pebble
pool surfaces to remove stains, deposits, etc. and will have the same
revitalizing effect as when done to plaster pools. The price of this
service varies based on the size of the pool and complexity of the pool
design.
Chemical Wash is normally performed when the pool has had a
significant algae bloom requiring the pools entire water capacity to be
drained, refilled and rebalanced. Refer to Pool Draining for process
details.
Calcium / Scum Line Removal is best done through a process called
glass beading. This process is similar to a miniature sand blaster that
gently removes the calcium buildup from the pool's tiles and other surfaces.
We outsource this service to Arizona
Bead Blasting since they are experts on this aspect of pool service. Since
there are several different types of bead available (some of which can damage
your pool's tile / surface) we highly recommend that you contact
Arizona Bead Blasting at
(602) 692 - 4913 with any questions.
Automatic Chlorinatorsshould have preventative
maintenance done at least once per year. We replace the tubing and cap
o-ring. We check the operation of the control valve and the check valve and
replace if needed. Price includes tubing and o-ring, other parts extra.
Salt Cell Chlorine
Generators should be disassembled and given an acid bath every 3 - 4
months or when calcium buildup becomes visible on the plates within the salt
cell. Failure to perform this service regularly will result in the
premature failure of the salt cell.
Pool
Heaters should be
cleaned and tested at least once per year. We clean leaves and debris out of
the heater cabinet and inspect the flame pattern on the burner and check the
heat exchanger for sooting (poor combustion).
Pool Heaters
should be subjected to a very thorough inspection and service every five years
(or annually under heavy service). We perform all the elements of the annual
tune up (above) plus we test the heat rise, and measure and adjust the
manifold gas pressure. We test the safety circuits and pressure switches and
test and calibrate the temp settings.
Electronic Control
Systems should be
serviced once each year. We check all the time settings. We check the water
temp sensor for accuracy and do an ice water test on the air sensor to insure
proper freeze protection. We check all the functions of the spa remote and
check the heater operation from the indoor panel. We also install a new
backup battery if needed in the system.
Pool "Start-Up" is performed after a pool has been drained and
refilled. This Basic "Start-Up" includes ALL "Start-Up"
Chemicals and Labor. Cost: $150
Salt (if needed) is charged additionally @ $15 per 40 pound bag.
Notice: If the pool is Brand New and
requires a Complete "Start-Up" then the following additional prices will be
assessed as needed.
D.E. Filter "Start-Up" - Cost: $15
Purge Air from System - Cost: $10
Set Manual Valves - Cost: $10
Set Automatic Valves - Cost: $25
Random Cleaner Setup - Cost: $10
Program Aqualink or Similar Electronic Control System - Cost: $25
Notice: The most common mistake made
by service technicians when performing a "Start-Up" is that they DO NOT add
Cyanuric Acid to the pool. Cyanuric Acid prevents the Chlorine from
being broken down by sunlight and heat. Without Cyanuric Acid your pool
will NOT be able to maintain a Free Chlorine Residual and subsequently NOT be
able to kill off Germs & Bacteria in the water. This if not
corrected will create an
unsafe swimming environment.
