Nowadays, you can set your TV’s DVR, check on your home security system, and even start
your car all from your computer, smart phone or tablet. Did you know you can now control your Jandy pool equipment as well? The NEW iAquaLink Kit w/PDA PCB Upgrade works seamlessly with your AquaLink PDA system, allowing you to control and monitor your pool equipment from your computer, iPhone, Android, or tablet, as long as you can connect to the internet.

Just think, you’re leaving your kids’ t-ball game and have just invited the team over for an impromptu swim party. You can easily turn on your waterfall and get the filter going in
just minutes before you even leave the park! Having a rough week at work, and just dreaming of sitting in your hot tub with a glass of wine? With the Jandy iAquaLink Kit, you can turn up the heat and turn on your spa jets before you even leave the office so your spa is ready for you before you even pull into the garage!

• Compatible with Jandy PDA Automation System (just requires 6.0 or higher), connect using Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
• Requires a free iAquaLink account and AquaLink system
• Multi-language support
• Includes: antennae box and PDA chip

The  highly anticipated Jandy iAquaLink Kit with PDA PCB Upgrade is available NOW. Call Marker Pools TODAY to reserve your kit and schedule the installation. Marker Pools can be reached at 661-713-1175.

Have you ever wondered how much water your swimming pool holds? Likely, if you were the one who built the pool, you know this information from your contractor. However, maybe you forgot this information, or you recently purchased your pool and you’d like to know.  What about help with balancing your own pool chemicals? Or assistance with determining what size heat pump to install?

Recently, I stumbled across some really handy pool calculators on Pentair’s website.  There’s also a Residential Pool Pump Energy Savings Calculator which is very helpful for seeing the savings you’d incur by switching from a single-speed pump to an IntelliFlo Variable Speed Pump, which is substantial. For example, I did a calculation based on a 20,000 gallon pool in Santa Clarita, with a spa attached, and according to the calculator, you would save $1660/year, which is 86% on your electricity cost per year. If you’d like more information on benefits of Variable Speed Pumps, click here, here, and here for blog articles Marker Pools has done in the past.

As always, if you would like to spend more time relaxing and floating around your pool and less time attempting to figure it all out yourself, Marker Pools is happy to help! Marker Pools, Santa Clarita’s premiere swimming pool service is available any time to help you with any questions or potential problems.  Contact Marker Pools at 661-713-1175.

Depending on the type of pool filter you have, whether it’s a sand filter, cartridge filter, or DE filter, it will require maintenance and occasional repair.  It’s crucial to be proactive by getting regular filter cleans in order to avoid being reactive and costing you a lot of money.  If it’s been over six months since your pool filter has been cleaned, or your water is getting cloudy (and chemicals are perfectly balanced), it’s probably time to call an expert. Serving the entire Los Angeles County, Marker Pools is a Santa Clarita pool service company who can handle any of your filter problems, including cleaning, repairing, and replacing. Give Marker Pools a call if you would like an experience pool technician to take care of this for you. By having a pool expert take care of this arduous task, it will instill confidence in you because you know it was done the right way.  Marker Pools can be reached at 661-713-1175.

• SWIMMING POOL ENERGY & WATER SAVINGS CALCULATOR – FREE: Easy to use calculator shows the cost of energy, water and chemicals your heated swimming pool currently uses, and the significant major savings you could realize (potentially thousands of dollars per year) from using a pool cover. This patent pending calculator uses the temperature you prefer to keep your pool, which state you live in,  the size of your pool and other data you input, along with data from sources such as the Department of Energy’s study on swimming pools and produces the following: average cost of energy your pool currently consumes per year and the potential savings you could achieve; average cost of water from replacing the evaporated pool  water from your pool per year, and the potential savings you could achieve; average cost of chemicals you use per year and the potential savings you could achieve; average gallons of water your pool loses through evaporation per year, in thousands of gallons, and the potential savings you could achieve,  average CO2, in tons, put into the atmosphere from heating your pool, per year, and the potential reduction you could achieve.  

•  POOL-CALCULATOR  - $4.99: Looking for help with calculations while you’re adjusting your swimming pool chemistry? The Pool Calculator does all the math for you, telling you exactly how much of each chemical to add to keep your water in balance. No more puzzling over complicated charts and formulas.  Get the exact answer in one step.  Bring your iPhone out to the pool and have all the chemical information and calculations right at your fingertips! Also includes useful basic pool chemistry information.

• POOL DOCTOR – $1.99: Pool doctor keeps you blue! Whether you are new to pool maintenance or an experience pool professional, this is the tool for you. If you aren’t quite sure how to take care of your pool, just use the Easy-Balance option. All you have to do is enter the 3 most basic chemical readings from any test kit you own, and Pool Doctor will tell you exactly what chemicals to put into your pool and why. Pool Doctor also includes a Volume Estimator, just in case you aren’t exactly sure how big your pool is. This app even supports both regular and salt-water pools!

As always, it’s best to call a professional with any questions or concerns. Marker Pools, Santa Clarita’s premiere swimming pool service is available any time to help you with any questions or potential problems.  Marker Pools can be reached at 661-713-1175.

One of the biggest differences is the amount of chemicals you use this time of year. The summertime heat is what creates algae, and to eradicate this, you use chlorine. Well, with the temps low, algae is kept at a minimum, making the amount of chlorine needed lower, as well. In fact, when the water reaches the temperature of 51 degrees, bacteria and algae stop growing altogether! However, still keep an eye on that water chemistry. It’s imperative for the chlorine and pH levels to be balanced in order to avoid any damage to your pool’s equipment. This can be very complicated, but Marker Pools can take this burden off your shoulders. With weekly service or just chemicals only, we’ll work with you to find the solution to whatever you’re having problems with.

Another thing you need to keep an eye on are those beautiful fall leaves. We all love seeing the colors autumn brings – golds, oranges and yellows – but once the wind picks up those leaves get blown right off the trees and are heading straight for your pool! Keep on top of getting that fall foliage out by emptying your skimmer basket, your pump basket, and don’t forget – NET, NET, NET! 

Keeping up with the amount of debris that gets blown into your pool is crucial for the life of your pump.  Small sticks and leaves can make their way through the grate of the basket and get stuck in your impellor. If you’re having an issue with your pump not priming because it got overloaded with debris, then check out this article about cleaning out your pump’s impellor. Always replace cracked baskets in your skimmer or pump and make sure to watch your filter pressure. More leaves equals more dirt and more dirt equals a dirtier filter that will start effecting the way your entire pool operates.

If you don’t feel like dealing with the leaves and adjustments that come with the varying weather, Marker Pools will gladly take care of your swimming pool and spa for you! Marker Pools can be reached at (661) 713-1175 or fill out this form and we’ll get in contact you.

The TouchLink is Jandy’s newest controller for automating your swimming pool experience. It features a complete touch interface similar to what you would find on a tablet. Users can customize their home screen to suit their most used functions. It also has the ability to create a variety of custom “moods.” For example, with the touch of a button you can set the pool and spa lights to a specific color, start the spa jets, and turn on the waterfall.

If you are interested in upgrading to the automation unit that rockstars prefer, or are in need of pool service in the Studio City area, please contact us today!

Variable Speed Pool Pumps are revolutionizing the swimming pool industry. The new motors in these pumps can help accumulate over $1000/year in energy savings. The technology is derived from the ever popular hybrid cars. By running your pool at slower speeds you cut energy costs drastically, putting more money in your pocket. While single speed pool pumps use 2000 watts to run, new variable speed pool pumps can use as little as 70 watts. That was not a typo, we consistently see these pumps running at  the energy of a light bulb while they are in low speed.

In keeping with the spirit of helping save the earth and some of your money we have dropped our price for the month of May to $1350 installed.* Thats only $350 total cost after rebate. Since these pumps have been available we have never seen rebates this high. This is truly an offer that may not be offered again. Contact us today to schedule a free poolside quote and start saving now!

For more information on these pumps click here.

* $1350 applies to most situations, but the price could change if there are additional requirements for installation to communicate with existing equipment.

Updated: Although May has come and gone DWP still offers a $500 rebate for the installation of any qualifying variable speed pool pump

Typically this happens because either the impeller is stuck and not turning freely or the start capacitor needs to be replaced. Usually we will start by checking that the impeller is not stuck by turning the shaft on the back of the motor.

Steps to Clear an Impeller

1. Make sure the breaker is in the off position
2. Remove the cap from the end of the pool motor exposing the shaft
3. Use a 9/16 wrench and try turning the shaft either direction
4. If the shaft spins freely try starting the motor again.
5. Disassemble the pump if the shaft will not spin freely even after using a wrench. After reaching the impeller try spinning the shaft again.

If the shaft will not spin freely it could be frozen due to bad bearings. In this case it may be best to replace the motor as the cost of bearing replacement could be over half of the cost of a new motor.

Sometimes the motor will spin freely but the motor still hums and the breaker might still trip. If this happens, chances are that the start capacitor needs to be replaced.

Steps to Replacing a Start Capacitor

1. Make sure the breaker is in the off position
2. Locate the capacitor. It usually sits on top of the motor in a dome cover and is held by two 1/4″ nuts
3. Be very careful when handling a capacitor. It may hold a charge that can shock you.
4. Discharge the capacitor by laying a screwdriver across both terminals for a few seconds
5. Make sure to use an exact replacement for the capacitor. Do not go lower on the “MFD” listed on the label.
6. After replacement try to start the motor again.

If you are not comfortable doing this sort of work yourself contact a pool professional in your area. There are also plenty of motor rebuild shops that will provide repairs to your existing pool motor.

Before rushing into replacing your single speed motor due to bad bearings or windings you should learn more about Variable Speed Pool Pumps. Learn how you could be saving up to 90% off utility costs.

There are so many choices when it comes to an automated pool cleaner. You’ve probably heard of the Kreepy Krauly, the Navigator, and about fifty other popular names. Everybody has their favorite pool sweep including myself. I installed the newer Baracuda MX8 in both pools today, and have to tell you I love this cleaner. Not only does this suction cleaner have the widest cleaning path available, it also climbs walls and stairs unbelievably well. At one point it literally climbed out of the water, touched the coping, did a spin out, and returned to the bottom of the pool to continue its cleaning. The Baracuda MX8 has  Cyclonic Suction Technology that allows it to pick up debris at a much faster rate than other cleaners. Check out this video below!

The price of the Baracuda MX8 purchased from Marker Pool Service is $399 for a limited time after a $100 mail-in-rebate. If you would like more information, or a demonstration feel free to use the contact us link in the menu.

Auto Fill water levelers are designed to automatically fill your pool with water when the level drops below a certain point. They are equipped with a float similar to what you would find in the basin of your toilet. When the water level in the pool falls, so does the float, causing the valve to open and water to be added to your swimming pool.

The most common way to tell if there is a problem with your swimming pool auto fill is to keep an eye on the water level in your pool. If the water level seems low (below the tile around the inside of pool) there could be a problem with the valve not opening, or the manual fill line may be turned off. Having a low amount of water in the pool may cause your pool pump to run dry and burn up. If the water level is too high (hitting the overflow cutout in the tile), your leveler may be constantly adding water to the pool. This would lead to a depletion of chemicals including conditioner, chlorine, salt, etc.

Repairing an auto fill is really quite simple. Check these few things and repair/replace as necessary.

1. Make sure that the fill line is always in the on position. It can usually be found near a hose bib or in the equipment area.
2. Open the lid to the auto fill and observe that the float is working properly. Lightly push it down to see if it adds water, or lift up to see that it stops adding water.
3. If your water level is to high try to adjust the float by loosening the wing nut. If the float is in the proper position the threads may be leaking and the float should be replaced.
4. The cost of replacing the float mechanism is cheap $15-$25.

Rolachem has a great product called the pool sentry for those who wish they had an auto fill on their pool but are not willing to cut up the concrete to add one. Simply attach a hose and fill it with rocks and you won’t have to worry about your water level anymore.

Maintaining a proper water level is extremely important to keep your pool equipment in good working condition, and the water properly balanced. If you think that you may have a problem with your auto fill don’t hesitate to contact Marker Pool Service today to have your pool assessed. We have the experience and knowledge that are necessary when it comes to pool repairs, and would be more than happy to troubleshoot your swimming pool auto fill, or any other problems you may have with your pool.