Learning proper pool maintenance is essential to avoid mistakes that degrade water quality. Pool maintenance mistakes such as improper winterizing, neglecting alkalinity balance, and incorrect pH levels can lead to health risks and damage to the pool. It’s also vital to monitor calcium hardness and the correct application of pool shock.
Regular pool maintenance tasks like brushing, ensuring sufficient filtration time, and appropriate backwashing are often missed. Mixing different disinfectants or infrequent water testing in pool maintenance can cause chemical imbalances. Relying solely on automatic cleaners for algae, skipping pre-swim showers, and using street clothes in the pool introduce contaminants.
Addressing these common pool maintenance mistakes is crucial for maintaining a healthy, clean, and enjoyable swimming environment. In the following sections, I explain the most common pool maintenance mistakes.
1. Winterizing Pool Mistakes
Winterizing a pool improperly can lead to a myriad of issues. Proper winterization of a pool is crucial to avoid various problems. Follow these 11 steps below to avoid pool winterizing mistakes.
- pH Adjustment: Maintain pH levels between 7.2 and 7.8 to prevent staining, scaling, and algae growth.
- Shocking the Pool: Ensure the pool is shocked as per product instructions.
- Filtering Duration: Run the filter for 24-48 hours based on water cleanliness prior to closing the pool.
- Cleaning: Vacuum the pool thoroughly and remove floating debris.
- Algaecide Use: Add algaecide to prevent algae growth.
- Water Level Management: Follow manufacturer’s guidelines for water levels during winter. Some pools require partial filling.
- Equipment Care: Turn off and drain filter pump, heater, and other equipment. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for lubrication and covering.
- Power Disconnection: Turn off all power to support equipment and remove fuses or flip circuit breakers.
- Diving Board and Slide Storage: Remove and store diving boards or slides.
- Pool Cover Quality: Use a durable, weatherproof pool cover and secure it properly.
- Cover Attachment: Ensure the cover’s edge is tight against the deck surface to prevent wind damage.
2. Not Balancing Alkalinity In Your Swimming Pool
Alkalinity, also known as acid-binding capacity, is essential for stable pool water quality. Often overlooked, especially by beginners, its balance directly affects the pH level. The common error lies in addressing a high pH level by adding acid without considering the underlying alkalinity.
A misconception is that a high pH above 8.0 necessarily indicates low acidity. In reality, a low acid capacity below 80 ppm (mg/l), signifies excessive acid. The first step in such a scenario is optimizing the pool alkalinity to 80 – 120 ppm (80 – 120 mg/l). This alkalinity adjustment stabilizes the pH, preventing its wild fluctuations which can lead to various pool maintenance problems.
Monthly testing of alkalinity is recommended for consistent pH management. It’s important to use accurate testing tools to avoid errors and ensure reliable results. This approach to alkalinity balance is key to maintaining optimal pool water conditions.
3. Ignoring pH Level in Your Swimming Pool
The regular monitoring of pH levels in pool water is critical. Pool owners who neglect pH values often face rapid deterioration in water quality. A weekly check of the pH level between 7.2 – 7.6 is essential to prevent the transformation of a clear pool into an unswimmable, green environment overnight.
Equally important is avoiding a pH level that is too low, as it can damage the pool infrastructure and foster algae growth, particularly black algae.
Utilizing simple test strips or more accurate cuvettes with OTO drops or tablets is effective for routine pH monitoring. However, these strips often have a measurement limit of up to a pH level of 8.2. This limit can lead to misjudgment in adding pH reducers to your pool water if the actual pH level is higher.
In cases of frequent water balance issues, an electronic water tester, which delivers precise results without the limitations of test strips, is recommended. This proactive approach in monitoring and adjusting the pH level between 7.2 and 7.6 ensures the longevity and cleanliness of your swimming pool.
4. You Overlook To Optimize The Calcium Hardness
Many pool owners overlook the significance of calcium hardness, which is crucial for preventing damage and ensuring water clarity. Calcium in pools refers to optimizing water hardness. Lime, although harmless to humans, can cause serious damage to the pool and make the water milky. This issue has been underreported due to previous challenges in measuring water hardness by private pool owners.
To avoid these problems, it’s essential to focus on calcium hardness in your swimming pool. The ideal calcium hardness level ranges from 200 to 400 ppm, with an optimal average of 300 ppm.
Regular testing of the calcium level, at least once a month, is crucial. If necessary, water hardness can be adjusted using pH-neutral powders, available from specialist retailers. Following the manufacturer’s instructions is vital when using these products.
Proactively managing calcium hardness is more efficient and environmentally friendly compared to reactive measures like acid washing. This approach saves time and effort, reduces environmental impact and additional costs associated with lime removal.
5. Adding Shock Directly Into Your Swimming Pool
Direct addition of pool shock (concentrated chlorine) to swimming pools leads to bleach marks, damaging the expensive liner. Proper technique involves diluting chlorine in a bucket before its application.
Missteps also occur in chlorine distribution. For instance, dosing chlorine via the skimmer decreases its effectiveness by up to 20%, inadvertently increasing chlorine consumption and associated costs. The recommended pool care alternative is utilizing a floater for chlorine tablets. Positioned near return nozzles with a string, a floater ensures better chlorine distribution throughout the pool.
It’s important to note, however, that floaters should not be used in pools with PVC or vinyl liners due to the risk of bleach stains. In such scenarios, chlorine tablets should be placed in the skimmer. Regular usage of a floater with chlorine tablets also reduces the need for frequent pool shocking, as it steadily maintains the chlorine level.
6. Using Pool shock At The Wrong Time Of Day
The effectiveness of pool shock is significantly compromised when added during bright sunshine, typically midday. This issue arises due to the use of non-stabilized chlorine, which lacks stabilizers like cyanuric acid. Under the influence of UV rays, the chlorine molecules break down rapidly, losing their oxidative power and resulting in minimal to no effect.
To maximize the efficacy of pool shock, it should be administered in the late afternoon or evening, protecting the chlorine from UV decomposition. This timing adjustment is crucial when using chlorine, as opposed to other agents like bromine or active oxygen, which are less sensitive to the time of day.
7. Not Brushing Your Swimming Pool
Not brushing your swimming pool is a common oversight in pool maintenance. Many pool owners are misled into believing that extended filter run times and increased use of pool chemicals suffice. This misconception, often propagated by salespeople, leads to environmental harm and unnecessary costs.
The pool needs to be manually cleaned to remove algae, germs, and other deposits that a filter cannot remove. These deposits, if not addressed in pool maintenance, result in cloudy and milky pool water. Regular scrubbing of the pool’s surfaces, including corners, walls, stairs, and ladders, with a brush at least weekly, is crucial. Proper brushing often negates the need for excessive chemicals and is a key factor in maintaining clear pool water.
8. Pool filter system runs less than 6 hours a day
Running the pool filter system for less than 6 hours each day is a significant misstep, particularly during peak usage times. This mistake is often made by new pool owners attempting to save on electricity costs. However, this practice is counterproductive, as it can lead to a green pool, and the subsequent expenses for chemicals and filtration often outweigh any savings.
Ideally, the pool filter system should operate for 6 to 8 hours daily. Increase the pool pump run times in case of higher pool usage, especially during hot weather above 90 °F (32 °C). Proper circulation of pool water at least once a day is vital to prevent algae growth and maintain water clarity.
Optimized pool filter run times according to this table below, so the pool water stays clean.
| Season | Runtime in hours |
|---|---|
| Spring | 2×2/day |
| Summer | 2×4/day |
| Autumn | 2×2/day |
| Winter | 2×1/day |
If the electricity costs from the pool pump are too high, then the pump may be oversized or too weak. Both lead to increased electricity costs for pool maintenance.
9. The Sand Filter System Is Backwashed Too Often
Backwashing the sand filter system more frequently than necessary is a common mistake that can undermine pool maintenance. Below are the six key points to consider when backwashing a sand filter.
- Function of Backwashing: Backwashing cleans the sand filter system, ensuring efficient filtering of turbid substances from pool water.
- Misconception About Frequency: Some beginners wrongly believe that frequent backwashing, such as every 2-3 days, enhances the filter’s function.
- Optimal Backwashing Frequency: The ideal interval for backwashing a sand filter system is every 10 to 14 days.
- Consequences of Over-Backwashing: Excessive backwashing leads to loss of filter medium, diminishing the system’s filtering capability.
- Role of Filtered Dirt: Interestingly, the dirt trapped in the filter aids in water filtration, acting as an additional filter medium.
- Impact on Filter Medium: Less frequent backwashing reduces stress on the filter medium, extending the time between necessary sand changes in the system.
10. Combining Different Pool Disinfectants
Combining different pool disinfectants is a critical mistake in pool maintenance. Pool owners often add multiple disinfectants to tackle water quality issues, following advice from forums or personal preference. This practice, however, leads to inefficacy.
Here is an list of 4 key points, highlighting the consequences and considerations of mixing disinfectants.
- Incompatibility Issues: Different disinfectants, such as chlorine, bromine, active oxygen, or biguanide, are not compatible when combined. Their individual oxidizing effects on germs and cloudy substances are negated when mixed.
- Specific Example: Active oxygen and chlorine, when combined, cancel each other out. This interaction results in a total loss of the desired disinfecting effect and further deteriorates pool water balance.
- Cost and Effectiveness: Chlorine is a cost-effective and strong disinfectant, but it can have side effects if misused. Active oxygen, while slightly more expensive, is more pleasant for bathers.
- Health Risks: Switching disinfectants without proper pool cleaning can lead to health risks, especially when residues of the old disinfectant negatively impact the new one’s effectiveness.
A change in disinfectants typically requires draining the pool, particularly if residues from the previous chemical are present. This is essential for maintaining the oxidizing power of the new agent.
By understanding and adhering to these points, pool maintenance can be more effective, ensuring a safe and enjoyable swimming environment.
11. Testing Pool Water Infrequently
Frequent pool water testing is essential in pool maintenance to prevent chemical imbalances. Neglecting regular pool water testing can lead to rapid algae growth, turning the pool water green.
There are 3 main methods for testing pool water, each with its own accuracy and frequency requirements. The pool water testing methods are listed below.
- Simple Test Strips: Provide continuous control but may produce falsified results.
- Cuvettes with OTO Drops or Tablets: Offer more precision than test strips.
- Electronic Testers: Allow for almost all parameter testing and are highly accurate.
It’s recommended to check some parameters weekly and others monthly. This pool cleaning routine is important to ensure that the correct dosing instructions are followed and that you avoid overdosing.
12. Using An Automatic Pool Cleaner For Problems With Algae
Relying solely on an automatic pool cleaner for algae problems is a common misconception. These cleaning products are effective for vacuuming a pool, but they do not prevent algae growth.
Algae proliferation indicates an imbalance in water chemistry. Chemical agents, such as algaecides, are necessary to inhibit algae growth. Algaecides act preventively and do not clean already green pools. Algae must be scrubbed and filtered out using a sand filter system, as detailed in a specific blog post.
Understanding the role of pool cleaning robots and algaecides is vital for effective algae management.
13. Not Showering Before Using The Swimming Pool
Neglecting to shower before using the swimming pool introduces numerous fine turbid substances into the pool, such as sun creams, perfumes, dander, and sweat. These colloidal impurities, too fine for sand filter systems, serve as germ food and often cause grease films. The simple act of showering before swimming significantly reduces pool maintenance hassle and expenses.
As a pool owner, it is advisable to establish a showering rule, ideally by installing a solar shower near the pool. This practice minimizes the presence of colloidal substances and the consequent need for extensive cleaning.
14. Swimming In Your Pool With Street Clothes
Swimming in street clothes leads to water quality issues. Such attire brings in substances that can unbalance the water chemistry and introduce harmful elements like black algae. To maintain water clarity and balance, follow these 3 tips listed below.
- Enforce Swimwear Only: This rule ensures only suitable attire is worn in the pool.
- Prevent Contamination: Keeps out foreign substances that could disrupt water chemistry.
- Avoid Introduction of Black Algae: Particularly from clothes previously used in natural water bodies.
Adhering to this rule is crucial for maintaining a clean and safe swimming environment.
Do you have further questions about pool maintenance and the mistakes? Contact us on social media. We’re happy to help.
