insideKENT Magazine Issue 100 - August 2020 | Page 68

HOME+GARDEN
THE THREE C’S OF PROPER POOL MAINTENANCE CONT.
Skim, brush, and vacuum your pool weekly, at a
minimum. This will keep debris out of your water,
and your walls sparkling clean. An automatic pool
cleaner can significantly cut your pool cleaning time.
It won’t eliminate the need for regular skimming
and brushing, but it’ll make both tasks easier.
You can also make your cleaning life easier with a
few unorthodox additions to your pool. Toss a
few tennis balls into your skimmer basket, or even
right into the pool, and they’ll absorb surface oils
left behind by suntan lotion, cosmetics, etc. You can
also wrap your skimmer baskets with pantyhose to
create an extra-fine filter. Simply replace both the
tennis balls and the pantyhose when they start to
show signs of wear.
Top Tip: You can also clear cloudy pool water
quickly with flocculant. But remember, that
just treats the symptom, not the cause, so it is
only a temporary fix.
Chemistry
Step away from the Bunsen burner, pool chemistry
might sound intimidating and complicated, but you
don’t have to worry. While it is an essential part of
effective pool maintenance and water care, basic
pool chemistry is surprisingly straightforward.
The most important tool in your bag of water care
tricks is your water testing kit. You would not season
your stew without tasting it, so before you reach for
the chemicals, do some pool water testing.
Understanding what is in your water, and what is
not, is the first step to balancing it.
The three most important parts of pool water
chemistry are:
• pH levels: The measure of how acidic or basic your
pool water is. Low pH levels are acidic, while high
levels are basic. The ideal range for your pool is 7.2
to 7.6.
• Alkalinity: Works as a pH buffer and helps avoid
huge spikes in basicity or acidity. The ideal range
is 100 to 150 parts per million (ppm).
• Sanitiser levels: The amount of chlorine, bromine,
etc. in your pool water. Proper levels vary depending
on which type of sanitiser you choose.
Once you know your pH, alkalinity, and sanitiser
levels, you can start to add chemicals to tweak your
water balance. Take your time, follow all the
directions, and be sure you know what each chemical
does and how it will affect the water - and the folks
who swim in it, before you add it. Occasionally, your
sanitiser will need a little help, especially after a
rainstorm, or if a lot of people have been using the
pool. To make sure your pool stays clean even when
the sanitszer is maxed out, add pool shock on a
regular basis.
Top Tip: Always shock your pool at
dusk, or at night. If you shock during the
day, the sun’s ultraviolet rays will eat up
the chlorine before it has a chance to do
its job. Add the shock to your water, then
run the pump for at least eight hours to
make sure it is fully circulated.
Keep It Simple
Write down your pool maintenance schedule and
tape it on the wall, fridge, or even somewhere near
your swimming pool. If others in the household are
available on certain days to do some of the simple
maintenance tasks, jot down a name beside each
task and share the workload.
Owning a swimming pool is one of the most
rewarding ways to enjoy fun in the sun at home.
Yes, it needs regular care, but that does not mean
you will spend your life shackled to a vacuum or
fiddling with your chemistry set. In fact, when you
know how your pool works, understand the care it
needs, and plan, you will find yourself taking pride
in your pool care prowess. You will enjoy not just
your swim, but the peace of mind that comes with
regular and thorough pool maintenance.
Happy swimming!
www.hildenpools.co.uk
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