What Is Usually Included In A Monthly Pool Maintenance Contract
If youre thinking of hiring an experienced pool maintenance company to look after your pool, its important to understand exactly what you are getting for your money.
Generally, the best reliable pool cleaners in the Florida area and beyond will service your pool on a weekly basis. Something to note is that bigger pools with additional water features require more visits.
The routine tasks that your average pool technician will tackle include:
- Managing the water level
- Removing debris such as foliage
- Emptying the skimmer baskets
- Ensuring filters are running to maximum efficiency
- Vacuuming pool surface
- Checking the PH level of water
- Pool chemical balancing
- Adding the correct amount of chlorine to prevent algae and bacteria build up
- Reset and adjusting time clocks
- Backwash filter maintenance which helps to dislodge and remove any dirt or debris that may have become trapped
So as you can see an expert maintenance team will thoroughly service your pool to a very high standard and keep your pool working as safely and efficiently as possible.
Ok, so whats the cost? Lets find out.
Get A Pool Pump Timer
Hopefully, your pump already has a timer. If not, I would invest in one. They are a crucial part of proper pool care.
Set the timer to run the pool at least 8 to 12 hours a day. If you can split up the times, great! If not, it wont be a problem for it to run 24 hours a day. Running your pump and filter is very important to keep your pool clear and its better to leave a timer in charge rather than a human.
Backwashing Your Pool Filter Too Often
Despite its name, backwashing is NOT a secret toddler technique for leaving floaties in your soda. Backwashing cleans the media inside your filter, whether its sand or diatomaceous earth . Pool water washes funk and gunk out of your filter media, then exits through your filters backwash valve drain port.
Backwashing is an important part of basic pool care, but overdoing it is one of the more common pool maintenance mistakes.
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The Ultimate Guide To Inground Swimming Pool Maintenance
Pool Maintenance | Swimming Pool FAQs
When I was a kid, I hated my moms chore charts. I vowed, with the seriousness of any 8-year-old, that if I had children, I would never make them do that.
I now make chore charts for myself. Moms really do know everything.
As you plan out the swim season, it may help to make a pool chore chart for your familyor at least to mentally review what you’ll need to do.
At River Pools, we specialize in manufacturing and installing fiberglass pools, but we’re still familiar with vinyl liner and concrete pools. They have a place in the market! We want to provide understandable, accurate information for all three pool types, including an overview of your pool to-do list:
- Opening and closing your pool
- Maintaining your pools water level
- Running your pools pump/filter system
- Cleaning out debris
- Replacing your pools vinyl liner
- Resurfacing your concrete pool
With only two exceptions , all these maintenance tasks apply to every pool.
So no matter what type of pool you have , this to-do list will work for you. Don’t you love when things are easy like that?
Balancing The Water Chemistry
Chlorine isn’t the only thing your pool needs to stay clean and clear.
Youll keep track of 5 main aspects of your water chemistry to ensure they stay within these ranges:
- Total alkalinity: 80120 ppm
- pH: 7.27.8
- Calcium hardness: 100300 ppm fiberglass / 200-400 for vinyl and concrete
- Stabilizer : 2050 ppm
- Chlorine: 2.03.0 ppm
They all affect each other, so follow that specific order when you test and modify the water. Itll save you a headache.
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Are They Certified And Insured
Another important consideration is to make sure you check certification and insurance. Otherwise, any bad repairs which could potentially damage your pool could end up costing you more than you bargained for.
The best pool service companies will always have certification clearly displayed on their website or other literature.
So are there any other red flags to keep watchful of? Lets find out.
What red flags to watch out for when choosing a pool company
- Skipped pool cleaning Some of the more unscrupulous pool services companies will overbook and could skip servicing your pool. A reliable company will have tickets they leave at your premises which give all the details including time of attendance, the condition of the pool, and outline any maintenance. At Sublime Pools & Spa, we take it to the next level and send an SMS letting you know that your pool has been serviced!
- Used parts for repairs a trustworthy pool company will, of course, use brand new parts for repairs, so if you are having a large number of repairs done, check the parts before they are installed, by asking to see them.
- Extra pool chemical charge A trustworthy pool company should charge one flat rate and should not add extra charges for any additional chemicals that have been approved at the beginning of your contract. You should know what your yearly cost for maintenance will be before signing up with a company. These costs obviously exclude pool repairs.
Can they be reached easily by phone?
Get Your Water Checked Before You Go
Take a sample of your pool water to your local pool store and get it professionally checked.
Make sure when you get it checked that you correct any issues before you go. You want to make sure that your pH and alkalinity are properly balanced and your sanitizers levels are correct.
- pH: 7.4 to 7.6
- Alkalinity: 100 parts per million to 150 ppm, with 125 ppm being ideal
- Calcium Hardness: 175 ppm to 225 ppm, or 200 ppm to 275 ppm for concrete and plaster pools
- For Chlorine Pools: 1 ppm to 3 ppm
- For Bromine Pools: 3 ppm to 5 ppm
- For Biguanide Pools: 30 ppm to 50 ppm
- For Salt Water Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine
- For Mineral System Pools: 0.5 ppm of chlorine
Also, make sure your pool is clean and crystal clear before you leave.
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Annual Pool Maintenance Cost
Your average annual pool maintenance cost runs from $960 to $1,800, with most homeowners spending around $1,400 along with the cost of any necessary repairs. A considerable variance in pricing depends on the type of pool.
According to Nerdwallet, there are two more costs that many homeowners dont think about in regards to yearly pool maintenance costs when researching the cost to build a pool.
- Liability insurance can bump your monthly pool cost by $17 to $25. A pool increases the chance of injury on your property and will increase the price of your homeowners insurance, and insurance companies recommend liability insurance of half a million with an umbrella policy to bring it up to one million.
- Inground pools typically increase your home’s property value by 7% when it goes up, property taxes tend to follow increase as well.
Check Your Pools Chemical Levels
Your pools chemistry determines how effective your chlorine is. You must check its chemical levels twice a week during summer and once a week in winter.
The pH level should stay between 7.2 and 7.8 to prevent skin or eye irritation. As the pH rises, chlorine becomes less effective so you must add extra.
A fantastic way of controlling your pools alkalinity is by using baking soda, known as sodium bicarbonate. Measure 1.25 pounds of baking soda to raise the alkalinity by 10 parts per million and pour it into the skimmer.
To avoid cloudiness, let the baking soda circulate which takes up to 10 hours. Re-test your water and repeat if necessary.
Keep in mind that chlorine is 50% active when the pH is 7.0 and 10% effective when it reaches 8.0. Use a testing kit to determine your pH level by filling the vial with pool water and adding the testing kit solution.
After a minute, the water will change color, revealing the current chemical level. You must then adjust accordingly.
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A Beginners Guide To Pool Maintenance
Your swimming pool needs regular upkeep. Thats why it pays to develop a strong basic understanding of pool maintenance essentials.
When you know how your pool works, the best ways to care for it, and how to plan for it, youll be ready to solve just about any potential pool problem that floats your way.
Basic Pool Chemistry 101
Wouldnt it be great if you could just fill your pool with water, and then never worry about algae growing, or bacteria building up, or the water just becoming a gross breeding ground for all kinds of nasty contaminants and organisms? Sure, testing the water and adding pool chemicals on a regular basis might be time-consuming and tedious, but its absolutely necessary.
A little up-front work means a lot less remediation later when your pool becomes infested with algae, or so imbalanced, the only solution is to drain it and start over. While keeping your pool clean and sanitized may not be the most fun tasks, theyre also not difficult. All it takes is a little basic pool chemistry knowledge, the right equipment and supplies, and a desire to keep your pool clean and swimmable.
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How To Maintain Your Pool Yourself In Between Services
Having a pool is all about fun! The glistening water, Marco Polo, diving in the deep end, lounging on a raftyoure not thinking about how to clean a swimming pool.
Do you own one of the 10.4 million pools in the US? Do you know how to keep your pool clean or do you leave that to the pros?
Even if you hire someone to clean your pool, you still need to know how to maintain your pool yourself in between service. Keep reading for tips to help keep your pool crystal clear.
How Much Does A Pool Increase Your Water Bill
Having a pool can increase your water bill by about $4 to $20 per month, $45 to $245 per year, or half this if you close it for the winter. Usually, pools see ¼ inch loss of water per day due to evaporation or roughly 2 inches per week.
The average price per gallon of water ranges from $0.002/gallon to $0.011/gallon , so pool water bills can vary considerably. For a normal-sized 14 x 28 pool that is never covered, and depending on how much wind, sun, and humidity your local climate has, your pool will lose about 1,858 gallons per month and approximately 22,298 gallons of water per year.
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Create A Diy Pool Vacuum
A PVC hose can be attached to the pool skimmer to make a vacuum. Use a pool brush to scrape off the dirt and debris on the bottom of the pool. Collect the debris in piles and use the vacuum hose to pick up the debris.
Ellie Jordan own a pool maintenance company. She has been solving pool problems for twenty years now. She is passionate about educating homeowners with DIY fixes so their pools are more fun.
Start With A Good Pump
The amount of maintenance you need to perform on your pool waterfall depends on how it’s built it in the first place. Start by getting a good pump. If you’re going to splurge on any part of this feature, do it with the pump, which needs to be able to handle the volume of water going through it. Choose a waterfall pump with a strong motor that can push the water up and out. This will result in less time spent changing filters, cleaning the pump, and cursing the heavens.
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Tip #: Learn How To Care For Your Pool
As we move toward warmer weather, this is the perfect time for self-starters to learn the basics of pool care. Begin by learning how a pool works. Find the facts you can get a lot of good information from reputable online sources like Hayward.com and from your local pool service company. In addition, pool supply stores often offer classes to pool owners on DIY pool maintenance.
You can also save time and effort by using an automatic pool cleaner.
Create A Diy Pool Skimmer With A Broom Clothes Hanger And Window Screen
What happens if you need to skim the surface of your pool, but dont have the skimmer attachment that goes on the pole?
And what if you dont have a telescopic pole either?
Well, in comes a DIY pool skimmer to the rescue. Its not perfect, but it does the job.
To make one, you need:
- A broomstick
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So Lets Get To The Basics
I promise, its easyand so worth it. Once you know just a few basics, including how to care for your pool water, your pool walls, your pool pump, and your larger circulation system, youll be good to go. And heres a spoiler: whether youre into meditation or not, here everything is connected.
Is your above-ground pump just not cutting it, now that youre looking? Try the Copper Force Above Ground Pool Pump. Its energy-efficient, runs cool, and includes a start capacitor to eliminate failure-prone mechanics of other above-ground models.
Improvise Your Skimmer Basket
The skimmer basket of the pool is essential for keeping the filter in good shape. If the skimmer basket is not working well and you have to clean the filter every other day, there is an alternative. You can improvise the basket by simply using a pantyhose.
All you need to do is to find an old pair of pantyhose. Stretch it over the skimmer basket to create a huge sock. Tie it firmly and place the basket in its place. It will skim the waters more effectively and you wont need to clean the filter that often.
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Professional Pool Maintenance Vs Diy
Whether you are a new pool owner or someone who has had one for years, you may be reassessing your pool service. Trying to decide how to clean your pool can take a lot of time between research, shopping, and then putting in the work and that is just on the DIY side of things. So, is a clean pool worth the hassle of figuring it out yourself, or should you hire a professional to do it for you?
In this article, we will look at the benefits and drawbacks of DIY pool cleaning versus hiring a professional pool cleaning company. This will help you decide how to keep your pool clean and safe so you can Float Happy all year long.
Looking For Simple Easy Swimming Pool Cleaning Solutions You Can Do Yourself Youve Come To The Right Place
Sometimes when you have issues with your swimming pool, its more convenient to take care of them yourself instead of calling your pool service company. However, not everyone is an expert in pool maintenance. So, here are twelve hacks to help you with swimming pool problems such as leak detection, birds and insects, filtration, and cleaning tiles with the usage of things you can easily find around your home.
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Ignoring Your Ph And Alkalinity Levels
Waaaaaay back in your high school science classes, you probably learned about the importance of balanced pH to healthy, happy ecosystemsincluding your pool. A low pH indicates acidity, while a high one indicates alkalinity. Too much of either is bad news.
If your pool water has a very low pH, its very acidic. This might seem like a good thing at first after all, its very hard for algae and other invaders to thrive acidic water. Plus, acidic water sparkles and appears, at first glance, to be pristine and pure.
But as we once found out after eating some really bad gas station sushi, appearances can be deceiving. Low pH can actually damage your pool equipment, including:
- Pool pump and filter
- Solar blanket
Not Testing The Water
Water is the most important part of the pool, so make sure to test it often. This means at least once a week, but possibly more often in optimal use. Doing this regularly will keep the water pH level at an ideal 7.5, allowing for minor adjustments as needed. High pH levels indicate there is too much acidity and will cause skin irritation and scale formation, whereas low pH indicates alkaline waters that can cause eye irritation and damage equipment. There are different test strips to use for either chlorine or saltwater pools.
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Running Your Pools Pump/filter System
To calculate how long you’ll need to run your pool pump, you need some other numbers first.
How much water does your pump filter in a set time period? That speed is your flow rate, measured in gallons per hour.
Types of pool pumps:
How long does it take for the pump/filter systems to cycle all of the water in the pool once? Thats the turnover rate, measured in hours.
Divide your pools water by your pumps flow rate to get the total time needed .
For most pools, the turnover rate will be between 4 and7 hours. Keep in mind that a concrete pool will often need 2 full turnovers to maintain clear, clean water. Youll want to budget that extra cost for your electricity.
