Glossary of Pool Terms
Air Bleeder Assembly: Commonly located on the top of the filter. The Air Bleeder Assembly releases the trapped air in the filter tank allowing the filter to be fully utilized.
Algae:Algae is a plant that lives in water. It is possible for Algae to form on a surface such as your pool wall or bottom or to also form in the water itself. Common forms of algae in swimming pools are green, yellow, black, or blue-green. Algae is a living plant that needs water, CO2, sunlight, nitrates, and phosphates to survive.
Algaecide:Preventative chemical added to water to prevent the bloom of algae. Algaecide could be silver based, copper based, or a poly-quat compound.
Alkalinity:Level of the amount of carbonates or bicarbonates that are in the water. Total Alkalinity is measured in ppm (parts per million).
Automatic Cleaner: An automatic cleaner is
a device that vacuums your pool
automatically.
Backfill:The placing of dirt against the bottom track or gap between the bottom track or wall of the pool and the ground around the pool.
Backwash:The filter setting in which the debris from the filter are flushed out of the filter through the waste port.
Backwash Hose:A thin hose that is used to connect to the sand filter when put in backwash setting.
Ball Valve:The shut off valve that the inside of is shaped like a ball. The valve is turned allowing the pool owner to shut off the flow of water to or from the pool.
Biguanides:Alternative form to chlorine
to sanitize your water. Most products
are not compatible with this system.
Bottom Circulation System (BCS): Can also
be called a main drain. It is a separate
system that is installed beneath your pool,
and connects into your filter. This system
helps circulate your water from below.
Breakpoint Chlorination: Commonly referred to as Shocking your pool. The process in which the chlorine level is raised high enough in the pool water in which the combined chlorine molecules break apart and are oxidized.
Bromine:Common sanitizer used for spas. This sanitizer is a member of the halogen family and is used in spas because of its resistance to hot water.
BTU:British Thermal Unit:; The amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.; Commonly gas pool heaters are rated in BTUs.
Buffer:A base that is added to the pool to raise the alkalinity in the water. It is called a buffer because it will help your pool resist fluctuations in PH.
Calcium Chloride:Also called Calcium Up, used
to raise calcium hardness in your water.
Cartridge Filter: The type of filter in which the medium of the filter is a pleated element that is commonly made of Reemay.
Calcium Hardness:Amount of calcium and
magnesium dissolved in your water.
Check Valve:The mechanism used in pools to prevent the backflow of water to the equipment. This is commonly used between a heater and chlorinator to stop the heavily chlorinated water from going through the heater.
Chloramines: Chlorine that is combined with
amine groups, causing your chlorine
to be inactive.
Chlorinator:a mechanism that slowly introduces chlorine into the water automatically.
Chlorine:The most commonly used sanitizer in swimming pools. It is a member of the halogen family and when added to water acts as an oxidizer or sanitizer.
Chlorine Residual: A level of chlorine that
remains in the pool.
Circulation: The flow of water in your pool.
Proper circulation will move all of your
water and pass it through your filter.
Clarifier:Chemical commonly used in pools to coagulate particles to be filtered out of the water easier by the filter.
Coping:The plastic material that is used with overlap pool liners to secure the liner to the wall of the pool. Coping commonly comes in plastic strips that are 2ft long.
Copper:Copper is the active ingredient found in most standard algaecides. It is important to not add too much copper based algaecide to a pool. Too much copper based algaecide may cause swimmers to get green hair. Copper is also the material that most heat exchangers in pool heaters are made of. It is important to check your water for copper if you have a pool heater as it may show early signs of damage to your heater.
Corrosion:The effect caused by low ph or low hardness in a pool. It is the etching or erosion of equipment of the pool by the water or another chemical.
Combined Chlorine: See Chloramines
Cyanuric Acid: Protects chlorine in your pool from ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Diatomaceous Earth: The filter media of D.E. filters. This powdery material is made up of the remains of ancient plankton.
D.E. Filter: The filter that contains either grids or fingers that is coated with D.E. to filter the pool water.
Dry Acid: Sodium bisulfate. This is a granular form of PH Decreaser that is commonly used to decrease the ph level and alkalinity level of water in a swimming pool.
Enzymes: Protein molecules that are commonly used in pools to break down oils and other organics in pool water. The use of enzymes in a pool is a great way to efficiently break down lotions, sun tan oils, and other oils.
Filter: The device that is used to remove particles from the pool water by pumping the water from the skimmer through a media and return the cleaned water back to the pool via the return.
Filter Element: The media used in cartridge filters to filter out debris from the water. The most common material used in Filter elements is Reemay.
Filter Medium: The material that is used within a filter to remove particles from water.
Filter Sand: Filter Sand is commonly #20 Silica Sand. This sand is not play sand and play sand should not be used in your pool filter.
Filter Valve: A valve located on top of a filter that has 6 settings to allow you to direct the water that is being brought in from the pump.
Filtration:The process of circulating and
removing objects from your pool’s
water.
Foaming:A term used to describe trouble in the water. Foaming can be caused by various reasons, but commonly foaming is caused by too much algaecide, or a high amount to total dissolved solids plus oils. Commonly enzymes are used to control foaming in pools and spas.
Free Chlorine: Chlorine that is available in
your water to kill bacteria.
Gasket:The seal that fills the gaps between 2 different objects preventing leaks from occurring. Gaskets are usually rubber and prevent either water loss or air from being taken in.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter: Commonly called a G.F.C.I. This device is used with electric around water. This protects a circuit from branching off by interrupting the circuit very quickly when it senses loss of current. This is a safety device that prevents electrocution.
Halogen: A family of chemicals that includes fluorine, bromine, chlorine, and iodine.
Hard Water: Water that his high in metals or calcium hardness.
Heater: Something that is used to heat water in a pool or spa. Common heaters are Natural Gas, Propane, Electric Heat Pumps, or Solar powered.
Heat Exchanger: The mechanism in a pool heater that absorbs the heat and transfers it into the water as the water flows through it.
Heat Pump: The opposite of an air conditioner. An electric style heater for a pool in which the same properties of an air conditioner are used, but in reverse.
HP: Horsepower. The name that is used in associate with the power of water pushed through a pump in a filter. Many conversions for HP are 1hp = 745.7 watts.
Hypochlorite: A type of chlorine that is commonly used in pools. When hypochlorite is added to water, hypochlorous acid is formed.
Impeller: The rotating device in a pump that pushes water when driven by the shaft of a motor.
Laterals: Long plastic finger like devices that are at the bottom of a sand filter. These usually have slits in them that are less than #20 micron fine to allow water to pass while keeping the filter sand in the filter.
Metal Magic: A product made by Proteam
used to lower calcium hardness and
remove metals such as copper, iron and
manganese
Minerals: Calcium, manganese, Magnesium, Nickel, Copper, Silver, Iron, Cobalt, or Aluminum that have a propensity to stain and scale pool walls and equipment when the conditions of the water are right.
Motor: The electrical device that has a spinning shaft that powers the wet end of the pool pump.
Multiport Valve: A usually 6 position valve that is used to vary the position of a sand filter. Commonly the positions are
1. Filter: Sand filters are usually kept in this position most of the time
2. Rinse: This setting is used after backwashing to rinse the filter parts before placing back into the filter position
3. Recirculate: Commonly used if the filter is broken. This bypasses the filter and just recirculates the water.
4. Backwash: This reverses the flow of water to flush the debris out of the filter.
5. Closed: This is commonly used when you have to work on your filter. This completely closes off the flow of water from the pool
6. Waste/Drain: This is a bypass setting in which the water is sent instead of from the pool through the filter to the bypass or waste port.
Muriatic Acid: Is a liquid acid that helps
lower total alkalinity.
Nitrogen: When combined with chlorine forms chloramines. Nitrogen is commonly found in organics left by swimmers such as perspiration, urine, suntan oils, hair care products, or moisturizers.
Non-Chlorine Shock: This is a granular form of Potassium Monopersulfate which is used to oxidize contaminants or chloramines in pool water.
O-Ring: This is circular loop of rubber that is used to seal two pieces. This is usually designed to sit inside a groove or another type of opening to prevent water from escaping.
Ozone: This is a molecule of three oxygen atoms. This is a very powerful sanitizer that is generated to sanitize water. This is most commonly used in spas but can also be used for swimming pools.
Oxidizing:The burning of organic matter.
pH:Is the measure of how acidic or basic the
water is on a scale of 0 to 14, 7 being
neutral. The pH of pool water should
be 7.4 to 7.6.
Potassium Monopersulfate: See Non-Chlorine Shock.
PPM: Parts Per Million.
Prime:Procedure of pushing all of the air out
of the vacuum line or filter.
Pump:A mechanical device that is powered by a motor shaft which causes movement of water.
Return Fitting: The area where clean water from
your filter reenters your pool. Located near
the skimmer.
Sand Filter: A filter that uses Silica Sand to remove particles from water.
Sanitizer: A chemical agent that is used to remove contaminants from water.
Scale formation (scaling) : A hard , crusty
material that builds up on the wall and
floor of your pool when your pH level is
high.
Sequestering Agent: This is a chemical that ties up minerals in a solution preventing them from scaling on surfaces or equipment.
Shocking: Bringing your chlorine level up to
10 ppm.or oxidizing your water to get rid
of organic wastes.
Silver Ion Purifier: An affordable system that
uses silver ions to kill bacteria in your water.
Skimmer: A box that attaches to the side of
your pool that “skims” the top layers
of water, removing dirt and debris from
your pool water. It is connected to your
filter by a hose, and has a removable
basket to help catch large debris before
it enters into your filter.
Skimmer basket: A basket that is located inside
your skimmer that catches large debris from
getting into your filter.
Skimmer Net: This is attached to the telescopic pole and is used to keep the pool clean. This is used to spot clean the top of the pool from leaves, bugs, or other larger debris.
Slugging: Method of lowering total alkalinity
by pouring pH Decreaser in one
concentrated spot and turning your filter
motor off.
Soda Ash: This is commonly referred to as PH increaser.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda): This is a base that is also used to raise PH in a pool. It though will raise the alkalinity more than the PH.
Sodium Bisulfate: Also called pH Down, used
to decrease pH of water.
Sodium Carbonate:Also called pH Up, used
to increase pH of water.
Sodium Dichlor: This is a granular form of chlorine that is stabilized with Cyanuric Acid. This is used for shocking a pool.
Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate: Also called
alkalinity Up or pH Stablilizer, used
to raise total alkalinity.
Sodium Hypochlorite: This is liquid chlorine that is commonly used in Pools.
Soft Water: Water that has a low amount of hardness or calcium hardness.
Solar Cover: Also called thermal blanket. The cover that floats on the top of the pool that helps to heat the water and prevent evaporation of the water. Commonly looks like bubble wrap.
Stabilized Chlorine: Chlorine containing
cyanuric acid.
Standpipe: The vertical pipe that carries water from the laterals in the sand filter back up to the head in the sand filter.
Strainer basket: Removable basket inside
the filter strainer that catches large
dirt and debris that can clog your
filter.
Suction Side: This is the side of the pump that is the intake. This is the side that has the suction pressure.
Superchlorinate: See shocking.
Test Kit: A method that is used to test the water balance and sanitizing level of the pool water.
Total Alkalinity (TA): The measure of alkaline
materials in your water. Ideal range is
100-150 ppm.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Amount of
dissolved solids in your water. Can be
due to anything from alkalinity to sodium
in your water. A large amount of TDS
disrupts the effectiveness of sanitizers.
Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione: A chemical compound that is used to chlorinate water. Trichlor can come in granular, tablet, or stick form.
Unstabilized Chlorine: Chlorine that does
not contain cyanuric acid.
Vacuum: This is the pressure condition created in the suction line of the filter. This is used with a vacuum head in order to clear debris from the bottom of the pool.
Winter Cover: The weave cover that is used to cover the pool for winter that does not allow debris or water to fall through preventing contamination of the pool water.