Nothing is better than jumping into a crystal clear pool on a hot summer day. For those that are looking for a home this summer, there are some important things to keep in mind if your dream home has a pool out back. For homeowners with a pool, are you properly caring for it?
There is a lot of additional maintenance that goes into own a pool. While it might look gorgeous now, it will not stay that way without constant care. As a pool owner, you need to understand the chemistry of what is going into the water and how to keep it clean. Here is what you need to know about keeping your pool clean this summer:
What are you keeping your pool clean from?
Well, it’s biological in nature. When people swim in a pool, parts of themselves are left behind. Bodies secrete oil, sweat, (and in some cases urine) into the pool water. A completely clean pool will smell like nothing at all but once the chlorine interacts with biological substances, you will smell an aroma that most people associate with the chlorinated “pool” smell. That is the chemicals trying to do their job, keeping your pool clean.
Why do pools turn green?
The pool interior should get a brushing once a week. This brushing will prevent dirt and algae from clinging to the walls. You can do the brushing by hand or an automatic cleaner. If not done regularly, you may start to see algae clinging to the surface of the water or even the water turning green. It is reversible but takes a lot of work. Another reason to brush your pool is to rid the surface of biofilm. This is a microorganism that clings to watery surfaces. Biofilm can absorb chlorine and make your pool a warm bath for bacteria, so don’t skip the weekly brushing.
What’s the best pool pH?
Ideally, you want it to hover around 7.4 to 7.6. If you venture outside that range for too long and it can reduce the lifespan of your pool. High pHs can cause mineral and scale deposits in your plumbing while low pHs can lead to the inside of your pool corroding. While it might seem time consuming, maintaining your pool’s pH is easier and cheaper than resurfacing a pool once it is too far gone.
What do you need to clean a pool?
- Nylon brush
- Skimmer
- Chlorine
- Shock
- Water test kit
- Chemicals to balance water pH
If you are finding it hard to get the pH of your pool just right, you can try a pH smart monitor that will alert you by app when your pH is out of the ideal range. You can also consider hiring a professional if the burden of scrubbing, skimming, and shocking seems like too much work. It will mean that you can spend less time struggling to keep things on track and more time enjoying the sparkling water.
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