When temperatures rise, a dip in the swimming pool is what people across the globe yearn to do. This is the favorite summer pastime for most people in the US. However, it may not be as easy as it sounds. The pool water chemistry must be properly balanced before someone swims in it. There are two reasons for readying the pool for the summer. One reason is most pool owners may close it and not maintain it during the winter months and then reopen the pool for summer. However, there is another set of people who use their pool throughout the year; yet, they want to make it is balanced, healthy, and enjoyable for summer. In both cases, the pool needs some upfront maintenance before it is opened for the season. Although a dip in the pool may seem cool, preparing the pool for the summer may not be the easiest thing. This post offers some important maintenance tips that would help.
7 Easy-to-Follow Tips for Getting Your Pool Ready for Summer
The pool maintenance program is like any other maintenance program, which demands a certain discipline. This 7-step maintenance guide will lead you through all the essential steps:
- Ensure You Have All the Necessary Equipment for Pool Maintenance: Perhaps, you may be eager to clean your pool and ready it for summer. It may not be possible to execute your ideas unless you own a set of equipment. The following is the list of essentials that you need to possess for cleaning the pool:
- Water Test Kit
- Pool Brush
- Pool Vacuum Device
- Telescopic Pole
- Clean Your Pool without Emptying the Water: Draining the pool water is not recommended to clean the pool. This is because it may induce problems such as lifting the ground. You can start cleaning in the following ways:
- Sweep the deck.
- Remove the pool cover and skim out leaves.
- Use a vacuum device for the pool to clean its walls and bottom surface.
- Scrub the tiles using baking soda and a brush featuring soft bristles.
- Skim off any algae on the sides of the pool using a nylon brush.
- Wash the deck pavers or surrounding tiles.
- Clean the pool baskets to remove any debris or dirt.
- Replace damaged or worn out planks of the decking.
- Trim overgrown tree branches near the pool as they may hit swimmers or even dirty the pool further.
- Check the Pool Equipment: Here is how you can proceed with the pool equipment maintenance:
- Locate the O-rings, which are used in various pool systems for sealing. Lubricate these seals with a lubricant for pool gaskets. The lubricant will help protect the gaskets. It is better to replace the cracked or ripped O-rings.
- Next, flip the circuit breaker and turn on the pump.
- Check the pump for leaking, noise, overheating, breaker issues, electrical system faults, and so on.
If you find any problems in your motor or other equipment, it is always recommended to approach a professional equipment services provider. This is because if the issue is bigger, a DIY approach may not work.
- Check the Pool Heater: This becomes essential if you are living in cold areas or if you open the pool just before the summer. The pool heater will help keep your water warm and prevent it from freezing. Check for low water flow, abrupt stops in heater cycling, and other heating problems. If you find any of these, perhaps, it is always better to approach a professional pool heating technical support services provider.
- Clean the Pool Filtration Equipment: Most swimming pool owners in cold climates are known to turn off their filtration equipment during winters. These equipment are turned on during late spring or summer. Hence, ensure that all equipment are working properly. Most people use either of these three types of filters: Cartridge Filter, Sand Filter, and Diatomaceous Earth Filter. Here is how you can clean these filters:
- Cartridge filter: You can easily clean this type of filter with a thorough visual inspection. You can clean the hose and cartridge for any visible dirt. If the dirt is too stubborn, perhaps, you can consider using a filter cleaner.
- Diatomaceous Earth Filter: This type of filter can be cleaned by turning it to the backwash. The filter grids and manifolds can be rinsed off using a hose. After this cleaning, add a DE powder, which is a substance used for filtering the water.
- Sand Filter: You can backwash the filter to remove any dirt or debris. Many industry experts also recommend cleaning the filter with a chemical cleaner at least once in a year.
- Conduct a Maintenance of Copper Ionization Systems: Today, many pool owners are keen to build chemical-free pools. Thus, they use copper ionization systems. If you are using one of them, this is how you can proceed with the pool maintenance:
- Check for the copper electrodes, which are subjected to wear when copper is pulled from them. Whether you close your pool for winter or not, it is important to ensure the proper working condition of copper electrodes every few weeks.
- Next, check the alkalinity and pH value of the pool and take appropriate measures for balancing the same. The pH value of 7–7.4 is recommended for copper ionized pools. Copper ionization has no effect on the pool, still, it is recommended to use baking soda or soda ash for increasing the alkalinity or the pH value. You can use muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate to reduce both values.
- Similarly, you can adjust TDS and calcium levels following the recommendations of the pool manufacturer.
- In addition to the above, always ensure to avoid shock treatment of pool and avoid using any type of sequestering agent to remove stains of iron, manganese or metals.
Of these, the steps b and c that includes balancing the chemical values of your pool can be performed even if you do not use copper ionization systems.
- Perform a Detailed Safety Check: Safety is the most important concern for any pool owner. Perhaps, you would always want your family and friends to remain safe. You can proceed in the following ways:
- Ensure that the pool drains are protected using covers that are safety compliant.
- Install the pool fence if you haven’t installed one. If already installed, ensure that the self-latching or closing gate is in good shape. Replace latches or locks if they have disintegrated over the years.
An Important Note: Always source your water test kits, pool opening chemicals, and other important equipment from trusted brands or suppliers.
All the above-discussed tips will help you prepare the pool for summers. This post ends by letting you know of Intec America – Your Water Treatment Specialists. The company was the first to commercialize the copper ionization technology developed by NASA in the 1960s. This technology is widely used in swimming pool sanitization and has enabled swimming pool owners across the US to materialize the concept of chlorine free pools.
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