Are you curious about how to convert your pool to saltwater? You're not alone. Many pool owners are switching to salt, and it's not as complex as you may think.

It’s official, it’s spring! Here in Maryland, this is the time of year when we start to get a taste of the weather to come. A chorus of birdsong fills the air as the migrating birds return, trees are budding, peepers are peeping, and it’s usually now that many people begin to wonder, “When should I open my pool?”

The interior finish of a pool can transcend its design to a whole new level of style and beauty. There are many types of pool finishes for concrete pools to choose from, including plaster, quartz, and aggregate finishes. Each option comes in an array of materials, colors, and textures - from traditional white plaster to a variegated blend of river pebbles or glass beads.

There are many reasons that we always encourage pool owners to open their pool early; the main one being is to avoid opening a green pool! We are now over one month into the opening season, and the majority of pools we've opened have been green. The lovely warm winter this year has created ripe conditions for algae, and they love it!

Here are 8 proven tips to help get your pool swim-ready in the least amount of time:

Many pool owners may think that once you close your pool for the winter, you're finished taking care of your pool until the following spring. Simply not true. Your pool needs year-round attention! Between the winter precipitation coupled with freezing temperatures, real damage can occur to your pool. But no worries! We have some simple tips to follow to make sure that your pool is well taken care of during the winter months.

Recently we published an article about how to backwash DE filters. Monthly backwashing is a great way to keep your filter in good shape, but over time as dirt, grime, oils, etc. begin to buildup on your grids, you'll need more than just a backwash.
Here in Maryland, our pools are closed for about 5 - 6 months of the year, so giving your DE filter a full cleaning and inspection once a year is recommended.

The sand in your sand filter needs to be replaced every 3-5 years. Over time the sharp edges of the sand particle become worn and rounded, and the ability to capture contaminants is diminished. If you need a sand change, you will notice that your pool water is not as clean, and the interval between backwashing is shorter and shorter.

The pool filter is one of the most important yet often overlooked pieces of equipment within your circulation system. A filter doesn't require electricity, and there aren't many moving parts, but what it does have is pressure. Every pool filter has a pressure gauge, and by understanding how to read the pressure gauge, you will be able to see a snapshot of how your pool system is doing as a whole.

Every swimming pool needs a manual vacuum even if you own an automatic cleaner. Automatic cleaners are such a time-saving piece of pool equipment, but some issues can come up that your automatic cleaner cannot clean. THE TOP REASON TO VACUUM TO WASTE - ALGAE BLOOMS! The last thing you want to do is vacuum algae manually, which will contaminate your filter. Your pool will not clear up. In fact, the chances of your problem getting worse are very high. You'll also need to vacuum to waste when there is a large amount of debris or leaves in the pool, usually at opening.

Backwashing your pool is critical in maintaining healthy, clean, safe water. Let's take a look at what backwashing is and WHY, WHEN, and HOW to backwash your pool.

Backwashing a DE filter is a relatively simple process if you follow a few quick and easy steps. Let's take a look at WHY, WHEN, and HOW to backwash a DE filter with a multiport valve.

There are three types of pool filters: cartridge, sand, and DE (diatomaceous earth). Sand and DE filters use a multiport valve to help clean or backwash the filter media. Multiport valves are called multiport valves because they have multiple ports inside the valve that allows the water to move in multiple directions.

If you have a scheduled pool closing with us, thank you for choosing Browning Pools & Spas! We want you to understand what to expect and how to best prepare for your pool closing. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your appointment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. 301-972-3800.

Your pool needs good circulation to keep the water clean. Good water circulation helps your pool's sanitation system, your filter, and your added chemicals do their job.

The pump basket is located in the pump housing assembly, and its purpose is to collect large debris that the skimmer missed or debris that was sucked through the main drain. This humble basket prevents debris from entering the pump assembly and clogging the impeller.

The pump is virtually the heart of your swimming pool's circulation system. Its sole purpose is to pull water from the pool through the skimmer and main drain. The water is then pushed through the filter and returned to the pool through the main returns. Just like the equipment for your home needs attention, the equipment for your swimming pool also requires routine maintenance. Let's take a look at some easy steps that will help keep your pool's pump in prime condition.

With fall approaching, this is the time to plan on upgrading your pool cover. It's common for pool owners to put off investing in a good quality cover. After all the pools being closed for the winter, what real difference does it make?

We've talked before about the top 2 best ways to extend your pool season with a gas heater or a heat pump. But if your not ready to shell out that kind of cash there are other ways that you can extend your pool season. The best part is you don't have to break the bank.

Many pool owners may think that once you close your pool for the winter, you're finished taking care of your pool until the following spring. Simply not true. Your pool needs year-round attention! Between the winter precipitation coupled with freezing temperatures, real damage can occur to your pool. But no worries! We have some simple tips to follow to make sure that your pool is well taken care of during the winter months.

Recently we published an article about how to backwash DE filters. Monthly backwashing is a great way to keep your filter in good shape, but over time as dirt, grime, oils, etc. begin to buildup on your grids, you'll need more than just a backwash.
Here in Maryland, our pools are closed for about 5 - 6 months of the year, so giving your DE filter a full cleaning and inspection once a year is recommended.

The sand in your sand filter needs to be replaced every 3-5 years. Over time the sharp edges of the sand particle become worn and rounded, and the ability to capture contaminants is diminished. If you need a sand change, you will notice that your pool water is not as clean, and the interval between backwashing is shorter and shorter.

Every swimming pool needs a manual vacuum even if you own an automatic cleaner. Automatic cleaners are such a time-saving piece of pool equipment, but some issues can come up that your automatic cleaner cannot clean. THE TOP REASON TO VACUUM TO WASTE - ALGAE BLOOMS! The last thing you want to do is vacuum algae manually, which will contaminate your filter. Your pool will not clear up. In fact, the chances of your problem getting worse are very high. You'll also need to vacuum to waste when there is a large amount of debris or leaves in the pool, usually at opening.

Backwashing your pool is critical in maintaining healthy, clean, safe water. Let's take a look at what backwashing is and WHY, WHEN, and HOW to backwash your pool.

Backwashing a DE filter is a relatively simple process if you follow a few quick and easy steps. Let's take a look at WHY, WHEN, and HOW to backwash a DE filter with a multiport valve.

The pump basket is located in the pump housing assembly, and its purpose is to collect large debris that the skimmer missed or debris that was sucked through the main drain. This humble basket prevents debris from entering the pump assembly and clogging the impeller.

It's perfectly normal for your pool to lose water every day to evaporation, but if you notice an excessive loss of water, chances are you have a leak. A leak needs attention right away because the water level needs to be maintained in the middle of the skimmer. When your pool water level is too low, the skimmer takes in too much air, and this will cause problems with your pool system and will eventually cause the motor of your pump to burn out.

Believe it or not, there is a right and a wrong way to collect your water sample. A water sample is supposed to be a reflection of the water chemistry of your entire pool and staying on top of your readings is the foundation of your swimming pool season success. If a sample is contaminated or otherwise amiss, you can create big headaches and spend a bunch of money needlessly. Nobody wants that. Let's make sure you're collecting your water sample correctly for either your home test or for bringing a sample into our stores for analysis.

When you hear saltwater, most people think of the ocean, not swimming pool water. But now millions of pools worldwide are saltwater pools, so let’s take a look at what having a saltwater pool means. But before we get to that, I mentioned ocean water, and if you have ever gotten a mouthful of ocean water, then you know how salty the water tastes. A saltwater pool is not the same; in fact, just a drop of water from a saltwater chlorinated pool contains less salt than a human tear.

Have you ever wondered how rain affects your swimming pool water or if there is anything specific that you should do after it rains? As a pool owner, it’s a question worth asking because, after it rains, particularly heavy rain, the water of your pool changes both on a chemical and physical level. The amount of rain is important to consider. Light rainfall and showers will not impact your pool nearly as much as a rainstorm with heavy wind.

The number one reason to use borates in your swimming pool water is for easy maintenance.  Check out the six key advantages of using borates:

When it comes to maintaining your swimming pool and keeping your water balanced no chemical is more important than chlorine. Chlorine is the chemical compound that works to kill contaminants in your pool water like bacteria, sweat, urine, skin oils, and other microorganisms that could otherwise cause harm.

What is Calcium Hardness in pools? Calcium hardness is a concentration of calcium ions which appears in the pool water in the form of calcium carbonate. Calcium is naturally present in water, but when it comes to your swimming pool water, it needs to be maintained and prevented from going either too high or too low by keeping it within the target range of 200-300 ppm. If Calcium Hardness is not kept within range, your pool water can become too aggressive or end up scaling the surface of your swimming pool.

Total Alkalinity (TA) is the total amount of alkaline materials present in the water. Also called the buffering capacity of the water. It is the water’s resistance to change in pH.

Your swimming pool water chemistry is essential, and it needs to be kept in proper balance. Not only for swimmer comfort and safety but also to protect the swimming pool itself, and equipment. The pH level, in many ways, is the foundation of this balance.

If you notice that your pool water is cloudy after overcoming an algae bloom, most likely you need a coagulant agent. (make sure to rule out any chemical imbalances first)  Clarifier and Flocculant are types of coagulant agents, and their job is to clump these tiny particles into larger clumps so that your filter can collect them or be flushed to waste.

Clearing a green pool is probably one of the most frustrating parts of pool ownership. Even the most caring pool owners can suffer with pool algae. We’ve been clearing green pools and helping pool owners clear green pools for a long time, so we know first hand the gut-wrenching feeling that can overcome you when you lay your eyes upon a green, swampy unsightly mess.