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Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 

Backwash Hose: The hose that attaches to the pool filter and empties backwash into a disposal area.

Backwashing: The process of cleaning the medium and debris in a pool filter by the reverse flow of water through the filter. The backwash cycle is the time it takes to filter these contents.

Bacteria: Germs that can get into your pool or spa by way of users and from the environment.

Bactericide: A product that kills bacteria. For example, Chlorine is a bactericide and germicide. Silver "algaecides" are actually more bactericide, and are useful on pink "algae."

Balanced Pool Water: The correct ratio of mineral content and pH that prevents water from becoming corrosive or scale forming.

Booster Pump: Secondary to the filter pump, a booster pump is used to power a pressure-side automatic pool cleaner.

Breakpoint Chlorination: When you shock your pool water, the goal is to reach a high enough level of free chlorine, (measured in ppm), to break apart the combined chlorine molecules. With sufficient additions of chlorine, the breakpoint is reached and everything in the pool is oxidized.

Broadcast: Widely spreading pool chemicals in powder form over a pool or spa's surface.

Bromine: A powerful and effective chemical sanitizer that is apart of a compound used to disinfect pool and spa water. It is often used as an alternative to pool chlorine, especially in hot tubs, spas, and indoor pools. It tends to be less harsh on skin, eyes, hair and swimwear, while also producing no chlorine-like odor. Due to its slow-dissolving nature, when Bromine is used in a pool, it must be dispensed by an automatic pool chemical feeder. Blue Wave Bromine available.

BTU (British Thermal Unit): A unit of measurement for the rate of gas usage by an appliance. Pool heaters, which typically burn either Propane or Natural Gas, are rated by their consumption.

Buffer: A base such as Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) that when added to your pool will increase alkalinity. In doing so the buffering capacity of the pool water, (your pool's resistance to pH change), is increased.

Buffering Capacity: The ability of pool water to resist changes in pH levels which is determined by the alkalinity, a close cousin to pH. A good buffering capacity helps maintain Balanced Pool Water (See Above). If your pH bounces, or resumes previous levels soon after adjustment, your buffering capacity is too low and you need to check your total alkalinity.