Keeping Up With Your Pool Part Two
by: markagua
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Word Count: 842
The proper care and upkeep of pools was covered in a recent article I wrote, along with how to adjust the pool PH and chlorine amounts as needed. However, please be aware that there are additional steps that must be done to take good care of your pool. PH and chlorine are just the basics to keeping up your pool. For a truly healthy pool, you need to know some of the other pool care steps.
Your pool water’s hardness will need to be checked annually. Testing the water is best left to the professionals, and you can take a small sample of your water into your local pool store. They will establish how hard your water is, often recommending baking soda as a sure fix to the problem. You can find baking soda at any local grocery, but for this solution you will need several pounds. Depending on how hard your water is, you will be directed to buy a specific amount of baking soda per gallon of water and then mix it into your existing pool water. Stir the water well with your pool skimmer and let the water sit undisturbed for a day.
When you add baking soda, the PH of your pool will change because the baking soda cancels out the acid in the water. Therefore, you will need to recheck your pool’s PH level before use and most likely add quite a bit of increaser to cancel out the baking soda’s affect on the water. You will not need to worry about sending in more water to be tested, as adding extra increaser will not change the water hardness.
Algae will also need to be checked for. Although algae can grow in any pool, if your pool has a good chlorine balance, it is less likely to support algae growth. In order to properly treat pool algae, one of three different chemicals is required. Be careful as you work to remove the algae because even though some are common, like red and yellow, black algae are deadly. The green powdery alga - Mustard Algae - is very difficult to kill. Ordinary chlorine has no effect on eliminating this alga, so shocking the water two or three times is necessary to rid your pond of this substance. It is really important that you test your pool for algae at least twice a year, especially if you notice that the sides of the pool are starting to change color. The people working for the pool service company will be able to help you pick out the right chemicals for each type of algae, and you will be able to buy those chemicals at your local pool store.
Water that appears to contain a white dust or looks like it is made up of fine clouds is considered murky. The purchase of a water clarifier may be necessary if this happens. Once you have added the clarifier to the pool, the clouds will clump together and fall to the bottom of the pool in little white balls. Using a good pool vacuum such as a Polaris, these white spheres can easily be sucked up. Pool vacuums are available for purchase at most pool stores, you can also find vacuums that live at the bottom of your pool for continuous up keeping. Once you add the clarifier, the pool vacuum will remove any small bits of mud or other debris.
You should also check the filters, especially if your pool has a diatomaceous earth filter. If you use a diatomaceous earth filter on your pool, you need to refill them with dirt every week or so, and they require constant upkeep. Nevertheless, this filter type is one of the best that you can buy. Paper filers require you to purchase many of them because they need to be changed out constantly, but they don't require as much checking. Sand filters are the most economical because they require you to change them less often than other types.
Occasionally, you will find dead animals and insects in your pool. There's no reason to be unduly alarmed. Your pool looks like a paradise to animals and insects of all kinds, most of them thinking that you put in a new watering hole just for them. Even with a pool cover, you will get visitors often, especially if they get stuck underneath your protective cover. Make sure that you clean out the filter baskets on a weekly basis and keep a large pool skimmer on hand so that you can easily remove the small insects and rodents, which may vary depending on your location.
Remember there is hope if you feel overwhelmed. It can be cheap to upkeep your pool, especially if you want to do it during the winter. The many supplies needed to clean a pool- filters, testing kits, reagents, chemicals, baking soda containers, chlorine tablets, clarifiers, and algaecides- are often more costly than hiring a company to do it for you. If you have a pool company nearby, we recommend that you use them.
About the Author
Mark Agualera didn’t have time to constantly care his pool. Once he went out to test the water and check the filters anyway so that his kids could enjoy an after-school swim. Then, his neighbor told him about Serrano pool service and repair, a Cameron Park pool maintenance company. Since then, he has been able to enjoy his time at home, knowing that his pool is in good hands.
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