Maintenance Made Easy For Your Above Ground Pool

by Francis Lowe⁽⁴⁾
http://www.poolwarehouseuk.com/

As a first toe in the water to owning a swimming pool, above ground or splasher pools are an ideal place to start as they are relatively cheap and easy to install and easy to maintain. To ensure that you and your family have many hours of fun in the water just follow our simple guidelines. It is advisable to gain a little understanding of the treatment needed to maintain your water and keep it sparkling and bacteria free.

The most important considerations are the circulation and filtration of the water, and then the chemical treatment of that water. The filtration system comprises a pump which circulates the water, and a filter. The filter removes very fine particles which would otherwise make the water appear cloudy. The pump needs to be run for at least eight hours every day, whilst the filter needs to be cleaned once a week.

Water which is not chemically treated will become a breeding ground for bacteria and algae.The water needs to be treated with chlorine to kill off these unwanted bugs and prevent them from multiplying. Chlorine granules produce free chlorine in the water and this is the disinfectant that kills the bacteria and other pollution introduced into the water. The normal levels for chlorine are 1.5 - 3ppm. A usual dose of chlorine granules is 10gm per 1 000 gallons of water, but always test the water before and after dosing to make sure the chlorine level is within the recommended range. Make sure that you always read and understand all the Health and Safety information provided by the manufacturer on the chemical packaging.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU MIX pH- WITH CHLORINE. DOING SO WILL LIBERATE HIGHLY TOXIC CHLORINE GAS.

The pH of the water must also be monitored. The pH tells us how acid or alkaline the water is. The lower the pH the more acidic it is, and the higher the pH the more alkali the water. The ideal Ph level for pool water is between 7.2 and 7.6. If the pH is too high the efficiency of the chlorine action will be affected, whilst the water could become cloudy. If the pH is too low it can be uncomfortable for swimmers, causing irritation and soreness. If you need to reduce the pH use dry acid, also known as pH-. For every 0.1 reduction required, use 50 gms per 1000 gallons of water.If you need to increase the pH, use pH+ (also known as dry alkali. Use 25gms per 1000 gallons of water for each 0.1 increase required. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU MIX pH- WITH CHLORINE. DOING SO WILL LIBERATE HIGHLY TOXIC CHLORINE GAS.

If the level of chlorine in the water drops, then it is possible that algae may start to form. The regular addition of an algaecide will help to prevent this. If algae does form and the pool becomes green, then it will be necessary to shock dose the water with chlorine in order to recover it. Add chlorine until the level goes up to 6ppm, allow time for the green algae to be killed, and ensure the chlorine level returns to normal safe levels (1.5 to 3ppm) before allowing further swimming.

As a final step it is important that the water is kept free from debris such as dirt and leaves. Use specialist pool nets and brushes and regularly clean the water, removing any foreign matter.

Francis Lowe is a leading expert in swimming pool maintenance with a huge wealth of experience developed from 40 years in the industry.

To see a full range of pool equipment, including intex pools and above ground pools please see the website of specialist supplier poolwarehouseuk.com

Article submitted Friday, December 23, 2011 & read 1 times.

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