We all wonder what is the best way to keep a swimming pool clean? But good maintenance starts with knowing your pool.
This is not to say that you need to go to college or do a PhD in swimming pools, be an Olympic champion in swimming or have a pool cleaning or construction company. However, you should know the basic parts of your pool and their functions so that you can keep it working and solve any problems that may arise easily and quickly.
Table of Contents
The basic parts of a Swimming Pool
Just as in our home, our work and even our cars, pools have basic parts that we need to know, although we can have luxurious pools with fountains, LED lighting, heating systems and pool covers, there are 4 components that need regular care
These components are:
- The pool water.
- The interior wall or pool liner.
- The filter system of the pool.
- The skimmer and return system of the pool.
The pool water:
Although it’s more than obvious, pool water is what brings happiness and fun. That is why you must keep it clean, with crystal clear water and balanced levels to take care of your family and loved ones. It will also help you avoid the expense of repairs or specialized cleaning to remove algae from the walls.
The interior of the pool
The walls of the pool are in constant contact with the water and all particles that enter the pool, keeping the surface of the walls free of algae, mold, dirt or soil will help keep your pool clean and healthy.
The Filtration System
You may have read the phrase “the pumping heart of your pool is also your liver.” And he’s absolutely right. Just as with the human body, water must circulate in the pool and this is achieved thanks to the pool pump that constantly sucks and sends the water through the pool pipes (as the heart does when pumping blood through the veins). And your pool filter takes care of removing the dirt and grime particles that circulate in the water as it passes through the pipes (just like your liver does with the fat from your meals).
The pool pump and filter make up the filtering system. This system is very important since it is in charge of keeping the water in movement, taking the chemicals through the whole pool, avoiding the appearance and proliferation of algae, as well as preventing the water from getting stuck in one place.
Pool filters can be of two types. Cartridge filters, which are made of a special purifying sand. And those of salt water system, which is a salt water chlorinator. But this will depend on the type of pool you have.
The Skimmers and Returns
You could say that they are also part of the filtering system, but they are more an extension of it than a part of it. Skimmers and returns are responsible for collecting and pushing the water in and out of the pool, helping to get the water in and out of the filtration system.
Now, what is the best way to keep a Swimming Pool Clean?
Now that we know more about how our pool works and what the regular care parts are we can talk about the most important points of pool care, these will help us to keep our pool clean for longer and extend the life of our pool for much longer.
The Circulation
Keeping the water circulating around the pool will keep your pool clear, clean and safe. In a pool where there is no good circulation, or even worse, where the water is not constantly moving, not only will algae grow in the pool but the water will become cloudy and may even be damaged by being left in the pool for long periods of time.
The ideal way to keep your pool clean and safe is to pump the water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, however this is not feasible as it will generate a large expense in the electricity bill, so the ideal is to keep pumping it 10 to 12 hours a day, preferably in the sunshine hours.
Cleaning
When a pool has a functional circulation system, cleaning is much easier. However, this will not prevent you from applying effort to the old one and the tools you will need for that are:
- Skimmer network.
- Pool brush
- Pool vacuum cleaner
Everything that enters your pool brings with it external agents, whether they are introduced by nature such as dust, insects, leaves, soil or gravel thrown by the breeze, or by ourselves such as shampoo, sweat, deodorants, hair cream residues. All these factors will eventually become contaminating agents responsible for bacterial growth if they are not addressed.
Clean, brush and vacuum your pool at least once a week, this will keep the debris out of your pool and particles lodged in the pool walls will be removed by brushing them.
Pool Chemistry
Although many people think this part is complicated, the truth is that with the right knowledge it is a simple task to perform.
The only thing you really need is the water chemical test kit, with which you will perform simple tests where you will obtain all the chemical levels that your pool has and then you will be able to balance them by adding the necessary chemicals (chlorine, disinfectants and others).
The three most important parts of pool water chemistry are:
- pH levels: the measure of how acidic or basic your pool water is. Low pH levels are acidic, while high levels are basic. The ideal range for your pool is 7.4 to 7.6 .
- Alkalinity: works as a pH buffer and helps avoid large peaks in basicity or acidity. The ideal range is 100 to 150 parts per million (ppm).
- Disinfectant levels: the amount of chlorine, bromine, etc. in your pool water. The appropriate levels vary depending on the type of disinfectant you choose.
When you ask us what is the best way to keep your pool clean, or in this case to balance the water, just follow the instructions provided in the test kit and you will be able to keep the water ideal.
Pool Shock
Sometimes, it can be helpful to shock your pool with a large amount of chlorine or other disinfectant chemical to help keep it balanced. This is usually done after a storm, or a large pool party where you had many guests coming in and out of the pool. However, keep in mind that this chemical should be added at nightfall and with the water circulating.
Did you see that it was simple?
As you learn more about your pool and how it works you will become an expert in pool maintenance and cleaning. It is true that no two pools are the same, but the basic operation is the same.
To perform the maintenance tasks of your pool you only need to have the knowledge and tools we gave you today, however there are many people who hire companies that take care of cleaning their pools, this is because they do not have the knowledge, tools or sometimes the time needed to perform these tasks.
So you just need to create a routine or schedule for cleaning your pool and this will be more than enough to keep it clean and enjoy it with your family and loved ones safely.
