There’s a lot that goes into maintaining a pool. If your pool maintenance is ignored for too long, it can become dangerous and harmful for you or your guests. Understand that most pools are generally made of two things; surfaces and chemicals. The surface surrounds the body of water. The water itself is made up of chemicals that keep the pool safe. Understanding the dynamics of both will make pool maintenance much easier.
What Chemicals Should You Be Putting in Your Pool?
Pool water uses pH levels to ensure that it is not too harmful if ingested. It also prevents people who swim in it from getting sick. If a substance has a low pH level, it means that it is acidic and will burn on contact. If a substance has a high pH level, it means that it is basic and will go dry. Pool water should have pH levels of 7.4. Checking the water’s pH levels and adding chemicals as needed to balance it out will make maintenance much easier.
Alkaline is a chemical that maintains the “freshness” of a pool. It prevents pH levels from getting too crazy. A pool has typically 100 to 150 parts per million of alkaline to operate safely. Like pH levels, alkaline levels in a pool should be checked regularly. Calcium protects the plaster inside the pool from deteriorating. When this is low, the water in the pool will use the plaster inside of it for calcium. That is what causes the plaster to deteriorate. The proper calcium hardness levels for a common plaster pool is 200 to 275 parts per million. Chlorine is what keeps the pool clean. When maintained at 3 parts per million, it kills any incoming bacteria and algae.
What Pool Equipment Should I Have?
The two necessary components of a pool are the skimmer and the return jet. Skimmers suck the water out of a pool into its filtration system. They have a small basket inside of them to catch contaminants and debris before they enter the pump. When the water is filtered and is ready to return to the pool, it is pumped out through the return jet. As much work as the pumps and filters do to keep the pool clean, it helps to have equipment to clean things yourself from time to time. The pumps and filters won’t get overworked that way.
The telescopic pole can be used to clean virtually anything inside of the pool. They can extend up to 16 feet and anything can be attached to it like skimmer nets, brushes, and pool vacuums. Because of its versatility, the telescopic pole is the most important piece of pool equipment that someone can buy.
Cleaning the deck of the pool is also a necessity. Besides sweeping and hosing the surface down, disinfecting it is also necessary. If a deck goes too long without being disinfected, the loose algae and bacteria has a chance of getting onto the deck and spreading. Pool maintenance is not hard to accomplish once you educate yourself on equipment, chemicals, and procedures.
Author’s short bio:
Authentic Plaster and tile was founded by Diane Pierce and her family 35 years ago in Texas. Their specialty ranges from simple remodels with pool surface, tile, coping to complete swimming pool plastering and replastering services in Houston TX by adding tan ledge, benches, water features and more. Also their own developed and manufactured pool surface material, Hydra Products, is warranted in-house and gives not only material warranty but also labor.