Always Empty The Filter Pump Basket
Another maintenance service that you can carry out regularly on your above ground pool is the emptying of pump basket. Professional pool cleaners suggest that you do this at least once a week. A basket collects all the dirt and debris that the pump filters.
Remove that basket then throw out the contents. Use your garden hose and water to clean it thoroughly then fix it back in the pump. It would help if you also did this for the skimmer basket as this development enhances the filter pump performance.
Maintaining An Above Ground Pool
OK, so you bought an above ground swimming pool. You have decided what size and where to put it and either paid some somewhat sketchy guys to come install it or worse, you and your spouse did it yourselves. Now its in your yard full of water and looking good. So what now?
Just like everything you have in your life thats an extra, swimming pools need this annoying thing called maintenance. This means you cant just enjoy it while it is nice and clean and clear. Youll also have to pay the price of keeping it that way and that price includes a weekly dose of chemicals, cleaning, and a daily dose of electricity. I could write a really big book on how to take care of a swimming pool, but this is just a blog post so Ill try to keep it short.
Monthly Maintenance: What To Do
Now about every four or five times you are doing your weekly pool maintenance , youll want to clean your pools filter. Well, you may not want to, but do it anyway. If its a sand filter, backwash. If it is a cartridge type, pull it out and spray it clean and replace. For a DE type, backwash and replace with new DE.
In addition to this monthly service, check any equipment add-ons you may have. If you have a salt chlorine generator, then check the salt level and check to see if its time to clean the cell . Check out your ionizer or Ozonator or mineralizer to see their working status. If they arent working well, dont worry about them. Theyre not that great anyway. Just kidding . Also, lubricate all of your O-rings.
So, thats about it. Do these things and youll like your pool better. If your pool gets excessively dirty or takes more chemicals than usual, you may have to do twice a week maintenance during the hotter months. Lots of leaves? Empty the basket and skim that puppy every day if you have to. Always lots of swimmers and rainy weather? Test the water and treat more often. Do it, cause you really have no choice anyway. Its called maintenance and your pool needs it.
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Do Weekly Shock Treatments
Laurie Wilkins, founder of , recommends giving your pool a weekly shock treatment like HTH Super Shock. A shock treatment involves using a powdered form of chlorine to kill algae, bacteria and other contaminants. A shock treatment once a week will oxidize the contaminants, freeing up the chlorine and letting it do its work in cleaning up the water, he says.
Run The Pool Pump Daily
Even if you don’t plan to use the pool for a day or two, you should still run the pool pump and filter for 12 to 18 hours daily. The two run together to keep the water clean. The pool pump pulls the water from the pool and into the filter to clean the water from accumulated dirt and debris. The pump is also important because it keeps the water circulating to reduce algae growth.
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When To Clean Your Pool Filter
Water flows through your filter, small particles of dirt remain trapped in the pool filter. Then cleaner filtered water gets returned to the pool. As your pool-filter starts to clog up from the dirt particles it captured, water will have trouble getting through the filter. You should notice a slight decrease in the flow of water. If you get used to what the water current/pressure looks like with a clean filter as it returns to the pool, you will know when its time for service. Low water pressure or suction equals dirty pool filter.
Luckily there is another way to know when to clean your swimming pool filter. All filters have a pressure gauge attached near the top of the pools filter. You index the pressure reading when the pump is running, and the pool-filter is clean, then when the pressure gauge goes up 7-10 lbs, it is time to clean the filter.
Adjust The Chemicals If Necessary
If you test the chemical levels and discover that a chemical is not at the right level, you should adjust it accordingly. For instance, if the pH is too high, add a pH reducing chemical to get the right pH level.
This development goes for the other chemicals. The manufacturers provided instructions on how to apply these chemicals. All you have to do is follow the instructions.
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Pool Chemistry Water Balance Using Chlorine
If you have not replaced your water in the past ten years, the chances are good that you should now. Have your pool water tested for TDS ? Any level higher than four times your tap water and you should be thinking about replacing most of your water. With a high level of TDS, your water will look dull, and it will be hard to maintain the chlorine level.
Let us make sure we start out by filling the pool with good water in the first place. You have three choices usually when filling your pool Well-water, Trucked in water, and Town/tap water. You should have your house water tested anyway to get a baseline of the chemical levels in your replacement/makeup-water and to see what you will need if filling for the first time with house water.
If using a well or even with town water, it is a good idea to check the level of metals in the water. If your water turns brown as soon as you add some chlorine, you have metal in the water.
After filling your pool, dial-in your Chlorine, Calcium, pH, Alkalinity, and CYA. Not necessarily in that order, and not all at once, mixing chemicals is dangerous.
Rules That Could Save Your Life
Rule #1. Never mix chemicals together
Rule #2. Always add chemicals to water, never add water to chemicals.
Each product will have directions, always follow manufacture directions. If you want to dilute chemicals in a bucket of water before adding to the pool, add chemical slowly and do not use your hand to stir.
How To Take Care Of An Above
Reviewed by Andrada Simion, Master of Science in Chemistry
An above ground pool can last for many years if properly maintained.
Check the outer structure
- Periodically examine the frame that supports the pool for bends or crimps.
- If it has a PVC frame, check for cracks in the pipe.
- Check the pool walls for dents or folds.
- If there is an inflatable top ring, be sure it is firm and free from leaks.
- Examine the ground around the perimeter of the pool to check for low spots or holes.
- Keep the outer surface clean by using a soft brush and a water hose.
Maintaining the Liner
- Regularly examine the liner for any rips or tears.
- Use a soft bristle brush to clean the liner every other week.
- Algae build up can be removed with a soft mop or cloth.
- Use only approved pool chemicals in the proper ratios.
- Improper chlorine use will dry and crack the liner material.
Pump and Filter Care
- Use the correct size pump for the water capacity of your pool.
- Always use the proper electrical supply to run the pump.
- Remove the filter cartridge and rinse it with a garden hose weekly.
- Replace the filter cartridge monthly.
- If using a sand or salt filter, engage the valve to backwash the filter weekly.
- Clean out skimmer baskets twice a week, or any time debris is present.
Water quality and maintenance
Chemicals and Additives
Other Concerns and Suggestions
Preparing the pool for winter
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When Filling A Pool For The First Time What Chemicals Do You Use
Part 1 of How To Maintain A Swimming Pool
- Chlorine is the most common sanitizer.
- Bromine- Bromine is a chlorine substitute.
- pH is a measurement of the overall acid-alkalinity balance in water.
- Shock is a different form of chlorine.
- Alkalinity, often known as total alkalinity, is a metric for how alkaline the water is.
Chemistry For Intex Pools
Anytime youre adding chemicals to pool water, you need to know the volume of the pool for accurate dosing.
Checking the manual can tell you your pools volume, or you can simply Google the model you purchased.
A pool calculator can come in handy too, as all you need to do is take some measurements and plug in the numbers.
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What Happens If You Dont Clean Your Swimming Pool
A dirty swimming pool wont just ruin your day improper pool maintenance or care could lead to recreational water illnesses like diarrhea, ear infections, respiratory infection, rashes, inflamed eyes, and lungs.
This is why its important to keep up on pool maintenance and make sure the pool chemistry is balanced so everything stays safe and clean.
What Is Intex Pool Care
Intex pools are essentially an all-in-one above ground pool, providing everything you need to get your new backyard pool up and running.
This includes the pool shell, pool pump, pool filter, hoses, and a few other accessories depending on the model.
When it comes to caring for an Intex pool, it doesnt differ much from a traditional pool. The main difference is that the majority of Intex pools are smaller and have a uniform depth, so theyll be easier to clean.
You may also find their competition , but when it comes to longevity and material quality, Intex is the king of specialized above ground pools.
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Above Ground Pool Maintenance
Above ground pool maintenance is a lot like car maintenance, a “pay me now, or pay me later” type of thing. If your cleaning, chemistry or circulation is off-target, you can develop water problems and pool liner issues, which can be expensive to correct.
Aboveground pools with small or ineffective filter systems leave little room for error, especially when frugality trumps water quality like if the pump is not run long enough each day, or needed chemical adjustments or sanitizers are not added, for example.
To avoid algae and other pool problems that are costly and time consuming, you’ve got to perform certain regular tasks. Here’s a checklist for above ground pool owners, a schedule of daily, weekly and monthly pool maintenance tasks.
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.
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Vacuum More Than Once A Week
It’s best to vacuum your pool once a week at a minimum, but often, you’ll want to vacuum more than that. Your filter won’t remove all the dirt and debris in your water, especially the particles that fall to the bottom of the pool and stubbornly sit there. Manually vacuuming an above-ground pool can be a challenge, so opt for a stress-free robotic cleaner that gets the job done.
Cover The Pool When Not In Use
Covering your pool, either with a solar cover or a more tight-fitting cover, helps reduce water evaporation and keeps unwanted guests from jumping into the water and causing algae growth or clogging up your filter.
Solar pool covers are one of your best friends when it comes to saving money and keeping debris and rain from entering the pool. Solar covers can reduce heat loss by up to 95% and also help you save money on pool chemicals and water usage.
Larger, tighter-fitting covers are perfect for when the pool is not going to see any use for longer than a day or two. Covers will save you a lot of time cleaning the next time you get into the water and also reduce power usage on the pump.
Winter pool covers protect your pool in a more heavy-duty fashion, securing the pool over the chilly months.
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What Is The Best Way To Clean Above Ground Pool
Youll need a pool skimmer, clean filter, and scrubbing brush to properly maintain your swimming pool. These minimal tools will remove leaves from the surface of the water as well as other debris that might have found its way into it and make sure that the water is clear for all when you go for your next swim.
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.
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Easy Steps To Clean An Above Ground Pool
Nobody likes a dirty pool. It is unhygienic and unattractive, which is why most owners allot a significant amount of time and budget to clean and maintain their pools. What most pool owners dont realise is that the materials needed to clean above-ground pools are not necessarily the same as with in-ground pools. For cleaner and healthier above ground swimming pools, you need to follow these simple maintenance steps.
Sanitize Your Pool Water
Sanitizing your water means exterminating the bacteria and bad chloramines in your pool with the addition of chlorine or other chemicals. Chlorine is the primary additive in pool water and can be the best and only sanitizer you need. You can decide how you add the chlorine, but one of the most popular ways of adding chlorine to a pool in a safe way is to use chlorine tablets.
Chlorine tablets are efficient because of how compressed they are. They dont fully dissolve into the pool water right away, and instead, they help add small amounts of chlorine to your pool a little at a time. This slower approach gives you a longer-lasting chlorine treatment, so you dont have to keep adding chlorine or shocking your pool unnecessarily.
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Get The Right Pool Chemicals
We all know the main pool chemical that is used for disinfecting the water, and that is our old-buddy-old-pal chlorine.
Pool chlorine is crucial for drop-kicking algae, bacteria and other microorganisms that can quickly turn our pool into a disease pit.
Available as tablets , they are easy to add to your pool and can even be placed in floating pool chemical dispensers for hands off application.
This pool maintenance task is easy. For example, a 3 chlorine tablet is often enough to keep a 10,000-gallon pool properly chlorinated for a week.
How Do You Keep An Above
Winterizing an Above-Ground Pool for Cold Weather
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Components Of Pool Water
Depending on the size, type, or nature of pool water you have, the swimming pool has four parts that require utmost care. We have the water, the interior and floors, the filter, and the skimmer. The water is an essential part of the pool, as it determines the maximum satisfaction you need from swimming, so you always have to ensure it is free from germs.
The interior walls and floors are always in contact with the water, keeping it free from all algae that build on the walls. The filter system is vital as it filters debris from entering the H2O without this, the H2O will be polluted by debris. Lastly, the system of skimmer also filters the H2O. It works hand in hand with the filter system.
This is a nice above ground pool in the garden It will serve you well with the proper maintenance.
How To Care For Above Ground Pools
Understanding your pool is the basis of caring for above ground pools. You might want to skip some or every process required but doing so will cost you many damages and expenses. An above-ground pool can either be economical or luxurious, depending, on what you can afford.
Above ground pools come with responsibilities in ensuring you keep it clean always. You will have to run daily, weekly and monthly maintenance. You can check with Watsons deep above ground pool for more on the best options that will fit your yard.
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