Table
of
Contents
My
pool is
cloudy
Here
is a quick
reference
list for
opening your
pool:
Closing Your
Pool
My
pool is
cloudy
You
have a party
this weekend
and your
pool's
cloudy, what
do you do?
This is the
nightmare of
many a pool
owners. The
better
question
might be
what did you
forget to
do?
Keeping your
pool clean
and clear is
all a matter
of balance.
Just enough
sanitizer,
enough water
movement,
the right pH
and
temperature,
and regular
brushing and
vacuuming,
it seems so
complicated!
Well, relax,
if I can
keep my pool
clean so can
you! Since
most of you
have already
opened your
pool this
summer,
let's
consider
what factors
help keep
your pool
clean and
sparkly.
We'll cover
how to open
and close
your pool in
another
article.
The two most
important
things to
consider are
sanitizer
and water
movement.
Stagnant
water breeds
bacteria and
other
micro-organisms,
which is
fine if you
are a pond,
but not so
desirable if
you happen
to be a
swimming
pool. Humans
also
introduce
bacteria
into the
pool, as
well as oils
and, in my
family, an
occasional
peanut
butter and
jelly
sandwich.
While you
can fish out
the
sandwich,
bacteria are
harder to
capture.
To combat
such
assaults, a
sanitizer is
used, which
kills the
bacteria and
helps
control
algae
growth. The
most common
sanitizers
are chlorine
and bromine
based
compounds.
Bromine
tends to be
easier on
the skin and
mucous
membranes.
These
compounds
must be
added
routinely to
the pool
during the
course of
the summer
to maintain
high enough
levels to
prevent
bacterial
growth. The
levels are
measured in
parts per
million
(ppm). If
your
sanitizer
level drops
below
recommended
levels for
more than a
few days the
pool may
turn cloudy.
Routine
super
chlorinating
or
"shocking"
your pool
burns out
any residual
algae or
bacteria.
Now, all the
sanitizer in
the world
won't keep
your pool
clear
without some
method of
circulating
the
sanitizer
and
filtering
out the
debris that
accumulates.
That is
where your
pump and
filter come
in, besides
running up
your
electrical
bill that
is...
Ideally,
your pump
should run
for about 10
hrs a day.
If you have
problems
keeping your
sanitizer
level high
enough, run
it more. Be
aware that
problems
keeping the
sanitizer
level up may
be caused by
high bather
load or poor
circulation
due to pump
malfunction.
To some
extent, lots
of activity
in the pool
will help
circulate
the water.
Sometimes
though, even
if your
sanitizer
level is
high enough,
the water is
still
cloudy. This
can be
caused by a
few factors
and is
usually easy
to remedy.
The filter
is what
removes
particulate
matter from
the pool
water, this
is called
polishing
the water.
If the
filter is
dirty or
clogged, it
can't do its
job. Watch
the pressure
gauge on
your filter,
if it jumps
10psi or
higher than
normal it is
time to
backwash,
"bump" or
clean the
filter
media,
depending on
whether you
have a sand,
cartridge or
DE filter.
There are
also filter
cleaning
products
available
which extend
the life of
the media.
Finally, if
the water is
still cloudy
and your
filter is
clean, then
it is
possible
that the
particulates
are too
small to be
trapped by
the filter.
A
coagulating
agent,
usually a
polymer, can
be used.
This will
aggregate
the
particles
and allow
them to be
trapped by
the filter.
This will
usually work
within a
day, but you
need to
watch the
pressure
gauge on the
filter, and
clean it as
the pressure
rises.
With the
warm weather
solidly upon
us, pools
provide a
refreshing
addition to
our outdoor
activities.
Happy
swimming!
Here is a
quick
reference
list for
opening your
pool:
Drain water
and remove
leaves from
top of pool
cover
Inspect
filter and
pump for
damaged/worn
parts
Change or
clean filter
media if
needed
Fill pool
(cover on)
Purchase new
parts for
filter and
chemicals
for the
season
Take cover
off, hose
off and dry,
store.
Remove
debris from
bottom of
pool
Shock pool,
scrub sides
and bottom
Filter
continuously
for a few
days,
backwashing
as needed to
keep filter
media clean.
Scrub daily
if algae was
present at
opening.
(uninvited
guest)
Shut pump
off to allow
dead algae
to settle
overnight.
Vacuum the
next day and
begin
filtering
again.
Vacuum to
waste to
avoid
reintroducing
algae into
the pool.
(If you are
opening a
pool that is
really green
or yellow,
repeat steps
8-10 until
water
clears)
Adjust
chlorine
levels to
maintain
1.0ppm and
pH to
7.2-7.6. Add
clarifier.
Keep
filtering
another 24
hrs.
Add
algaecide
and monitor
pool every
few days for
chlorine
use, pH and
clarity. Add
chlorine at
night.
Adjust
filtering
times to
keep pool
clear. You
may only
need to
filter 8-10
hrs a day
for the rest
of the
summer.
Closing Your
Pool
Whether you
are in a
cold or not
so cold
climate you
will need to
do a few
things
before you
close your
pool. In the
week prior
to closing
your pool
you need to:
Balance
Water (bring
to pH
7.2-7.6,
make any
necessary
adjustments
in calcium
hardness,
etc)
Brush and
Vacuum
Shock the
pool
Re-adjust
the
sanitizer,
then add
long lasting
algaecide
Turn heater
off
Reduce
filtering
times
gradually
over a week
Drag cover
out and
inspect and
clean if
necessary
Remove any
ladders,
ropes, clean
and store
Clean around
pool area
Clean and
store pool
furniture
Whew! now go
have a
barbecue or
something,
take a
breather for
a day or so!
Cold
Weather
Climates
Try and
close your
pool BEFORE
the leaves
start
blowing
around! Plan
to close
your pool
when the
night time
temps start
to dip
reliably
into the
40's and the
daytime
temps range
in the 60's
- low 70's.
Much sooner
than that
and you risk
an algae
bloom. Much
later and
you could be
fishing out
a ton of
leaves (and
then deal
with an
algae bloom
in the
spring). Of
course if
you are a
really hard
core swimmer
or are
independently
wealthy,
leave your
pool open
for as long
as you like!
Drain pool
water to
below
skimmer and
blow out the
lines with a
shop vac
Plug return
with stopper
Add special
RV/pool
antifreeze
to skimmer
lines, and
return
lines, if
below
ground, and
shut them
down
Drain filter
of water
Inspect
filter unit
for wear and
tear, remove
multi-port
valve and
have a peek
at the
filtering
media,
replace with
new media
every three
years, or
when you
find you
can't keep
the pool
clean
Disconnect
pump/filter
unit if
possible and
store where
they will
not freeze.
If not
possible,
then
securely
cover unit
Drag out and
inspect
water bags,
sand bags or
milk jugs,
and fill
them.
For vinyl
lined pools,
reduce the
chance of
ice damage
to your
liner by
floating
several
LARGE pieces
of Styrofoam
in the pool
Roll the
cover out
over the
pool and
weight it
down
securely.
During the
fall season
and before
the winter
hits, it is
a REALLY
good idea to
pump off
excess water
from the
cover. The
cover will
collect
leaves and
water and
generally be
a mess in
the spring
regardless,
but you will
reduce the
time spent
opening the
pool and
extend the
life of the
cover by
keeping the
junk off of
it.
One last
note-remember
to LOCK your
pool gate
for the
winter!
Warm
Weather
Climates
If you will
not be using
your pool
during the
winter
months, you
can't really
close it,
you just
reduce your
maintenance
schedule,
since the
temperature
will still
be high
enough to
promote
bacteria and
algae
growth.
Follow the
same
preliminary
steps as
above, and
gradually
reduce your
filtering
times.
It is STILL
a good idea
to buy a
winter cover
for it. Why?
you will
reduce your
maintenance
greatly
since algae
growth will
be retarded
in the dark,
and you will
keep a lot
of junk out
of the pool.
Plus, it
makes the
pool area
safer. Plan
to run your
filter a few
hours a week
to keep the
sanitizer
level high
enough to
keep the
bacteria and
algae at
bay. Check
the
sanitizer
level once a
week and
adjust the
filter run
time and
sanitizer
levels
accordingly.
One last
note-remember
to LOCK your
pool gate
for the
winter!
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