Swimming pools are one of the best things to have in your home. Having a pool is very convenient if you want to have a small get-together with friends and family. Even if you don’t want to take a dip into the water, your pool can still provide a place where everyone can have fun.
As fun as it sounds, having a swimming pool also means being responsible for maintaining it. Most of the time, people end up having a lot of problems because of their pool messing up something. Because of this, some people literally avoid the idea of having a pool because of these problems.
In reality, pools are investments that need proper maintenance. People who say “don’t get a pool, it’ll only cost you more” are the ones who don’t take care of their own pools. Truthfully speaking, pools are the perfect additions to your homes. With that said, let’s take a look at some mistakes pool owners make and let’s also talk about how to avoid these costly mistakes. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Riverside Pool Service Pros if you ever have any questions about pool maintenance.
Using the Wrong Stuff
Many times, people think adding lots of chemicals into the pool will clean the water and make it safer for people to swim. People haphazardly throw chemicals left and right to get rid of algae, bacteria, and other nasty stuff in the pool.
The truth is that adding the wrong mixtures to the pool’s water is doing more harm than good for both you and the pool. For one, too many chemicals don’t equate to safe water that’s good for swimming. A common experience for pool owners is chlorine rash. Chlorine rash is an itchy condition that people feel after swimming in a pool with a high chlorine concentration. As you can see, “more” doesn’t equate to “better.”
Not Testing the Water Enough
Your pool isn’t safe from the wrong chemical mixtures as well. When it comes to chemical mixtures, the keyword is “balance.” Take, for example, calcium. You might have the perfect pH, alkalinity, cyanuric, and chlorine levels in your pool. You might even say that you test your water all the time. However, all of those precautions can go to waste if you have low calcium hardness in your pool.
What happens is pool water that lacks a certain level of calcium hardness can find other sources of calcium for that need. The nearest source? Pool plaster and Tile grout. Once this happens, the water sucks out the calcium from these sources, damaging them. You’re then left with costly repairs and extra time-off to enjoy your pool. To avoid such mistakes, make sure that everything is balanced.
Keeping Water Levels Low
A lot of pool owners don’t know that keeping water levels low can damage the pool pump. With not enough water circulating through the filters, the pool pump eventually burns itself out. When you notice the water isn’t getting any cleaner or if you start seeing that algae are growing on the sides, this may be an indirect sign that your pump is burning out.
Relying on Robotic Cleaners Too Much
An effortless method to clean your pool is by using a robotic pool cleaner. This is the most convenient way to clean your pool. However, if you’re asking if it’s thorough enough, then no.
There are some places where the robot cannot reach. Relying too much on a robot can make the pool look dirty. To avoid such a look for your pool, you’ll need classic elbow grease to clean up the spots that the robot just can’t reach. If you prefer, we also offer pool tile cleaning services so your pool can look clean and spotless.
Not Replacing an Old Pool Pump
Speaking of pool pumps, the main job of a pool pump is to keep the water clean and flowing. Most of the time, people neglect replacing a pool pump because it’s costly. What’s more expensive is constantly adding in more chemicals to your pool without having little to no effect at all.
A humming sound, a high level of water bubbles in the pool, and an old pump can signal trouble for your swimming pool. Make sure to do regular maintenance and check if there are any clogs or damage to your pump. For aging pumps, it’s a good idea to change it with a newer one. Pool pumps typically last for 8-10 years when it’s properly taken care of.
Not Cleaning Filters and Strainer Baskets
Your filters block debris and other material from getting into the pump and eventually, your pool. As these filters prevent waste, debris, and other material often build-up and reduce water flow. Blocked filters can also make it difficult for chlorine to reach the water effectively. Cleaning out the filters regularly helps avoid this problem.
Incorrect Backwashing Methods
How you wash your filters can also determine the health of your pool. Most of the time, people think that the cleaner the pool filter is, the better. However, it’s generally a good idea to leave a minimal amount of debris on the filter. The reason? The tiny amount of debris acts as a barrier to prevent smaller particles from going to the water. Since debris is kept to a bare minimum, it won’t impede water flow.
Directly Adding Shock to Your Water
A lot of pool owners are guilty of this mistake. Most of the time, people just throw shock directly to the pool. Instead of dissolving, granules can start to accumulate on the pool floor. These granules contain high concentrations of chlorine or other chemicals that may damage surrounding material, such as vinyl. Always dissolve your shock first before adding it to the pool.
No Protection Against Cold Weather
Most of the time, people neglect the fact that they need to protect their pool from freezing temperatures. Icy cold weather can freeze your pumps and can cost you thousands in repairs. Getting a device that offers freeze protection prevents unnecessary damage to your pool and its inner workings.
Not Covering up the Pool When Not in Use
Always keep the pool covered up when not in use. This is especially true if you have a lot of trees and other vegetation around your pool area. Fruits, leaves, branches, and other plant matter can get into your pool and cause problems. Not only that, but birds and other animals can also poop in your pool, which can make for a nasty swim.
Takeaway
It’s always fun to have a pool in your backyard. Having a pool saves you a lot of time, effort, and resources from visiting a beach. For those who have pools, some forget to take proper care of it. The mistakes above are some of the most common that pool owners make.