Friday, February 18, 2011

Automatic Pool Water Leveler

     If you are looking for a reliable automatic pool water leveler, I will save you some time and money by sharing a few facts about water levelers.

Right out of the gate: Stay away from any auto fill device that hooks up to a garden hose!

They are constructed mostly of plastic parts that can and will warp or become brittle from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Consequently, they are susceptible to sticking and jamming, resulting in a pool overflow with possible flood damage. Secondly, the hose itself is a liability due to the likelihood of it weakening by swelling and bursting. Imagine this happening while you are on vacation... water damage, water bill and maybe a lawsuit from a flooded neighbor.

Most swimming pools that were constructed within the past 15 to 20 years are equipped with a built-in toilet tank-like water leveler which can have 10 to 15 various moving parts, any of which can be a cause for a malfunction due to parts warping, breaking, cracking, jamming, sticking or working loose. Many of these mechanical water level floats are currently being replaced by electronic type floats such as the Levelor, Pentair, Jandy, Savio, Ventura, Sentra or AquaFill.

Swimming pools built prior to 1980 are either filled with a garden hose or a fill line from a remote faucet. Both of these methods are very time-consuming and potentially dangerous, since the person needs to stay there while the pool is filled or take a chance on forgetting and walk away while it fills. According to the National Association of Insurance Companies, overflowed pools, ponds, hot tubs, fountains and Jacuzzis are the second highest cost and cause for water damage with homeowners.

Most swimming pool owners do not realize that there is a solution to this costly, time-consuming situation. There are existing electronic automatic water levelers that can easily be retrofitted to older swimming pools without cutting into the bond beam or surrounding pool deck; no remodeling or construction required.

However, be aware that there are water levelers that utilize two electrical probes to sense the water level through electrical resistance and these probes will tarnish and corrode in acidic, alkaline and chlorinated water. This, in turn, causes the reading to vary or become non-existent. In addition, the circuit board required to read the resistance is susceptible to condensation during periods of rapid temperature changes, including being vulnerable to corrosive ocean salt air along the coasts. The disadvantage to the remote control water levelers is that a battery needs to be changed, adding to the pond maintenance schedule.

The Ventura, Sentra and AquaFill are the easiest levelers to install and are maintenance-free, with the electronics being hermetically sealed eliminating the possibility of water intrusion. A dependable automatic electronic water leveler controller is worth the investment for the savings in time, money, zero aggravation and true peace of mind. Expect to pay as little as $70 or as much as $450. A water leveler is not an expenditure, but rather an investment in freedom. Happy hunting.

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