Article Written By: temerity
With summer just around the corner in the southern hemisphere, people are looking forward to the upcoming warmer weather. Australians are traditionally known for their love of water, and will be heading down to the various beaches in droves, or for those lucky enough to have their own swimming pool, taking a dip at home.If you are a pool owner, it is very important that you take good care of it, to ensure it doesn't deteriorate over the winter months. The last thing you want to do is pull back the pool cover and find dirty water with pond scum growing, and cracking on the sides. Here are a number of tips to ensure you maximise the life of your swimming pool and get the most out of it:1. Clean The Pool Filter. This is perhaps the most important tip to consider, as you don't want to clean it too often. A small amount of dirt in the filter makes it more efficient than a fully clean one, as the dirt helps trap other particles, which in turn remove debris from the water. Letting too much dirt build up is also bad, so you want to make sure you find a good balance.2. Ensure A Consistent Water Level. A suprisingly large amount of water is lost during the summer months, due to evaporation and also regular swimming and splashing during use. Checking the water level and ensuring it hasn't dropped below the level of your skimmer is important. If it has, your pool pump could be damaged, so look to get it fixed, and bring the water level up manually using your garden hose.3. Get The Heater Professionally Serviced. A pool heater doesn't usually require much maintenance and can last years without being checked. But even if it's working, it's still recommended to hire a pool maintenance specialist every couple of years to check the heater, and anything else relating to your swimming pool. Sometimes a buildup of calcium in the heater can prevent heating, which an expert will be able to fix for you.4. Identify And Repair Any Leaks. This is a given, but it's amazing how many swimming pool owners don't realise they have a leak. You can test for leaks by filling a bucket 3/4 full of water. Mark the water line then place it in the pool for a few days. If the water level has gone down by the same amount inside and outside, this is simply due to evaporation. But if the water level in the pool has dropped by more, you have a leak and need to get it fixed.5. Keep Your pH Level Consistent. The health of your pool is strongly influenced by the pH level. The water should be in a pH range between 7.2 and 7.8. Out of this range will mean the pool is too basic or too acidic. By purchasing chemicals such as pH up or pH down, you can lower or increase the levels, to ensure the pool is at the safest healthiest levels.There are many other swimming pool maintenance strategies but by implementing the ones mentioned here, your pool is going to be in pretty good shape when you want to cool off!
This Article Has Been Published on Tue, 4 Oct 2011 and Read 106 Times