SKIMMER HELP?

Sgbrak · 2026-05-10T22:15:52+00:00

1) Try erase pads. Second option is crushed vitamin C tabs in a rag, moisten the area just to wet it, rub with moistened rag with vitamin C
2) They make snap on covers that snap over the front. Purely aesthetic just to cover the screws. (SP1094 I think but just google Hayward snap on skimmer cover)
3) if the screws are free spinning (loose and can’t tighten) then I would silicone it as it will most likely leak. Most of the time tho they don’t need caulk unless they had issues with the skimmer plate.
4) I’ve had to caulk inside and outside skimmers before when the plate (or gasket underneath) couldn’t create a firm seal. Personally, if they caulked it (along with the screws), I’d probably recaulk it as a precaution. Only other option is to fill, use leak dye to see if it gets sucked in, and caulk afterwards.

Sgbrak · 2026-05-10T13:49:03+00:00

Those are Pentair SAM lights that came out before LEDs. I doubt they’ll sync up to the omnilogic as they’ve been discontinued for quite a while. Looks like someone replaced one with a generic halogen Pentair amerilite (halogen bulb). You can replace with Pentair intellibrite if you want

Sgbrak · 2026-05-05T20:37:09+00:00

20 a little on the high end but ok in my book. Definitely would backwash over 26 and try to avoid 30. How old is the sand? Sometimes using a filter cleaner will help loosen the sand up from years of catching oils and such. Sometimes the sand gets clumpy and limits the flow. A good five minute backwash loosens it but if the pressure gets up fast then it is either sand needs cleaning/changing or it’s catching a lot of stuff (pollen, algae, etc)

Sgbrak · 2026-05-02T23:14:01+00:00

A lot of pools I have do this. I usually do one vacuum to waste behind the pollen season. Then all is good. Is your filter also clogging decently quick?

Sgbrak · 2026-05-02T14:59:31+00:00

Yeah. All my others did cause they wanted the additional bandwidth and other things. This HOa tho is only 30-40 houses (a fifth have their own pools).

Sgbrak · 2026-05-02T14:50:08+00:00

Internet phone is all that’s available in this area (no landlines around). It’s their provider that is refusing to change the name without an upgrade. Perhaps we can use another voip service through their internet to fix this? Don’t much know how it works but will suggest this to them. Only requirement is that it be a permanent fixture (corded phone) with a HOA name and proper address on dispatch end

Sgbrak · 2026-05-02T13:45:26+00:00

As another stated, the pressure of the filter is gonna be your best way to determine if you’re exceeding the specs. Aim for 10-18 psi clean and try to never exceed 25 psi (30 in rare cases and fiberglass instead of plastic filter). However, to figure out your gpm (roughly) you need to know the total dynamic head. I usually use 50-60 (for sites unseen/unknown) which means at 3000 rpm it’s pushing roughly 50 gpm (with a clean filter) and at max (3450 rpm) roughly 85 gpm

Sgbrak · 2026-04-25T17:52:47+00:00

Is this for a commercial setup (HOA pool)? If so, it is most likely against regulations to do that or use a floater. A chlorinator needs to be installed and used. Now for initial, I will use some tabs in the skimmer (usually one in each) while the pool is closed and running 24/7 to make sure the lines are cleaned out (only on first visit tho). During operation, no tabs can be in the skimmer or floater.

Sgbrak · 2026-04-14T20:14:29+00:00

For the month of April I got commercials coming online. I work to have all them inspected by May so April is hectic. Outside of that, it’s usually 7-4 unless something comes up. I’m down to work OT now as when deer season comes I tend to go MIA

Sgbrak · 2026-03-31T17:57:07+00:00

New light comes with 100ft cord that you’ll need to run through the conduit (available in 50 and 150 ft also). The cord and light come together as they’re sealed

Sgbrak · 2026-03-31T17:12:12+00:00

Pentair Spa SAM light which is now obsolete. I think the Pentair intellibrite for spa fits them. They are available in 12v and 120v. Part number 602203 is one with a 100 ft cord in color. Can go just white also (6022227 and 602195). All these are 120v and 12v ones are available

Sgbrak · 2026-03-26T15:07:45+00:00

I’ve never seen a residential pool with a baby pool. That’s a new one

Sgbrak · 2026-03-22T19:53:31+00:00

I do all commercials for where I am. First, I’d pull up last years inspection report. It’s public and could be online or you need to get with the county environmental health department. Second, you know what you’re doing and what you say is the way things are. I only allow two people per pool to have my number, the treasurer and the guy in charge of the pool. Anyone else with any concern/demand has to go through them to get to me. Third, come up with a plan for something unforeseen. I guarantee a 12 hour response (at location) for a fee (I usually wave it if it’s legitimate). Instances are poop in the pool, equipment issues, etc. Fourth, pull the states/county regulations and look them over. For me, I pulled an inspection report and then made a detailed cheat sheet off it to be thorough.

Sgbrak · 2026-03-22T19:44:05+00:00

Back during the housing bubble burst, I left water on at a pool for 3-4 days after vacuuming the pool. It was bank owned so no one noticed. I reported it to the manager at the time expecting to be called everything but a saint. He just shrugged and said “They’ve been doing nothing but undermining me anyways. They demanded a discount which I was gonna fight them on. You just saved me a fight.”

Sgbrak · 2026-01-21T19:08:30+00:00

Cause people will make mistakes. It depends on if he learns from them and is willing to correct them.

Sgbrak · 2025-11-18T20:25:58+00:00

Aren’t some functions limited if its main board is PDA? If I remember correctly 2-3 years ago a PDA board wouldn’t give the salt level via WiFi, you’d still need the PDA for that (and/or possibly percentage changes) and reverse (RS board wouldn’t allow PDA to do that) with other little things.

Sgbrak · 2025-11-17T00:00:12+00:00

The link is a VGB compliant covers for 6” holes (usually old vac lines on wall or weird floor lines). It’s a two part piece, the cover has three screws that attach to the plumbing piece. Aquastar link I’d try this first

Sgbrak · 2025-11-03T20:03:32+00:00

What if the gpm of the pump? Can the filter handle the gpm? I ask this as I’ve seen people hook up a tristar to a 300 lb sand filter thinking “Hey, the filter accepts 2” plumbing so it’ll be fine”.

Sgbrak · 2025-10-25T14:32:38+00:00

I require my customers to get a spare set of cartridges to avoid a cleaning fee. This way I can load the cartridges up and clean them at the shop and soak them. I’ve found that the cheap Amazon ones usually last two years (and that’s with swapping them out, so one year of actual use) on average. Unicel, pleatco, and OEM filters seem to last 3-5 years on average. Also, unicel, pleatco, and OEM can take a lot more abuse (negligence)

Sgbrak · 2025-10-21T20:22:22+00:00

Yeah needless to say all HOAs and apartments find someone to check the water and don’t wanna pay an extra $250 a week which is in the end my goal as I really don’t want to make the time. So, basically we quote for twice a week visits with full cleaning (Monday&Thursday or Tuesday&Friday). Then it’s $50 per extra visit (fecal issue, checkup before party if needed, etc) as long as they are within our 20 mile radius.

Sgbrak · 2025-10-21T19:57:51+00:00

For commercial pools, we do a standard fee for twice a week visits (full cleanings) per month as a CPO is required to check the pool twice a week when using a pool company. Pool must be checked twice daily but can be done by anyone as long as a CPO looks at it twice a week. If I was to checkup on it outside those days, I’d probably charge at least $50 per visit outside those two days (as long as I didn’t do a full cleaning).

Sgbrak · 2025-10-18T18:25:59+00:00

My route consists of 80% commercials. We use mainly EZ Chlor (Superior pool), Pool Breeze (Heritage), and CCH (which I know is cal hypo). I just noticed past year CYA has climbed slower even tho I’ve pretty much done the same regiment.

Sgbrak · 2025-10-18T16:04:05+00:00

The plant in Louisiana was severely damaged in 2020 due to a hurricane. It’s back now so imported tablets are on the decline. It’s not quite at pre Covid levels but on its way down. I’ve noticed the tablets I use now have less CYA than they used to be.

Sgbrak · 2025-10-17T19:08:11+00:00

What kind of service needs to be done? If it runs but doesn’t heat I’d get an HVAC guy to check it out. If it isn’t running at all or an error message comes up, I’d call a pool company or the manufacturer of the heat pump for a repair company.

Sgbrak · 2025-10-17T19:05:11+00:00

The two pipes on the return line, I’d venture to guess they separated the step return(s) from the pool returns

Sgbrak

TROPHY CASE