ACHTWOO

After…

Larry Tyson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:18:04 +0000

Beautiful.

Posted by LarryThePoolGuy, Certified Pool Operator and President of ACHTWOO Pool & Spa Professionals, LLC.

Before…

Larry Tyson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:16:20 +0000

Uhhh…

Posted by LarryThePoolGuy, Certified Pool Operator and President of ACHTWOO Pool & Spa Professionals, LLC.

Acid Wash?

Larry Tyson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:09:24 +0000

We were able to restore the plaster to bright white. (Don’t try this at home:))

Posted by LarryThePoolGuy, Certified Pool Operator and President of ACHTWOO Pool & Spa Professionals, LLC.

Nice Fit.

Larry Tyson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:04:44 +0000

I love this pattern.

Posted by LarryThePoolGuy, Certified Pool Operator and President of ACHTWOO Pool & Spa Professionals, LLC.

IKE’s Work

Larry Tyson — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:53:57 +0000

This is probably the worst damage I’ve seen…ever! WOW! Looks brand new now (after a little work, of course).

Freeze Approaching…

Larry Tyson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:41:12 +0000

It’s going to freeze tonight and for the next few days. Let your pumps run while the temp. is at or below freezing. It’s a good idea to reset your timer to run during the night, instead of during the day…at least until this CRAZY weather passes. Stay warm!

Big Box Pool Chemicals

Larry Tyson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:40:09 +0000

If you were on a diet you would be reading every label in the store, right? Checking for calories, carbs and protein content? Then why don’t people read the labels on pool chemicals??? Manufacturers who are granted the right to shelf space at these huge worldwide companies are under alot of pressure to keep their prices low so the store can have the “lowest price.” So, what they are forced to do is adjust the formula of their product, putting less of the active ingredient, so they can keep their prices low and keep their coveted space on the store shelves. You would NEVER see a pool professional using those chemicals. If you don’t believe me, next time you see a pool guy’s truck, take a peek in the bed and see for yourself. We don’t like to spend overpay for chemicals either. But we know that if we want a quality product that will do the job (keeping water beautiful) efficiently and effectively without adding any extra “fillers” to the pool, we have to use a quality product. Use what the pros use and you will get the results pros get, it’s that simple. Remember, READ THE LABEL!

Winter and pH…

Larry Tyson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:21:58 +0000

Keeping water clear in the winter is pretty easy. Algae hibernates (sort of) in the winter so your pool should stay crystal clear all winter long, despite any neglect. BUT. pH should still be tested and balanced regularly because, after all, you do want to protect your investment, right? Low pH can cause etching of your plaster and deterioration of your liner or fiberglass surface (which means you will have to resurface you pool or replace that liner sooner than you expected). Low pH means the water is acidic. Acidic water will harm anything it touches, pool surfaces included. High pH can cause scaling. If scale forms on your pool surface, and you have a plaster pool, it will look as if your pool has been smoking cigarettes for 20 years with yellowish patches everywhere the scale is thick enough to see. The only way to fix it would be to drain your pool and acid wash the surface. When you acid wash a pool, you are actually removing a thin layer of plaster (the stained part) to reveal the white underneath. This means your plaster is now thinner, which means it’s lifespan is shorter. So, if you don’t mind forking over $3000 or more for a replaster/new liner, then don’t worry about the pH. But if you value your money and like to take care of the things you have then keep that pH between 7.2 and 7.8. Check it after every rain (rain always messes up the pH). If you don’t want to fool with it, then just bring us a water sample and we can tell you exactly what to add to make it right.

Phosphates…

Larry Tyson — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:19:53 +0000

For those of you who live in a neighborhood where everyone has landscaping, you MUST keep an eye on your phosphate level. Phosphate is a plant fertilizer that causes plants to grow extra fast…algae is a plant…your neighbor (or you) have a local landscape crew come out to fertilize your garden…the wind blows…and into the pool it goes…and the algae blooms–FAST! Now you can’t seem to kill the algae even though you have shocked the pool repeatedly. You need a product called “Phosfree” (sold at our new store in Bridge City) to eliminate the phosphates completely–or at least bring the level down below 150 ppb. You must continue to monitor this level, especially in the spring when most people fertilize. If you think you have a problem with high phosphates, just bring in a water sample and we can test it for you…

Saving $$$

Larry Tyson — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:01:07 +0000

Having a pool is a luxury. Because of this, everything pool-related is expensive–from chemicals, to parts, to electricity, to repairs. There are ways to save money, though.

First and foremost, fire your pool guy. We are expensive. This will require you to do some studying. Go to the library and check out a book on swimming pool maintenance (don’t buy one, they’re all the same), and spend the time to learn about your pool–really learn about it. It seems complicated (and I guess it can be in a way–which is why we get paid the big bucks???), but the knowledge you obtain will save you money and time, every month. You paid $30,000+ for your pool–take the time to know how to care for it and you’ll save time actually caring for it!

Next, buy your swimming pool chemicals in bulk. Usually the larger the quantity the cheaper the unit cost is. Pool stores love it when you come in once a week and buy 2 one pound bags of shock and a five pound bucket of tablets. That’s what keeps their lights on. Buy what you are going to need for the season–save money and time (not having to make 50 trips to the pool store.)

Third, store your reagentsin a cool place and replace them every season. This will give you accurate readings so you are not puting the wrong amount of chemicals into your pool.

Also, buy the professional grade maintenance equipment. It’s a little more expensive but it is made for guys who clean 8-12 pools a day, everyday. It will last much longer and your job of cleaning your pool will be so much less frustrating.

In addition, make sure you are not running your pump all the time. Set it to come on in the morning and run for 6-8 hours during the hottest part of the day (in the winter you can cut the time back to about 3-4 hours a day and runit during the coldest part of the day).

Lastly, make sure your equipment is working the way it is supposed to. Keep your baskets empty so your pump can circulate the water. Keep you filter clean so it can filter your water. Your system is designed to take care of your pool, so take care of it and it will do it’s job making your job easier.

Any questions? Call us at (409) 734-7665.