Secret #5: most pool retail stores are strictly forbidden to even utter the word “BORATES”. They even discourage it saying instead “we don’t endorse it; we can’t test for it; we don’t sell it”. That’s because it’s a one time treatment that would cut their chlorine, shock and algaecide sales drastically. I’ve got my chemical expenses below $20 a month and haven’t seen algae in years Secret #6: using test strips alone without regularly double checking with a liquid drop test waste tons of chemicals and cash. The pool stores act like the strips are accurate but if you run the two tests side by side it’s a joke
I used borates the last three years at my old house. All I ever did was dump some 10% liquid chlorine in once a week and I had sparkling clear water. Even the pH stayed stable, whereas previously it always needed soda ash. My new house has a pool with a saltwater chlorine generator. I suspect I'll barely have to touch it all summer using borates.
I learn lots of stuff from you the best thing I did I bought myself liquid chlorine feeder, best investment I put my liquid chlorine in my chlorine feeder and I feed it to the pool. It goes slow without bleach my liner before I used to put it in the pool my liner get bleach in a year. I’ve been doing it for two years. My liner is perfect. It’s a good subject to tell to your fans are watching. Love your work. God bless you.
Absolutely correct about buying certain chemicals in bulk. Many pool supply stores that also have a pool service or maintenance department usually stock chemicals in bulk 50lb bags. They are not out on display but they will sell them to you if you ask. I just saved my old plastic buckets for air tight storage and empty the bulk bags into the buckets. Purchase Soda Ash (PH up), baking soda/bicarbonate of soda (alkalinity up) and calcium chloride (hardness plus) all in bulk. Don't use enough to purchase 50 lbs at a time, split up the purchase with a friend or relative. When buying in bulk it's important to make sure you store in air tight containers otherwise Soda Ash & Bicarbonate of soda will clump and calcium chloride will suck all the humidity out of the air and turn into water.
Liquid chlorine for me, start out also with some small stabilized chlorine tablets to add CYA. Don't let it go green in the first place. Thanks for the videos.
Hi....CYA is great so UV won't break down chlorine too fast but the downside is that too much affects the effectiveness of free chlorine. Best is to let be less than 35. Preferably 20 or so. If you have an indoor pool you don't need CYA at all. My 2 cents...
We use UVO3 and 12 pucks per season (3 months at 86 degrees) clean the filter once per year. Temperature is a huge factor, and keeping debris out. I am the only one that uses the pool, that is another big factor, make people shower before entering. Thanks Steve, you have been a huge help.
This was interesting to know about algaecide. I bought a bottle of algaecide to put into the water with the water tight drum that I am using to store my winter pool cover over the summer. I inherited the pool that I have when I bought my house back in November and I’m learning as much as possible before and as I’m opening it for the season. The previous owner left both chlorine pucks and a half full jug of liquid chlorine. I wasn’t sure why he had liquid chlorine (the combination of shocking the pool and then maintaining the chlorine levels through the automatic chlorinator keeps the chlorine levels pretty level). Maybe he was pouring the liquid chlorine into the water that he stored the winter pool cover in?
Sir: Any recommendation(s) where I may purchase a fiberglass pool shell only? I want to install all myself. I'm in Kansas City, MO and may haul myself. Really appreciate any info. Thank You...
Changing from Alkalinity Plus to Arm & Hammer baking soda isn’t a “switch” at all - it’s exactly the same chemical. A 12 pound bag costs just $8 at Sam’s - it’s $40 at Leslie’s!!!!! That’s an insane markup (price gouging)
I am happy this was helpful for you! Here are two more resources if ypu are new to pools and or spas: New pool owner fast start tutorial: ruclips.net/video/9T1Ub8SBijg/видео.html New hot tub owner fast start: ruclips.net/video/AsQwKRDkj3s/видео.html
@@Swimmingpoolsteve 2nd year owning our 24 round 54 high resin pool, I repiped with a combo of ridgid and flex pvc with shutoffs and a heater manifold bypass this past spring and opened the pool ourselves. Been watching your videos since we bought our pool. Thanks steve
I found out that you can use pool chlorine for your house laundry or cleaning, it's the same more concentrated formula than regular chlorine for cleaning and the price fo a gallon is lower.
I’m spending too much money on algaecide this summer battling green algae on some of my pool walls (gunite pool). I’ll brush, shock and add algaecide, looks good for a few days , but will come back. My friend told me about a “hack” to get rid of the algae by placing copper fittings in a container with drilled holes and placing it in the skimmer, supposedly it gets rid of the algae due to a reaction with the copper. Has anyone had any luck, good or bad with this method? Thanks!
He’s done lots of videos about chlorine alternatives. The problem is they’re all either more complex/expensive and don’t work as well at killing bacteria.
@@Derek.Naquin do you use a salt water chlorine generator or tabs? I installed my SWCG over 2 years ago and it’s great. No handling chlorine, no huge weekly chlorine spikes, simplifies weekly maintenance.
At my old house, our community was on a well. The water had a lot of copper, so much that when the EPA lowered the limit, our community had to hook to public water. I never had algae with the well water, just blue-green stains on my plumbing fixtures. The city water was a different story, a green one. After a few years, I learned about borates and had clear water again.
One question I live in a beach front house and I have a pool but I used water from my well. As you those waters have iron, so when you add too much chlorine it react negatively by putting the water cloudy or dark. What is the best way to work wit that water? Thanks.
IT's funny that you talk about baking soda, I was at my local pool store to get my water tested and I needed Alkalinity Up and I told them I already have some in the form of Baking Soda. There response was that's used for baking so be careful. HAHA.. I have come to the conclusion that pool stores and there water testing is a big money pit.
It's easy to understand why some stores business plan may be to not divulge more then they have to.A lot can be made because of others ignorance. Get a good water test kit. Read the instructions and learn some how to skills.
Another one is phosphate levels. Pool stores always trying to sell phos free additive. Stuff is very expensive and the levels will go up again. Long as your levels are good then you won’t ever need to worry about adding that stuff. I never use it and barely ever have algae issues.
hi Steve! I recently spoke to a new pool operator and they showed me a pool balancing app that seemed pretty neat (pool doctor is the name iirc). What do you think about using them? Are they reliable? it seemed like an excellent way to get some help for someone new to balancing water. it's the first time I've heard of pool chemistry apps but i guess it shouldn't be a surprise since there seem to be apps for everything these days.
I’ve been using the app from Trouble Free Pools for years. The results are customized for your pool once you enter the water volume, surface type and preferred chemicals. Then it’s just a matter of testing your water and entering results into the app. It will tell you precisely what to add and how much. You can even set your own ideal ranges. It will also send you reminders to clean filter and other scheduled maintenance. It keeps track of all your expenses so you can optimize your chemical use. If you aren’t testing accurately and adding chemicals in the right quantity your pool chemistry is on a roller coaster ride. The app really helps keep the chemistry balanced and the pool crystal clear
PhosFree by Natural Chemistry costs 50% less than the Leslie’s branded stuff and does the same job. I add just half a capful (2oz) every 2 weeks and phosphates stays close to zero. A 3 liter bottle lasts two years and costs just $42 (that’s just $1.75 per month). If there is no phosphate and 50ppm borates present it’s nearly impossible to grow algae with a chlorine level of just 1ppm
Great advice, clearly made, honest, thank you, a great help! I’m new to pools, bought a selection of chemical such as pH adjuster, anti-algae, a thing which claims to do 7 essential things to the water (!), etc, yet nothing got rid of the strong green colour change to my new pool. Then friends and others I consulted all said the same thing-forget all the other chemical treatments, just shock your pool regularly (even every week) and keep a quality chlorine tablet in the skimmer and that should do the trick. Am doing that now, will see how it developes over the next few weeks…
Was able to cut my Alkalinity Up Chem from $34.00 for 10lbs (from Leslie's) to $12.00 for 12lbs of Baking Soda (from Amazon)..... and keep it in the Leslie's container, lol
Yeah this all great stuff. Always look for non-pool store alternatives. And better yet, ones that don't have the word "pool" on the package. Water softener salt, calcium chloride ice melt, and many kinds of hardware. One of my diverter valves was missing a couple of screws. OEM replacement was $14 for two. At an industrial supply, $10 got me 20 identical ones. Yada yada.
I love low cost alternatives but I can tell you from experience that deicer and other forms of salt contain impurities like metals which can cause (expensive) staining in pools. For sure I would spend the money on high quality pool specific salt, especially given the nature of the purchase being "one time" in the sense that you only add hundreds of pounds of salt to your pool once. Of course there is topping up for splash out, leaks, and worse, seasonal draining for winterizing, but still the good salt is worth it. Stainless hardware is all available for pennies on the dollar when you know enough about screws, thread type, size, grade of stainless etc. Not everyone can take advantage of that tidbit of knowledge but the ones that can are definitely saving $$
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Right. You do need to be careful about reading the fine print for sure. On the other hand there are bad reports in various forums about name brand pool stuff with metal and other impurities problems, too.
80% of the price is profit. Pool stores are a rip off. Everything they sell you get elsewhere cheaper. And their biggest profits come from selling you products that you don’t even need (clarifier, preventative algaecide, etc)
The retail pool stores keep themselves in business by purchasing cheap household chemicals, repacking them and jacking the price up by 500%. THEY don’t want you to know that everything they sell is either way overpriced or completely unnecessary. It’s an industry dependent upon misinformation and false marketing. I go in once a month to double check my chemistry results and get a jug of chlorine. The bad advice they give pool owners is a shameful combination of ignorance and overly aggressive salesmanship.
Well....the pool guys 😊 more precise: the ones that want to make you think they know it all....while you yourself could become an expert just by investigating a bit on the internet.....knowledge is....power
Yes mine exactly too. At 50%. In my case that's 13 gram of chlorine per hour so in total that's 52 grams. The pool has 70.000 litres of water and 4 grams of salt per litre. It also highly depends how much the pool is used per day.
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
Glad to come across this guy. Learning quickly how I am not a pool guy but appreciate people who get real about pools.
Thank you!
Secret #5: most pool retail stores are strictly forbidden to even utter the word “BORATES”. They even discourage it saying instead “we don’t endorse it; we can’t test for it; we don’t sell it”. That’s because it’s a one time treatment that would cut their chlorine, shock and algaecide sales drastically. I’ve got my chemical expenses below $20 a month and haven’t seen algae in years
Secret #6: using test strips alone without regularly double checking with a liquid drop test waste tons of chemicals and cash. The pool stores act like the strips are accurate but if you run the two tests side by side it’s a joke
SHHHHHHHHH! They don't want them to know that!
I used borates the last three years at my old house. All I ever did was dump some 10% liquid chlorine in once a week and I had sparkling clear water. Even the pH stayed stable, whereas previously it always needed soda ash. My new house has a pool with a saltwater chlorine generator. I suspect I'll barely have to touch it all summer using borates.
@@hughbrackett343 Good luck with the new pool. With that SWG you’ll need to raise your CYA to 70-80ppm and expect to add acid weekly as well
The borates definitely help with the PH drifting high
I've also heard there's absolutely no need for adding calcium into your pool. Why? Because it just increases scaling, which is calcium build-up! 🙄
#5 is THEY don't want you to know about Swimming Pool Steve.😎👍
Excellent point bring up the baking soda tip
I recently convinced my friend to switch to baking soda from buying the chemical at pool store
I learn lots of stuff from you the best thing I did I bought myself liquid chlorine feeder, best investment I put my liquid chlorine in my chlorine feeder and I feed it to the pool. It goes slow without bleach my liner before I used to put it in the pool my liner get bleach in a year. I’ve been doing it for two years. My liner is perfect. It’s a good subject to tell to your fans are watching. Love your work. God bless you.
This is the pool police and we are watching you!
Absolutely correct about buying certain chemicals in bulk. Many pool supply stores that also have a pool service or maintenance department usually stock chemicals in bulk 50lb bags. They are not out on display but they will sell them to you if you ask. I just saved my old plastic buckets for air tight storage and empty the bulk bags into the buckets. Purchase Soda Ash (PH up), baking soda/bicarbonate of soda (alkalinity up) and calcium chloride (hardness plus) all in bulk. Don't use enough to purchase 50 lbs at a time, split up the purchase with a friend or relative. When buying in bulk it's important to make sure you store in air tight containers otherwise Soda Ash & Bicarbonate of soda will clump and calcium chloride will suck all the humidity out of the air and turn into water.
Liquid chlorine for me, start out also with some small stabilized chlorine tablets to add CYA. Don't let it go green in the first place. Thanks for the videos.
Thank YOU!
Hi....CYA is great so UV won't break down chlorine too fast but the downside is that too much affects the effectiveness of free chlorine. Best is to let be less than 35. Preferably 20 or so. If you have an indoor pool you don't need CYA at all. My 2 cents...
Great video Steve!
We use UVO3 and 12 pucks per season (3 months at 86 degrees) clean the filter once per year. Temperature is a huge factor, and keeping debris out. I am the only one that uses the pool, that is another big factor, make people shower before entering. Thanks Steve, you have been a huge help.
9th i🥟 🥟
LOL! Loved your opening here, Steve. I laughed.
This was interesting to know about algaecide. I bought a bottle of algaecide to put into the water with the water tight drum that I am using to store my winter pool cover over the summer. I inherited the pool that I have when I bought my house back in November and I’m learning as much as possible before and as I’m opening it for the season. The previous owner left both chlorine pucks and a half full jug of liquid chlorine. I wasn’t sure why he had liquid chlorine (the combination of shocking the pool and then maintaining the chlorine levels through the automatic chlorinator keeps the chlorine levels pretty level). Maybe he was pouring the liquid chlorine into the water that he stored the winter pool cover in?
Sir: Any recommendation(s) where I may purchase a fiberglass pool shell only? I want to install all myself. I'm in Kansas City, MO and may haul myself. Really appreciate any info. Thank You...
Thanks for the sodium bicarbonate tip, I just ran out of Leslie's alkalinity up that the old owner had and I was already thinking about that switch.
Changing from Alkalinity Plus to Arm & Hammer baking soda isn’t a “switch” at all - it’s exactly the same chemical. A 12 pound bag costs just $8 at Sam’s - it’s $40 at Leslie’s!!!!! That’s an insane markup (price gouging)
@@drdrew3 I live in a rural area and it's used as a food supplement for cattle. Farm Store $27total for 50lb A&H.
Swimming pool Steve! Thanks man, essential info for newby pool and spa owners.
I am happy this was helpful for you! Here are two more resources if ypu are new to pools and or spas:
New pool owner fast start tutorial: ruclips.net/video/9T1Ub8SBijg/видео.html
New hot tub owner fast start: ruclips.net/video/AsQwKRDkj3s/видео.html
@@Swimmingpoolsteve 2nd year owning our 24 round 54 high resin pool, I repiped with a combo of ridgid and flex pvc with shutoffs and a heater manifold bypass this past spring and opened the pool ourselves. Been watching your videos since we bought our pool. Thanks steve
I found out that you can use pool chlorine for your house laundry or cleaning, it's the same more concentrated formula than regular chlorine for cleaning and the price fo a gallon is lower.
I’m spending too much money on algaecide this summer battling green algae on some of my pool walls (gunite pool). I’ll brush, shock and add algaecide, looks good for a few days , but will come back. My friend told me about a “hack” to get rid of the algae by placing copper fittings in a container with drilled holes and placing it in the skimmer, supposedly it gets rid of the algae due to a reaction with the copper. Has anyone had any luck, good or bad with this method? Thanks!
Great video.
How do you feel about copper systems.
Something like pristine blue?
I’m looking to an alternative to chlorine
He’s done lots of videos about chlorine alternatives. The problem is they’re all either more complex/expensive and don’t work as well at killing bacteria.
@@Kryotek7 thanks for the reply. Totally understand.
@@Derek.Naquin do you use a salt water chlorine generator or tabs? I installed my SWCG over 2 years ago and it’s great. No handling chlorine, no huge weekly chlorine spikes, simplifies weekly maintenance.
@@Kryotek7 no. I’m using the pristine blue system.
At my old house, our community was on a well. The water had a lot of copper, so much that when the EPA lowered the limit, our community had to hook to public water. I never had algae with the well water, just blue-green stains on my plumbing fixtures. The city water was a different story, a green one. After a few years, I learned about borates and had clear water again.
Thank you
You're welcome
One question I live in a beach front house and I have a pool but I used water from my well. As you those waters have iron, so when you add too much chlorine it react negatively by putting the water cloudy or dark. What is the best way to work wit that water? Thanks.
IT's funny that you talk about baking soda, I was at my local pool store to get my water tested and I needed Alkalinity Up and I told them I already have some in the form of Baking Soda. There response was that's used for baking so be careful. HAHA.. I have come to the conclusion that pool stores and there water testing is a big money pit.
It's easy to understand why some stores business plan may be to not divulge more then they have to.A lot can be made because of others ignorance. Get a good water test kit. Read the instructions and learn some how to skills.
😂😂😂
You're awesome!
😁🤙🏽
Another one is phosphate levels. Pool stores always trying to sell phos free additive. Stuff is very expensive and the levels will go up again. Long as your levels are good then you won’t ever need to worry about adding that stuff. I never use it and barely ever have algae issues.
If you have high phosphates it will cause you to use more chlorine.
@@philipjohnson882 Phosphates are a dinner bell for algae.
Do you recommend fiberglass or concrete pools?
Concrete. In a lot longer form here is a write up I did comparing concrete pools and fiberglass pools: www.swimmingpoolsteve.com/pages/fg-gunite.html
hi Steve!
I recently spoke to a new pool operator and they showed me a pool balancing app that seemed pretty neat (pool doctor is the name iirc). What do you think about using them? Are they reliable? it seemed like an excellent way to get some help for someone new to balancing water. it's the first time I've heard of pool chemistry apps but i guess it shouldn't be a surprise since there seem to be apps for everything these days.
I’ve been using the app from Trouble Free Pools for years. The results are customized for your pool once you enter the water volume, surface type and preferred chemicals. Then it’s just a matter of testing your water and entering results into the app. It will tell you precisely what to add and how much. You can even set your own ideal ranges. It will also send you reminders to clean filter and other scheduled maintenance. It keeps track of all your expenses so you can optimize your chemical use. If you aren’t testing accurately and adding chemicals in the right quantity your pool chemistry is on a roller coaster ride. The app really helps keep the chemistry balanced and the pool crystal clear
Greetings. Are you familiar with Leslies Perfect Weekly? And does it work, is it necessary?
PhosFree by Natural Chemistry costs 50% less than the Leslie’s branded stuff and does the same job. I add just half a capful (2oz) every 2 weeks and phosphates stays close to zero. A 3 liter bottle lasts two years and costs just $42 (that’s just $1.75 per month). If there is no phosphate and 50ppm borates present it’s nearly impossible to grow algae with a chlorine level of just 1ppm
@@drdrew3 Thank you.
@@drdrew3 Phos free does not have enzymes in it to fight inorganics. A better solution is the products from Orenda. Most Leslie's have them.
Buying separate chemicals for your pool/spa combo is the equivalent of buying separate products to clean your kitchen and bathroom counters.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Great advice, clearly made, honest, thank you, a great help! I’m new to pools, bought a selection of chemical such as pH adjuster, anti-algae, a thing which claims to do 7 essential things to the water (!), etc, yet nothing got rid of the strong green colour change to my new pool. Then friends and others I consulted all said the same thing-forget all the other chemical treatments, just shock your pool regularly (even every week) and keep a quality chlorine tablet in the skimmer and that should do the trick. Am doing that now, will see how it developes over the next few weeks…
Is the water testing they offer accurate?
Only accurate if the pool volume is measured correctly. I have been servicing pools for years. Most people way overstate the size of their pools.
I sure appreciate you
i'm watching this video without having the money to build the pool, but who knows.
Same
Too much money and trouble. I’ve had one for 30 years.
Was able to cut my Alkalinity Up Chem from $34.00 for 10lbs (from Leslie's) to $12.00 for 12lbs of Baking Soda (from Amazon)..... and keep it in the Leslie's container, lol
using too many tabs causes alkalinity to drop as well. Very low pH in tabs.
How about clarity
This one weird trick your pool guy doesn’t want you to know!
Yeah this all great stuff. Always look for non-pool store alternatives. And better yet, ones that don't have the word "pool" on the package. Water softener salt, calcium chloride ice melt, and many kinds of hardware. One of my diverter valves was missing a couple of screws. OEM replacement was $14 for two. At an industrial supply, $10 got me 20 identical ones. Yada yada.
I love low cost alternatives but I can tell you from experience that deicer and other forms of salt contain impurities like metals which can cause (expensive) staining in pools. For sure I would spend the money on high quality pool specific salt, especially given the nature of the purchase being "one time" in the sense that you only add hundreds of pounds of salt to your pool once. Of course there is topping up for splash out, leaks, and worse, seasonal draining for winterizing, but still the good salt is worth it. Stainless hardware is all available for pennies on the dollar when you know enough about screws, thread type, size, grade of stainless etc. Not everyone can take advantage of that tidbit of knowledge but the ones that can are definitely saving $$
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Right. You do need to be careful about reading the fine print for sure. On the other hand there are bad reports in various forums about name brand pool stuff with metal and other impurities problems, too.
80% of the price is that package it comes in.
80% of the price is profit. Pool stores are a rip off. Everything they sell you get elsewhere cheaper. And their biggest profits come from selling you products that you don’t even need (clarifier, preventative algaecide, etc)
so many eyebrowl movements
Lol who is _they_
The retail pool stores keep themselves in business by purchasing cheap household chemicals, repacking them and jacking the price up by 500%. THEY don’t want you to know that everything they sell is either way overpriced or completely unnecessary. It’s an industry dependent upon misinformation and false marketing.
I go in once a month to double check my chemistry results and get a jug of chlorine. The bad advice they give pool owners is a shameful combination of ignorance and overly aggressive salesmanship.
Well....the pool guys 😊 more precise: the ones that want to make you think they know it all....while you yourself could become an expert just by investigating a bit on the internet.....knowledge is....power
'They' say PoolRX will save us all. Who knows maybe they're right...or not.
PoolRX does fight algae by using metal to breakdown algae cells. It does work but it not a substitute for good old chlorine.
Four hours of salt water chlorination per day is all my pool has ever needed.
Yes mine exactly too. At 50%. In my case that's 13 gram of chlorine per hour so in total that's 52 grams. The pool has 70.000 litres of water and 4 grams of salt per litre. It also highly depends how much the pool is used per day.