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Treating New Water
Something most people don't understand is that tap water is not pool water. To make tap water into pool water, adjustments must be made to the alkalinity and calcium hardness. Metals and minerals in the water must be sequestered. Stabilizer has to be added so your chlorine will remain in the pool. Lastly, the Ph is actively managed and sanitizer (chlorine) is added. If, while adding water, the pool is overflowed, all the new water MUST be treated. Similarly, if the pool is over drained and refilled, the water MUST be treated. Not doing so can result in staining and damage to the plaster, damage to the equipment, algae growth and unsafe swimming conditions. This should be addressed any time 12 or more inches of water is replaced.
Dogs In Pools
People ask all the time if it is OK for their dog to swim in the pool. The answer is yes. However, you should expect the pool to require more attention, more chemicals and more filter cleanings. DO NOT let your dog swim after playing in the ocean, lake, river, creek, etc. Those waters are filled with things that we don't want in our pools. Also, do not let your dog swim to wash off soap after a bath. Soaps and detergents can add phosphates to the pool and cause uncontrollable algae growth.
Valve Settings with Cleaners
If you don't know what the valves do, have a pool guy out to label them for you.
In an attempt to speed up the cleaner, sometimes people will change the valve to be "all cleaner". This is never ok. Neither the cleaner nor the pipes are designed for it.
Filters
Filters should be cleaned regularly. Under normal circumstances, for every 100 square feet of filter, you will get one month between cleanings. For example, if you have a 300 sq.ft. filter, it needs to be cleaned every 3 months. They should NEVER be pressure washed. In the most desperate of situations, only a professional should attempt pressure washing. When cleaning the filters, use a hose nozzle with a strong, single beam of water. If you are not using a good hose nozzle, you are not getting a good cleaning.
You will also need to replace the filters. For every 100 sq.ft. of filter you will get 1 year of life span. The same 300 sq.ft. system will last 3 years. Going beyond the life span will cause issues such as poor water clarity, heavy chemical demands, algae growth and broken internal parts.
DE filters are different than described above and will not be addressed here as Elk Grove Pools does not service DE systems.
Draining Pools
Draining a pool can cause serious issues. The pool can "float" out of the ground, plaster can delaminate, gaskets and o-rings dry out. Plus, when you refill with fresh water it will need a full new water start up, $$$. We never recommend draining.
Instead, we water swap. This is where a sump pump is placed on the first or second step to remove 6 to 8 inches of water at a time, while a hose is in the bottom of the deep end adding the new water. This process is longer and more expensive, but does not carry any of the draining risks.
Solar Blankets
Solar blankets are used to help warm the pool. If you have one, follow these guidelines.
Don't allow water to pond on the surface. It will grow algae or bacteria and eventually get into the pool. Put the cover away if it is going to rain. While pools can handle the slow daily accumulation of dust and dirt and stuff, having a nice downpour wash a months worth of debris in can't be handled.
If you have a chlorine floater, put it next to the skimmer. This helps circulate chlorine better and is easier to get to.
Salt Water Pools
Here is the short version of my tirade against chlorine generators:
If you want soft water, just add some salt. That is the only part of the sales pitch that is true. Everything else they tell you is misleading or a flat out lie. You do not need or want a chlorine generator. It is expensive, only works half of the year (so you add chlorine the other half), creates a huge acid demand, requires regular cleaning (with acid), lasts about 4 years...and all this magical machine does is make the exact same chlorine that you could have received from an $8.00 floater and a tablet.
Also, not all equipment is rated compatible with salt water, the concrete around the pool is not going to like the salt and the landscaping won't either.
Phosphates
Phosphates are the prevalent ingredient in fertilizer. Since algae is a plant, high levels will promote robust algae growth. Indications of this problem are green algae on walls, but not in the water, algae accumulation on the cleaner and its hoses, massive consumption of chemicals and rapid return of algae after shocking and brushing.
There are too many ways in which phosphates are introduced to the pool to list here, but some of them are: dead skin cells, decaying plant (leaves), bird droppings, yard fertilizer (carried in by feet or accidentally broadcast into pool), landscape overflow, any soap/ cleanser, bubbles or simply from dirt and dust in the air. If trees or plants grow over or into a pool there will always be an issue with phosphates.
Treatment is complex and can easily cost $150.00 or more. Repeat offenders will want to use a monthly maintenance dose instead of waiting for problems to develop.
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