September 28th, 2006
We are now dealers for the Poolkeeper Auto Water leveler. No more worrying about your pool water level while on vacation. Just hook this up to your garden hose and it will maintain the level for you.
Control your Jandy Aqualink system by wireless remote control! Available as an upgrade to existing Aqualink RS or Onetouch systems. Or as a replacement for older out dated systems. Control pool lights, solar, spa jets, heaters, water features, maybe even your neighbors pool! Note: if that happens call us quick and shut their heater off!!
I am now the Sonoma Area sales rep for Hydro Stove and Extenda-Swim. These are a line of WOOD FIRED POOL HEATERS. No gas, solar or electricity (besides operating your pool pump). Manufacturers claiming a 3-5 degree temperature rise. Harder woods heat more, softer wood heats less. Already have a gas heater? Why not have both, choose between gas and wood heating, unfortunately, you can't run both heaters at the same time. Already have solar heating? Use the solar to preheat and the Hydro Stove for that extra boost. The heater fits on a 36" x 36" non combustible equipment pad. 2 sizes are available, one for pools up to 40,000 gallons, and one for pools up to 15,000 gallons. Please email me for more information.
The latest thing in pool pumps are variable speed pumps. One has four preset speeds that an onboard computer controls. The purpose is to adjust your pump for only the amount of water movement you need for a particular application, such as solar, spa, pool cleaner, and so it is money saving. You can run your pump at lower speeds when it is not necassary to run at higher speeds. Another model adjusts its own flow rate automatically. Let's say for instance your solar comes on and your pool pump needs to pump harder, it will automatically adjust its own flowrate to maintain proper water movement. Wow. Energy savings are said by the manufacturer to be 90%. Pretty impressive.
I have a number of pools that have switched to salt water. They are all happy so far, and I have systems scheduled to go in this summer. This is how it works. You have to add salt to your pool, to establish a salt residual of around 3000ppm. There is a cell that is installed at the equipment pad that creates chlorine when the salt water passes through it. A control box controls the amount of chlorine produced. One model even has a 'super chlorinate' button to super chlorinate the pool. Salt seldom has to be added. It only disipates with draining, rain water, etc.
With the rising cost of gas heat, solar is an efficient, effective way to heat your pool. Ideally you want at least 8 panels that range from 4' x 8' to 4' x 12' long. There are other size option available too. For maximum heat, your panels should be facing south. If that is not possible, East and West, North is not recommended without alot of panels. The latest thing in solar is paint. So, you can paint your panels the same color as your roof so they are not so visible. Tile roof owners especially might be interested in this. The manufacturers say the paint lasts ten years.
Having any problems with your pool? We offer a VERY thorough selection of owners manuals. If you need a pool related manual that is not offered on our site yet, let us know, we will do what we can to get it for you.
If you are interested in any of the above items, or anything else, please let me know
With the season winding down, we would like to wish all of you HAPPY HOLIDAYS, and have a wonderful winter.
C'mon summer 2007!!
Sincerely,
David Rockafellow
Valley Pool Service
707-935-3140
