CLEANER WATER
pool water
Keeping your swimming pool water clear is just a matter of routine
I
t’s known that one of the things which worries, if not deters people from owning their own swimming pool is how to keep the water clear and safe to swim in.
The good news is that the task is neither complicated nor onerous. There are regular checks you need to make on a daily and a weekly basis and there’s some great products on the market to ensure you do this properly. These checks will highlight what condition the pool water is in. Alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness are all inter linked and affect each other so it’s a question of trial and error and understanding the state of the water on any given testing day. Regular chemical treatments keep the water clear by ridding the water of body wastes, algae and other contaminates. And you’ll need to make sure that pool surfaces are kept clear and free from debris. A pool sweeper will take all the hard work out of cleaning pool floors. They are safe and very effective. There’s a lot of help available if you get confused or concerned about water maintenance. Your pool installer will offer help and advice and some now include a full maintenance service contract and will come round and do it all for you.
You don’t need to worry about chlorine
When you add chlorine to a pool it is like sterilising it.
If chlorine is used carefully and 94 WHAT POOL & HOT TUB
correctly then there won’t be a problem. Chlorine works because it kills bacteria and algae consistently and thoroughly. SPATA, the Swimming Pool and Allied
Trades Association recommend chlorine as its preferred system for cleansing pools. It is also likely to be recommended by most pool installers and retail pool outlets. There are checks to make sure you are adding chlorine correctly: Buy the chlorine product best-suited for your pool. There are many types of chlorine products. Liquid chlorine is used for large pools and is difficult to use for the average pool owner. There are tablets that contain chlorine and a chlorine stabiliser or conditioner. You can also purchase granular chlorine that dissolves quickly. It is best, however, to talk to a pool specialist about your pool, its size, and filter and pump system. Use the correct amount of chlorine. After you purchase your chlorine, you will need to put the chlorine carefully in the correct location in the pool, either in the floaters, skimmers or in-line erosion feeders. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and wear gloves and goggles as a precautionary measure. You may need to add a chlorine stabiliser or conditioner to your pool. Discuss this with your pool specialist, but depending on the chlorine you use, you may only need to do this once per season or once every few weeks. Test your chlorine levels a couple of hours after adding more chlorine. Also test your pH levels since they are often affected after adding chlorine. Do this
before you let anyone swim. If necessary, add the correct chemicals to bring your levels back to normal. Follow all manufacturer directions and test again before allowing swimmers in the pool.
THANKFULLY IT’S NOT COMPLICATED – JUST A MATTER OF ROUTINE
Every day Make sure you check the skimmer basket which must be cleared of any debris. If it isn’t then fresh, clear water can’t circulate around the pool. Debris such as leaves, twigs, and insects must be cleared from the surface using a leaf net.
Every week
Check the pH level of the pool. This is important as you need to get the right balance of the water. The pH level is the measure of acidity or alkalinity in the water and needs to be checked and tested every week. The pH level needs to be slightly on the alkaline side which is a reading of about 7.2 to 7.6. It is at this level that chlorine is most effective. Moreover this level is similar to the pH of our skin. The readings can be controlled by adding either an acid or an alkali.
Incorrect pH levels can damage pool equipment.
CLEAR AND SAFE
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