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Our 100th blog article marks an achievement that we owe to you, our readers, with sincere gratitude. We want to use this article to discuss our company and mission and ask for your continued feedback in 2021.

Phosphates. The invisible common denominator behind many pool problems, elevated chlorine demand, and sometimes even cloudy water. Removing phosphates is the third of Orenda's Four Pillars of Proactive Pool Care. This third pillar is an easy one to master. The action step is simple: keep your water's phosphate levels as low as possible; ideally below 500 parts per billion (ppb). In this article, we will explain why phosphate removal is so beneficial and important, even if it's not always mandatory.

Once again, wildfires rage with devastating fury. To say they are a disruption would be an understatement. We sincerely hope your homes and communities are safe. But even if you are not in eyesight of the flames or smoke, there is a good chance swimming pools will be affected in the region. A good rule of thumb is if you can smell it, it is impacting your swimming pool. Debris can travel many miles, and smoke can travel hundreds of miles. Even if a home is not touched by the flames, there is likely to be a recovery and clean-up process once the flames are finally snuffed out.

If you're not testing, you're just guessing

Water testing is too often rushed and overlooked in our industry. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to take the startup certification course for the National Plasterer's Council, hosted by Bel-Aqua. As an employee of Orenda, I work with service techs and plaster companies every week. This course was a wonderful opportunity to soak up information like a sponge, and learn more about the business. Granted, I was not actually supposed to take the course (Orenda was a sponsor of the event, and I am not a service tech), but I was invited to participate.

Enzymes are made up of proteins and amino acids, and they catalyze certain chemical reactions. Our bodies contain countless types of enzymes that help us process food and other things. Pool enzymes are made to break down and digest non-living organics, which makes water cleaner, and chemicals more efficient.