Prepping your swimming pool for swim season is extremely important and we hope this blog post helps to answer any questions you might have on changes you need to make when the water is warmer!
With springtime temperatures within site, Weber Pools would like to make sure your swimming pool is ready for the upcoming season We understand that when you spend a lot of your hard earned money on a swimming pool, it’s extremely important to keep it clean and clear and. Ultimately, hiring a reputable swimming pool service and repair company should be at the forefront of your mind but we know that some people want to do it on their own. Pools come in various shapes and sizes and some have fancy decorative tile, negative edges, water features and raised hot tubs with spillways so it’s vital to be aware of ways to keeping it look like brand new. First and foremost, chemistry is extremely important and we recommend the using the reliable Taylor Test Kits to check for adequate amounts of chlorine, pH, Total Alkalinity (TA), Cyanuric Acid (CYA), and phosphates. Now with spring around the corner, checking chlorine, pH, CYA and TA should be done weekly along with brushing the tile line, the interior finish and steps, and benches. Netting out debris as soon as possible when bushes and trees bloom is also extremely important to prevent chlorine loss in the pool. You will also want to make sure to empty out the skimmer and pump baskets to allow for proper filtration in and out of the filter. Depending on the time of the year, the following are appropriate values to remember when it comes to chemistry:
Chlorine – 1-2ppm (winter) and 3-5ppm (summer)
pH – 7.4 – 7.8
TA – 80-120ppm
CYA – 30 – 80 ppm
When levels of chlorine fall below recommendations or filtration are compromised algae can begin to grow. Please note, the warmer the water the faster it will grow! If the pH climbs above 7.8 the water can become cloudy and scaling can occur on the tile. To prevent possible algae growth now is the time to increase your chlorine levels along with your filtration run times.
Finally, CYA which is also known as stabilizer and conditioner for your swimming pool is something that is necessary to help retain chlorine in your swimming pool but the key is knowing what happens when the levels go over what is recommended? CYA protects the free chlorine from being destroyed by the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It helps reduce the chlorine loss by protecting the free chlorine in the pool from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which in turn reduces the amount of chlorine needed to maintain proper sanitizer levels. Because of this, Cyanuric Acid can help reduce the cost of maintaining a safe and clean swimming pool. Depending on whether or not you have a salt system, the normal ranges for CYA in your swimming pool is 30 to 80 parts per million (ppm). But, what happens when those levels are higher than 80ppm? The biggest issue would be the effectiveness of the chlorine to act as a disinfectant. When you have higher levels of CYA it will bind with the chlorine, making it slower acting to kill bacteria and microorganisms, and prevent algae from growing. Higher levels will also increase cloudiness in the pool water; making it very susceptible to algae growth and challenges with taking care of your swimming pool. It could also increase the amount of chlorine you will need to use to keep it clear and free of algae growth.
Now is the time to get your water tested and to make sure you start making changes to the way you take care of your swimming pool. Contact us today if you need help with preparing your residential or commercial pool for a great swim season and preventing you from losing swim time due to a dirty or unbalanced water chemistry.