Avoid Common Pool Mistakes

Avoiding Common Swimming Pool Maintenance Mistakes

Swimming pool maintenance does not have to be difficult, but knowing how to properly maintain your pool by avoiding common mistakes will make it a much more rewarding experience as well as a safer place for family fun. Follow these tips for easy pool maintenance:

• Check pool chemistry often – You should check the pool’s chemistry at least twice a week in the summer and once a week in the winter. By doing this you can make minor adjustments to your water chemistry.
• Don’t allow the pH level to get above 8.0 – At 8.5, chlorine is only about 10% active. At 7.0, chlorine is about 73% active. If you maintain pH around 7.5, the chlorine will be 50-60% active. Keeping the pH in check will allow you to use the full potential of the chlorine that is already in the pool.
• Keep the alkalinity between 80-140 PPM – Low or high alkalinity can affect water balance and ultimately a sanitizer’s ability to perform.
• Check TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) on a regular basis – Check the TDS every 6 months and calcium hardness once a month.
• Clean the cells in salt water systems – If you don’t clean the cells in chlorine generators, those calcified and corroded cells will produce little chlorine.
• Don’t backwash sand or DE filters too often – If you backwash sand or DE filters too often, the filter cannot reach its cleaning potential and you are wasting water. Most filters require backwashing when the pressure gauge rises 8-10 psi from clean.
• Clean the skimmer basket in the pool pump often – If these are full of debris, you will get little flow resulting in poor circulation.
• Don’t add chemicals during the day – You will get more out of chemicals if you add them after the sun has set.
• Brush the walls and tile often – If your circulation system is suspect, brushing down the walls will help eliminate algae problems. Keeping your tile clean will save you money. If the tile gets calcified, it will require a specialist to clean it off.
• Run your pumps adequately – A good rule of thumb is to run your pump about 1 hour for every 10º of temperature. Circulation is the key to a low maintenance swimming pool.
• Replace broken or missing drains and suction sources – This can be very a very dangerous hazard. Also remember to replace any fencing, rails or decking in disrepair.