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How To Do Pool Maintenance

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How Much Does A Pool Increase Your Water Bill

How to Maintain and Service A Swimming Pool: A Step By Step Guide

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.

Chemical Composition Of Your Pool

There are some chemical tests and alterations in your weekly pool maintenance that can get quite technical. This part of your maintenance may seem a bit dull, but a pools water is delicate.

Chlorine is by far the most common way of sanitizing a pool. These chemicals are safe for use in swimming water and they stop bacteria or algae building up.

The downside though, is that balancing the level of chlorine is really important. If you dont make it part of your weekly pool maintenance routine, then a wrong level can cause some problems.

You should have a chlorine level of 1-3 parts per million. This level is safe for swimmers eyes and skin while keeping your pool clean.

If your chlorine level is too high or too low, then you will need to administer treatment to your pool before you can swim in it again.

Other Things To Look For

Once you get the hang of frequent water testing, you may start to look for some other indicators of the health of your pool water. The following arent strictly essential but they do help in keeping your pool water properly balanced and extending the life of your pool equipment.

Calcium Hardness:This is the measurement of dissolved calcium floating around in the water. The range youre looking for here is 200-250 ppm for inground pools and 175-225 ppm for above-ground pools .

If the calcium levels are too low, you may notice etching in the plaster of inground pools or rapid deterioration of vinyl liners. If dissolved calcium gets too high in your pool, youre going to see the telltale calcium buildup on pool surfaces and equipment.

Metals: Tap water, city water, groundwater, and rainwater are full of different kinds of metals that are bound to end up in your pool at some point. Keeping the amounts low, however, is key. The most common types youll find are manganese, iron, and copper. These metals will damage your pool, so using a stain and scale remover periodically will go a long way.

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Monitor The Pool Temperature

If you live in a warm climate and have solar pool heating and/or a solar pool cover then check the water temperature. In hot sunny weather it can climb remarkably quickly with these fitted.

If it is getting too warm for swimming then close the valve to the solar pool heating and/or remove the solar cover. I left mine covered, and with the solar heating on for a week one hot summer, when I was ill, and when I checked the temperature of the pool water it was almost 100ºF which was very nearly as hot as my hot tub!

Tip #: Keep Your Pool Covered When Youre Not Using It

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Unless you want to waste money heating your pool or spend all of your time skimming leaves out of the water, put the pool cover on any time youre not swimming.

Spray down your pool area regularly to keep twigs, dead insects and other debris away from the water, so theyre less likely to blow in.

And unless you live in a warm climate, youll need to consider closing your pool during the winter, which may involve draining it and making sure the pipes are ready to withstand the cold.

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Cost Of Pool Cleaning

The average cost to have a pool cleaned ranges from $60 to $700, depending on the specific type of cleaning. As youre likely already aware, cleaning is a major component of regular pool maintenance. However, pool cleaning isnt a one-size-fits-all process. The specific cleaning method that your pool needs will depend on the materials it is made out of. With that said, the table below outlines some of the most common types of pool cleaning and their associated costs.

Type of Pool Cleaning
  • Closing and storing away filter components
  • Cleaning out the water lines
  • Attached the cover

A professional will usually take care of all these tasks in two or more visits. While your pool is closed, you wont have to pay any monthly maintenance costs.

Keep An Eye On The Water Chemistry

According to Rick Black, product director for Latham Pool, homeowners should make it a priority to maintain proper water chemistry. He says improper water chemistry, or corrosive water, can cause damage to pool surfaces, pool equipment, pool decks and bathers. Black suggests that you have your pool water tested bi-weekly by a local pool professional. Recommendations should be taken seriously, and adjustments should be made per the instructions given by the hired professional.

Lisa Cook, founder of LC Pool Design and Consultation, says that if you have a concrete pool surface, definitely think twice before using saline. Saline pools are less stable and algae buildup is common which means youd still need to shock the pool from time to time with a combination of acid and chlorine.

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Pool Maintenance For Beginners

  • |December 2, 2019

A backyard swimming pool is a wonderful gift that just keeps on giving. Think of all the great memories youve made with your family and friends while floating around on lazy summer days. In order to keep making memories, though, there are a few things you need to do to keep your oasis pristine.

Anything involving the word maintenance sounds like a real bummer, so the phrase pool maintenance might send you into fits. Im here to tell you, however, that taking care of your pool doesnt have to be the Everest it might seem.

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How To Do Your Own Self Pool Maintenance

POOL MAINTENANCE For Beginners [Step-By-Step ACTION PLAN] | Swim University

Maintenance is an essential part of the pool ownership. Without doing it, it is impossible for your pool to keep staying in the maximum condition. Further, a well maintained pool will also affects on its appearance. It will look nicely done with the clearly bright water. Therefore, for any pool owners out there, it is better for you to keep your pool well-maintained. But unfortunately, for some people, using pool service provider to do pool maintenance is not something easy. There must be some considerations in doing it. And if you are one of these people, self pool maintenance will definitely be your best choice.

Self pool maintenance is not something easy though. However, there are some procedures which have to be fulfilled before someone decided to do it. But, if you have a willingness to do this kind of maintenance, you will be able to minimize your budget by cutting the cost. Then, how do we able to do this kind of pool maintenance? The following explanation may be useful in helping you maintaining your own private swimming pool. So, here we are, the small tips in doing self pool maintenance.

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System Of Skimmers And Returns

Skimmers and returns are part of the filter system. The skimmer sucks water out of the pool and moves it into the filter, and the returns push it back into the pool. These usually work through a series of pumps, and theyre some of the parts most prone to failure in any pool. This is why the entire filter system is usually located to the side of the pool and accessible through some type of hatch or door.

Ozone Pool Vs Chlorine Pool

There are advantages and drawbacks of both ozone and chlorine pools. Furthermore, it is important to understand that ozone does not maintain residual disinfecting properties, so rather than replacing chlorine, ozone and chlorine can and should work together. A major benefit of using ozone in swimming pools is that it can significantly reduce chlorine concentration.

While these sanitization techniques work harmoniously together, there are still benefits to each that should be understood and acknowledged.

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Test The Chlorine Level

Chlorine is essential for pool water because it kills harmful algae, bacteria and microorganisms. Unfortunately, chlorine breaks down when exposed to the sun and chemicals from sunscreen, sweat and more. A pool should have a chlorine level between two and four parts per million . Make sure your above ground pool has enough by testing your water about every other day with chlorine test strips, such as these Aqua Chek Test Strips. Learn more about maintaining your pools chemicals.

Why Should You Hire A Professional For Pool Maintenance

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  • Pool maintenance is a bigger job than many people realize.You might not have the time to take care of your pool properly, or you might not want to spend your weekends cleaning and taking care of your pool. If you hire a professional, you dont have to worry about handling anything except for light cleaning. Then, youll have more time to spend actually enjoying your pool.
  • You may not notice problems with your pool if you arent experienced with pool maintenance.Catching problems with your filter, liner or other parts of your pool early is important, and a professional can help you ensure that your pool is in great shape.
  • If there is a problem with your pool, you might not know how to fix it yourself.When a professional comes out for maintenance, though, he or she might be able to fix the problem on the spot.
  • Getting the chemicals right in your pool can be tough if you dont have any experience.If you use the wrong amount of chemicals, though, your pool could be dangerous or uncomfortable to swim in. If you use too much, it could irritate your skin and eyes. If you dont use enough, then your pool water will not be as clean and sanitary as it should be for safe swimming.
  • The cost of having a professional come out to clean your pool might not be as expensive as you think.If you call around for pricing, you may find an option that easily fits in your familys budget.

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Tip #: Understand The Basics Of Your Pool

You can get an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool, depending on your style preferences, budget and space.

Above-ground pools are typically made with steel or aluminum, along with other materials, to make them structurally safe. Typical materials used for in-ground pools include concrete, plaster, vinyl and fiberglass.

Pools are filled with water that runs constantly through a filtration system to keep out debris and make sure the pool chemistry is safe. Your pool pump, PVC piping, drain, skimmer basket and other components all play a role in making sure your pool is a clean, healthy place for you and your family to relax, exercise and play.

Create A Pool Cleaning Schedule

It can be hard to keep track of all the things you need to do in order to stay up to date with your pool maintenance. Since swimming pools must be maintained regularly, creating a schedule is an easy way to make sure it always gets done. Brian Smith, founder of Outside How, suggests incorporating your pool into your regular summer cleaning schedule. Being consistent with your cleaning can help afford not only infections, but accidents too.

Depending on how frequently you use your pool, or where it is located, your pool could call for daily cleaning. The degree of cleaning varies, and can be as simple as removing fallen leaves or the days debris. Smith says, Pick one day a week to vacuum and clean the tiles and clean the filter at least once every season. Create a pool cleaning schedule, including every aspect of maintenance, add it to your to-do list and enjoy your summer.

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Professionally Service The Heater

Pool heaters typically require the least maintenance of all pool equipment. Gas heaters can work fine without being serviced for a couple years, and electric ones can last even longer. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for specific care instructions. Sometimes, calcium scales build up inside the tubes of a heater and restrict flow, preventing the water from heating adequately. If this happens, recruit the help of a professional because the heater may need to be disassembled and have its tubes cleaned out with a wire brush or acid. Hiring someone to service your pool can cost $100 or more per month, depending on the maintenance your pool requires.

Get Your Water Checked Before You Go

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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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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.

What Is Pool Ozone

A blue-colored gas composed of three oxygen atoms, ozone is both a man-made and naturally occurring gas present in the Earths upper and lower atmospheres. An oxidizer, ozone can chemically destroy contaminants present in water, making it a highly effective gas for pool sanitization.

Unlike typical sanitization products, ozone is applied to the water within the circulation system and returns to the pool of water in a very low concentration. Ozone can be dangerous in high concentrations, so it must be produced and dissolved in the water quickly. Because ozone is an unstable gas, it cannot be stored and transported but rather has to be produced on-site using an ozone generator.

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Learn How To Properly Winterize To Prevent Damage

As important as pool care is during the summer, its even more important to make sure that you properly secure it for winter. After all, no one wants to remove a pool cover at the start of summer only to find out that their pool has a leak or that their water is full of dangerous bacteria. Taking the right steps to properly winterize your pool can save you lots of time and money on repairs for next season.Before closing up shop in the fall, buy a water testing kit to ensure your chemicals are correctly balanced. Then, blow any excess water out of your plumbing lines, and invest in a cover to keep the pool free of debris.Keeping a pool in good shape does entail a certain amount of work, but it doesnt need to be a burden. By incorporating these pool maintenance tips into a regular cleaning routine, you can ensure that youll spend more time sunbathing than doing chores. Which is exactly how it should be. Do you have a great pool maintenance tip to share? Let usow in the comments below.

Regularly Shocking Your Pool

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No, this doesnt involve electricity. Shocking your pool is the process of adding additional chemicals to your pool to break down the chloramine in it. Chloramine is a chemical compound formed when chlorine mixes with contaminants like sweat and creates a more substantial molecule. Adding additional sanitizers breaks down these compounds and lets the pool flush them out.

Or, to put it in simpler terms, shocking the pool is a stronger cleaning treatment when the chemicals are getting out of balance. In most cases, shocking the pool requires adding at least three times as many chemical cleaners as usual, then waiting at least eight hours before doing your next chemical test.

As with all components, follow the manufacturers instructions when shocking a pool.

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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.

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