How Do I Make My Pool Water Crystal Clear
How to Make Your Pool Crystal Clear Again
Test And Adjust Chemical Levels
Before you clean the bottom of the pool, which you probably cant even see due to the greenish color of the water, youll need to clean the water itself. Check the pH level and adjust the chemicals until it is within the safe range.
The adjustment will likely take a few days as you would be going back and forth with the pH increaser and reducer just to get the pH level right. You may even have to add an alkalinity increaser to reach a good pH level of 7.5 to 7.8.
Get To Know Your Relief Valves
Get ready for some jargon, but I promise it wont last: the hydrostatic pressure relief valves of your pool are essential to preventing a pop upand if this is your first time draining, you might not even be aware that you have them.
If you look at your pools floor, youll see one or more white rings plastered in place. Under that plaster, theyre threaded into a slotted pipe. That pipe runs along the floor of the pool and ends in an underground gravel pit that was put in place when the pool was originally built. These valves allow water thats accumulated underground to come up into the pool when its drained. Without them, that inevitable underground water would create enough pressure to make your pool pop.
Youll remove these rings once the pool is mostly drained to alleviate the pressure, but might want to have a few extra on hand just in case they get damaged during removal. When it comes to draining your pool, its always best to be prepared.
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If You Want To Paint The Pool
Some pool finishes are absolutely bare bones, simply having a coating of epoxy paint over their concrete shell.
Due to the amount of harsh chemicals and sunlight, the painted finish on these pools will eventually begin to fade and need a fresh coat.
Some people will even go so far as to repaint their plaster pool finishes, but resurfacing this type of finish is more cost-effective over the long term.
Pro Pool Cleaning Tips
Are you looking for a few pool cleaning tips from the pros? Look no further. Here are 7 tip-top pro tips for keeping your pool looking clean and healthy.
1. Skim Debris from the Pool SurfaceSkimming the surface of your pool is perhaps the quickest and easiest way to keep your pool clean. Floating debris such as leaves, bugs, pollen, etc. generally floats for 3-4 hours before sinking to the bottom. Once it sinks its harder to remove. Plus, it brings with it all the nutrients necessary for algae to thrive. The longer it remains in your pool, the more it decomposes and the more it depletes the pools free chlorine.
And empty out your skimmer baskets at the same time. Dont let the debris that gets sucked into the skimmers brew in there like tea thats only going to be pumped back into your pool.
How often should you skim the pool and empty the skimmer baskets? If you dont have a pool cover, once a day. If you do have a pool cover, then every 3 or 4 days will suffice.
I recommend this skimmer rake here.
2. Throw a Tennis Ball or Two into the PoolThis is an old pro trick thats a cheap, effortless, and effective way to remove surface oils caused by suntan lotions, makeup, body and hair oils, etc. all of which can lead to cloudy water and/or a depletion of your pools free chlorine levels.
For plaster or concrete pools, use a stiff brush for tiles, fiberglass, or vinyl, use a soft brush.
This suction vacuum cleaner or this robotic cleaner will simiplfy your cleaning.
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Inground Concrete Pool Care And Maintenance Guide
One of the most common types of pool youll see in Florida homes is an inground concrete pool . Homeowners prefer this type of pool because they can customize the pools size, shape, design, and depth.
I also had this made for my home because I wanted a specific look and liked the benefits that come with this pool . After researching which design and material to get, I learned that it takes longer to construct and comes with a higher price to maintain.
If you prefer aesthetics over low-maintenance, like me, you probably got this pool as well. Ill share with you some of the stuff I learned on how to take care of an inground concrete pool. But before we discuss its required maintenance, lets find out more about the different types of a concrete pool. You’ll also find the pros and cons of owning this pool as well as other pools and some of the common problems youll have to watch out for when you have an inground concrete pool.
Flash The Air Out Of Your Hose
You should flash out all the air in the hose before plugging the hose into the skimmer. Otherwise, the air into your vacuum hose will be sucked into the system, and you will lose your prime. Consequently, you cant vacuum your pool properly.
There are a couple of ways you can get the air out of the hose. For instance, you can put the hose into the pole. Then, head over to your pool jet. Hold the hose there, and you can see air bubbles floating up from your pool vacuum head. In this way, you can blow all the air out of your hose.
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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.
Good Pool Maintenance Begins With Knowing Your Pool
Before you can properly enjoy or care for your pool, you might need to brush up on all the parts of your pool. You dont need to take an annex course or go for your doctorate in swimology from Harvard. But knowing the basic parts of your pool, and their functions, helps you keep everything running smoothlyand makes it easier to resolve issues when they occur.
Looking for even more pool maintenance tips? Weve got just the thing. Check out The Pool Care Handbook and Video Course and become a pool care master.
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Test The Waters Ph Level
Now that youre sure there are no solid materials that could be making your pool dirty, its time to test the pH level of your pool. Youll want it to be between 7.2 and 7.6. Apply the pH increaser or reducer as needed to bring your pool to the proper pH range. You can do this at least three times a week to make sure that your pool is always safe to use.
How Can I Clean The Bottom Of My Pool Without A Vacuum
A nylon or rubber brush is the correct choice for scrubbing the sides of a soft-sided above-ground pool. A large pool brush makes quick work of the job, but you may need a smaller brush to clean corners. Once the particles have been removed from the sides of the pool, turn your filter back on and agitate the water.
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Signs You Need A Professional Pool Cleaning Service
Keeping your pool clean is a combination of attention to detail and having the right tools to do the job. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time or resources to devote to sufficient pool care or knows the indicators that cleaning is overdue. When it comes to the upkeep of your pool, the water will give you several visual signs that its time to hire professionals to help.
Discolored Water
One of the most overt signs that your pool needs to be cleaned is water discoloration. When your water isnt treated properly or frequently with the right combination of products, the water can develop algae or other contaminants that affect the color. Whether your pool is green, brown, or yellow, any color other than clear is a significant sign that professional cleaning is necessary.
Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs
Bacteria isnt the only thing that could be living in your pool. Bugs tend to find their way around the water and sometimes accidentally fall in. No one likes to look in their pool and see bugs having a field day. Insects like mosquitoes, water beetles, gnats, tiny red pool mites, and more can end up in your pool, creating an unclean and unsanitary environment. The best thing you can do is call one of our professionals to get rid of these critters once and for all.
Irritation to Eyes and Skin
Scaling
Bubbles or Foam in the Water
Bubbles or foam on the surface of your pool water might look fun, but this simply means your pool has strong surface tension caused by:
Get Rid Of Big Debris
The first thing you will want to do is sweep the floor of your inground pool to get rid of big debris such as branches, twigs, leaves and anything else that has made its way into the pool. You should be able to use your net to do much of this. Gather up as much as you can, and dispose of it in a compost heap or in your regular trash.
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Think Carefully About Where You Place Your Pool
How do you determine exactly where you should place your pool? Is it because there is enough space or just because the swimming pool has always been there? The location you choose is also important for the cleaning of your swimming pool. For example, do not place your pool under or near a large tree. Everything that drops from the tree ends up in your swimming pool. So, try to place the pool in as free an environment as possible, where there is often more sun, which makes swimming more pleasant. If you have a SunnyTent, you can place the pool near trees, as the SunnyTent covers your swimming pool.
When You Have The Time
Again, you dont want to let your empty pool six for more than a week, max. But youll also need a significant amount of time during the draining process, because its never a good idea to run errands while youre moving thousands of gallons of water. My guess is that itll take upwards of eight hours to drain completelyand can last up to sixteen. And filling it? Thatll take just as long. Womp womp.
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Make A Green Pool Clear In 24 Hours
After running the filter system for 24 hours, the pool will be totally clear of any living algae, and you will just need to hoover up any dead material found at the bottom.
How Do I Get The Brown Stuff Off The Bottom Of My Pool
Since brown algae is extremely chlorine-resistant, several other chemicals such as shock and an algaecide specifically designed for mustard algae will help get rid of the infestation. This will often result in cloudy pool water, so use clarifier to correct this problem.
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How Do I Clean My Pool By Myself
How to Maintain Your Pool Yourself
Do What You Need To Do
If you drained the pool to fix the chemical balance, immediately proceed to these next steps. If you have work to dosuch as repairing or painting your poolgo ahead and do that now. In the rare case that you need a totally dry floor to work, use a heavy-duty and durable cover pump like the Brute Force Pool Cover Pump. And as soon as youre ableand in no more than one weekproceed to these next steps to refill your pool.
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Seriously: Avoid The Inground Pool Pop
I know its tempting to skip to the part about how to drain your pool, instead of all these precautions. What could go wrong, right? Well, a lot. The worst of it is called pool pop ups, which is just what it sounds like: the bottom of the pool comes floating up, the PVC pipes underneath crack or separate, and the pool shell itself cracks. When this happens, the top edge of the pool also cracks or comes loose, the concrete decks around the pool get damaged, and the electric wiring going to the pool lights becomes damaged, which can be a major risk for electrocution. Yes, electrocution.
Oh, and homeowners insurance? It rarely covers the damage. Yeah, we really dont want this to happen to your pool. The safest way to ensure that the pool pop up doesnt happen to you is to hire a professional to drain your poolespecially if youre at high risk, such as if your location has a high water table , or if it has recently rained. Otherwise, the tips below should help you avoid this particular nightmare.
Dont Be Afraid To Shock A Cloudy Pool
On the topic of chemicals, dont be afraid to shock your pool when necessary. While that may seem like a process only fit for public pools. But, think about how your pool water looks after you throw a big party. Odds are its murkier than it was the day before the big bash. That murkiness? Its bacteria that youll want to get rid of as soon as possible.Shocking refers to drastically raising the chlorine levels for a short period of time to kill bacteria. Its done by diluting three to five times the normal amount of chlorine or other chemical sanitizer with water, slowly poring it into the pools return line, letting it filter throughout the pool, and then slowly refilling the pool with water over time.While shocking too often would risk damage to your pools siding, you should aim to shock the pool at least twice every season.
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Structural Damage And Accidents
Algae and moss commonly grow between the tiles and stone finishes of your pool. These organisms are known to be slimy and slippery to the touch and may lead to slipping accidents if not removed. Rhizomes can create tiny cracks on pool tiles causing the tiles strength to deteriorate.
If you are unfamiliar with pool cleaning methods and equipment, do not panic Sterling Pool Service has got your back. At Sterling Pool Service, we offer professional pool cleaning services for those situations that are difficult to deal with. With your pool in our care, rest assured that at the end of each cleaning process, your pool will look better than it was before.
Call us at 888-973-0274 or visit our contact page here to begin the professional pool care you need. We service all pools in the following areas: Sachse, Wylie, Murphy, Plano, Richardson, Garland, Dallas and Allen.
A Pool Cleaning Schedule
If it has proper circulation, youve already made cleaning your pool much easier. But youll still need to apply some good old-fashioned elbow grease. The basic tools youll need are:
Both Mother Nature and the folks using your pool bring all sorts of wild and wacky things into your pool, from leaves, mold, and the odd duck or frog to residues from shampoos, perfumes, and hair products. Add in the risks of bacterial contamination, and cleaning your pool becomes an absolutely essential part of safe swimming.
Skim, brush, and vacuum your pool weekly, at a minimum. This will keep debris out of your water, and your walls sparkling clean. Baking soda paste works particularly well as a basic scouring cleaner that wont damage delicate tile or a vinyl liner when you brush.
An automatic pool cleaner can significantly cut your pool cleaning time. It wont eliminate the need for regular skimming and brushing, but itll make both tasks easier, freeing you up to spend time enjoying your pool instead of cleaning it.
You can also make your cleaning life easier with a few unorthodox additions to your pool. Toss a few tennis balls into your skimmer basket, or even right into the pool, and theyll absorb surface oils left behind by suntan lotion, cosmetics, etc. You can also wrap your skimmer baskets with pantyhose to create an extra-fine filter thatll catch more contaminants than a skimmer alone.
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