Unfortunately,
having a pool in your yard isn’t all about fun and games. Sure, it’s all
amazing in the summer when you and your family can kick back and relax by the
pool, swim and play fun games in the water but we all know that in order for
the pool to stay clean, someone needs to take proper care of it. If money isn’t
an issue and you just don’t want to be bothered with this kind of house chore,
you’ll probably pay someone to do all the “dirty work”. But, if you are trying
to save up and want to be the one who is in charge of this commitment, then –
here are some pool maintenance tips to get you started.
First of all,
before even thinking of cleaning a pool, you need to be familiar with the pool
terms. It’s inevitable to start with pH factor. Ph determines the water’s acidy
and it is important to keep pH at a proper level, never less than 7.2. In case
the pH is higher, use granular acid to lower it and if it’s less than this
number, use sodium hypochlorite to raise it.
To kill bacteria, algae and various viruses, you’ll use free available chlorine.
It also eliminates grease and oil. Add a shock treatment (a high concentration
of chlorine) if the free available chlorine is too low. Shocking adds 5.0 to
10.0 parts per million (PPM) of free available chlorine to pool water. Before
doing a shock treatment, test and balance the pH. This treatment should be done
with the pump and filter turned on and after sundown. Test the free available
chlorine after a shock treatment is done. Allow the chlorine to evaporate
naturally if it’s too high. It is also advised not to enter the pool until the
reading is 1.0 to 3.0 PPM.
The measurement of the water’s ability to maintain the proper pH level is called total alkalinity. Use an alkalinity adjuster if total alkalinity is too high or too low.
A measurement of calcium in the pool is called calcium hardness. In cases when the
water is too hard, pH levels raise and cause scale to form. Add sodium
hexametaphosphate to solve this problem. Tile grout dissolves or the vinyl
liner cracks when the water is too soft, so to prevent this from happening add
calcium chloride dihydrate.
When applying products always follow manufacturer's
instructions. Also, when it comes to chemical safety of the water, if you are
not sure what to do, it’s best to consult an expert than do something wrong as
misuse of pool chemicals may trigger some health problems.
General Pool Maintenance
The keys to pool maintenance are clean water and balanced
water chemistry. To keep your pool in order, it’s best to establish a weekly
routine of cleaning the pool. Maintaining the chemical balance is one of the
most important aspects of “pool health”, so make sure you are on top of it.
Usually, the above-mentioned shock treatment prevents the majority of pool
problems and solves the existing ones. On a weekly basis, test the pH and free
available chlorine in the pool water and shock-treat if necessary.
If any of the following occurs, do an additional shock
treatment:
·
More swimmers than
usual
·
Very heavy rains and
windstorms
·
Swimmers with burning,
red eyes
·
Extreme temperatures
·
Foul odor from the
pool water
·
Murky, slimy water
·
Algae growth
Keeping the Pool Clean
Don’t kid yourself if you think you’ll be spending just
couple of hours a week on pool upkeep. Plan to spend at least six to eight
hours weekly for your pool to be the safe environment for swimming.
Daily:
1. Skim remains out of the pool to keep it clean
2. During swimming season, clean all skimmer baskets
Weekly:
1. Test the water
1. Test the water
2. Clean the walls and floor by using brushes, cleaners
and vacuums recommended by the pool manufacturer
3. After cleaning and before using, hose down the pool
area. To prevent dirt from washing into the water, direct the spray away from
the pool
When first having your swimming pool installed, it’s
important you talk to the swimming pool builders about
proper maintenance of the pool. If you’ve had yours for a while now, give them a
call to clear up anything you may be wondering about regarding pool
maintenance.
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