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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Acid
1) Level of PH in your pool water – how corrosive it is (back to top)
2) Liquid you put in your pool to make water chemistry corrections (back to top)
Air Relief Valve
The small screw valve on the top of a pool filter by the pressure valve. It bleeds off air after you turn the pump on (back to top)
Algae
A plant type organism that can grow in a pool when not sanitized enough. Types: blue-green or black, mustard yellow, pink slim (back to top)
Algae brush
Metal brush used to brush off the top of the spores and allow chlorine to penetrate and kill itaaaaaaa back to top)
Algaecide
Surrounds the algae cell causing it to open so chlorine has better chance of killing it (back to top)
Alkalinity
Sometimes call Total Alkalinity – proper level helps PH balance and not cause extremes in PH that can cause many problems in chemistry (back to top)
Alkalinity increaser
Increases the total alkalinity reading. Sodium Bicarbonate – baking soda (back to top)
Automatic controller
Computerized device that controls all equipment functionality automatically (back to top)
Automatic Pool Cleaner
Device that automatically vacuums pools, example: Pentair Legend Cleaner (back to top)
B
Backwash
Reverses the flow of water through your pool filter to assist in cleaning it out (back to top)
Backwash Valve
The valve attached to pool filter to put in backwash or cleaning mode (back to top)
Balance
Proper chemical level to avoid common problems in pools that are not cared for. Problems can include: corrosive, scaling, swimmer irritation, surface damages and staining (back to top)
Ball valve
Valve to control water flow with a ball device in it (back to top)
Beam
The upper section of the vertical wall of a gunite pool or spa. A "raised beam" is one that extends above ground level (back to top)
Blower
An electrical unit that generates air pressure to provide the spa jets with bubbles (back to top)
Bromines
Bromine tied with ammonia will prevent it from killing bacteria in a spa. (back to top)
Bromine
Chemical product for sanitizing water. Usually used in spas, which operate at a higher temperature than a pool (back to top)
C
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium scale – forms crystals and can hinder circulation and cause rough deposits on surfacesaaaa (back to top)
Calcium Hardness
Amount of minerals in pool water (back to top)
Calcium hypochlorite
A form of chlorine shock (back to top)
Cantilever Edge
A pool deck of a poured or sprayed material that extends slightly beyond the edge of the pool negating the need for traditional coping (back to top)
Cartridge Filter
A filtration system that uses a fine mesh material to remove suspended contaminants from the water. This type of filter requires a 30 minute cleaning with a garden hose six to ten times per year. (back to top)
Chloramine
Chlorine tied up with ammonia to a level that doesn’t allow it to kill bacteria oxidize organic wastea (back to top)
Chlorine
Chemical used to sanitize pools. Comes in several forms and strengths. Note: free chlorine is the available chlorine in the water to sanitize. Combined Chlorine is the chlorine that is tied up and not available to sanitize and total chlorine is the measure of both free and combined chlorine (back to top)
Chlorinator
A unit that holds chlorine tablets and automatically treats the water (back to top)
Clarifier
Chemical that assist main filter by combining particles that would normally be to small for the filter to catch into larger particles allowing the filter capture them. (back to top)
Coping
This refers to the material that covers the first nine to twelve inches of horizontal surface at the pools edge. It can be brick, flagstone, concrete, or one of many natural or man-made materials (back to top)
Copper
A metal that can be found in pools. Can stain with blue or aqua color spots (back to top)
Corrosive
Water condition that is too acidic. If left uncorrected it can cause increased wear on metal parts of the pool and equipment. Can also cause etching of walls in a gunite pool (back to top)
Cyanuric acid
Also called conditioner or stabilizer. Added to assist chlorine in not dissipating as quickly in sunlight (back to top)
D
Deck
This term describes the patio that is attached to the pool itself. Typical materials and finishes include brushed concrete, spraycrete, cool deck, sundek, flagstone, and pea gravel. The deck often accounts for 20 to 30% of a pool budget (back to top)
DE Filter
A filtration system that uses a layer of fine powder (diatomaceous earth) to remove contaminants from the water. This type of filter requires a ten minute backwashing process about once a month that is accomplished by adjusting the valves. The DE powder is relatively inexpensive but must be replaced after each back washing (back to top)
Diverter valve
Iin plumbing used to change the direction of water flow (back to top)
Dry acid
Dry form of acid that can be broadcast thoughout the pool to lower PH and/or Total Alkalinityaaaa (back to top)
F
Float Valve
Valve at the bottom of a skimmer to control the water flow (back to top)
G
Gas Heater
Spas and heated pools require a large heater to quickly heat the large volume of water necessary. These are fueled by propane or natural gas and are often the most expensive piece of equipment (back to top)
Gate Valve
Valve that twists on and off lower or raising a gate internally (back to top)
Grid
Can be call grid or filter element. Device inside a dE filter that is coated with DE powder and traps particles in the water (back to top)
Gunite
A type of concrete that is applied with a sprayer to form the pool shell. It can also be used to form slides, waterfalls, pads, and other features (back to top)
H
Head pressure
Pressure and resistance of water through a pipe (back to top)
Heater
Equipment used to heat water in the pool and/or spa (back to top)
Hypochlorous acid
Bacteria killing chlorine (back to top)
I
In-Floor Cleaning System
A system of pop-up jets in the floor of a pool that direct settled debris to an active drain for removal (back to top)
Inlet
A pvc fitting in the side of the pool which returns water from the equipment pad (back to top)
Ion generating system
A sanitizing system that utilizes copper abd silver ions to sanitize the pool. This system does require chlorine shock (back to top)
Iron
Metal that can form in pool water. May produce brown or rust color stains (back to top)
L
Lap Pool
A long, narrow pool, usually about four feet deep for swimming laps (back to top)
Lateral
usually a series of small perforated pipes at the base of a sand filter that forces water through the sand bed for filtration (back to top)
Leaf net
Flat pool net attached to the end of a multi-purpose pole the skin surface debris (back to top)
Leaf rake
Deep net attached to the end of a multi-purpose pole the skins surface debris (back to top)
M
Main Drain
The grate at the bottom of a pool or spa – should be equipped as a dual drain with suction or with an anti-vortex system to avoid hair of body entrapment (back to top)
Modular Media
Large capacity cartridge filter (back to top)
Muriatic acid
Dilute hydrochloric acid to lower PH level on pool water (back to top)
N
Non-chlorine shock
Does not contain chlorine but can oxidize organic waste (back to top)
O
O ring
Rubber ring used on equipment for better seal. Example, the o-ring under the main circulation pump see through lid. (back to top)
Oxidation
Chemical process of burning up and eliminating ammonia compounds, nitrogen compounds and swimmer waste. A chlorine or non-chlorine shock may be used (back to top)
Ozone Molecule containing 3 atoms of oxygen to oxidize the water. For pool sanitizing this product is called an ozonator. (back to top)
P
pH
Potential hydrogen ion concentration. The number represents how acidic or basic the water is in a pool or spa. Probably the most important factor in pool water chemistry (back to top)
Plaster
A smooth cement coating that seals a gunite pool shell. The color of the plaster determines the apparent color of the water. White = Light Blue, Grey = Deep Blue, Green = Blue/Green, Brown = Emerald Green Water (back to top)
Prime
Process you sometimes have to use to make a pump run as intended. Full of water, no air bubbles and not dry. Dry run can burn your pump out (back to top)
Psi
Pounds per square inch. A measure of pressure (back to top)
Pole
Multi-purpose maintenance pole has attachment holes and can extend to a long length. Can be used with a brush, vacuum head, leaf net or rake (back to top)
Pressure gauge
Gauge on top of the filter to measure pressure. It will indicate when the filter needs to be cleanedaa (back to top)
Pump
Pool equipment located on your main equipment pad. Circulates water from the pool to the equipment and back to the pool (back to top)
Pump basket
Basket at the front of the pump usually under a clear lid so that you can check for debris in the basket. Generally need to be emptied about once a week or more (back to top)
R
Reagent
Chemical used with test kits to test water chemistry (back to top)
S
Salt System
A system that uses electricity to disinfect water with chemicals extracted from salt (back to top)
Sand Filter
Filtration system that removes contaminants by forcing the water through a vessel of sand. These require backwashing about once a month and have no need for replacement chemicals. (back to top)
Sanitizer
Chemical used to sanitize pools, kill bacteria and oxidize organics waste material (back to top)
Scaling
Usually found in pools with PH levels too high and/or calcium hardness. Scaly crystal deposits in equipment, plumbing or on the walls (back to top)
Sequester
In water chemistry used to bind metals and scaling products before they adhere on surfacesaaaaaaa (back to top)
Shock
Adding extra chlorine to burn out wastes. Assists in making combines chlorine active again, kills bacteria, increases residual chlorine that many times is the cause of the
unusual odor in the water (back to top)
Sight Glass
Clear window that allows you to view pool water as it backwashes. When backwashing is completed the murky colored water will be clear again
Skimmer
Hole on the side of the pool at water level. Contains a basket with a suction line to it. Skims the top of the pool fo debris before it falls to the bottom (back to top)
Skimmer Weir
Door/flap over the skimmer which opens to the pool. Keeps skimmed items from floating back into the pool. (back to top)
Soda ash
Water chemicals to raise PH levels. Sodium Bicarbonate (back to top)
Sodium dichlor
Granular chlorine (back to top)
Sodium hypohlorite
Liquid chlorine (back to top)
Sports Pool
A pool of various shapes and sizes that accommodate a net or goals for games such as volleyball, basketball, or water-polo. They are usually three to four feet deep at the ends and four and a half or five feet deep in the middle (back to top)
Spa
Any vessel that holds hot water for soaking. Most popular spas are an integral part of the gunite pool, have multiple jets, and use the same circulation system as the pool. Hot tubs usually refer to wooden vessels and Jacuzzi is a brand of spa equipment (back to top)
Sweeper System
A device that uses water pressure or suction to mechanically remove debris from the floor and walls of a pool (back to top)
Swim Spa
Sometimes called a "Spool.” Swim spas are usually about eight feet by twelve feet and have a large jet capable of generating a current to swim against. (back to top)
T
Test kit
Kit to test pool water. Contains reagents, test strips or dpd tablets (back to top)
Total dissolved solids
Measure in ppm of all minerals and chemicals in pool water for saturation levels (back to top)
Trichlor
Stabilized chlorine tablets. Used to sanitize pool water (back to top)
Tile
Builders use this term to refer to whatever material lines the inside vertical rim of the pool and spa at the waterline. Typically, the "tile" extends from just under the coping edge downward six inches. It can be ceramic tile, porcelain tile, flagstone, or marble. Since any floating contaminants tend to collect here, a non-porous tile surface works best (back to top)
V
Vac head
Attached to pool pole to manually vacuum the pool. Usually hooked up to the skimmer of a dedicated suction line (back to top)