Care & Maintenance of your pool

Basic knowledge of taking care of your pool

Keeping your pool water clean requires a few basic maintenance steps. Find all the information you need to use the products, care for and control your pool water in this article.

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The role of the pump

The center of the circulation system is the pump. It is the one that pushes the water from the pool to the filter to remove dust and micro-particles before returning to the pool again.

But how often should we operate the pump? The size of the piping, the size of the pool, the number of swimmers using it, and the size of the pump all play an important role in deciding how long our pump should run. For the best possible results, it is good to ask the specialized professionals. They can decide, based on the specific pool model, the time required to keep the pool water clean. A good rule of thumb is to run the pump 1 hour for every 10 degrees of temperature.

If our pump is not working, the pool water is not filtering and circulating properly. Regular operation of the pump and proper water circulation is the best way to prevent problems.

The filtration system 

The filtration system removes undissolved dirt and particles from the pool water. Although the Skimmer basket as well as the cloth basket in the pump do a significant amount of filtering of the pool water, the main part of the filtering is done in the filter itself. If you backwash your sand or loam filters too often the filters cannot reach their maximum efficiency and you are wasting water unnecessarily. Consult your pool professional to understand the role of the Skimmer and Pump in keeping your pool clean. Always consult the instructions for use for the specific type of filter you are using.

Types of pool filter

Sand filters: Dirt is removed from my filters by backwashing. Sand filters are most effective when they are lightly soiled. Therefore they should be backwashed only when required by the pressure increase. Sand filters should be cleaned at least once a season with filter cleaner.

Cartridge filters: Filters of this type should be cleaned when the pressure reading rises 7-10 lbs above normal. Remove the cartridges from the filter and rinse with plenty of water. Then soak them in filter cleaner for at least 12 hours. This will remove any greasy debris stuck to the filter. Rinse again with plenty of water. To achieve top performance, dry before reinserting the cartridges into the filter. To avoid "down time" for your circulation or filtration systems, it's a good idea to have a second set of cartridges so you can change them regularly with your original set.

Diatom Earth Filters: Like sand filters, DE filters are backwashed when the pressure increases by 7-10 lbs. However, when the filter is backwashed, new diatomaceous earth must be added to the filter mesh. This can be achieved by throwing diatomaceous earth through the skimmer. To clean the oily residue that has collected, the diatomaceous earth filters should be cleaned at least once each season with a filter cleaner. Also at least once a year the entire diatomaceous earth filter should be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned as well as inspected for tears in the meshes.

Checking the pool water

Checking the pool two to three times a week during the summer and once a week during the winter is important to maintain balance of disinfectant levels and suitability for swimmers. Test strips are a quick way to check your pool for sanitizer levels as well as pH. Proper monitoring ensures calcium levels are kept stable and that there are no metals in the pool water. These checks can be carried out by you or by the professional you work with. To avoid scaling or corrosive action and to achieve the best possible conditions for swimmers the pool water must be balanced.

Balancing the pH

pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the pool water. That's why it should be checked and adjusted on a weekly basis. If the pH of the pool water falls into the acidic part of the scale, corrosion of pool surfaces and equipment can occur. Accordingly, if its value becomes alkaline, it will cause the deposition of salts and cloudiness of the water. Use an appropriate chemical to raise the pH of the pool. If it reaches 8.5 on the scale, then the chlorine is only 10% active. At 7.0 on the scale chlorine is about 73% active. If you keep the pH around 7.5, the chlorine can be 50 to 60% active. Regularly checking the pH will allow you to make the best possible use of the chlorine already in your pool. If the pH of the pool is too low, use a special chemical to raise it. Follow the directions on the product label to use the correct amount of product and be sure to consider the size of the pool. Take a sample of your pool water to a qualified professional every two to three weeks for a complete check and analysis.

Caution: Always follow the directions on the pool maintenance product labels. Never mix the products. If you are not sure how to use them, contact your pool professional.

Hardness

Water hardness is actually the amount of dissolved calcium in it. Low hardness levels can cause calcium to precipitate and limit the life of the liner. High calcium levels can cause scale to build up on pool surfaces and equipment. The appropriate water calcium content is 200-250 ppm for concrete pools and 175-225 ppm for vinyl pools. Your pool professional can advise you on the best method of improving your pool water if you notice high calcium levels. If the tests show that you have extremely high hardness in your pool then the water you use to fill it may be to blame.

Alkalinity

To avoid fluctuations in the pH value you must use the appropriate amounts of acidity or alkalinity buffers during maintenance of your pool. The pool should be tested on a weekly basis to maintain alkalinity levels of 120-150 ppm. Low alkalinity can result in corrosion and staining. High alkalinity can cause cloudiness in pool water and possible scale build-up. To lower the alkalinity value follow the instructions of an expert. To increase the value of alkalinity there are special chemical products that enhance it.

Metals

There should be no minerals in your pool water. Metals can stain the pool or change its color. The most common types of metals found in pool water are copper, iron and manganese. If there are metals in your pool water they must be removed regularly with appropriate products. You also need to identify the source of the metals and remove it.

Disinfect with chlorine 

Chlorine products disinfect your pool water and kill bacteria. These products must be protected from exposure to sunlight and are the ideal means of keeping pool water clean. They come in a variety of formats. Your pool professional can recommend the right type of chlorine products for your needs. Chlorine levels must be maintained at value

1-3 ppm continuously.

Caution: The chemicals you use will be most effective if you add them to the water after sunset.

Disinfect with bromine

You can use bromine instead of chlorine to disinfect your pool water. Bromine tablets provide a reliable method to kill bacteria and keep pool water clean. To use bromine effectively, there are suitable bromine diffusion devices placed in the pool.

Shock

Shock disinfection of the pool on a regular basis is an important factor in maintaining the cleanliness of the pool water. Swimmers and the environment create waste in pool water that must be destroyed on a regular basis to avoid problems such as algae and cloudy water.

Algaecides

By preventing algae growth, it will be easier to enjoy your pool. Algaecides act as a supplement to the regular disinfection program and prevent algae from starting to grow in the pool. Algaecides should be applied after shock disinfection.