POOL MAINTENANCE
Pool maintenance Las Vegas – Maintenance is crucial if you want to continuously enjoy doing the fun activities in your pool. Your pool can provide you with a lot of essential benefits such as exercise, relaxation, and entertainment, but if you do not take care of it, you would not be able to make the most out of your pool.
POOL MAINTENANCE LAS VEGAS, NV
Proper Water Circulation
Excellent water circulation is essential especially when it comes to achieving safe and clean pool water. If there is proper water circulation, you will be able to prevent algae growth and buildup. In addition, algae can multiply and grow fast during the summer season and hot weather. Water circulation also helps distribute the chemicals properly and evenly throughout the water and this makes the water safe and clean to swim in. Aside from making sure that there is good water circulation, you also need to make sure that you regularly clean the skimmers and baskets to remove any dirt or debris that may clog the filter.
Follow these simple tips on how you can achieve excellent water circulation for all seasons. During the summer, it is essential to make sure that you are running your pump for at least 8 up to 12 hours a day, and during the winter season, you have to run your pump for at least 4 to 6 hours a day. Always position your jets in a diagonal position and try to set them at the 7 or 8 o’clock position so you can achieve the best results. On the other hand, if you only have one jet, what you can do is to point the jet on the opposite side of the skimmer. You can also point your jets downwards so that the water that is on the bottom of the pool will go up to the surface and this will provide good water circulation in your pool.
Cleaning A Cartridge Filter
Typically, there are three types of filters used in swimming pools and these are cartridge filters, sand filters, and D.E. filters. However, the most common types that are being used are cartridge filters and sand filters. Cleaning a cartridge filter takes only approximately 30 minutes, assuming that there is no obvious damage to the filter. The first thing that you need to do is to always check the pressure gauge as this will tell you if your filter needs cleaning. If the pressure gauge shows 8 to 12 psi, then it means that it is time to clean your cartridge filters.
The next step that you would need to do is to turn off your pool’s filtration system and you also need to make sure if the automatic setting of your filtration system is turned off. It is essential to make sure that these are both turned off during the entire pool cleaning process.
Slowly release the air valve to eliminate trapped air from the tank and once the air has been removed, unlock the tension clamps. If you are not sure how you will be able to unlock the tension clamps, it would be best to follow the instructions on your user manual. The locking mechanism may differ from other models, so it is important to follow the steps provided in the manual.
After successfully removing the tension clamps, make sure to set them aside as you will need to reinstall them after cleaning the cartridge filters. Remove the cartridge filter and look for cracks or tears. If you notice that there are large cracks or tears, then it would be best to replace them with a new filter. On the other hand, if you do not see any damages, you can proceed with cleaning the filter. You have to keep in mind that a damaged filter will not be effective in cleaning the water and filtering debris.
The next thing that you would need to do is to use a pressurized hose to clean the cartridge filter. Start on the top of the filter working your way down to the bottom of the filter. You have to make sure that you clean the pleats in between the filter to make sure that dirt and debris are removed properly.
Most often, cartridge filters are filled up with oils such as sunblock and other chemicals that are present in the water. What you can do is to soak the cartridge filter into a filter cleaner and make sure to let it soak for a few minutes. You can also use dishwashing detergent to clean your cartridge filter from oils. Before you reinstall the cartridge filter back into the tank, make sure that your rinse the filter properly.
It is also essential to apply a silicone-based lubricant into the O-ring before installing the cartridge filter back to the tank. The silicone lubricant will help extend the lifespan of the O-ring. The next thing that you would need to do is to reinstall the cartridge filter and make sure that you position it properly and then secure the tank lid. Turn the filtration system on and keep the air valve open to release excess air inside the tank.
The next thing that you would need to do is to check the reading on the pressure gauge. If the gauge shows 10 to 15 psi, then it means that the filter is clean and that it is working properly. However, if you do not see any reading, then you will have to turn off the filtration system and reinstall the filter.
Cleaning A Sand Filter
It is also essential to clean the sand filters regularly to make sure that the water in your swimming pool is clean. Check the pressure gauge as this will help you determine if your filter needs cleaning. If you see a reading of 10 to 15 psi, it means that your sand filter is still clean. However, if you see a reading of 20 to 25 psi, you will need to do a process called backwashing to clean your filter. Another way of knowing when to clean your sand filters is if your pool water is cloudy. Backwashing is a process that will reverse the flow of water back into the sand filter through a hose to remove dirt and debris.
Again, you have to make sure that both the pool power and the pump is turned off before you proceed with the backwashing process. You might see different options such as rinse, flush, waste, recirculate, closed, and backwash. All you need to do is set the lever to the backwash setting and turn the power on for approximately 2 to 3 minutes and then turn it off. The next thing that you will need to do is to wait for the sand to settle and set the lever to the rinse option and turn the power on and wait for another 2 to 3 minutes.
After the rinse setting, set the lever to the flush setting. You can also use this option to reduce the amount of water in your swimming pool if you are planning to manually vacuum the floor and brush the walls of your pool. You can use the waste setting if you do not want the water circulating back into the pool or if you want to completely drain the water out of your pool.
Maintain Balanced Water Chemistry
Skimming
Skimming is definitely easier than vacuuming and you will need to skim your pool daily to remove leaves and other debris. It only takes a few minutes to skim the surface of your pool. This will also help avoid debris from going to the bottom of the pool and clog up the filtration system.
Brushing
Brushing effectively removes algae and other harmful microbes. You have to make sure that you brush the areas that are very hard to reach such as the walls, steps, pool fixtures, slides, and behind the pool ladders. This will help prevent algae from spreading.
Vacuuming
After brushing the pool you can use a pool vacuum cleaner to further clean your pool. You can invest in an energy-efficient automatic pool cleaner such as a robotic vacuum if you do not want to manually vacuum your pool. Keep in mind that you will need to vacuum your pool at least once a week.
Indicators of a Balanced Water
PH Level
PH is the index of acidity or alkalinity. A pH level below 7 (acidic) may start to cause a sting or a mild burning sensation. Low pH levels can cause metal corrosion, especially on heat exchange coils that are made of copper. A swimming pool will normally increase in pH over time. To make the necessary adjustment, muriatic acid is added to lower the pH and soda ash to increase it
Total Alkalinity (TA)
Total Alkalinity indicates your water’s ability to buffer any changes in pH level. By adding a large amount of baking soda, the TA is raised, preferably in titrated amounts, as necessary. To counteract excessively high TA and prevent calcium scaling, the addition of muriatic acid or dry acid reverses the condition.
Free Chlorine (FC)
FC is the most important index of water balance. A low FC renders the water suitable for algae to grow, making it unsafe for swimming. FC is consumed when it breaks down organic material present on the water. Exposure to sunlight also degrades available FC. Thus, frequent monitoring ensures the availability of chlorine to sanitize the water and to keep it safe
Combined Chlorine (CC)
CC is produced as a breakdown product during pool sanitation. It causes the observable chlorine odor in swimming pools. A CC that is above 0.5 parts per million indicates that something in the water is being broken down by Free Chlorine (FC).
Cyanuric Acid (CYA)
CYA protects FC from degradation by sunlight. It also stabilizes available FC by keeping some FC from being readily available for reacting with organic matter. The level of CYA is proportional to the amount of FC that is needed to exert the desired result by overcoming its modulating effects. The higher the CYA, the more FC is needed.
CYA is added by placing the granular compound in a sock which is then placed inside the skimmer or by suspending in the path of a pool return. Pumps should be running for 24 hours, with the contents of the sock to be fully dissolved. CYA levels are measured 1 day after they’re fully dissolved in water. Afterwhich, adjustments can be made by adding water or subjecting to reverse osmosis.
Hire Pool Builders of Las Vegas
Save yourself the hassle of maintaining and cleaning your inground pool. At Pool Builders of Las Vegas, we go the extra mile to provide high-quality services at reasonable rates. You can count on us for experienced professionals and premium cleansing agents. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our pool maintenance and cleaning solutions. We look forward to working with you!
