FAQ >> Chemicals | Directions | Equipment | Maintenance | Spa | Store Hours | Safety

Q: What should I do need to do to maintain my pool on a normal basis besides using chemicals?

A: While chemical balance is important, there are several other equally important things you can do to keep your pool in working order. First of all keep all of your baskets free of debris. There is a basket in each of your skimmers, and another basket in the front of your pump. Make sure the water is off when you remove the pump basket to avoid injury. The surface of the water should also be skimmed to remove debris. The filter pressure should be maintained at a normal level. If the filter pressure rises 10 PSI from your normal operating pressure, you will want to backwash your filter or clean your cartridge. For specific backwashing or filter cleaning instructions, contact a Gallagher Pools and Spas employee. The pool should be brushed often to remove any algae or dirt that is clinging to the wall. The pool should also be vacuumed on a regular basis to keep dirt, algae and debris from accumulating on the bottom. Remember to check your filter pressure after you vacuum! Examine your equipment from time to time and take not of anything that is leaking or broken. These things can be replaced or repaired by a Gallagher Pools and Spas employee.

Q: What can I use/install to make my pool maintenance even easier?

A: There are tons of things that can make your life easier when it comes to your pool, from the simple to the extravagant. Some of them must be installed, others can be simply purchased. I'll divide that into tools and installs

I. Tools - Gallaghers has skimmer nets you can purchase which have a deeper bag for removing more massive amounts of leaves for easy cleaning. Skimmer socks also help to reduce the work your filter has to do by catching finer particles in your basket. The Lil Dipit skimmer dipper can help clean out your skimmer without having to get your hands dirty. A Polaris 65 (aboveground) or Polaris 165 (inground)can help keep your pool clean using only the water from your normal pool return automatically. The circulator is a new device which can be used in place of your returns to distribute your water more effectively and improve circulation.

Q: How can I cut my energy costs in my swimming pool?

A: There are a number of ways to save money on your swimming pool. solar covers can reduce your chemical use and conserve water. Swimmingpool info says "Swimming pools lose energy in a variety of ways, but evaporation is by far the largest source of energy loss for swimming pools. When compared to evaporation, all other losses are small. Since evaporation is the major source of heat loss for swimming pools, to minimize evaporation, one must cover the water. Covering swimming pools when not in use is the single most effective way of reducing heating costs. Savings of 50-70% are possible. Covers also provide many other benefits besides saving energy. They conserve make-up water by 30-50% and can reduce chemical consumption.." Using high efficiency pumps and heaters can also cut down on energy costs. Approrpriately size your pump and heater to your pool to provide maximum output for the minimum energy usage. A wind barrier will also prevent some heat loss and evaporation.