November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
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Whether you use your pool year round or only during the summer season, it is important to keep your pool well maintained and free of debris. Keeping your pool clean will ensure you have a beautiful and inviting pool that you and your family can enjoy.
Pool maintenance and cleanliness does not demand intensive labor, but it will require a weekly time commitment. Otherwise, equipment repairs and algae infestations may interrupt your summer fun, or require you to drain your entire pool. According to Paul Kurke, training manager for Arch Chemicals, you should take certain steps each week to ensure proper maintenance of your entire pool system and transform pool cleaning into a much simpler process.
Kurke recommends a weekly maintenance routine. Your cleaning regimen should include brushing the pool walls, vacuuming the pool floor, chemically cleaning the pool filter, and cleaning both the skimmer and strainer baskets. These tasks will decrease the likelihood of an algae bloom and the buildup of debris. Regular cleaning will also allow water to more easily circulate through the filter which will save energy. These steps should be performed manually even if you own an automatic cleaning device, advises Kurke. Although it may sound like a lot of work, he says the weekly cleaning process can be completed in only 30 to 40 minutes.
However, if you do not have the time to thoroughly clean your pool, there are preventative steps you can take to decrease the possibility of bacterial growth or other pool damage, while cutting down on cleaning time.
Rinse off first
Experts suggest showering prior to entering the pool, and while realistically very few individuals abide by this policy, it has benefits that go beyond protecting your health. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if swimmers are clean, the water remains cleaner. By washing off the multiple contaminants on your body, such as cosmetics, sweat and sunscreen, you help keep these same products out of the water.
Keep Fido out of the pool
A surplus of pet hair can also cause high sanitizer consumption, which could result in bacterial growth if sufficient sanitizer is not maintained in the pool, or clog the filter system and prevent water from efficient circulation. To avoid trouble and cut down on your cleaning regimen, it is usually best to keep pets out of the water.
Cover up
Another solution for transforming your cleaning routine into a simpler process is to invest in a nighttime pool cover, Kurke says. This will help keep leaves and other debris out of the pool, which are capable of clogging the filter, staining the pool’s surface and introducing unwanted bacteria and algae. The right pool cover can also prevent animals from going for a swim when you’re not there.
Test frequently
In addition to your weekly cleaning routine, it is important to test the water’s chemical balance at least three times each week if using chlorine, and run the pool filter for at least 8 to 12 continuous hours each day, Kurke says. He adds that when handling pool chemicals, such as pH balancers and chlorine products, it is crucial to know the specific amount of each chemical to add to the water—something you can learn by reading label directions or contacting your local professional pool dealer.
Testing the chemical balance often is necessary due to varying factors, such as the pool size, water temperature or number of swimmers, and you should never assume chemical levels are okay even if the water appears clean, Kurke emphasizes.
Test before you add
Similarly, additional chemicals should never be added without testing the water first. Pool and spa sanitizers, such as chlorine or bromine, and pH balancers can be harmful if added to pool water in too large or too frequent of doses. This may cause damage such as the corrosion of metal pool parts or the formation of scale.
Because the water may appear clean, Kurke says pool owners often neglect to clean their pool walls or filters, or properly manage chemical levels. This is problematic because bacteria and microorganisms such as algae are not immediately visible, but do still exist in the water. If you take the short amount of time required each week to clean your pool and test the chemicals, you will avoid facing more demanding and time-consuming costly repairs later in the season.
Following these recommendations on pool maintenance will not only save you time, but will also lead to an uninterrupted summer of fun and a more beautiful pool environment.
