Common Pool Maintenance Questions Answered
Pools not only add beauty to the property, but they also provide hours of entertainment for friends and family alike.
But a pool also needs a considerable amount of pool maintenance that should be done on a regular basis in order to keep it looking its best and functioning properly
If you want to make sure that your swimming pool is clean and healthy, proper pool maintenance is a must. Learn more about Common Pool Maintenance Questions and made possible to answer.
Common Swimming Pool Maintenance Questions
Why is the Water in My Swimming Pools Cloudy?
This is also one common question in maintaining your pool water. Cloudy or milky swimming pool water is caused by seven main issues:
Pools Filter and Pump Problems
This can be caused by a range of different issues. If the system is only run for a few hours every day, it may not be able to clean the entire pool water. If it runs regularly, then the issue may be a worn or broken part. Other mechanical issues that can arise include clogged filter media, poor water flow directionality, and a full skimmer basket.
Pool Chemicals imbalances
Testing the cloudy water with a pool water test kit will likely reveal that the pool water has improper pool water chemistry levels of chlorine, imbalanced pH and alkalinity, or very high calcium hardness levels.
Environmental Factors
This include pretty much everything around the pool water like severe weather, wildlife, construction, trees, pool algae, and people. These factors can cause dust, pollen, and algae blooms to cloud the pool water. While people may be the most common environmental cause with various hair products, skin products, and makeup that seeps into the water, people also bring dirt, sweat, skin, hair, and oils into pool water.
How Do You Get Clear Pool Water?
- Balance pool's water free chlorine (FC) levels.
- Eliminate pool's water ammonia.
- Get rid of pool's water young algae.
- Monitor and balance pool's water pH and TA levels.
- Correct pool's calcium hardness (CH) levels.
- Backwash filter or replace filtering agent.
- Remove foreign particles and mineral deposits, scrub, and vacuum up the pool water.
Question: Do I still need to brush my pool?
Questions like this really needs a definite answer. Even though most modern swimming pools are equipped with an automatic cleaning system, there is no substitute for a thorough brushing of the walls, steps, benches, and bottom of the pool. Believe it or not, brushing your pool is just important to the health of your pool as brushing your teeth.
Most automatic cleaners can't scrub the floor, steps, and benches to remove small debris and algae spores from the pores in the pool surface, and this must be done to ensure a stain and algae free pool surface.
When to Brush a Pool?
- After Pool Plastering: After a pool is plastered or pebbled, there is a large amount of dust that needs to be brushed and filtered, or it can stain and scale the surface. Brush twice daily for 2-3 weeks.
- After Adding Chemicals: Many powdered or granular pool chemicals don’t dissolve right away when added to the pool water. Brushing helps to dissolve and disperse the chemicals so they won’t etch, stain or scale the surface.
- Stain or Algae Removal: Stains and algae cannot be removed by mere pool chemicals alone, there must be some physical persuasion. Like the dinner dishes, they need a little soap and scrubbing to become clean.
- For best result, brush your pool weekly
What do I do to maintain my pool lighting?
Pool lights are an important part of how your pool (and garden) looks at night. So, you need to look after them, and replace bulbs and parts when necessary. Maintaining your pool lights should be part of your pool maintenance schedule.
Common Maintenance Tips for you Pool:
- Ensure that the light box is watertight to prevent corrosion.
- Check the plastic casing regularly.
- Ensure that the water-level is always above the plastic outer casing to stop the casing from discolouring and cracking.
- Clean the outer lenses regularly with a rag.
- Replace the bulbs as per manufacturer recommendations and usage.
- Pool lights are low voltage – Ensure that the transformer is housed correctly and free from corrosion.
How often should I test my Pool?
During the cooler months, we use our pools water less often. The cooler weather can significantly decrease the chlorine demand your pool water requires. This can lead to excessive chlorine levels which can damage blankets and pool water equipment.
Therefore, you should be testings your pool waters chlorine and pH levels every two weeks. Maintaining proper water chemistry will reduce the amount of work needed when you’re ready to start swimming again.
As the summer season heats up and the pool is getting more use, it’s important to also ramp up your water testing, increasing to at least twice a week in the peak of summer. Testings should be done even more frequently if you have pets or young children regularly in your pool.
How often should I clean the pool filter?
Typically, we recommend that your cartridges inside your filter be cleaned every 3 months for longevity of your cartridges, as well as for better pool water filtration and water flow.
Depending on the usage, flow rates, number, and size of the cartridges, they should be deep-cleaned one to three times a year. Regular, light cleaning should be conducted monthly.
Aside from routine pool maintenance, the cartridges will need cleaning if the filter pressure gauge shows a level of eight or more PSI or if the water quality changes noticeably.
Cleaning your cartridge
Turn off your pump
If you have an automated system, turn off the main power to the pool completely for safety reasons, you don’t want the pump turning on while you’re tinkering with the cartridge filter.
Release the air from the cartridge
Release the air from the cartridge filter through the air valve that’s located on top of the filter. After this, you can safely remove the collar that’s holding the cover in place. Don’t forget to drain the cartridge as well by removing the drain plug at the bottom.
Lift the cartridge out
Lift the filter cartridge out and set it down at your desired cleaning location, preferably somewhere away from the pool water and with good drainage.
Give the cartridge a good rinse
Using a garden hose, make sure to run a spray each pleat thoroughly to ensure that all of the debris is rinsed out.
After shocking a pool, how long should I wait to swim in it?
Shocking is a crucial part of having a clean pool water, but it involves the use of some pretty hefty chemicals, including chlorine. It's only natural to wonder when you can dive in after all of that.
It's recommended that you wait up to 24 hours to hop into a pool water after it's been shocked, depending on the size of the pool.
What happens if you swim in a shocked pool?
Swimming in a pool that has just been chlorine shocked can be potentially dangerous. It can cause:
- stinging eyes
- skin irritations
- potentially worse conditions such as lung irritation.
How long should it take to do my weekly maintenance?
Typically you should expect to devote about 30 minutes per week on maintaining your swimming pool. This may vary depending on your individual pool and its unique requirements. Some things may just require checking once week, and servicing less frequently.
Pool service professionals can often spend as little as 15 minutes to get all this done.
DIY Maintenance
- Saves Money
- Satisfaction of DIY
- Requires time commitment
- Learning curve
Professional Maintenance
- Saves time
- Third Party is accountable
- More expensive
- Finding quality service
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Do I really need a winter cover for my pool?
It is not necessary, but winter covers screen or protect your pool and water from stains, algae growth and poor water balance that could damage pool surfaces during winter season. Pool covers block both debris and sunlight, to conserve your winter chemicals and protect soft and shiny surfaces. And a pool safety cover as shown here, keeps your pool and water safe and looking great.
Whether you have an in-ground pool or an above-ground pool, you need a good pool cover to help keep dirt and debris out of your pool while it’s not in use. Pool covers also prevent evaporation of water and chemicals, and they help maintain water temperature. This is also one way of taking care of your pool and doing pool maintenance.
Talk to Us & We'll Answer Your Questions About Cleaning Pools and Pool Problems
Elite Pool Service Has Your Pool Maintenance and Pool Repair Problems Covered
Every family with a swimming pool in their backyard deserves to enjoy splashing around in a clean pool all year round. While the process can be daunting and tedious and could leave you unmotivated to keep your pools water clean it’s an essential part of pool maintenance.
We will not just answer your swimming pool questions
When you hire Elite Pool Service, you get a premium service that goes above and beyond. We also make sure that we take the initiatives to go beyond and not just answer simple questions for your pool problems. Our knowledgeable staff ensures your facility is properly maintained and runs efficiently at all times.
We have experts in pool maintenance and repairs for your swimming pool. We don't want you to spoil your time taking care of your pool. Leave it to us and enjoy the benefits of pool ownership. If you have questions, we are just on call away at 918-893-3893. Or send us a FREE QUOTE.
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Table of Contents
- Pool Renovation
- Pool Resurfacing
- Coping, Tiling, & Rock
- Lighting Upgrades
- Pool Automation
- Chlorine Alternatives
- Pool Pumps & Installation
- Hayward Platinum Warranty Center