Your pool may also benefit from other chemicals such as: Many pool owners are not comfortable with their chemistry skills, and actually drive a water sample to the pool store several times per season! Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully, and then pour the suggested amount of algaecides directly into the pool. If it has proper circulation, youve already made cleaning your pool much easier. Follow the dosage instructions carefully and store chemicals according to the manufacturer's directions. Skim, brush, and vacuum your pool weekly, at a minimum. Saltwater pools may need to use tablets from time to time, like when the water temperature is below 60 (and the salt cell stops working), or if the salt cell is failing or otherwise not working. In your pool, moving water is cleaner, clearer, and safer. Every once in a while, your sanitizer will need a little help, especially after a rainstorm, or if a lot of people have been using the pool. "@type": "ImageObject", Automatic pool cleaners can cost half-a-paycheck, but free up half-a-weeks worth of time within the first season. It wont eliminate the need for regular skimming and brushing, but itll make both tasks easier, freeing you up to spend time enjoying your pool instead of cleaning it. Above ground pools dont have these drains, but you can get the same water-clearing boost with a manual pool vacuum. Wash hands immediately after being exposed to chemicals. You will need to regularly test the pool's pH and adjust it as necessary with a variety of chemicals. In a sand filterno longer used in new constructionsand blocks dirt and oil; the backwash directs the dirty water to a waste line leading to the ground or a storm drain. But before you can dive into its cool blue water, you have to perform all the maintenance drudgery that prolongs its crystal-clear perfection. Then, test your pool water with the strips and make sure that it has 1-2 ppm chlorine, 80-120 ppm alkalinity, 40-80 ppm cyanuric acid, and a pH between 7.2 and 7.8. It won't last for more than a few weeks. We'll take you to pool school with a pro's tricks for making maintenance less of a chore. References If others in the household are available on certain days to do some of the simple maintenance tasks, jot down a name beside each task and share the workload. After cleaning, water balance is tested and balancing chemicals may be added. Hi Dwight, most likely calcium scale, which is attracted to the electrically charged plates. Cloudy water will clear more quickly as the D.E. Hi Dwight, perhaps drop in a chlorine tablet or two, depends on size. If the chlorine is below 1 part per million (ppm) or alkalinity is less than 90 ppm, "shock" the water: Dissolve chlorine and/or alkalinity increaser (baking soda works in a pinch) in a bucket of water and toss in. "caption": "In The Swim Blog" Wont stop the crust on the salt cell, but may slow the build-up. After connecting the vacuum to the hose, prop up the pole with the vacuum head suspended over the water. Are you comfortable taking care of the pool equipment? use baking soda to increase your pools alkalinity level, Complete Liquid Test Kit for Pools and Hot Tubs, How to Drain an Above Ground Pool (Even Without a Pump), Pollen in Your Pool? The best thing to do is get a pool service person out to explain the system to you. Click here to find out more about using pool floc. When you know how your pool works, the best ways to care for it, and how to plan for it, youll be ready to solve just about any potential pool problem that floats your way. Pumps and heaters can go for 10 years without mechanical problems or replacement. It's impossible to say for sure, but maybe your water pump has some problems. Both protect you and your pool from harm. Pool filters need to be cleaned every 2-6 weeks, depending on their size, age, and the dirt load. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon. For concrete use a stainless steel brush. % of people told us that this article helped them. All rights reserved. Pool vacuums, however, make this job a lot easier for the DIY pool owner. The more often you do it, the easier it is each time. If I am not going to use the pool should I empty it or cover it and treat the water periodically? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 315,446 times. If you can split up the times, great! There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Pool chemistry might sound intimidating and complicated, but you dont have to worry. Ideally, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The filter, pump, heater and chlorinator or other equipment is checked and cleaned. But like most good things, a swimming pool requires quite a bit of maintenance and attention to detail. Tell your friend or neighbor to check on the pool once a day and provide them with a simple checklist, including: Hopefully, your pump already has a timer. But youll still need to apply some good old-fashioned elbow grease. You want to make sure that your pH and alkalinity are properly balanced and your sanitizers levels are correct. This often makes a backyard pool more of a burden than a blessing. And, you can always trust the results! "datePublished": "10/30/2015", "primaryImageOfPage": { "headline": "Pool Maintenance: DIY or Go With a Pro? This can result in debris bypassing the skimmer and accumulating in the pool. Basic Chlorinating Tabs. Add the shock to your water, then run the pump for at least eight hours to make sure its fully circulated. These granules come in multifunctional varieties that can help you resolve several issues at once; chlorinating, shocking and killing algae with a single, daily application. But remember, that just treats the symptom, not the cause, so its only a temporary fix. aids your sand filter in straining fine particles. The pictures really help a lot! Unfortunately, there is no easy way to lower calcium hardness, except for reverse osmosis or replacing part of the pool water with softer water (the dilution solution). Here are some of the techniques he uses to speed up the process and create a safe, refreshing oasis. Replenish the DE by sprinkling it into the skimmer well. If this is a new pool, or you have moved into a home with a pool and the pool is all new to you, a pool cleaning company can come out (usually free of charge) and show you around your pool equipment, valves, gauges and more. Chlorinating Granules. "@type": "Organization", You can also clear cloudy pool water quickly with flocculant. "url": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide", The valves can control many different functions of your pool's plumping system. Hi Dwight, sure that is no problem. "wordCount": "873", You can buy a new pump and see if that fixes the issue. }, You could however, begin to use a Stain & Scale chemical, like our Stain Away, or Scale Free to keep minerals like Calcium locked into solution. He holds General Building Contractor (Class B) and Registered Pool/Spa Contractor Licenses. With the included booklet, youll know exactly how to test, analyze and calculate proper adjustment dosages. If the calcium levels are too low your water will become corrosive, potentially ruining the body of your pool. How long should you run your pool pump? Replace the pump lid very tightly, and turn on the pump. It also helps you avoid costly hardware repairs due to corrosion or mineral build-up, and helps your whole pool last longer. Perhaps your next salt system will have reverse polarity, which provides a self-cleaning salt cell, as the charge is reversed regularly, which throws off attached scale. Add in the risks of bacterial contamination, and cleaning your pool becomes an absolutely essential part of safe swimming. Make sure when you get it checked that you correct any issues before you go. Other pool filter maintenance items include annual lubrication of O-rings, or replacement of filter media [sand, grids, cartridges] every 5 years or so; which can be DIY friendly. Read this guide to learn more. }. First clean off the deck, with a leaf blower, broom or water so you dont slip, and so more leaves or debris wont blow into the pool. Extend the inner pole about 4 ft and lock it in place, for a comfortable counter-balance. :)", "We have a small backyard pool and I really had no clue how to keep it clean. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Even homeowners who choose to DIY can still have a pool cleaning company come out and do a pool orientation. "width": "611", Every type of swimming pool has four components that need regular care. First, shut the system off, then close the skimmer valve in front of the pump to hold the water in place so the system won't need repriming when it starts up again. "@context": "https://schema.org/", It'll help you save $100 right away on pool care! Basic Shock Products. Shocking the pool with granular chlorine clears the water by removing contaminants and chloramines. Regular pool brushing is not only good exercise, but also water quality and clarity. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University and has been in the pool and spa industry since 1995. But think about it: your pool pump draws water keeps your water circulating, like your heart does with your blood. Cyanuric acid should be tested twice a season. The hardness, alkalinity and cyanuric acid levels should also be checked weekly. Cartridge filters: these filters allow water to seep through a fine filtrating surface. Running your pump and filter is very important to keep your pool clear and its better to leave a timer in charge rather than a human. Water powered or robotic vacuums can roam the pool, eating up dirt, bacteria, algae and sand. Complete the cleaning by brushing any algae off the pool sides with a nylon brush on the vacuum pole. Calcium hardness: 180 - 220 ppm, though some say 200 - 400. "url": "https://blog.intheswim.com/" "name": "In The Swim", Being that most of our readers take summer vacations and own swimming pools, I figured I would share a few tips for vacation pool maintenance. "keywords": "", wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. But at least it's easy as long as you have the right tools. The basic tools youll need are: Both Mother Nature and the folks using your pool bring all sorts of wild and wacky things into your pool, from leaves, mold, and the odd duck or frog to residues from shampoos, perfumes, and hair products. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Need to drain your pool? You wouldnt season your stew without tasting it. ", My chlorine generator gets clogged up with white crust very quickly. Total dissolved solids should be tested once a week, and at least once a month. By submitting your email, you agree to our. A Skim-Vac plate makes the job faster. Or you could treat it with a good algaecide, or both. Approved. Unscrew the trap's cover and remove the basket, emptying it into the garbage. A solar generator gives you backup energy from the sun should your electricity fail. Become familiar with the testing kit containing dyes and ingredients that help you take an inventory of what your pool water needs to be clean and clear. Never pour or return unused or wasted material to the original package, and do not throw it away in regular garbage. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://blog.intheswim.com/pool-maintenance-diy-or-go-with-a-pro/", Last Updated: May 6, 2022 It will suck in air instead, potentially burning your pool's motor pump. Adjust pH firstwith muriatic acid if it's above 7.6 or with soda ash product if it's under 7.4. You can use the tablets in your floating dispenser, skimmer or automatic chlorinator. The filter pressure gauge; check it every few days. The ideal candidate is someone who owns a pool themselves. Chlorine is used to disinfect and sanitize the water. Only replaster your pool when you can visibly see cement underneath. Its not as hard as you might imagine. More power to you", http://www.swimmingpool.com/maintenance/general-maintenance-and-tips/pool-water-level, http://www.swimmingpool.com/maintenance/general-maintenance-and-tips/filter-maintenance, http://www.maintainyourpool.com/pool-water-maintenance-tips.html, http://www.lowes.com/projects/other-activities/swimming-pool-maintenance/project, http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/vms510.cfm, http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/chlorine_tech.htm, http://www.swimmingpool.com/maintenance/general-maintenance-and-tips/importance-balanced-pool, http://www.poolwizard.net/pool-water-test.htm. Whats the best way to keep this water clean? Move slowly across the water in overlapping parallel lines, like mowing a lawn. "Thank you! If it doesn't, purchase the necessary chemicals and follow the instructions on the label to apply them to your pool water. You can buy a nice manual pool vacuum for under $100, and vacuum the pool through the skimmer. Without a functioning filter system, your pool will soon be a cloudy, polluted, and unswimmable mess. "name": "Brett Rotelli", "Thank you very much, this article helps me a lot. Most people see creases at the bottom of the pool as a failure of the plaster, but that is not the case. Most pump baskets have a see thru lid to tell when it needs cleaning. But plunge pools fill the middle ground, give a splash of fun, and offer relaxation in smaller yards. With a DE filter, the claylike remains of marine organisms do the filtering and the backwash directs the dirt into a filter bag (empty every other week and replace every few years). Your pool filter clears dirt and other contaminants from your water just like your liver filters last nights cheese fries from your blood. In fact, when you know how your pool works, understand the care it needs and plan ahead, you might find yourself taking pride in your pool care prowess. Liquid Chlorine. "@type": "Person", When it comes time to decide between DIY pool care and using a professional pool cleaning service, consider such tasks as maintaining the filter, surface skimming and chemical testing. Walk briskly around the entire edge of the pool, with the edge of the Leaf Rake touching the edge of the pool at the water line. Always follow manufacturer's guideline carefully. Plus, it doesnt hurt to know an expert than can come out when you need additional help! How much time are you willing to spend on your pool? Be extra careful with chemicals around people and animals. Test and correct pool chemistry weekly. Tip: If you have an inground pool, the drains built into the bottom of the deep end will help pull water into the filter and make it easier to clear debris loosened during cleaning. Sand filters: these filters are made of metal, fiberglass, or concrete and they contain a solid bed of specific sand. But, wait until the pressure gauge has risen 5-10 lbs to tell you when to clean the cartridges, or backwash the [sand or DE] pool filter. With over 20 years of experience in construction, Rob specializes in energy-efficient and drought-tolerant landscaping. The pH scale has a range between 0 and 14, with a neutral pH at 7. To learn how to maintain your pool's filters, scroll down! If the water level is too high, the water moves too slowly into the skimmer.
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