Where to save money maintaining your own pool and where not to

Mainaining a swimming pool yourself is really very simple and helps save money.Poor maintenance can mean expensive breakages in equipment and always means you have to spend more on chemicals.

To have a less expensive but not less safe pool, follow the directions carefully especially with swimming pool chemicals.

 

Problems that are difficult to repair and usually costly will be avoided with good maintenance.  You can save the expense of professional pool cleaners if you do simple good pool maintenance.

Saving on Chemicals?

Don’t skimp on  pool chemicals, this is not how you should make savings. Remember:When your pool is unsanitary it costs more in the long run. You will need a lot of expensive chemicals and procedures to bring your pool back to acceptable levels.

Safety

When handling swimming pool chlorine use caution if you administer the chemicals yourself.  They are safe in their diluted form but toxic when concentrated.  

Never mix pool chemicals with any other chemical product.   This could cause an explosion or fire.

Chlorine

Before adding it to your pool be sure to dissolve granular chlorine in water.  Keep all these pool chemicals away from children and remember to add the chlorine to the water not the water to the chlorine.  Automatic dispensers will add chlorine to keep the right balance and be less work.   One to three parts per million continually is the level your chlorine should be.  During the warm weather you can take your pool water to a pool depot every week and have it tested for balance of the ph and alkaline.

Save money with cleaning

The best place you can save money is in the cleaning of your pool. Regularly vacuum the sides and bottom and skim the leaves and debris on the top. Skimming can be done everyday. For keeping tiles, cement and fixtures sanitary brushes are very important.   Even though more expensive, PVC brushes are good for cement as well as tiles and last a lot longer.

Take Lessons

You can take lessons or tutorials and learn how to use a pool test kit to test ph balance, amount of chlorine, bromide, acid and alkalinity if there are any convenient for you, or go online to learn proper pool cleaning.

 

Summary

For the maintenance of your pool routine cleaning, vacuuming and skimming, filter changing and checking the ph alkaline balance are the principal things you can do to save money.

 

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Posted in Swimming | No Comments » | November 5th, 2009

Chlorine is Not the Only Way to a Sanitary Pool

Aside from using swimming pool chlorine granules products there are several other ways to maintain your pool.

 

To sanitize their pools many people choose other methods to chlorine because they do not like it’s toxicity and odor.  Heavy use of strong chemicals on a regular basis is not environmentally friendly.  The feel and taste of a non-chlorinated pool appeals to a majority of people.

Salt Generators

Salt generators convert a tiny bit of added salt in the pool into chlorine.   No chlorine needs to be habitually added.   A polluted pool will need a treatment with chlorine or other oxidizing chemical. The ph tends to get high with salt generators so it needs to be monitored regularly. Decrease the ph with muriatic acid.

 

Bromine is nice for tender skin and has no bad smell but it is more pricey than chlorine. It also needs to be added more often because it burns off quickly in sunlight.    Chlorine becomes deactivated when it mixes with harmful contaminants where as bromine continues to work.

 

Ozone

An active form or oxygen, ozone, reacts with pollutants.  When the ozone gas dissolves in water it combines with pollutants and oxidizes them the same way as chlorine.   Because it makes them join together, they are easily removed form filters.  Chlorine use can be reduced by 60% to 90%.

 

Copper and Silver

The fact that algae is killed by copper and bacteria and viruses are killed by silver is commonly known.   They have been used for water sanitization for a long time.  After ionization by a very small amount of electricity copper and silver react with the pollutants in the water destroying them.

They also make the bacteria and algae clump together so they are easier to remove from the filter.   A systematic shock of swimming pool chlorineor a non-chlorine oxidizer will be needed but routine chlorine usage will be greatly reduced.

 

Summary

A lot of people turn to alternative pool sanitizers because they are tired of constantly fighting algae, swimming on a regular basis in harsh pool chemicals, and paying for the amount of chemicals needed to keep the pool sanitized. The options are there and a web search will help you find more detailed information if you want to find out more.

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Posted in Swimming | No Comments » | November 5th, 2009

Swimming Pool Safety Guidelines

Swimming Pool Safety: The Main Thing Needed for Enjoyable Swimming

Swimming is a  very old pastimes. From the distant ancient times to recent history it is one of the most fun and beneficial leisure activities.

In olden times being able to swim was believed to be a need for a well brought up person. Today, swimming pools are a major leisure location in both summer and winter and swimming pool safety as well as the proper pool chemicals are the an important component for a good time swimming.

 

Part of the appeal of a swimming pool is its clear sparkling water.Cloudy or off color water is not inviting to dive into and may be unsafe. Cloudy water is dangerous.  {Swimming pool chemicals, mainly chlorine, which comes in tablets, sticks and granules, can  have a major effect to the health of you and your pool.} Using the correct  pool chemicals to keep the ph balance correct, minimises the need to use chemicals This needs to be tested daily and chemicals used every week to be most effective.

Safety with Chemicals

Correct pool chemical levels are key to keep the healthiest and safest pool for both children and adults. Pool chemicals should be kept in a cool, dry place. Don’t swim in your pool for at least one hour after you have altered the chemical balance in your pool.

Don’t ever mix swimming pool chemicals with other swimming pool or other chemicals. fire or explosion can result.

If you don’t use your pool in the winter, there are steps you must take to close down your pool, but more important there are special pool chemicals to use when you are ready to swim again. You will need to bring the ph back up to around 8 then maintain it during the summer. If your pool gets too far out of ph balance germs can grow that will make you sick and give infections and fungus.

The eyes can be irritated by too much chlorine. The correct amount should be maintained at all times.

Safety

Although lakes, rivers and oceans are also lots of fun, good exercise, and don’t need chlorine granules a lot of people around the world swim in swimming pools.

All the adults and children who can swim should be aware of safety in swimming pools.

Swimming Pool Safety, particularly  with Children

A high fence around the pool that has a secure gate will protect small children from strolling in to see the sparkling water. For good swimming pool safety make sure young children can’t climb over the fence.

Swimming pools were made to be used so a good barricade is simply the beginning. Adults need to see the toddlers around the pool.

When a party is by the pool the best safety measure is an adult watching the jumping children, the first choice is an adult who is aware of swimming pool safety, CPR and lifesaving. An adult should be within touching distance of any child who is under three year’s old or is a non swimmer. It is always good for anyone under three or non swimmers to wear some kind of flotation device.

When it is not attainable to always be near swimmers or children playing by a pool it is good to have a long pole or life preserver so anyone can reach someone too far away to catch. Even someone who can’t swim can do this.

Paddling Pools

Safety is also important for paddling pools for toddlers They may not need chlorine (tablets or granules) or other swimming pool chemicals because the water might be changed frequently.

Remember:Swimming pool safety is just as valuable when the water is very shallow because even one inch can be dangerous for a toddler.

Be sure to drain the pool when there is no adult to check on the children.

 

Swimming pool safety and swimming pool chemicals need diligence from every adult present by the pool who can swim.  Taking precautions like these mean that, your swimming session  will be more enjoyable because it is anxiety free.

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Posted in Swimming | No Comments » | November 2nd, 2009

Swimming Pool Chemicals Must be Precise:

The testing of the water’s chemical balance is essential for safe swimming in a swimming pool.   If the chlorine is excessive it may cause burning eyes, green hair and itchy skin. With too little pool chemicals you can get disease causing bacteria, infections and cloudy or bad-looking water.

Test Pool Chemicals Weekly

The water chemistry can be examined each week with a simple kit. For people who don’t have the time to care properly for their pool, professionals are available who will analyze the water, add the right chlorine and swimming pool chemicals, clean and properly maintain it for summer or winter.

Summer Shocking

To eliminate any germs that may have grown over the winter when the water was not cleaned as often it is commonly good to “shock” your pool when summer comes, using 10 times the amount of chlorine. During the “shock” no one should swim in the pool.  The gasses on the top of the pool, while doing this, can also make breathing tough so children and anyone not needed for the cleaning should not be there for at least two hours.

Safety Issues

Pool chemicals are affected by sun light and other chemicals in the water. When chlorine combines with sweat, dander or urine they form dangerous chemicals that can cause asthma in some people. Many people have discontinued using chlorine partly for ecological reasons and partly because of the toxic gasses and found other means such as electronic oxidation, salt chlorination and ozone .

Chlorine Action

Chlorine becomes defunct once it has reacted with the bacteria or pathogens in the pool and renders them harmless.   This is why chlorine needs to be added regularly either by hand or through an automatic device.  swimming pool chlorine granules are the quickest..

When To Add Swimming Pool Chemicals

The pool chemicals should be added in the evening so they have more time to function for the best reaction before the sun begins evaporation.

The appearance of the water is part of sanitation along with the chemistry. A clean disinfected pool is enjoyable for swimmers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Swimming | No Comments » | November 1st, 2009

Swimming Pool maintenance thorugh the year

The type of attention a pool needs is different in the summer and winter.   There are steps and procedures needed to get a pool ready when the warm weather starts and different steps and procedures to prepare a pool for cold weather and minimal or no use.  Costly problems later can be prevented by following these few easy steps.

Winter

Reduced pool use when cold weather is coming signals the time to drain all the water lines and replace with anti-freeze.  Make sure the water in the pool is lower than the level indicated for freezing.

Cover the pool. Use a heavy duty cover made especially for the pool to keep out debris and leaves and lessen algae growth.   It is best to do a shock treatment with 10 times the standard chlorine before closing down the pool.   BE sure to disconnect the swimming pool filter and drain the pump This is a good time to test and clean any ladders, ropes or diving boards before packing away.

Safety

For safety be sure the pool is protected so that small children are safe if they walk in during the times when no one is nearby.

Balance

The most important thing for a well maintained pool is swimming pool chemical balance.  This means the accurate amount of chemicals, correct ph and alkaline balance, water movement and cleaning

Spring

  1. When it’s time to open the pool again in the spring clean off the pool cover and store it, make sure it is dry.
  2. Flush the anti-freeze out of the pipes
  3. Inspect the filters to make sure they are clean.
  4. Shock the pool with pool chlorine granules after filling it to the normal level then scour it with a brush and vacuum it.
  5. Filter and vacuum it for a few days to take out any algae that has formed when the pool was not used.
  6. Test the chlorine level and ph making sure it is between 7.0 and 7.6 and add the chlorine at night to get the best effect.

Summary

For pleasurable swimming it is primary to have good pool maintenance.  Pool chemical levels are the key to maintaining healthy swimming water. Too much chlorine or too little can both cause rawness.  Different kinds of weather demand different kinds of care, responding to these can help keep your pool in good condition with the minimum of hassle.

 

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Posted in Swimming | No Comments » | October 24th, 2009