1. Chemical Levels – Chemical levels are arguably one of the most important facets of pool maintenance. Improperly balanced water looks murky, irritates skin and eyes, and can cause your pool to become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Ideally, you should test the water at least once a week. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are six chemical levels that need to be considered.

-Acidity and Alkalinity of your pool – Also known as the PH level, acidity needs to be kept between 7.5 and 7.8 to prevent irritation and protect the pool equipment from eroding.

-Free Chlorine – A sanitizer which keeps your pool water safe and free of germs and bacteria.

-Calcium Hardness – Appropriate levels help prevent plaster damage. Aim for 220-350, but lower for pools with vinyl siding.

-Cyanuric Acid – Protects chlorine from sunlight and determines the required Free Chlorine level. An ideal reading for outdoor pools is 30- 50.

-Total Alkalinity – Helps keep the PH in balance. Levels should be within range of 60-120.

-Calcium Hardness – Appropriate levels help prevent plaster damage. Aim for 220-350, but lower for pools with vinyl siding.

4. Pool Filter Care – It’s best to clean out your filter basket at least once a week. Once a month you’ll also want to clean out the pipes utilized by your filter system, which you can do by backwashing. To do so, simply set your filter to “backwash,” remove the leaf basket and clean it out. Then turn on your pump and let it run until the waste pipe ejects clear water. Also, set your filter on a timer and allow it to run for at least six hours a day.

5. Chemical Cost to the Average Person – Let’s face it, pool chemicals aren’t cheap. If you don’t now the proper chemical levels of your swimming pool you may end up spending more than you need to. The other downside if you don’t know how to treat your pool, you’ll keep trying more chemical or different chemicals to get clear, clean water. This also adds up. Why not leave it to a professional to test the water, determine the issue, and treat with the proper chemicals at the right quantity that is safe for your skin and eyes.

6. Shocking the Pool Properly – Going back to having pool parties, whether for the kids or for adults, once in a while it’s good to give the pool a nice shocking. If your water is murky that’s a good indicator that there’s bacteria growing. Shocking refers to drastically raising the chlorine levels for a short period of time to kill bacteria. It’s done by diluting three to five times the normal amount of chlorine or other chemical sanitizer with water, slowly poring it into the pool’s return line, letting it filter throughout the pool, and then slowly refilling the pool with water over time. Don’t shock the pool too much though, this should only be done a couple times per pool season.

7. Pool Water Levels – We mentioned monsoon season earlier. When we get heavy rains this could significantly increase the water levels in your pool. You want to maintain a level that is halfway up the opening of your skimmer. If the water is too low, simply use a garden hose to add the necessary amount of water back in. When you’ve reached the appropriate water level, remember to recheck the chemicals. The water level fluctuations will have thrown them off balance.

8. Absorbing Natural Bodily Oils – Most people don’t think of the natural oils that our bodies produce. When we swim and when we exit the pool, our oils from our skin and hair easily get left in the pool water, along with suntan lotion, and hair care products. If you start to see a slick, white looking look at the top of your pool water, this is a good sign too many oils have been building up in your pool. Proper treatment to the pool water is necessary if you’re seeing this.

9. Getting the Pool Ready for Winter – As important as pool care is during the summer, it’s even more important to make sure that you properly secure it for winter. Taking the right steps to properly winterize your pool can save you lots of time and money on repairs for next season. Before closing up shop for the colder months you should always test your water to ensure proper balance.

10. Dirt and Debris – Whether it’s storms or just over time, dirt and other nasty stuff have a way of finding their way into your pool. There’s really know way to completely stop that. Most of the time you can grab your skimmer and scoop this out of the pool. Other times too much dirt and debris can effect the color of your pool water, cause damage to your pool pump, and effect the chemical levels in the water. If you’re hearing strange noises from the pump or your water has turned green, unless you have experience with this, call a pool service expert.

11. Pool Pump Issues – Pool pump is an important piece of equipment needed to keep your pool water clean, warm and hygienic. Once the pool pump malfunctioned or worst, it burn out, there are alternatives that could be done. New generation of pool pumps coming out of the market are equipped with automatic controls, safety features and could be self-repaired by owners for simple problems. On the other hand your pool motor could have burnt out and will require replacement. Having a reliable and trustworthy pool maintenance service, can save you a lot of money. If your pump only requires repair they will tell you. If it needs to be replaced, again, they will tell you. When you really think about it, both repairs and replacement can save you a bunch. A set of professional eyes on the issue is the only way to tell though.

12. Warranties – All manufacturers of pool pumps generally warrant their products in limited time period. Moreover, majority of manufacturers have 1-year warranty on the unit, barely some offer much longer. One of the common mistakes pool owners do during the warranty period is replacing the shaft seal. The warranty offered by the manufacturer is voided when there is seal failure. That’s why if your unit is brand new and experienced abnormality within the prescribed period, better to report it to your dealer. Never try to fix the problem yourself or open up (or disassemble) any part of the pump or motor, otherwise the warranty will be forfeited. The same goes with repairs. Call a pool service expert like Pelican Bay Pools.

13. Odd Noises from Your Pool Equipment – Make sure you identify that it is indeed the pump that is making the noise. If it is a grinding sound, then there may be something like a pebble or other debris lodged in the impellor, and usually requires dismantling the pump to dislodge. Most commonly, the condition is failed bearings in the motor. This can happen simply because they are of poorer quality these days, being manufactured overseas; but more than likely there has been some water damage to the pump resulting in moisture getting to the bearings and causing corrosion. Whatever the cause, your pool pump should be relatively quiet and not be the source of noise pollution in your backyard. Hire a qualified pool maintenance technician to diagnose the problem and provide the best solution.

14. Pool Pump Won’t Turn On – All pool circulation systems have a timer to turn the pump off and on at preset times, with the exception of spa jet pumps that are manually operated. Besides manual switches, some newer homes are equipped with programmable automation systems, a set of circuit breakers either at the equipment pad and/or at the house service panel, and for additional safety, there may be a GFCI installed in the circuit to prevent electrocution. With all these factors, we always recommend that you hire a professional to find and fix the problem.

15. Pool Water Circulation Issues – This could be the result of a shrunken fitting going into the inlet of the pump causing it to pull in air and lose the ability to prime. This happens usually when the water in the pool gets too low and then the pump runs without water causing it to steam the small amount of water it does have and reaching high temperatures. The plastic or pvc fittings that are threaded in and out of the pump will shrink, as will also the pump seal causing another source of air. If it does actually catch prime, then water may leak out of the top fitting and through the seal plate onto the ground. Of course, the filter may be extremely dirty or there may be an obstruction in the suction line. This is another cause for calling your pool professional.

CALL PELICAN BAY POOLS FOR EXPERT POOL MAINTENANCE

Pool owners who upgrade their pool pumps and other accessories will surely have higher initial cost. But considering the new generation of pool pumps in the market today, which are more energy efficient and made through state-of-the-art technology, they are more likely to save more in the long run. Keeping your pool clean and providing maintenance to it either weekly or bi-weekly is the best way to prevent issues, whether with the water or equipment. It will save you money in the long run and is a great investment if you use your pool a lot during the year in Glendale. Call Pelican Bay Pools 623-825-7004 today or visit our website.