A Comprehensive Guide to Maintaining Your Swimming Pool
Swimming pool maintenance is a critical aspect of owning one. Thankfully, it is not as tough as popular perception, particularly when you are armed with the right information. However, if you are new to pools, knowing what to do and where to start could be overwhelming.
Maintaining a pool can be tedious, but there is no point in having a pool in the backyard if it is filled with sludge. The task of cleaning and maintaining the pool is vital to keep family and friends safe and to keep it usable always. Learn tips for maintaining a pool from the experts of Burleigh Pools on Facebook.
Following are a few simple steps which must be part of your routine to maintain a crystal-clear pool easily. The three Cs of pool maintenance are “Circulation, Cleaning and Chemistry.”
Circulation
Maintaining a pool begins with the circulation of pool water because without the movement of pool water, the pool pump will not pump, or its filter will not do filtering. It will be tough to keep the pool clean.
The pool’s circulatory system includes the jets, filter, pump and skimmer. Water quality depends on the functionality of such parts. The following steps should be followed for proper circulation:
· Run the pump of the pool (for 8 to 12 hours daily).
The more the filtration system is run, the cleaner the water will be. Running the pool filter for at least 10 to 12 hours a day is good. Investing in a pool pump with variable speed is good since it can run at a low speed all day. This helps to save energy, money and does not make noise.
· Backwash the filter
If the pump gauge is ten times above the normal reading (typically 10 to 15 psi for a clean filter), the time is ripe for backwashing the filter. If there is a cartridge filter, one might be required to clean the cartridge.
· Clean skimmer basket
This must be done at least 1 to 2 times a week. Regular cleaning of the pump and skimmer basket is critical for the overall upkeep of the pool. When baskets are clogged, it forces the pump to work harder to cycle the water. This can lower the life of the pump. Also, it is good to get rid of critters like frogs that are trapped within the skimmer.
To clean the skimmer basket, just switch off the pump, drain the removal basket beneath the lid of the skimmer and replace it. It is also good to empty the pump’s basket every now and then, but not so frequently since the skimmer catches most of the debris.
· Angle the position of the jets
Pool jets must be pointed in the opposite direction from the skimmer such that there is cycling of water in a circular fashion. This will promote the rotation of pool water and render it easy for the skimmer to remove debris. It will also help improve the circulation of the water at the pool bottom.
Cleaning
This involves vacuuming once a week, brushing and skimming once a day. The next step of pool upkeep is to brush the pool, skim the debris away from the top and vacuum the pool. Manual maintenance is a typical part of owning a pool, or you can use a robotic pool cleaner that you can buy from a swimming pool builder.
· Brushing
A pool brush can be used to scrub the walls to prevent scaling, staining and algae growth, particularly around dead areas like crevices, ladders and steps.
· Skimming
The water’s surface can be skimmed using a leaf rake or net to get rid of large debris. Such debris can otherwise cause staining when it sinks to the bottom.
· Vacuuming
This helps remove debris that can interfere with circulation and cause damage. It is good to use a hose, vacuum head and pole attached to the skimmer.
Chemistry
The third in the trifecta of pool upkeep is the maintenance of water chemistry. Chemistry is a vital aspect of keeping the pool water clean. The proper balance of water quality is essential for preventing issues like green water, cloudy water or the build-up of bacteria. So, it is good to test the water 1 to 2 times a week and shock the pool bi-weekly.
· Testing water and balancing chemicals
It is best to test the water every week. Choose a test kit that can recommend the use of pool chemicals that maintain the water balance. The following can be measured:
pH (best value is 7.5), Calcium hardness (target 200 to 400 ppm in the pool), Alkalinity (target 120 to 150 ppm), Chlorine (tablets, granules or sticks), Phosphates (this is high when water is cloudy or green).
It is good to add the following sanitisers to enhance water chemistry: Chorine (1 to 3 ppm; high levels are good to prevent the growth of algae), Bromine (3 to 5 ppm) and Biguanide (30 to 50 ppm).
· Shocking the pool
This is best done 1 to 2 times a week. Thus, apart from testing pool water’s chemistry, it is also good to shock the pool. By ‘shocking’, it meant overloading the pool water with sanitiser to kill any bacteria, organic matter or contaminants. Generally, the more the pool is used, the more often the shocking step should be carried out. It is also good to shock the pool following weather conditions or heavy use, like:
Following a severe storm, following unforeseen contamination like a spill or following a breakout of algae growth.
In sum, to keep the swimming pool crystal clear, it is good to follow the above steps. The expert advice is to set a routine and take early action when you spot signs of trouble like scaling or discolouration. Take the help of pool cleaning professionals if you are unwilling to do this alone.
