When the weather heats up there is no better place to cool off and relax than your own swimming pool. However owning a pool is a little bit like owning a vehicle. They are a lot of fun to own, but they do require regular maintenance to keep running properly.
And while you may be tempted to skip a maintenance issue every once in awhile – sooner or later you may find your pool isn’t working properly. Or worse you may face a big repair bill to fix it!
A new swim season is here and now is a perfect time to reflect on things that could have (or did) go wrong with your swimming pool, and what could be done to prevent them from happening in the future.
Mistake 1: Not hiring a professional
Maintenance is a four letter word, so hire a professional to do things right.
So you just got your pool balanced and clear, but you know in a week it will be back to cloudy and/or green water. That’s because pool owners neglect routine maintenance which help prevent issues from occurring. Running an automatic cleaner will help, but it cannot replicate using a pool brush to target the entire pool surface. A weekly maintenance schedule will prevent algae problems and will keep your pool crystal clear all summer long when applied with a routine pool chemical balancing schedule. The proper maintenance of a swimming pool can be very simple for some pools and very difficult for other pools depending on many different factors. The most common reasons pool owners start having problems is directly related to the biggest mistakes that pool owners make.
Mistake 2: Unbalanced pool water
Unbalanced water will only lead to one headache after another. One of the biggest issues I hear or see is pool owners who neglect weekly balancing of their pool water. The biggest misconception with swimming pools is that clear water is good water. This is not necessarily true. For instance, a pool with a pH level of 6.5 will more than likely be clear because with a pH level that low, algae struggles to bloom. But with a pH of 6.5, the water is considered corrosive, and will do damage too many parts of your pool, not to mention what that low of a pH will do to swimmers. And water that is not regularly balanced tends to take much longer and cost much more to correct once a problem occurs or the water is analyzed. Regularly balancing the water will not only guarantee clearer water for longer periods, but it will minimize the amount of money spent on pool chemicals.
Mistake 3: Not having a regular cleaning schedule
A very common mistake pool owners make is not cleaning skimmer baskets, pool cleaner bags and leaf catchers, pump basket, walls and filter often enough. All baskets and leaf catchers should be emptied once a week. Even with a weekly pool service pool owners should check these areas between service visits, especially within 24 hours after a storm.
Brushing the walls and tile down often enough is just as important. If your circulation system is suspect, and many are, brushing down the walls will help eliminate algae problems. The filter should also be cleaned on a regular basis. Left unattended, your filter will cease to function properly. In a “worse-case-scenario”, the pump may be damaged or destroyed and the filter elements may collapse, making them unusable.
Mistake 4: Not operating the equipment long enough
It is easy to fall into the trap of trying to save electricity by skimping on the daily pool filter run time. Money might be saved in the short term, but in the long term the cost can be significant with the pool problems that lie ahead. Especially in the hot summer months, all the water must be filtered once a day. If the run time is not long and the all pool water is not getting filtered each day, it is more likely that algae and more problems will occur. Adequate run time of the equipment is critical to the operation of just about everything else related to the pool. The automatic pool cleaner, chlorinator and heater will not work unless the equipment is operating efficiently and long enough.
Mistake 5: Not watching the water level
If the pool does not have an auto-fill that keeps the water at a constant level, by normal evaporation or through a leak in the pool, it can easily drop near to or below the skimmer intake. When this happens the pump begins to draw air (instead of water) into the circulating system. This causes the pump to lose its “prime.” When it loses prime, water is no longer moving through the circulating system and none of the equipment is working. CAUTION: The water inside the pump housing can reach over 200 degrees if it runs for an extended period of time without a “prime.” The heat and the steam created can melt piping, fittings, and the pump. If you open the pump strainer, SCALDING WATER VAPOR CAN SPRAY OUT WITH DISASTROUS RESULTS!! Never open the strainer housing on your pump if you even think that this condition might exist.
Mistake 6: Ignoring a pool leak.
Due to fears of torn up concrete and huge repair bills, home owners often put off leak detection. But it is possible that your leak detection will be painless. The leak detection itself is around $200-300 plus the cost of fixing the leak. Sometimes the fix is just a new fitting and some silicone; it's not always a big deal. However, if you are loosing water underground think of how the water in the soil could be impacting your pool or even your home's foundation over the long run. What if it causes displacement of your pool or pool deck? The water has to be going somewhere. Better to call a leak detection service or your pool service company and find out what's going on.
Mistake 7: Safety is an afterthought
You’ve heard the horror stories – a swimmer dives off their diving board, only to injure themselves on the bottom of the pool. This is a serious issue, and it highlights a common concern throughout the pool industry: safety has been an afterthought for far too long. The pool industry has taken steps to push for stronger safety regulations, and at Aqua Touch Pool Care we stress safe swimming. Please do yourself a favor and evaluate your swimming pool and backyard to be sure there are no safety hazards: establish safety rules such as no running or horseplay, and ALWAYS supervise children.
If you are unsure on how to evaluate the safety of your backyard and swimming pool, request a consultation. A consultation can determine several often ignored dangers. For instance, if a drain cover is not up to code, broken child safety fencing, or a broken lock or gate, loose coping, cracks in the concrete, and outdated electrical systems can all be dangers around a pool. Most of these items are inexpensive fixes that can help keep your pool safe and fun!
If you are unsure on how to evaluate the safety of your backyard and swimming pool, request a consultation. A consultation can determine several often ignored dangers. For instance, if a drain cover is not up to code, broken child safety fencing, or a broken lock or gate, loose coping, cracks in the concrete, and outdated electrical systems can all be dangers around a pool. Most of these items are inexpensive fixes that can help keep your pool safe and fun!
Mistake 8: Not replacing worn out equipment
Keeping a pool cleaner too long or making too many costly repairs. Hopefully you get long life out of your pool cleaner but at some point it's time to retire it. Many pool owners have rebuilt their old pool cleaners so many times that they could have purchased a new one. When you purchase a new one you don't have to buy the most expensive model. The models in the $400 range are very effective and in most pools will last at least 5 years. It is important to have a good pool cleaner to keep the pool clean between service visits. And don’t ignore any unusual signs, no matter how small. Odd noises from the equipment can signal trouble ahead, even if it seems to be working fine right now.
Mistake 9: Not calling Aqua Touch Pool Care (623-850-2924) for a estimate for Top Quality Weekly Pool Service to alleviate all the mistakes that pool owners make.
Let us help you have a fun and safe swimming season
and take all the guess work out of owning a pool.
and take all the guess work out of owning a pool.
