SWIMMING POOL BASICS

SWIMMING POOL BASICS

There are several things to consider when taking care of a pool.  With Spring right around the corner, here are a few basics to remember. 

POOL MAINTENANCE IS THE KEY

To keep that pool sparkling clean, the pool should be maintained and cleaned at least once a week. 

A clean filter is a must! 

Debris can builds up from falling leaves, dust (especially in Las Vegas) and miscellaneous travelers.  This causes a strain on the pool systems which can lead to future repairs if not taken care of.  A pool rake or net is necessary to scoop out the floating debris. 

Brush your pool from top to bottom to scrub the tiles.  This will help remove any calcium and dirt deposits.  Keep the brush pointed straight down and make sure to take your time and go around the entire pool.

Give the debris at least a half hour to settle before vacuuming.  The hose needs to be completely immersed in the water before turning on the machine.  If not, air in the hose will damage the vacuum. 

LET’S TALK POOL CHEMICALS

Chemicals should be checked weekly.  Swimming pool pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6.  (Fun fact:  The human eye has a pH of 7.4.  Keeping the pH at 7.4 will prevent eyes from burning.)

What is pH?

pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity of the pool water.  7.0 is neutral which means that the pool water is free from acid or alkaline.  As the pH increases, so does the alkaline; and as the pH decreases, so does the acidity. 

Chlorine levels should also be tested and maintained at 3 parts per million parts of water.  Maintaining the proper chlorine in the pool will prevent strong odor or skin irritation, which are signs of not having enough chlorine in the water.

GETTING YOUR POOL’S VOLUME

How do I determine the Volume of the pool to determine the proper amount of chlorine to add?

Volume = Length of the Pool X Width of the Pool X Average Depth of the Pool X 7.5.

For Example:  The pool is 20 feet long and 12 feet wide.  The depth ranges from 2 feet to 9 feet the average depth is 5.5 feet.  So the volume is 20 X 12 X 5.5 X 7.5 = 9,900 gallons.  Now that you have the volume of your pool, follow the manufactures instructions very carefully on all chemicals.  Not following manufactures instructions can be very harmful or even fatal.  Therefore always be very careful with pool chemicals.

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