POOL MAINTENANCE GUIDE

POOL MAINTENANCE GUIDE

The following useful tips will help you keep aware of important issues and factors regarding the proper care of your pool.

Your pool capacity will help you determine the amount of chemicals needed.

Normally expressed in total gallons, you can figure out what the capacity is by figuring out your pool’s average depth. Here’s a simple formula to follow.

  • By adding the shallow end depth and the deep end depth and dividing it in half you should have a fair idea of how many gallons of water your pool holds.

(Shallow End Depth + Deep End Depth) / 2 = Average Depth

Here are some more specific formulas based on the shape of your pool:

Rectangular Pools

Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5 = Total Gallons

Round Pools: Circular

Diameter x Diameter x Average Depth x 5.9 = Total Gallons

The importance of balanced water

What does balanced water mean? It is simply the relationships of different chemicals to each other. Your water is constantly changing. Anything and everything directly and indirectly affects water balance – from sunlight, wind and rain to the oil, dirt and cosmetics which may enter the water.

A pool that is “balanced” has proper levels of pH total alkalinity and calcium hardness .

PH is the most important factor in water balance. It’s a measure of how acidic or basic the water is.

Total Alkalinity A close cousin of pH, the level of alkalinity in the water is a measurement of all the carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides and other alkaline substances found in the pool water.

Calcium Hardness This refers to the amount of dissolved minerals (mostly calcium carbonate) in water.

  • Water out of balance on the low side becomes corrosive, attacking pool surfaces and equipment.
  • Water out of balance on the high side forms scale buildup, leaving unsightly deposits.
  • Out of balance water can also cause skin and eye irritation, staining, cloudy water and it will interfere with the efficiency of sanitizers.

Why Stabilizer is important?

Without stabilizer, the sun’s rays would quickly destroy the chlorine in your pool (extend the life of chlorine up to 3 ½ times). Your local dealer can tell you how much pool stabilizer you need and how to properly apply it

Chlorine

Chlorine remains the most effective, economical and widely used pool sanitizer for three reasons:

  1. It kills algae
  2. It kills bacteria and other disease causing organisms.\
  3. It removes organic debris and swimmer wastes through the process of oxidation.

Keeping the water clean

Undesirable wastes such as perspiration, body oils, and other contaminants eventually accumulate in your pool. To eliminate the contaminants and revitalize the chlorine, a process called “Shock Treatment” is required which is sometimes referred to as “Superchlorination. ” Typically 5-10 times the normal dose is used, based upon actual conditions and needs. The purpose of this large dose is to break down the combined chlorine, organic waste and contamination and re-establish a positive level of free chlorine

Algae

Wind, rain, and leaves introduce microscopic algae spores into your pool. When this plant life is allowed to multiply, it consumes chlorine and causes an unsightly, sometimes slippery condition that can be difficult to eliminate. The use of specialty chemicals or algaecides is recommended to provide a back up to normal sanitation and filtration processes and is completely necessary for many pools.

Lastly here are some useful chemical safety tips you should always remember

  • Never mix different types of chlorine

  • Never mix chemicals together. Add them to the pool separately.

  • Do not use quantities in excess of the recommended dosage on the label. After shock treating, you must wait until the free available chlorine residual is at the level recommended by the label instructions.

  • Keep all chemicals out of the reach of children.

  • Containers should always be kept closed when not in use.

  • Do not use contents of unlabeled containers.

  • Never add water to chemicals. Always add chemicals to water.

  • Wash out the container when empty; then dispose of it according to the directions on the label.

  • Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the chemicals.

  • Use a separate, clean plastic measuring cup for each chemical.

Call (919) 961-1909 for your own personalized pool maintenance services from the experts at Aqua Haven Pools.

Aqua Haven Customer Commitment
We take pride in our work and believe that our success is measured by client satisfaction. Outstanding personalized customer service is part of the foundation Aqua Haven Pools is built on.