POOL MAINTENANCE
Pool Maintenance West Palm Beach, FL – If you have your own swimming pool, it will provide you and your family with the perfect entertainment as well as the ultimate relaxation right in your own backyard. Swimming is a fun activity and in order for you to enjoy your pool for years to come, you will need regular pool maintenance. This is crucial if you would like to have a safe and clean swimming pool.
POOL MAINTENANCE
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
Pool Circulation
Pool water circulation is one of the most important things that you will need to check. If you have excellent water circulation, it will help prevent algae and other harmful microorganisms from building up in your pool. Algae growth or buildup is common during the summer.
To make sure that your pool is safe for swimming, It is also essential to clean the skimmers and baskets and remove any debris to avoid the filter from clogging and to make sure that there is good water circulation.
During the summer season or during hot weather, make sure that you are running your pump and filter for at least 8 to 12 hours a day and during the winter season, make sure that you are running your pump and filter for at least 4 to 6 hours a day in order to achieve the best water circulation.
You have to angle your jets diagonally and make sure that you set them at the 7 o’clock or 8 o’clock position to achieve the best results.
How To Clean A Cartridge Filter
It is fairly easy to clean cartridge filters and It would take at least 30 minutes to clean your cartridge filter assuming that there is no damage to your filter. The first thing that you will need to do is to always check the pressure gauge.
This will help you determine if your cartridge filter needs to be cleaned. If the gauge shows a reading of 8 up to 12 psi then you will need to clean your cartridge filter.
Make sure that the filtration system is completely turned off before you start removing the cartridge filter. This will also avoid water from going back to the pool and prevent filter damage.
The next thing that you will need to do is to make sure that the automatic setting of your filtration system is also turned off completely during the entire cleaning process.
The next step is to remove the excess air from the filter by slowly turning the air relief valve. Once you have confirmed that the air is completely removed, start removing the tension clamps.
You might find that the tension clamps or locking mechanism may be different from other cartridge filters. What you can do is follow the user manual included in the package of the unit to prevent damage to the tension clamps.
After removing the tension clamps, set them aside. Check the cartridge filter and look for visible damages such as cracks or tears. If the filter has severe damages, you will need to replace it with a new one.
If there are slight cracks or tears or no damage at all, then you can start the cleaning process. Keep in mind that the performance of your cartridge filter will not be efficient in filtering dirt and debris if it is completely damaged.
Always use a pressurized water hose to clean the cartridge filter. This will push dirt and debris away from the cartridge. Start by working your way from the top and gradually moving to the bottom.
Always make sure to clean the space between the pleats when cleaning the cartridge. In fact, you can use a cartridge cleaning tool to effectively clean the cartridge.
Cartridge filters are usually filled up with oils and other chemicals in the water such as sunblock. You can soak the cartridge elements in a filter cleaner for a few minutes.
If you find that the oil is hard to remove, you can also use dishwashing detergent to effectively remove oil and other chemical substances. You will have to make sure that you rinse the cartridge filter properly after soaking and before reinstalling the cartridge filter.
Apply a silicone-based lubricant to the O-ring before you install the filter. This will help extend the lifespan of the O-ring. The next thing that you will need to do is to install the cartridge filter and make sure to secure it in place.
Once everything is secure, turn on the filtration system and keep the air valve open to release excess air in the tank. Check the pressure gauge and it should show a reading of 10 to 15 psi and if you do not see any reading, turn off the filtration system and remove the tank lid and re-align the filter and make sure it fits properly. Check the pressure gauge again.
How To Clean A Sand Filter
Sand filters are very easy to maintain. Just like the process of cleaning a cartridge filter, check the pressure gauge and a normal reading should show 10 to 15 psi. If you see a reading of 20 to 25 psi, then you will need to backwash your sand filter. Backwashing is a cleaning method that reverses the flow of water back to the sand filter through a hose to eliminate dirt and debris.
Before you start the backwashing procedure, turn off the pool power completely. The next thing that you will need to do is turn your attention to the valve. You will be able to see different valve options such as backwash, flush, rinse, waste, flush, recirculate, and closed. Select the backwash option by turning the lever. Turn the power back on and run the pump for at least 2 up to 3 minutes and then turn the power off. The next thing that you will need to do is to make sure that the sand will settle first then choose the rinse setting. Switch the power back on and let it run for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
Turn the power off and set the lever to the waste setting. This option will also help you reduce the amount of water in the pool especially if you would like to clean or vacuum the pool floor. If you do not want the water recirculating back to the pool, you can choose the waste setting. The flush setting can also be used to drain the water from the pool completely. It is essential to make sure that you clean the pump basket and skimmers to avoid dirt or debris from clogging the filter.
Skimming
Skimming is simply cleaning the surface of the pool from leaves or any debris. Skimming is an easier process as compared to vacuuming. You simply need to clean the top of the pool so that large debris will not reach the pool floor. Skimming will also avoid large debris from clogging your pool filters. You have to make sure that you skim your pool regularly.
Brushing
Brushing your pool helps remove algae growth and pollen buildup. Make sure that you brush the ladders, steps, walls, and other areas that are hard to reach.
Vacuuming
After skimming and brushing, you can start vacuuming your pool. You can invest in an automatic pool cleaner or you can also manually vacuum your pool. Make sure to vacuum your pool once or twice a week.
Water Chemistry
It is essential to maintain your pool water at optimum levels to achieve balanced water chemistry. Alkalinity and pH levels are essential in maintaining your pool water. In terms of normal pH level, a test should show a reading of 7.2 up to 7.6. In terms of water alkalinity, it should show a reading of 100 to 150 ppm. Chlorine should show a reading of at least 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. When it comes to chemicals, Biguanide should show a reading of 30 to 50 ppm, and Cyanuric acid should show 25 up to 50 ppm.
