Hiring a Pool Service Can Save Time and Money

"As a swimming pool prefessional I get asked a great deal of questions. Here is a fast list of this seasons most popular questions.

Dealing With New Water

Something the majority of people don't understand is that faucet water is not swimming pool water. To make tap water into swimming pool water, adjustments need to be made to the alkalinity and calcium solidity. Metals and minerals in the water must be sequestered. Stabilizer has to be included so your chlorine will stay in the pool. Lastly, the Ph is actively handled and sanitizer (chlorine) is included. If, while adding water, the swimming pool is overflowed, all the brand-new water MUST be dealt with. Similarly, if the pool is over drained and refilled, the water MUST be dealt with. Not doing so can lead to staining and damage to the plaster, damage to the equipment, algae growth and unsafe swimming conditions. This should be resolved any time 12 or more inches of water is changed.

Canines In Swimming pools

People ask all the time if it is OK for their pet dog to swim in the swimming pool. The response is yes. However, you should expect the swimming pool to need more attention, more chemicals and more filter cleanings. DO NOT let your canine swim after playing in the ocean, lake, river, creek, etc. Those waters are filled with things that we do not want in our pools. Likewise, do not let your pet dog swim to wash off soap after a bath. Soaps and detergents can add phosphates to the swimming pool and cause unmanageable algae development.

Valve Settings with Cleaners

If you do not know what the valves do, have a pool person out to label them for you.

In an attempt to speed up the cleaner, sometimes people will alter the valve to be ""all cleaner"". This is never ever ok. Neither the cleaner nor the pipes are created for it.

Filters

Filters need to be cleaned frequently. Under normal scenarios, for every single 100 square feet of filter, you will get one month in between cleanings. For instance, if you have a 300. filter, it requires to be cleaned up every 3 months. They should NEVER be pressure cleaned. In the most desperate of situations, only an expert must attempt pressure cleaning. When cleaning up the filters, use a pipe nozzle with a strong, single beam of water. If you are not utilizing an excellent pipe nozzle, you are not getting a good cleaning.

You will also require to replace the filters. For every 100. of filter you will get 1 year of life expectancy. The exact same 300. system will last 3 years. Going beyond the life period will trigger concerns such as poor water clearness, heavy chemical demands, algae development and broken internal parts.

DE filters are various than explained above and will not be attended to here as Elk Grove Pools does not service DE systems.

Draining pipes Swimming pools

Draining a pool can cause serious issues. The swimming pool can ""float"" out of the ground, plaster can delaminate, gaskets and o-rings dry out. Plus, when you refill with fresh water it will need a complete new water start up, $$$. We never suggest draining.

Rather, we water swap. This is where a sump pump is put on the very first or second action to remove 6 to 8 inches of water at a time, while a hose pipe is in the bottom of the deep end adding the new water. This procedure is longer and more expensive, however does not carry any of the draining risks.

Solar Blankets

Solar blankets are used to help warm the swimming pool. If you have one, follow these guidelines.

Do not permit water to pond on the surface area. It will grow algae or bacteria and eventually get into the pool. Put the cover away if it is going to rain. While pools can deal with the slow daily accumulation of dust and dirt and stuff, having a nice rainstorm wash a months worth of particles in can't be managed.

If you have a chlorine floater, put it next to the skimmer. This helps flow chlorine much better and is simpler to get to.

Salt Water Pools

Here is the brief version of my tirade versus chlorine generators:

If you want soft water, simply include some salt. That is the only part of the sales pitch that is real. Everything else they tell you is misleading or a flat out lie. You do not need or want a chlorine generator. It is costly, only works half of the year (so you include chlorine the other half), creates a huge acid need, needs routine cleaning (with acid), lasts about 4 all this wonderful device does is make the specific same chlorine that you could have gotten from an $8.00 floater and a tablet.

Likewise, not all equipment is rated suitable with salt water, the concrete around the pool is not going to like the salt and the landscaping will not either.

Phosphates

Phosphates are the widespread active ingredient in fertilizer. Considering that algae is a plant, high levels will promote robust algae development. Indicators of this issue are green algae on walls, however not in the water, algae accumulation on the cleaner and its hose pipes, massive usage of chemicals and rapid return of algae after shocking and brushing.

There are a lot of methods which phosphates are presented to the swimming pool to list here, but some of them are: dead skin cells, rotting plant (leaves), bird droppings, yard fertilizer (brought in by feet or inadvertently transmitted into swimming pool), landscape overflow, any soap/ cleanser, bubbles or just from dirt and dust in the air. If trees or plants grow over or into a swimming pool there will constantly be an issue with phosphates.

Treatment is complicated and can quickly cost $150.00 or more. Repeat transgressors will wish to utilize a regular monthly maintenance dose instead of awaiting problems to establish."