There's nothing worse than pulling on your swimming costume and running out the door to go cool off in a...
dirty pool.
Realising that you haven't cleaned your pool in weeks can be a very disappointing shock.
Having your very own swimming pool is great, but it can't be truly enjoyed unless the water is fresh and clean.
Achieving this doesn't mean that you have to spend hours every other day scrubbing, cleaning and purifying the pool.
It does mean, however, that you need to give your pool a little love and care.
Let's start with the basics - balancing the water.
pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness all affect one another, so it will take a little bit of trial and error to balance all three.
To help you get the right balance of chemicals in the water it is best to use a water-testing to kit.
The calcium hardness reflects how 'hard' or 'soft' the water is and should range between 200 and 400 parts per million (ppm).
Any variances between these may mean that you will need to add sodium bicarbonate to raise it or sodium hexametaphosphate to lower it.
The water's alkalinity should be between 80 to 150 ppm.
To achieve this you may need to add sodium bicarbonate to raise it or sodium bisulfate to lower it.
A pool with a good pH level will usually range between 7.
2 to 7.
6 and sodium bisulfate will lower it and sodium carbonate will raise it.
Treating the pool water with chlorine on a regular basis is also crucial.
In the summer months when you are using your pool every day, it is important to add chlorine 3 to 4 times a week.
It is ideal to treat your pool with chlorine after sundown as the sun's rays can break down the chlorine.
After you have put the chlorine into your pool, following the package directions, you should resist going into the pool for at least 30 minutes.
Occasionally, and no more than once a week, you may need to superchlorinate your pool.
More commonly known as 'shocking' your pool, superchlorine will eliminate any build-up of bacteria, algae and ammonia.
Keeping dirt and debris out of your pool is extremely important for the overall cleanliness of your pool.
The last thing you want is to be swimming into leaves, sticks and bugs, so you need to remove these each time you plan to go swimming.
In addition to this, you need to empty and rinse off the strainer basket of the skimmer once or twice a week and keep the pool's deck and surrounding areas clean.
The only other way you can limit debris and dirt from falling into your pool is if you cover your pool as often as possible.
Keeping your pool clean and clear is easy if you are prepared to dedicate a little bit of time and effort to it every few days.
If you are still struggling to keep the pool clean, you may like to take a look at the pool pump, filtration system or get some advice from a professional pool cleaner.
dirty pool.
Realising that you haven't cleaned your pool in weeks can be a very disappointing shock.
Having your very own swimming pool is great, but it can't be truly enjoyed unless the water is fresh and clean.
Achieving this doesn't mean that you have to spend hours every other day scrubbing, cleaning and purifying the pool.
It does mean, however, that you need to give your pool a little love and care.
Let's start with the basics - balancing the water.
pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness all affect one another, so it will take a little bit of trial and error to balance all three.
To help you get the right balance of chemicals in the water it is best to use a water-testing to kit.
The calcium hardness reflects how 'hard' or 'soft' the water is and should range between 200 and 400 parts per million (ppm).
Any variances between these may mean that you will need to add sodium bicarbonate to raise it or sodium hexametaphosphate to lower it.
The water's alkalinity should be between 80 to 150 ppm.
To achieve this you may need to add sodium bicarbonate to raise it or sodium bisulfate to lower it.
A pool with a good pH level will usually range between 7.
2 to 7.
6 and sodium bisulfate will lower it and sodium carbonate will raise it.
Treating the pool water with chlorine on a regular basis is also crucial.
In the summer months when you are using your pool every day, it is important to add chlorine 3 to 4 times a week.
It is ideal to treat your pool with chlorine after sundown as the sun's rays can break down the chlorine.
After you have put the chlorine into your pool, following the package directions, you should resist going into the pool for at least 30 minutes.
Occasionally, and no more than once a week, you may need to superchlorinate your pool.
More commonly known as 'shocking' your pool, superchlorine will eliminate any build-up of bacteria, algae and ammonia.
Keeping dirt and debris out of your pool is extremely important for the overall cleanliness of your pool.
The last thing you want is to be swimming into leaves, sticks and bugs, so you need to remove these each time you plan to go swimming.
In addition to this, you need to empty and rinse off the strainer basket of the skimmer once or twice a week and keep the pool's deck and surrounding areas clean.
The only other way you can limit debris and dirt from falling into your pool is if you cover your pool as often as possible.
Keeping your pool clean and clear is easy if you are prepared to dedicate a little bit of time and effort to it every few days.
If you are still struggling to keep the pool clean, you may like to take a look at the pool pump, filtration system or get some advice from a professional pool cleaner.