Fibreglass Company

Pool & Equipment Operation Dictionary

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AIR BLEEDER: Located on the top of the filter, sometimes accompanied by a pressure gauge, the bleeder is opened to release air trapped in the filter.

AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER: A device which agitates or vacuums debris from the walls and floor of the pool.

AUTOMATIC POOL FILL: A device which monitors the water level in the pool and automatically controls filling the pool back up to a pre determined height. These may be either a mechanical or electronic type.

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BACKFILL: The repositioning of the soil/sand after construction or placement of a pool.

BACKWASH: The process of thoroughly cleaning the filter medium and/or elements by reversing the flow of water through the filter to waste.

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.

BREAKER: See “Circuit Breaker”

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

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CAPACITY: The amount of water the pool or spa should hold.

CARTRIDGE: One type of filtration, the cartridge is a pleated, porous element through which water is passed through and contaminate particles are removed.

CHECK VALVE: A device which allows water or gasses to travel only one direction through a pipe..

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. Also known as a Salt System.

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.

COMPOSITE: A combination of building materials that combine to form a material which is stronger than the individual components. Fiberglass pools and spas are constructed of a composite material

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 brick, stone, orconcrete. On vinyl liner pools pre fab coping is usually part of an integrated system for the wall, vinyl liner and deck.

COUPLING: A plumbing fitting designed to join two pieces of pipe.

COVERS:

-Automatic covers: 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. Provides safety (with water pumped off), debris protection and heat/chemical/water retention.

-Hard Covers: 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.

-Solar Covers: Sometimes called a thermal blanket, this cover floats on the surface, magnifying the sun's rays to warm the water and also provide chemical/heat/water evaporation.

-Winter/Safety Covers: A barrier to humans, animals, and debris.These stretch tightly across the pool like a trampoline. The mesh polypropylene allows precipitation to pass through, while leaving debris on the surface where it can be removed.

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

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FILTER: A filter tank containing fabric covered grids which hold the DE powder up against the flow of the water.

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.

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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.

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FIBERGLASS: A mixture of glass fibers and resins which form a very strong and durable composite material. Used to create many pools, spas, and other outdoor recreational equipment.

FIBEROPTIC: The use of a translucent material to transport light. Fiberoptic lighting presents more flexible lighting options to pool and spa consumers.

FILTER: A device used to remove particles suspended in the water by pumping water through a porous substance or material.

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

Cartridge filter elements and DE filter grids are two examples.

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).

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GATE VALVE: The type that spins, like one a garden hose attaches to.

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

GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT-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.

GUNITE: A form of shotcrete. Gunite is 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.

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

HEAT EXCHANGER: A set of 8 or 10 ribbed copper tubes in a heater 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.

HOT TUB: Usually considered a circular, wooden vessel filled with heated and circulated water. However, the term has become almost synonymous with spa.

HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE: A force involving built up ground water which creates upward pressure beneath the pool shell, and can become a factor in “floating” a pool.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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. An alternative type of main drain.

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

MAKE UP WATER: Water regularly required to replace the water removed by evaporation, splash out, or other means.

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.

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

PRESSURE CHECK: A test for leaks in plumbing by placing a line 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 to 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.

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

PUSH-PULL VALVE: A two position valve used for backwashing sand or DE filters.

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

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

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

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 vacuum, (or suction) while on the pressure side creates higher pressure.

REBAR: Reinforcement bar, used to add tensile strength to 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.

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SAND FILTER: A filter tank, usually fiberglass or ABS plastic, filled with sand and gravel. Water is diffused over the top of the sand bed, and forced through the sand and into the laterals on the bottom.

SHOTCRETE: A mixture of concrete and sand which is used to "shoot the shell"of an in ground pool or spa. “Shotcrete” describes both pneumatic application processes, but is used most commonly to mean the wet application process. Gunite is pumped dry and mixed with water at the gun, whereas shotcrete is pumped wet.

SKIMMER: A surface skimmer is a plumbing fitting set at water level, containing a weir mechanism and a debris basket. The skimmer is part of the suction side circulation system.

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 manual tool in keeping the pool clean.

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.

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.

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

SUCTION SIDE: The plumbing prior to and carrying water to the pump from the pool. This side is under vacuum pressure.

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

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

TEST KIT: Used to determine the water balance in your pool.

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

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.

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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.

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

VALVES: A device placed in the plumbing line which restricts or re directs 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.

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