Pool maintenance needs to go well beyond checking the water chemistry and removing debris. Just because your pool maintenance company stops by every week and your water is clear, doesn’t mean that your pool is being maintained properly. Good preventative maintenance will save you money and hassle in the future. I always ask a new client, “when’s the last time your pool was serviced,” and they will almost always answer, “last week.” When I hear this response I can’t believe it. It seems like their pool has not been serviced ever. The water looks clear but just standing on the pool deck for a couple of minutes, I can usually see grime and build up on the pool walls near the waterline. This is usually the tip of the ice berg.
As I begin to dig deeper into the new pool’s history I start seeing all sorts of other problems. Calcium build up on the water feature, a leaky 3-way valve, pump baskets that have turned from white to yellow and look as though they have never been opened. What are these pool maintenance companies doing?
This is why it is important to check up on your pool every couple of weeks or so. A simple visual inspection is enough to determine if your pool maintenance person is doing his or her job. Here are some things to look for.
List of pool areas to check.
· Check the Water Quality: This can be done easily by just looking at the water to see if it is green or cloudy. Green or cloudy pools are usually a sign of poor water chemistry and lack of proper sanitation. If you want to look into the water quality more closely, get some test strips and you can test the water in a matter of seconds. You simply take a test strip and dip it in the water in the deep end and then pull it right out and wait 15 seconds. Then match the test strip with the markings on the bottle and this will give you most of the water chemistry readings. The test strips are not as accurate as a water quality testing kit but they're still effective at testing for obscurities in the water chemistry.
· Check the Skimmer Baskets: These can usually be found right near the edge of your pool. The skimmer is designed to remove all of the floating debris that rests on the water’s surface. While standing above a skimmer on the deck of an in ground pool, you should be able to locate the top lid of a skimmer. It looks like a white circle or a white square with two finger sized holes with which you can lift the top off. Once the lid is removed, look inside and check for debris, mold, and/or grime. Also, take a look at the bottom of the lid as well. It should be as clean as the rest of the skimmer.
· Check Pool Area: Take a walk around your pool and try to notice anything out of the ordinary. Is there a dirty grimy waterline mark around the pool? If so, your pool maintenance company is not properly scrubbing and cleaning the pool walls. Do you notice any worn areas or white build up anywhere? Make sure to ask your pool maintenance company about anything you see that looks out of the ordinary.
· Check Pool Pumps: The pool pumps should be located along with all of the other pool equipment. Look for leaks and listen for loud noises while the pumps are running and while they are turned off. Pumps are usually noisy but they shouldn’t be making any metal on metal grinding noises or screeching noises. If this is the case please contact your pool maintenance service provider immediately to make sure your pump will not burn out or cause other peripheral damage to other pool equipment. Please contact YardSwim for a free quote on any maintenance or repairs.
· Check Pool Equipment: Look at all of the pool equipment very carefully. Check the filter for leaks, cracks, discolorations, or any other wear and tear. Look at all of the plumbing in and around the filter and pumps and check for any unusual signs of neglect. If you see anything that looks dirty or in disrepair please contact us!
· Check Pool Lights and Electrical: Turn the pool lights on and run the jets in your spa if you have one. Make sure that everything is working properly. Visually check all the fuses to make certain that they look like they are in good working order.
· Make Sure That Your Pool Isn’t Leaking: A pool needs water added due to evaporation but you need to make sure that you are not filling up your pool too much. Contact us for more information. Click Here!
YardSwim specializes in good water chemistry and repair prevention. Keep your pool running safe and please contact us if you have any questions. http://www.yardswim.com/pool_maintenance.php.
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