Helpful Tips For Pool Maintenance.
Getting Ready for Summer
- Check the safety fences, gates and self-closing devices.
- Brush & vacuum the pool.
- Check & clean skimmer boxes, lint pots, filter, pump and
equipment/accessories and ensure that they are all operating properly
safely.
If there is no visible presence of algae, and the pool is sanitized
by:
- Chlorine - "superchlorinate" the pool to bring it
up to a concentration of free chlorine of about 10mg/L.
- Salt Water Chlorinator - "superchlorinate" with sodium
hypochlorite solution or potassium monpersulphate, or check the
salt level and operate the chlorinator and filter for at least
24hr.
If algae is visible in pool,
- "shock dose" the pool to ensure a concentration of
free chlorine of about 10 to 15 mg/L, and then, for 2 or 3 days
later add a chorine-compatible algaecide.
- Continue to brush, vacuum and adjust and monitor over 3 or 4
days, so that the water is chemically balanced, and returns to
a "free chlorine" level of 1.5 - 2 mg/L
- Check that the following are within the recommended operational
range:
Total Alkalinity 60 - 200 ppm, pH 7.2 - 7.6, and Calcium hardness
0 - 500 ppm.
- The pool is now ready for use, and the normal routines specified
by the builder can be resumed.
 Pool
Blankets
Why should you consider purchasing a pool
blanket for your pool or spa?
The answer is that it will substantialy increase the value and
return on the investment you have made in your pool or spa by achieving
the following;
- Minimise the cooling of the pool by stopping evaporation and
convection heat loss. This occures mainly during the night when
the ambient air temperature drops below the temperature of the
water in the pool. By creating a barrier between the water surface
and the outside air, these losses are virtually eliminated.
- By keeping evaporation to a minimum, you not only save water,
(approx 1.5 metres per year in the Sydney Metropolitan Area),
but you also save on the cost of chemicals as you dont have to
re balance you pool after topping up. It also reduces the amount
of chlorine lost to the Suns' UV Rays.
- Blankets keep the pool cleaner - about 80% to 90% of debris
is kept out of the pool. This reduces the work load of your pool
cleaner. Most types of pool cleaners will work quite happily under
the blanket.
- Reduces pool heating costs by up to 50%. Even the cost of running
solar system pumps is saved by reducing the amount of heat loss
from the pool. Effectively 90% of heat loss is from the surface
of the pool. By using a blanket in conjuction with Gas, Electric
or Solar heating systems, significant energy cost savings can
be made.
- Extend the swimming season. Even without other forms of heating
on the pool, the addition of a pool blanket can result in a temperature
increase of from 6 to 8 degrees in a pool that has a sunny aspect.
Installation
When having a pool blanket fitted, be sure it fits the pool exactly,
as gaps around the edges will reduce the blankets efficiency
Consideration should also be given to purchasing a roller with
the pool blanket. Using a roller to remove and store the blanket
makes it an easy and efficient way off adding extra value to your
pool.
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