Newsletter

Poolside News

Summer 2025

Image of a customer’s pool in their backyard in Baltimore County.

Topics this season:

Preventing Algae On Hot Summer Days

Let’s Talk About Salt

Pool Party After Shock

Yummy Summer Cocktail & Mocktail

Keep That Algae Away This Summer

Have you noticed how algae always creeps up so quickly especially on those hot summer days? Warm temperatures, abundant sunlight, and the presence of excess nutrients create ideal conditions for algae to thrive and multiply. Maintaining proper water circulation, adequate sanitation with sufficient chlorine or other sanitizer, and using algaecide regularly will aid in preventing algae from forming. Regular cleaning, proper filtration, and balancing the pool water chemistry is also just as crucial. Proper water circulation is essential to proper pool function. Ensure your pool's pump and filter are running long enough each day to circulate and filter the water effectively. During hot weather, longer run times (8-12 hours or more) are recommended. Position your return jets to create good water movement and prevent stagnant areas where algae can & will thrive. Swimming and brushing the pool regularly also helps circulate the water and prevent potential algae growth. 

 

Evan Vacuuming algae at a customer’s home in Montgomery County, MD.

Facts About Salt Systems & Salt

Hayward AquaRite 900 Salt Cell

Residential saltwater pool systems offer a gentle swimming experience and potentially lower long-term maintenance costs compared to traditional chlorine pools. They do require a higher initial investment, expert technicians for repairs, and ongoing monitoring for maintenance to prevent potential issues like corrosion and proper water chemistry. Saltwater pools still use chlorine, but it's generated through electrolysis from the added salt, resulting in lower and more consistent chlorine concentrations compared to traditional pools. The chlorine levels in a saltwater pool are typically comparable to those found in municipal drinking water. Saltwater pools are known for having a "softer" or "silkier" feel to the water, which many swimmers find more pleasant than the feel of chlorinated water. This can lead to less skin and eye irritation, and potentially be a better option for those with sensitivities to chlorine or allergies. While requiring less frequent manual chemical additions compared to chlorine pools, saltwater pools still need regular maintenance, including monitoring and adjusting pH and salt levels, and periodically cleaning the generator cell to prevent calcium buildup. The salt chlorine generator needs to be replaced every 3-7 years, depending on usage and care. Saltwater pool systems generally have a higher initial installation cost due to the salt chlorine generator and compatible filtration system. They are cheaper to maintain over the long term, due to lower chemical costs. Saltwater can be corrosive to metal, potentially damaging ladders, diving board brackets, heaters, and other pool equipment over time. Salt may also be harder on certain pool surfaces, like concrete or vinyl liner pools. Saltwater pools are considered more environmentally friendly than traditional chlorine pools because they minimize the need for storing and transporting harmful chemicals. The runoff from saltwater pools is less likely to contain high levels of harmful chemicals, which can be beneficial for local ecosystems, wildlife, and plant life, according to Professional Aquatic Services. Saltwater pools offer multiple interesting factors that are alternative to traditional chlorine systems

Party is Over, Shock the Pool

Having a pool party this season?

Don’t forget to chemically treat your pool to restore proper water balance and sanitation. First start with testing the water. Use test strips or a liquid test kit to check the levels of chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. After a pool party, the water will likely be contaminated with body oils, sunscreen, and other substances, depleting chlorine levels. Shocking the pool with a chlorine-based product (or a non-chlorine shock) will eliminate these contaminants and restore sanitation. Make sure you adjust your chemicals. If the pH is too high or low, adjust it using appropriate chemicals (pH increaser or decreaser) to maintain the ideal range (typically 7.2-7.6). Adjust alkalinity using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to maintain a level between 80-120 ppm. Calcium Hardness: Check and adjust calcium hardness if necessary, usually between 200-400 ppm. Run your pool's filtration system for at least 12-24 hours after shocking and adjusting chemicals to distribute them evenly and remove debris. Use a clarifier to help coagulate fine particles and clear up cloudy water. Enzymes can help break down oils and other organic contaminants. Monitor chlorine levels regularly and add chlorine tablets or granules as needed to maintain the recommended range (2-4 ppm). Clean your pool and skim the pool surface, brush the walls and floor, and vacuum any debris that may have settled to the bottom. Backwash or clean your filter to remove accumulated debris and maintain its efficiency. Following these steps, you can ensure your pool water is clean, balanced, and safe for swimming after a pool party.

Pineapple Jalapeno Lime Cocktail/Mocktail 

So it seems this summer season we want all the things sweet and spicy. Enjoy this summers trending cocktail and let us know how you enjoy it. Khlorine Keith loves this with gin and Sprite. I enjoy this drink with ginger beer and vodka. Evan loves his with Champagne and Ben really enjoys it as a mocktail. Either way you will enjoy this drink. 

 
 

Ingredients:

CITRUS-JALAPENO ICE CUBES:

• 2 cups filtered water

• 1 jalapeño, chopped into pieces

• 1 orange, freshly-squeezed

• 1 lime, freshly-squeezed

• handful fresh thyme sprigs, chopped into pieces

LIME SIMPLE SYRUP:

• 1 ¼ cups water

• ¼ cup organic cane sugar

• 1 lime, peels ONLY!

MOCKTAILS:

• 1 orange, freshly-squeezed

• 2 limes, freshly-squeezed

• 1 cup lime simple syrup

• 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks

• 1 jalapeño, chopped

• Premium ginger beer, for topping • citrus-jalapeño ice cubes 

Directions:

TO MAKE THE CITRUS-JALAPENO ICE CUBES: In a bowl, mix together filtered water and freshly-squeezed orange and lime juices. In your ice tray; add the chopped jalapeños and chopped thyme sprigs into each cavity and carefully cover them with the orange-lime-water mixture, filling them until completely full. Freeze your ice trays for 3-4 hours (or overnight) until ice is formed.

TO MAKE THE LIME SIMPLE SYRUP: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add together all ingredients (stirring them to combine) and bring to a boil, about 1-2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool completely.

TO MAKE THE MOCKTAILS: In a bowl, add the orange juice, lime juice, pineapple chunks, chopped jalapeños and cooled lime simple syrup, mulling the pineapples and jalapeños until completely broken down. Stir together to combine. Assemble the mocktail(s): For each mocktail, fill a good cocktail glass (11 oz. or so) with a few citrus-jalapeños ice cubes and pour half the amount of the mocktail mixture (w/ mulled fruit) and top with ginger beer until glass(es) is ¾ filled. Add lime wedges inside your mocktail and fresh thyme, if desired. NOTE: For a fancy touch, add pineapple & or lime wedges to rim of glass. This recipe makes 2 servings. For additional mocktails or cocktails double or triple ingredients as needed. Raw sugar can be substituted with maple syrup or raw honey. Ginger beer can be submitted with Sprite or soda water if desired. This recipe makes for a delicious cocktail as well, just add your favorite gin, rum, champagne, whiskey or vodka. Sip & Enjoy.