Basic Tools to help you Keep your swimming pool well Cared for

In order to care for your swimming pool properly, you need to have the right tools readily available. Without them you won’t get the same quality of results that you need. There are swimming pool tool kits you can buy that come with all the basics. Generally you will find that you do save money this way as well versus buying them one at a time. Do yourself a favor though and buy good quality tools. That way they will last you can be confident they will assist you with getting the job done.

You will need a skimmer which is basically a net attached to a very long pole. This allows you to skim the top of the water to remove leaves and other floating debris. Get it all out of there as soon as you can. The length of the handle you need will depend on the size of your swimming pool. You certainly want it to be long enough that you can reach the middle of the swimming pool without a struggle.

Even if your swimming pool has a surface filter for this purpose you will find there are objects you need to remove on your own. Make sure you check that filter often too as it can easily become clogged due to the amount of debris it collects. You also need a vacuum so you can remove the dirt and debris that finds its way to the bottom of the swimming pool as well. Even if you can’t see it, there is a good chance it is there. You don’t want to get into the swimming pool and feel gritty debris under your feet.

You need a brush head that fits onto a pole too. This way you can scrub the walls of the swimming pole. The floor should also get a good cleaning occasionally this way as well. This way you can eliminate any types of algae that may be forming there but not yet visible. There are some electronic devices now for swimming pools that do this for you. If you get one make sure it is compatible with your type of swimming pool.

Testing kits are essential so you can check the level of chlorine, Ph levels, and more in your water. Staying on top of them will help ensure your pool is always in good shape for a person to get into. Not testing can result in your swimming pool becoming damaged. It can also result in you having to drain the water out of it, clean it, and then refill it which is both expensive and time consuming.

You may find you want to buy some additional tools in order to make the process of maintaining your swimming pool better. Start out with the basics though and then go from there. Keep in mind that there is no way around taking good care of it though. Don’t be taken for a ride by advertisements for products that fail to deliver.
Take the time to research any tools you want to buy for maintaining your swimming pool. There are plenty of reviews by businesses and consumers to be found online. You also want to make sure you only use such tools for the right purposes. Failure to do so can result in them being ruined as well as your swimming pool being damaged.

Choosing the Right Type of Swimming Pool Filter

One of the essential tools that will assist you with keeping your swimming pool clean is the filter. It is worth it to invest in a very good one to help you keep things as clean as possible. If the filtering system isn’t up to par you will find it very difficult to enjoy your swimming pool. You may find you are spending more time cleaning it than enjoying being in it. That isn’t what any homeowner had envisioned when they decided to buy a swimming pool.

Hopefully you got a great swimming pool filter when you purchased the set up. If not, you aren’t destined to suffering for it though. These filters come in all sizes so you will need to find out which size you need for your swimming pool. You will also need to know the basics of the three types of filters offered. That way you can make a well informed decision about which one is going to serve your needs the most.

While you can consult with the dealer for the swimming pool supplies, keep in mind that they are going to try to sell you what they want to promote. So having some basic facts about the types of filters is going to be in your favor. That way you can tell them what you are looking for instead of asking them what they recommend.

All swimming pool filters belong to one of three categories – sand, cartridge, and Diatomaceous Earth commonly referred to as DE. With a sand swimming pool filter the water gets pushed through sand to remove debris from it. There are tubes at the bottom of the filter that bring the water in and out.

This process will result in the water that is dirty being pushed down while clean water is pushed upwards. You do need to check a sand filter often though to make sure there isn’t a build up of debris. When that occurs the water won’t be pushed in at the same rate as it should. Therefore you will find that there is dirty water all over instead of just at the bottom of the swimming pool.

While this type of filtering system is inexpensive, it isn’t always the best method. This is because the filter doesn’t always get all the debris out of the water. Some decent sized pieces can find their way back into the pool. A better alternative for you may be the cartridge pool filter. This works with a type of cartridge encased in a cylinder. This cartridge is what grabs and holds onto the debris that is collected.

They are able to filter large amounts of water in less time than with a sand filter. They also don’t have to be cleaned as often because they can hold more debris. So if you are looking for a way to clean your pool and cut down on the time you spend on such tasks this could work well for you.

You should clean them out once a month when you are using your swimming pool on a regular basis. You can take out the cartridge and gently wash it with water. Don’t use high pressure on it though as that can result in it being torn and damaged. You should inspect the cartridge each time you clean it out. Replace it when it starts to show signs of wear. Many swimming pool owners are able to use the same one for six months to a year before replacing it.

The DE swimming pool filter is more complex but it also works the best. It involves tiny diatoms being active inside of the filter to collect dirt and debris. This process is able to get rid of even the finest grains of dirt which means your pool will be the cleanest it possibly can.

You will have to watch the pressure gauge so that you can complete the backwash process for this type of pool filter as well. While these types of filters are the most expensive those consumers with them don’t seem to have any complaints about how well they work.

Choose your Carefully so Maintenance will be a Breeze

There are many factors that people consider when they look for a swimming pool. The size and shape of it are very important. They have to decide if they want it to be above ground or below it. They have to decide if they want a salt water swimming pool or one that requires chlorine to keep it clean enough to safely swim in. One aspect that is often overlooked though is the maintenance.

Do yourself a favor and consider this part of the equation before you buy any type of swimming pool. You don’t want to love the size and shape of the pool but dread the cleaning process. It will be something ongoing you have to take the time for so it can’t be avoided. Taking your time is a key point too. Don’t get in a rush to have a swimming pool because what you get may not be right for you. Finding what you will be happy with is the most important aspect to consider.

It is common knowledge that the larger the swimming pool the more work it will be to clean it. Talk to several qualified swimming pool manufacturers and dealers. Don’t let them talk you into a larger size of swimming pool than you want to be responsible to care for. Ask direct questions about how much time you will have to spend on routine maintenance. Ask how much you can anticipate spending each month on the required chemicals for it as well.

These types of consultations don’t cost anything so take advantage of them. Talk to several independent locations to see what answers you get. Hopefully you will get information that is parallel from each place which will give it more credibility. If you get conflicting information make sure you do independent research before you decide on which type of swimming pool to invest in.

Buying a swimming pool can be quite a large investment. It can be tempting to cut corners but refrain from doing so. It can result in more money being spent down the road. It can also become a major headache as far as your maintenance is concerned. You want a good quality swimming pool that is going to hold up well to the elements. You also want one that has accessories such as a pump and filter that you can rely on to last for years.

You do need to be ready to invest time and money to properly care for your swimming pool though. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can rush through these tasks because you won’t be able to. In time they will get faster to complete but they do require your full concentration. You need to ask yourself if you want a swimming pool badly enough to be committed to maintaining it properly.

If you choose your swimming pool carefully, then maintenance will be a breeze. The more informed you are about what your role will be the better decision you can make. You want having your own swimming pool to be something you are happy you did, not something that just consumes your time to take care of. It is very easy to clean out this type of swimming pool filter though.

Common Water Problems with Swimming Pools that you can Solve

Even with careful maintenance there can be unexpected events that take place with the water in your pool. Being able to resolve them on your own is very important. It will save you both time and money. You will also get more enjoyment out of your swimming pool because you won’t become stressed out every time something is amiss. It is very important that you strive to resolve issues though right away. They can continue to compound if you don’t.

Many people assume that cloudy water in the swimming pool is a sign that no one has been taking care of it. In many instances it is the sign that your filter isn’t doing its job like it should. Take the time to check it and make sure there isn’t a build up of debris you need to remove. You also need to make sure the filter you are using is right for your size of swimming pool.

You may discover you simply need to have the filtering system on more time each day than you currently do. If your pool is used often by many people then you will definitely want to increase the filtering time to get rid of all the oils and debris that will be in your water.

Some individuals have clear water but they can see black spots in it. This is a sign that a type of algae is starting to form. The sooner you act on this the better as it can spread very quickly. You will want to shock the water as soon as you notice these black spots appearing. You will also want to scrub the locations by hand or with a robotic cleaner daily for about a week to prevent the algae from coming back.

Signs of reddish brown have also been noted in swimming pools. This is an indication that you have too much iron present in the water. There are some good chemicals specifically to remove iron. You want to get rid of it as soon as you can so that it won’t permanently stain your swimming pool. The additional iron may just be something you have to deal with ongoing if the water in your area contains higher than normal amounts of it. You simply don’t have any other choice about the water to use in order to fill up the swimming pool.

You shouldn’t find your eyes or your skin to be irritated by the chlorine in the water. If that is the case there is something out of balance. If you haven’t completed a shock recently then this is the time to do it. The next day you want to test your chlorine level. Too many owners assume that they are adding too much chlorine and that is why they have the irritation. As a result the cut back on the recommended amount to use. Don’t be tempted to do this as it won’t get you the results you are after.

When you notice problems with the look or smell of the water in your swimming pool you need to take action. The early warning signs are your chance to get everything back under control right away. If you ignore the problems they will only escalate in nature and they can be expensive to take care of when they do.