Why is My Pool Turning Green? Part two

 Chlorine kills algae. Yes, it helps to have the pool water correctly balanced to enhance the chlorine’s killing ability but it is the chlorine that kills algae. Yes, it helps to have a good working circulation pool pump and clean filter to remove all the stuff floating in the water, less stuff means you need less chlorine to prevent the algae from growing… but it is the chlorine that kills algae.
One of the most common phone calls we get is from the pool owner calling in a panic because their circulation pump has failed and they are afraid that the pool will turn green. The good news is that it is the chlorine that keeps the pool from turning green; all the circulation pump does is push the water through the filter to clean the debris out of the water.
We have maintained pools at houses in foreclosure where all the pool equipment has been cut out and stolen.  We have kept the water crystal clear for over one year.  There is a layer of dirt on the bottom of the pool because there is no circulation pump or filter but the pool is not green.  When the bank sells the house we install the new equipment, clean the pool and all is well.
With this experience we know that the pool will not turn green just because the circulation pump is broken.  What surprises me is when other pool service companies tell the pool owner that because the circulation pump is broken they are going to stop coming and stop adding chlorine until the owner gets the pump repaired.
So when your circulation pump breaks, don’t panic, just add some extra chlorine, about two to four gallons of liquid chlorine and brush the pool a little to mix it up.  Then you have lots of time to schedule a service call to have the old pump repaired or replaced.  Remember that the old pump is using 2,400 watts and the new ones are extremely energy efficient and will use 100 watts.  It really does not make sense to fix the old pump because the old ones are such energy hogs.  If your pool service tries to sell you a new pump that is not energy efficient, you will have three problems.  First, due to the utility rebates for energy efficient variable speed pumps an old style energy hog pump will actually cost more to buy.  Second, they have just stuck you with a $1,000 a year energy bill for that energy hog old style pump.  Third, California Title 20 Energy Efficiency Law states it is illegal to install a new pool motor or new pool pump that is not variable speed.
The smart money will replace their pool pump with an energy efficient variable speed pump even if the old one is not broken.  I have told some of my service clients about this energy savings yet they waited 5 years until the old pump broke.  When they call me asking me to fix the old one I explain that now that they have overpaid the utility $5,000 do they really want us to fix the old one or replace it with the energy efficient new one?  I assume you can guess the answer to that question.
For more information, call 661-263-7503 or visit www.poolsbyben.com.