TOP 5 MISTAKES SWIMMING POOL OWNERS MAKE

Before reading this, may I recommend you to read first, FILTERS AND PUMPS OF SWIMMING POOL: Important tools for Pool Maintenance

When the hot summer comes there is no better place to make you cool and relax than your own swimming pool. There are lots of funs to have a pool, but they do need a little regular maintenance to keep running appropriately.

There are assured things every pool owners has to do on a fairly regular basis to remain your pool operation in the best condition. And while you may be tempted to omit a maintenance matter every once in awhile, finally, you may find your pool is not working appropriately. In the worse case, you may face a huge repair bill to fix it.

Top 5 Most Normal Mistakes Pool Owners Make:

1. Not running your pump long enough. The operation of your pump is critical to the operation of just about everything else related to your pool. Your filter, heater, automatic pool cleaner, and chlorinator will not work unless your pump is operating efficiently. A good pool pump has 2 speeds and we suggest that you operate it 24 – 7.

2. Not maintaining the right water level in your pool. If the water level in your pool is at or near the base of your tile line in your pool, the pump starts to draw air (rather than water) into your circulating system. This causes your pump to lose its “prime.” When the pump loses its prime, water is no longer moving through the circulating system and none of your equipment is working.

CAUTION: The water inside of your pump housing can reach over 200 degrees if your pump operates for an extended period of time without a “prime.” The heat and the steam created can melt piping, fittings, and your pump. If you open the pump strainer, SCALDING WATER CAN SPRAY OUT WITH DISASTEROUS RESULTS!!! Never open the strainer housing on your pump if you even think that this condition might exist. Turn the pump off and wait for the water to cool before opening the pump strainer housing.

3. Not adding pH adjustment chemicals to your pool water. Salt chlorination raises the pH of your water. If you don’t add enough muriatic acid to your pool water on weekly basis, YOU WILL DEVELOP SCALE. Scale will appear as white streaks and encrustations on your pool plaster. This will be especially troublesome on colored plaster pools.

4. Don’t regularly clean your equipment. Your swimming pool is built with specially designed equipment such as the pump strainer basket, chlorinator cell and filter elements. And without regular maintenance these parts will malfunction and eventually need replacement. Furthermore these are considered normal maintenance procedures that you have to perform and are not part of your warranty.

For instance, if your pump basket is not cleaned regularly, and re-inserted properly, debris will clog the impeller and the pump will not perform properly. Or if you neglect your chlorinator cell it can become encrusted with calcium and other minerals dissolved in your water, the chlorinator will not work. And if your filter elements get dirty, it becomes harder for the water to pass through and will eventually shut your whole system down!

5. Not testing your water. This is one of the “golden rules” of pool ownership - you CANNOT determine the condition of your pool water simply by looking at it. Of course if your water is cloudy or green, it certainly needs attention. But did you know that your water can be hazardous to your health, even if it “looks” good?

Weekly testing of your water, followed up by monthly testing by your local pool chemical store, is the only way to keep your water up. A little time and money spent on adjustment chemicals can save you lots of money in the long run.