Abetterway

===================================== You are lucky to live in Concord, for you can consider using an excellent installer named Paul Barendregt. He owns "A Very Nice Pool Company" in Lafayette. Really knows what he's doing and can install one economical variable speed pump to operate everything. He drove to Aptos (Sta Cruz area) to install my pump and controls and gave me much accurate advice. He's a cut above any other contractor I interviewed. Might cost a bit more than others, but he's worth it. Mistakes made in pools/decks etc. are in concrete and can't be rebuilt easily. Get it right the first time! Paul should be teaching other contractors how to do it all better. His Tel: (925)283-5180. If you want a writeup on how to get a pool system which will save 60-70% of your maintenance costs, send me a personal email (***.Zscheile@ATTGlobal.net) and I'll email a 10 page document to you. Too long to post on this forum. ====================================

====================================================== There certainly are ways to conserve electricity in maintaining your pool. Two speed and variable speed pumps are definitely well worth using. A pump runing at 1/2 the speed costs 1/8 as much to operate each hour. That's why utility companies are giving $300 rebates if you buy one (PG&E in Calif). My 16,000 gal pool has a Variable Speed Pump (by IKERIC) which I run 3/4 hr at medium speed because the sweep is on also for that period, then I drop the speed to low speed for 4 hours. Can't even hear it opeate. Water is clear as a bell. We do have a pool cover. Certainly, a large pump running for many hours is unnecessary. Try reducing the hours to less and less until it doesn't clean the water. A large filter helps at low pump speeds, as do properly sized pipes.

Jandy is generally a good company. I have a RS-8 controller for the last year (new pool) and it works fine. It was recommended and installed by a friend whom I have lots of faith in. Several sizes, models, etc of controllers are available. Considerable flexibility to accomodate solar, salt water generators, variable speed pumps. Anyone should consider a variable speed pump to save about 60% of their maintenance costs. Its speed can be adjusted to operate at various speeds for solar, filtering, pool sweep, etc. - all with a Jandy RS-8 or other model.

CYCLONE FENCES: The type required by many building codes has a smaller than usual opening. The keeps people (especially children with their smaller feet) from climbing them. It is a safety issue. Conceivably a child could climb up your 3' fence to reach the top of your 6' fence. Then up and over! I'm not a building inspector but I also live in California where some of the building codes are good but enforced in non-consistent, illogical ways. Very poorly carried out in some areas, needlessly costing owners tens of thousands of dollars. Another method of controlling growth. (Wonder why houses cost so much in California?)

You are smart to consider operating/maintenance costs up front in the design of your pool. Most pool contractors do not consider them but walk away from their installation, check in hand. They you find out about the cost of your filtering. etc. I've written an article about such costs and how to reduce them by 60-70%. If interested, I can email it to you if you will send a direct email request to me at ***.Zscheile@ATTGlobal.net. It is too long to post on this forum.

Vinyl jacuzzi covers - how to preserve them to last longer? The last one lasted only 2 1/2 years. Does anyone know how to make them last longer? Situated in a sunny location. The vinyl dries out. Instructions say to apply saddle soap 2x/month. I applied it every 1 1/2 months, but it did not help much. Manufacturer doesn't help much - they prefer to sell me a new cover (skin) every few years. Can you help, please? Thanks. ===============================================

Regarding replacing your filter pump: consider a variable speed pump which permits you to run it longer each day but at a much, much lower speed. This can save you 60-70% of your filtering costs. Do not move up to a larger pump. It is far cheaper to only use the high speed when absolutely necessary, such as permit operating your cleaner, then turn it down (automatically via a controller). Even a 2 speed pump is better. Utility companies encourage this and in fact require a variable speed pump or 2 speed pump by 2008 in California and give us $300 rebates. Save alot of electricity, month after month - it adds up! For more info on this subject (an 8 page write up), send a note to me and I'll email it to you: ***.Zscheile@ATTGLobal.net ===========================================

The best thing for low maintenance is a salt water pool. It usually requires NO extra chlorine. Just add some acid 1x/wk. It is basically free sanitation since the unit that separates the salt into sodium and chlorine (which kills the germs) operates only a small percentage of the time. It can be adjusted with a dial. Almost never add salt. The water doesn't taste salty, doesn't sting the eyes, doesn't dry out the skin, no slimmy feeling to the water, no need to rinse off after swimming. Add a pool cover to keep out leaves and dust so very little cleaning is required. Brush it 1x/2 months. If you want low maintenance costs, install a Variable Speed Pump by IKERIC to drastically (60-70%) reduce filtering costs, which is an ongoing, daily cost. Pretty simple!! Low cost and low maintenance. Ideal. I did these things and proved it. ========================================

========================================= Anyone installing a new pool or replacing their filter pump should seriously consider a VARIABLE SPEED PUMP. It's a pump design used for years in other industries and which is finally reaching the swimming pool industry. It saves much electricity and still does a fine job. Can be used well with Jandy RS-x series controllers. See www.IKERIC.com for a source of these pumps which are available in several sizes. Very low speed pumps running longer can save alot of electricity and still do a fine job. I installed one last year and I probably save 65% of the electricity others spend for the same tasks. Most pool contractors don't know about it so you'll have to research it out and insist they answer questions about it - otherwise get another contractor who is up to date on new methods. Check your utility energy saving programs - PG&E gives a $300 rebate. ==========================================

Waterbear: you are correct about my post. I have never added salt in one year's time. The chlorine (not the salt), is adjusted by a dial, - my error in wording. Yes, the Ph does drift upward and I add muriatic acid (1 cup/wk) but nothing more. The variable speed pump controls work great using a very low rpm setting for a longer filtering time - much much cheaper. My investigation of in floor cleaners concurs with your thoughts, altho maybe good in windblown, sandy areas. Ozone generators work good in spas if you run them every 12 hrs. After 12 hrs the ozone dissipates and it must be regenerated. Nice not to have to add chlorine very often. For pools, it is great not to have to add chlorine also (by installing a SWG).

Interesting to hear your viewpoint of pool contractors. I interviewed many and found they are NOT knowledgeable on the better ways to do their job. I live in the Santa Cruz area of California and had a pool company in San Jose install my pool last year. I was intimately involved in all steps of the construction and decision making. Being an engineer facilitated me in understanding their work. I compiled about 8 pages of improvements most owners can make to their pools to reduce maintenance costs by 60-70%. If anyone wants a copy, I'll email it to you. I'm in the process of having it published. Contact me at ***.Zscheile@attglobal.net for a copy.

================================================== If anyone is contemplating a new pool or modifying an existing pool, I've learned methods to save 60-70% of the maintenance costs. Send me a request and I'll email you a writeup on it. Make a request to: ***.Zscheile@ATTGlobal.net I've installed a salt water system and it works great. While American pool contractors have not used them much in the past, more are doing so now. In Australia, nearly 100% of pools are salt water pools. The taste of salt is almost nil, since the salinity is 1/10 that of ocean water. There is no slimmy, slippery feel to the water like chlorine gives, there is no drying of the skin either. Maintenance is far easier since you never have to add chlorine to it. Never have to add more salt, either. Salt content is controlled with a simply dial. In general, pool contractors tend to do the same things year after year, without changing to new methods. However, there ARE better ways.