4 Secrets They Don't Want You To Know About Pools!

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

Glad to come across this guy. Learning quickly how I am not a pool guy but appreciate people who get real about pools.

Great video Steve!

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.

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

#5 is THEY don't want you to know about Swimming Pool Steve.😎👍

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!

Thank you

Thanks!

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.

LOL! Loved your opening here, Steve. I laughed.

Swimming pool Steve! Thanks man, essential info for newby pool and spa owners.

You're awesome! 😁🤙🏽

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?

Do you recommend fiberglass or concrete pools?

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.

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.

i'm watching this video without having the money to build the pool, but who knows.

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.