Pool maintenance tips to save time and money: - Properly test and balance water chemistry weekly to prevent algae growth and clarify water. Regularly clean filters and vacuum debris to improve filtration. - Ensure filters are adequately sized for the pool volume and pump. Larger filters provide clearer water while reducing chemical and maintenance costs. - Backwash sand filters regularly as the pressure rises to remove trapped particles and maximize filtration. Proper backwashing prevents reduced water clarity and increased chemical use.

2. MAINTENANCE
POOL

3. Save Yourself Time & Money With
These Simple Tricks
Some of the best childhood memories, or the longest ones retained, will typically revolve around the family
swimming pool. In many areas a swimming pool is needed just to cool off. Lately swimming pools have become
an integral part of fitness or therapy.
Whether you are a do-it-yourself or a hands-free pool service client, we are sure – information in this article will
make your swimming pool ownership a more pleasant experience.
INTRODUCTION

4. GETTING
READY
There are over 21,000 known varieties of algae!
Algae spores constantly enter the pool,
brought in by wind, rain or even contaminated
swimsuits or equipment. When conditions are
right, an algae bloom can occur seemingly
overnight. These conditions include
imbalanced water, warm temperatures,
sunlight and the presence of nitrates.
Of course, lack of proper filtration, circulation,
and sanitation may be the primary causes of
algae.
What Causes Algae
Problems?

5. A suction or robotic pool cleaner is highly rec-
ommended by most manufacturers, as is back-
washing or cleaning your cartridge filter only
after pressure rise. Algae are living aquatic
creatures that multiply rapidly in warm, sunny
conditions. Containing chlorophyll, algae
utilizes photosynthesis to grow. That is, they
take in carbon dioxide and expend oxygen as a
byproduct.
The two main problems with algae are, first,
people do not want to go swimming, and
second, it takes time and money to rid the
water completely of algae. Algae itself is not
harmful to swimmers, but pools with algae may
also be residence to other pathogens.
Proper water balance and filter maintenance
are necessary to prevent algae growth. Also,
regular brushing prevents dirt from harboring in
the pores of your pool surface, where algae
colonies like to start. The use of specialty
chemicals or algaecides may be necessary as
a backup to the sanitizer and existing filtration.
Filtration upgrades can also solve many of
these problems.

6. TESTING
Regardless of what sanitation method you choose,
you must test the water every week and in very hot
climates, at least twice per week if you wish to oper-
ate a crystal-clear pool. The number of swimming
pools that operate crystal clear 52 weeks a year may
be zero, but certainly 95 percent of them experi-
ence six to eight consecutive week runs of crystal
clear water on a regular basis.WAT E R
YOUR

7. Unfortunately, during these six to eight-week
periods both homeowners and pool services
become complacent, particularly in the area
of water testing. You must own and perform
the following weekly tests if you seek the
elusive goal of 52-week a year crystal clear
pool water.
If you employ a pool service it is reasonable to
request your weekly water test results, particu-
larly if extra charges apply for chemical or
extra maintenance issues. It is not reasonable
to expect 365 days of crystal clear water,
regardless of the price paid for weekly pool
services or the sanitation method used. If you
seek the elusive 365 days be prepared to learn
your pool, help your service, pay for or perform
preventative maintenance and communicate
with your suppliers regularly, not just when
issues arise. The swimming pool industry has
invested in water testing services which are
excellent for problem solving but requires a
weekly visit to the pool computer for best
results.

8. As well as sanitising your pool correctly, it is very important that you turn
over your pool enough to properly filter your pool. The recommended rate is
to turn over your water twice completely per day. This is calculated by work-
ing out the flow-rate of your pump in litres (you will need to refer to your
pump specifications) per/min and calculating the minimum hours you need
to run your system to turn the pool water over the recommended amount.
TURNOVER
CYCLES

9. DOES MY
The water for your swimming pool must always be above your skimmer inlet. While this may be
stating the obvious, some not so obvious issues can occur.
A simple test to see if your pool is leaking is to take note or mark the level of your water level in
the pool and then fill a bucket of pool water to the very brim and sit it next to the pool. If the
pool water level is dropping quicker than the bucket of water, this will confirm you have a leak.
If you have an automatic filler installed this will obviously introduce water to the pool when
required. If a leak is suspected the first step is to disable the autofill by unplugging it or turning
the valve.
POOL LEAK?

10. Based on an average size pool that has a 25m perimeter (approx. 8m x 5m),
a week without rainfall, with high heat of 35°C - 45°C, you pool can lose as
much as 50mm -75mm per week. Even in temperatures of 25°C - 30°C
during the day, your pool can lose as much as 40mm - 50mm per week.
A daily loss of 3mm or less is hard to qualify but if the pool requires hose fill-
ing in moderate temperature or rainfall weeks it is likely leaking.
EVAPORATION

11. Look for holes or cracks, they often have
brown/black stains. Check around the return
jets, lights and skimmer box. Check the
hydrostatic valve. Check the pipework (may
require a pressure test if pipework under-
ground)
If leak is suspected:
Using your liquid phenol red from your PH kit,
squirt a few drops around any return jet rings
(with system off), lights, ladder, stair step or
Skimmer box trim. The red liquid will be
drawn to leak.
Money saving search for leaks
in Pool Shell:

12. MAINTENANCE
REGARDLESS OF
ITEMS
POOL SURFACE

13. Test PH Level
Test Chlorine Levels (free and total)
Empty Skimmer Basket
Empty Pump Basket
Vacuum all leaves and debris from pool
Weekly Tasks for All
Chlorine/Salt Pools
CONSIDER BACKWASH if pressure has risen
on Media Filter (Glass, Sand or Zeolite) or
clean the element if you have a Cartridge
Filter
Test Alkalinity Level
Test Cyanuric (Sunscreen/Stabiliser) Level
Monthly Tasks for All
Chlorine/Salt Pools

14. Test Phosphate Levels and remove with
chemical
Test Calcium Hardness Levels and adjust
Annual Maintenance Items:
Tests
Cartridge Filter – Soak the Element in
Acid/Water (5-parts water, 1-part acid).
Cartridge Filter - REPLACE CARTRIDGE
(24-36 months life).
Check Bed Depth on Sand Filter Annually
(filter bed depth should be six to eight
inches from the top of the filter and, if short,
will result in murky water and/or increased
chemical use).
Annual Maintenance Items:
Filter

15. THE KEY TO TIME
FILTERS
CHEMICALAND
SAVINGS

16. Three basic types of filters exist for both above ground and
in-ground swimming pools:
• Media Filter (Sand, Glass or Zeolite).
• Diatomaceous Earth (D.E) Filter.
• Cartridge Filter.
It is important to confirm the size of
filter is adequate for your pool and your
pool pump is rated for your filter.
Generally, the filter cannot be
oversized; in other words the bigger
the better. An undersized filter will
easily double your chemical use,
double your time spent on water
chemistry and give you many days of
murky water. It is very common for
above ground pools to be sold with
inadequate filters.

17. Pools with inadequate filters can either add a
second filter or increase the size by replacing
an existing filter. In the case of sand filters, an
upgrade in the media itself may permit a
marginally sized filter to successfully operate
the pool. Media options will result in a specific
micron removal with a properly sized pump.
The glass filtration was first introduced in the
late 1990s and is catching on as a direct alter-
native to sand. Glass has a slight negative
charge on the surface to attract fine particles,
which cling to the media like static-charged
socks to a sweater. This weak charge releases
the particles upon backwashing for a more
efficient cleansing. This is because glass, which
is less dense than sand, doesn’t pack as tight.
Proponents also say glass has a tighter turbid
catch, with an ability to filter down to 9
microns. Some brand claims go as low as 3
microns. This DE-quality filtration can be
achieved without chloramine-producing floc-
culants and shock treatments, says one manu-
facturer, which is one reason glass is most
commonly found at indoor pools where air
quality is a top concern.

18. It is said to last 10 years or longer. In many cases, techs find that it only needs to be cleaned with chlorine or acid
and topped off with a fresh layer.
Glass is more resistance to breakdown through filtration backwashing cycles, which minimizes cracks where bacte-
ria can lodge and resist flushing in backwashing.
A Washington state nonprofit put this to the test. In a field study performed by the Clean Washington Center,
researchers replaced 1,950 pounds of sand from three high-rate filters with recycled glass and analyzed the results
for approximately nine months. Here’s what they found:
Less water: The average duration of backwashing (in minutes) was 2:34 compared to 3:21 for sand. That equates to
a 23-percent reduction in water. The improved performance can be attributed to glass’s lower density, with
approximately 20 percent less volume by weight than sand. The lighter material floats more easily, the study noted,
allowing it to fluidize quicker, reducing backwash runtimes.

19. Clearer water: The study showed a 25-
percent reduction in National Turbidity Unit
Readings. The obvious advantage here is a
more polished body of water, however, it
may also extend to energy savings.
Recirculation systems could be operated in
fewer hours.

20. BACKWASHING
SAND/GLASS
FILTER

21. Sand filters must plug and have pressure rise on their gauge to remove small particles from the
pool. A functional pressure gauge is necessary to successfully operate the filtration system.
Without a rinse feature, the slide valve is incapable of removing algae spores, phosphate, and
human cells from water. Many slide valve owners report "dog breath" odors near their filter, or
eventually in the entire pool.
Backwashing the pool should occur after 6 lb pressure rise on the gauge and prior to a 10 lb rise
over starting pressure. The starting pressure must be recorded after a proper backwash. The gauge
can be marked with a waterproof marker so any pool professional or family member will know the
operating status of your filter.

22. The proper method is generally 2 minutes
backwash, followed by 30 seconds rinse. If
the filter is very dirty you can repeat this pro-
cess.
YOU MUST TURN THE PUMP OFF between
each movement on the multiport valve or you
will damage the “spider” O-ring inside the
valve. The multiport valve should easily and
distinctly lock into position.
Backwashing more frequently than required
will result in more chemical use and less
water clarity with a sand filter, especially if
zeolite or glass media is used. Any sand
filtered pool that has gone four weeks without
a pressure rise should backwash the pool
regardless of pool clarity.

23. The amount of technology and innovation is
rapidly increasing for pool owners.
Saving money on chemicals and maintenance
of pools parts whilst still enjoying a crystal-
clear pool is the name of the game. These are
just a few of the basic things you need to
keep in mind and research.
CONCLUSION

24. on your pool
Here are some more
simple tips to
save money
maintenance:

25. Look online for the cheapest pool
chemicals or buy in bulk.
The worst thing you can do to save money on
pool maintenance is to simply not do it. If
you do not maintain proper chemical
balance, for example, you could find yourself
facing an algae problem that will be much
more expensive to fix in the long run. Also,
failing to clean your pool regularly could
cause the pump and filter to run less
efficiently.
TIP 1
TIP 2
Make sure you check the ingredients of each
product, and compare it with a more
expensive version to ensure you are not
buying a diluted version.
Keep on top of things.

26. Don’t run your filter any more than
necessary.
Conventional pool pumps run at one speed,
wasting energy on low-intensity tasks like
filtration. Installing a variable speed pump
can save you over a thousand dollars over the
lifetime of the pump. Depending on the state
you live in, you may also qualify for an energy
rebate.
TIP 3
TIP 4
Many people choose to run their pool filter
24 hours a day. Others only run it a few hours
a day. With a little experimentation, you can
pinpoint the minimum amount of time you
need to run your filter while still keeping the
pool clean. Be sure to check with your
electric company to see if you can save
money by running it at non-peak hours.
Use an energy efficient pump.

27. Don’t run your filter any more than
necessary.
A pool cover is a relatively small investment
that can potentially pay for itself many times
over in reduced energy costs. By slowing
down the rate of evaporation, a cover keeps
your pool naturally warmer so your heater
doesn’t have to work as hard. For more
energy savings, you can get a solar pool cover
that’s designed to trap the sun’s rays.
TIP 5
TIP 6
Many people choose to run their pool filter
24 hours a day. Others only run it a few hours
a day. With a little experimentation, you can
pinpoint the minimum amount of time you
need to run your filter while still keeping the
pool clean. Be sure to check with your elec-
tric company to see if you can save money by
running it at non-peak hours. Use a pool cover.

28. Turn off water features when you’re
not using the pool.
Everyone wants a clean pool, but letting the
automatic cleaner run endlessly or applying
unneeded chemicals doesn’t do anything
except waste money. It pays to learn exactly
what resources you need to keep your pool in
tiptop shape.
TIP 7
TIP 8
Features such as waterfalls and deck jets use
energy to run and typically lead to more
evaporation and water cooling. For many
people, a key benefit of these features is the
ambient sound they produce even when the
pool isn’t in use. However, flipping them off
as much as possible (especially when you’re
not at home) is a sure-fire way to save energy.
Don’t over-clean.

29. Turn the temperature down.
Topping up pool water can add significant
costs to your water bills. Use a pool cover to
reduce the loss from evaporation, and
discourage kids from splashing, bombing
and diving excessively as it can drain water in
the pool quickly. If you have a rain water
tank, use that to top the pool up; if you don’t
have a rain water tank, consider getting one.
With water prices rising faster than electricity
it is worth the investment.
TIP 9
TIP 10
Using a heater isn’t a bad idea if it means you
can get more use out of your pool. Just know
that you pay a premium for every degree you
raise the water temperature. While you might
like the idea of swimming in bath water, you
can save a lot of money by keeping your pool
as cool as possible (while still being comfort-
able). Also, it goes without saying that you
should keep the heat turned down when the
pool is not in use.
Save water.

30. Create the right environment for
your pool.
Let’s face it, most people are in business to
make money and unfortunately often times
we are recommended things we don’t need!
TIP 11
TIP 12
You might not be able to relocate your pool
after it has been installed, but you can
change its surroundings in a way that could
allow it to operate more efficiently. For
example, erecting a wind barrier can reduce
water evaporation, which in turn saves on
heating costs. Or, if your pool is too shady,
removing a tree could solve the problem
without cranking up the heater.
Above all, seek independent,
non-biased advice about your pool.