Are you planning on setting up an outdoor pool in your backyard to cope with the hot days of summer? Research shows that approximately 2.8 million people (13% of the total population) in Australia are living in a house with an outdoor pool.
Apart from cultivating the perfect tan, you can also organize weekend parties with friends, your kid’s birthday party, etc. around the poolside. But while making all these plans, we forget the most vital thing, that is, the maintenance.
Without a proper maintenance habit, your pool might deteriorate quickly, and the patches of algae, along with the green water, build-up.
To keep your pool crystal clear, here are some heads-up tips for you to follow. Whether you’ve installed a new pool or you have been a pool owner for years, these tips will help you start a wonderful summer.
Test Out The Pool Chemistry
One must test the chemistry of the pool twice a week, depending upon the usability of the pool. Usually, it should be twice a week in summer and once every two weeks in winter.
You need to make sure that the pH level of the pool lies between 7.0 and 7.8. The higher the pH, the more Chlorine you need for your pool. As the pH value increases, Chlorine begins to become less and less active. The result of this is, people keep on adding more and more.
The thing to note here is that Chlorine at 7.0 pH value is approximately 50% active, whereas, at 8.0, it is only 10% active. You need to make sure that the pH is controlled and try to use Chlorine as little as possible.
Skimming Is Essential
If you are wondering where the skimmer is installed, then it is on the side of the pool. Skimmer helps in skimmer the surface of the pool to prevent rubbish and contaminants from getting settled or float on the bottom surface.
What you have to do is empty the skimmer basket so that it can work more efficiently. Keep the skimmer baskets clean all the time. To make sure the quality of the pool remains pristine, then you must perform the skimming regularly.
Besides skimming, you can also scrub the sides of the pool to prevent an algae build-up.
Seek A Professional Help
Various outdoor pool experts in Australia can help you out dealing with mechanical issues. These issues can be in pumps, filters, heating systems, etc.
And only professionals have expert knowledge about the pool’s automatic system.
Even if your pool system is working fine, it is recommended to have an outdoor pools Perth expert for regular service of the whole system.
Don’t Forget To Clean The Filters – Backwashing
As per the usability of the pool, clean your pool filters routinely or as required. Backwashing is the easiest and most effective way to clean the filters. It reverses the flow of water through the component directly to the waste line.
Generally, when the reading scale shows the pressure of more than 10 PSI, your pool’s filter system needs immediate backwashing. It is recommended that you should perform the backwashing twice every year.
Also, you can soak the dirty filters in a Trisodium Phosphate solution. Rinse until all dirt particles are removed.
Maintain The Chemical Level Of The Pool
Some people overlook the chemical composition of the pool water. Maintaining the chemical level of the pool is the most critical thing. If it is not balanced, it can cause murky water issues, skin & eye irritation issues, and house many bacteria. A study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), focuses on five chemical levels. They are:
- Chlorine – It acts as a disinfectant and keep the pool water free & safe from germs. The chlorine level should range in between 1-1.5 ppm.
- Calcium Hardness – Prevents pool’s plaster damage, calcium needs to be between 220-350 ppm, and for vinyl siding pools it should be lower than that.
- Cyanuric Acid – Ideal reading of Cyanuric Acid must range between is 30 and 50.
- Alkalinity – Alkalinity level should range between 60 ppm and110 ppm.
- Acidity/Alkalinity – Acidity, as mentioned earlier, should lie between 7.0 and 7.8 to prevent skin irritation and deterioration of pool equipment.
Don’t Forget The Pool Shock
The shock might sound like a public pool thing, but it is equally important for outdoor home pools. Imagine having a big event in your backyard around poolside, and now the murky water appears on the surface of the pool. This murkiness slowly affects the material of the pool and deteriorate it.
In the shocking process, the level of Chlorine is increased four to five times than usual for a short span to kill any bacteria present in the pool.
It is recommended to perform shocking twice every season.
Wrapping up:
Being a swimming pool owner is one of the best feelings one can ever experience. And it is equally important that you keep your pool maintenance game A1.
Also, maintaining your pool brings a feeling of self-satisfaction. The tips mentioned above can help you keep your pool in excellent condition.