Every modern home today considers creating a backyard oasis in order to enhance its decor. This has resulted in a continuously increasing boom in the demand for swimming pools and spas along with related outdoor products. Young families and singles these days like to spend much time socializing and entertaining their guests, that too in the privacy of their own backyard. This is why swimming pools, lap pools and spas have become so necessary for a new or renovated house.
However, one has to follow laws and regulations, obtain permits and produce engineering drawings, etc. in order to gain the comfort they require. This is the reason one must make sure that the service organization, installer or builder they are choosing is qualified and has required experience in the installation of pools and spas and also their time-to-time servicing and renovation.
Here are some tips regarding the maintenance of Swimming Pools and Spas:
Swimming Pool Maintenance
If you are feeling a burning sensation in your eyes or your skin is feeling dry while swimming or the water has become unclear, it would indicate that you are not keeping your pool clean and well-maintained. Here are some steps you can follow in order to keep your swimming pool water clean and hygienic:
- Keep adding chlorine continually and gradually to the pool water. This is because chlorine gets combined with the organic contaminants in the pool water killing them off. However, never dump huge amounts of chlorine into the pool water. Do not place the sticks and tablets simply in the skimmer because this will cause it to pass in a highly concentrated state through the plumbing works before getting dissolved or diluted in the water. This may corrode the pipes and other pool equipment. To make sure you are adding chlorine gradually and safely into your pool, the best option is to use an automatic or floating chlorine feeder.
- Maintain the pH level of your pool water. The pH level basically indicates the acidic or basic/alkaline nature of the pool water and it should be between 7.6 and 7.8. If it is lesser than 7.6, your pool water is more acidic in nature, which may cause corrosion of the equipment of your swimming pool. On the other hand, when pH level starts crossing 7.8, the nature becomes increasingly basic (or alkaline) and it causes scales to build up over the swimming pool tiles.
- Calcium hardness monitoring is also required once every year. Cloudiness and corrosion is also caused by the level of calcium in pool water. This level should be in the range of 150 to 250 ppm.
SPA Maintenance
Having a hot tub or spa at home is a serene way of having relief and fun but when it comes to maintaining it, things might be confusing. The tips given below will make it simpler for you to keep your spa well-maintained in an easy manner.
- Check how the water looks every couple of days. If you are using either bromine or chlorine as a sanitizer, its level should be 1 to 5 ppm. The pH level of the water should be between 7.2 and 7.8. Total alkalinity should be between 120 and 180 ppm and calcium hardness between 125 and 400 ppm.
- Thermometer should be used in the eco-mode and must be turned up about 30 minutes prior to using the spa. A temperature range of 38 to 40 degree Celsius is the most comfortable.
- Change the water of your spa twice or four times a year depending on how regularly it is used.
- A tight fitting insulating spa cover will save energy by preventing heat from escaping.
- Conditioning of your tub cover must be done once in a month to prevent it from cracking and hardening.
- To avoid any kind of unwanted chemical reaction in pool water, add one chemical at a time gradually and the other one only after a few hours.
