Pool Service and Repairs

Having a pool service lets pool owners enjoy their pool to the fullest. Many either don’t have the time to learn how to properly maintain the chemical balance of the water, and a paid service removes this concern.

It is not unusual for a dog to drink from a swimming pool. Although water in the dog’s pet bowl is preferred, there should be no problem for a dog that drinks water from a swimming pool.

Several things can cause a cloudy pool to lose clarity, including poor water circulation, chemical imbalance, poor filtration, low sanitizer levels, or lack of oxidation.

pH is the measure of alkalinity or acidity in a pool. Pools with unbalanced pH levels are uncomfortable for bathers and can cause eye irritations, skin discomfort, and hair and bathing suit bleaching. Too much acidity in a pool is corrosive to pipes, filters, and metal fixtures. Too much alkalinity in a pool causes “scales” to adhere to metal fixtures and reduces the effectiveness of chlorine.

Algae spores are brought in by wind, rain, or contaminated swimsuits or equipment. When conditions are right, an algae bloom can occur seemingly overnight. These conditions include water out of balance, warm temperatures, sunlight, nitrates, and carbon dioxide. In addition, a lack of proper circulation, filtration, and sanitation is the primary cause of an algae bloom in a pool.

Algae creates a chlorine demand in the water, consuming chlorine that should work on other contaminants. Algae are not harmful to swimmers, but pools with algae may also harbor pathogens like E. coli.

In addition to causing sanitation issues, algae also clog up the pores in pool filters, decreasing filter effectiveness and requiring more backwashing or media replacement. Eventually, it can also cause damage to pool surfaces, a costly problem to repair.

Three types of algae pertain to swimming pools. Their color defines them: green, yellow or mustard, and black algae.

Once the pool owners notice algae, starting with the light yellow film on the pool walls, usually in corners, it is essential to start remediation immediately. A delayed reaction will cause a more costly and time-consuming fix.

The most significant error most pool owners make is waiting too long to remediate, using too few remediation chemicals, and not cleaning all the hiding spots, such as filters and skimmers.

There are several steps to algae remediation. The pool:

• Must be brushed aggressively all over the walls, bottoms, and seats to loosen the algae.

• Shocked with proper granular shock and liquid chlorine amounts. Note CYA levels can affect how much shock and chlorine should be used. High CYA requires more of these chemicals. But be careful. Too much shock and chlorine can damage pool equipment. Also, note the pH and total alkalinity must be at proper levels for the shock to do its job.

• Must run for at least 24 hours. Depending on the extent of the algae, it may require re-treating several days in a row.

• Filter system needs cleaning to kill the algae that hides in it.

Follow these steps with a good algaecide and clarifier.

Ridding a pool of advanced algae blooms requires precise treatment to solve the problem without creating other more costly issues. Our advice is to let a pool professional perform this dangerous chemical handling and add it.

Black spots are most likely black algae. Black algae is challenging to treat as it requires special chemical treatments coupled with aggressive scrubbing. It is imperative to quickly and consistently treat black algae because its roots will extend into the pool plaster.

It is an urban myth that a pool’s chlorine causes the distinctive smell around swimming pools, irritating swimmers’ eyes and causing itchy skin. Chloramines are the responsible irritants, and they may result from too little chlorine in the pool.

Chloramines form when chlorine combines with contaminants brought into the pool by swimmers. Think urine, sweat, body oils, and cosmetics. The CDC’s hygiene tips recommend that swimmers shower with soap before entering the pool and stop peeing. Excessive urine increases the levels of unwanted, smelly chloramines in the pool.

If chlorine combines chemically with contaminants like urine, it cannot destroy the germs in the pool that make swimmers sick.

The bottom line: Pool owners need to keep pool chemicals in appropriate ranges, and swimmers need to ensure they are not contaminating the water. The proof will be in the air around the pool.

Our experienced technicians are trained to assess the requirements of a pool and set pool timers accordingly. Generally, we recommend 8 to 12 hours during the summer and at least six hours in the winter. Pool owners must consider bather load, filtration, and water temperature.

All functioning parts of a pool require regular maintenance to work correctly. Ignoring this critical maintenance will cost the pool owner in replacement fees. If a pool is maintained correctly, it will ultimately save the pool owner money and aid them in making the most of their pool both as an investment and as a place for their family to enjoy.

Turn off all the pool equipment at the breaker panel to limit any damage to the system and prevent anything from turning back on, then call us for a system inspection.

We provide weekly pool cleaning services and additional individual services. Pools need to be serviced weekly to prevent staining. Still, just as important, pool equipment needs checking weekly to avoid major problems arising, especially if the pool owner is a seasonal resident.

Every time we clean the filter element, some dirt particles are left behind in the fibers of the filter medium, reducing filtration capacity. Therefore, we recommend changing them every 12 months to maintain good water flow, limit pressure on the pump, and reduce excessive power consumption.

This is usually attributed to the heat exchangers leaking. The exchangers are made from copper, and the metal is relatively soft.

There are two reasons for a leaking pool heater:

• Circulation pump is too powerful: If the speed of the water in the system exceeds 8 feet per second, it will strip the copper. Many pool construction companies install pumps that are too large, thinking bigger is better.

• Improper chemical balance: If the pool’s pH is too low, and is too acidic, the water will eat the copper. If there are blue stains on the pool walls and steps, this indicates these problems, and the stain is the copper from the heater.

There are many components in a heater, any one of which can fail. The heater often won’t fire because it lacks sufficient water flow. This may be due to full leaf baskets, clogged pump impellers, or dirty filters.

When a pump cannot obtain the water required, it creates a condition we call cavitation. There are three things to check to determine if the pump is in cavitation:

• The water level: Should be at a point halfway up the opening of the skimmer.

• The flapper inside the skimmer throat is not stuck in the up position, as this impedes water flow into the skimmer, allowing more air into the system.

• Ensure the leaf baskets are empty.

Suction leaks can also cause a noisy pump or cause it to lose its prime. The repair for this can be as simple as replacing the o-ring on the pump lid to major re-plumbing if the leak is under the decking.

Contact a professional pool service technician for guidance on these and other pool care issues.

During foul weather, we alter our routine maintenance procedures. We will not take the chance of clogging the plumbing or equipment with unseen objects that may be at the bottom. Even if we can not do complete maintenance, we will always ensure that critical items that can do significant damage have been addressed. Once foul weather has ended, we will clean up any resulting mess in the water system.

Fill a bucket with pool water and set it on a pool step, ensuring that the water level in the bucket is the same as the pool level. If the water level in the pool is lower than the water level in the bucket after one week, the pool is likely leaking. This method is reliable because the condensation behavior is the same.

While we would like to give a pool owner an exact date, the honest answer is that it varies yearly. We encourage clients to schedule a pool closing service as soon as they have stopped using their pool for the season, which can differ for each customer.