Question: How do I make my pool even warmer?
            Answer:
•    If the night time temperature is below 68 degrees or if it is between October-April, use a pool blanket to prevent heat loss. Use the blanket and give the system three sunny days to heat your pool. If this does not solve the problem, request a technician to come out to your house.
•    If you are using a pool blanket and your pool is still too cold, check your pool timer. For optimum performance, we recommend the timer be set for operation from 9am to 5pm. If you are uncertain how to set your control. If you are still uncertain, call your customer service representative for help.
•    If the two items above are okay, clean your pool filter. This will allow your entire system to flow better.
Question: Is my pool chemistry balanced?
Answer:
The following information will assure the proper function of your AutoLEC. Many things are dependent on proper pool water conditions. It is important to manually balance your pool chemistry according to the following guidelines:

Bi-Weekly
o    Check the chlorine levels: Free chlorine should be 1.0-3.0 ppm or bromine should be 2.0-4.0 ppm. Adjust output of your system depending on results of these tests. Excessive chlorine or bromine residuals (greater than 4.0 ppm) will cause erosion and/or corrosion of any metal components in contact with pool water.
o    Check the pH levels: pH should be 7.2-7.8 ppm. Correct pH level is critical for proper oxidation and to help prevent scale build up.
Monthly
o    Check calcium hardness: It should be 150-300 ppm.
o    Check total alkalinity: It should be 80-150 ppm.
o    Check Cyanuric Acid (stabilizer): It should be 60-80 ppm.
o    Check the salt level: It should be 2000-3000 ppm.
o    Check your cell and clean with 1 part muriatic acid and 4 parts water if there is any scale build-up.
The presence of algae does not signify a malfunction in the unit. If algae appears, brush the pool to get the algae in suspension and shock the pool.
Other suggested maintenance: Most salt purchased has an anti-caking additive in it that contains a small amount of iron. When large quantities of salt are left on the pool floor to dissolve slowly, this can cause staining. To prevent this, brush the salt periodically to assist in the dissolving of the salt.

Question: How do I prepare my pool for a hurricane?
Answer:
If a hurricane is going to strike your area, follow these guidelines:
o    Keep sufficient levels of water in your pool. Never empty your pool. The water in your pool provides the necessary weight to hold the sides and bottom in place when heavy rains raise the water table. Pools that have been emptied experience serious structural problems and could even be lifted off their foundations.
o    Make sure all drains on the deck are free of debris for adequate drainage.
o    Shock the pool water to super chlorinate it.
o    Turn off power to the pool at the circuit breaker before the storm hits.
o    Store items on the deck such as tables, chairs, pool toys, etc.

Question: How do I make my pool safer?
Answer:
The National Spa and Pool Institute's position has been:

A. Supervision is a must at all times. It only takes a second for a drowning to occur.
B. Layers of protection help when there is a lapse of supervision.
C. Water survival training is useful.
There is no substitute for supervision. However, Florida Senate Bill 68, which went into effect October 1, 2000 for all new residential swimming pools, has the following requirements for all new residential swimming pools:
In order to pass inspection and receive a certificate of completion, a residential swimming pool must meet at least one of the following requirements related to safety features:
o    The pool must be isolated from access to a home by an enclosure that meets the pool barrier requirements of s. 515.29.
o    The pool must be equipped with an approved safety pool cover.
o    All doors and windows providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with an exit alarm that has a minimum sound pressure rating of 85 db at 10 feet or
o    All doors providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with a self-closing and self-latching device with the release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.





Question: How do I protect my solar heating system during a freeze?
Answer:
For pool pumps (no heating system):
1.    You can leave your pump running all night. The water circulation will prevent the water from freezing.
2.    However, if you loose power or the power company cuts power to save energy, your pump will stop running and your pipes and pool plumbing could freeze. Therefore it is recommendable to turn off your pool system and drain it of water.
For solar pool heating systems:
3.    Shut your pool equipment off at the circuit breaker.
4.    Remove lids from the cartridge and pumps.
5.    If you have a DE filter, set the multiport valve or push/pull to backwash and open the air relief valve on top of the filter.
6.    For gas heaters, open the small drain that is located on the side of the heater or under the header.
For home water solar heating systems:
7.    Unplug the control or turn it off.
8.    Close the two isolation valves on the pipes going to the roof.
9.    Put a hose on each drain spout and drain each line.