Glossary of Terms for Swimming Pools

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a

Air Bleeder Assembly

Located on the top of the filter, sometimes accompanied by a pressure gauge, the bleeder is opened to release air trapped in the filter.To view a diagram click here.

Air Dome

This is a dome structure which is inflated and when erected acts as an enclosure for a swimming pool, or can be used for other things, such as tennis courts. The great thing about an air dome is that in the summer you can take it down, but you can lengthen your swimming time to all year round as you can have it up in the winter. To view a diagram click here.

Aquatechnic One Piece Pool

The one piece swimming pools are ceramic and are created by applying seven different layers to a precisely engineered mould. They are a very simple way of swimming pool construction. To view this pool click here.

Automatic Cover

Solid, reinforced vinyl which rolls onto a reel on one end of the pool and attaches on the sides into small aluminum tracks. Can be motorized or hand crank. Some models may snap the sides into small anchors placed into the deck, providing more shape flexibility. Provides safety (with water pumped off), debris protection and heat/chemical/water retention. To view this product click here 

Automatic Pool Cleaner

A device which automatically agitates or vacumms debris from the walls and floor of the pool. A great labour saving product, used on most pools nowadays. Connected to the skimmer or vacuum point and left to do it's magic, it roams over the pool walls (and floor - depending on the model) and cleans the pool of debris. To view a range of these products click here. 

b

Backfill

The repositioning of the soil after construction of a pool.To read more about this process click here.

Backwash

1. The process of thoroughly cleaning the filter medium and/or elements by reversing the flow of water through the filter to waste.
2. When the pressure gauge indicates, you will need to backwash the filter. When the handle is turned to backwash, the flow through the filter is reversed, say, bottom to top. The effluent water (out of the filter) is directed to the waste line.

Backwash Hose

The backwash hose is used in the backwashing system, it connects to the filtration system and when you switch to backwash the water then runs out through this hose, to a drain or hedge.

Ball Valve

A device with a hollowed out ball inside which can be turned with an external handle to decrease or increase flow.

Blower

Plumbed into the spa return line, air is injected to produce fun bubbles and a hydrotherapy effect in the spa.

Booster Pump

Secondary to the filter pump, a booster pump is used to power an automatic pool cleaner such as Polaris or Baracuda.

BTU

British Thermal Unit. A unit of measurement for the use of gas by a gas appliance. Pool heaters are rated by their consumption.

c

Capacity

The gallonage of the pool.

Cartridge

One type of filtration, the cartridge is a pleated, porous element through which water is passed through.

Check Valve

A one way flow device.

Chemical Feeder

This is a great labour saving device, it dispensers chemicals into your pool for you, all you have to do is occasionally put the chemicals into the machine.

Chlorinator

Devices which allow for the safe, controlled introduction of chlorine into the water.

Chlorine Generator

A miniature chlorine factory, this device creates its own sanitizer for your pool.

Circuit Breaker

A switch which allows manual override of an electrical circuit. It also automatically breaks the circuit when current fluctuations are detected.

Circulation System

The "circuit" of plumbing which continuously carries the water out of the pool, through the pump & filter, and returns it to the pool.

Conduit

A pipe, usually gray pvc or flexible pvc designed to carry wires from a source (i.e. time clock) to a load (i.e. pump motor). 

Coping

The capstone on top of the bond beam which finishes the edge around a pool or spa. It may be precast concrete or brick. On vinyl liner pools pre fab coping is usually part of an integrated system for the wall, vinyl liner and deck.

Corner / Radius Step Unit

This step unit is ideal for a pool used for lengths, they are situated in any corner of the pool, ideally the shallow end, and are of a rounded trianguar shape so it fits into the corner perfectly. They normally consist of 4 steps. They are made of fibreglass, which is a preferred material for pool construction in the industry for it's strength.

Coupling

A plumbing fitting designed to join two pieces of pipe.

d

Deck Box

A deck box is simply where you store the underwater light transformer. It is a sealed unit, which mounts into the deck side.

Diatomceous Earth

The filtering medium of the DE filter, this dry powder is the fossilized remains of the ancient plankton, diatom.

Diverter Valve

Used in a twin port skimmer, a diverter allows the operator to manipulate the amount of flow from the main drain and skimmer to the pump.

Drain

Also called the main drain, this plumbing fitting is the start of one suction line to the pump and is usually situated at or near the center bottom of the pool.

Drain / Vacuum to Waste

This useful setting allows you to vacumn up large volumes of debris that would either clog the filter or pass through it because of its small size. Dirt that is vacumned passes right out the waste line. It is also the setting of choice when draining the pool or lowering the water level (if you didn't need to backwash, which also lowers the water level).

e

Effluent

The water that flows out of the pump, on its way through the filter, heating and treating equipment, and returning to the pool. Also known as the pressure side.

Elbow

A 90 or 45 degree plumbing fitting. Used where your pipes take a turn.

f

Fibre Optic Lighting

Our Fibrestars fibre optic lighting transforms any pool into a showplace of the night, and gives you the freedom to light pools, spas, water features and surrounding landscapes in exciting, exotic and dramatic colours.

Filter

1. A device used to remove particles suspended in the water by pumping water through a porous substance or material.
2. This is normal water flow through the filter, say, top to bottom. This is where the valve sits 99% of the time.

Filter Element

A device inside a filter tank designed to entrap solids and direct water through a manifold system to exit the filter.

Filter Medium

A finely graded material, such as sand, diatomaceous earth, polyester fabric or anthracite coal that removes suspended particles from water passing through it.

Filter Pump

The device that pulls water from the pool and pushes it through the filter on its way back to the pool.

Filtration Rate

The rate of water pumped through a filter, in gallons per minute (gpm).

Fluvo Currents

This is a great product which enables you to 'get fit by swimming against a current'. It gets installed into the actual pool wall of there are models which can fit on the poolside, and simply pushed a current of water into the pool.

g

Gas Valve

An electronic valve in the pool heater that directs gas flow from the meter to the pilot and the burner tray.

Gate Valve

The type that spins "lefty-loosey; righty-tighty".

Ground-Fault-Circiut-Interrupter

A GFCI device protects a circuit from branching off by de-energizing the path of electricity very quickly when it senses current loss. An important safety device around water (the pool?).

Gunite

A dry mixture of cement and sand mixed with water at the "gun"; hence the name. A gunite operator "shoots" the pool's rough shape, while finishers trowel after.

h

Halogen Underwater Light

These underwater light units have a life expectancy of 3000 hours, thats 3 times more than the standard sealed beam underwater light.

Hard Cover

A cover which rests on the edge or coping of the spa or small pool. Provides a barrier to debris and possibly people, while keeping the heat trapped in.

Heat Exchanger

A set of 8 or 10 ribbed copper tubes that absorb the heat produced below it and transfer it to the water cycling through its tubes.

Heat Pump

The antithesis of the air conditioner, the heat pump's cooling coil removes heat from the air while the condenser coil transfers it to water cycling through it.

Heater

A device used to heat the water. It may be electric, fuel operated or solar powered heat.

Hemming

This is a finished edge which is an option on covers. It is sewn onto the perimeter of the cover and improves the life expectancy as it protects the cover from wear and tear at the edges.

Hot Tub

Usually considered a circular, wooden vessel filled with heated and circulated water.

Hydrostatic Pressure

A force involving built up ground water which creates upward pressure beneath the pool shell.

Hydrostatic Relief Valve

Fitting(s) installed in the floor of the pool designed to manually or automatically release hydrostatic pressure beneath the pool by allowing ground water into the pool.

i

Impeller

The rotating vanes of a centrifugal pump; its action creates the flow of water. The impeller is shaft driven by an electric motor.

Influent

The water coming into and up to the impeller from the suction lines. These pipes are under vacuum pressure.

Inlet

This returns water from the filtration system back into the swimming pool.

Ionic Purifier

This utilises electrolysis to release copper and silver ions, providing an extremly efficient method of sterilising pool water

j

Jandy Valve

A brand name of a three way valve, which has simplified pool plumbing.

Jet Pump

Used in spas to provide additional thrust into the hydrotherapy jets.

k

l

Ladder Bumpers

Rubber caps or inserts which protect the pool plaster or vinyl liner from the sharp steel ends of the ladder.

Laterals

Elongated, capped plastic nipples at the bottom of a sand filter which are slotted to allow for water passage while keeping the sand in the filter tank.

LED Underwater Light

LED underwater lights are simply another way of underwater lighting, they have an average life expectancy of 100,000 hours with a maximum power consumption of only 25W for the coloured version.

Liner

This is a very popular and cost effective way of pool finishing. This is vinyl and can come in many different thicknesses.

Load

An electric device which consumes energy, placing a load on the source.

Low Water Suction

An influent fitting, typically low on the wall in the deep end of a vinyl liner pool. A cheaper alternative to a main drain. 

m

Main Drain

Also called the drain, this plumbing fitting is the start of one suction line to the pump and is usually situated at or near the center bottom of the pool.

Mechanical Seal

A seal behind the impeller which prevents water from running out along the shaft of a motor. aka; pump seal.

Mesh Cover

These stretch tightly across the pool like a trampoline. The only covers which can be called safety covers in that the mesh polypropylene allows precipitation to pass through.

Motor

A machine for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. Your motor is known as the dry end of the filter pump. It drives the impeller, which moves the water.

Multiport Valve

A 4 or 6 position valve combining the functionality of several valves into one unit, revolutionizing pool plumbing.

n

Nature II Purifier

This basically is a system which helps to purify the swimming pool water. Many models available for pools and spas.

o

Overflow Grating

Overflow grating is used when pools are filled to the top with water, for instance in commercial pools. Basically when the water overflows, the water is then collected in the grating and flows back to the pool system. The grating is usually situated behind the coping stones surrounding the swimming pool.

p

Pipes & Fittings

Most domestic swimming pool pipes and fittings have a size of 1.5" pipe, most commercial swimming pools have a dimension of 2".

Plaster / Screed

A common type of interior finish applied over the concrete shell of an inground swimming pool.

Plunger

The sliding disc assembly that changes valve position in a push-pull valve. For example; up for backwash, down for filtration.

Pressure Check

A test for the rate of water flow; also a test for leaks in plumbing by placing a line in question under pressure and waiting for the pressure to drop.

Pressure Gauge

A device indicating pressure in a filter system. Provides a determination of how the system is operating, and informs us when service is required.

Pressure Side

The return side of the plumbing. The section from the pump impeller towards the pool.

Pressure Switch

A switch used in pool heaters which opens when the flow rate is insufficient for safe heater operation. This disrupts the circuit in the heater, preventing it from firing.

Prozone Units

This is a unit which works on ultraviolet light to distroy bacteria, therefore ensuring sanitised water.

Pump

A mechanical wet-end, powered by an electric motor, which causes hydraulic flow and pressure for the circulation of the pool water

Push-Pull Valve

A two position valve used for backwashing sand or DE filters.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride, which is used to make flexible and rigid PVC pipe used for pool plumbing.

q

r

Ramp Light

The ramp light allows the bulb for an underwater light to be changed via the deck box instead of having to reach through the water. The light runs off a 100W halogen bulb with a life exectancy of 3000 hours.

Rate of Flow

Quantity of water flowing past a designated point within a specified time period, measured in gallons per minute (gpm).

Re-bar

Reinforcement bar, used to add strength to a concrete. After excavation of an in ground pool, a steel cage is formed out of re-bar, and the gunite shell is shot over and surrounding it.

Recirculate

This setting bypasses the filter, water coming into the multiport does a U-turn and heads back towards the pool. Used only when the filter is broken (at least it's circulating), or when adding specialty chemicals which specify using this setting.

Restricted Flow

The term used to describe a condition preventing full flow of water. Restriction can occur with full skimmer or strainer baskets, obstructions in the plumbing, dirty filter, undersized plumbing or equipment , or placing devices like, heaters, cleaners or fountains in the circulation system. Restriction on the suction side creates higher vacumn, (or suction) while on the pressure side creates higher pressure.

Rinse

After backwashing, it's a good idea to rinse for 15-20 seconds to remove any residual dirt that may "poof!" back into your pool after backwashing. Rinse flows through the water in filter fashion, say, top to bottom, but effluent is sent out the waste line.

Roller / Reel

This is a device which rolls the swimming pool cover on and off with ease. There are many different models to choose from.

Roman End Step Unit

These are beautifully designed step units which are situated mainly centrally at the shollow end f the pool. They are of a half moon shape and mainly consist of 4 steps. They are made of fibreglass, which is a preferred material for pool construction in the industry for it's strength.

s

Salt Chlorinator

This is the process of electrolysis, using the cell, transforms salt water into chlorine gas.

Sand Filter

A filter tank, usually fiberglass or ABS plastic, filled with sand and gravel. The pump diffuses water over the top of the sand bed, and forces it through the sand and into the laterals on the bottom.

Sealed Beam Underwater Light

This is a product which is used through-out the swimming pool industry for swimming pool lighting. It is what it says, a sealed underwater light beam.

Shotcrete

A different type of application of the concrete and sand mix which is used to "shoot the shell". Gunite is pumped dry and mixed with water at the gun, whereas shotcrete is pumped wet.

Side Mount Sand Filter

A side mount sand filter simply means that the multiport valve is connected via the side of the sand filter.

Skimmer

A surface skimmer is a plumbing fitting set at water level, containing a weir mechanism and a debris basket.

Skimmer Basket

Beneath the lid, the basket strains debris, as the first line of defense in filtering the water.

Skimmer Net

Attached to a telescopic pole, a leaf rake is a very useful tool in keeping the pool clean. Also called a skimmer net are the flat, "dip and flip" nets, which aren't so useful.

Solar Cover

Sometimes called a thermal blanket or bubble cover, this cover floats on the surface, magnifying the sun's rays to warm the water and also provide chemical/heat/water evaporation. There are various options available such as the Blue, Silver and Gold. And come in various thicknesses.

Solar System

Black mats of miniature plastic tubes through which water is pumped, absorbing the heat as it passes through. These mats are roof mounted with up & down plumbing connecting it.

Solid Cover

These are usually made of some form of plastic or vinyl and are secured around the edges either by aqua blocks or similar weight or the edges attach to anchors set in the concrete or wood deck.

Source

Refers to the origination of electrical power. The source for your filter pump (load) is probably a timer clock.

Spa

A filtered, hot water vessel with hydrotherapy jets and air induction. Can be portable or installed permanently.

Squarestair Step Unit

These step units can be situated anywhere on the perimeter of the pool and are ideal for pools which are built for lengths as they do not get in the way whilst doing turns. They are made of fibreglass, which is a preferred material for pool construction in the industry for it's strength.

Steel Tranquility Pool Kit

The Tranquility Steel Pool consists of an innovative construction system which uses galvanised steel panels to ensure a versatile, long lasting pool.

Strainer Basket

The second line of defense is a basket at the pump. The holes in this are smaller than those in a skimmer basket, and prevent the pump impeller from clogging up.

Suction Side

The plumbing prior to and carrying water to the pump. This side is under vacumn pressure.

t

Tee

A plumbing fitting used to bring two pipes together into one, or vice-versa.

Thermostat

This enables you to set or control a temperature for any water system.

Time Clock

A mechanical device that controls the timed operation of your electrical equipment, primarily your filter and booster pumps.

Top Mount Sand Filter

A top mount sand filter simply means that the multiport valve is connected via the top of the filter.

Tranquility Swimming Pool Kit

This is a very quick and simple method of swimming pool construction involving panels and a liner. This is very popular and most swimming pool companies use this method.

Turnover

The amount of time it takes your pump to move all the water in your pool through the filter and back again. Usually, pools are designed for an eight hour turnover.

u

Underdrain

The lower collection system in a filter which directs filtered water back towards the pool. It also distributes water in reverse during backwashing. See laterals.

Underwater Light Guts

The underwater light guts are all the wires and connections for the underwater lights.

v

Vacuum

Refers to the low pressure condition created in the suction line. Also refers to the cleaning process of sucking leaves, algae and debris from the pool floor.

Vacuum Point

This is where you would connect your pool vacuum

Valves

A device placed in the plumbing line which restricts or obstructs water flow to create desired hydraulics, or may permit flow in one direction only (as in a check valve).

Venturi

Increasing water velocity by restricting pipe size.

Vinyl Liner

One type of interior finish. The liner is draped over a sand or cementitious floor, and locked into the top of the wall.

Vycon Swimming Pool Kit

This is a cost effective method of swimming pool construction. The walls of the Vycon pool are built from concrete pools, laid flat and bonded together to form a pool wall of solid concrete 9" (23cm) wide. Once the pool walls have been built they need rendering with 1/2" (13 mm) of sand and cement. The rest of the pool can be fit to your specification i.e. liner, tiles etc

w

Weir

The device in a skimmer that controls the amount of water coming into the skimmer, and keeps debris inside. That "flapper-gate thing".

Winter Cover

A barrier to sun and debris, winter covers secure the pool from contamination. These are subdivided below.

x

y

z