Rule Your Pool artwork

Rule Your Pool

148 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -

Rule Your Pool is a podcast by Orenda Technologies. This show was created for pool owners, operators, and service pros who want the best water quality possible. If you want to know what's really going on with your swimming pool chemistry, this might be the podcast for you. Each week, we'll cover a new topic related to swimming pools, water chemistry, or indoor air quality. With our help, you'll be able to rule your pool without over-treating it with chemicals and wasting money.

Chemistry Science Education How To swimming pool rule your pool four pillars orenda academy orenda technologies pool chemicals water chemistry chlorine water treatment pool chemistry
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Episodes

Intro - What Raises and Lowers specific chemistry factors? (7-part series)

November 02, 2022 13:00 - 3 minutes - 3.53 MB

00:00 - Introduction to our new seven-part series 01:37 - We need to get back to the basics, thanks to the questions we are getting from you 02:38 - You are the reason we keep producing this podcast. Thank you for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website: https://www.orendatech.com Help Center: https://ask.orendatech.com Blog: https://blog.orendatech.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OrendaTechnologies Facebook: https://www....

Cold Water Startups

October 26, 2022 13:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB

00:00 - Intro 03:13 - The Orenda Startup™ is still about LSI in colder water. In fact, the LSI is probably even more important in colder water. 04:23 - Three main startup procedure differences to focus on when the water is cold (and getting colder) 05:22 - 1) More calcium hardness 08:34 - 2) When and where to add SC-1000 13:57 - 3) Let the cement dry for a few hours before turning the water on 17:49 - Postpone salt and acid treatments until spring 24:00 - Summary. Thanks for listening...

Podcasting with the Pool Chasers

October 19, 2022 13:00 - 34 minutes - 31.1 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:21 - We met the Pool Chasers in their studio before COVID 02:20  - Podcasts are catching on, but Pool Chasers were one of the first 08:38 - Podcasting wasn't as accepted and understood 5 or 6 years ago. Now it's mainstream. 11:51 - There should be more podcasts, because it's a great medium for sharing information 16:10 - We don't talk about our products and that annoys Greg. 24:03 - If you want to be treated differently, act differently 27:20 - Podcasting is different...

Swimming Pool Recovery After a Hurricane

October 12, 2022 13:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MB

00:00 - Intro 03:08 - Let's start with pool damage, electrical and physical 05:26 - Electrical Hazards 06:31 - Contamination, physical and chemical 07:48 - Biohazards 09:20 - How to clean up a pool after a Hurricane 11:59 - Chemistry and chlorination after circulation is up and running 14:21 - Brief summary 16:44 - Drinking water contamination 17:42 - Summary. Thanks for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website: https://www.orend...

Winter is Coming...Again (feat. Miguel Chavez)

October 05, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MB

00:00 - Intro - We're doing it LIVE 01:54 - Orenda help line rings with people asking about winterization 03:19 - The type of safety cover affects water chemistry 05:20 - Winterization is like bear hibernation 06:21 - Sanitizing and Balance: two separate things 08:28 - Winterization kits miss the point 11:38 - Even sitting next to each other looking at the same laptop, Jarred is still somehow not looking at the show notes 14:24 - What is a winter watch program? 15:32 - Spring opening...

Here's to the Naysayers

September 29, 2022 11:45 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MB

00:00 - Intro - Jarred is a Debbie Downer 02:23 - Jarred printed the show notes for this episode 03:17 - Criticism: Orenda downplays the importance of pH 07:09 - Criticism: Orenda advocates for alkalinity below 80 ppm, but that will destroy a pool 08:38 - Criticism: Orenda says 50 ppm CYA or less, but you can't hold chlorine for a week with such low levels 09:54 - Criticism: Phosphates don't matter, and Orenda just says they do to sell more PR-10,000 11:25 - Criticism: The Orenda Start...

Good Enough is the Enemy of Great

September 21, 2022 13:28 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MB

00:00 - Intro...Jarred is the host this time 01:12 - People call us for advice, and most of them are wanting "the easy button" 04:54 - Old school thinking (good enough) prevents you from being great 06:45 - What is your added value to the pool owner? 11:04 - Traditional pool care 16:04 - Relying on chlorine to do too much 18:30 - Ways to add additional value 20:20 - Do not be fearful of educating customers if you're adding additional value 21:38 - Six bad habits to avoid 23:56 - Fou...

We Learned How to Plaster a Pool...

September 14, 2022 14:33 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:34 - Tempool plaster school 03:21 - We learned a LOT by physically plastering a pool 06:23 - Plasterers are artisans. There's both an art and a science to this trade 07:57 - We learned the entire process from waterproofing/prep, to plastering, to exposing 12:57 - Water to cement ratio. The mixer matters! 14:53 - The pro's at Tempool moved differently than us newbies 16:17 - Finishing steps - butter/cream removal 18:23 - Finishing steps - wet brushing/brooming, rinsin...

Three Water Tests that are 100% Reliable, but not Precise

September 07, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:18 - Thermometers are reliable and accurate, but because they're not water tests, they're not included in our list of three tests in this episode. 04:19 - No test kit stays accurate and precise forever. All of them need to be maintained, used properly, calibrated and reagents need to be taken care of (and not expired). 05:13 - The White Bucket Test 07:43 - Our first white bucket test...green water out of the hose on a startup 10:23 - White bucket tests can be used to id...

Plaster Finish Issues (w/ Bill Drakeley, Watershapes University)

August 31, 2022 13:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB

00:00 - Introduction with Bill Drakeley, Watershapes University 01:47 - Cement cracks 05:43 - Concrete issues cause plaster issues 07:55 - What are "structural cracks"? 08:48 - Calcium nodules 12:46 - Concrete core samples 15:45 - Lack of bonding / delamination 17:21 - Bill pounds on his desk when talking about concrete 21:13 - Start with the pool foundation when diagnosing plaster problems 21:58 - Summary. Thanks for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with...

Understanding Shotcrete (w/ Bill Drakeley, Watershapes University)

August 24, 2022 13:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB

00:00 - Introduction to Bill Drakeley 02:22 - Concrete 101: What happens when water mixes with dry cement? 04:02 - Concrete mix design (water:cement ratio) 05:18 - Compressive value (PSI) 07:49 - ACI and ASA minimum for pool concrete is 4000 PSI. 08:59 - How do you regulate PSI? Concrete mix design (water:cement ratio) 11:41 - Quality control 13:08 - Is waterproofing necessary when you have a proper, watertight concrete pool shell? 16:39 - Rapid-fire definitions 20:20 - Types of cra...

Cyanuric Acid (CYA) and Chlorine Strength

August 17, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MB

00:00 - An extra-long intro, complete with Jarred's new microphone and some housekeeping topics. 01:24 - Housekeeping: We're teaching with Watershapes University. WU C3611, November 12 and 13 in Las Vegas: Essential Plaster Workshop. And we're participating in Swim Across America, September 24 in Dallas. You can contribute to our team at swimacrossamerica.org/goto/orenda. 03:38 - Check out the chlorine and CYA chart here: https://blog.orendatech.com/chlorine-ph-and-cya-relationships 04:55...

Pools Per Gallon | Chemical Efficiency

August 10, 2022 13:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:18 - Housekeeping: WU class 3611 at the Int'l Show, and swimacrossamerica.org/goto/orenda. 04:55 - The Orenda Philosophy 07:38 - Algaecides (except chlorine) leave behind long-term byproducts that will eventually conflict with chlorine 11:33 - Pools per gallon, starting with Orenda products 11:56 - CV-600/700 pools per gallon 15:45 - PR-10,000 pools per gallon 18:27 - CE-Clarifier pools per gallon 21:05 - SC-1000 pools per gallon 22:06 - Acid pools per gallon 24:47...

Understanding Borates

August 03, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

00:00 - Another long intro, reminding listeners about Swim Across America, and WU C3611 at the Int'l Pool & Spa show in Vegas this November. 03:34 - Orenda is neither pro-borate, nor anti-borate. We don't find them necessary, but we don't criticize those who use them responsibly either. 05:41 - Never exceed 50 ppm borate in your water, for toxicity reasons. 07:46 - What are borates? 08:49 - Bicarbonate/carbonate alkalinity and its pKa value of 6.14 pH. 09:52 - Boric acid/Borate and its ...

Can't hold chlorine for a week?

July 27, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MB

00:00 - An extra-long intro, complete with Jarred's new microphone and some housekeeping topics. 06:39 - There's a difference between using chlorine and losing chlorine. 09:01 - With CYA in the water, pH does not control chlorine strength, but at a high enough pH, OCl- breaks away from CYA and can be lost to sunlight. 11:42 - Chlorine demand is both the sanitizer demand and oxidant demand. Let's start with the sanitizer demand. 13:29 - Oxidant demand, starting with metals 15:35 - Nitrog...

Why are LSI and chemical dosing results different in Orenda 3.0?

July 20, 2022 13:00 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Orenda 3.0 features new, improved formulas. Most of the update was about improving the formulas. 01:43 - The LSI reference chart is the basis for most LSI calculators. 02:52 - The old Orenda app extrapolated within the LSI dosing chart to be more accurate. 04:39 - The new Orenda calculator is more true to the Saturation Index, and that's why the LSI results will be slightly different than before. They are more precise now. 05:53 - Dosing calculator formula upgrades...

App Feedback and RIP Startup Barrel Platform

July 18, 2022 13:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:53 - Our annual meeting made light of some costly mistakes 02:13 - The two mistakes to explain are the premature Orenda 3.0 release and the Startup Barrel Platform 03:24 - Without customer feedback, we could not have found the bugs as quickly as we have. Your feedback is incredibly valuable! 07:13 - We are discontinuing the Startup Barrel Platform 07:27 - Giving credit where credit is due: Lupe, Dave, Dave, Molinari Pools, and PurAqua 10:16 - The platform became cost p...

Orenda 3.0 | The new Orenda App Update

July 13, 2022 13:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:14 - Our audience is becoming massive 02:43 - We built this app as an investment in you. Paying it forward to help the industry and every pool owner 06:01 - We make our money on selling chemicals, but this calculator is for everyone, whether you buy our chemicals or not 06:36 - We insisted on this calculator being the most accurate pool calculator in the world 08:28 - Borate is now included in the LSI calculator 12:30 - New secondary readings 15:28 - The Mac-daddy of ...

ask.orendatech.com | The Orenda Help Center

July 06, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 8.67 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:36 - The URL is ask.orendatech.com 01:55 - We get a ton of phone calls, and most of them are questions we get every week. 02:35 - Don't see your question answered? Submit your question at the top of the web page. 04:04 - Jarred asks a question we actually haven't yet answered, and shows how to submit a question. 08:12 - The help center can be found from anywhere on our website, using a link in both the header menu and the footer of each page. 08:29 - Summary - thanks f...

Different Types of Phosphates

July 01, 2022 20:10 - 13 minutes - 12 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:42 - Orthophosphates (PO4) are the building block of phosphate compounds 03:58 - Inorganic phosphate types 05:07 - If PR-10,000 clouds, you are watching it remove phosphates from water 05:48 - Tests can be decieving, and inaccurate. And they only measure orthophosphates. 07:52 - When PR-10,000 reduces less than expected, it removed phosphates that did not show up on your test kit 08:54 - Try to avoid chemical conflicts  10:21 - Phosphates in drinking water 11:59 - Ja...

CYA, Water Temperature, and Chlorine Loss

June 22, 2022 13:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:03 - There's a difference between using chlorine and losing chlorine 02:11 - Chlorinate and cross your fingers 03:59 - Does warmer weather really mean you need more CYA to protect chlorine from more intense sunlight? 08:49 - CYA's other impacts 09:43 - High pH actually does increase chlorine loss, because OCl- dissociates from CYA in higher pH water 12:07 - Jarred did not read all five bullet points in our extensive show notes 13:53 - Low-energy Jarred summarizes for ...

Why Orenda's Advice sometimes Conflicts with Industry Standards, Textbooks and Pool Stores

June 15, 2022 13:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:51 - Not all of our advice conflicts with industry standards and texbooks. We just don't believe in the dogma of range chemistry. 02:56 - What is range chemistry? 04:31 - Water never read the textbook. Just like Jarred. 07:07 - Why are people more concerned with scale than etching? 08:39 - Aggressive water looks good. Just like Jarred. 16:08 - Being blind to the LSI is expensive, and it means you're going to fight your water to conform to ranges it doesn't want to conf...

How to use SPA-500

June 08, 2022 13:00 - 7 minutes - 6.6 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:52 - What is SPA-500? 02:50 - How to use SPA-500 04:41 - Recap 05:51 - Closing the shortest episode we've ever done. Thanks for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website: https://www.orendatech.com Blog: https://blog.orendatech.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OrendaTechnologies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orendatech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orendatechnologies/ Swim Across America | Te...

How to use CE-Clarifier

June 01, 2022 13:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:27 - What is a clarifier? 01:28 - What is chitosan? 04:38 - What does CE-Clarifier do? 06:08 - How to use CE-Clarifier 09:23 - Frequently asked questions 11:49 - Summary. Thanks for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website: https://www.orendatech.com Blog: https://blog.orendatech.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OrendaTechnologies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orendatech/ Instagram: https://www.ins...

How to use CV-600 and CV-700 Enzymes

May 25, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:58 - What is an enzyme? 03:28 - Enzymes vs. sunscreen 05:54 - How to use CV-600 and CV-700 08:29 - Enzyme dosing 10:47 - Differences between CV-600 and CV-700 12:44 - FAQs 15:11 - Summary. Thanks for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website: https://www.orendatech.com Blog: https://blog.orendatech.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OrendaTechnologies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orendatech/ Instagr...

How to use SC-1000 Scale & Metal Control

May 18, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:56 - What is a sequestering agent? 05:55 - What is a chelating agent? 08:09 - How to use SC-1000 09:14 - We are not in the stain-removal business. But SC-1000 can help soften and remove scale. 12:49 - SC-1000 considerations to be aware of. First, water temperature matters. 14:27 - Second consideration: SC-1000 wipes out chlorine until it can do its job. 16:32 - SC-1000 is biodegradable, but that requires bacteria that cannot survive in a swimming pool. So it has stayi...

How to use PR-10,000 Phosphate Remover

May 11, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:58 - What is PR-10,000? 01:32 - What does PR-10,000 do in the water? 04:26 - Heavy doses of PR-10,000 are easier when using enzymes, because oils and organics can stick to the dust fallout and make it more difficult to clear the water. 05:31 - How to add PR-10,000 07:07 - Higher doses (special doses) of PR-10,000 10:45 - Frequently Asked Questions 14:57 - Summary. Thanks for listening!   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website...

How to do an Orenda Purge, and Why

May 04, 2022 13:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:23 - What is an Orenda purge? It is a deliberately strong initial dose of enzymes and phosphate remover (and sometimes chelant) to reset your water. It gives your water the most reduced chlorine demand possible. 03:58 - The entire purpose of an Orenda Purge is remove chlorine-resistant contaminants.  07:45 - SC-1000 chelates metals and prevents oxidation and staining, but most pools do not need it every year. It will stay in for a very long time. 09:00 - PR-10,000 is a f...

How to Adjust Alkalinity

April 27, 2022 13:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:58 - To reduce alkalinity, use acid. But there are a few types of acid. And what, exactly, does acid do? It converts alkalinity into carbonic acid (dissolved CO2). 04:17 - The amount of dissolved CO2 in your water determines the pH. 04:36 - Clarifying "carbonate alkalinity" vs. "total alkalinity".  07:45 - The Orenda App adjusts alkalinity automatically for you when you update the CYA level. 08:45 - How to actually add acid to reduce alkalinity: do not column pour! Dilu...

Swim Across America (w/ Rob Butcher)

April 20, 2022 13:00 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MB

Swim Across America | Team Orenda: https://www.swimacrossamerica.org/goto/orenda 00:00 - Intro 01:23 -  Introducing Rob Butcher, the CEO of Swim Across America 02:02 - Who is Swim Across America? 2022 is the 35th anniversary of SAA. 05:52 - The boat for the original swim sank, and it's still on the bottom of the Long Island sound. 10:06 - Fighting cancer is personal to Rob. 12:32 - The first Intermission in RYP Podcast history. We hereby invite you to join our team. 16:26 - The energy...

Spring Cleaning

April 06, 2022 13:00 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:01 - Two categories to talk about: year-round uncovered pools, and pools that were closed/covered/winterized. 09:57 - What should be done first? Remove debris. 13:32 - What sequence of operations should you follow? In what order? 17:35 - One-stop openings are more challenging, but still doable. 18:13 - Have mercy on your pool company. It's beyond hectic. 24:00 - SC-1000 throws a wrench in the opening process because it wipes out chlorine. When should you add it? 29:20...

How to Implement the Orenda Program

March 30, 2022 13:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MB

00:00 - Intro 03:12 - What is the Orenda Program? It's a philosophy, not a list of products. 04:45 - The history of Orenda 10:42 - It's never profitable to be reactive. Being proactive is much better. 12:42 - No chemical conflicts 21:05 - No long-term byproducts left behind 26:19 - What is an Orenda pool? What does that mean? 27:54 - Ten Steps to implement the Orenda Program 35:52 - Recap of steps 1-3: dilute as needed, establish higher calcium hardness and reduced total alkalinity l...

What Causes Calcium Hardness to Change?

March 23, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:29 - The amount of calcium carbonate is calcium hardness. How saturated that calcium carbonate is is measured using the LSI. 02:45 - If calcium rises, it's coming from somewhere. If calcium falls, it's going somewhere. 03:21 - What increases calcium hardness? 05:03 - What reduces calcium hardness? 07:02 - Evaporation and accumulation 08:53 - If the calcium seems to move much more than it should, it's probably a faulty test 10:16 - Two-breath recap. Thanks for listenin...

How Salt Chlorine Generators Actually Work

March 16, 2022 13:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:07 - Giving credit where credit is due 02:25 - Saltwater pools ARE chlorine pools 04:13 - Salt (NaCl) dissolves in water and the sodium (Na) separates from chloride (Cl-). That chloride is what the salt system converts into chlorine 04:43 - What a salt cell is and how it works 08:45 - Electrolysis converts 2Cl into Cl2, and Eric attempts to read through the three chemistry formulas in order... 13:51 - Because Hydrogen gas (H2) does not dissolve, it bubbles off and crea...

Preparing for Spring Openings in 2022

March 02, 2022 14:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:59 - What is 2022 going to look like? What can we expect with the supply chain shortages? 05:10 - What can you do NOW to make openings smoother in a few weeks?  08:57 - Most pools with mesh covers (or no covers) will have lower calcium and higher pH than they winterized with. 12:55 - A hard reset in the spring is a very good practice. What can you decide to remove from your water? 16:22 - We can start removing phosphates and non-living organics now. Addressing metals wi...

The Power of Standardizing Pool Chemistry and Practices

February 23, 2022 14:00 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MB

00:00 - Intro....by Jarred? 02:35 - What is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)? 07:34 - The root of the word "decide". 17:18 - When people do their own thing in a service business, they are incentivized to cover up their mistakes. 21:07 - Collective intelligence 24:00 - Step 1: Gain control of CYA levels. 27:20 - Step 2: Create an LSI floor (foundation) with calcium hardness, and a ceiling with total alkalinity. 34:23 - Step 3: Write down your clearly-defined SOP for chemistry and b...

Ways to Reduce Employee Turnover

February 09, 2022 14:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:43 - Swimming is an individual sport AND a team sport. Individual athletes racing the clock are part of a bigger team. This translates to pool companies as well. 04:02 - Let's focus on people. Not the job, not the skills, the people. People are always the most important aspect of a business. 04:32 - The benefits of a baseline, such as water chemistry minimums. Standards lead to collective intelligence, the team becomes more cohesive. 10:09 - Build a family and team atmos...

Organic Staining and Tannins

January 19, 2022 14:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:44 - Drinks made from plants have natural color from Tannins. Wine, coffee, tea, etc. 06:10 - Nothing replaces the importance of physically cleaning organics out of the pool. Leaves, acorns and other droppings will overwhelm chlorine if you do not regularly remove them. 10:25 - Tannins can be soaked out of decaying organics. They either stain the surface or discolor the water, or both. 12:48 - If you don't clean off mesh covers, decaying organics will release tannins int...

Uneven Carbonation & other Plaster Discoloration | Calcium Issues, pt. 5

January 05, 2022 14:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:49 - Most people mistake this problem for scale. But it's not scale. 05:05 - This is a chemistry issue, not specific to brand of finish or pigment. This is not a cement or pigment failure, it's a water chemistry problem that can be prevented. 06:01 - How this occurs during plaster application, exposure and startup. 15:36 - How this occurs months or years later,  from aggressive water over time. 21:04 - When we get calls about these issues, the answer is not always good ...

Calcite Crystals | Calcium Issues, pt. 4

December 29, 2021 14:00 - 37 minutes - 34 MB

00:00 - Intro 04:18 - Calcite crystals are not the same thing as scale 10:49 - Jarred describes photos of crystals 14:18 - Jarred explains how to prevent crystals, and explains it better than Eric. Well done, Jarred. 25:16 - We know of 4 types of crystals. Each has a different difficulty of removal. 32:35 - Jarred summarizes, and summarizes better than Eric. Now you're just showing off, Jarred.   ------------------------------------ Connect with Orenda Technologies Website: https://...

Calcium Nodules | Calcium Issues, pt. 3

December 22, 2021 14:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Look up "nodule" on blog.orendatech.com, and you will find articles that show photos of calcium nodules. You can also do an online search of nodules and find plenty of information. 04:32 - This is the Orenda podcast, and we believe you should hear both opinions on nodules.  First, the NPC's position. 08:08 - Now, the onBalance position. 12:42 - Both sides acknowledge nodules are not scale. They are minerals from within (or behind) the plaster surface that come to th...

Carbonate Clouding and Dust | Calcium Issues, pt. 2

December 15, 2021 14:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:36 - Welcome to the team, Ryan Rickaby! 01:20 - Review of calcium hardness (amount of calcium carbonate) vs. LSI (saturation of calcium carbonate) 04:30 - Soda ash clouds the water instantly 12:10 - Sharing Eric's screen (alkalinity equilibrium), which can be found on the Orenda Blog, search for Alkalinity 14:21 - When the pH is high enough, carbonate ions (CO3- -) perfectly match with calcium ions (Ca++) to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3). 19:10 - If you put 11+ pH sod...

What is Scale? | Calcium Issues, pt. 1

December 08, 2021 14:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:57 - Definition of scale: Scale is the hardened deposit of a calcium compound that has precipitated out of solution.  02:30 - Analogy of sugar in a drink. This analogy explains the difference between the saturation of calcium carbonate (LSI), and the amount of calcium carbonate (calcium hardness).  06:33 - Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is the most common form of scale, by far. But there are other forms of scale: calcium silica, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, and probably...

Draining and Diluting a Pool

December 01, 2021 14:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:42 - Dilution is not always the solution. But it can be the most practical answer to get certain chemistry levels reduced. 06:54 - Evaporation will not lead to dilution, because the dissolved solids stayed behind. Things will accumulate because tap water adds more dissolved solids to the water. 07:09 - Dilution is not so much about high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), it's about what's in that TDS.  Specifically high cyanuric acid, and high calcium hardness. 09:55 - You do...

Ways to suppress pH from naturally rising

November 17, 2021 14:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:01 - Recap of Henry's Law of differential pressures. Any gas dissolved in a liquid will equalize with that same gas above the liquid. 04:36 - If you exceed the pH ceiling, the atmosphere will literally push CO2 back into the water. 04:57 - Where does CO2 come from when adding acid? It converts bicarbonate into carbonic acid (dissolved CO2). 07:50 - We don't want bicarbonate ions to convert into carbonate ions (at 8.3 pH or higher) because carbonates are attracted to calc...

Water Chemistry Testing: 201

November 10, 2021 14:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Things can go wrong in water testing, so let's review the common mistakes and interferences. 05:07 - Reagent expiration dates mean nothing if the kit is not stored properly. All test kits have a finite shelf life. 09:10 - Bleaching reagents (very high chlorine) can distort other tests too. 15:08 - Cold water interferes with accuracy too. Warm the sample before testing. 18:48 - Mistakes are common when collecting a sample and taking it somewhere. Grab the sample fro...

Water Chemistry Testing: 101

November 03, 2021 13:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MB

00:00 - Intro - Joe's back! 01:44 - Water chemistry testing is important because without it, managing swimming pools well becomes impossible. 05:55 - Water testing is not difficult, but it takes practice and some effort to get good at it. It helps to keep a log of your test results! 06:31 - How often should you test? It depends on the factor(s), but some should be every week, other should be once a month. Free chlorine may be a few times a week in some cases. 13:10 - If you track your re...

Introducing the Orenda Help Desk in Pool Service Software (PSS)

October 27, 2021 13:00 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB

00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Today's episode is about addressing problem pools in the most efficient way 02:02 - Introducing Gus Velez, founder of Pool Service Software 04:36 - PSS users are pool service professionals 07:35 - They had a few chemistry support tickets come in, and they are not chemistry experts. So they went out looking for a partner who can help their users with water chemistry. They found Orenda. 10:28 - When you call Orenda, it's most helpful if you give us the right info abo...

PPM and PPB

October 20, 2021 13:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MB

00:00 - Intro 01:59 - PPM = parts per million. It's the density of a given substance dissolved in water. It's the ratio of that substance compared to water. 1 PPM means the dissolved substance is one-millionth of the volume of water. 03:47 - PPM = mg/L. Converting from the metric system it makes sense.  1 cubic meter of water contains 1000 Liters. Each liter contains 1000 mL. Then we switch to solids, because we're talking about dissolved substances. 1 mL = 1000 mg. 07:00 - Brief overview...

Concrete Pool Shell Problems | Weepers, Efflorescence, and Calcium Nodules

October 13, 2021 13:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MB

00:00 - Intro 02:54 - Water chemistry did not cause these problems. These are structural issues. 03:54 - Three main problems: weepers, efflorescence, and calcium nodules. 04:09 - Weepers are active leaks in concrete, where water is flowing through concrete. Usually this is from behind the concrete shell due to groundwater pressure. But it can also be on a raised wall where the pool itself pushes through a weakness in concrete. 06:23 - Shotcrete is applied pneumatically, and the density o...