S To Keep The Swimming Pool Water Clean
A swimming pool can be a great addition to your home not just to enhance the look for your property but also to have fun with your family and friends in the soaring hot summer months. However, maintaining a pool is not an easy task, especially if you want to keep the water crystal clear throughout the year.
If you neglect pool water maintenance, it could turn hazy, cloudy, or maybe green due to the build-up of algae. However, if you follow a few easy steps to keep your swimming pool water clean, you and your family/friends can always be ready to jump into your pool.
But before discussing steps on how to keep a pool clean, lets find out some more important things about swimming pool cleaning.
What Does Pool Cleaning Mean Exactly
As you probably already know, an open swimming pool is basically a blank slate for falling debris like leaves, twigs, and even an unlucky critter. But that doesnt mean that we should focus on accepting all that gunk and resign ourselves to swimming in a murky swamp. Our approach here is on a few different levelsliterallyof your pool, and focuses on your pool surfaces. When any pool expert is talking about cleaning pool surfaces, theyre usually referring to two areas: the surface of your pools water, and the surfaces of the pool itself, including your pool walls and floors.
Here, well examine how to keep the surface of your pools water and the surfaces of the pool itself clean of debris and grime. Of course, this isnt a lasting approach. That just doesnt exist. There will always be more debris falling into your pool, and always a need to eradicate itat least during the swim season. But if you nail the easiest way to rid your pool of that build up, youre going to save a lot of elbow grease every time.
Thorough circulation is key to maintaining a clean pooland thats all the easier with a powerful pump. If a larger horsepower will turn over your water volume at a sufficient rateand wont overwhelm your filtration systemthen a unit like this Blue Torrent 2 HP Variable-Speed Pump is the one to try. As customer Dave Schmidt says, My pool has never looked cleaner. I am pleased with my new pump!
Choose A Method For Cleaning Your Fiberglass Steps Below The Waterline
Depending on your preferences, there are a few methods you can choose for cleaning the underwater portion of your pool stairs.
We recommend cleaning your pool stairs while theyre partially submerged, we do not recommend draining your pool. Lowering the water levels could damage your pool liner, leading to unsightly wrinkles and costly repairs.
Method One
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How To Clean A Swimming Pool
Owning a swimming pool is as luxurious and exciting as most people think it isthat is, if you become a responsible pool owner and do what it takes to maintain its cleanliness. Some people outsource the work to pool cleaning services on a regular basis, but unless youre a big-time businessman or celebrity, it can leave a hole in your pocket.
Instead of spending so much on your pool, you can choose to do the cleaning yourself. With the right equipment and understanding of what and how often you need to clean your pool, you can make it possible to have year-round pool parties with family and friends at homeand maximize your home investment.
Garden Hose And/or Leaf Blower
It may be halfway down our list of pool opening supplies, but a garden hose the first thing we recommend when its time to open the pool. One of the first steps of your pool opening process should be to raise the water level with a garden hose. Some pools may need to fill for many hours. If you have an inground pool, you can also use the hose to spray off the deck. If you have a leaf blower, definitely run it around the pool before and after removing the cover.
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Pool Pole Vacuum Head Vacuum Hose Leaf Rake And Brush
OK. So this one is really fivepool maintenance accessories. Odds are that you probably already own these items, but they do need replaced every so often. You dont want your old, cracked vacuum head to break on you in the middle of opening your pool! Take a look at your pool cleaning tools and update or replace as needed, so you always have them available. Especially if you are still using the cheap, flimsy stuff the pool builder gave you, maybe its time to upgrade with better quality pool cleaning tools this summer.
Clean The Sides And Bottom Of The Pool
Now that your pool water is finally looking a lot more inviting, youll simply need to brush the surfaces and vacuum the pool floor. But if there is a lot of debris, dont risk it. Its best to contact professional swimming pool cleaning services than end up clogging and damaging your filtration system.
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How To Clear Cloudy Pool Water
- |October 13, 2020
I hate cloudy pool water as much as I hate cloudy lemonade . Theyre ugly, dirty, and generally not ideal for swimming thanks to a number of potential health risks.
The worst part? Cloudiness can strike your pool in a matter of hours, leaving you scratching your head as to what exactly went wrong.
In this article, Ill walk you through the exact steps to identify, clear and prevent a cloudy pool for both inground and above ground pools.
Need a quick answer? The cause is either chemical imbalance, circulation/filtration issues, or environmental effects. To fix it, youll first want to test your pool chemistry to make sure everything is in balance, then throw in some clarifier or flocculant to clump the debris. Your filter will take care of the clumps and voilà clear water.
Skip to:
Leave The Filter Running
Allow the pool filter to run overnight for a few days. This should help clear out unwanted bacteria and dirt that are present in the pool. Also backwash your filter at least 3-4 times a day, since green water can clog your filter and cause damage. If the pool doesnt clear up in 4-5 days, have your filtration system checked. It could mean that there is something wrong with your filtration system or that it needs replacing.
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Alternatives For The Chlorine Shortage
You may have heard that there is currently a chlorine shortage. This specifically relates to chlorine tablets you use to sanitize your pool. With a few adjustments, you can still safely swim during the chlorine shortage.
Learn more about the chlorine-alternatives that you can use to keep your pool clean.
Step Seven
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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How To Clean A Green Pool
Green pool water is often caused by the presence of algae in your pool. Learn how to treat algae and get rid of green pool water.
Green pool water is often caused by the presence of algae in your pool. Algae blooms can appear when your pool has a low Free Chlorine. Exposure to high heat, heavy rain or poor circulation, without the use of a preventative algaecide, also increase your risk of developing pool algae. Stubborn pool algae can be hard to control if the appropriate steps arent taken to properly treat and prevent the problem. Follow these steps to treat and prevent green pool water.
Test and Balance Water
Always begin by testing your pool water. Your test results will tell you if your water parameters are unbalanced. Pay special attention to your Free Chlorine level. Low Free Chlorine can cause your pool water to turn green. Always maintain Free Chlorine between 1 -4 ppm. If needed, apply the appropriate chlorine and sanitizers to restore adequate sanitizer levels.
Clean Pool Water and Surfaces
Skim water surface to remove visible debris, brush walls, vacuum and empty skimmer baskets. Concentrate on areas with visible dirt and little or no circulation. Cleaning your pool regularly is an effective step to prevent algae growth.
Apply a Shock Treatment
Crystal clear water starts by applying pool shock. Shocking your pool water helps to remove contaminants that may cause algae to grow and helps to improve water filtration.
Apply an Algaecide
Clean Filter
Make Sure There Are No Leaks
Regularly checking your pool for leaks is very important for keeping it clean. As Reed Johnson, professional pool cleaner and pool leak detection technician at Reed Tile Services, explains, ‘most pools get quickly dirty because of leaks as they cause foreign object intrusion that can easily pollute the water and rock the ph level consistency.’ It is best to call out a professional if you suspect that you have a leak.
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Monthly Pool Maintenance Schedule
Your individual pool maintenance schedule could vary a little bit depending on the climate in which you live, the frequency of pool use, and how well you maintain your pool. One person might not need to shock their pool for over a month while another person might need to shock their pool every week. Some pools never have problems with algae, while other pools see a buildup of algae every couple weeks.
Use the above maintenance schedules as a guide. Find out the necessary safe ranges specific to your pool and circumstances, and understand how much chemicals to add based on the size of your pool and the numbers that your tests reveal. Tweak these maintenance schedules to fit your own pool maintenance needs.
Algaecidal Application Is Crucial
If you would prefer water without algal blooms, then you should think about using algicide. These chemicals kill them on the spot.
Without That, Blooms Are Only a Matter of Time
Unfortunately, pool water without these chemicals is a great growth medium for algae. Therefore, without preventing their growth, youll see them before too long.
Luckily, With the Right Algicide, Preventing Blooms Is a Cinch
As long as you follow the directions, any common algicidal chemical should suffice. Depending on the one used, youll have to apply it every so often. Ensure that the directions are followed strictly.
Otherwise, You Run the Risk of Skin Irritation:
Since the chemicals can be harsh, you dont want to use them excessively. If you do, things might not be as fun inside of your pool for guests. Harshly treated water tends to irritate the skin.
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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 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.
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How To Clean The Water In The Swimming Pool
Keeping the swimming pool clean means more than just cleaning the floor and the water line. You also have to filter the water sufficiently. In summer, we advise a minimum of 12 hours filtering per day. This will filter out all dirt particles as quickly as possible.
To keep the water quality healthy, you need to add maintenance products to the swimming pool. First ensure that the acidity or pH value is correct. To be able to swim in the pool, the pH should be between 7.0 and 7.6, with an ideal value of 7.2.
For this, you should test the water quality with a test kit. If necessary, add pH Plus or pH Min to the water.
The swimming pool also needs to be disinfected against bacteria. To do this, you can add chlorine to the water. The ideal chlorine value for an outdoor pool in the garden is 1mg/l. You can easily check this using your test kit.
You should easily be able to keep your swimming pool clean by following the tips set out above. If you still have a problem, please do not hesitate to contact us. Investing a bit of time every week in keeping your swimming pool clean means that youll never have that much work. Putting the maintenance off and only doing it once a month will cost you a lot more time in the end.
How To Winterize An Intex Pool
If you have a metal frame pool, or if you have mild winters you feel the pool can tolerate, youll need to do some winterizing.
To do this, youll need to first clean it well by brushing and vacuuming, then test and balance the water chemistry.
Next, disconnect the filtration system from the pool and remove any objects, such as ladders or pool toys from the water.
Finally, cover it up with a good pool cover.
Also, be sure to clean and drain the pump, all the hoses, and the housing. And toss out the used cartridge if you are using a cartridge filter system.
Store all your equipment and accessories in a clean and dry place.
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Skimmer Parts Filter Parts Pump Parts Cleaner Partsall The Parts
Give your equipment a thorough inspection to make sure all filtration system components are functional and in good repair. It might not be something that you will notice right away, and something might pop up after your system has been running for a couple of days. Either that, or it could be an issue you first noticed during pool closing, such as a cracked o-ring. Its best to nip any problems in the bud early, before they become bigger issues. Closely inspect your pump, filter, skimmers, valves, cleaner, heater, and any other pool equipment connected to the plumbing, and replace any broken or damaged parts immediately. Faulty pool equipment parts that arent replaced can lead to greater damage or even complete failure of your pool equipment.
Use A Pool Flocculant
A pool flocculant works in a similar manner to a pool clarifier, although pool flocculants will commonly take the form of a powder that will need to be dissolved in water before being added to the surface of the pool.
After the mixture has been added to your pool, you will need to turn off your pools filter for at least two days, as this will allow the flocculant to tackle the particles in the water without the risk of it being filtered away.
Like pool clarifiers, pool flocculants have the ability to clump particles together in large pockets, which then sink to the bottom of the pool once the process is complete.
To finish the job, you will then need to remove the clumps using a manual vacuum, as this is the only way to properly clean the pool.
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Facts About Swimming Pools
Chlorine is used as a sanitizer in most swimming pools. It kills harmful bacteria and viruses.
However, too much chlorine can be toxic to humans. Some people are allergic to chlorine, and breathing it in may make them feel sick.
In addition, too much chlorine can cause corrosion in certain parts of the pool.
Automatic Cleaner Filters Or Bags
If you own a pool cleaner, you know its going to be working overtime when you first open your pool. For robotic cleaners, check to see if the filter, canister, or bag needs replacement. Pressure-side cleaners may need a new debris bag if the old one looks a little worn. Some models offer spring clean-up filters or bags with larger mesh openings to handle heavy leaves and debris loads, saving your finer mesh filters or bags for normal cleaning.
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