A Guide to looking after your swimming pool

Transcription

1 Saint Antonin Noble Val Owners Club A Guide to looking after your swimming pool Perfect Pool Performance All pools and their component parts vary and in my opinion each pool has a life of its own. You will soon get to know the foibles of your own pool and discover plenty to curse about! As a result of these differences in operation the guide is very general, but should give you the confidence to get your feet and other bits wet, trying out the murky art of pool maintenance, but remember when dealing with pools and chemicals always wash your hands and never touch your eyes! I am often asked which is better the salt or chemical option for keeping a pool clean and bacteria free. My answer is that if the pool is just for your family and close friends then salt is a very good option. ownersclub@sfr.fr Siret No:

2 If however you let or intend to rent out your house commercially as a holiday home to families with young children or young adults for that matter then its chemical every time. Getting salt pools open and keeping them perfect can be tricky and sometimes very time consuming. In a holiday rental home, as is often the case, the pool chemical balance has to be adjusted between changeovers (6 hours) then the chemical solution is the easiest and fastest (Add alkalinity, reduce chlorine, add ph etc.etc.) Most of the basic principals included in this guide apply to both types of pool, however I have included a section specifically for salt pools. If you leave the pool to someone else to maintain for long periods of time, then once again a chemical pool is less time-consuming and therefore less costly for you. (There will be many who disagree with this position, but as I maintain over 25 pools I will stick to my guns) Pool chemicals vary greatly in price, but take it from me, you get what you pay for! My advice is to buy what you can afford and its definitely worth stocking up if you see special offers in your supermarket or hardware store. POOLS CAN BE DANGEROUS PLACES MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR GUESTS KNOW AND FOLLOW THE RULES Opening your pool If your pool has been closed and winterised properly it is necessary to reverse the procedure set out in "How to close your pool" at the end of this guide. Firstly check all pipe work, the filter and pump for any damage from frost or animals. (Mice can eat through electric cable and however hard you try to drain a system down there is always some water left in the pipes that could freeze) Replace all drain point caps for pool pump, robot pump (if you have one) and pool filter. Top the pool back up to its normal level with the water about half way up the skimmer entry box Re-wire any pumps you have removed. Slowly open each valve to ensure you haven't forgotten a drain cap and if necessary top up the water sump in the pool pump. (Prime the pump) Clear all leaves and debris from the top of the winter cover, then remove and clean and allow to dry to avoid mildew, then fold and put away in a dry environment for that long hot sunny summer! 2

3 Please note however hard you try there is always some dirt or debris that falls into the pool when you remove the cover, I don't know where it comes from but it always manages to fall in! Inevitably, there always seems to be a way for leaves, dust, worms and lizards, to make it into the pool, even though it was properly winter covered. So attach your net to the extension pole and scoop out as much as you can. along with anything floating on the water. Whatever is left over on the bottom of the pool should be small and can be removed by vacuuming the pool. See "How to use the skimmer vacuum system" If the pool and water are in good shape with little debris you can use the manual pool vacuum that attaches to the skimmer, but you probably don't want a lot of worms getting though to the pool filter. The trick to this is attaching a pair of old tights to the skimmer basket. This will trap the worms and junk in the tights instead of allowing it to pass through the skimmer and onto your filter. When you have finished vacuuming the pool, simply remove the tights from the skimmer basket and place in the bin. Your local pool shop will sell elasticated nets that slip onto the skimmer basket that does the same thing (if you are embarrassed about stealing your wife's underwear). For the next several days, let the pool pump run continuously and backwash frequently. Once cleaned and operational you can set your pump up to run at scheduled times using the timer. Pumps should be run for half the pool temperature, i.e. If the pool is at 24C the pump should be run for 12 hours. The pump should be run during the day when people are using the pool as it drags wasps etc into the skimmers not into swimmers armpits!! Get the chlorine level up Now it is time to get the water cleared up from sitting all winter doing nothing. After you have cleaned the pool the best you can with the net, and vacuum or robot, you need to get the chlorine level up on the pool to kill any bacteria, algae, and other anonymous organisms. This will depend on what type of method you use to chlorinate the water. If you use chlorine chemicals, then apply chlorine shock. (generally called Chlora-Choc) If you have a salt pool, then add salt directly into the water. Generally one teaspoon for every gallon of water in the pool. Check with your pool installer on the procedure to follow for your salt pool when starting for the first time in the season. For a better explanation on pool water, go to "Adjusting Pool Water After Pool Opening" How to Maintain Swimming Pool Water It s all about the water. In order to make your pool look inviting, you need to keep the water crystal (Gin) clear. You do not have to be a chemist in order to maintain the 3

4 water quality in your pool. However, you should understand the components that make your pool water safe and ideal for swimming. The components are tested based on a parts per million (ppm) measurement. This is the measurement of the parts of a substance in relation to one million parts by volume of your pool water. How to Test Swimming Pool Water Using the test strips from your local pool shop or hardware store should be sufficient for testing. Get the strips that show the chlorine, alkaline, ph, and cyanuric acid. Find an area away from the skimmer and the return jets and with the strip in hand fully submerse into the water for about seconds. Remove but don t shake water off. Wait a few moments until the colours fill in. Compare each component s colour reading against the colour range on the product bottle. (Read the instructions that were provided with the test kit as this procedure varies from product to product). ph The ph balance of your water impacts the effectiveness of the chlorine in your water. The ideal test reading for ph is between 7.4 and 7.6. If the test reading is below 7.2 then the water is more on the acidic side. A test reading above 7.8 indicates the water is more on the alkaline side. Monitor the ph every few days using test strips. If the water temperature goes above 28C check it every day. Chlorine To keep bacterial, pathogens, and algae from growing in your water chlorine must be added but at a safe level for swimming. A chlorine test reading between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm is optimal. If you use bromine tablets instead of chlorine as the chemical of choice, then the reading should be between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm. Ask your pool shop for more advice on the pros and cons of using bromine instead of chlorine. Monitor the chlorine level every couple of days using the test strips, every day in very hot weather, as chlorine breaks down faster in warmer water. Alkalinity The alkalinity reading should be between 100 and 120 ppm. Typically goes hand in hand with the ph levels. If the alkalinity reading is low, then most likely the ph reading is low and visa versa. Typically chlorine shock contains alkaline which will help raise the alkaline level. Cyanuric Acid The cyanuric acid (chlorine stabilizer) reading should be between 20 and 30 ppm. This component is usually a product of chlorine tablets. It slows the escape/evaporation of chlorine which in turn helps to maintain a more consistent chlorine level. However, since chlorine tablets contain cyanuric (an acid), it tends to lower the alkalinity and the ph. 4

5 Safety Considerations Considerations to keep in mind when dealing with pool chemicals: Always follow the manufacturer s instructions and warnings as indicated on the label. Don t mix any chemicals together. Add each separately to the pool. It is advised to wear protective safety glasses (not sun glasses) and definitely avoid breathing in vapours when applying. Store chemical in a secure cool, dry, and shaded area out of reach of children and family pets. I advise a locked store area if you do have young ones about or you let your property. How to apply pool chemicals If you are using chlorine chemicals, then the two primary applications you ll want to use in your pool are chlorine shock (I like the granular shock that in France is package in 250g or 500g tubs) and the chlorine tablets (I prefer the 3 inch multifunction or slow release chlorine tablets that you add to the skimmer baskets). If you salt system that produces chlorine from salt added to the pool, then you won t need to add chlorine chemicals at all. You just need to add salt occasionally to the pool and adjust the main control unit to increase the amount of chlorine release. Ask your pool installer or pool shop for advice on this. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is an ideal ingredient for raising the alkalinity and the ph. Other products like ph plus, ph minus are also readily available. If you own a pool with a vinyl liner never add chlorine chemicals directly into the pool always use the skimmer baskets as the chemicals will damage the liner Adjusting Pool Water After Pool Opening When you first open your pool, you should get the system running before adding the initial dose of chlorine shock. However, if you have a chlorine generator, you only need to add salt to the pool so you can skip to the "Adjusting the ph and Alkalinity" section. If applying chlorine shock, an example for a 5 metre by 10 metre pool which is about 20,000 gallons half a kilo of shock should raise the chlorine level by 2 ppm. You should probably add 1 kilo to kill all the bacteria and get the level to 4 ppm. After this you may need to add more if the chlorine level doesn't rise to the appropriate level. Chlorine shock has a life of approximately 24 hours once added to the pool. I would not add any more shock for at least a day or two after the initial dose. Also wait about two days before adding multi-use chemical tablets to the skimmer baskets. Otherwise your chlorine level may be too high. 5

6 Getting the chlorine to the correct level after pool opening can be tricky and a bit of a guessing game based on how cold the winter has been, how dirty the pool water was and the current pool temperature. I have never found a formula!! Applying Granular Shock to your pool Granular shock should be mixed with water before adding to the pool. Otherwise it could reduce the life of your vinyl liner. It is advised when mixing granular shock, you wear safety glasses and rubber gloves. Using a 20 litre bucket add half a kilo of granular shock. Be careful not to inhale the vapours or dust. Add water to fill about ½ the bucket with a hose (be careful of splash back) and stir very well with a wood stick. Pour the mixture slowly into the water on the pool steps. If there are any granules left on the bottom of the bucket (there usually are) then add more water and stir and pour this in again. As with all pool chemicals, keep children and pets away from the bucket when mixing and keep everyone out of the pool when adding to the pool. The best time to apply is in the evening because the chlorine won t escape/evaporate (sunlight causes this). Everyone must be kept out of the pool for about 8 hours after shocking to allow time for the product to circulate throughout the pool. On a routine and practical basis, in warmer weather its worth applying half a kilo of shock about every 10 days to keep the pool chlorine level active. Applying Multi-action Chlorine Tablets Multi-action/Function Chlorine Tablets come under a variety of makes and names such as 5 in 1s and Multi-Tabs). They contain chlorine and a variety of other chemicals to combat algae, pool clarity and are added to the skimmer baskets. Usually 2 or 3 each week for a 10 X 5 metre pool. When you open the container, avoid inhaling and keep children and pets away. After handling the tablets rinse your hands off in the pool water. Avoid touching your eyes. Adjusting the ph and Alkalinity If the alkaline is low, try add baking soda to the skimmer in the morning. You could also add a ph plus if you don t want to use baking soda. Keeping a ph reading around 7.4 and 7.6 is the best level for your swimming pool. It is easiest on your eyes and the pool parts and equipment. If it is lower than 7.0 then most likely the alkaline is also low. Adding baking soda or ph+ should raise the ph also. If the ph and alkaline are too high, then the water tends to get cloudy and this condition could invite algae growth. Under these conditions, I would get a ph minus product from your pool shop. 6

7 If the cyanuric acid is too high, then I suggest backing off on the multi-function tablets since these contain cyanuric acid. Shock doesn t have cyanuric acid and can be used temporarily until the cyanuric acid levels come down to normal. If this is the case, try adding half a kilo of crystalline shock (using the mixing method in the bucket and apply to pool steps) about every other 3 days for about 2 weeks. Then return to the tablets. Ask your pool shop for more advice on this if the condition continues. They may recommend draining a few inches of water from the top of the pool. The cyanuric acid tends to hang on the top. If you are getting nowhere with clearing the pool, take a sample of the pool water, to your pool shop as they are usually happy to analyse it and recommend a course of action. Green Water Trouble Shooting Tips Take a large pool net and remove as much of the debris (leaves, rodents, worms lizards etc) from the bottom of the pool. (Difficult operation as you cannot actually see what you are doing) Please note once finished your pool will look worse than when you started. At this stage avoid using manual vacuum equipment or robots as unseen larger debris could block pipe work, damage filters and trash your robot. Adjust PH and alkalinity using ph Plus or ph Minus...it is important to get the water within the correct levels ppm. Shock the pool, super chlorinating to destroy the algae and bacteria. This can mean gallons of liquid chlorine (the fastest method) or tubs full of chloro-shoc granules or tablets. This process can take days. If overnight the pool hasn't changed in colour repeat the process and dosage. Continue until you start to see a change in colour, cloudy green, cloudy white or just a change in the green hue. Don't worry about over shocking your pool...its impossible! The more you put in the faster it will clear, but you will need deep pockets as shock of any type is not cheap! Run the pool at full throttle over the next 24 to 36 hours, on filter setting and backwash every 3 to 4 hours for between 1.5 and 2 minutes each time. Keep an eye on pool levels and top up when necessary) If after a couple of days you are not noticing any real improvement in the colour, quality or chemical balance of the water, then it is highly likely that the filter is not working at its optimum. It could be a number of issues and will require a visit by a pool professional who will diagnose the problem. (More often than not if using a sand filter - it will be the sand that needs replacing...a truly lovely job! 7

8 Routine Maintenance to keep pool water crystal (Gin) clear On a daily basis, remove any leaves and debris from the skimmer basket. Also check the pump trap basket to see if this has a lot of debris floating around. Occasionally empty this as well. Remove leaves and bugs that are floating on top of the water with your pool net Also keep the filtering system clean. Backwash filters once a week in hot weather. Test the water with test strips to check the component levels. Make any necessary adjustments that are needed. Salt Water Swimming Pools Most of the advice so far in this guide is for a chemical pool. So lets talk a little about the handling of salt water swimming pools. Salt water pools have certain benefits that chlorine pools do not have. Salt water does not stretch the pool liner like chlorine does, and according to many owners it makes your skin softer. Maintaining and caring for a salt water pool can help to extend the life of the pool and pump. (See discussion chemical v saltwater pool earlier on in this guide) Very simply, pool salt is added to your pool to form a mildly saline solution. The salinity is kept at as low a level as possible, being typically one fifth or less than that of sea water. The system works by the generator producing chlorine in low concentrations whenever the pump and filter is running, and as the filter runs for many hours of the day, the pool's total chlorine demand will still be met, even at these low concentrations. Chlorine is produced by electrolysis of the pool water as it flows through the generator and returns to your pool. Check the salt level in the pool on a regular basis, once again in very hot weather increase the testing; a level between 2,500 and 3,400ppm is considered optimal. (11.3kg. of salt per every 1,000 gallons of water). Add one bag of salt at a time, checking the water's salt levels after each bag, using salt test strips. The strips will change colour according to the amount of salt in the water. The chemical reaction that breaks down salt into chlorine is cyclical, meaning that salt, converted to chlorine, repetitively gets regenerated into salt. Subject to pool temperature during hot summer months you should rarely need to add pool salt. Pool salt generally has stabiliser added to ordinary salt that helps keep the pool's chemicals in balance. Suggested stabiliser level in the pool water is between 30 to 50ppm. 8

9 Inspect the chlorine generator itself approximately every three months for calcium scale deposits. Remove scaling with a non-metal scraping tool, or by washing with a hose. Remove leaves and other organic debris from the pool daily or weekly. This helps the pool's chemical and mechanical systems work efficiently and test the ph level as part of the weekly routine. When opening your salt pool, turn on the filter and generator and allow the filter to cycle for a day or two to ensure all the components function properly. Test the salt levels of the water again, and add more salt if necessary. Don't forget salt can sink to the bottom of the pool and leave a stain if not swept or stirred regularly. Don't add too much salt to the water. It is easier to add more salt after the pool cycles than it is to drain the pool and add more water. Be advised that when the chlorine generator's indicator points to a low salt level, verify with a salt test kit before adding salt, because a false low indication can be the result of a failing cell or scale build up. Routine maintenance - How to maintain your pool Daily Pool Maintenance On a daily basis, empty the skimmer basket and remove any bugs, twigs, grass, and leaves from top of the water with your net. Also remove any frogs, mice, lizards, that may have found their way into the pool. Use your net to remove any large objects on the floor of the pool. Small twigs, inert rodents etc. In the morning, test the water with your test strips. If the chlorine level is low or the ph and alkalinity are out of range, then make any adjustments following the suggestions on the water quality section. Check the pressure gauge on the filter. Notice if the pressure is above the normal range. If so, then backwash to remove the residue that has collected on the filter. Occasional Pool Maintenance Vacuuming If the floor of the pool is looking dirty with bugs, twigs, mulch, grass, worms, or anything you could not get to with the leaf net, then vacuum the pool. 9

10 The Polaris robot pool cleaner or the relatively new electric submersible pool cleaners are excellent automatic pool cleaners if you dread the hassle of dealing with the, long pole, brush and hose to the skimmer, vacuum system that came with your pool, then these are for you. These robot like pool cleaners also climb and clean the sides of the pool. How to use the skimmer vacuum system If you are not familiar with the skimmer vacuum system, then follow these tips. Remember air is not wanted nor needed in this exercise. First, attach the vacuum head to the extension pole. Make sure hose is securely on both vacuum head end and the skimmer connector end. Go to the water control valves and turn the valve to the sump(s) (the filter(s) at the bottom of the pool) off. If you have two skimmer valves close one. Put head of vacuum in pool. Allow hose to float freely in the water. Fill hose by placing the skimmer end of hose onto one of the side inlet jets until bubbles push through at the vacuum head end and until hose is no longer floating on top of water. Remove lid to skimmer and basket. Attach skimmer end of the hose to the working inlet at the bottom of the skimmer. With any luck, the suction begins. If you have a vacuum point along the side of your pool and a return pipe to your pump you can make use of this, by closing all valves except the vacuum pipe and attach the hose to the point along the side of your pool Try not to let the vacuum head come out of the water until you have finished vacuuming the pool. Otherwise, you'll have to repeat the process above to remove air and get adequate suction. Also keep an eye on the pool pump to make sure the trap is at least half way full of water. You might need to open the sump valve a little to allow the pool pump to get more water into the trap. When the pool is pristine, remove the cleaning kit and set the filter gear to backwash for about one and half minutes and then set to rinse for about twenty seconds 10

11 Water Level It's important to keep the water at near halfway up the skimmer opening in order for the skimmer to do its job. If you notice the water has dropped to where the water in not going into the skimmer, then add a few inches of water to your pool. If the water level has risen to near the top of the skimmer opening due to excess rain, then pump a few inches of water off of the pool either using the backwash or the waste setting on the filter gear Removing stains and grime The skimmer box and the pool steps will occasionally need cleaning to remove stains and grime. Baking soda is an excellent choice for this task. It not only cleans the pool, but can increase the ph and alkalinity at the same time. Get a clean cloth and wet it in the pool. Add baking soda to the cloth and rub on the area that is stained. Repeat as needed to maintain a nice clean look. Another option is a proprietary liner cleaner. Repairs to vinyl liners Vinyl liners generally last 10 to 15 years. Typically, the first thing to go on a vinyl liner are the corners. Corners that are in direct sunlight are more likely to wear thin and tear. You can patch these tears with a vinyl patch kit. These kits contain a glue that adheres above or below water. Even if your tear is in the water, then these patch kits will work. The trick is to keep the glue folded in the patch until you apply it to the tear site. Beforehand, clean the area around the tear to remove any grime. Otherwise the patch won't adhere. Cut the vinyl patch to a size that is about 4 inches longer/wider than the tear so that about 2 inches of the patch extends beyond the tear on all sides. Cut the corners of the patch so that they are round. Apply the glue to the inside of the patch. Fold patch in half so that the glue smears around the entire inside of the patch. Then apply to the tear. Rub the patch from the centre toward the ends to remove any air bubbles. Hold the patch in place for a few minutes until the patch adheres. For a better look, apply a swatch that matches your liner design on top of this clear patch. Wait at least 20 minutes after the clear patch has been applied. To obtain a swatch, take a photo of your vinyl liner to your pool installer/shop. With any luck they'll have a swatch that matches your liner. Cut the swatch about an inch or two bigger on all sides than the clear patch. Follow the same procedure for applying the clear patch. 11

12 How to close a swimming pool This is a very important element of the pool year. If you get this wrong you could end up with frozen skimmers, iced pumps, damaged filters and a deep green thick sludge full of leaves for your first swim. Here in south west France the temperature remains quite high until mid to end October (It may vary where you are) so even if you are not using the pool it is vital to clean it of leaves and bugs at least once a week and continue to backwash occasionally and add the normal pool chemicals. Once the pool water temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius or around 60 degrees Fahrenheit it is time to start closing it down. For a 10 X 5 meter swimming pool you will need a 5 litre canister of liquid winter chemicals or "hivernage" as its called in France. Get the pool as clean as possible then poor in the winter chemicals. Turn on the pump and run on filter for 24 hours. After 24 hours loosely install the winter cover (I use the four corners) so that you can still see the pool water level. Once done, it is time to start dropping the pool level to protect your skimmers from getting iced up when the weather drops to freezing. Backwash for a good ten to fifteen minutes, then put the pump to waste and continue to drain the pool to three or four inches below the skimmer inlet(s). If you get a lot of winter rain then it may be advisable to drop a further two to three inches. Turn off all power to the pool and close all valves. Position the main filter gear to closed. Filter Gear 12

13 Once done, be prepared to get your feet wet and open the drain point at the bottom of the filter (See diagram below) Next find the drain point(s) on the main pump (and Polaris/Robot pump if you have one) and open them removing the caps. Some pumps have one drain cap and others two so check carefully. Store the caps in a safe place you will need them next spring! Pool pump drain point At this point its a good idea to open the skimmer valve (s) to check no water remains in the pipe work. Remember your feet!! If you experience extremely cold winters now is the point where you can if desired undo the large nuts (flexible pipe unions as they are simply called in the trade) connecting the pipe work to the pump (s) and disconnect the electrical wiring to the fuse box so as to store your pumps in a warmer place. Finally secure the winter cover to protect your pool from leaves, dust, lizards etc.etc. 13

14 A simple pool equipment set up with the names I have used in this guide Conclusion There is no doubt that if you can look after your pool yourself you can save a great deal of money. If however you have to hand over the opening, closing, cleaning and general maintenance to somebody else it's definitely worth knowing how a pool works. With years of experience behind us we are confident that this guide will help you choose the right pool and know what to do to get it opened, closed and maintained properly. Richard Woollam Saint Antonin Noble Val Owners Club Route de Saleth, Foun de Pio, St Antonin Noble Val France Tel: (0) Mobile: (0) ownersclub@sfr.fr 14