• Carefully read all label instructions before using swimming pool chemical products
  
  
• Do not smoke, drink, or eat while using swimming pool chemical products
  
  
• Never mix swimming pool chemical products with other chemicals
  
  
• Always thoroughly wash your hands after using swimming pool chemical products
  
  
• Never handle swimming pool chemical products on or near food surfaces
  
  
• Always store swimming pool chemical products out of reach of children, pets, and food
  
  
• Always read and follow storage instructions on the swimming pool chemical product labels 

Help? For more troubleshooting help, please contact us. If you didn’t see your question on here, contact us and we’ll be glad to help with any questions you may have! Furthermore, we can add your question to our FAQ list to help out other pool owners like yourself!

The level of sanitizer in your pool or spa is referred to as “free available chlorine or bromine”. Organic matter (like tree leaves and grass) in swimming pool water makes sanitizers less effective. The recommended minimums are:

• Residential pools (both in ground and above ground): 1-3 pm
  
  
• Residential Spas and hot tubs: 3-5pm

Whether you choose chemical products or electrical devices to sanitize your pool or spa, a certain amount of sanitizer must be maintained to prevent disease causing microorganisms from multiplying. We recommend testing your pool or spa water daily.

The exact amount of sanitizer you need depends on many changing factors, like the number of bathers, frequency of use, contamination of water like suntan lotions and oils, water temperature, and the amount of recent rain.

• Saltwater swimming pools and spas rely on chlorine or bromine generating deices to sanitize the water. They need the same basic care as traditional pools and spas to control disease-causing microorganisms, algae, and organic matter. The main difference is that saltwater pools and spas rely on chlorine or bromine generating devices to sanitize the water, while traditional pools and spas can use chlorine or bromine chemical products.

There are four types of devices used in swimming pools and spas:

1. Chlorine and bromine generators use electrical energy to produce hypochlorous or hypobromous acid from salt, which in turn sanitizes the water.
   
   
2. Chemical dispensing devices are designed to automatically release hypochlorous or hypobromous acid from chlorine or bromine chemicals into swimming pools. The user’s manual should be carefully followed.
   
   
3. Ionizers product metal ions to control algae. You must still use chlorine-based or bromine-based products for sanitation. Ion and disinfectant levels should be checked frequently and electrodes replaced as needed.
   
   
4. Ozone-generating devices can be used to reduce organic matter in pool and sp water. Although these devices can be a useful complement to chlorine-based or bromine-based products, they do not replace them. The main purpose of ozone-generating devices is to oxidize organic matter.

• Health Canada has found that using copper sulphate-based algicides in swimming pools presents no significant danger to bathers. When used according to the label directions, copper sulphate algicide should not cause skin irritation for bathers. However, label directions should be carefully followed when handling undiluted copper sulphate-based products to reduce the potential for skin irritation.

• Copper sulphate-based swimming pool algicides can be used to control algae, improve water clarity, and reduce the amount of chlorine or bromine products needed. They do not control microorganisms like bacteria and viruses or eliminate the need for sanitizers like chlorine or bromine products. Because copper sulphate-based products do not control bacteria and viruses in swimming pool water, they must be used along with chlorine or bromine based sanitizers to protect bathers.

• Hot weather, sunlight, and low sanitizer levels can result in unwanted algae growth. Algae are not usually harmful to people, but can create a potential hazard by making pool and spa surfaces slippery and the water cloudy. Algae also make sanitizes less effective because more of the sanitizer is used up to control the algae instead of treating the possible harmful bacteria and viruses. A reduced sanitizer level makes it easier for bacteria and viruses to multiply.
  
  
• Using a sanitizer regularly should prevent the excessive growth of algae. However, you may also need algicides like copper sulphate-based or quaternary ammonium chloride-based products to tackle big algae problems. Denies that release metal ions into pool or spa water can also be used to control algae.

• It is important to use swimming pool and spa chemicals according to the directions on the label. The label tells you how much of the product to use and how to handle the product safely. Always read the label before using the product.
  
  
• Swimming pool and spa devices that generate or dispense a sanitizer have detailed instructions for use in the user’s manual, on the package, and on the device itself. Always read the label and the user’s manual before installing and using a device.

• Chlorine-based and bromine-based products are effective sanitizers that also control algae. When added to water, chlorine-based products release hypochlorous aid and bromine-based products produce hypobromous acid, the main chemical compounds responsible for sanitation in pools and spas. You can buy chlorine and broken either as a chemical (pucks, tablets, or liquid) or as a device such as a generator. Some types of chlorine or bromine chemicals can also be applied using a dispenser.

• The people using your swimming pool or spa can get sick if you don’t sanitize the water properly. Even clear water can harbour microorganisms. Possible illnesses include ear and stomach infections and skin rashes.
  
  
• The Water in swimming pools, and the hot water and low water volume of spas, are favourable, environments for microorganisms, like bacteria and viruses. Good sanitation reduces the numbers of microorganisms to safe levels. To keep those using your pool or spa safe, you must regularly test your water balance for adequate sanitizer levels, pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness. You need to test on a regular basis, especially during periods of high use. All types of pools and spas, including inflatable and kiddie pools, need to maintain proper water balance.

• Cartridge filters do not have a backwash valve. The system must be turned off and the cartridges taken out and soaked in a specialty cartridge filter cleaning solution. Then, you must wash them with a pressurized hose to remove all the chemicals and debris.

• Check all baskets for debris. This could restrict the flow and cause the pressure to drop.
  
  
• Check the gauge while the pump is running and then shut off the pump. If the gauge does not fall to zero, the gauge more than likely needs to be replaced.
  
  
• Check all the valves and make sure they are set properly. You could be directing the water to several different areas, which could drop the pressure considerably.

• Most of the time the filter is in need of cleaning. If you have a sand filter, then you need to backwash the filter until the water coming out of the back wash hose has become clear. If you have a cartridge filter, then you need to remove the cartridges, use a high-pressure hose with type of cartridge cleaner, and wash the cartridges clean.
  
  
• There is a possibility that it could be a faulty gauge. Turn the equipment off and watch and see if the gauge falls to zero. If it does not, then you probably just need a new gauge.
  
  
• Make sure all your valves are set correctly.