If you're lucky enough to have a swimming pool in your backyard, then good maintenance habits are a must to keep your pool clean and clear all year around.
Preventative maintenance will go a long way in extending the life span of your pool equipment and your pool interior substrate, as well as reducing the costs of your swimming pool repair bills.
Routine water chemistry testing is a must, as incorrect pH, too much stabilizer, not enough chlorine and too many phosphates can play havoc in maintaining crystal clear water and a healthy swimming environment.
Pool Chemistry
It's super easy to check your pool chemistry nowadays, as you can buy test strip kits, take your pool water to a nearby pool shop, or call a friendly mobile pool technician. Your pool chemistry should be checked at least once a week in the hot summer months.
Check your Water Level and Empty your Skimmer Basket
Always ensure that your water level is approx 2/3 way up your skimmer opening to ensure sufficient water flow and to avoid your pump running dry. Why is my pool pump making a noise?
The skimmer is installed on the side wall of your pool and contains your skimmer basket. The main role of the skimmer is to skim the surface of the pool before debris becomes saturated and sinks to the bottom of the pool. The more efficient your skimmer is, the more debris it can skim off the surface. To keep your skimmer working efficiently empty the skimmer basket as often as possible as it should be clear at all times.
Tip: You increase the risk of your skimmer basket splitting if it's overfull. Once a skimmer basket is split, it will allow debris to filter through to your pool equipment . Suction Line Blockage
Optimal pH Level
The pH level of your pool water should be kept between 7.2 and 7.6, with 7.4 as the optimal level to create a safe and comfy experience. As the pH rises in your pool, the chorine becomes less efficient. This is why a professional pool service will always check and balance your pH before considering your Chlorine level adjustments.
Tip : high pH can also be responsible for leaving scummy deposits on the pool walls.
Empty the Pool Pump basket
There's another area in your pool equipment that is meant to collect debris that has escaped past the skimmer basket. This is a small basket inside your pool pump. To clean this out, you need to turn off the pump and release pressure on the system. Usually the basket is under the clear lid of the pool pump so that you can see what is in the basket. Always check that this pool pump basket is not split or broken in any way because even if the smallest of stones manages to fall through this basket, it can cause problems with your system and damage your pool equipment.
Check that your Chlorinator is working correctly
Different brands and models of salt water chlorinators will require a different salt percentage. Always check your brand and model chlorinator before adding salt, because both too little and too much salt can damage your salt water chlorinator. How much salt does my pool need
Whilst Self cleaning chlorinators are, by far, the most common salt water chlorinator (they self clean by reverse polarity), if you don't have a self cleaning salt water chlorinator, it's important to clean the cell regularly to increase the efficiency of the cell and increase the life span of the cell.
Cleaning your Cartridge Filter
If you have a cartridge filter, it's easy to maintain, (but beware of coagulants). A cartridge filter provides a good flow rate, wastes less water (as there is no need for backwashing) and keeps the water crystal clear. It's a good idea to take out the cartridge every few months and clean it out with a high pressure hose. How to Clean a cartridge Filter
Backwashing a Sand Filter
If If you have a sand filter, you need to backwash your filter to waste at least once a month. This will clear out the debris in the sand media and allow the sand filter to work more efficiently. What's the difference between a sand filter and a cartridge filter
Remember to always keep Pool chemicals in a good and dry place, out of the direct sunlight and do not store acid and chlorine close together.
Stay Well this summer and keep swimming
Call 0432 105 352 if you need any help with your pool swimming pool
