Sanitizing Equipment

The natural evolution of any system, over time, is toward greater automation. Once we dumped chlorine into pools by hand, from a bucket, using a measuring cup (of course, some still do). More and more pool owners are coming to prefer equipment that will handle the task for them. Not only does it relieve the responsibility, but it does a better job.

Jacuzzi Hot Tubs and Sundance Spas have added factory-installed UV water purification to their 2012 hot tub models. The new water sanitizing system, dubbed CLEARRAY, uses ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms in spa water as they pass through a light chamber in the plumbing.

Though chlorine has a long and glorious history of killing dangerous things in people's pools, some homeowners treat it like a pariah. In their estimation, it presents as many problems as it prevents. The good news is that you can cater to these chlorine-averse customers by selling them on ozone, UV or mineral treatment.

ozone and UV sanitizing systems, some of them quite sophisticated, to give customers the option of either lowering chlorine levels to a minimum or eliminating them altogether.

Few technologies in memory have risen to dominate our industry as quickly as salt chlorine generators. Estimates of the percentage of new pools receiving them range from 40 to 70 percent. But while this technology does reduce the demands on the pool owner, it does not eliminate them entirely.

Clearly, chlorine is not the only answer to our water treatment needs and warrants scrutiny, but it's not the all-encompassing demon that some might have us believe.

A look at how UV and ozone sanitizers work and why they're gaining momentum.

Builder and water quality advocate Steve Kenny is goin' mobile with a truck-mounted advanced water treatment that comes to the pool.

We take an in-depth look at UV, from common misconceptions and maintenance to choosing the correct unit for an application.

Misunderstandings about salt systems have lingered among consumers.

AOP, or advanced oxidation processing, combines ozone and UV to clear contaminants, cut chlorine, improve bather experience and help protect their health.

A service tech explains why customers in his area are skeptical of salt chlorine generators.

A primer on electrolytic chlorine generators, from how they function to product precautions.

Better filtration comes through education, experience.

E. coli lives in the intestinal tract. When it migrates to pool water (and is not sanitized), it becomes a hazard.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes the majority of skin rashes and infections resulting from pool and spa use

A look at how sanitizers kill algae, bacteria and viruses.

How do these pools manage to maintain 66 million gallons of cystal clear water?

No matter the motive, reducing energy consumption is always a good idea.

Identify and control all types of algae in pool water.

Legionella, an airborne bacteria, can pose a serious risk to swimmers. Here’s how to prevent it.

When you encounter a pool that falls outside of the normal array of pool shapes, turn to a chemical method to measure volume.

Learn about the creation of the molecule and its place in pool and spa sanitizing.

A salt chlorine generator is not just a product you sell and walk away from. Instead, they require ongoing customer support and education, which could lead to a regular stream of profit for your business.

Learn how to correct a common mistake in the use SCGs.

A true staple of residential pool care, trichlor has gained prominence due to its straightforward application of the pool industry’s ubiquitous sanitizer, chlorine.

Learn about potassium monopersulfate and its role providing effective non-chlorine oxidation.

Move over, pHin. The smart water sensor market is rapidly growing with competitors racing to create devices that provide convenience as well as accuracy.

Ultraviolet pool systems — what they are, and what they do.

A look at the key players in the emerging in-pool smart sensors category.