Keeping your pool clean is a lot of work! Both Mother Nature and pool users bring all sorts of wild and wacky things into your water.
Hiring a professional service is the easiest way to keep your pool in pristine condition all year round. Swimming Pool Service Orlando also has years of training and experience to know exactly what needs to be done to your water.
Algae are the green, slimy stuff that forms in your pool’s water. It thrives on warm, sunny days and uses chlorophyll to grow by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and expending it as oxygen. When conditions are right, it can bloom into a thick green mass that reduces water clarity and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Algae growth can be prevented by maintaining proper sanitizer levels and water balance, regular brushing and removing organic debris from the surface of your pool. Also, a good practice is to regularly use a flocculant in your pool to help coagulate and settle the algae.
Green algae is the most common form of algae in pools. It can be free floating (turning the water a hazy green) or wall-clinging. It is very difficult to eradicate once it gets started. It often rears its ugly head as a result of a hazy condition in the pool caused by poor filtration and/or low and inconsistent sanitizer levels.
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, is another type of algae that often grows in pools. It can be free floating or clinging and is very difficult to get rid of once it gets a hold of your pool. This type of algae is very sensitive to sunlight and needs proper water balance, sanitizer levels and circulation to survive.
Black algae is the most difficult strain of algae to eradicate once it gets started. It is often found on walls and in the deep end of the pool. It resembles dirt or sand and feels slimy to the touch. It is difficult to kill completely because it has thick roots that penetrate into the plaster or tile grout and protective layers that prevent cell-destroying algae treatment chemicals from entering them.
There are a lot of germs in swimming pools that can cause diarrhea and other illnesses when they’re swallowed. These bacteria can also get into the skin and ears of swimmers. Companies that specialize in pool chemicals and cleaning know how to keep these germs under control so they don’t spread and make swimmers sick.
The germs in swimming pools usually come from people. Just one person who has fecal material on their body can introduce billions of microbes into the water. This is why it’s important to shower before swimming and to wear proper swimwear. Children are especially likely to bring germs into the pool, but adults can also spread them by not washing their hands properly. Many germs in swimming pools are killed by chlorine, but if the water isn’t disinfected regularly, they can survive and multiply. This can lead to diseases like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Keeping up with the pH levels of the pool is important because this can help to prevent algae and germs from growing in the pool. If the level gets too high or low, a special chemical may need to be added to the water to neutralize it. A test kit can help you to find the right level of chemicals to add to the pool.
A good pool cleaning routine should also include a thorough vacuuming of the bottom of the pool. This helps to remove any dirt, leaves, or other debris that can clog the filter. It’s also a good idea to clean the filter once a week and scrub it down with a brush or scrubber. Finally, it’s a good idea to test the water’s chlorine and pH levels on a daily basis.
Few things are more unsettling than a pool that looks like an insect breeding ground. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what swimming pools look like to a variety of insects. The resulting mess can throw off the chemical levels of the pool and make it unsafe to swim in. To prevent this from happening, a pool owner must follow a regular cleaning schedule and regularly test the water.
There are two types of insects that tend to take up residence in pools: Water Boatmen and Backswimmers. Both are aquatic insects that feed on algae and mosquito larvae. When they take up residence in your pool, they can throw off the chemical balance of the water and cause green algae to form. They can also introduce bacteria into the water, which can then be ingested by swimmers.
The best way to get rid of these pests is to use a skimmer and remove them from the surface of the pool. Be careful though, because these bugs are fliers and they’ll likely take off as soon as you scoop them out of the water. You can also manually vacuum the pool, removing any organic debris or sediment from the bottom of the pool. This can help keep the bugs from coming back and it will ensure that any chemicals you add to the water won’t be snagged on the debris in the pool.
If you have a problem with bees or wasps in or around your pool, you should call a professional pest control company to have them removed. They can also check the area around your pool to make sure there aren’t any hives or nests that may be providing an easy route for these pests to access the water. This will keep them from using your pool as a convenience store and may deter them from making the trip.
Your pool’s filtration system is designed to trap bacteria and dirt particles, keeping your water clean and safe for swimming. However, your filter can get clogged with these elements if you’re not cleaning it correctly. Clogged filters will not only affect the efficiency of your filtration system, but it can also create dangerous bacteria that can spread throughout your pool. This is why it’s so important to keep up with regular maintenance and cleaning of your filtration system.
One of the most common reasons for a clogged pool filter is excess debris. Debris can be anything from leaves and grass clippings to toys, floats and other items. If these items aren’t being captured by the skimmer basket, they can enter your filter and cause it to clog quickly. This is why it’s so important that you check the skimmer basket regularly and clean it as needed.
Another common reason for a clogged filter is that it’s dirty and needs to be backwashed. This can be determined by looking at the pressure gauge on your filtration system. If it’s reading eight to ten pounds per square inch (PSI) higher than its normal operating range, this indicates that the filter is dirty and needs to be backwashed.
This can be done with a hose and a spray nozzle, cleaner, and a bucket. It’s recommended to backwash your filter at least once or twice a year, depending on the size of your pool and how much it’s used. While it may seem like a complicated job, this process is fairly easy and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, it’s always a good idea to contact a professional to ensure that the job is done properly and safely.
The water used in a home’s swimming pool may have varying hardness levels. Water hardness refers to the concentration of magnesium, calcium and other dissolved minerals, which can change depending on where your water comes from. Hard water results in a build-up of mineral deposits in your pool that lead to scaling. Soft water, on the other hand, can corrode any metal elements in your pool such as plumbing, heaters and pumps.
The ideal water hardness level is 200-400 ppm. If the water in your pool is too hard, it becomes milky or cloudy because it is saturated with calcium. This leads to scale and can affect your pool’s liner. It is essential to regularly test your water for hardness, and to take steps to bring it back into balance.
Using a chemical test strip or kit to determine your water hardness is easy. Dip the strip or chemicals into the pool and wait for the color to change, then compare the result to the reading on the kit’s packaging. If the water hardness is too high, you can raise it by adding a solution called a calcium chloride or “pool” hardness increaser.
Another way to lower the hardness of your pool is to drain a small portion of the water and refill it. It is important to consult a professional before making any adjustments to your pool water, as it varies wildly even within a small area.
A professional can recommend the correct treatment process for your pool and home. They can also explain how to use a water conditioner, which will make your water soft and reduce the need for chemicals that cause hard water.
