How To Measure The Chlorine Levels In Your Pool
Another thing to help clear a cloudy above ground pool is to ensure the chlorine level is balanced correctly. Test strips indicate the ppm chlorine levels. Hold the strip in the water for a few seconds, then match the color on the strip with the ppm chart.
Although bleach can act as a sanitizer for the pool, it is best to use chlorine. Using either chlorine tablets or granular chlorine, pre-dissolve the measured amount in a bucket and pour the cleaner along the pool liner for the way to shock a pool.
Never pour chlorine directly into the skimmer. When a pool has the right amount of chlorine in the water, it reduces the chances of red eyes and swimmers itch.
Fix A Green Pool In 5 Easy Steps
Maybe you lifted up your winter cover to open your pool and were surprised by bright green water. Or maybe the algae crept up on you one faithful day during swim season.
Dont worry. It happens to the best of pool owners. And luckily, theres plenty you can do to win the battle against algae and reclaim your pool.
In this post, show you how to fix a green pool in just 5 steps. If you follow these steps, you can get rid of your pool algae problem in just a few days or less.
Heres a quick summary of how to fix a green pool:
Thats the whole process right there, but you probably have a few questions now, like:
How much do I lower my pools pH?
How much shock do I need to kill pool algae?
How can I remove pool algae faster?
We answer all those questions and more in the next few paragraphs, so keep reading and lets fix your green pool once and for all.
Check The Ph Value And Chlorine Content Again:
Once you have got rid of all the algae from the pool and the water is crystal clear again, check the pH value and the chlorine content of the water.
Both values should now be at normal levels. If not, you have to balance the pool waters chemistry.
Warning with all steps:
When mixing chemicals, always pour the water first, then the chemicals second and mix. Not the other way around If you pour chemicals first then water second it can cause a strong chemical reaction that could harm you. In addition, always be careful when handling chemicals, it is best to wear gloves and a proper face mask. Do not inhale the chemicals.
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How To Clean Above Ground Pool
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No one wants to swim in a pool with dirty, cloudy water, so pool cleaning and maintenance skills are crucial for any pool owner. In an above ground pool, filtering and skimming the pool regularly is key to maintaining clean water — but so are brushing the walls and vacuuming the floors. Most importantly, though, you must maintain proper chemical levels in the pool so the sanitizers work effectively. However, with an above ground pool, you must be sure to use cleaning equipment that is suited for the pool’s materials so you don’t any damage during the process.
Testing Kit: How Useful Are They
You can also buy a test kit for swimming pools. It comes at a cheap price, $10-15 to be precise. There is no need to test on a daily basis, just test it 2-3 times a week. In a month, you can also choose a week in which no cleaning is done. The instructions are given on the pool kit, so you can read them out and test your swimming pool. The items that you buy for cleaning your swimming pool have to be stored in a cool and dry place. If you have got kids in the house, then make sure that the items are kept out of their reach.
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Picking The Right Chlorine Shock Products
Shocking your pool basically means you are hitting it with an extra potent dose of chlorine and added disinfectants. The concentration will kill off whatever uninvited organisms are growing in the water or pool walls. Generally, its a good idea to shock your pool every other week, and especially after heavy use.
When shopping for chlorine shock products, keep in mind the type of pool you have and its size. For example, inground or above-ground pools have different products, as well as saltwater pools. Additionally, there are multi-use shock products that work effectively for several types of pools.
Remove And Clean All Accessories In Your Pool
Remember what we said earlier about drains and other pool equipment being damaged by cold weather? Well, this step is important for protecting your accessories from that cold damage, as well as keeping them safe from mold.
By accessories, we mean things like above ground pool ladders and steps, skimmer baskets, pool cleaners and solar blankets. These can all be cleaned and stored away in a dry place, out of direct sunlight.
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Weekly Above Ground Pool Maintenance:
Weekly maintenance is all about cleaning the surfaces of the pool itself, to ensure they are clean, and about performing more in-depth chemical and filter checks.
Here are some of the weekly maintenance tasks that you should be performing:
- Skim the surface of the pool
- Brush the pool walls thoroughly
- Use the pool vacuum cleaner
- Clean the pool deck and the surrounding areas
- Perform chlorine maintenance and check for other chemical needs in the pool water
- Clean the pool filter
Check The Ph Balance Of Your Pool
This can seem like a daunting, scientific process but its actually a lot easier than you might think.
Digital pH testing kits are available at a variety of different online retailers and you shouldnt find it too difficult to find one in a physical store either.
How To Check The pH Balance Of Your Pool Water:
- The first step youll need to take is ensuring your pH water tester kit is clean and doesnt have any other liquids or pool water from a previous year left in it.
- Then, simply fill up the provided tube with as much of the pool water as the packaging recommends.
- Next, youll need to add whatever chemical reactive agent is provided in the kit to the pool water and shake it up to mix it thoroughly.
- The pool water will turn a different color and the pH testing kit will come with a handy color guide so you can tell exactly what pH level your water is at.
Once youve done all that and you have your pH reading, you can tell if the water is too acidic or too alkaline. The pH of your pool water should be between 7.2 and 7.6 according to the chart.
How To Alter The pH Balance Of Your Pool:
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How To Winterize An Above Ground Pool: A Complete 9 Step Guide
October 2, 2021 By Nick White
When the warm, summer months draw to a close, your above ground swimming pool probably wont get as much use during winter, if any at all.
That means its time to know how to winterize your above ground pool to prepare it for the cold season and make sure its ready to go again when the next summer comes around!
This process of winterizing your above ground swimming pool is all about leaving yourself with as little work as possible when it comes to reopening your pool. Sure, when the weathers nice its easy to perform regular maintenance on your pool and take a quick dip to reward yourself.
However, when it gets colder, you dont want to be outside every day skimming leaves and insects off the surface and not even get to enjoy the clean pool when youre done.
In this article, well go over just why its so important to winterize your pool and explain what can happen if its not done properly. Well also outline all the important steps you need to take to make sure you can enjoy swimming and splashing around next summer!
Do Not Empty The Pool
Unless its an emergency, you dont need to empty the pool.
Its not good to empty your pool, especially if its an indoor pool. It can ruin the pool by emptying it only to replace the water.
- If your pool is built on dirt and has a high water table, it can elevate it out of the ground without the weight of the water holding it in place. It could result in a costly restoration.
However, it can be prevented by knowing how to clean your above ground pool correctly after the winter. A pool cover that perfectly fits your pool can keep the filth and debris out during the harsh winter months.
Ensure you have that every time you close it, so you dont have to drain all the water when you wish to reopen it.
Algae quickly spread above the ground pool due to some water circulation problems.
Due to poor circulation, there is a dead spot.
Pool pumps circulate the water however, they dont do an excellent job due to the dead zones.
Use multi-directional returns jets to improve the situation, but have pool brushes on hand to manually circulate the water.
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How To Prevent Algae From Growing
The key are always controlling your pool properly balanced and sanitized to keep the algae from growing or returning. Make sure you follow these tips:
- Keep the levels of pH, alkalinity and sanitizer in the correct rate at all times by periodic check.
- Run your pump and filter about 8 to 12 hours a day.
- Keep your pool clean and safe from the algae by regularly vacuuming and brushing.
- Shock your pool every week. Remember 1 pound per 10,000 gallons or less.
- Keep your other pool equipment clean including pool toys, diving boards, slides, floats, ladders, steps, diving boards, slides, solar blankets and covers.
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Complete Above Ground Swimming Pool Maintenance Guide
The benefits of owning a pool are numerous. You can cool off in the summer, enjoy time together as a family, get exercise, add value to your home, have a beautiful looking backyard, and so much more. However, that enjoyment comes with a lot of responsibility. If you want clean, sanitary water, proper pool maintenance is essential. Maintaining your pool is an ongoing and consistent process. Its a lot, but its totally worth it. Keep reading for all our pool maintenance tips and trips for your above ground pool.
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Daily Above Ground Pool Maintenance:
The pump in your pool should be operating every day, for at least 8 hours, but preferably more. This will ensure that the water is circulating and getting filtered, to avoid dirt from accumulating.
It is also vital that you check the chlorine every day, as this is the primary agent keeping the water safe and clean. It should be tested every morning, before the pool is open for use.
Here are other daily tasks for your above ground pool:
- Run the pool filter
- Empty the skimmer and pump baskets
- Inspect the filter pressure
- Remove large bits of dirt and debris from the water
Use A Pool Flocculant
If you want a faster way to clear upyour pool, you may also want to try using a floc or a flocculant. While aclarifier clumps the particles for the filter to catch, the flocc pushes theparticles down to the bottom of the pool. From there, you can just use yourpool pump to clean up all of these dirt particles.
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How To Maintain An Above Ground Pool:
- Run the pool filter everyday, for 12-18 hours daily.
- Water level should be around mid-skimmer not too high, not too low.
- Test pH level, should be between 7.4-7.6.
- Test chlorine level, should be between 2.0-4.0 ppm.
- Empty skimmer and pump baskets, as needed.
- Inspect filter pressure and pump operation.
- Observe pool cleaner operation, if you have one.
On a daily basis, your pool pump needs to operate, for at least 12 hours , to push the water through the filter, and prevent stagnation.
From the moment you open the pool, your pool needs to have a constant chlorine level. A complete test kit like the Taylor K2005, or 7-way test strips is recommended, to do full pool water analysis. Another option is to use the Taylor Troubleshooter test kit for pH, Chlorine and Alkalinity, and AquaChek test strips for your calcium and cyanuric tests.
Chlorine is very pH dependent, and as pH levels rise, the killing power of chlorine is reduced dramatically. Add pH increaser or pH decreaser, as needed, to maintain pH levels in the range of 7.2-7.6.
Using a permanent marker, write your clean, starting filter pressure on the filter tank, or directly on the pressure gauge lens, so you know the clean pressure reading. Then you will also know when to backwash, or clean the filter when pressure rises 7-9 psi above clean.
How To Select An In Ground Pool Liner
The first step in installing an in ground pool liner is to make sure to gather the right measurements. Excessive numbers can cause loose and wrinkled results. Short measurements can cause too much stretching. This can lead to poor durability over a period of time. In ground pools usually have different levels of depths. Consider this when taking measurements.
After that, the next step is to know the thickness of the liner that you will be using. The usual thickness used is 20 mil. Other options are 28 mil on the wall with 20 mil floor thickness and 27 mil thick pool liner. There is also the 30 mil thick liner.
20 mil liners are the cheapest among these choices. Durability is average and usually lasts up to almost a decade. You can use this up to 10 years, provided it goes through proper maintenance. If not, it can last for only around 3-5 years. 27 mil liners are also great options for in ground pools. They offer added durability and improved protection against UV rays. UV rays can damage the liner material and shorten its lifespan.
30 mil is the most durable and offers better protection against sharp objects. However, the thicker the pool liner is, the more difficult it is to install it. The thicker options also cost extra every time you upgrade to a thicker one. After deciding on the thickness, check the design, pattern and color choices. You may choose designs and patterns that match your homes décor.
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Monitor The Water Level
If your pools water level goes down too far, you can put air into your filter line and stop circulation. In addition, your skimmers may not be able to do their job. you may need to add more water.
It is important to remember that your pool is only as deep as the bottom of the skimmer basket.
But on big downpour days, if the water level goes over the top of your pool, the salt and chlorine in your pool water can end up killing your lawn .
Use the drain line on your pool pump to drain excess water into your local sewer line or ditch to prevent that from happening.
Vinyl Pool Liner Maintenance: How To Clean And Care For Your Liner
Proper maintenance is imperative to extend the longevity of your pool liner. The good news is, cleaning and maintaining your pool liner doesnt require a huge time commitment or investment. Make sure to gently brush your liner once a week to prevent the accumulation of dirt, debris, and chemicals. Make sure to maintain proper water chemistry in your pool to prevent liner wrinkling and calcium scaling. Use a vinyl-liner cleaning solution to keep the waterline free of dirt and oils. For more information on how to take proper care of your liner, follow this vinyl-liner maintenance checklist.
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Regularly Clean And Replace The Filter
There are several kinds of pool filters, but they all have the same job: capturing debris that can cloud and pollute your pool. Hardworking pool filters should be cleaned about once a week by removing and hosing down the cartridge. Its also important to replace the cartridge when its time, based on the manufacturers recommendation.
Check The Chemicals Often
If the weather is clear, you don’t necessarily have to check your pool on a daily basis, but you should check it at least three times a week. Test the pH–the most important chemical characteristic of the water–and add acid, baking soda or soda ash as needed to maintain it between 7.2 and 7.6. Total alkalinity is a measure of the water’s ability to maintain a stable pH, and it should be between 80 and 120 parts per million. You can usually adjust this with the same chemicals you use to adjust the pH. If the weather is rainy, check the pH more often, because rain makes the water acidic, and that’s bad for swimmers as well as the pool liner.
- To keep the water in your above-ground pool crystal clear, maintaining the chemicals is just as important as it is for an in-ground pool.
- An above-ground pool is a magnet for falling leaves and other debris, and it’s crucial to vacuum these out of the pool frequently, or they will upset the delicate chemical balance of the water.
The free chlorine concentration should be between 1 and 3 ppm, and the most efficient way to maintain it in an above-ground pool is to use chlorine tablets. They contain a stabilizer–cyanuric acid –that prevents the chlorine from being degraded by sunlight. Place these slow-release tablets in the skimmer or the chlorinator–never directly in the pool water. If you choose to use liquid chlorine, you should add the stabilizer separately, maintaining the CYA level in a range from 20 to 50 ppm.
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