POOL MAINTENANCE

Your pool water is a mixture of chemicals that sanitizes your pool. These chemicals are needed to kill bacteria and destroy other contaminants such as algae. You need to make sure that these chemicals are right at the required levels, keeping them balanced.

The whole goal of your pool maintenance is to keep the water clean. So, one of the most important things you can do is to regularly test the quality of the pool water. That way, you’ll be able to know whether or not you need to add more chemicals.

Usually, you need to test for the pH level, total alkalinity, and sanitizer level. Owning a water testing kit or having several water test strips at hand can be very convenient since you need to be consistently testing your pool water.

During summer, you need to conduct tests two or three times a week. And during winter, even if you’re going to use your pool less often, it’s still a good practice to check at least once a week.

When you’re on an outdoor adventure like trekking, you might have observed that moving water such as rivers and streams are cleaner and safer than still water. This is because moving water gets filtered by the rocks, vegetation, and other natural filters.

Your pool pump and filter work the same. They keep the water circulating and filter dirt, debris, and other contaminants to ensure the water is safe for swimming. Pristine pool water can only be achieved with a good pool circulation.

It’s essential to turn on your pump and let it run. It’s ideal to keep your pump for about 6 to 12 hours to ensure excellent water circulation. Your pump’s maintenance does not require a huge effort.

A pump is usually self-priming so you won’t have to fill it with water before you turn them on. However, you have to clean out the strainer basket inside the pump at least once a week. You also need to check the condition of the O-ring or gasket that seals the lid of the pump housing.

If it is cracked or has run down, you will have to replace it. Without the proper seal, your pump will less likely be operational.

Dirt, debris, and other contaminants are removed when the water passes through the filter. It is important to have an active filter system so your pool water does not become cloudy or polluted.

Because your filter clears out the dirt and contaminants, it will need regular cleaning.

How often you clean the filter depends on the type of filter you have and how heavily you use your pool. It could range for about once a month to three to four times per year. One key component you need to do to keep your filter clean and working is to backwash it.

Backwashing means that the flow of water is reversed and the water with the dirt and debris is rerouted to a waste port. Cleaning your pool regularly is good but cleaning it too often can be bad.

In fact, a filter with trapped dirt and debris is more efficient than a perfectly clean one. The trapped dirt and debris can help attract and accumulate additional particles as the water passes through the filter.

Meanwhile, a spotless clean filter allows for a heavy flow of water which can significantly decrease the cartridge life and reduce the efficiency of the filter. Moreover, too much flow of water can push the debris through the filter, returning the debris to the pool.