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Basic Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips

2008-08-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

It's always our recommendation to hire a professional to assist you in keeping your pool clean. With that said, before tackling the pool cleaning process yourself, there are a few basic things you should know about pool maintenance.

Every swimming pool has a skimmer that is used to collect dead leaves, branches, insects and other debris from the water surface. A skimmer is a rake that is used to pull out objects from the water, surely you remember the life guard in the summer walking around the pool and fishing out all the dead insects, leaves and such from the swimming pool. Pool maintenance and cleaning should be in direct correlation to how much it is used, and if you plan to use your pool frequently, you will need to use a good skimmer, so try and put some money into a quality one, you will get to use it a lot.

One of the most important things in swimming pool maintenance is the filtration, keeping the water clean and circulating them is important in any pool. There are several types of filters available for swimming pool water. Sand and gravel, diatomaceous earth, anthracite, and cartridge types are the filter mediums most commonly employed. Swimming pool filtration system use the same basic principle of passing water through tiny passageways, thus filtering it. Particles larger than these passages are trapped and thereby separated from the main body of the water. This process continues until all of these passageways are blocked. The filter must then be cleaned and the cycle repeated.

Sediment and suspended matter usually find their way to the bottom of the pool and will need to be removed by vacuuming, since swimming pool filtration varies in quality, and is subject to the frequency of maintenance and quality, you will need to consider vacuuming as a general pool maintenance tool for your swimming pool cleaning.

The swimming pool vacuum operates in a similar manner to the common household unit except it draws water through the vacuum head instead of air. There are two ways in which this may be accomplished. One method employs a jet of water supplied by a garden hose to power the suction which draws the dirt into the head to be trapped in a cloth bag. The other method uses the suction power supplied by the filter which draws the sediment and dirt from the pool floor for removal through the filter. When there is a considerable amount of sediment to be removed the filter valves should be adjusted so that the vacuumed water will bypass the filter and run to waste.

Chemicals are used in pool maintenance on regular basis to keep water safe and clean. The most common chemical used is chlorine. Again, asking you to try and remember you childhood and that a fresh swimming pool usually had an unpleasant side effect of irritated skin or eyes, this is the danger and the cons of using chlorine in your pool. If used in large quantities, or if not maintained properly, chlorine may irritate the eyes and skin of swimmers. A swimming pool owner should also be aware of the proper maintenance instructions for the chemicals and follow the manufacturers instructions when applying the chemical to the pool.

Use common sense when thinking of pool maintenance and pool cleaning, your swimming pool is there for you to enjoy it, but it does come with a few simple responsibilities. Having a professional clean your swimming pool regularly will allow you to enjoy a clean and healthy swimming pool for a long time.

How To Fight Swimming Pool Algae

2008-08-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

Nothing can be more of a hassle than having to come home to a green pool after a hard day's work. Algae happens from time to time with any pool owner. The first thing to keep in mind is that clearing up algae infested water is not going to be the the least time consuming thing you will ever do with your pool. In mild cases it may just take a good shock, in other cases more extreme measures may need to be taken. However, lets take a look at how algae works so we can learn how to defeat it.

A Brief Introduction To Algae:
What is algae exactly? Algae can come in various shapes and sizes. It can be introduced into the water through spores, water hoses, rain etc. In its early stages it is invisible to the naked eye. After time allows it to grow, the water becomes a little cloudy. At that point the water can turn green in just a few hours. Algae uses photosynthesis to create its food. In pools, algae, are grouped in three primary categories: green algae, mustard algae , and black agae.

Green Algae:
Green algae is the most common algae found in pools. It varies in color from pool to pool, but generally, as its name indicates, is green. It can appear on the bottom and spread up the walls leaving the water very clear, or it can become dispersed throughout the water creating a nice green tint to your pool. Depending on its severity this algae can be pretty easy to treat in mild cases.

Mustard Algae:
Mustard Algae is a less common version of algae. It appears on the sides of the pool, stairs, ladders, or other rough surfaces that it can adhere to. It is relatively easy to brush off, but will soon return to its original spot. If you truly have mustard algae then it will be necessary to remove all pool equipment, bathing suits, and toys for cleaning. Mustard algae is extremely resilient to chlorine, and even to some algaecides.

Black Algae:
Another less common version of algae is called "black algae". This algae is also extremely resilient to treatment with chlorine. It occurs mostly in crevices, cracks, and shaded areas. Rarely does black algae occur in vinyl pools. They key to defeating this algae is scrubing down the area inhabited by the algae.

Once the algae has lost its grip on its surface it is much more susceptible to treatment.

Common Causes of Algae:
Now that you know your not alone I am sure your wondering how to fix your pool. Let's first focus on how to prevent algae from occuring in the first place. Here are some things that you should be doing:

Be sure that your water balance is correct (check it every time it rains and/or when you add water to your pool)
Test water weekly to check sanitizer levels
Backwash regularly
Brush and vacuum the pool regularly
Have the water analyzed by a professional at least once a month
Make sure that your pump is running 8 hours or more
When there is a large bather load, compensate by using the correct chemicals according to each sanitizing system. For example: shock the pool if you use chlorine

Liquid Nitrogen Into A Swimming Pool

2008-08-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

Putting liquid nitrogen in your swimming pool is something we suggest you NOT do. To see what will happen, check out the video below.

How to Check Your Pool Equipment

2008-04-03T02:24:00.000-07:00

Checking your equipment and maintaining your support system is best way to solve the small corrective problems.

Start by circulation system by following the path of the water. Clean out the pool's skimmer basket and Emptying the contents of the skimmer basket into your trash can or garbage bag.

Next, open the pump strainer basket and clean it. Check the pressure of the filter. There is no point in checking it before cleaning out the skimmer and strainer baskets, because if they are full the filter pressure will be low and will come back up after cleaning the baskets. If the pressure is high, the filter might need cleaning.

Now check the heater for leaves or debris. Turn the heater on and off a few times to make sure it is operating properly. While the heater is running, turn the pump off. The heater should shut off by itself when the pressure from the pump drops. This is an important safety check.

Now check the time clock for the time of the day ; setting for the daily filter runs; setting for the cleaner's clock. Always check the clocks because trippers come loose and power fluctuations or some service work on household items unrelated to the pool can also affect the clocks. Also, electromechanical time clocks are not exactly precision instruments. One might run slightly faster than another, so over a few weeks one might show a difference of an hour or more, upsetting your planned timing schedule.

After the equipment check, look for leaks or other early signs of equipment failure. Clean up the equipment area by removing leaves from around the motor vents and heater to prevent fires, and clear deck drains of debris that could prevent water from draining away from the equipment during rain.

Spa and Water Feature Cleaning

2008-04-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

SPA AND WATER FEATURE CLEANING

The steps for pool cleaning will work just as well for spas and water features. Here are a few special tips about what you might encounter that is unique to these bodies of water.

Many above ground spas are made of fiberglass, so take care when vacuuming to avoid scratching the surfaces.
Vacuum the corners of water features and small spas with a spa vacuum.
Evaluate the spa or water feature, before you invest a great deal of time in cleaning. Test the chemistry first, so you can determine if you are better advised to drain the unit rather than clean and treat it. If the water or surfaces are very dirty, if the water is extremely hard or cloudy, if the dirt is in among rocks and gravel where it might be very hard to reach, pump out the water and clean the unit that way.
If you do drain a spa or water feature, be sure the equipment is turned off at the breaker so the time clock won't turn it on before you are ready. You might need to set up your submersible pump and go to another job while the unit is draining. Your submersible has a small hole in the bottom to re-circulate the last inch of water to avoid burning out it's seal, so you can let it run without worrying that it will run dry.
Before you clean the spa or water feature, clean the filter and run some fresh water (from the garden hose) through the circulation system to purge any dirty water from the lines. Nothing is worse than draining, cleaning, and refilling a spa only to turn the circulation back on and watch dirty water contaminate your work.
Be extra careful with chemical testing and application. Most spas and water features contain a tiny fraction of the volume of water in a pool, so they can't absorb a mistake the way a pool might. It is better to add chemicals more slowly and in less quantity than you think necessary. You can always add more, but it is a real problem to remove any excess.

Pool Maintenance FAQ: Part 1

2008-04-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

What is the easiest way to clean heavy calcium deposits that form on the tile around the water level?
Use a lava brick to scrape the deposits off the tile. Before you do this, make sure that you purchase some heavy-duty plastic gloves to protect your fingers - the lava brick can really do a number on them. When you use the brick, make CERTAIN that you wet and re-wet the tile as you scrape or you will damage the tile. I've found that this is a task best done from inside the pool, and you won't have to go to the expense and pain of draining the pool. The brick will eventually disintegrate, but you can easily vacuum out the "dirt" the next time you clean the pool.

How do you clean murky and green pool water?
We have found that the best & fastest way to clean up a problem like that is to vacuum straight out to waste. Re-fill and do it as many times as it takes until you have just a mild green. Then shock & run the filter. This process is time consuming since you have only a short time to vacuum before the water level dips below skim line. when re-filling get the water level as high as possible by closing the valve or moving it to filter. If you have a plaster pool maybe easier just to drain.

How do you get rid of yellow algae in your pool?
Orange or yellow-colored spots in pool water or on pool surfaces is generally called mustard algae. This can be brushed off, but unless you use a strong algaecide they'll come back.

How do you close a pool for the season?
Buying a pool cover is probably the best solution. You should remember to maintain your pool though, all the time. Maintaining correct pH and Chlorine levels, at a minimum will help keep the nasties at bay.

What chemicals are used to start up a pool while filling?
First off, test the water going into the pool to determine its "native" pH, chlorine level (municipal water usually has trace amounts), its alkalinity (its resistance to swings in the pH), & its calcium hardness. pH/alkalinity is first. Get the pH balanced, then add chlorine, also get some floater dispensers. I recommend getting a test kit for use once or twice a month, and a cheap little kit for daily use. I use alkalinity increaser for alkalinity issues, muriatic for pH acid down and pH increaser for pH up. Learning your waters native alk & pH is 3/4 the battle. Then just keep it chlorinated to kill the beasties.

Pool and Spa Cleaning Tips

2008-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

The attraction and relaxation provided by a swimming pool is nothing short of impressive. On a hot summer day, a pool can be a blessing. Then again, a swimming pool can also be an annoyance if it is not cared for as it should be. Swimming pools require a lot of maintenance, including time and money. Regardless of what type of pool you have, you need to perform regular maintenance on it.

If you own a swimming pool, YOU must assume the task of keeping your pool clean and safe for yourself and anyone who swims in it. Or, you can hire a professional to take care of this rather mundane task, which we'll touch on later. If regular maintenance on your pool is performed, it will stay healthy all year round.

Pool and Spa Cleaning Tips:

Check your chemical balance often, to make sure that the water is safe for swimming.
Make sure to keep debris out of your pool, so that the water remains healthy.
Filter your water on a regular basis. This is so you can keep the chemicals moving about and keep the water safe for swimming
The weather outside and how often you use your pool will significantly contribute to the condition of your water. Make sure your pools chemicals are balanced properly, the sun can quickly turn your water to a green, musty color.
Given that Las Vegas is known for it's HOT weather, make sure that your chemicals properly balanced ALL the time.
Clean your pool frequently, as the pollutants that get in the water can lead to bacteria and algae, which will quickly destroy your water. Sanitizing your pool on a regular basis will help to keep it clean. Most importantly, free from bacteria and algae buildup.

If you do not have the time to maintain your pool yourself, you can always leave this task to a professional. Professional pool cleaners will clean your water and your pool, to ensure that your chemicals are properly balanced, making your swimming pool experience as desirable one.

Typically a pool cleaner will service your pool once a week. Once you have started using a professional, you may find his services so helpful, that you may never want to go back to cleaning your pool yourself again. With the help of a professional - you can rest assured that your pool will stay bacteria, debris, and algae free year round. Yes, pool cleaners really do maintain pools in the winter as well.