Empire Pools Inc.

Cleaning your pool
1. Turn pump off. Make sure that your skimmer and pump strainer baskets are clean.

2. Adjust skimmer flaps (located underneath each skimmer basket). Open the flap in the skimmer closest to the pump and filter all the way, and close the other skimmer(s) flap(s). You will vacuum though the skimmer closest to the pump and filter.If you have a main drain, it should be closed to afford maximum suction through the skimmer. Turn valve to shut off the main drain.

3. Turn on your pump and check your skimmer for water movement to ensure strong suction. Stretch out your vacuum hose along the side of your pool. Snap the vacuum head into the end of the vacuum pole. Slip one end of the vacuum hose onto the vacuum head. If you have a swivel cuff on your vacuum hose, make sure the swivel end goes onto the vacuum head.

4. Prime the hose. Place the vacuum head (with the hose and pole attached into the pool. Place the hose end (you have in your hand), against the return fitting and allow the water to "blowout" or displace the air in the vacuum hose. The vacuum head will rise and bubble. When it has settled to the bottom of the pool, cup your hand over the vacuum hose and carry it to the skimmer closest to the pump and filter.

5. Place the skim vacuum plate on the end of the hose. Bring the hose over the coping and place it directly on the skimmer basket. Begin vacuuming!

6. Move the vacuum head slowly. If the vacuum head is moved too rapidly it will stir up sediment and your results will be less than satisfactory when the dirt has settled requiring a second vacuum.

7. When completed, disconnect, remove and drain hose before storing. Return skimmer flaps and valves to their normal operating positions. Check filter pressure gauge to see if the filter needs to be back washed.

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Helpful Tips:
Do not lift the vacuum head out of the water or you will lose your prime.
Disregard your filter pressure reading it usually drops while vacuuming.
Disregard air in your pump basket.
Check skimmer basket periodically if the pool has a lot of leaves or other debris in it.
Backwash the filter if the pool is very dirty, and emptying the skimmer basket does not restore suction.
If suction is too strong, open the other skimmer flap 1/8 of the way.

Pool Maintanence
Fill your chlorinator with 6 – 7 chlorine tabs on the same day each week. Do not exceed 7 tabs unless specifically directed to do so. Chlorine tabs dissolve like bars of soap, do not wait until there are none left in your chlorinator. Add them on the same day of the week, 7 days apart. Test your pool water twice a week. If your water test indicates a low chlorine level, turn up your chlorinator. If your test indicates a high chlorine level, lower your chlorinator. Bather load, rainfall and sun exposure will affect the amount of chlorine your pool will require.

Shock your pool at least once a week (we recommend lithium based granular shock), twice per week when it is very hot, or the bather load is high. You should add half a pound of granular shock, premixed in water, for every 10,000 gallons of pool water. You should only shock your pool in the evening, as the sun burns off the chlorine.
Algaecide should be added once per week as a preventative measure. Follow the instructions on the bottle for the "maintenance" dose.

It's easier to avoid getting algae, then killing off an algae bloom during July and August's hot sunny days!

Filter Do's and Dont's
Skimmer Water Level: Ensure that the pools water level is halfway up the skimmer faceplate. This is the normal operating level, (even with the third screw on the faceplate as you count from the bottom up).

Skimmer Basket / Throat: Keep the skimmer basket clean and make sure the skimmer throat is not obstructed. Adjust the skimmer flap, (located at the bottom of each skimmer) the one in the skimmer closest to the pump should be half-open, any others should be open all the way.

Pump Strainer: Open pump to ascertain basket is clean, intact and seated properly. Never operate your pump without water or the strainer basket in the pump. Before closing, fill the pump housing with water. Replace the housing cover, making sure the gasket is in position so no dirt or grit will prevent a tight seal.

Filter Pressure Gauge: When starting the pump, it may take a short time for the filter pressure to normalize due to the presence of air in the suction lines. By opening the air bleeder valve located on the top of your filter to expel the air more rapidly. When the air has been expelled, the pressure gauge reading should be 10-15 psi on most filters (15-20 psi on systems with heaters).

Diatomaceous Earth Filters: Add DE to the skimmer closest to the pump (with the skimmer flap wide open) once the water comes out of the returns in a steady stream. Add the DE slowly to the skimmer, or premix the DE in a bucket of water and then add it to the skimmer. Once done, readjust the skimmer flap, and bleed the air out of the filter.

Clear Water Tips
Test - your pool water twice a week. If your water test indicates a low chlorine level, turn up your chlorinator. If your test indicates a high chlorine level, lower your chlorinator. Bather load, rainfall and sun exposure will affect the amount of chlorine your pool will require.

Tabs -fill your chlorinator with 6 – 7 chlorine tabs on the same day each week. Do not exceed 7 tabs unless specifically directed to do so. Chlorine tabs dissolve like bars of soap, do not wait until there are none left in your chlorinator.
Shock -your pool at least once a week, twice per week when it is very hot, or the bather load is high. You should add a half pound of shock, for every 10,000 gallons of pool water. You should only shock your pool in the evening, as the sun burns off the chlorine.

Algaecide -should be added once per week as a preventative measure. Use 5 ounces of 30% Algaecide per ten thousand gallons of pool water. It is less expensive to add this product weekly, then it is to clear up a green pool when it occurs.
pH -needs to be checked twice a week and maintained within 7.2 to 7.6 on your test strip. If your Total Alkalinity is not above 100 PPM your pH will have a tendency to drift, so always adjust Total Alkalinity first then retest and adjust pH if needed.

We suggest that you have your pool water tested professionally twice per month and immediately after opening, and prior to closing your pool.

Preventative maintenance costs less than clearing up your pool after it has turned green!