In this post, we will discuss the 12 Most Common Pool Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid. If you own a pool or are considering buying one, you should know how to keep it in good condition. By doing so, you can ensure that your collection is always sanitary and suitable for regular usage.
Your pool’s water level and chemical balance should also be checked often. Filters, however, need to be clear of any material that might cause them to get clogged. Homeowners make several frequent mistakes while taking care of their pools. These are the most typical blunders by pool owners and should be avoided at all costs.
12 Most Common Pool Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid
Keep an Eye on Your Alkalinity and Acidity Levels.
Ecosystems can’t flourish and be healthy without a pH that’s just right. Similarly, this also applies to your pool. pH values below 7 are indicative of an acidic environment. A low pH value represents alkalinity. More of either is desirable. Pool equipment is vulnerable to corrosion when the pH level is off. Damage to your pool’s heater, filter, vinyl liner, chemical feeder, and many other components may result from pH levels that are out of whack and can lead to pool leakage.
You may avoid problems with acidity and alkalinity in your pool water by checking the water regularly. If the results of your tests indicate that the pH must be adjusted, you may do it with the help of chemicals. To maintain the optimal pH balance in your pool water, you may use items like pH enhancers or alkalinity boosters. Moreover, you can contact a pool leak repair specialist for a thorough inspection and maintenance.
Adding Shock to Directly Into Your Pool Water
Pool shock, largely concentrated chlorine, may bleach any pool accessories you may have. Shock chemicals, for instance, may eat away textiles. Clothes that are white or black may become yellow or pink due to the high quantity of chlorine in your pool.
You can’t shock your pool too frequently, but too much chlorine may ruin the colors of your clothes. The only exception is the shock delivered directly to a pool with a vinyl liner. Bleaching a pool liner causes it to become brittle and weak, which may cause leaks.
To avoid damaging your pool liner, pre-dissolve the shock chemicals in a separate container, such as a bucket. Once the chemicals have been mixed well, they may be added to the pool.
Make sure the container is completely submerged in water to prevent splashing. You won’t get any of the chemicals on your skin or in your eyes, that much I can promise.
Dissolving the shock quicker may be achieved by using warm water. Eye protection, a face mask, and chemical-resistant gloves are needed. You still need to take these safety measures, even if the water in your preparation dish is chilled.
Not Cleaning Your Pool
It won’t affect your pool’s sensitive chemical balance if you have a few people over. Having many people around for a summer party means you’ll need to exercise caution around the pool.
Cleaning up after events is not an option. Algae growth may be a concern if there needs to be adequate maintenance. Take the time the morning after a party to check the chemical balance of your pool. When feasible, it’s still a good idea to brush the water, even if everything seems OK.
Pool Shocks That Work Throughout the Day
When chloramines are used to shock a pool, they may irritate the eyes and skin. This aids in keeping the chlorine concentration stable.
But the effectiveness of the shock will be diminished if you shock your pool during the day. Unstabilized chlorine may be destroyed by sunlight, rendering your efforts futile. If you’re watching your pool maintenance costs, you should only use the minimum shock required.
Making sure your pool’s pump and filter are on for at least eight hours daily should take care of the issue. The amount of time it takes for the filter to run depends on the size of your pool. In any case, this should still enable enough water to seep through.
Calcium Hardness
The calcium hardness of your pool water must be maintained in a healthy equilibrium to ensure the safety and clarity of your swimming area—water benefits from a moderate degree of hardness. As a result, materials like concrete, plaster, fiberglass, and filters survive much longer.
Calcium hardness enhancers may maintain calcium hardness within the recommended ranges of 175 ppm and 225 ppm (200 ppm and 275 ppm for concrete and plaster pools). Once the pool is open, add it to reach the desired depth. Since evaporation and splash-out may cause the levels to plummet, keeping an eye on them during the swimming season is necessary.
Inappropriate Costume
Encouragement to wear suitable swimwear should come from swimming pool owners and anyone interested in watersports and swimming. Cotton clothing should also be avoided since it may harbor pollutants, including oils, detergents, and bacteria. Contamination of swimming pools has been linked to their usage.
Water absorbed by cotton garments makes breathing harder, which may lead to death. Despite being produced from ultralight nylon, it can absorb very little water and dry rapidly. The water level in your pool is something you should pay attention to.
If too much water is used to backwash your pool, the dirt and debris will be pushed back into the water. However, your pool pumps might be damaged by filtering air if the water level in the pool is too low.
Pool’s Pump or Heater Services
If your pool heater breaks, your pool will be frigid all year round. Without the pump, the complete pool system will be disabled. These are undesirable results.
Both the pool heater and the pool pump will see heavy usage. Wear and tear is more rapid. The loud noises or decreased efficiency of your pool pump should be a red flag. Maintaining your pool’s machinery at least once a year can ensure peak efficiency and substantial cost savings.
An Automated Pool Cleaning Will Not Help With Algae.
Robots push debris and algae into mesh bags, which might get clogged. The robot agitates the dirty water, which may cause particles and algae to rise and stop a mesh bag. This does not get rid of it. You need to get yourself a manual vacuum. You may either take off the drain stopper or install a waste filter.
Make Pool Brushing a Regular Habit.
Vacuuming regularly will keep your pool clean. The waterline, the steps and stairs, beneath the ladder, the nooks and cracks, and so on may all benefit from regular brushing. The growth of algae and other unsightly items may be controlled using this method.
We advise using a pool brush made of sturdy, extra-wide metal with rounded corners. Brush the pool at least once a week or more often if it gets a lot of usage.
Improper Kind of Floater
Ideally, you would choose a stabilized chlorine floater over a non-stabilized chlorine flopper. The water in the pool won’t become too steady. When cyanuric acid and chlorine are mixed, stabilized chlorine is produced. As a result of being stabilized, chlorine is now resistant to the sun’s harmful UV rays.
This is made possible by having chlorine in the pool for a longer period. As it contains no cyanuric acids, non-stabilized chlorine readily reacts with pool water to produce a corrosive hypochlorite sanitizer. Pools that have been over-stabilized will reduce the effectiveness of disinfectants like chlorine. Over-stabilized pools must be drained, and new water must be added to dilute the stabilizers.
Over-stabilized pools may reduce the efficacy of chlorine and other chemicals. Pools that have been over-stabilized may be treated by draining the existing water and refilling it with clean water. Verifying the stabilizer level guarantees that the right quantity of Aqua Pro Ultraviolet is applied. The stabilizer concentration in a pool should be between 50 and 80 ppm.
Pump Condition
One of the most important parts of keeping a pool in good condition is ensuring the pump runs reliably and efficiently. This is essential for maximizing pool chemicals’ efficacy via water circulation. The general norm is to cycle all water volume twice in the summer and once in the winter.
Not Removing Metals
It is not uncommon for pool owners to replenish their pools with water from a borehole. When saving money, water from a borehole may be the best option, but it should be noted that it may include heavy metals that might leave stains on the pool’s bottom or walls. Try to prevent spills instead of cleaning them up after the fact.
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