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JC Pool Services - Brisbane Covid-19 Update (8/01/2021)

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Brisbane Covid-19 Update (8/01/2021)

To All our Customers Due to Unforseen curcumstances with the recent outbreak we will be closed From 5pm Friday the 8th until Tuesday the 12th when we open unless otherwise advised. We are sorry about any inconvenience that this may cause. Stay safe. 

From the JC Team 

For more information for  call 1300 117 665 or contact one of our three pool shop locations in Norman Park, Fairfield, Wishart.

JC Pool Services Monthly - July

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Swimming pools and covid-19 best practices

This month we talk about the conditions and give a summary of the best way to own a swimming pool and live with COVID-19.

If swimming pools are being chlorinated in accordance with current recommendations & best practices, Is this sufficient to inactivate COVID-19 virus? And should users do anything differently?

Can chlorine Deactivate COVID-19

The World Health Organization states that a residual concentration of free chlorine of >0.5ppm in the pool after at least 30 minutes of contact time, at a pH of under 8 is sufficient to kill Covid-19 viruses, which means that not only can chlorine act as a disinfectant, but can also tackle the virus taken into the pool by a swimmer.

UV Sanitisers

UV disinfection amplifies the efficiency of chlorine based sanitizing methods, to give an extra level of protection.

What to Remember

Maintaining the correct level of FREE CHLORINE and the correct pH is essential to provide disinfection. To maximise safety:

  1. Maintain the pH between 7.2 & 7.6, ensure you are adding the required amount of Hydrochloric Acid.
  2. Ensure that the level of FREE CHLORINE is held above 0.5-1ppm at all times.
  3. To amplify the spectrum of disinfection, the use of UV is highly recommended.
  4. Continuous measurement of pH & Chlorine levels, using an analyser, is recommended, so that the users are fully informed about the water’s quality.
  5. Keep the alkalinity in check, as that will help to maintain the pH balanced.
  6. Consider using a chlorine dioxide precursor, as this will remove any biofilm build-up further reducing the chance of bacteria and virus build-up within the water.
  7. If you are treating an algal bloom, use an algaecide in conjunction with the chlorine. These products work synergistically in treating the algae and will allow the chlorine to do its job of killing off bacteria and viruses.

Other Suggestions

Adequate personal hygiene should be maintained, washing your hands with soap is the minimum, though it is recommended that the bathers shower before & after swimming. Keep the surrounding areas of the pool including showers, ladders & equipment disinfected using products specially indicated for this use.

If you have any other questions regarding the swimming pool topics covered above do not hesitate to call 1300 117 665 or visit one of our three pool store locations, Norman Park, Fairfield and Wishart.

Zodiac EvoluX iQ Robotic Pool Cleaner

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The new Zodiac EvoluX iQ Robotic Pool Cleaner available this season the next evolution in Zodiac’s long pedigree in robotic swimming pool cleaners, combining the best of older line ups and providing advanced features to EvoluX range. Ranges of the EvoluX iQ will include the EX4000 iQ, EX5000 iQ, EX6000 iQ, to find out which model will suit you best contact us today.

The new Zodiac EvoluX iQ robotic swimming pool cleaner

New features for the Zodiac EvoluX robotic pool cleaner line up is as follows:

  1. Standard 100 micron filter basket, for all those fine debris getting the best of both worlds with a large basket to capture big leaves but still able to filter down fine enough to get little debris like sand.
  2. Optional 60 micron basket for those fine dust particles.
  3. Clear window over the canister that allows a visual inspection of how much debris is in the cleaner without having to remove it from the pool.
  4. SensorNavSystem
  5. A smart cycle that calculates the optimal time for each swimming pool.
  6. Pressure sensor providing superior wall climbing and water line cleaning.
  7. Water temerator sensor
  8. Climate Care Certified

A new feature that use to be reserved for the top the line swimming pool cleaners in the Zodiac range that has now become a standard to the EvoluX range is iAqualink control allowing for control over wifi anywhere in the world, providing there is an internet connection. iAqualink allows for remote control modem setting a seven day timer for when you are away on holidays for that long business trip, lift system to help remove the pool cleaner pointing the cleaner directly at you and driving up and out of the pool with little assistance, smart cleaning mode and display of water temperature.

The Zodiac EvoluX robotic pool cleaner range will be available this summer 2020.

For more information regarding the Zodiac EvoluX range of swimming pool cleaners call 1300 117 665 or contact one of our three pool shop locations in Norman Park, Fairfield, Wishart.

How long should you run your Salt Water Chlorinator

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Zodiac eXO Salt Water Chlorinator

This is a general guideline for saltwater chlorinator and sanitation demand for swimming pools, it does also apply to mineral swimming pools such as MagnaPool, Acquatherepe, Theralux, and others, it does not take into account specialty conjunction sanitation methods such as ozone or UV remember everyone’s pool is different nothing's the same and nothing is standardized (within reason).

Saltwater chlorinators for swimming pools are rated in GPH (Grams Per Hour) which is how many grams of chlorine an hour it will produce when set to 100% output. Some manufacturers incorporate this idea into their SKU or model names such as the Auto Chlor RP25 from AIS will produce 25 grams of chlorine per hour when the chlorinator is set to 100%.

If you do not have a saltwater chlorinator and are looking to find which size would be best for your pool please call us on 1300 117 665. For the next part let's assume your pool is already using a chlorinator to provide chlorine.

Everyone's pool is different and thus require different sanitation requirements per day, this will depend greatly on the number of bathers (people using it) a day and for how long the swimming periods are, the size of the swimming pool, environmental issues such as trees or debris from a construction, the weather, any other sanitation methods used and more. With those factors taken into account the simplest way to find the required daily amount of chlorine is to test your water frequently so adjustments to the output can be made it is not a set and forget device as too low of chlorine output can make the pool unsafe too high will damage your equipment and pool not to mention the effects on the bathers.

MagnaPool mineral swimming pool by Zodiac

We recommend testing your water every two weeks in summer (or heavy swimming periods) and monthly in winter. This will help you to be able to adjust the required amount of chlorine your pool needs to be balanced between 2ppm and 4ppm.

So let’s say its summer you have put your single speed filter pump to 8 hours a day because you want to turn the pool volume through the filter twice a day and you have already done your flow rate calculations and that seems sufficient as the safe practice is to turn it over at least once a day regardless. Having a 25 GPH chlorinator set to 100% will produce 200 grams of chlorine a day at 50% it will produce 100 grams a day simply multiplying the output of the chlorination by the hours it runs. Test the pool water in a week's time and make adjustments, a home test kit that checks just chlorine and pH is an invaluable tool.

For more information regarding Saltwater Chlorinators for swimming pools or spas 1300 117 665 or alternatively you can contact us by email or see us in store at one of our three store locations in Norman Park, Fairfield & Wishart.

How to Floc a swimming pool

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Zodiac Granular FlocculantA lot of rain can cause overflow or garden run off to enter your swimming pool dumping rocks, mud, plant life and all kinds of debris into your swimming pool. Depending on the amount it is wise to floc the pool dropping all debris buoyant in the water to the bottom of the pool allowing a quick vacuum to waste clearing the water in a 24 - 48 hours rather than weeks of normal filtration.

There are a couple of things to consider when floccing a swimming pool first we look over the equipment, most media filters like sand or glass filters have a selector valve at the top called a Multi-Port Valve or MPV which will allow you to select a “waste” function taking all debris out to the same line as when you backwash.

Cartridge filters are a little bit different, some systems have a three way valve after the first some have one before which is preferable. If the three way valve is after the cartridge the element will have to be removed when vacuuming to waste.

Floccing a swimming pool with a Sand or Glass Filter & Cartridge Filter

  1. Increase the water level to the top of the pool or as high as possible as most pool pumps average around 300 to 400 liters per minute. (if the water level falls to low and the skimmer starts to suck air stop vacuuming and top the level backup.)
  2. Remove any vacuum plates and pool cleaners.
  3. For best results increase the pH level to approximately 8.2.
  4. Make sure that the pump is off and change the valve selection on the Multi-Port Valve around to recirculate. If your pool has a cartridge filter remove the cartridges.
  5. Turn on the pump, for variable speed or eco pumps remember to change the speed to high.
  6. For granular floc dilute the product in a bucket of the pool water and apply the solution around the edges of the pool, for liquid floc simply add the chemical to the edge of the pool.
  7. Run the pump for 1-2 hours.
  8. Turn off the filtration until the sediment settles at the bottom of the pool, this can take 12 to 36 hours your mileage may vary.
  9. Set up the vacuum, attach the vac plate to the skimmer and change the valve around to waste then wait until the debris have dropped.
  10. Turn the pump on and vacuum the sediment to waste.
  11. After vacuuming all the debris turn the pump off and change the any valves you had back to normal filtration and add the filter cartridges back in if required.
  12. Balance the pool water chemistry, in extreme cases a second treatment may be required.

Note: Not all swimming pool equipment is the same, some have special valve sequences or automation required for “wasted” water if you are unsure of the wastewater procedure for your swimming pool and require a service call 1300 117 665 as this is a general guide and some steps may not apply to all swimming pools.