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Best Pool LED Lights

10 Best LED Pool Lights: Buying Guide and Reviews in 2020

Swimming and pool parties are amazing, and the experience gets more wonderful when you have a well–lit pool that shines in the night. Pool fittings come in different styles and different colors, and the best fittings that you should never deny your pool are the pool led lights. You can make your pool feel like paradise by installing the best LED pool lights, the brightness, the colors, the l different moods and ambience that come with LED pool lights are so irresistible. LED pool lights are durable, efficient, and bright, while still having very beautiful colors. We will look at the best pool LED lights but first, let us be at par, let us all understand what we mean..what are pool LED lights?

LED lights are light bulbs that fit into in the lamp of an electrical circuit although some use batteries, either triple A or double A, to light up. The thing that makes LED lights special and popular in recent days is their ability to function without burning out a filament like the incandescent lights. Therefore, LED lights are cooler, they last longer and they consume very little energy. Unlike incandescent light, LED lights only use power to light up, they don’t heat like their counterparts and they will continue to light even after one LED gets damaged.

LED lights have the capability of changing colors without using a filter, something that the incandescent lights can’t. Many LED lights have the features that allow you to switch between the colors and brightness.

Why Are Pool LED Lights So Popular?

1. Brighter Lights

The popular LED lights use less energy compared to the incandescent lights to produce the same number of lumens. A 100 watt incandescent light bulb produces about 1600 lumens, while LED lights will use only 14-20 watts to produce the same amount of lumens. Some LED lights produce up to 5,400 watts so their brightness is unmatched.

2. Less Energy consumption and no heat production

LED use lower wattage than the comparable incandescent bulb. A 30-watt LED bulb will produce the same brightness as that of the 200-watt incandescent bulb, without heating up to dangerous temperatures. On the other hand, the more light the incandescent pool light produces, the more they heat up. The reduced heat production makes the LED swimming pool lights last longer than the incandescent swimming pool bulbs.

3. Color your Pool

LED pool lights come with a rainbow of colors that give your swimming pool a beautiful view and enhance your swimming or pool party experience. Some LED pool lights allow you to customize the color scheme you want. Others come with remotes that allow you to navigate through the various hues to change the ambience of the pool. With LED pool lights, you don’t have to limit your swimming colorful adventures to one color, you can create a beautiful aqua color, if you want to dive in purple, green, or red water, you can go for it!

4. “DurabLE must have the letters “L-E-D”

When you spend your hard earned cash to upgrade your pool lights, you want it to serve you for long, whether it is a floater or a pool filter that you have been admiring. So, you will realize that. Apart from saving energy, LED pools lights are also durable. An average incandescent bulb will serve you for around a year, but a LED pool light will last for 15 to 20 years.

5. Efficient lighting

With LED pool lights, you are sure that you will not encounter accidents that occur, because one cannot see in the water clearly, especially at night. LED pool lights produce sufficient lighting that enables you to see every corner of the pool. Its light is brighter compared to the incandescent lights. With just one or a few LED light bulbs for the pool, you can be able to illuminate every part of the pool, even the surrounding environment creating a beautiful landscaping.

6. Some LED pool light bulbs are battery powered

You might be thinking of how much you need to replace the incandescent lights bulbs around your pool and you see how much of a task that can be. However, you can just switch them off, get battery powered LED pool lights and put them on top of the water for your lighting. There is a number of floating battery powered LED pool lights, that don’t need any installation. You can start with this battery powered LED pool lights to taste the waters so that you can have an idea of the rainbow effect of the LED pool lighting that awaits you.

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OUR TOP PICK

Intex Floating LED Pool Light, Battery Powered

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SUMMARY

The battery powered Intex LED pool light is fitted with an automatic shutoff feature that shuts off after two hours of inactivity, so in case you forget to shut it down, it will do that for you to conserve energy. This is a floating light that is assembled from solid materials making it be among the best floating pool lights.

It has three lighting modes, the flashing hue, floodlight and a combination of the three forming a beautiful sight in the pool. This light is meant for pools that are above grounds. It is relatively of small size 6.6 x 4.9 x 6.6 inches, making it easily portable. This light uses 4 AAA batteries which are not included in the purchase.

The lifespan of the batteries depend on some factors like the duration you keep the lights on, and the quality of the batteries you use. However, on average, they can last up to 13 nights. As much as it is not among the brightest lights, you can find in the market today, they are among the best floating pool lights that are good for making the pool entertaining. To install, you just insert the batteries and live the lights to float on the water. One single light can light an entire 16 foot pool. However, the pool will look better if you use two or more lights.

Pros

Affordable

Easy to install and use

Different hue modes

Easily portable

Cons

Comparatively dim lights

Needs 4 triple AA batteries.

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WYZM Wireless Control LED Pool Light

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SUMMARY

This WYZM 20 watt color changing pool light is among the best light pool lights that ensures performance and reliability. It is designed as an underwater pool light, and it changes into different colors; green, purple, light blue, dark blue, white and red.

A good pool light should be easy to use and it comes with more than one function – amazingly, you find all these qualities here. This light allows you to navigate the colors in 16 ways that have different transitions; single, fast, medium, and smooth. When you want to change colors, all you need to do is to switch the product on and off. This light bulb, with its light changing effects, allows you to set different moods and ambience for your swimming pools.

This pool light bulb is ideal for parties, but it is also ideal for standard use as well. Furthermore, you should not worry about its lifespan, it is LED, therefore, it is durable. If you love having a fun light that works well in underwater then look no further. Nevertheless, if you love basic lighting for your pool, then you can look at other bulbs in this top ten LED pool light list.

Pros

The hues blend beautifully

It is easy to change the colors

It has a manual that has clear instructions

Cons

Sometimes, it doesn’t change the colors (occasionally)

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Bonbo LED Pool Bulb White Light

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SUMMARY

This LED bulb gives a bright light to your pool as compared to other pool lights. It is powered by 3 AA batteries that sustain the bulb for up to10 hours.  The bulb comes with a cap that prevents water from damaging it.

Bonbo LED pool light can light of a pool of up to 30,000 gallons of water, and it has the capacity to light for 30,000 hours or more. In addition to its perfect functionality, this LED pool light comes with a warranty of 2 years and a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. It can also be used for decorating wedding venues, ponds and aquariums.

Pros

Emits a warm light

Energy saving

Long life span

Cons

It can be damaged with water if the cap is not well-tightened.

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Taysing Color Changing Swimming Pool Lights

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SUMMARY

This LED pool light is able to light a pool with a capacity of up to 25000 gallon. It is a color-changing bulb that comes with 12 color modes that include 9 individual color modes and 3 gradual color modes. You can change the color effects using the remote controller.

This pool LED light is energy saving that is a replacement of the 300-500 watt old incandescent lights, or halogen light bulbs. 36 watts of this bulb is equivalent to 500 watts of the older incandescent light bulbs. It comes with a warranty of two years so it can be replaced in case of any glitches.

Pros

Comes with several colors

Has a remote controller

Cons

Can only be used with 120V.

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LAMPAOUS Inground LED Pool Lights Bulb Multi Color

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SUMMARY

If you like having both solid colors and color shows lighting your pool, then this is the best color changing LED pool light. It has 7 solid colors, green, red, yellow, blue, cyan, white, and purple, and 5 color shows. You can select the colors using either the power switch or the remote controller.  The remote control range functions up to 50ft above water, and fir an unlimited distance under the water. In fact, the remote control of this bulb has a very low chance of failing to function.

Pros

Has different colors that are easy to navigate

Easy to navigate

Energy saving

Cons

The red light is quite dim

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SmartPool NL35 NiteLighter Underwater Light

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SUMMARY

This LED light has a design that allows it to stay under the water for long. Its halogen technology allows you to use a single light bulb to light up the entire swimming pool, so you don’t need to purchase several pieces. This product comes with an instruction manual, a transformer and a long cord that makes it easy to install.

This pool lighting installation and functioning does not affect the filtration process of your pool. The lens of this bulb is chemical-resistant so you are sure that the chemicals from the pool cleaning agents will not interfere with the lifespan and the functioning of this bulb.

Pros

It is safe; it meets the UL and ETL standards

Has an installation manual

Has an extra-long cord

Cons

lacks seal to make it waterproof

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Intex LED Pool Wall Light

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SUMMARY

The Intex LED Pool Wall Light is a perfect accessory for an above the ground swimming pool, and its price is pocket-friendly. It combines functionality and convenience. It is fitted with a magnet that enables it to attach to the side of the pool so you don’t need to form an opening in the pool to fit it. Keep in mind that this light only fits on the smooth side of the pool. To function, this bulb needs to be connected to a source of power. This light is a perfect replacement of the 50 Watt halogen light.

The light of this bulb is brighter than that of a halogen bulb, so it is good at conserving energy. The intex is also easy to move around since it is compact and sticks to the wall of the pool easily. Moreover, its bright light makes it ideal for lighting the pool at night so it is perfect night swimming and pool parties.

Pros

Bright light enough to light the entire pool

Easy installation

Low energy consumption

Cons

Must be used with electricity

Some people say that is not durable

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GAME Waterproof Magnetic LED Color Changing Pool Wall Light

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SUMMARY

This is a water-resistant, color changing light that is among the best pool lights being sold today.  It has a magnetic power that allows you to attach it to the pool walls, this makes this light special since it doesn’t need wires and other tools to install. This product has a remote control that allows you to navigate through 16 solid hues and 4 changing hue modes.

The GAME waterproof is powered using 3 AA batteries. Another special feature of this product is that it can be used in other places like in camping sites, patio umbrellas, and several other indoor and outdoor events.

Pros

Has a remote control.

Color changing modes.

Easy to install

It is fairly priced.

Cons

Since it uses batteries, the batteries need to be replaced regularly

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Zoto Underwater Light

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SUMMARY

Zoto, when screwed well, its RGD color changing bulb will light your swimming pool making it look so beautiful. It is powered by 3 AAA batteries that allow you to use it even in areas that have no electricity or when the power goes out. Zoto underwater light is fitted with an O-ring seal, which makes it water-tight, making it indestructible by water. This pool lighting product has 3 color changing modes and 16 different solid hues enabling you to change the look of your pool from time to time.

Along with this product is a remote control that can control the bulb for up to 30ft away. This product’s remote control has 4 pieces that when put together, they enable you to control the lighting of the bulb conveniently. Aside from using this bulb in the swimming pool, you can also use it as a vase base, for lighting and decorating an aquarium, fish tank or the pond.

Pros

It can be used for several purposes

Has a remote control

Can be used in areas without electricity

Cons

It should not be left in the water for more than 10 hours.

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Pentair Amerlite Underwater Incandescent Pool Light

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SUMMARY

This is also another pool LED lighting that you can use to light and pimp your pool. If you ever worry about your safety when swimming in a pool fixed with lighting bulbs, then you should have no reason to worry when you use this product. This pool LED bulb guarantees you safety and reliability. Fitted with a bode ring made of stainless steel, and a uni-tension clamp, this lighting unit ensure is long-lasting since the material doesn’t corrode easily.

The high technology used to assemble this device ensures that the light output illuminates the entire swimming pool. It has prismatic hardened lens and it has low energy consumption.

Pros

Does not produce heat

Easy to install

Environment friendly product

Cons

Lacks an on/off switch

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What to Consider When Purchasing Pool LED Lights - Buyer's Guide

To ensure you take home the best LED pool light, you should be keen with the following factors:

Installation

Mostly, pool lights don’t need much effort and expertise to install. Most of them come with manuals or designs that make it is easy to figure out how to install, but some have poor designs that can make it hard to figure out how to install. Fortunately, none of the ones that made to our top ten list falls into this category that is hard to install.

However, bear in mind that some lights are not compatible with some fixtures. Don’t get worried because we have highlighted this issue in the description of the bulbs that can’t work with some fixtures. Still, it is something you should watch out for especially if you buy a bulb that is not among our list.  Some lights don’t need any installation, other than putting in batteries and letting them float in water.

Features

LED swimming Pool Lights have different features compared to other swimming pool lights. The most common feature that comes with LED lights is having lights with different hues. Well, not everyone likes colored lighting for their pools but it is ideal for parties, decorations and when you have young children.

Many people don’t think about it, but LED swimming pool lights can have different features. The most common is having different LED color lights. However, we have a number of LED pool lights that only have the white light, plus many of them allow you to select one solid color including white.

Another feature is the dimming capability of some LED lights that allows you to adjust the brightness of the lights depending on the mood, or the time of the day. Most LED lights have a remote control that allows you to adjust the light and the color of the light.

Brightness

The main job of lighting is to illuminate so that an area can be visible. So, the strength of the light is a very critical factor that you should look into when purchasing the swimming pool LED lights. You should ensure that you know how much area the LED light bulb will be able to illuminate. Most of the lights in our list produce sufficient light but some are dimmer than the others so you need to use more than one piece to create more light in your pool. Some people find some LED lights to be too bright that’s why some lights have features that allow you to adjust the brightness of the lights.

Durability

You wouldn’t like to buy anything that will stop working after using once or twice, not even your light bulb. You need to ensure that the lights you decide to buy will last for long enough to give value for your money.

We didn’t have much to talk about the durability of LED lights since they naturally tend to last for long periods unless there is a fault in manufacturing which once detected, they are covered by the warranty and you get a replacement. Therefore, you should also ensure that your light comes with a warrant, which lasts for at least 6 months.

Efficiency

It is important to ensure that you buy a light that will use power efficiently to produce enough light. A good LED pool light bulb might cost some bucks but after that it will consume very little energy, therefore in some way it will help you save on the cost you would use to settle the power bills. LED lights convert power to light, because they are meant for lighting, not for heating

FAQs about Pool Lights

Q: What are the color options that come with LED pool lights?

A: LED pool lights come in diverse colors like green, pink, purple, orange, yellow, red, blue and others. Apart from providing a beautiful view, the LED pool lights also provide safety to your swimming pool.

Q: Can I replace the incandescent light bulbs with LED pool lights?

A: Yes, you can use the same wiring you used for incandescent light bulbs with LED lights. However, you should ensure that the LED pool lights are compatible with the existing fixtures in terms of the amount of voltage, the size of the fitting and the type of fittings installed on the LED pool lights.

Q: Must all LED use electric power?

A: Not all LED pool lighting bulbs power using electric power. Some LED pool light bulbs use triple A and double AA batteries, so you can use them in swimming pools that are located in areas that have no electricity, or when the lights go out.

Q: Are all LED pool lights colored?

A: Most LED pool lights come with diverse colors that you can change from time to time using the remote or the on and off switch. Though, there are quite a number of LED pool lights that only illuminate the white light making your pool look natural. Still, the LED pool bulbs that have several colors can also be set to shine the white light.

Q: Do all LED pool lights come with a remote?

A: Not all LED pool lights have a remote control. The remote control switched the lights on and off and it also changes the color of the lights. Some LED pool lights can only be switched on and off using the on/off switch. The power switch is also the feature that changes colors in some bulbs.

Q: Do LED pool lights get damaged by water?

A: The LED lights meant for swimming pools have special designs like seals, screws, or generally the material used that prevents water from entering and damaging the bulbs. You should read the instruction manual to know how you will prevent your LED pool light from getting damaged by water.

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Hot Tub Safety Tips

          Essential Hot Tub Safety Tips

Hot tubs also known as spas are equipped with drains and pumps that can create a powerful suction that can be dangerous. It can especially be dangerous if you have long hair, it can possibly get tangled in the drain – keeping your head stuck under water. To avoid this and to ensure your safety at all time, keep your hair up and your head above the water.

Always Supervise Children

Adults must watch children carefully in any water situation, but especially when in the spa due to the dangers such as the suction and the temperature of the spa. If any children especially small children want to use the spa, make sure to join them in the spa to ensure there safety. When the spa is not being used, make sure to always cover the spa to prevent any unsupervised use.

Children shouldn’t be allowed in the spa until they can stand on the bottom of the floor and have their head completely out of the water. You should limit any children’s use, who can stand in the spa under 5 minutes at a time. If they want to spend more than 5 minutes at a time, you can lower your spas temperature to 98 degrees and they can enjoy the spa up to 15 minutes at a time.

Infants and toddlers should not be allowed in a spa as babies thin skin can make them more susceptible to overheating. Also, since infants or toddlers have little control over body functions, spas become unsanitary instantly if accidents happen.

Is It Dangerous to Stay in a Hot Tub Too Long?

Your normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees. Hot tub water ranges anywhere from 100 degrees to 104 degrees. If you stay in the hot tub for too long, you can raise your temperature above 98.6 degrees. Essentially if you stay in the hot tub for too long, you can cause you body to have a fever. This will result in dizziness, higher blood pressure, nausea, and possibly losing conscience. Extended fever can result in long term damage such as organ and tissue damage, heart attack, stroke and possibly death.

Keep The Hot Tub at a Safe Temperature

It can be very tempting to crank the heat up in your hot tub, but raising the temperature too high can cause your body heat to rise to dangerous levels. The maximum recommended safe temperature is between 100 degrees and 102 degrees and a maximum of 15 minutes of use. If you want to use the hot tub for longer than 15 minutes, turn down the heat even more.

Hot Tubs During Pregnancy

Should you go in a hot tub while pregnant? It is not recommended that pregnant women use hot tubs during pregnancy due to some studies that have shown an increased risk of birth defects. A safer way to relax is to have a hot bath because most of your upper body will be out of the water which will make you much less likely to overheat.

If you still want to use a hot tub, here are hot tub safety tips you can use to reduce your risk. You can lower the hot tub temperature and limit your use to 10 minutes or less. You can also monitor the temperature of the hot tub to make sure your body temperature avoids overheating.

What are the Dangers of Hot Tubs?

Hot tubs can provide an environment for bacteria to grow. This bacteria can make you sick with either an infection or disease. You can control and remove the bacteria in your hot tub by maintaining your disinfectant level of the water. If you are ever unsure if the water is safe or not, don’t enter the hot tub if you have any doubts.

Be Careful with Alcohol

Many people think the thought of sipping on a glass of wine or a cold beer will help them relax more. However, you need to be very careful as hot water can amplify the effect of alcohol, the same goes for prescription drugs. To be safe during hot tub use, consider trading that alcohol for a nice refreshing juice or sparkling water.

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Best Pool Shock

How Long After I Shock My Pool Can I Swim?

Every pool owners envision their swimming pool to maintain as clear and clean for an all year round swimming activity. Regular and proper maintenance is done with the pool with the help of pool equipment and chemicals to achieve a smooth and comfortable swimming pool use. Even though your pool goes through regular maintenance, there are instances that those are not enough and you need to drastically clean your pool water.  That is where pool shocking takes place.

Pool shocking is a cleaning technique to keep your pool water clean and safe by adding more than the regular amount of chlorine to the pool. It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours. It is also known as super chlorinating as it extremely raises the chlorine level in a short period of time, so probably not be done a daily routine. There are only times that pool shocking must be applied as if the swimming pool is not in use or neglect for some time or a big number of swimmers just had a pool party.

Shocking your pool helps to bring back healthy pool water as well as the whole pool environment for the swimmers. But there is a big question coming from the pool owners, that is, after shocking the pool, how long they can use the pool and back in swimming? The pool community has no general answer for that, but there are different convincing factors to help us know when the pool is ready and safe again for swimming after shocking.

Why Do You Need to Shock Your Pool?

Pool Shock is a granular oxidizer, a powdered form of chlorine that is used for pool water treatment. Pools are shocked to remove combined chlorine molecules or the chloramines from the pool water. The pool is treated through shocking to remove excess water waste, bacteria, and visible algae in the water after heavy pool use. Unlike regular pool chemicals, applying them on a regular basis and just within a few hours, you should able to swim. In pool shocking, pool owners use three to five times or even ten times the normal dosage of chemicals for the pool due to serious conditions.

Pool start-up or close-down. When the pool for on its start-up or first time to be used, after the water chemistry is balanced, the pool needs to be shocked to helps oxide particles, clarify water and kill bacteria and algae. In preparation for a long winter and your pool is needed to be close, the pool shock is used to disinfect the water.

Heavy Rain. Rain can affect water chemistry. Rain is pure water that is distilled through evaporation. As it falls through the air, it picks up particles like dust, pollen and algae spores that wash into your pool. These particles affect water pool color and consume so much of your chlorine. During heavy storms, the soil and debris near the pool area can wash to the swimming pool that needed deep cleaning.

Chloramine formation. Chloramine is combined with free chlorine bonded with nitrogen or ammonia. This bond makes the chlorine molecules useless and causes the pool water to smell strongly chlorine and may irritate the swimmer’s eyes. You need to shock the pool to remove chloramines that cannot be removed by regular pool chemicals.

Algae Removal. Using algaecide, algae growth can be controlled but the pool shock completely kills algae and clear the pool. Pool shock is very effective in yellow and black algae or the severe kind of algae.

Overused pool. Recently, your pool party was a blast with so many attendees. With that, your swimming pool becomes contaminated with vomit, urine or feces. Your pool needs a strong pool shocking to restore the quality of your pool.

With the following causes, your pool requires extensive treatment and need more time in swimming pool recovery. It needed a large dose of chemicals to breakdown combined chlorine, organic waste and other contaminants on your pool and reestablish a positive level of free chlorine. For different causes, the chemical levels needed for pool shock vary.

Types of Pool Shock

The type of pool shock you will use to cleanse your pool affects the duration of time you need to wait until you plunge back into the pool. These chemicals help you to bring back a clean and quality pool water. With that, the following can give us the idea of the proper water chemistry levels for optimal swimming pool water quality;

pH: 7.4 – 7.6

Chlorine: 1.0 – 3.00 ppm

Total Alkalinity: 80 – 140 ppm

Calcium Harness: 200 – 400

Cyanuric Acid: 25 – 50 ppm

Total Dissolved Solids: 500 – 5000 ppm

The two most popular types of shocks are shocks with chlorine and shocks without chlorine.

Calcium Hypochlorite

Cal Hypo is the most economical pool shock you can buy. It has a high level of concentration of active ingredients. Shocks with chlorine take longer interact with your pool and require the use of muriatic acid to keep the pH balance. It takes up to 24 hours of complete pool shocking.

Dichlor

Another chlorine-based pool shock. It is typically used for pool maintenance because it dissolves very quickly and the pH is almost neutral. Its cost is more than other shocks with chlorine.

Pool shocks with chlorine take up to 24 hours of complete pool shocking. You may consider shocking your pool after the sun goes down to reduce the effect of UV degradation.

Chlorine-free shock oxidizes bacteria and contaminants in your pool without adding other chemicals. Shocks without chlorine contain a high level of pH and will balance both the pH and chlorine levels. It does not make your swimming pool emit an odor and not degrade swimmers’ clothing. With chlorine-free shocks, you can back swimming in just a few hours after the treatment is done.

For the amount of pool shock you will need to use, you just need to know the amount of water in your pool and the severity of the pool problem why it is needed to be shocked. You may double or triple the dosage to address and fix the pool issue.  

The non-chlorine shocking method is a lot safer, but using shock with chlorine is more effective in treating your pool.

The Main Question

After shocking your pool, how long do you have to wait until you can swim again?

You may check your swimming pool water quality if it is in proper water chemistry. Ensure if your pool free chlorine levels are holding up. Even if your free chlorine levels are holding, never swim if your pool water is cloudy. If the water clarity prevents you to see the bottom of the pool, refrain using the swimming pool. For safety, a clear swimming pool water prevents someone to submerge into the pool, especially the children.

You can find the exact answer, simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the shocking product you will be using. Every chemical manufacturers provide details and direction of use, safety reminders, warnings, and guidelines for storage and disposal.

Your physical inspection, pool water quality testing and following the product instructions are the main factors you should consider before plunging in your newly shock swimming pool. Ensure that the chemicals in the pool are safe for those who are looking to swimming in it. Once the shock is properly applied your swimming pool will be a healthy environment for enjoyment and relaxation. That is why pool shocking is a good practice in pool maintenance especially in keeping your pool clear and clean.

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Pros and Cons of Electric Pool Heaters

You are thinking of getting an electric pool heater, also known as a heat pump, so you can enjoy the cooler months. Well I can’t blame you and many other pool owners for wanting their pool water to be warmer. Electric pool pumps bring water into a heating tank, then the pump circulates the warm water back into the pool water. This constant circulation of cold and warm water keep your pool at a comfortable temperature, even if the weather is cold.

Advantages of Electric Pool Heaters

Initial Cost. Electric pool pumps are much less expensive than a gas heater or solar heater, when it comes to the unit and installation cost. The ongoing cost of a electric pool heater will cost more than other heating options, so it may be smart to monitor the usage of the electric heater to save money.

Reliability. The most reliable pool heater you can have is a electric heater. Other options include solar heaters which are dependent on the amount of sun they receive and gas heaters can be affected by extreme weather. Electric heat pumps remain consistent year-around, no matter the conditions.

Versatility. Most electric heat pumps allow you to also cool down the water, which can be a valuable feature during the hot days, where the sun often heats the pool past your desired temperature.

Disadvantages of Electric Pool Heaters

Operation Costs. Some manufacturer’s may advertise the “dollar a day” cost to heat your pool, don’t be fooled as they usually state in their fine print that temperatures at that cost are not nearly warm enough for most people. So $1 to run a heat pump for a day might seem like a great cost, but that could easily be the cost for one hour during the cold season. This is because the electric pumps take heat from the air, when it’s extremely cold, there isn’t a lot of heat for the pumps to find. When it comes to using any type of heaters during the winter, the electric heaters cost the most to run.

Efficiency. Electric heaters can take up to several hours to heat up your pool and usually is only capable of heating up your pool water by a few degrees per hour. If you only run it during the day, it will have to reheat the water back to the temperature it was the previous day. If you want your pool to stay at a constant temperature, you will have to be willing to have your electric heater run overnight, which most of the time will not make sense due to the increased cost.

What Size Pool Heater Do I Need?

When you are looking to get an electric heat pump for your swimming pool, you will need to consider several factors. You will need to match the heater BTU output to the size of your swimming pool in gallons. The more BTU the pool heater has, the faster it will warm up your pool water.

Pool heaters with less BTU will be slower when heating the pool and will have to work much harder, which will result in higher operational costs. If you pool is an area that experiences seasonality, or you don’t have a pool cover, consider getting an oversize pool heater.

Another thing you will have to consider whether you have an above-ground or in-ground pool is the size of the heater. Above ground heat pumps will be in the 50-75K BTU range, while in-ground heat pumps will be in the 100-150K BTU range.

Are Electric Heaters Better Than Gas Heaters?

Both gas and electric swimming pool heaters are effective tools to warm the water in your pool. The main difference between the two is how they run. The gas heaters run on gas and the electric heaters use electricity.

Gas pool heaters either use gas or propane, depending on the type of gas heater. The gas heaters that runs off natural gas have to be hooked up to a gas line, meanwhile a gas heater that runs off propane requires propane tanks. These are great for heating up the water quickly. Gas heaters can require an upfront cost between $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the model and size.

In comparison, electric pool heaters are better for longer use. They can keep the pool at a constant temperature between 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, as long as the outside temperature is above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the downside of electric pool pumps is the length of time is takes to heat up the pool water compared to gas pool heaters. Electric heaters typically run anywhere from $2,500 to $4,500, depending on the model and size. On the upside, they cost much less to operate than gas heaters and are more environment friendly.

How Much Electricity Does a Pool Heater Use?

A 100,000 BTU electric pool heater uses around 5,000 watts or 5 kilowatts per hour. The national average for Electricity runs $.13 cents per kilowatt hour. Electricity can vary widely state by state so checkout this website that keeps the Electricity Cost for all 50 States updated. With our example, 1 hour on a electric pool heater would cost $.65 cents.

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How to Clear A Brown Pool

How to Clear a Brown Pool in 3 Days or Less

Brown pool water can be very concerning for swimming pool owners. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of pool owners. Luckily, there is plenty you can do to win the battle against brown pool water and reclaim your pool. Here, we will show you how to get rid of brown pool water in just 6 steps. If you follow these steps, you can get rid of your pool problem in a few days.

What Causes Pool Water to Turn Brown?

Usually brown water is the cause of an impurity in the water or it was a chemical reaction. Either way, you need to immediately determine what the cause of the impurity is and remove it before it becomes a tougher problem. If you leave the pool brown for an extended period of time, it can result in your pool being permanent stained, which can be very difficult to remove.

Pool Algae Problems

Pool algae problems are usually caused of poor swimming pool water chemistry, pool maintenance or bad filtration. Weekly pool maintenance is a must or you will be dealing pool maintenance headaches.

Follow These Steps to Clear the Brown Pool Water

Treat your pool with ascorbic acid, you won’t need more than a pound. The ascorbic acid should work within an hour or two. Wait for it to be circulated throughout the system.

Once the brown stain has been lifted, turn off the pool pump temporarily.

Spray a 16oz bottle of Revive over the top of the pool which will remove the iron particles and turn them into sediments to the bottom of the pool.

Wait 24 hours until you use the pool.

Vacuum the debris off the bottom of the pool while your filter is on the waste setting.

You will want to continue to shock your pool weekly and follow the instruction on the package carefully.

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Pros & Cons of Pool UV Systems

Choosing a pool system can be one of the most important decisions and investments that you can make whether you are a new pool owner or upgrading your pool features. A pool system for keeping your pool clean is one of the most important parts you can invest in. You want to stay proactive about your pool maintenance otherwise you might damage your pool. Good news, you have several options when it comes to keeping your pool clean.

Even though your pool is clear right now, it doesn’t mean that it is clean. Your pool water starts to become cloudy, which indicates that you have a chemical imbalance. So how do you keep your pool water clean?

One of the most common and most effective is to use a pool UV system, which uses ultraviolet light for pool sanitation. A big advantage with these systems is you can dramatically cut back on the amount of pool chemical you use.

What Are Pool UV Systems?

UV pool sanitizers use the power of ultraviolet light to help pool owners to lower the use of pool chemicals and lower chlorine, which make the pool safer, healthier and easier to maintain. UV pool systems destroy harmful bacteria and microorganisms that enter your water and help reduce the need for pool chemicals.

The UV pool system is doesn’t harm swimmers because the UV light is contained. As mentioned before you won’t have to rely as much on chemicals but you will still need some chemicals (typically chlorine) as the UV sanitizer is 100% chemical-free.

How Does UV Pool System Work?

The UV pool system is installed so the pool water goes the pool filtration system first, and then through the UV rays. The UV light then destroys any bacteria, algae, viruses, and other microorganisms when the water flows through the graphite housing.

How Much Do UV Pool Systems Cost?

For your pool at home, the cost of UV pool systems can vary. You can find systems as low as $350 and as high as $2,000. Realistically you will find a system that typically ranges around $500 to $600 that is going to do the job well and last you a long time.

For commercial pools, the prices can range anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. The reason they are so much more expensive is these pools require systems that can support larger flow rates. Commercial pools also require NSF certification which can raise the price by a significant amount.

Are UV Pool Systems Effective?

Ultraviolet is considered some of the best technology on the market today for disinfecting swimming pools. Recent studies how shown when pool chemicals disinfect, 90 percent of the chemicals are used for the oxidation, and the rest of the 10 percent is used for the sanitation. Well, ultraviolet does both. The Olympic games use ultraviolet disinfection, that’s how the underwater cameras were able to shoot such clear shoots underwater. Well, many commercial aquatic centers across the nation have installed UV pool systems.

Are UV Pool Systems Safe?

Yes, the UV light doesn’t leave the graphite chamber, which makes it very safe and secure way to clean your pool. You will not have to worry about being exposed to the UV light as well. The UV pool system is safe and doesn’t need much maintenance as well because the entire process takes place within the system.

Let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages of these systems.

UV Pool System Advantages

Pool will be clear of harmful parasites

Low maintenance

Can be affordable, compared to other alternatives

You will have to store less chemicals

Some of the best cleaning technology on the market right now

With all of the advantages listed above, UV pool systems have some drawback that you will need to be aware of.

UV Pool System Disadvantages

It’s only as effective as the UV light can reach, so if the UV light misses certain areas of the water, bacteria will get back into the pool.

You will have to do cleaning maintenance to the piping on the UV pool system where the water goes back into the pool, which involves cleaning chemicals.

Overtime the UV light will become less effective, so you will need to factor in replacing the light to keep the pool clean.

Conclusion

If you are looking to be more environment friendly and save some money, an UV pool system can be a good idea for you. You will still need to invest in some chemical sanitizer like chlorine to help take care of bacteria that the system is slow to. If you are still considering a UV pool system, be sure to review each brand as they handle a different number of gallons per minute.