Recreational Swimming Pool Maintenance

A vital part of owning a swimming pool is that of its maintenance. It is
a commitment you undertake when installing your pool whether you take the
responsibility on yourself or employ one of the many professional pool
maintenance companies available. You have to ensure that your pool is always
clean and safe for your guests to use. A dirty pool can be detrimental to a
swimmers health.

A pool needs regular cleaning and the chemical balance corrected frequently.
The first step is to remove as much of the floating debris, leaves etc. with a
pool net. This makes the vacuuming process easier and quicker as you don't then
have to spend time taking large debris out of the pre-filter basket.

The water level needs checking and topping up if required to about halfway
up the skimmer inlet. If the pool has no cover it can lose up to an inch a day
through evaporation during the summertime. Alternatively you may need to lower
the water level if there has been recent heavy rainfall although some swimming
pools have a drain in the skimmer to allow overflow.

The waterline around the edge of the pool needs scrubbing and any stubborn
grease stains removing with a specialist anti-grease product. Suntan lotion is
key cause of grease build up around the waterline. The pool then needs brushing
and vacuuming to remove all dirt, dust and debris. Robotic cleaners are
available that are fully automatic and can be left unsupervised to vacuum the
pool.

A dirty pool can cause ear, nose and throat problems and even cause
infections as serious as meningitis. It is highly important that the chemical
balance is correct at all times to prevent any harmful bacteria from being
allowed to breed. The most common chemical used to treat pools and kill off bacteria
is chlorine which oxidises or burns the bacteria to kill them. There are
several types of chlorine and ways to administer it.

The four types of chlorine are granular, tablets, liquid and salt. Granular
chlorine is usually the cheapest type and needs to be manually added to the
pool. This method tends to have the highest waste as not all the granules
react. Chlorine tablets are dissolved in cool water and dispensed into the pool
by a floating unit or erosion feeder. Liquid chlorine is, as the name suggests,
completely water soluble and is easily dispersed into the pool and ideal for
super chlorination. It must be handled carefully though as it is very
corrosive. The most popular method of chlorination is with salt. A salt
chlorinator uses electricity to react with the salt and turn it into chlorine.
These need regular cleaning and the salt replacing frequently. All methods of
introducing chlorine into a pool must be done with care, the gas can knock you
out and the chlorine itself should be handled carefully to avoid contact with
skin and especially eyes. Chlorine should always be added at night to allow the
levels to settle before swimming.

The water should also be tested regularly for pH, alkalinity and calcium
levels. Testing kits are readily available and involve a small amount of water
taken to be tested and then the levels adjusted accordingly. A pool needs to be
around the pH level of between 7.2 and 7.8 which is the normal pH level of
human skin and also the optimum level at which chlorine works best. The pool
equipment can also be harmed if the pH level is too unbalanced.

Taking on a swimming pool is a large responsibility but an integral part for
you and your family to benefit from a safe, healthy and enjoyable pool.