Many
Florida homeowners have the luxury of owning swimming pools. Hot weather =
Clean and balanced water chemistry are the keys to pool maintenance. Make you sure you have a water testing kit. Many pool stores sell test kits where you can
test the water. Too low of a PH can
cause several types of algae to begin growing.
Treating the out-of-balance water is more costly than maintaining the water. Too high of a PH can cause the internal parts
of your pool pump, cleaning equipment and other parts to break down over time.
BALANCE
Establish a weekly routine to clean
the pool and maintain the chemical balance. Set reminders on your smart phone
to remind you to add tablets to the chlorinator or test the water weekly. Test the pH and free available chlorine in
the pool water and shock-treat, if necessary, on a weekly basis. if any of the
following occurs, you may need to do an additional shock treatment:
·
Very heavy rains and windstorms,
·
More swimmers than usual
·
Foul odor from the pool water
·
Extreme temperatures
·
Algae growth
CHLORINATE
Bacteria
and algae can grow at a rapid rate.. Your continuous chlorine level should
always fall between 1 and 4 ppm for proper sanitation and to prevent bacteria
and algae.
·
Liquid Chlorine – Liquid chlorine is
two to three times stronger than household bleach. Liquid chlorine is easy to
apply and an effective sanitizer, but it has a short shelf life compared to
other chlorine products and you must be careful when pouring into your pool
water not to splash onto your clothing.
·
Chlorinating Tabs - Many varieties
of chlorine sanitizers offer a multifunctional approach to pool care. Two 3”
tablets in the chlorinator on a per week average is what I use and I turn the
chlorinator to “full” in the summer months.
There are a variety of chlorinating tabs available to sanitize your
pool, kill bacteria and control algae, while softening your water and protect
pool equipment.
SHOCK
YOUR POOL
Shocking
weekly can get rid of contaminants that cause cloudy water, chlorine odor and
eye irritation, while also preventing future problems and reducing the need for
other chemicals. Basic shock products help kill bacteria and break down
cosmetics, suntan lotions, perspiration and other swimmer wastes that can't be
filtered out of pool water. It reduces
chlorine odor, eye irritation and it helps to keep your pool sparkling clear.
ALGAECIDE
Add Algaecide to Your Pool - Millions of tiny microscopic plants in the form of algae
can march into your pool by rain, wind and fill water. Leave it unchecked and
your water will quickly become unusable due to clogged filters, low water
circulation and reduced effectiveness of pool chemicals. Algaecides prevent
algae from taking prevention is the key to an algae-free pool. Some algaecides
quickly kill all types of algae and prevent them from returning. Other
algaecides focus specifically on preventing and removing green algae, which is
the most common kind found in a pool. In the case of an algae outbreak,
algaecides can quickly and efficiently eliminate the problem and restore your
pool to sparkling clear. The type that
seems to sneak into my swimming pool is the yellow mustard algae which appears
when the warmer temperatures kick in the water is warmer.
CLEAN
THE POOL
Skim debris out of the pool.
Clean all skimmer baskets during swimming season.
Clean the walls and floor. Use cleaners, brushes and vacuums recommended by the pool manufacturer. Start at the shallow end and continue to the deep end. Overlap each stroke when vacuuming and brushing to cover all areas thoroughly. Always keep the vacuum head under water while in use. Otherwise air will get into the hose and cause a bubble in your vacuum.
Hose down the pool area. Direct the spray away from the pool to prevent dirt from washing into the water.
I take a water sample to my local pool
store for testing if I am having difficulty balancing the water. Your local pool store will provide free testing and advice. Many times it is a simple fix such as adding
calcium to the water or adjusting the PH level. If your pool has
been “let go”, they can help you straighten out the water balance. Usually they provide a computer print-out of
what the water needs with a written step by step process on how and when to add
chemicals. Make sure you follow the
directions carefully so as not to have to repeat steps and add more expense to
the cure.
The longer you own your pool and work
with it, you will learn what keeps it sparkling. I can detect a slight tinge in the color or
the water or it “feels” different and I know what it needs. Maintaining your swimming pool is really not
that difficult. Staying on top of it and
being consistent is the key. Just
remember, if you let it go for even a week or two, the results of no
maintenance cost more in the long run to reverse than just regular maintenance.
Have a fun and safe swimming season!
by JoAnn Young - Florida Realtor, Young & Young Properties
