Pool School: Maintenance Basics 101
By practicing some simple, basic maintenance, you can help maximize the life of your puddle—go along information technology at the center of family activities for years to come.
But like people, pools should get regular health check-ups. By practicing some uncomplicated, basic maintenance, y'all can assist maximize the life of your pool—go on it at the centre of family activities for years to come. And why wouldn't yous want to? After all, according to some surveys, the average cost of an in-ground puddle ranges from around $xx,000 to more than than $42,000, including materials and labor. That'south some serious coin—an investment well worth protecting.
So where practise you lot start? Here are five things to keep an eye on during pool season.
i. Developing Skillful Chemistry
Ensuring your puddle's water maintains the correct pH and alkalinity levels is a large office of pool maintenance. To empathize why this is important, it'southward helpful to offset understand what pH and alkalinity mean.
The term "pH" (or potential hydrogen) is a measure of a solution'south acerbity. Alkalinity, on the other hand, reflects the level of substances in water with acid-neutralizing ability. Think of it this way: While pH measures acerbity, alkalinity represents the water'southward ability to neutralize those acids and keep them stable. In other words, proper alkaline levels will forbid wide fluctuations in pH levels.
So what are the proper levels for pH and alkalinity in pool water? Good question. The pH level should measure between 7.ii and 7.viii, while total alkalinity should measure out between 80 and 120 parts per million. Pool water should be tested at least two to iii times a calendar week, more if a puddle is used ofttimes. (Test kits for both pH and alkalinity are available at pool-supply stores or home centers; some kits also contain instructions for how to raise or lower pH and alkalinity levels.)
Why is all this important? If the pH level is too low, the water attempts to residuum itself, perhaps by corroding things like plaster or metallic parts of pumps, heaters, filters and the like. If the pH level is too loftier, it can promote the formation of calibration deposits on the pool walls, equipment and plumbing. In add-on, it'll make your pool water cloudy, a definite no-no.
This is more than just an aesthetic consideration; it'southward also a rubber outcome considering cloudy puddle water is considered a drowning run a risk. (The Centers for Illness Control and Prevention suggests that if you can't encounter the drain at the deep terminate of a pool from the deck, your water is too cloudy for condom pond.)
Of the two closely related measures, the pH level is the most important. Merely always measure total alkalinity get-go, considering it'south a major factor in driving the pH level; call up, the right alkalinity level helps prevent wild fluctuations in pH levels.
To raise alkalinity, use sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. (Consult your pool system specifications for more information.) To lower pool-water alkalinity, use Acid Magic®, the user-friendly muriatic acrid made by Certol International. It'southward easier to work with than standard muriatic acid because it produces 90 percent less noxious fumes. Moreover, it'due south certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International and meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard 50 for safe use in pools. Even ameliorate, Acid Magic doesn't contain phosphates or phosphorus containing ingredients, and so information technology's much gentler on pool pumps and heat exchangers. (Nonetheless, please always wear gloves and protective eyewear. Besides, ACID Magic isn't recommended for all pool liners, so it'south a adept thought to first check with the manufacturer.)
2. Promote Peak Pump Operation
The pump literally is the heart of your pool's ecosystem, pushing h2o through the filter and properly dispersing chemicals. Properly circulated and filtered water results in cleaner pools, which makes regular maintenance easier, also.
The good news is that pumps don't need a lot of TLC. Ane of your most important tasks is cleaning out the strainer basket inside the pump, preferably at least once a calendar week. But remove the pump housing and notice the basket (hopefully yous kept your owner'southward manual!). A chock-full strainer makes your pump work harder than it needs to, shortening its life.
And while you're at it, now's a good time to cheque out the O-ring for cracks and other signs of wear. (The O-band is the gasket that seals the housing chapeau and keeps water from leaking out of the pump.) It too can't hurt to lubricate it with an approved lubricant (experts suggest against using Vaseline).
BONUS TIP: How long should your pump run every day? Ideally, 24 hours. But that can become expensive. So instead, aim for 10 to 12 hours a day, or long plenty to run the water through the filter system at to the lowest degree i fourth dimension every twenty-four hour period.
3. Keep it Make clean
At first glance, restoring a neglected pool to all its aquatic glory can appear to be a daunting task. Just Acid Magic, the convenient alternative to conventional muriatic acrid, is a powerful ally in removing congenital-upward mold stains, mildew stains and algae stains. (Even though Acid Magic's unique chemical blend significantly reduces noxious fumes past 90 per centum and is safer to handle than standard muriatic acid, you still should article of clothing gloves and protective eyewear when using it.)
To use Acrid Magic, start with a 1:2 dilution of water (i gallon of ACID Magic with ii gallons of h2o). To avoid a potential unwanted reaction, e'er add ACID Magic to water, not vice-versa! Typical coverage is 100 to 300 square feet, depending on the pool's depth and the extent of the fail. If you discover this solution isn't strong enough, add together more than Acid Magic, upwardly to full strength, if demand exist.
Always make sure the surfaces beingness cleaned are moisture. Furthermore, Acid Magic isn't recommended for all pool liners; ask your pool manufacturer about compatibility. In addition, don't allow Acrid Magic to contact other surfaces, such every bit woods and metallic, to avoid potential discoloration.
Before you start, commencement wash the puddle with trisodium phosphate solution (TSP) to remove whatsoever oily residues. Start in the shallow end and clean small areas, using a scrub brush. Then rinse the pool.
At present the existent magic begins! First make sure the puddle walls are wet. And then liberally apply Acrid Magic with a sprinkling tin or a low-pressure, acid-resistant sprayer. You also can apply a mop to apply it to pool walls. Lightly scrub with a natural soft-bristle castor as required. (Please notation that you shouldn't use nylon brushes when working with ACID Magic.)
Then let the Acid Magic sit for ii to four minutes. If you lot're etching a plaster pool, you tin can tell when the process is complete by applying water. If it's quickly absorbed into the plaster, etching is consummate. If not, reapply Acrid Magic—merely thoroughly rinse between applications.
Later your pool is completely acrid-done, rinse again with water. (For more data on acid washing, delight click hither.)
At present there'southward just three steps left to become. The first involves neutralizing the pool surface and wastewater by dissolving 2 to 3 ounces of TSP into one gallon of water, so scrubbing down the pool once again and rinsing information technology down. If yous don't exercise this, the pH level in the water may be too depression when you refill the pool.
2nd, rinse the pool thoroughly with clean h2o one more time and let it all drain earlier filling. And third, change into your swim suit and go the pool political party started!
4. Focus on Filters
If the pump is the heart of your pool, the filter is akin to its liver or kidneys, filtering out debris and other impurities that can touch your pool's skillful health. Generally speaking, there are 3 kinds of filters: cartridges, sand and diatomaceous globe (DE).
Cartridges essentially consist of pleated polyester cylinders with caps on each end—very similar to those used on shop wet/dry out vacs, but much longer. They should be cleaned a couple times a twelvemonth by spraying them with water from a hose.
Equally their proper name implies, sand filters consist of a filtration tank filled with sand. The crude edges of the grains of sand trap particles. Yous can clean them by reversing the flow of water through the filter, known as "backwashing." (Consult your owner's manual, equally backwashing techniques vary by manufacturer.)
Yous'll know it'southward time to backwash when the pressure approximate on the filter starts to ascension. In add-on, every five to seven years, you'll besides demand to supersede the sand considering the grains' abrupt edges go worn down, reducing their effectiveness.
DE filters, the most effective kind, are named for their filtering element: microscopic, fossilized organisms called diatoms. Once over again, the filter's pressure-gauge reading will alert you lot when information technology's time for a cleaning, accomplished by backflushing. Yous besides need to restock the filter with more DE powder; follow the filter-manufacturer'southward directions. (Also be aware that some municipalities accept special guidelines for disposing of DE.)
BONUS TIP: Scale buildup is one of the most common challenges for salt-puddle owners. If you lot notice buildup inside your electrolytic chlorine generator (ECG) on the jail cell plates and need to restore them, Acrid Magic'due south fume-reduction formula is ideal as you piece of work up close and personal during common salt-prison cell cleaning.
5. Primer on Skimmers
Skimmers are those little rectangular inlet boxes congenital into the sides of your pool, correct at the h2o line. As their name implies, they help skim debris as the pool's pump pulls water into them. Each skimmer has a basket that catches the debris; without that strainer, larger items such equally twigs and leaves would make their mode to and damage the pump and filter.
Skimmers should exist cleaned once a week. To do so, only turn off the pump, remove the skimmer chapeau (located on the pool deck), take out the basket and empty it. Then put the basket back and reinstall the lid.
Certain, maintaining a puddle requires effort. (It helps to create a maintenance calendar to stay on height of it all.) But residue assured, all of these "health check-ups" are well worth the time expended. They'll help protect your investment—and continue the skillful times rolling!
Acrid Magic is sold at Ace Hardware and True Value hardware stores, as well every bit many companies that sell pool supplies. To acquire more than about where Acrid Magic is sold, click here.
Sponsored by Acrid Magic
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