The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual : Spas, Pools, Hot Tubs, Rockscapes, and Other Water Features, 2nd Edition

*The secrets of water maintenance trade professionals are revealed in this detail-by-detail guide to keeping pools, spas, and other recreational water containment units in tip-top shape. *Offers inside-out coverage of chlorine alternatives, automation, noise control, pool-side safety, portable spas--and everything from minor maintenance to major fixes and remodeling. *A must for pool maintenance and spa technicians, this book includes environmentally friendly product resources, along with troubleshooting tips and project checklists that make caring for a pool or spa less costly. Copyright......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 9 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 21 FOREWORD......Page 23 INTRODUCTION......Page 25 Overview......Page 29 Square or Rectangular......Page 30 Circular......Page 32 Kidney or Irregular Shapes......Page 34 Parts per Million (ppm)......Page 35 Concrete and Plaster......Page 36 Vinyl-Lined......Page 38 Inflatable and Other Above-Ground Pools......Page 43 Pool and Spa Design and Construction......Page 48 Excavation......Page 49 Steel......Page 58 Tile......Page 59 Rock, Brick, or Stone......Page 61 Coping, Decks, and Expansion Joints......Page 62 Cleanup......Page 63 Plaster......Page 64 Start-up......Page 65 Skimmers......Page 67 Main Drains......Page 71 General Plumbing Guidelines......Page 73 PVC Plumbing......Page 77 Plumbing Methods......Page 80 Plumbing Methods......Page 83 Miscellaneous Plumbing......Page 87 Sizing of Plumbing......Page 89 Operation......Page 91 Construction......Page 93 Maintenance and Repair......Page 94 Motorized/Automated Three-Port Valve Systems......Page 96 Maintenance and Repair......Page 97 Reverse Flow and Heater Plumbing......Page 99 Unions......Page 100 Gate and Ball Valves......Page 101 Check Valves......Page 102 Solar Heating Systems......Page 105 Types of Solar Heating Systems......Page 106 Plumbing......Page 107 To Solar or Not to Solar?......Page 108 Installation......Page 111 Maintenance and Repair......Page 113 Water Level Controls......Page 114 Overview......Page 121 Strainer Pot and Basket......Page 124 Volute......Page 125 Impeller......Page 126 Seal Plate and Adapter Bracket......Page 128 Shaft and Shaft Extender......Page 129 Seal......Page 130 Motor......Page 131 Types......Page 132 Housing Design......Page 133 Nameplate......Page 134 Horsepower and Hydraulics Equals Sizing......Page 136 Hydraulics......Page 137 Sizing......Page 146 Pump and Motor Health Checklist......Page 147 Strainer Pots......Page 148 Gaskets and O-Rings......Page 149 Changing a Seal......Page 150 Pump and/or Motor Removal and Reinstallation......Page 163 Replacing a Pump or Motor......Page 165 Troubleshooting Motors......Page 169 Priming the Pump......Page 171 Reverse Flow Problems......Page 175 C Frame......Page 177 Full-Rated or Up-Rated......Page 178 High-Volume Pump-Out Units......Page 179 Cost of Operation......Page 180 Something Better......Page 181 Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Filters......Page 183 Sand Filters......Page 187 Cartridge Filters......Page 190 Sizing and Selection......Page 192 Backwash Valves......Page 197 Pressure Gauges and Air Relief Valves......Page 201 Sight Glasses......Page 202 Installation......Page 203 Filter Cleaning and Media Replacement......Page 206 Leaks......Page 216 Gas-Fueled Heaters......Page 221 The Millivolt or Standing Pilot Heater......Page 225 The Control Circuit......Page 226 Natural versus Propane Gas......Page 233 Electric-Fueled Heaters......Page 235 Solar-Fueled Heaters......Page 236 Heat Pumps......Page 239 Makes and Models......Page 241 Selection......Page 243 Sizing......Page 244 Cost of Operation......Page 247 Installation, Repairs, and Maintenance......Page 249 Installation......Page 250 Terry’s Troubleshooting Tips......Page 265 Terry’s Troubleshooting Checklist......Page 267 Repairs......Page 269 Spares Kit......Page 288 A Reminder......Page 290 Electromechanical Timers......Page 291 Electronic Timers......Page 295 Repairs......Page 296 Remote Controls......Page 299 Air Switches......Page 300 Troubleshooting......Page 301 Wireless Remote Control......Page 303 Flow Meters......Page 305 Diving Boards......Page 306 Slides......Page 310 Ladders and Rails......Page 311 Signs......Page 313 Safety Barriers......Page 317 Electric Robot......Page 319 Self-Cleaning Systems......Page 320 Booster Pump Systems......Page 321 Suction-Side Systems......Page 332 To Buy or Not to Buy......Page 333 Lighting......Page 335 Standard 120/240-Volt Lighting......Page 336 Fiberoptics......Page 344 Covers......Page 345 Bubble Solar Covers......Page 346 Sheet Vinyl......Page 349 Electric Covers......Page 350 Fiberglass Systems......Page 352 Specialty Spa Covers......Page 353 Safety Standards......Page 358 Accessories......Page 360 CHAPTER 8 Water Chemistry......Page 363 Demand and Balance......Page 364 Components of Water Chemistry......Page 365 Sanitizers......Page 366 pH......Page 382 Total Alkalinity......Page 384 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)......Page 385 Weather......Page 386 Algae......Page 388 Forms of Algae......Page 389 Algae Elimination Techniques......Page 391 Cloudy Water......Page 396 Colored Water......Page 397 Eye or Skin Irritation......Page 398 Spas......Page 399 Test Methods......Page 400 Chlorine......Page 403 pH......Page 405 Total Alkalinity......Page 406 Heavy Metals......Page 407 Test Procedures......Page 408 Langlier Index......Page 410 Liquids......Page 412 Granulars......Page 413 Mechanical Delivery Devices......Page 414 Chemical Safety......Page 417 CHAPTER 9 Cleaning and Servicing......Page 419 Telepoles......Page 420 Vacuum Head and Hose......Page 424 Leaf Vacuum and Garden Hose......Page 426 Tile Brush and Tile Soap......Page 427 Test Kit and Thermometer......Page 428 Pumice Stones......Page 429 Pool Cleaning Procedures......Page 430 Water Level......Page 431 Tiles......Page 432 Equipment Check......Page 433 Vacuuming......Page 434 Chemical Testing and Application......Page 439 Cleanup and Closeup......Page 440 Spa and Water Feature Cleaning......Page 441 Draining a Pool......Page 443 Why Break-in Plaster?......Page 446 Procedure Approval......Page 447 Break-in Step by Step......Page 448 Acid Break-in......Page 455 Leak Detection Made Easy: Four Tests......Page 456 Skimmer Repair and Replacement......Page 460 Patching and Repairing......Page 467 Remodeling Techniques......Page 479 Plastering and Replastering......Page 480 Inexpensive Pool Face Lifts: Paint......Page 484 Expansion Joints......Page 490 Acid Washing......Page 491 Remodeling the Deck......Page 500 CHAPTER 11 Spas, Hot Tubs, and Water Features......Page 503 Spa Materials......Page 504 Repairs......Page 538 Cleaning and Maintenance......Page 540 Hot Tubs......Page 542 Installation......Page 544 Break-in......Page 547 Repair......Page 548 Cleaning and Maintenance......Page 553 Fountains......Page 555 Koi Ponds......Page 556 Rockscapes......Page 563 Waterfalls and the Vanishing Edge......Page 566 CHAPTER 12 Commercial Pools......Page 571 Types of Commercial Pools......Page 572 Slope Calculations......Page 573 Bather Displacement......Page 575 Surge Chamber......Page 576 Filter......Page 577 Gas Chlorinator......Page 579 High-Capacity Automatic Chlorine Feeders......Page 581 Safety Equipment......Page 583 Dehumidification of Indoor Commercial Pools......Page 586 Operational Requirements......Page 587 Health Issues......Page 589 CHAPTER 13 Winterizing......Page 591 Temperate Climates......Page 592 Colder Climates......Page 593 Electrical Terms......Page 601 Electrical Theory......Page 602 Electrical Panel......Page 607 Circuit Breakers......Page 608 Wiring......Page 610 Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI)......Page 613 Switches......Page 615 Relays......Page 617 Safety......Page 619 Testing......Page 620 CHAPTER 15 The Toolbox......Page 625 General Hand Tools......Page 626 Special Tool Sets......Page 627 Supplies......Page 628 Cleaning Tools......Page 629 Heater Repair Kit......Page 630 Notes on Tools and Supplies......Page 631 Chemicals......Page 637 Energy Conservation......Page 638 Water Conservation......Page 640 Recycle......Page 641 Miscellaneous......Page 642 APPENDIX A Facts and Formulas Summary......Page 645 APPENDIX B Labor Reference Guide......Page 655 APPENDIX C Typical Pool and Spa Health, Safety, and Building Codes......Page 659 APPENDIX D Meter Reading—Gas, Electric, and Water......Page 663 GLOSSARY......Page 667 REFERENCE SOURCES AND WEBSITES......Page 695 INDEX......Page 701 ABOUT THE AUTHOR......Page 722 Covering chlorine alternatives, automation, noise control, pool-side safety and portable spas, this comprehensive field guide clues readers in to the secrets of water maintenance trade professionals. New technologies and advances in heaters, pumps, environmentally conscious water chemistry, and chemical disposal strategies make this new edition indispensable for both the homeowner and the professional. Provides details on how to keep pools, spas, and other recreational water features in good condition. This book covers: minor maintenance, major repairs and remodeling; chlorine alternatives; product resources; automation and noise control; pool side safety; water features such as ponds, rockscapes, and waterfalls; and, water chemistry.