Have you ever wondered why public swimming pools require guests to shower before getting into the pool? It is in the hopes that a shower will help remove much of natural and sun tan oils from your skin before you jump in.
Sun tan lotions are oil based and that oil is very unfriendly to all swimming pool filter systems, whether the system is sand, DE or cartridge. Oil bonds to the filter material and generally won’t go away once the bond is formed. The most forgiving is sand because oil won’t bond as easily with the stone particles. DE is a little less forgiving than sand, but oil is really hard on cartridges filters. Oil is an invisible enemy because even though you’ve cleaned the filter and it looks clean, especially cartridges, it is still actually blocked with the oil residue.
Luckily, there are solutions on the market to combat the problem. Our favorite product at Pool People is a BioDex product called Oil Out. It is an enzyme-based solution that eats a lot of the oil and unblocks filters and will help prolong the life your DE and cartridge filter system, and even your sand filter.
If you have questions about whether or not your pool needs BioDex Oil Out, Pool People is ready to help! Located in Glendale, Arizona, Pool People provides regular pool and spa cleaning, pool and spa maintenance, pool remodeling, pool and spa repairs, as well as tile cleaning for residents of the Northwest Valley on Phoenix. Our fully-equipped pool store carries all types of products, including top of the line chemicals and pool maintenance equipment.
Swimming Pool Trivia: While we are on the subject of public swimming pools, have you ever wondered why public pools request that you wear nylon swim suits. It is because regular clothing absorbs 5 times more chlorine than nylon swimming suits.