"As a pool prefessional I get asked a lot of questions. Here is a fast list of this seasons most popular questions.

Dealing With New Water

Something many people don't comprehend is that faucet water is not pool water. To make tap water into swimming pool water, changes need to be made to the alkalinity and calcium hardness. Metals and minerals in the water need to be sequestered. Stabilizer has to be included so your chlorine will remain in the pool. Finally, the Ph is actively managed and sanitizer (chlorine) is included. If, while including water, the swimming pool is overflowed, all the new water MUST be dealt with. Similarly, if the pool is over drained and refilled, the water MUST be treated. Refraining from doing so can result in staining and damage to the plaster, damage to the equipment, algae development and unsafe swimming conditions. This need to be addressed any time 12 or more inches of water is changed.

Pet dogs In Swimming pools

Individuals ask all the time if it is OKAY for their dog to swim in the swimming pool. The response is yes. However, you ought to anticipate the pool to need more attention, more chemicals and more filter cleansings. DO NOT let your pet swim after playing in the ocean, lake, river, creek, etc. Those waters are filled with things that we don't want in our pools. Likewise, do not let your pet swim to clean off soap after a bath. Soaps and cleaning agents can add phosphates to the swimming pool and trigger uncontrollable algae development.

Valve Settings with Cleaners

If you don't understand what the valves do, have a swimming pool guy out to label them for you.

In an attempt to speed up the cleaner, in some cases individuals will alter the valve to be ""all cleaner"". This is never ever ok. Neither the cleaner nor the pipes are developed for it.

Filters

Filters should be cleaned regularly. Under regular circumstances, for every 100 square feet of filter, you will get one month between cleanings. For example, if you have a 300. filter, it requires to be cleaned every 3 months. They ought to NEVER be pressure washed. In the most desperate of situations, just an expert need to try pressure cleaning. When cleaning the filters, utilize a hose pipe nozzle with a strong, single beam of water. If you are not utilizing a good tube nozzle, you are not getting a good cleaning.

You will also require to replace the filters. For every 100. of filter you will get 1 year of life expectancy. The exact same 300. system will last 3 years. Exceeding the life period will trigger issues such as bad water clarity, heavy chemical demands, algae growth and damaged internal parts.

DE filters are various than explained above and will not be addressed here as Elk Grove Pools does not service DE systems.

Draining pipes Pools

Draining a pool can cause major issues. The pool can ""drift"" out of the ground, plaster can delaminate, gaskets and o-rings dry. Plus, when you fill up with fresh water it will need a complete brand-new water launch, $$$. We never recommend draining.

Rather, we water swap. This is where a sump pump is put on the very first or 2nd step to get rid of 6 to 8 inches of water at a time, while a hose remains in the bottom of the deep end adding the new water. This procedure is longer and more costly, however does not bring any of the draining pipes risks.

Solar Blankets

Solar blankets are utilized to help warm the swimming pool. If you have one, follow these standards.

Don't allow water to pond on the surface area. It will grow algae or bacteria and eventually enter into the pool. Put the cover away if it is going to rain. While swimming pools can handle the sluggish daily accumulation of dust and dirt and things, having a good downpour wash a months worth of debris in can't be handled.

If you have a chlorine floater, put it beside the skimmer. This helps circulate chlorine better and is easier to get to.

Seawater Pools

Here is the brief version of my tirade against chlorine generators:

If you desire soft water, just include some salt. That is the only part of the sales pitch that holds true. Everything else they tell you is misleading or a flat out lie. You do not require or desire a chlorine generator. It is pricey, only works half of the year (so you include chlorine the other half), produces a huge acid need, requires regular cleansing (with acid), lasts about 4 all this wonderful device does is make the precise very same chlorine that you might have received from an $8.00 floater and a tablet.

Likewise, not all devices is ranked suitable with seawater, the concrete around the pool is not going to like the salt and the landscaping won't either.

Phosphates

Phosphates are the prevalent ingredient in fertilizer. Since algae is a plant, high levels will promote robust algae development. Indications of this issue are green algae on walls, but not in the water, algae accumulation on the cleaner and its pipes, massive intake of chemicals and rapid return of algae after stunning and brushing.

There are too lots of methods in which phosphates are introduced to the swimming pool to list here, however some of them are: dead skin cells, decaying plant (leaves), bird droppings, backyard fertilizer (carried in by feet or unintentionally broadcast into swimming pool), landscape overflow, any soap/ cleanser, bubbles or simply from dirt and dust in the air. If trees or plants grow over or into a swimming pool there will constantly be a problem with phosphates.

Treatment is intricate and can quickly cost $150.00 or more. Repeat culprits will want to use a regular monthly upkeep dosage rather of waiting on problems to develop."