pool maintenance

Tips for Modernized Pool Maintenance

As every pool owner knows, keeping your pool clean means the difference between being able to relax and cool down in the sun and an infectious disease. The good news is that pool maintenance no longer has to be the hours-long chore that it used to be and you will hopefully no longer have to hire a Pool Service Gilbert person to clean your pool as often. Technology is now making it possible for the pool to practically maintain itself.

For example, there are many new designs of filters that are now manufactured for the express purpose of keeping pools clean for years. However, the filters themselves need to be cleaned out regularly as well. Most of the filters are manufactured with metal, fiber glass or concrete. They also usually contain a high grade of sand that is made expressly for catching pool waste. The newly cleaned water then flows out through the outlet. However, the sand can only take so much waste before the filter will need to be baskwashed and the sand needs to be changed out every five years or so.

pool water levelYou also need to make sure that your water level is just right. Otherwise, it slows the skimmer, which allows for waste to be pulled into the water simply by passing by the opening. The water needs to be high enough to cover the skimmer and this is usually at around one third and one half around the way of its opening. If the water is too much lower than that, it can lose the prime on the skimmer, which can then cause your water filter to burn out. Adding water before baskwashing or vacuuming your pool also helps to lower the water level.

Testing your pool’s water every two to three weeks is one of the best ways to ensure its longevity. Your best bet is to collect at least eight ounces of water from your deepest end and any clean, plastic container will do. From there, you will want to measure everything from calcium build-up to alkaline levels. The normal range is between 0.5 negative and 0.5 positive. If it’s below the former, that means that your pool is corrosive and needs the proper treatment. If it’s above 0.5 positive, that means that your pool is imbalanced and needs to be brought back to its proper balance. Hardening of calcium especially can lead to either or both.