FROG Water Care Experts Glossary of terms

Ground fault circuit interrupter. A device intended to protect people. It interrupts (de-energizes) the electrical circuit whenever it detects the presence of excess electrical current going to ground.

A hollow, collapsible plastic fitting used to plug the skimmer. If ice forms in the skimmer the gizzmo can absorb the expanding ice. It's green and looks like a thermos bottle.

Abbreviations for: gallons per day, gallons per hour, gallons per minute - relating to flow rate.

Also called a hand rail. A tubular steel or plastic device that can be gripped by swimmers or bathers for the purpose of steadying themselves. Usually located near the steps in a pool.

A condition caused by too much copper in the pool water. Green hair is not caused by chlorine. The copper may get into the water by the bad practice of placing trichlor tablets in the skimmer. This acidic product will cause low-pH water, which will in turn dissolve metals in the equipment. The dissolved metal (usually copper) then stains hair, fingernails and eventually, pool walls. it can also be caused by keeping the pH too low or misusing acid.

A mixture of cement and sand sprayed onto contoured and supported surfaces to build a pool. Gunite is mixed and pumped to the site dry, and water is added at the point of application. Plaster is usually applied over the gunite.