Pool School

Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, + Sta-rite

Thu, 05 May 2022 16:24:28 GMT

We specialize in repairing Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, and Sta-rite brand pumps and filters.

Having trouble with your pool pump or filter? Our employees are trained in diagnosing and repairing Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, and Sta-rite inground pool pumps and filters. Start the season out right with a properly running pool system to ensure less headaches as the summer temperatures approach. If you're having trouble pulling a prime on your pump, not getting good suction when vacuuming your pool, your motor runs loud, and anything else, we are here to help.

10% Off Month of April

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 14:49:41 GMT

Store wide 10% off month of April

Every year we like to start out the season right, offering our customers 10% off in our retail store. Aqua Masters of Simsbury is entering its 39th year in business. Thank you to all our wonderful customers, we appreciate your loyalty and hope we can serve you as best we can this season.

Close Pool & Maintain

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 15:58:11 GMT

#winterpoolcarenotice

With over 35 years experience we know you’ll be not only satisfied but happy too! Our retail store will close at the end of October. If you need anything during the winter, don’t hesitate to call!

Work performed at time of closing by our LICENSED professionals: Closing your pool for the winter helps ensures safety & security for your poolscape, pets and family throughout the New England winters! We blow out and winterize plumbing lines. Install winter plugs. Winterize filtration system. Winterize Heater. Removal of handrails, diving board and ladder from the pool (if desired). Putting on winter cover. Your service technician will notify the office if there are any problems or recommendations to your swimming pool. Your service notes will then be added to our history, explained, and quoted. Additional service call fee, parts and labor may apply.

Work not included in labor price at time of winterizing and will be billed accordingly: Vacuuming of swimming pool. Scooping of leaves. Winterizing of a Spa. Cost of chemicals (Aqua Masters® will apply any chemicals left at the property for us). Cleaning of Salt Generator. Chemical cleaning of filter. Cleaning of pool cover. Cleaning of Heater. Winterizing of additional Special Features (water fall, Badujet, extra pump, etc.).

Your responsibility:

Allowing access to equipment area.
Access to power and water.
Leave out all accessories (winter plugs, water bags, gizmos, winter cover, etc.). Any parts that are not accessible to the service technician will be taken off service truck and billed accordingly.

Solid Pool Covers:

Solid pool covers should be kept free of water and debris. For this you will need a pool pump. If you do not have a pump, we sell that at our store or call us and we can order one. The cover should be pumped off after rain and can be left out until there is a freeze. When you have a thaw repeat the process! Opening the pool in the spring, you want to fill the pool with water as you are pumping off the cover. This will make the task of removing debris much easier.

Mesh Pool Covers:

Mesh pool cover owners will need to remove water from the pool structure due to rain and snow. This is done by unfastening the cover in one corner and then placing the pump into the pool on a step. Pump your pool to desired level, (6 to 10” below tile; or if vinyl 3” below your skimmer). Repeat this process as needed. Come springtime, we recommend opening your pool prior to the second week in May. If you open later than the second week, a gallon of shock diluted should be added to each corner of the pool.

Payment: Regardless of how you choose to pay for your services, a credit card is required to schedule any service type at Aqua Masters®. You have the option of giving check putting it on the credit card. Our service techs do not accept checks at time of closing. However if the balance goes unpaid 30 days after billed the full balance will be charged to the credit card on file with a finance charge.

Thank you for your patronage this pool season! Have a great winter and we will see you in the spring! Follow our Instagram & Facebook page @Aqua Masters of Simsbury . Prompt payment would be appreciated, as we are closing our books for the season. Credit cards are accepted via phone for your convenience at (860) 651-0024

Above-ground Closing

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:57:42 GMT

Less then 10 steps!

Before you close be sure to balance your waters chemistry to help you during the spring season!

Back wash / clean filter.
Lower water level just beneath the skimmer mouth.
Plug lines in pool side with plug.
Disconnect all hoses
Store pump, filter and hoses in house or shed.
Shock pool, add winter algaecide!
All summer fittings- Directional eyes, skimmer basket weir, skimmer lid, Ect.- put in pump basket for next year.
- Storing pump and filter in shed- take out drain plugs and put in pump basket.
Blow up pillow 80%
- Pillow should be in middle of pool.
Put on cover and tighten cable.

Pool is closed!

Note: You can put a empty gallon from your shock in skimmer mouth for extra protection from ice expansion.

Phosphates in my pool?

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 16:15:48 GMT

#phosphates

(Before you use any of the following information to adjust your swimming pool and/or spa chemistry, please refer to the safety information toward the bottom of this page).

What are phosphates and why are they in my pool?

Simply put phosphates are compounds containing phosphorus. Phosphate compounds eventually break down into their simplest form, orthophosphates. These are known to be a food source for aquatic plants.

Phosphates are a particle that travels through the air into your pool from lawn fertilizer, farms, dead vegetation, rainwater, golf courses, some pool chemicals and soaps. High levels of phosphates support algae growth at a greater rate than chlorine can manage. Often times this causes a costly summer and never changes the green to clean.

Signs of high phosphates

Lack of chlorine residual
Chlorine generator “failure"
Frequent & resistant algae blooms

How do I treat phosphates?

First things first, balance your water! For the best results use a pulp based agent in conjunction with the phosphate remover for filter efficiency. After treatment be sure to clean the filter by backwashing/rinsing down cartridges. When you add the remover it coagulates the phosphates particles, depending on the level of phosphates in your pool, you may see them drop to the bottom. When this happens you have to vacuum them out. (Check out picture above for reference).

Adding a phosphate remover is a quick and economical way to correct the phosphate problem. Phosphates eat the chlorine, with low to no chlorine leads to algae growth. Only treat when needed.

Phoenix products: “Cloudiness will occur upon addition and increase filter pressure, therefore backwash and/or clean the filter as necessary. Recheck phosphate level after application and treat accordingly.”

If Algae is present

Treat algae accordingly depending on color and growth. Is it dead? Is it on the walls? Ect. After testing for phosphate treat accordingly with proper dosage. With filter running disperse proper amount by adding it slowly around the perimeter of the pool and in front of return line. Run system 24 to 36 hours. Shock pool with double dose then typically. Watch filter pressure and clean or backwash as needed. Retest for phosphates.

What else can happen?

For example: if you have a high level of copper or iron in your pool water. This can happen when you get your water from a well. Left unchecked, a high copper level will eventually turn your pool green, while iron will give it a rusty brown color. Either can lead to staining. Typically Vitamin C takes care of the staining issues followed by a metal sequestrant.

So apply the metal sequestrant to bind with the copper or iron and put those particles in the filter. Afterwords the homeowner or service individual has to backwash (or rinse down your cartridges) them out.

Now keep in mind that metal removers most commonly have phosphates in the chemical composition. If you have metal in your pool, and you use a phosphate-based sequestrant, and then use a phosphate remover, you’re negating the effects of the sequestrant. Now the percentage is minimal . You’ll lower the phosphate level, but have little to no success counteracting the effects of the metal, which means you’ll be putting money into your pool that isn't needed!

The Bottom Line

What it all comes down to is how each individual pool will react, IF there is a reaction. There are cases where pools can have a 2000ppm reading of phosphates and it does not affect the chlorine. Other cases can show a reading of 500ppm and completely eat the chlorine in the water.

SAFETY CAUTION: Swimming pool and spa chemicals can be dangerous to your health and require special handling and storage methods. Anything our company has you add to the water only makes it safer to swim. Before using the information provided in this document, please ensure you review your chemistry with a professional.

E commerce V.S. Aqua Masters

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 15:34:35 GMT

#ShopSmall

Since 1984 Aqua Masters of Simsbury has focused on making pool care easy, understandable and inexpensive. After doing research Aqua Masters looked at the differences between our products chemical composition versus the competitors. The chemical composition of the ingredients measure differently per product. Each competitive landscape is variant on the types of services or products offered. Combined experience of service and retail has given a reputable name to our business. The main focus has been customer service because a days work is never done unless we helped our customers make memories with their families.

At our local store in Simsbury, CT., we offer free pool water testing. Testing your pool water to maintain a balanced chemistry that is safe to swim and enjoy with family and friends. Our products come from several different distributors, a majority of our chemical orders come from Phoenix located in Terryville, CT. where all production takes place. We typically order chemicals 2-3 times per week. Our liquid shock is delivered fresh to our door every week, sold at 12.5%. Using liquid shock (in our opinion) helps it mix into the water easier and does not sit leading to stains in the bottom of a liner pool. Unlike other companies it has not been shipped or stored from or to various warehouses and diluted down over time. We do not work with buying groups as we are a family owned and operated company. We also package some of the basics with our label to insure product accountability, quality and quantity. Product packaging/labeling at our location include alkalinity (sodium bicarbonate), pH plus (sodium carbonate), pH minus (sodium bisulfite), stabilizer, otherwise known as conditioner (cyan-uric acid) and hardness (calcium chloride). Our 3’’ chlorinating tabs are 99% Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione and 1% stabilizer., compressed. This set us us apart from big brand names, such as Clorox , because the chemical components are as stated. No glues, no filler or “top secret 002.”

Chlorine tabs are used as a sanitizer for keeping your pool water balanced. The tabs affect water quality based on maintenance and usage of swimming pool. The differences between 99% OR 95% Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione is the “others.” We don't recommend using "multi-function" products, I.E. Clorox Pool & Spa Xtra Blue 3” tabs. It is always better to purchase each thing you need separately. Doing so is less expensive and gives you more control over what goes into your pool. In this particular case, I know there isn't anything toxic or even mildly dangerous in those particular tablets. The extra ingredients aren't useful except in rare cases, but they aren't dangerous either. Companies claim that it “makes water smooth”and “prevents corrosion” based off these claims indicates a metal sequestrant agent but upon speaking to Easy 1 2 3 Pool Care LLC the only ingredients that could be included are algaecides or clarifies. Boron salt is listed under 2% mainly for a disolvate/clarifier (sodium borate-tetraborate or disodium tetraborate). They claim no alkalinity or pH increase, although we have seen some cases of alkalinity reaching over 150. If you are going to use trichlor, use the pure stuff. We strongly teach knowing what is going in your pool and "secret ingredients" go against that mantra. Proper and regular testing by only adding what is needed is more cost effective and easier in the long term. 95% or 99% is only the percentage of tricolor. The rest is fillers and binders to keep the tablet together. 100% chlorine is actually a gas. For every 10 ppm of chlorine you add using trichlor, you're ALWAYS getting 6 ppm of CYA.

Competitors do not have the knowledge behind the chemicals like our specialty store. Aqua Masters is a member of the National Pool & Spa association and attend classes every winter. Attending these classes gives our service men credits and our retail employees certifications to stand behind our chemistry. If you ask a Walmart cashier how much alkalinity to add to your pool they will not accurately be able to tell you without testing the water and calculating the exact amount. Consulting with the retail manager of our store, Blake states “Having the opportunity to take classes at no cost has helped me further my career and education to help teach our customers about chemical pool care and maintenance.” Being a small store, economic decline affects us more rapidly than big stores. This is specifically because consumers are looking for the best price for toys, chemicals and parts. We cannot offer “50% off” because we would not make our money back and we already try to sell products cheaper then suggested retail. Our service department also suffers a decline because customers do not want to spend extra funds on a service call when they can take the time to complete the job their self.

Aqua Masters is committed to providing our clients with exceptional pool services at reasonable rates. Whether you desire weekly pool maintenance or a complete renovation, our experienced staff can assist you. We are confident that we will keep your pool ready for any occasion. The service department originated in Simsbury, first called Connecticut Swimming Pools. Following the retail/ parts store was built to assists our customers in pool repairs. Now we sell our own packaged chemicals, filters/pumps, plumbing, cleaners and toys/floats. offers a wide range of pool parts and accessories at our family retail store. Our products are high-quality items that are sold at affordable prices. Products are not yet sold online, although it is the wave of the future. We hope to offer this down the line. People are still buying pool chemicals to maintain their pools, but due to the current focus on thrift, they're more susceptible than ever to the cost-savings promises of online retailers and discount merchants such as Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, Costco, Ocean State and Amazon.

Our professionals have 35 years of experience in the industry and are willing to teach anyone about pool care, maintenance and chemistry of the swimming pool. We work with our distributors to ensure products and availability. Despite the competition we try to beat prices, offer services and stand behind our knowledge unlike big name stores. We look at the chemical composition of each product and of the pool before recommending adding anything. At Aqua Masters of Simsbury, customer satisfaction is our main goal. We take pride in the ways that we conduct business; our professionalism, workmanship and attention to detail speak volumes about our team. From our family to yours, there's always someone you can talk to!

My First Blog Post

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 20:36:15 GMT

It's official, I have a blog and I know how to use it.

I have finally decided to take the plunge and add a blog to my site. I always wanted an easy way to share information with visitors and I'm super excited to start this journey. Keep coming back to my site and check for updates right here on the blog.