Most swimming pool owners would agree that their pool is a great addition to their home. Pools add value to a home, they are great for entertaining, and they provide homeowners with a place to relax and enjoy those hot summer months. However, the cost of running a swimming pool can be high.

The average swimming pool pump can use as much energy as all other home appliances combined. They can cost $1,000 per year or more to run! A new type of pump, though, solves this problem. Variable speed pumps can cut energy costs by up to 90%, operating on just pennies per day. Installing a variable speed pump can save a swimming pool owner up to $1,500 in utility costs every year.

Our favorite variable speed pump is the Pentair IntelliFlo. These pumps use a unique, advanced motor technology that provides a base savings of 30%. IntelliFlo uses a permanent magnet motor, like the ones used in hybrid cars, instead of a traditional induction motor. These types of motors are more energy efficient and will save you money right off the bat.

IntelliFlo is a smart pump. It comes equipped with variable speed capability, digital controls, and proprietary software that allow custom programming of ideal pump speeds for the specific tasks of your swimming pool. The speed of the pump will automatically adjust for filtering, heating, cleaning—even spa jets, waterfalls, and more. Older, one-speed pumps come with an unchangeable preset speed. This speed is almost never the optimal speed for any of the tasks of a swimming pool. We all know from driving a car: slower speeds are more efficient. When pump speeds are reduced by half, energy consumption is just one-eighth of what was previously used. Even “high efficiency” single-speed, two-speed, and multi-speed pumps that cannot be adjusted are substantially less efficient than a variable speed pump.

Another benefit of the IntelliFlo pump? It is unbelievably quiet. The permanent magnet motor that gives you outstanding energy savings is also a totally enclosed fan cooled (TEFC) design. Because of this, and the slower operating speeds, IntelliFlo is the quietest pump you can install. When running at a typical speed, you can barely hear the pump.

IntelliFlo also has a longer trouble-free service life than conventional pumps. The advanced motor produces less heat and vibration, and the TEFC design protects against the threats of an outdoor environment. The pump features built-in diagnostics that detect and correct conditions that cause premature failure. This protects against overheating, freezing, and voltage irregularities.

Whether you’re building a new swimming pool, need a new pump, or looking for a way to cut costs, a Pentair IntelliFlo variable speed pump is a great idea. While a variable speed pump does cost a bit more up front, the pump will pay for itself in the first year of operation. It is a great way to save money on utilities and do your part to go green.

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We’ve already had calls this spring from homeowners who have taken water out of their pool with a pump themselves, and it’s causing some issues. We’ve had one call each on gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl. Here’s what’s happening.
Gunite Pool Pop-Out

The Gunite Pool was pumped out for the winter, though some water was left in the pool. Over the winter, the ground water forces were greater than the force of the water holding the pool in the ground and significant pop-out damage happened. It could have been a hydrostatic valve malfunction as well that contributed. This can be prevented by leaving your pool full to just below the returns when you winterize the pool and then let the water over the winter fill up your pool, either on top of the plastic cover, or through the mesh of a safety cover (this is the best choice).

Fiberglass Pool Crack

In the next pool, the homeowner was pumping the water off of their plastic cover, of a fiberglass pool. In this case, the pool didn’t pop, but it did shift and “twist” causing a crack in the surface of the fiberglass. This is a significant repair, if not complete tear out and redo situation. A fiberglass pool, especially in Michigan or areas with groundwater, you must keep the pool almost full at all times. The water level is usually left above a typical closing level in a fiberglass pool, for added insurance that it will remain in place where it is supposed to! Brick pavers around a pool are also a bad idea. They allow water to travel between the stones to settle at the bottom of the pool. Pools should have concrete around them, with the expansion joint caulked, and any drainage issues should be addressed so water drains away from the pool and into another area in the yard.

This is a fiberglass pool pop-out that happened in 2011. When plastic covers are used and a “sump” type pump is placed on top of a pool, typically by a homeowner, the water is pulled through the weave of the plastic cover, so while a homeowner thinks they are draining the cover only, they are actually draining the pool.

Vinyl Liner Pool

We had an early spring call from a vinyl liner pool homeowner this year. He was draining his pool cover with a pump and noticed the pool water level was significantly low. A vinyl liner pool suffers the least damage if it’s pumped out too low, but issues can occur. A liner can float, and wrinkle when the water below the pool shifts the liner out of place. The advice to the homeowner this spring was to bring in a truck or two of water right away, before waiting for the opening of the pool (scheduled for a month later), to prevent any issues from occurring. If you do end up with a floating liner (as the photos show), you can Ask the Pool Guy to help. He’s got a system to remove and reset most vinyl liners that have issues that still have some elasticity to them. The older a liner, the less change we have of this procedure being successful, and a liner replacement may be necessary.

When in doubt, hire a professional. Always make sure your pool has the optimum amount of water in it – it’s important!

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This pool is really cool! It was built fairly recently, though in 2011 due to a storm, the barbecue was knocked into the pool and caused some damage. The great news is that it was covered by the homeowners insurance policy, and with a quick liner replacement the pool is as good as new and back to original (if not better) condition!

This amazing pool was built in Novi, MI, very near Northville, MI by Legendary Escapes – designed and built by Ask the Pool Guy, Al Curtis. It’s perfect for entertaining, lounging, sitting on the shallow step area, or the deep end loveseat. It was built as a freeform vinyl liner pool, with a raised spa and wrap around entry step. The firepit and large textured concrete patio offer this backyard a great oasis to unwind, relax, and enjoy life! (View the full photo gallery on our Facebook Page Here).

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This liner was replaced in a backyard in Livonia, Michigan, today! Look at how much new life a liner can bring to a backyard. From the old/faded liner to something bright and new.  The pool is about 15 years old, and was still functional – the homeowner wanted to update the look of the pool and get a few more years of enjoyment out of a pretty backyard pool.

Ask the Pool Guy, he’s been building and servicing vinyl liner pools for years – and liners are one of his favorite things to do! If you think you’d like your liner replaced, please call or email for a free quote. We still have some room to fit you into our 2012 spring vinyl liner replacement schedule. Let us know if you’d like a new look in your pool!

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http://www.facebook.com/askthepoolguy — http://www.legendaryescapes.com – Welcome to Ask the Pool Guy TV on Location: Atlantic City, NJ – Al Curtis, Ask the Pool Guy, visits the Atlantic City Pool and Spa show, meets the vendors and talks about the industry. He’s building a bridge between new innovations, the consumers, and the industry itself. Some of his conversations include: Jorge “The Kafco Guy” / Zack from EcoPool, Dolphin, Blue Square, Botanical Rodent Repellent, and more.
As The Ask The Pool Guy says: “Everybody doing a little bit is great and everybody doing a little bit together is awsome.”

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What do you know about bio film in swimming pool or spa plumbing? You’ll want to watch this video to find out more about it, and what you can do to remove it from your swimming pool and spa for cleaner water and better equipment maintenance.

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Pool Chemicals

If you’re new to the swimming pool world, you might be wondering what you’ll need to get started with your pool. What chemicals should you have on hand? What equipment will you need? Walking into or clicking around in a pool store, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of products you can choose. The list of things you’ll need on a regular basis, though, is pretty manageable. Here’s a basic list of supplies you should keep around:

Link to the Ask the Pool Guy Store and List of Products Here

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