How to Maintain a Pool Properly

 

Keeping the pool clean is the first step to keeping your pool healthy and up to code. A neglected swimming pool can become a breeding ground for algae, bacteria, viruses, insects, parasites, and fungi that can pose serious health risks. Here are some tips that will help you maintain your pool at all times.

Water Chemistry

A vigilant eye should be kept on the pool water's pH level, chlorine content, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Balancing these four factors will help ensure that bacteria are being killed off by chlorine and that algae aren't allowed to grow. When testing your pool water for any one or all of these factors, be sure to test the water in several areas of your pool, not just one spot.

Maintaining Water Chemistry

To maintain your pool's chemistry, you should shock treat or super chlorinate your pool at least once a week with liquid chlorine, calcium hypochlorite granules, sodium hypochlorite granules, or tablets. If you are using liquid chlorine, you should run the pump continuously for 24 hours to ensure that all bacteria are killed. If you use granular forms of chlorine, sprinkle them evenly around your pool and distribute them with a leaf skimmer. Be careful not to breathe in the dust when adding these chemicals. Never mix liquid chlorine with other chemicals unless recommended by the manufacturer.

Oftentimes, the water filter can become clogged with mineral deposits and other debris, hindering its ability to clean the water. Be sure to check your filter regularly; if it needs cleaning, do so with a filter cleaner or replace it altogether. If you are using an automatic chlorinator, make sure that the cell is clean.

Pool Cleaning

The pool should be vacuumed at least once a week, or more often if you notice algae growth. Be sure to remove dead leaves and other debris from the skimmer baskets before using your vacuum. The best chemicals for killing algae are chlorine shock treatments, muriatic acid diluted to 32 ounces per 100 gallons of water, or brushing the pool with a stiff bristle broom.  

If you are using an automatic chlorinator, make sure that the cell is clean. Also, be sure to check for cracks in your skimmer baskets and side rails to prevent any broken or bent equipment from injuring you.

The temperature of the pool water should be checked every day, as a discrepancy in temperature can cause problems with your heater and plumbing. In addition, having the correct temperature will help reduce injuries due to swimmers being exposed to cold or hot water for long periods of time.

The Importance of a Clean Pool

Why is it important to keep your pool clean? In order to maintain a healthy and safe environment for you and your family, it is very important to keep your swimming pool clean with the help of a professional swimming pool specialist. A swimming pool contains a large number of bacteria that can be potentially hazardous for people who have compromised immune systems or children. 

If you are unaware of how to properly care for your pool, there are risks involved with the water becoming contaminated. If you have a swimming pool and live in the Eastlake Chula Vista CA areas, it is important to keep it clean so that you can use it for recreational activities or physical exercises.  ***

Water Circulation

The importance of proper water circulation is about equal with proper filtration. As water circulates, it carries away debris that settles on the floor of the pool, besides carrying nasty contaminants to the filter system where they can be trapped and disposed of. Circulating water also helps keep your pool clean by moving everything around so it doesn't stagnate in one spot for very long. The constantly moving water can also help to dissolve and break down some of the contaminants that pool chemicals fail to remove, so you'll use less of them.

Waterfalls

One of the most spectacular ways to improve circulation is by adding a waterfall. You can build your own waterfall using any number or combination of materials such as rocks, tiles, and other decorative materials. The water spills down and through the rocks before returning to the pool, creating a great place to layout and get a tan while you watch your masterpiece in action.

Some people feel that waterfalls actually add oxygen to the water, making it more healthy for swimmers, but this is really only true of large falls where a gush of water is allowed to break up into a fine spray.

How to Maintain Pool Water Chemistry

Checking your pool's pH levels is one of the first things you should do when starting to care for your pool. It is especially important if you have just had your water chemistry levels adjusted by a professional service company or if there has been a change in your local water supply that might necessitate some changes to the chemicals supplied by the pool dealer.

Using A Test Kit

It is a good idea to carry out water tests regularly for pH levels and chlorine. This enables you to check that the chemicals you have added are doing their job, as well as give you an early warning if there is a problem with your pool water chemistry. You can buy test kits from any reputable pool supplier or order them online. There are different types of test kits for pH and chlorine, so make sure you get the right ones.

There is one golden rule when relying on test results: all tests should be carried out at the same time every day. This is because levels can fluctuate during the day due to things such as sunlight and wind. When using a test kit, simply follow the instructions provided to you. You will need a glass or plastic beaker and a small measuring spoon if these are not supplied with your test kit.

In Conclusion

When you own a pool, it is understandable that you would want to ensure that the water is properly maintained. After all, who wants to swim in a dirty pool?  It's unsanitary and unhealthy for everyone involved. There are various ways of ensuring that the pool is maintained, but by far one of the most effective is thorough swimming pool cleaning. Pool cleaning can be done in a number of ways, all of which are effective. However, not all methods are created equal in terms of safety and efficiency and some say maintaining a pool is a lot of work.

If you feel resentment towards your pool and with all its upkeep, you may want to consider hiring a professional pool cleaning company to do the weekly cleaning, servicing, and testing of your pool's pH levels.