Spin lab water testing
Water chemistry that makes sense
Balancing pool water does not have to be confusing, and the Goodlin store tests it in a Lamotte spin lab.
Chapter 01
Bring a sample to the spin lab
Water chemistry is a very important part of pool ownership, and balancing it should not be confusing. Everything that goes into your pool changes the balance, and the water is always changing. Assuming that clear water is healthy water can turn out to be a costly mistake.
We use a Lamotte spin lab to give accurate test results and recommendations for your own pool. After an opening, we ask you to let the water filter for 48 hours before you bring a sample in, so the reading reflects the pool and not the start-up.
Water is out of balance when you see eye and skin irritation, staining, wrinkles in a vinyl liner, sanitizers that stop working, corroded pump seals, heaters or lights, cloudy water, chalky scale, or pitting on concrete. Not all chemicals are created equal, and good ones save time and money.
Finished inground vinyl liner pool with clear water, stamped coping and a white fence behind it
Salt Chlorination with Hayward AquaRite
Salt Chlorination is the natural, more convenient alternative to harsh liquid or solid chlorine. There is no hauling and storing large amounts of chlorine, because a salt system converts dissolved salt into chlorine on its own, in the pool's own plumbing.
The result is clean, clear, soft-feeling water that is less work and worry for you and your wallet. We sell the Hayward AquaRite line, and our summary is short: we love it and so will you.
We still help keep the water balanced after the switch, so a salt pool gets the same spin lab testing as any other. The AquaRite family brochure is linked below if you want the product details in front of you.
Chapter 03
Cloudy water, filters, leaks and pumps
Cloudy water is generally low sanitizer, though high pH, high total alkalinity, high calcium and poor filtration can all play a part. Our steps: adjust pH to 7.2 to 7.6, address any metal issues, backwash the filter or clean the cartridge, add algaecide, add shock, and keep chlorine at 3 ppm with the filter running until the water clears.
Most manufacturers recommend a complete filter tear down and cleaning at least twice a year. To check for a leak, mark the water level inside a bucket set on the first or second step and the pool level outside it, run the pump normally, and compare after 24 hours. More loss outside than inside points to a leak.
Never drain a pool yourself. Concrete and fiberglass pools can float out of the ground, and vinyl liners can float and shrink within hours. In summer, run the pump 10 to 12 hours a day. The usual swim range is 78 to 82°F, and every degree higher costs 10 to 30 percent more in energy.
“Dana was a Godsend over the summer when I was having issues with my pool.” A Goodlin customer.
Hayward AquaRite family, 2025
Salt system details to take home
Open the Hayward AquaRite family brochure 2025 before you visit. If the pool already has a vinyl liner, the liner replacement page explains why water balance matters to it, and the opening and closing page covers when to bring your first sample of the season.