How do I get to your store?
My pool seems to be losing water, what should I do?
My pool light doesn’t work.
How often should my D.E. filter be manually cleaned?
When should I backwash my filter?
The pressure gauge on the filter stays high.
The pressure gauge on the filter is abnormally low.
My pool pump hums but it won’t start.
The pool equipment is leaking.
Why is water constantly running out my backwash line?
Why does my circulation system lose prime when it’s turned off?
My pool pump is very noisy, is this bad?
Why isn’t my heater coming on?
How often should my pool water chemistry be tested?
My pool is cloudy, how do I fix it?

How do I get to your store?

We are located in north Austin at 900 McPhaul which is about half a mile south of the Braker Lane & Lamar intersection. Chuy's is on the corner of McPhaul and Lamar. We are on the north side of McPhaul at the middle of the block. Call and we’ll give exact instructions from your location. MAP TOP

My pool seems to be losing water, what should I do?

Pools in the Austin area can lose a quarter inch of water a day to evaporation. There are several inspections you can make if you think your water loss is excessive:

Check for leaks at the pool equipment pad. A normal equipment pad is completely dry all the time. Inspect the interior of the pool or spa for cracks. Pools and spas in Central Texas have a tendency to shift due to soil conditions which can lead to fractures in the vessel. Check the backwash line for water loss. Sometimes the valve seat inside the backwash valve can become loose causing water to exit the system through the backwash line. Small pool leaks can cause problems under the pool or spa that lead to larger leaks. Call us for leak detection if the water loss is excessive to prevent further damage to the pool and pool area. TOP

My pool light doesn’t work.

These are the most common causes for non-working lights.

• The bulb is burned out. The bulb and lens gasket should be replaced.
• The ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protecting the light circuit has tripped and needs to be reset. If the GFCI trips again, call us! A dangerous situation may exist.
• The light's timer or photocell has failed.
• The light breaker at the service panel has tripped and needs to be reset. This should be a GFCI breaker. If it is not, have it replaced. TOP

How often should my D.E. filter be manually cleaned?

Filter manufacturers recommend that D.E. filter grids be cleaned and degreased twice a year (spring and fall are best). To prevent damage, the filter should be cleaned by a professional. If you choose to do this yourself, be sure to follow instructions from your filter manual carefully. TOP

When should I backwash my filter?

Backwash your sand or D.E. filter when the pressure gauge reads ten pounds higher than the ‘clean’ pressure. All filters work by forcing water through a porous media which traps the larger particles from the water. When the filter media is clean, the water passes through easily and the gauge pressure is lower. As dirt is caught in the media, it is harder to push the water through the filter which makes the gauge pressure higher. If the pressure doesn't drop by 8-10 lbs after backwash, it's time for a sand change or grid (or cartridge) cleaning. Call us for complete backwash instructions for your filter. TOP

The pressure gauge on the filter stays high after backwashing (or cleaning the cartridge.)

The return line valves are closed or partially closed, the filter needs to have new media installed (D.E. manual breakdown, new filter sand, or a new cartridge element). TOP

Q. The pressure gauge on the filter is abnormally low.

Low pressure indicates a blockage or suction leak before water enters the pump.The usual suspects are:

• skimmer baskets are full
• the pump strainer basket is full
• there could be a leak at the suction side of the pump
• the pool water level is too low and the skimmer is sucking air
• the skimmer weir (the little door in the throat of the skimmer) is stuck in the up position and must be freed
• the pump lid o-ring is missing, seated incorrectly or needs lubrication.
• the pump impeller is clogged TOP

My pool pump hums but it won’t start.

Please note that electrical repairs can be fatal if done improperly – always refer electrical repairs to a professional.

The motor won't spin for one of these reasons:

• The starting capacitor has failed.
• The start switch has failed or is fouled.
• A damaged pump seal has allowed water into the motor which has caused the bearings to fail
• The stator or armature windings have burned out
• The pump impeller is bound up and can’t spin. TOP

The pool equipment is leaking.

Almost any pool equipment leak involves the replacement of defective parts with new. As pool equipment ages it develops stress fractures in the plastic and the metal because of the pressures involved and the equipment vibration. Some equipment leaks are very minor but all leaks should be repaired as soon as possible in order to prevent further damage. We recommend that you note the location of the leak, the model name of the device that is leaking, and call us with this information for service. TOP

Why is water constantly running out my backwash line?

The backwash valve is under pressure from the pump. If a gasket fails in the valve, water will leak. The two main reasons for this problem are that the valve gaskets have unseated or are missing, or the gaskets and o-rings need lubrication. TOP

Why does my circulation system lose prime when it’s turned off?

There is a leak somewhere in the plumbing above ground. An intact circulation system is like putting a straw into a glass of water. Place a finger over the end of the straw, and pull the straw out of the glass. Note that the water stays in the straw. If there is a hole in the straw or if your finger isn’t sealing the straw well, the ‘water column’ will drip or fall out of the straw. The system of pipes and equipment associated with the pool or spa is like a big straw. If there is a leak somewhere in the circulation system, the entire system will slowly (or quickly, depending on the size of the ‘hole’) leak down to the water level of the pool. Once the piping system is empty it takes a lot of time to purge the air from the system and pick up a prime on the pump again. Leaks can stem from loose gaskets or o-rings, leaky valve stems, a leaking pump seal, a broken pipe, poorly sealed threaded fittings… quite a few places, actually. The loss of prime should be fixed in order to prevent damage to the pump (pumps are not meant to run dry for any period of time). TOP

My pool pump is very noisy, is this bad?

There are several reasons a pump can be noisy and each poses a different repair problem. Knocking noises are often caused by cavitation. Cavitation occurs when the pump impeller forces dissolved gases out of solution from the water. This causes high pressures which can damage your pump. Cavitation is caused by poor pump design or oversized pumps which spin too fast for the available water. Suction leaks in the systems can contribute to cavitation by decreasing pump efficiency.

All pumps have two ball bearing assemblies, one at the front of the motor and one at the back. The most common bearing failure is due to a leaking seal which allows water to enter the motor through the front bearing. Bearing failures usually start as a ‘whine’ and quickly develop into a loud grinding noise, or an all out ‘screaming’ sound. As a motor repair or replacement is fairly technical, we recommend you call us for a service appointment to determine and fix the source of the noise. TOP

Why isn’t my heater coming on?

Heaters have safety switches which ensure that the heater won't come on if water isn't circulating through it. A separate safety switch monitors temperature and shuts down the heater if the"hi-limit" has been reached.

The problem may be with the heater or the circulation system. A dirty filter or clogged impeller can keep the heater from firing because low water circulation through the heater trips the safety (pressure) switch.

If your pool or spa has good circulation, but the heater still will not fire, call us for diagnosis and repair. Repairing heaters is not a do-it-yourself project. TOP

How often should my pool water chemistry be tested?

We recommend that a public pool with lots of swimmers be tested every hour and that the water chemistry be adjusted as needed. Test results be should be logged on a sheet in order to provide the pool operator with a comprehensive record of the pool’s chemical characteristics.

Residential customers should test the water and make adjustments NO LESS than once a week (the more often, the better). See our Chemicals section in the online catalog for more info on proper chemistry. TOP

My pool is cloudy, how do I fix it?

Pool water clarity is dependent on the effectiveness of the filter and the chemical levels of the water. Chemicals and filters work together to keep a pool clear. To troubleshoot cloudy water, check your filter pressure, pump circulation and the water chemistry.

Backwash or spray off the filter. If the filter media (sand, D.E., cartridge) is old it may need replacing. If the pool ‘balance’ or sanitizer level is wrong it needs correcting. If all of these are correct, try using a clarifier to consolidate tiny particles, so your filter can remove them. TOP