The Ugly Grasp of Biofilms

Biofilm is a common word heard in the pool and hot tub industry lately. In the last few years, there has been an increasing amount of information via studies and tests, which can be used to educate industry members and consumers on the subject. In previous articles, there is mention of biofilm existing in wet areas on pool toys and … Read More

Water Sanitation: Knowing the Differences for Proper Care and Maintenance

Water becomes corrosive when pH is too low, and scaling when the pH is too high—especially for areas with hard water.

The difference between owning a pool with a salt system and one that uses traditional means of sanitation may seem expansive. For many, the perception of salt pools is that they are maintenance-free and often times chlorine-free systems. Dispelling the myths about salt pools can be difficult, but as pool professionals, there is a necessity to at least massage pool … Read More

Developing a Successful Business Plan

A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) assessment is useful if owners take the time to carefully and realistically go through each step.

A clear business plan that includes goals and the means to achieve them is the key to running an efficient, profitable company. Business owners who keep their eye on the ball are more likely to complete a profit plan that assures a solid future. The fall and winter, when business starts to slow down, is the right time to reflect … Read More

Popular Sanitation Method Makes Its Way into the Hot Water Market

Several manufacturers are also offering retrofit chlorine generators that simply ‘drape over’ into the hot tub water.

Saltwater systems have become extremely popular over the past five to 10 years. The system’s popularity, however, began with pools, to improve the swimming experience while simultaneously reducing the number of traditional chemicals needed to sanitize the water. Add to this the safety benefit of eliminating the need to store large quantities of chlorine on-site. Now that salt chlorine generators … Read More

Supplementing Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Maintenance

Supplementing Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Maintenance

Almost every aquatics industry professional has likely heard stories about the use of enzymes in water maintenance and for solving water quality problems. Many have also probably asked themselves along the way what, exactly, are enzymes? In performing a quick Google search on the word itself, one would likely come across the following Wikipedia answer: Enzymes are large biological molecules … Read More

Best Practices for Troubleshooting and Repairing Gas Pool Heaters

When a pool heater stops working, homeowners, understandably, get a little cranky. They spent good money on their pool and want to be able to use it the way they envisioned—with water at a comfortable temperature. Today’s pool heaters are generally pretty reliable, but they definitely have components that occasionally need to be replaced—perhaps more so than other pool equipment. … Read More

Mind the Gap When It Comes to Connecting with Customers

Millennials account for 31 percent of all luxury goods purchased online, compared to 23 percent of gen-Xers.

Demographics, or the study of human populations, are an important tool that helps businesses understand the impact different generations have on the economy—how sales and spending have been affected in the past and what is in store for the future of service in this industry. Shifts in demographics and the characteristics of those populations have a profound effect on how … Read More

Consumers Are Attracted to Businesses and Products with Sustainability at the Forefront

Efficient management of internal business operations related to energy costs is key to profitability in the new ‘green’ revolution. Changing out office/store lighting to reduce electricity consumption is one example; slashing just one per cent off will enhance profits.

How businesses choose to revolutionize their operations to meet the demands of the consumer will ultimately determine their future. Practicing sustainability can help revitalize a business, but first it must be understood, and embraced. Consumers have changed their buying habits over the past few years. Now they are looking for ways in which to modify their lifestyles yet still enjoy … Read More

Best Practices for Automatic Safety Cover Care and Maintenance

By minimizing the drop to water, the automatic safety cover system will run with less sag and operate more smoothly.

Automatic safety covers are gaining popularity, largely due to the many options which allow them to be installed on pools of various shapes, sizes, and designs, but also because of the great benefits they provide the homeowner, including safety, savings, and convenience. Automatic covers that have been tested and comply with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) safety standard are considered … Read More

The Fundamentals of Working with Sand Filters

Of all the other types of filters (e.g. cartridge, diatomaceous earth), sand filters are efficient with a minimum amount of required maintenance.

The three keys to a clean and healthy pool are circulation, chemistry, and filtration. The latter is commonly overlooked when problems arise, however. Circulation usually is not a problem since most pools are designed with properly sized pumps, filters, plumbing (pipes), and proper placement of skimmers, and returns. In most cases, water chemistry is the initial cause of problems, such … Read More