Information on above ground and inground swimming pool and swim spa maintenance.
The main purpose in winterizing your inground swimming pool is to protect it from damage due to freezing water. Another is to keep it as clean as possible for the next season. Closing your swim pool properly can save you a lot of work when it comes time to open the swimming pool for the summer. Have you found any ways to do it that saves time, energy, or money? Ways that make opening the pool for…
No one likes to walk out in his or her yard and find a green swimming pool and yet green pools are now in style. We are not talking about letting your swimming pool water turn green - instead, we are talking about creating a pool that is easy on the environment and easy on your budget. Armed with just a little information you can easily save $30-40 on your monthly utility bill and your pool water will never look better!
Ever wonder which automatic swim pool cleaner to buy for your swimming pool? Ever buy one, only to have to bring it back and say it wasn't working right? If you answered yes to any of these questions, hopefully by the end of this article you'll have a better understanding of which pool vacuum is right for your swimming pool. With all the vacuums on the market, how do you decide? Let's start off by explaining the different types of swimming pool cleaners and what the pros and cons are of each.
The Ultimate Guide to Pool Maintenance is about as complete a guide to swimming pool maintenance as I have seen written in plain English. Every home swim pool owner could benefit from something in this book.
You may have noticed your swimming pool handrails or ladders corroding or rusting. All steels can rust or stain depending on what chemicals they come in contact with. The stainless steel grades used in swim pool rails and ladders are fairly impervious to swimming pool water that is in balance. However, unbalanced water chemistry and some other causes (poor electrical grounding, pouring chemicals near the rails, etc.) can stain or rust them.
Prime is the term we use to state that the air has been mostly purged from the swimming pool water pump and that the filter pump is moving pool water. When you have lost the pump's prime, your pump is no longer pumping water through it. Sometimes it can be very difficult to regain the prime on the pump. These tips will help you get the prime back in your swimming pool water pump and filter system.
How often should the sand in a swimming pool filter be changed? We recommend changing the sand every five years. Filter sand has been ground to a size of .45 to .55 mm in diameter and is very rough when new. This roughness is what makes the sand efficient at filtering out the particles of dirt in your water. As this roughness is smoothed out your filter's efficiency goes down. This means that your system has to run more frequently to accomplish the same task.
Unfortunately there comes a time in your life as a swimming pool owner when you are faced with replacing your swim pool water pump motor. This may be due to the bearings wearing out so that the motor is making a tremendous racket, or the motor won't run because it is burned out. Changing the motor is not difficult and can be done by the average pool owner provided you are comfortable working with electrical wiring.
The optimum time to run your swimming pool pump would be that which keeps your pool blue, clean, and sanitized. This can be as little as one or two hours a day to as much as 24 hours per day. Unfortunately, there is no other way to determine the optimum time to operate your swim pool pump other than by trial and error.
Large stains covering a high percentage of the swimming pool plaster surface are usually from chemical reactions. These tips are for smaller, concentrated stains, a few inches or less in size. A small stain is usually caused by a metal object being left on the bottom long enough to rust and leave a stain.
Is there a foolproof method to keep ducks out of a swimming pool? Not foolproof, but there is at least one way that we have found to keep water fowl out of a swimming pool.
When warm weather is approaching, it's time to think about opening your swimming pool for the season. These steps should help you get your swim pool open the right way for the pool season.
While there are some chemical conditions that can cause a vinyl swimming pool liner to wrinkle, wrinkles most often occur in a previously unwrinkled swimming pool liners during the winter, when the swim pool is closed and the water level is lower. How can you get the wrinkles out of your vinly swimming pool liner?
The main purpose in winterizing your swimming pool is to protect it from damage due to freezing water. Another is to keep it as clean as possible for the next season. Closing your swim pool properly can save you a lot of work when it comes time to open the swimming pool for the summer.
Ideally you should keep your swimming pool water level between one third and one half the way up the opening of the pool skimmer. Why? Among other reasons, this is the level at which the swimming pool skimmers operate most efficiently.
Do I have to drain the swimming pool to fix my pool lights? You shouldn't need to empty the swim pool. Follow these steps and you may be able to repair the swim pool lights yourself. If in doubt, call in a professional electrician.
Many times we have heard the complaint that it takes too long to scoop out the leaves from the swimming pool. Upon investigation, we find that the swim pool owner is using a Leaf Skimmer to scoop out the leaves. No wonder it takes the pool owner so long! There are three simple things you can do to speed up the removal of leaves from your swimming pool.
Getting your swimming pool open in the Spring is much easier if your swim pool cover stays on during the Winter. Having your pool cover fall into the swiming pool during the winter can leave you with a very messy pool to clean up. Cleaning your swim pool can be a very time consuming task if the cover has fallen in. Here are some tips that can help make the job of getting your swimming pool cover out of the swim pool and getting your pool ready for swimming easier.
Is the finish of your concrete pool looking stained and blotchy? Did your pool have a white finish that now looks like a stormy sky? There is an easy and inexpensive way to make it look new. Coat it with a cement waterproofer.
You know how to protect yourself from a storm, but what about your swimming pool? These are some of the ways you can minimize the damage to your swimming pool that might be caused by a tropical storm or hurricane.
Algae reoccurrences happen in a swimming pool because the algae was not completely eradicated when treated. Sometimes poor or misdirected water circulation can prevent the pool chemicals from removing all of the algae.
While it is possible to affect most repairs to your swimming pool underwater, there are circumstances that necessitate draining. You should not attempt this unless it is absolutely necessary and you are thoroughly familiar with the steps necessary to do this safely. Draining your pool can cause serious damage to it's structure. Why is it dangerous to drain a pool? Let's explain this by the type of pool and the damage that can occur.
"I'm having to add water to my swimming pool every week. Do I have a leak?" Depending on the climate in your local area, it is not unusual to be losing a 1/4" of pool water a day due to evaporation. This means almost 2" a week! The biggest factors affecting this are humidity, wind, and air and water temperature.
Next to your swim pool pump and filter, the multiport valve is a swimming pool systems most important piece of equipment. The multiport valve is also known as a Vari-Flo valve, backwash valve, or filter control valve. It is important that it operates easily and properly. Some of the problems caused by a malfunctioning valve include water leaking out of the backwash line, dirt returning to the pool when vacuuming, and water that never clears up.
The proper way to clean your cartridge pool filter consists of three steps. Rinsing the loose dirt, soaking in a cartridge cleaner, and rinsing again. This cleaning method is also excellent for diatemacous earth (DE) filters at the end of the season.
I had my swimming pool water tested and my stabilizer was 135. I was told I needed to drain my pool then refill with fresh water to lower my pool's stabilizer level. Is this correct? Why is it bad if my swim pool stabilizer is too high?
How often should I clean the swimming pool filters? Great question! The answer can vary from filter to filter, but a general guideline on any swimming pool filter is to take a reading when the filter is clean, then clean it when the pressure rises to about 10 psi.
Do you have a yellow-brown stain on your swimming pool walls? Chances are it is iron. Many municipal and even some well water sources have iron as a contaminant. How can you be sure, and how can you get rid of it?
There is a lot of confusion about various swimming pool filters, and many different opinions. Here are a few facts to consider. The first is that a pool water can be properly maintained with any of the filter systems available: Sand, Cartridge, or Diatomaceous Earth.
There are a few basic procedures that are efficient and save time which any one can follow. Determining the surface composition before starting the cleanup procedure.
What you need to do to your swimming pool each day.
A reader asks: I'm attempting to drain my inground plaster swim pool for the first time. This is my first swimming pool and I don't know that much about it yet. Our swimming pool expert's advice: Don't do it - here is why...
A look at some of the costs of owning a swimming pool.
The California Energy Commision's guide to minimizing energy expense for owners of swimming pools and spas.
What to do to secure your pool for the winter.
Your filter is your last line of defense in trapping the debris on a constant basis. That's why it's so important to use the right type and keep it operating as cleanly as possible.
Although 78 degrees F to 82 degrees F takes in about everyone, how warm you should keep your pool actually depends on personal preference.
Unfortunately, there is no magic way to turn a green or black pool clear overnight ! It usually takes a lot of time, effort and money to clear up a typical "swampy" green pool. It is certainly best if you never let your pool water get this dirty, however most pool owners experience a "green pool problem" from time to time.
weather is getting cold, the leaves are changing color and the warm memories of summertime fun are fading away. This is not usually the time of year that people like to think about their swimming pools, but this is really the most important time of the year to pay attention to the pool to avoid unnecessary problems and costly repairs come Springtime.
A pool properly maintained during the winter months can be prepared for a new season of swimming with a minimum of effort.
Is the family pool showing some wear and tear? Here's how to put it back in shape.
It is common for people to call in about losing water from a swimming pool. There are typically one of three swim pool issues with water loss: leaks in the swim pool plumbing, leaks in the swimming pool shell, or excessive splash out or evaporation from the swimming pool. There are some ways you can narrow down the reasons behind your leaky swimming pool.
If you own or operate an existing facility, you may be looking for information and additional guidance on such issues as water clarity, air quality, or heat conservation. You may be seeking guidelines on handling your staff or operating your facility more efficiently. This section delves into these and other issues.
Ozone is the most powerful oxidizing agent known to man. As such, it is continuing to gain market share in North America for swimming pool water treatment systems. The crystal clear, odorless water is the best indicator of an Ozone system in use. And it does not leave swimmers with red eye, rashes, itching or other skin irritation problems.
A pool is a major investment in many ways. You'll need to invest cash, of course, but also time, energy, and yard space. Here we'll look at the key questions that you'll need to answer before you make these investments.
A pool properly maintained during the winter months can be prepared for a new season of swimming with a minimum of effort.
Having pump, water, or other problems with your swimming pool? This handy guide might have a solution that helps.
Maintenance help on swimming pool water balance and swimming pool maintenance. Includes useful pool calculators and information on the Pool Wizard, a low chlorine alternative to algae control.
The Spa Care Center is a source for hard-to-find spa parts and accessories. Search the database of over 20,000 in-stock spa parts, online ordering capability, same-day shipping and expert technical support.
Steps to follow to get yur pool open in the spring.
ommonly used terminology specific to residential pools.
The program helps guide you, the swimming pool operator, on how much of what pool chemical to put in your swim pool or spa to make it safer for your family and friends. The Pool Professor is very easy to use and designed to meet your needs with the choice of four different versions. Do computerized swimming pool water testing at home.
Articles by swim pool and spa experts about all aspects of caring for and enjoying your swimming pool or swim spa, including opening a swimming pool, closing a swim pool, installing a solar heater for your pool or spa, and all about swimming pool water.
What should you check every season when your pool is operating?
Water balance is not such a complicated exercise. It is simply the relationships of different chemical parameters to each other. Your water is constantly changing. Anything and everything directly and indirectly affects water balance - from sunlight, wind and rain to the oil, dirt and cosmetics which may enter the water.
Some frequently asked questions about pool water chemistry.
Green, foaming, cloudy, dull, hazy, water? This may help get things back to normal.
Most swimming pool water problems are the result of one of a few things - this will help you narrow it down.
If you are having a problem with your current facility such as air or water quality issues, USA Swimming's experts may be able to help. Fill out the "I have a problem with my pool" form.
The primary reason for treating pool and spa water with sanitizing chemicals is to prevent the growth of bacteria which would make swimmers and bathers sick.
What to do each week to keep your swimming pool operating smoothly.
