Pool Maintenance

Pool maintenance is easy if you know what you’re doing. The first step in pool maintenance is understanding the key objectives of pool maintenance:

1. Maintain recommended pool water levels at all times. Levels should be in accordance with pool builder or poll maintenance professional’s advice.
   
   

2. Ensure all pumping and filtration equipment is maintained in good order and functions in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and operating instructions. The filter system is an important consideration of maintenance and should be washed and rinsed at regular intervals using ‘backwash’ mode as instructed by the system manufacturer.
   
   

3. If ‘salt-chlorinator cells’ are used – check regularly to ensure proper operation in accordance with the recommendations of the system manufacturer.
   
   

4. Regular removal of debris from the ‘skimmer box’ is important and so is regular removal of leaves or other foreign matter within the pool itself to minimise ‘organic loading’ of the pool water and undue influence of staining agents that can impact upon the aesthetic appearance of the pool interior.
   
   

5. Ensure automatic pool cleaning appliances are functioning to manufacturer standards and to check that duty cycles are lining up with expectations laid out by manufacturer.
   
   

6. Broom and vacuum the pool interior at least at two-week intervals in accordance with the recommended operation of the appliance manufacturer to preclude ‘build-up’ of organic matter upon the pool interior surface and bacterial growth that can affect pool water hygiene, swimmer safety and the aesthetic appearance of the pool interior.
   
   

7. Pool chemistry levels for residential pools are subject to frequency of use and climate conditions and need to be checked and adjusted at least weekly to preserve water hygiene and swimmer comfort.
   
   

8. Prevent the build-up of white calcium and other mineral deposits by treating pool with ‘Beautec®’, or similar product, every six months.

If you satisfy all of these objectives and can tick off every item on the list you’ll be able to enjoy a pristine pool all year round.

Commercial Pool Maintenance

The maintenance of water quality and hygiene is vital for pools in commercial spaces, such as resort pools, hotel pools and theme park water recreation facilities. Water quality needs to be checked daily and for frequent-use pools, checks should be made at two-hour intervals. Your pool is key to your income-generating activities, proper maintenance will keep your pool in service and ensure your profit isn’t affected by your pool being out of service.

Maintaining Your Pool Equipment

Your pool equipment, such as your pumps, filters and cleaners need to be maintained to ensure they last as long as possible and perform to their optimum. A failure to maintain your equipment is a failure to maintain your pool so make sure you consult manufacturer maintenance directions.

Failure to maintain your equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions can also lead to a void in warranties, so if you’re lazy with your maintenance you’re only doing yourself a disservice.

Don’t forget to contact Designerite for any and all of your pool maintenance questions.

Pool Water Start Up Guide

Pool Water Start Up Guide

Unless you’re a graduate of chemistry you’ll probably be struggling with balancing the pH., alkalinity and calcium hardness of your pool. Sol to make everything easier we’ve created this pool water start up guide.

The following recommended levels are based on a typical pool capacity of 50,000 litres.

• pH: 7.2 to 7.6

• Total Alkalinity: mg / L. 80 to 120

• Calcium Hardness: mg / L 150 for first 12 months of pool operation; 100 to 250 after 12 months of pool operation

• Free Chlorine: 1.5 to 3.0

• Stabilised Pools (Cyanuric Acid): 25 to 50

Pool Water ‘Start-Up’ Guide

1. Fill pool to the recommended water capacity level.
   
   

2. Turn on the pool pump and engage ‘backwash mode to wash and rinse the filter system. Check that all pumping and filtration system is functioning in the proper manner in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications and operating instructions.

   • After the pump and filtration systems have been checked you need to add the following chemicals:

   • 7 litres of liquid chlorine

   • 1 litre of hydrochloric acid

   • 2 kilograms of stabilizer
     
     

3. Run the pool filtration system for 24-hours.
   
   

4. After the initial 24-hours of operation you need to add 2 kilograms of ‘buffer’.
   
   

5. Thoroughly broom the interior of the pool and wait 4 to 8 hours to allow any sediments to settle before vacuuming the pool’s interior.
   
   

6. Conduct a chemical test and match it against the above chart
   
   

7. Wait 5 days and broom and vacuum the interior of the pool again

Salt Water Pool Water ‘Start-Up’ Guide

1. If you’re using a ‘salt-chlorinator cell’ you should wait at least 4 weeks after the initial ‘start-up’ before adding ‘salt’ to the pool water. Check the manufacturer recommendations to get an exact idea of when salt should be added.
   
   

2. Once salt is added you need to be careful not to let the salt settle on the interior of the pool. To avoid this, you need to broom the salt until it is completely dissolved.
   
   

3. Wait 8 hours after the initial salt addition before turning on the ‘salt-chlorinator cell’ according to manufacturer instructions.

Pool chemistry levels should be checked and adjusted weekly to ensure the pool remains hygienic and in perfect condition for your use.

Important Preventative Maintenance to Prevent Calcium and Mineral Scale-Stain & Salt-Cell

Certain local water conditions and pool water chemistry imbalances increase the likelihood of white calcium build-up and other mineral deposits on pool interior surfaces and within pool maintenance equipment and most commonly salt-cell chlorinated pools.

Designer Pool Coatings recommend the use of ‘Startup-Tec®’ to protect against calcium / mineral build-up. This dose needs to be repeated every six months or in accordance with advice from your pool maintenance professional.

For more information, visit www.easycarewater.com.

Pool Care Guide

POOL CARE GUIDE

This guide will take you through some of the most important aspects of pool care. If you want to get the most out of your pool you need to provide it with regular care. Follow this guide and avoid some of the common problems that pool owners face.

Guide to Control of Algae Growth

The best way to avoid algae growth is to maintain correct water balance and ensure your pool is sanitised frequently. The most frequent way for algae spores to enter pools is through organic matter, such as leaves, which is why it’s so important to monitor your pool frequently and get rid of organic matter as soon as you can.

Shallow areas of the pool are usually the first areas of the pool to present with algae so keep an eye on steps and swim-out areas. If you notice any algae you need to treat it immediately with a proprietary Algaecide in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If you’re unsure you should contact your local pool maintenance professional.

It’s vital that dead algae are removed from the pool following treatment, you also need to remove any algae residue from the pool’s filtration system. Make sure the pool water is clean, clear and chemically balanced following the conclusion of the algae treatment.

Guide to Sanitising Pool Water

Keeping your pool water sanitised is vital to ensure users don’t pick up any health issues, including ear, eye, nose and throat infections. Sanitising the water is all about preventing bacterial growth, which can often occur as a result of ‘organic loading.’ ‘Organic loading’ occurs when the pool water is subjected to excess levels of organic materials, such as plant debris and organic matter from our bodies.

Recognised pool sanitation methods are:

• 1.Hypochlorous Acid “Chlorine” Method: Regular ‘chlorine’ treatment at the prescribed dosage relevant to pool water capacity requires that the pool water is passed through the pool filtration system to remove the ‘dead’ bacteria. The method also requires use of a proprietary residual sanitizer in appropriate concentration to ensure that any ensuing bacteria that may enter the pool water is neutralised quickly.

• 2.Salt Chlorinator Cell Method: Electric power supply is required to perform an electrolysis process that converts sodium chloride (salt) into hypochlorous acid (chlorine). Of particular importance is the selection of a cell capable of producing the MAXIMUM chlorine requirement of your pool’s water volume.

Stabilising the Pool Water

Use of a stabiliser (normally Isocyanuric Acid) in the correct dosage concentration with chlorine treatment will protect the chlorine from the effects of UV rays that dramatically reduce chlorine performance as an anti-bacterial agent. 

Stabilising the Pool Water: Use of a Stabilizer (normally Isocyanuric Acid) in the correct dosage concentration with chlorine treatment will protect the chlorine from the deleterious effects of UV rays that dramatically reduce chlorine performance as an anti-bacterial agent.

Failure to exercise control of stabilizer use is contrary to good pool maintenance practices. Overdosing may or will reduce the effectiveness of the chlorine as an anti-bacterial agent, so consult your local pool maintenance professional for advice.