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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Many pool owners are looking for ways to be both budget conscious and eco-friendly, while still enjoying their pools. But doing so doesn’t have to take away from your fun in the sun. In fact, the recent green movement entails caring for your pool in ways that save water, money and maintenance time—leaving more swim time for you and your family.
Get started
To begin saving water, start with the basics:
Is your pool set up properly? When you maintain your pool’s re-circulating pumps and a proper pH level, you will need to clean it less frequently, which leads to less water waste. Keeping water levels slightly lower can help conserve water as well. As a note of caution: Water levels that fall below ½ way across the skimmer opening may result in inefficient surface skimming and could also introduce air into the suction line which will damage the pump.
For maximum water conservation, check out these seven steps:
1. Install a pool cover
When you leave your pool uncovered, water evaporates more quickly and, in addition, your pool water requires more energy to heat. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates a pool cover alone can save 50 percent to 70 percent in heating costs. Pool covers also minimize evaporation from both outdoor and indoor pools.
2. Search for leaks
Leaks can cause substantial water loss. Fortunately, there are many ways to detect them. Visually, check for physical signs of leaks, such as damp spots downstream of the pool, water-saturated soil near the pool, cracks or loose tiles. If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks. Some pool owners use a grease pencil to mark the water level of their pool at the skimmer, then check the mark 24 hours later to see if the water went down, indicating a leak. Other ways to test for leaks include performing a basic bucket test. Place an almost full bucket of water near the pool. Mark the water level in the bucket and your pool. Both will evaporate the same level of water. If your pool’s water level drops below the bucket’s level, it’s likely there is leakage.
If you call in a professional to help pinpoint your problem, he or she will likely use an electronic listening device. Some devices enable an operator to hear water dripping or flowing so that they can identify where water is moving out of the system.
There are many leak detection and repair products on the market that can find leaks, but contact your local pool dealer for more information on the best way to approach your specific problem.
3. Turn down the thermostat
Many people prefer a pool temperature of 78 degrees or warmer, but consider lowering the temperature a few degrees since hot water evaporates more quickly than cool water. As a rule, turn down the thermostat when the pool isn’t in use; then reset it before diving back in. Be sure to give the heater a couple of hours to raise the temperature.
4. Create a windbreak
Wind whipping across the surface of your pool can remove water and quickly reduce its temperature. But a windbreak—in the form of trees, shrubs or privacy fencing—can help conserve both water and energy by eliminating the effects of the wind on the water surface. Just be sure your windbreak is high enough and close enough to the pool to be effective.
5. Use water-saving filtration methods
Filter maintenance can prevent the expensive process of draining and refilling your pool. Chemically clean the filter as recommended by the manufacturer, and be sure that the strainer baskets and skimmer are clean and in good repair. You might even consider installing a new water-saving pool filter—saving 180 to 250 gallons or more of water in a single backwashing over a traditional filter, according to the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals.
6. Channel water into landscaping
Use pool water to irrigate your lawn, plants, trees, and shrubs, either manually, with a pool hose, or by mounting an irrigation device on the return line of your pool system. You may need water that has been treated by non-chlorine means for certain plants and flowers. But since much of the chlorine in your pool degrades into other compounds, this water may be safe for your lawn. Contact a local lawn care expert to determine which solution best matches your needs.
7. Reduce splashing
Sure, playing is part of the fun, but excessive splashing can become wasteful. Urge swimmers not to overdo the roughhousing by explaining to them that it wastes water.
With the right steps, you can enjoy your pool all season—and save water while you do!
