Water Testing and Analysis
The Galati Team has been testing pool water for the Hudson Valley for over five decades. Galati Pools & Spas knows that getting you on a pool care program that is tailored to your lifestyle is the easiest and most convenient way to maintain sparkling clear pool water all summer long. Whether you prefer a traditional chlorine program or a newer approach to pool care –utilizing a salt cell chlorine generation system — our trained staff of BioGuard pool care specialists will help you care for your pool in a convenient, safe, and cost effective manner. With a proper system in place, treating your pool can be done in less than 10 minutes once a week.
To begin, simply bring in a sample of your pool or hot tub water and in a few moments you’ll get a printout complete with the results of your water’s analysis and a list of product recommendations specifically for you. One of Galati’s highly experienced professionals will take the time to discuss the analysis and each step of the product recommendations with you. At Galati Pools & Spas you can count on getting extremely accurate state-of-the-art computerized water testing that is not available anywhere else.
Balance Your Water To Prevent Problems
All of the BioGuard Care Systems work best in water that is properly balanced. Therefore, keeping the right balance in your swimming pool water is important. Balancers control scale, prevent metallic stains, adjust pH and total alkalinity and correct mineral imbalances.
Importance Of pH Balance
Having the correct pH in your pool is crucial to your swimmers’ comfort and also protects your pool equipment and surfaces from corrosion, staining and etching. The idea pH range is 7.4 to 7.6. If the pH is too high or too low it can cause those pesky red, itchy eyes.
Five Key Steps To Maintaining A Clear and Clean Pool
1. Circulation:
Pool water must be circulated for maximum sanitizer effectiveness. The more your water is in motion, the harder it is for bacteria and algae to take hold. The best time to circulate the water is during the day, for 12 hours or more.
2. Filtration:
The filter is one of your most important pieces of equipment. It removes both visible debris and most microscopic matter. Generally, a filter should be backwashed (the removal of material trapped on or in the filter media) when the water pressure in the filter reaches 8 to 10 pounds above normal. (Check your equipment manufacturer’s guidelines.) Because backwashing does not remove oils and deeply embedded debris, every filter needs to be chemically cleaned regularly.
3. Cleaning:
Some swimming pools have areas with little or no circulation. This is where algae and bacteria can begin to grow. At least once a week, the walls and floor should be brushed and vacuumed to remove debris that the filter misses. Brushing is a must, even if you use an automatic pool cleaner.
4. Testing:
Every pool has characteristics that must be regularly measured and adjusted. Most important are the pH, total alkalinity and the level of active sanitizer. Test your pool water at home once a week. Also, bring at least a pint of pool water into Galati Pools & Spas for their complimentary computerized lab testing when you open and close your pool, and every four weeks during the swimming season. This will help you maintain proper water balance and greatly reduce the potential for water clarity and equipment problems.
5. Proper Water Care:
The last step in a total pool care program is applying the right products to your pool water at the right time as advised by your BioGuard pool care professional at Galati Pools & Spas. Essentially, this will help to provide both a safe and enjoyable backyard experience for the whole family.
