Swimming pool contractors, swimming pool repairs, swimming pool installation, pool cleaning, pool & spa maintenance, water quality, cleaning tools, wall & floor brush, algae brush, remote cleaner.
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.
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.
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.
A remote cleaner is used for in-ground pools.
A remote cleaner is used for above-ground pools.
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.
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.