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| Pool Care and Maintenance |
| Basic
Routine: |
| Daily: |
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Ensure that the pump is running daily (usually set with the time clock). If the pump sounds as if it is labouring, check the skimmer and pump baskets. Check the pool cleaner. If there are no leaves in the baskets and if nothing is stuck in the pool cleaner, call your pool service centre. The ideal circulation time is 12 hours daily in the summer and 6 - 8 hour daily in the winter.
Clean the Pool Skim / Gobbler net if necessary
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| Weekly: |
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Test the water with your test kit. The chlorine should be 1.5 - 3.0ppm (parts per million litres of water) and the pH should be 7.4 - 7.6.
Clean the skimmer and pump baskets, backwash the filter for 3 - 5 minutes and rinse for approximately 1 minute
When turning to the various positions on the Multiport top, ALWAYS SWITCH THE PUMP OFF
Clean the salt cell (unless you have a self-cleaning unit)
Brush the walls and steps (the areas where the pool cleaner will miss out)
Test the water and add the required chemicals
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| Aspects of water management: |
| pH (Potential Hydrogen) : ideal level is 7.4 - 7.6: |
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This indicates whether the water
is either too acidic, too alkaline or in a state of balance.
pH can change due to: Fill water, Rain, Bather Load, Chemicals,
Dust and Algae
As a safety precaution, we recommend a dry form of acid over liquid acid.
- Low
pH (below
7.2 )
- Faster
chlorine
loss
- Chloramines
- Skin and
eye irritation
- Rough,
etched plaster
- Metal equipment
corrodes
- Vinyl liners
wrinkle
- Protects
the pool
surface & equipment Solution:
pH raiser
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- High
pH (above
7.6)
- Eye and
Skin irritation
- Poor chlorine
efficiency
- Cloudy
water
- Algae growth
- Scale formation Solution:
pH reducer
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| Total Alkalinity: |
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Acts a buffer to prevent rapid pH fluctuations
Ideal level:
80 - 120ppm: Gunite
Pool
125 - 150ppm: Fibreglass
/ Vinyl Pool
Alkalinity can change due to: Fill water, Rain, Bather Load
Chemicals, Dust and Algae
- Low
Total
Alkalinity
- pH
Bounce
- Staining
- Corrosion
Solution:
Alkalinity
raiser
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- High
Total
Alkalinity
- High
acid demand
- Bicarbonate
Scale
- (Soft
scale which
brushes
off easily)
Solution:
Alkalinity
reducer
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| Calcium Hardness: |
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Acts a buffer to prevent rapid pH fluctuations
Ideal level:
175 - 225ppm: Gunite Pool
225 - 275ppm: Fibreglass / Vinyl Pool
- Low
Calcium
Hardness
(0 – 200ppm)
- Etched,
rough plaster
- Hard
to clean
- Shorter
plaster
life
Solution:
Calcium
increaser
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- High
Calcium
Hardness
(275ppm
+)
- Scale
forming
- Discolouration
(Brown)
- Reduced
circulation & heater
efficiency
Solution:
Scale Inhibiting
Chemical
Or drain
and refill
with water
with a
lower calcium
content
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| Chlorination: |
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Ideal level:
Ideal Chlorine Level: 1 - 3 ppm: (FAC - Free Available Chlorine)
To determine Free Chlorine level, DPD #1 tabs must be used.
Chlorine attached to swimmer wastes (hairspray, perspiration) is called Chloramines or combined Chlorine and is ineffective as a sanitizer.
Ideal level:
80 - 120ppm: Gunite
Pool
125 - 150ppm: Fibreglass
/ Vinyl Pool
Alkalinity can change due to: Fill water, Rain, Bather Load
Chemicals, Dust and Algae
Presence
of Chloramines
is indicated
by:
- Strong
chlorine
smell
- Burning
eyes
- Cloudy/dull
water
To overcome Chloramines, the pool needs to be Oxidised (Shock Treated) regularly
KEY POINT - IF YOU CAN SMELL THE CHLORINE YOU HAVE CHLORAMINES
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| Salt
Chlorination: |
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The Process:
A salt chlorinator comprises of a power pack (power supply) and electrode (Cell). Salt is added to the pool water to create a saline solution. This solution then passes through the electrode and through a process of electrolyses, chlorine is produced.
Due to the nature of Salt Chlorination, the pH of pool water will rise, thereby requiring regular additions of acid to lower the pH.
The electrodes should be cleaned at least once
a week. This can be done in the following ways:
- Remove
and hose off
- Use an ice cream stick to remove
any excessive build up - NEVER use a knife or wire brush
as this will damage the cell (remember - the cost of
the cell is approximately 1 third of the price of the
chlorinator)
- A formulated Salt Cell Cleaner
is recommended to remove calcium build up from electrodes
Ways of making it easier to clean the cell :
- Regular
use of a Scale Inhibiting chemical
will help to prevent the build
up on the cell
- A water enhancing product will
soften the water and make the minerals in the water more
soluble thereby making it easier to clean the cell
- Chlorinators with self-cleaning
electrodes are also available. Please contact us for
more information
Salt calculation - 4 / 5 / 7 Kg salt per 10 000 litres of water
(This will depend on the make and model of the salt chlorinator)
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| To Sum Up - The Ideal Chemical Levels: |
- Chlorine: 1.0
- 3.0 ppm (Parts per Million)
- pH: 7.4 - 7.6
- Total Alkalinity: 80
- 120 ppm
- Calcium Hardness: 175
- 225 ppm
- Stabilizer: 40 – 60
ppm
- Salt: 4000 - 7000
ppm (consult manufacturers recommendations)
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