Having a pool at home is a necessity for many who can afford it. A swimming pool be used for exercise and can also enhance the social aspect of your life. Like any other equipment used frequently, wear and tear tend to happen, and pool repair signs start to manifest.
Maintaining a pool is generally easy. With regular checking and upkeep, owners can prevent the pool from acting up and yielding more damage.
Practical Pool Maintenance Tips
Here are some simple maintenance repair tips that you can follow:
· Balanced pH
pH stands for “Potential Hydrogen.” It pays to understand what an unbalanced pH can do to your pool. A pool’s ideal pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.8. If the level falls too low, the water balances itself and consumes metal parts of your equipment, such as the heater and pumps. On the flip side, if the pH level is too high, the water can cause the build-up of scale deposits on the pool walls and other surfaces.
Testing the pool water alkalinity should be done two to three times a week using test kits readily available in home centers.
· Healthy Filters
As the name implies, a pool’s filter keeps foreign objects such as debris and other particles off the water. Therefore, pool filters are essential in having a healthy swimming pool that is free from bacteria growth. All pool filters have cartridges, and you should clean this once or twice per year. Different pool filters in the market offer a variety of efficiency based on your pool’s needs.
· Clean Skimmers
Skimmers are inlet boxes at the side of your pool near the waterline. It sorts larger particles and debris that can damage the filters. It’s a must to clean this once every week. Do this by turning on the pump and allowing the particles to fall into the basket. You must then empty and wash the basket before putting it back again.
· Keep the Tile Free of Impurities
Cleaning the pool tiles is easy. With the help of a trusty scrub brush, you can work your way from the shallow part of the pool to the deeper area. It helps rinse the pool first with trisodium phosphate solution to loosen stubborn grimes.
· Pump Performance
A pool pump pushes the water through the filter and disperses the chemical into the pool system. Then, it circulates the water through the filter, providing cleaner water you can enjoy. Pool pumps are easy to maintain. You have clean the pump’s strainer basket at least once a week, and you’re all set.
Despite meticulous pool maintenance, some damages are still inevitable. It would help if you did routine checks. It also pays if you are very particular in spotting pool repair signs.
4 Pool Repair Signs Never to Be Ignored
Below are pool repair signs that you should never ignore.
1. Green Pool Water
When you find your pool water murky and green, it indicates algae growth and, thus, would need an immediate fix. Although this can happen any time of the year, algae growth is especially prevalent during warm months.
Swimming pool owners can prevent algae growth easily as long as the pool’s chlorine level is maintained. For severe algae growth, a chlorine shock with an algaecide supplement might be necessary.
2. Leaks
Leaks are definitely pool repair signs that you should not ignore. Aside from the fact that it is hard to detect, leaks can cause significant damage over time.
Common pool leak signs include higher water bills, water build-up around your pool area despite non-usage and a gradual decrease in your pool’s water level.
There are two kinds of leaks that can plague your equipment. One is a concrete leak that can easily be solved using sealers. Plumbing leaks are more complicated and would require a pool expert to fix.
3. Stinky Water
When your pool water begins to stink and discolor despite increasing chlorine dosage, this might mean that you need to check your pipes. Blocked pipes are a common pool problem. This happens when the water intake and outtake lines are blocked with leaves, hair, twigs, and other particles. The stinky water is a telltale sign that the filter is not working and bacteria are starting to form.
It is best to call a professional when this happens instead of attempting to fix it yourself. The pool service team would blast water through the main drain line and force these particles out.
4. Strong Suction on Certain Parts of the Pool
As a pool owner, you should take action immediately when there is a strong suction in any part of your pool. A strong suction power indicates that your pool’s vacuum cover has been removed or is broken.
More than the pool’s health, a broken or missing vacuum cover can pose safety and health risks to swimmers, especially children and those with lesser swimming capabilities. This can cause drowning and other accidents such as body parts caught in drainages.
Let Cherry Pool Services Help in Maintaining Your Pool
It is practical to contact an expert at the earliest pool repair signs. If you are in the San Diego, CA area, contact Cherry Pool Services at (858) 999-1004 to learn more about how we can help you.