Swimming Pool Maintenance - How to Maintain a Swimming Pool

A swimming pool, if kept clean, can be an asset to your home. You can cool off in summer, and it can be a great venue for parties and barbecues. It also helps to lower the temperature of the surrounding area to some extent. Proper maintenance of your pool will let you enjoy your summers instead of spending a good amount of money cleaning up a dirty, corroded pool.

Maintenance and Cleaning Tips

Checking the ph and chlorine levels of the pool's water is required according to the weather conditions and frequency of use of the swimming pool. Research shows that a pH level of around 7.5 makes the chlorine 50-60% active, while a pH of 7.0 shows the chlorine to be active at 73%. At 8.5 pH, chlorine is only 8-10% active. Never allow the pH level to go above 8.0. Chlorine is added to the water to kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Before adding chlorine, the pH level should be checked and adjusted accordingly. Those not comfortable with the smell of chlorine can go for bromine to sanitize the pool. Though a bit costlier than chlorine, bromine is suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Two weeks after adding chlorine to water, the remnants of the interaction between chlorine and the pool waste can be removed by a process known as 'oxidation' or 'shocking' . The by-products of chlorine, called chloramines, are produced when an insufficient amount of chlorine is used to disinfect the pool. The filthy odor which people mistake for chlorine is not of pure chlorine, but of the chloramines. The unpleasant odor can be countered through 'super-chlorination' of the swimming pool with a dose of 10ppm (part per million) of calcium hypochlorite or 'cal-hypo' or 'bleaching powder', every two weeks in summer and every week in winter.

Swimming pools get polluted by dust, leaves, chemical waste, pollen, granules, and other foreign objects. These unwanted elements give the pool an unpleasant look, even if it's free from germs or bacteria. The pollution can be controlled with a circulation pump and filter. This appliance helps in removing suspended particles that lie on the pool bed, by circulating and filtering the water. Even just skimming the pool can help in dis-contamination, and inhibit the growth of algae. Also, growth of weeds and grass around the pool area makes it look more like a pond, so keep a check on such buildup as well.

There is also a cost-effective method for maintaining the chemical balance of your pool water, by replacing chlorine with salt. A 'saltwater chlorinator' converts salt into chlorine gas, which then melts down into sodium hydrochlorite, and then turns back into salt. The use of salt instead of chlorine will have a minimal effect on the pH balance of the water. You can cut down the cost of your pool maintenance to a great extent by using this method.

During winters, swimming pools are hardly used, so it's important to cover the pool properly, particularly in areas where the mercury level drops to zero or below. There are various kinds of heavy-duty pool covers that can be operated manually, semi-manually, or automatically. When the winter season ends, the covers can be removed, and after proper sanitization and ensuring that the pumps and filters, or even the 'saltwater chlorinator' is functioning properly, you can enjoy your swimming pool for yet another summer.

Having a swimming pool at your disposal is a luxury as you have access to cool and clean water to lounge in through the scorching heat of the summer. And a little bit of colored lighting around the pool at night will give the surroundings an ethereal feel that will fill your visitors (and you) with a sense of admiration and wonder. A little bit of weekly maintenance and care is all it takes to save a lot of time and money in the future; as the saying goes, ''A stitch in time, saves nine!''