Owning a pool is a big
responsibility due to the amount of maintenance work you
must perform to keep it running safely and efficiently. You
need to clean a pool on a regular basis and perform seasonal
maintenance operations.
Keeping it clean
The main cleaning job that comes with a pool involves
keeping debris out of the water so that it’s safe and
comfortable for swimmers.
Skimming refers to the removal of debris from the pool’s
surface using a skimming tool.
For debris that sinks to the floor of the pool, a vacuum
will do the job.
Debris also collects on the walls of the pool – to remove
this material, use a brush.
Empty the skimmer baskets and filler trap, as debris will
also makes its way into these receptacles.
Backwashing reverses the pool’s circulation system by
forcing water backwards and out of the system, removing
small particles along with it.
During the swimming season, the water needs to be balanced
and sanitized regularly so that anyone using your pool can
swim without becoming ill. Sanitizers keep microscopic
particles at bay, while balanced water maintains a certain
pH level, total alkalinity, and water hardness. The total
amount of dissolved solids is also maintained.
General Seasonal Maintenance
In warmer climates pools stay open for most of the year, but
if you live in a region that experiences winter weather,
your outdoor pool will close for the winter and open during
the summer months.
To properly open a pool, you will have to remove the cover,
clean and store it. You will also have to eliminate the
anti-freeze chemicals from the plumbing system and refill
the pool with water, start the equipment, and add the
required chemicals.
When it comes time to close your pool, the first step is to
drain the water to below the level marked for freezing and
out of the plumbing lines. To avoid frozen plumbing lines
over the winter, add anti-freeze to the plumbing. This will
protect against cracking. Place a heavy-duty pool cover over
the pool so that debris doesn’t settle in the filter and
circulation equipment when it is disconnected for the
winter. |
