The world moves on outside the walls of your Finnleo sauna. But within, a gentle yet persistent heat makes its way to your core. The day's stresses melt away as you let yourself go in the wash of comfort.

The benefits of heat bathing become tangible once you’ve experienced an authentic Finnleo traditional sauna or far-infrared sauna room. Muscles relax. Aches fade away. Heart and circulation improve. Calories are burned. Skin is renewed. Tension and discord slip into harmony. Body and soul are refreshed.

For centuries, the Finnish people have known sauna improved their health. Now, numerous medical studies prove the health & wellness benefits of sauna: from cardiovascular and brain health to faster recovery after workouts. Below are just a few of our favorites.

Be sure you visit the website or contact us with any questions.

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Customer Responsibilities Prior to our Technician’s Arrival

• Clear water and debris from the winter cover

• • Please remove all water and debris from the winter cover prior to your appointment.
  • If the cover is not cleared, the appointment will need to be rescheduled.
  • When time permits, our technician may pump the cover for an additional pump charge.
  • Equipment that can be used to pump off the cover is available for purchase at our Latham and Saratoga locations.

• Raise the water level to normal operating height

• • Water must be at the middle of the skimmer prior to our technician’s arrival.
  • Low water levels may prevent the pump from running, or chemicals from being added to the pool.
  • If the pump is unable to pull water from the skimmer due to low water level, the technician may be able to use the main drain when available.
    • This may require the plug to be left in the skimmer and will be noted on the opening form.
  • Return visits requested by the customer will result in additional service fees.

• Place all necessary equipment poolside on the pool deck

• • Please have ladders, grab rails, fittings (eyeballs), and any other items needed poolside and visible on the pool deck.
  • Our technicians cannot enter homes, garages, sheds, or other storage areas to retrieve these items, so please be sure that they are out prior to the morning of your scheduled appointment.

• Ensure power is on to the pool equipment

• • The pump must have power so our technician can start and test your system.
  • If no power is available, the technician will prepare the system, but cannot start and test operation.

• Clear access to pool area and around pool

• • Keep gates unlocked and pets inside prior to, and during the appointment.
  • Ensure 3 feet of clear space around the pool.
  • Remove all toys, furniture, planters, cleaners, and other obstacles from the pool area.
    • This includes mesh child safety fences. These fences are often installed after the winter safety cover installation and will typically interfere with the removal of the safety cover.  The fence can be reinstalled after the pool has been opened.
  • Lack of access and/or obstacles left in place around the pool and pool area will require rescheduling.

At your Full Pool Opening, our technicians will:

• • Winter cover will be removed, folded, and left poolside.
    • Covers are not cleaned at the pool opening. Our technicians will work to minimize nay debris entering the pool.
  • Installation of ladders and grab rails that are left poolside.
    • Unsafe or damaged equipment cannot be installed but will be noted on the opening form.
  • Addition of granular chlorine to shock the pool.
  • For DE filter, DE will be added to the pool, and the slide valve piston will be lubricated when present.
  • Start-up and inspection of the pump and other filtration equipment.
    • Filter elements such as grids and cartridges are not cleaned at the opening.
  • Testing of gas heaters and heat pumps.
    • The technician will leave the heater or heat pump turned off following testing.
  • Visual inspection for any obvious issues.
    • Minor concerns may be addressed when time allows. Larger issues may require a separate service call.

At your Partial Pool Opening, our technicians will:

• • Perform all services listed under Full Pool Opening, except the removal and folding of the winter cover.
  • The winter cover must be removed prior to the technician’s arrival.
    • If the winter cover is not removed, the appointment may need to be rescheduled or upgraded to a full pool opening (additional charges apply).
  • If you plan to schedule a full pool closing, please be sure to fan fold the winter cover towards the shallow end of the pool.

Important Information: Technicians do not perform water testing or add balancing chemicals at the opening.  We recommend running the pool for 48-72 hours after the pool opening before bringing a water test to our Latham or Saratoga stores.  A high chlorine level may cause inaccuracies in the results of the water test.

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Customer Responsibilities Prior to our Technician’s Arrival

• Clean the pool and pool area to ensure proper winterization

• • Remove debris from pool and pool area.
  • Pool water should be clear, or minimally cloudy.
  • We recommend testing and balancing you pool water 7-10 days prior to your closing to help maintain proper water chemistry while the pool is closed.
  • Our technicians do not clean the pool at the closing.

• Lower the pool water level

• • If the water is above the heights stated in our water level guidelines, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
    • When time permits, technicians may need to lower the water. When the water is lowered by our technician an additional pump charge fee will be applied.
  • Water Level Guidelines:
    • Vinyl Liner Pools: Water should be lowered 2” below the skimmer faceplate.
      • Pools with a high water table should be left no higher than the middle of the skimmer faceplate.
      • Vinyl liner pools with sidewall suctions must be lowered 12” below the skimmer faceplate.
    • Fiberglass Pools: Water should be lowered no higher than the middle of the skimmer faceplate.
  • Skimmer Faceplate Cover Removal
    • For any fiberglass, and some vinyl pools, our technician must remove the skimmer faceplate cover and apply a plate to prevent water from entering the skimmer during the winterization process. These covers can be difficult to remove or become brittle over time.  Our technician will do their best to not damage the faceplate cover, but damage can occur during removal.  When the faceplate cover requires removal, the technician will note on the closing form set to the customer whether a new faceplate cover will be needed when the pool is opened in the spring.  The faceplate covers are a cosmetic item, and the customer is responsible for purchasing a replacement.  These faceplate covers can be purchased at both our Latham and Saratoga locations.

• Place all necessary equipment poolside on the pool deck

• • Leave your winter covers, plugs and any other items needed poolside and visible on the pool deck.
  • Our technicians cannot enter homes, garages, sheds, or other storage areas to retrieve these items, so please be sure that they are out prior to the morning of your scheduled appointment.

• Provide power for the technician

• • A power outlet must be available for the blower used to winterize the pool lines.
  • After the technician has completed the closing, turn off all pool-related circuit breakers. Technicians do not remove timer pins and may not know the location of circuit breakers.

• Clear access to pool area and around pool

• • Keep gates unlocked and pets inside prior to, and during the appointment.
  • Ensure 3 feet of clear space around the pool.
  • Remove all toys, furniture, planters, cleaners, and other obstacles from the pool and pool area.
    • This includes mesh child safety fences. These fences are often installed after the winter safety cover installation and will typically interfere with the installation of the safety cover.  The fence can be reinstalled after the winter safety cover has been installed.
  • Lack of access and/or obstacles left in place around the pool and pool area will require rescheduling.

At your Full Pool Closing, our technicians will:

• Removal of return fittings and rail goods (ladders, grab rails).
  • Technicians cannot remove diving boards due to insurance restrictions.
• Winterization of all lines using a high-volume blower, and installation of winter plugs.
• Addition of OxySplash (non-chlorine shock) and algaecide.
• Addition of antifreeze to the skimmer line and other necessary areas.
• Draining and winterizing all equipment at the filter area.
• Placement and securing of the winter pool cover.
  • Due to insurance liability, technicians will only use water tubes or aqua blocks to secure tarp winter covers.

At your Partial Pool Closing, our technicians will:

• Perform all services listed under Full Pool Closing, except placing and securing the winter cover.
• The pool must remain uncovered until the technician completes the closing.
• If the cover is placed early, the appointment may require rescheduling or incur additional labor charges to remove and re-secure the cover.

Winter Pool Care Tips:

• Periodically remove debris and snow from the pool cover.
• Maintain the correct water level when possible.
• Monitor water tubes for leaks. They commonly need refilling and/or replacing
• For safety cover users, add winter chemicals in late fall and early spring.  Ask about our Winter Chemical Addition Service or speak with an associate in our Latham or Saratoga stores.

Top 10 Things That Will Negatively Effect Pool Water Chemistry

What makes good pool and spa water go bad so quickly? Unfortunately, most anything in the environment can throw off your pool and spa water chemistry.

Even your neighboring yards, and the swimmers themselves, can cause problems with your water chemistry. Here are some things that can negatively affect your pool and spa water.

Swimmers and family pets

Your family and friends can throw your water balance off. Detergents and beauty aids like shampoos, conditioners, hairspray, hair gel, soaps, sunblock, perfumes, pretty much anything can alter your pool’s chemistry. This is the reason why it’s always best to shower before swimming. But keep that sunscreen on; we wouldn’t want anyone to burn. Family pets can also cause problems, particularly due to flea and tick treatments.

Rain water

Rain water is acidic, so it will naturally lower your pool and spa water’s pH. Remember your pH should not fall below 7.2 or your water can become corrosive and cause damage to your pool’s surfaces and equipment. Pool water with low pH is also uncomfortable for swimmers, and chlorine will expend itself more rapidly.

Rain water can also dilute the chemicals in your pool. It’s not uncommon, when gone untreated, to find your pool suddenly cloudy or with an algae outbreak. It is very important to monitor your pool’s water after, and perhaps during, a rain storm.

Source water

Believe it or not, replacement or new source water from your well or garden hose can cause problems for you. Don’t assume well or tap water is good water for a pool. Well water often contains high levels of iron (recommended iron level of pools should be

Circulation

Adequate pool water circulation is key! Bacteria and algae find it much more difficult to thrive in moving water. Moving water also maximizes your sanitizer’s effectiveness. Hayward recommends circulating your water during daylight hours, for at least 10 hours. This will vary due to bather load, water temperature, wind, rain, sunlight and pool chemistry itself.

Chemicals

Some pool chemicals actually contain minerals that can add to a calcium problem. You pool water’s calcium hardness level should be maintained between 200-400 PPM.

You should also remember that not all chemicals and chlorine types and brands are created equal. Sometimes that deal you scored at a discount store is no deal at all. Read this great article on our PoolSide blog on chlorine purity.

Phosphates

There’s been plenty of talk about removing phosphates from pool water. In truth, phosphates do not consume chlorine and do not combine with chlorine. Rather, phosphates promote the growth of algae (the green, slippery stuff in a pool) which then consumes chlorine as it tries to destroy the algae. The net result is that you can be left with less than the desirable amount of chlorine in your green pool.

Sun (UV Light)

Over time, sunlight and evaporation cause the chlorine and other chemicals in pool water to lose their effectiveness. Chemicals that are designed to disinfect swimming pools have chlorine concentrations ranging from approximately 12 to 95%. The concentration must be high because the chemicals are designed to be diluted in water.

In a salt chlorinated pool, UV light will speed up the conversion of chlorine back to salt. A chlorine stabilizer (sort of like sunblock) will dramatically slow down this conversion keeping more chlorine available for a longer time. Without this proper protection, the life span of the chlorine is greatly reduced.

Wind

Wind might sound a bit farfetched, but hear us out. Let’s say your neighbor on the right is treating their lawn with lime, while your neighbor to the left is fertilizing plants and shrubs. While your neighbor across the street is treating their property for insects, and overhead your local community is spraying for gypsy moths or some other critters. All of these, among other things, will be airborne and can cause problems for you and your pool’s water.

Heat

Your pool’s water temperature will also have an effect on chlorine breakdown. Remember science class – many bacteria species thrive in warmer water. When bacteria proliferate, free chlorine is consumed more quickly. The higher your pool’s water temperature is, the greater the tendency to cause scaling. The ideal temperature for pool water is 78° to 82° while a spa should not exceed 104°. Temperature can significantly affect water balance. When water is consistently above 90°, scale formation can develop. To prevent these problems, heated pool water should be tested more frequently.

Dirt and Debris

Ok this one may be obvious to you. Leaves, cuttings, pretty much anything organic will eventually break down and cause water problems for you. Skim and clean your pool regularly and this should keep this #10 issue at bay.

Remember: Clear water doesn’t mean good water, but good water will be clear.

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