Gallagher Pools and Spas

Newsletter for Gallagher Pools and Spas

May 2008

Gallagher Gab

"Oh my goodness, it is May! Memorial Day is on the 26th and we do not even have opening chemicals and supplies! I have 75 people coming over for a party and my pool looks like a swamp!"

If that sounds like you, do not panic. Gallagher Pools and Spas is here to help! Get that equipment hooked up and start that pool to circulating. Once it has run for 24 hours, take your test bottle and dip out a sample from 18" below the surface of the water (yes, even if it's nasty). Bring the sample in to our store, and begin picking out chemicals. DO NOT put your automatic vacuum cleaner in your pool if you have not vacuumed manually, or if you can not see the bottom. We will test your water using our new lab and advise you how to get your water looking beautiful and clean.

Speaking of our new lab, we have obtained a new and superior water lab to provide the most accurate results. This lab comes from Taylor Technologies and is some of the most advanced water testing technology available to pool professionals today. It uses slightly more water than the previous lab did, so make sure your bottle is pretty full. Also, remember that the water should have been circulated and that it should come from 18" below the surface. Take the sample from a location away from the skimmers and returns, from somewhere that receives good circulation. Rinse your water bottle with pool water before bringing the sample. Use a clean bottle or jar! Pepsi bottles, detergent bottles, pickle jars and the like are not acceptable containers as they contain traces which pollute the sample.

We will print out a sheet detailing the results of the test, and will record instructions for correcting any imbalances. We will test for free and total chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid, copper, iron, and TDS (total dissolves solids).

One last tip that could help is to record your pool information before coming to the store. If you record the name of your filter, your pump, and pool cleaners, and how many gallons of water are in the pool, it will help us know what to advise you. We can even record this information in your file so that we will have it for next time.

May/June store hours
Monday-Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm
Sunday Closed

Give us a lead that purchases a Pool or Spa and you get paid! Any customer lead that directs someone to purchase a pool or spa from Gallagher Pools and Spas from this date forward will yield a credit on your account! You could get $250 credit for an inground reference, or $100 for an aboveground or spa! Email or call for more details.

What is Alkalinity?

The APSP (Association of Pool and Spa Professionals) defines Alkalinity as "A measure of the pH buffering capacity of water. Alkalinity is generally expressed in terms of the equivalent concentration of calcium carbonate in mg/L (or ppm)." Its purpose in your pool water is to keep the pH from changing too frequently, so that you can keep it at or close to the magic 7.5. Your alkalinity should be kept at a level between 80 parts per million and 120 parts per million, with an ideal level of 100 ppm. Alkalinity rise is used to raise alkalinity; pH lower or muriatic acid is used to lower alkalinity (with the side effect of lowering pH as well).
http://www.gallagherpools.com/newShop/BalanceAlka.htm

Gallagher Pools and Spas
1111 S. Pleasant Valley Road
Westminster, Md 21158