How to Keep Your Pool Well Maintained

For you to keep your swimming pool clean and healthy, proper maintenance is a must.  We will go over a few simple steps that need to be part of your routine.  By following these 3 “C”’s of pool care you will be able to have a well-cared for pool and enjoy your own personal oasis.

Circulation:

Run your pool pump 8-12 hours a day

Backwash or clean the filter if pressure is above 10-15 psi

Daily Clean skimmer and pump basket

Jets need to be kept facing circular and downward

Cleaning:

Daily, brush walls, steps, ladders, low circulation areas

Skim surface daily

Vacuum at least one a week or use an automatic cleaner

Chemistry:

The water needs to be tested 1-2 times per week

pH and alkalinity must be kept balanced

Maintain sanitizer levels

Bi-weekly shock your pool

Pool circulation is the starting point for all pool maintenance.  If your water is not moving that means your pump is not pumping, or your filter is not filtering and now you will be fighting a battle to keep your pool clean.  Stagnant water is a breeding ground for algae growth and bacteria.

Here are the parts that make up your pools circulatory system.  The skimmer, the pump, the filter and the jets. All these parts need to be in good working condition, or the water quality will suffer.  This is how they work:

1. Pump sucks water from the pool through a skimmer.
2. Water moves through the pump into the filter
3. The filter cleans out particles that make your water dirty
4. Then the water is pushed back into the pool by the jets

You should run your pool pump at least 8-12 hours a day, the more you filter your water the cleaner you will keep your pool which means the less time you will need to be scrubbing algae or balancing water.

If your pump gauge is about 10lbs or more above the normal reading (usually 10-15 psi) then it is time to backwash your filter.  If you have a cartridge filter, then you need to clean your filter cartridge.

1 to 2 times a week you need to clean your skimmer basket this is especially important to the overall maintenance of your pool.  If you have a clogged basket it makes your pump work harder to try to cycle the water.  This can decrease the life and stress the seals in your pump.  Also, FYI things like frogs can get stuck in your skimmer so you will want to remove these things in a timely manner.

To clean your skimmer basket simply turn off the pool pump and empty the removable basket.

You should also be cleaning the basket on the pump most debris will be caught in the skimmer basket, but the pump basket is also very important to be kept clean.

Also make sure your pool jets are angled away from the skimmer this will allow the water to move in a circular motion allowing the skimmer to work more efficiently.

You will need to vacuum your pool once a week and brush and skim the pool daily.  Manual maintenance is a normal part of pool ownership unless you have a robotic cleaner which will help take some of the burden off you.

Scrubbing the pool walls prevents algae, staining and scaling, this happens especially around dead area like steps, ladders, crevices and below the skimmer.  Skimming the surface of the pool with a net removes large debris such as leaves which can fall to the bottom of the pool and leave a stain if not taken care of properly. Lastly vacuuming your pool is another important part of removing debris from the pool which can reduce circulation and damage the pool.

The chemistry of the water in your pool is especially important to keeping the clear and healthy.  When you keep the water balanced you will not struggle with cloudy water, green water, or a buildup of harmful bacteria.  It will be important for you to purchase a good testing kit.

You will need to test the water weekly, one way to make things easier is to get a kit that will tell you if you need to add chemicals. You can get these items at most pool supply stores and big box retailers.  Here are some ranges to keep in mind:

• pH: Your pH should be around 7.5
• Calcium Hardness: Should be anywhere from 200-400 ppm
• Alkallinity: 120 to 150 ppm
• Chlorine: Needs to be kept stable.  You can get it in sticks, granules or tablets.
• Phosphates: If the water is green and cloudy it is possible that your phosphate levels are too high.

Also, it is a good idea to shock your pool every week or two. What this means is you will overload the water with sanitizer to kill off any bacteria, contaminates, and organic matter.  Another important time to shock the pool would be after a storm, a spill, unexpectant contamination or an algae breakout.

If you follow these steps and establish a routine with your pool you will be able to have a crystal-clear pool to enjoy.  But remember if it becomes overwhelming just contact a pool maintenance provider and they will come out weekly or bi-weekly and take the job off your hands.

It Is Spring and Time to Open the Pool!!!

Step 1:  Clean up all debris and check for wear and tear.

Before the pool is opened you should take some time to check around the pool to make sure everything is in order.  Trim any overgrown trees and hedges.  Clean up and leaves, check the deck for any damage.  All these items should be done before you open the pool.  Also, you should make sure all the deck furniture is safe and ready to go as well as any pool equipment like rail, slides, ladders, diving boards and most important any rescue equipment you have.

Step 2: Pool Chemicals, take an inventory.

It is important that you have all your pool chemicals ready before you begin opening your pool.  Check expiration dates replace if past prime. Also replace any chemicals that were not stored properly.

Step 3: Remove the cover.

If you do not have an automatic pool cover you will need to do a few extra steps.  First water and debris can accumulate on any cover and need to be cleaned up before opening the pool, use either a pool cover pump or a shop vac to remove that dirty water and keep it out of your pool. Once you have removed the pool cover hose it off and do a thorough cleaning, then allow it to dry completely before storing it away. It needs to be stored indoors.

Step 4: Inspect the pool.

You will need to do a once over your pool to make sure everything is good to go.  Here are a few items to make sure are on your list,

• Remove drain plugs or winterizing plugs from the surface skimmers and wall returns and restore directional fittings.
• The filter, return lines, pump all needs to be inspected for any possible damaged or worn parts and either repaired or replaced.
• Look for any chips around the pool on the deck or coping.
• Check any tile and remove calcium scale and stains, you can use a household tile cleaner baking soda and a tile brush.
• Check the inside of the pool for any cracks or damage and make necessary repairs. Hairline crack are normal in a fiberglass pool.  Because these pools have a gel coating these small cracks will not affect the integrity of your pool.  However, if your fiberglass pool has large cracks or holes you should call a pool repair specialist right away.  Improper winterizing can cause these problems to happen.

Step 5: Fill the pool to middle of the Waterline tile and complete final debris removal.

Step 6: Turn on the Pool Filter and Test the Water.

Almost ready to go, get the filter up and running.  Turn the filter on and run it for 12 to 24 hours to mix the old and the new water.  This should be done before testing the water and adding any chemicals.  If you do not feel comfortable testing the water, you can always take a sample to a pool professional for analysis.  Time to add the proper chemicals to get the water ready to enjoy.

First Time Pool Owner?

First let us say Congratulations! You have decided to invest into endless summers of fun. However, there are a few steps you will need to do to get the pool ready to enjoy.

• You will need to balance total alkalinity; this is the starting point once this is balanced you will be able to measure other levels and keep in check.  If you need to raise total alkalinity that can be done with baking soda and to lower use muriatic acid.  Aim for a range of 80 to 120ppm.
• Balance pH, you increase with soda ash or baking soda and decrease with muriatic acid.  Aid for a base level of 7.4.
• Balance calcium levels can increase with calcium chloride be careful it is hard to decrease these levels better to go slow.  Your pool calcium levels should be between 200-400 ppm and your spa level should stay 150-250 ppm.
• Now you will need to shock your pool.  First time it is best to double shock your pool. After shocking aim for chlorine to be at 10 ppm.
• Now your pool should be ready to enjoy.  If there is any left-over cloudiness due to shocking the water, you can add some pool water clarifier. Test the water again to double check everything. ENJOY!

Time to Winterize Your Pool

The party is over for another year and it is time to start thinking of shutting down the pool.  It is especially important to make sure the water is balanced.  By making sure the water chemistry is where it needs to be you will avoid some labor-intensive maintenance when it is time to open the pool next spring.

1. You may want to invest in some winterizing chemicals to keep your pool balanced and on track. Visit a pool professional retailer and learn more.
2. Add a shock treatment, for best results you should shock a few days before you shut down your pool.
3. Remove all skimmer baskets, heaters, slide, wall fittings, vacuums, pool cleaners, ladders, and handrails. Clean all these items completely and store away until next spring.  Once everything is out of the way remove all debris from the pool.

The best thing you can do to prepare for winter is to call the pros, every type of pool requires a different winterizing protocol.  Your pool is too big of an investment for it to not be treated correctly.

4. Lower the water level. You can use your filter pump or a submersible pump to lower the water level.  It will need to be lowered to 4 to 6 inches below the lowest plumbing line, this is normally the water return line.  Make sure it is lower than the skimmer.  You can remove the above ground skimmer.
5. Drain your Pool Pump, Filters, heaters and Chlorinating Equipment.  Either drain the water out of these or blow the lines out with a shop vac.  This is the time to clean your pool filter.  Cartridge filters must be thoroughly cleaned and allowed to air dry completely.
6. If you have a chemical feeder drain and empty.  Never leave chemicals in during the winter it will damage your equipment.
7. Use a winter cover