Swimming Pools and Spas, Informative and Ready to Work for You 610-789-0354

An expanding information page for: Swimming Pools and Spas Maintenance

A.  General Information
B.  Cleaning Tools
C.  Routine Pool Maintenance
D.  Spas
E.  Maintaining Water Quality
cloudy or milky water
cloudy, greenish water
rust-colored water

A. General Information
Maintaining your pool or spa, for the most part, includes just simple cleaning and upkeep. Of course, sometimes problems come up, like murky water or noisy pumps, etc. Usually, you can handle these problems on your own, but sometimes the larger, more technical repairs require professional help. It takes a steady commitment to keep the interior of your swimming pool fresh and clean. It helps if you clean it at least a little bit after each use - maybe leaf skimming, vacuuming, or brushing.

B. Cleaning Tools
Tools for cleaning can be found at any large pool-supply retailer. nylon-bristle_brush

A wall and floor brush is a nylon-bristle brush that cleans the walls and floor of vinyl, fiberglass, and painted pools.

An algae brush may be required for concrete pools; its stainless-steel bristles are good for cleaning plaster walls.
handheld_tile-brush

A handheld tile brush is used for tiled walls. A handheld tile brush cleans the walls and floor of vinyl, fiberglass, and painted pools. This brush can be used for removing calcium scale and other deposits without harming the grout. Use a pumice stone for stubborn spots on tile.
remote cleaners

A remote cleaner is used for in-ground pools.
cleaner above-ground pool

A remote cleaner is used for above-ground pools.

leaf-skimmer

The leaf skimmer is a long-handled net used to get out big pieces of floating debris. A vacuum suctions out dirt that has settled on the bottom. It either connects to a pool's circulation system or has its own power supply.

C. Routine Pool Maintenance
One of the quickest, most effective ways to keep a pool clean is skimming. It helps the pool's circulation system and reduces the need for chlorine. clean filter It also helps to keep the strainer baskets clear. Take out anything that could obstruct the water flow at least once a week. Vacuuming every week keeps the water clear and reduces the need to add sanitizing chemicals. You may need to clean the filter every time you vacuum, depending on the amount of dirt in the pool. Brushing the pool walls at least once a week helps eliminate everything from calcium scale to algae buildup before they become serious problems. On a plaster-lined concrete pool, you can use a stiff brush, but fiberglass and vinyl pools need a softer brush. Don't use anything too abrasive or stiff for tiles. Water-line tile scum can be removed with a nonabrasive chlorine-based liquid and a tile brush or sponge. Whatever type of pool you have, make sure to use a cleaner recommended by the pool manufacturer.

D. Spas
Spas tend to need frequent maintenance because of their exceedingly high water temperatures and the heavy use they get. Tools for cleaning spas are basically the same as those used for swimming pools - just on a smaller scale. The skimmer is used the same way. A spa vacuum can be powered in several ways. If your spa is not connected to the circulation system of an in-ground pool, a good solution is a vacuum that's powered by a jet of water from a garden hose. An alternative to a vacuum is a spa wand, which also collects debris through suction. It can be powered either by pumping or turning the handle or by a rechargeable battery. It can be used to clean pool steps, too. You will need a bucket and a soft sponge for cleaning interior spa walls. Because a spa is so small, even a little amount of debris can lower the efficiency of the circulation system, so you should use the skimmer every time you use the spa. You should also either vacuum or use a spa wand twice a week to remove anything that settled to the bottom. For the circulation system to work right, the baskets should be free of debris. Clean the skimmers twice a week by taking out anything blocking the water flow. With in-ground spas, the strainer baskets are hidden in the surrounding deck; for portable spas, they are near the pump. Spa water needs to be drained pretty often because total dissolved solids build up fast. Brush the spa interior to eliminate calcium scales and any algae buildup. You can use a stiff brush on a plaster-lined concrete spa, but fiberglass and acrylic spas are more delicate. Don't use anything to stiff or abrasive to clean tile. A pumice stone works well to remove scale. Very heavy scale can be scraped with a putty knife. An alternative is to dissolve the scale with a 50-50 mix of water and muriatic acid. Then apply the mixture with a nylon brush and start scrubbing. Rinse it well when you're done.

E. Maintaining Water Quality
You will occasionally run into problems, even with good maintenance of your pool or spa. If you have a loss of grouting in tiled pools or spas, it's caused by soft water that has low calcium levels and sometimes dissolves calcium in grouting. Regrout the pool and test the calcium levels in the water. If it's lower than 250 ppm, add calcium chloride.

If you have slippery surfaces, use a brush on the area to remove as much algae as possible, then superchlorinate. You may need an algaecide to prevent recurrence. If your pump runs but doesn't pump, shut it off before it burns out. Check the water level and add more water if needed. Check the filter and clean or replace it. If the pump still doesn't work, call a technician to check for impeller damage or air leaks.

If you see cloudy or milky water, it's from residue from suntan lotion or other oils. Clean the skimmer baskets and filter, and operate the pump for a longer time. Superchlorinate the pool, then add a clarifier, which causes suspended particles to settle.

If you have cloudy, greenish water, superchlorinate the water with chlorine - to 10 ppm if the water is only slightly green and to 25 ppm if water is solid green. Brush interior walls to remove algae, and clean filter to remove dead algae.

If you have rust-colored water, replace any metal fittings with copper or plastic piping. Contact your pool installer to find out how to drain or dilute the rust-colored water safely. Remove any rust stains with a tile-and-liner cleaner. Make sure the fresh water you add is properly balanced. If you notice eye or throat irritation, test and correct the pH. To lower it, add dry acid daily according to packaging instructions until you get the right pH reading. To raise pH, add soda ash in the same way. If peoples' blond or tinted hair turns green, check the pH and raise it if needed. If too much algaecide has been added, add more water to bring the pool or spa into balance. Routine maintenance is the best defense against problems with water quality.