The 5 Factors of a Healthy Pool
5 Things that change everything.
Taking care of a pool no doubt takes time, but having a process helps make it manageable. At Blue Water we have developed 5 key factors that help us understand how to approach every pool we tackle. It is important that every one of these factors are in good order, or your pool will have problems. The better each of these 5 factors are, the easier your pool will be to maintain.
1. Circulation
The first question we ask ourselves when approach a pool is: how is the water moving? A strong pump and clear pipes are essential to keeping debris from falling to the bottom of the pool and keeping chemicals distributed throughout the water. If you have a weak pump, or your pump isn’t running enough, you are likely to have a dirty pool where algae has the potential to grow. Consider the position of your jets. They should be moving the water in a way that directs it toward your skimmer baskets.
2. Filtration
After looking at the pump, the next thing we look at when examining a pool’s health is the filter. On a traditional sand filter, we try to backwash. When you backwash your filter, the water leaving the pool should be dirty. If it is always clean, it could be time for a sand change. A good working filter will make a huge difference in the clarity of your water.
3. Surfaces
One thing we observe is the deck and condition of the liner or gunite surface. Is there evidence that poor drainage could lead to rain washing dirt into the pool? Does the liner look in good condition? An old leaky liner could be a bigger problem than you think. Constantly diluting water drives up chemical costs and makes it very difficult to create a stable balance of water. Leaks can also unintentionally run your pump dry, which could cause serious damage. Holding onto an old liner could cost you more money than getting a new one.
4. Balance
Keeping your water’s chemistry in balance is more important than you think. It’s a lot more important than just keeping the water from turning green. Keeping proper water balance will increase the life of your equipment and surfaces and save you money in the long term. On the contrary, not keeping the water in balance can fade liners prematurely and hurt salt cells and pumps.
5. Environment
Your pool is outside, but keeping everything outside from getting inside your pool will help it stay clearer and cleaner. Taking pro-active measures such as trimming back bushes, cutting back tree branches, and keeping your deck cleaned off will help keep organic material out of your pool, making it easier to maintain balance and for your chlorine to do its job.