Swimming Pool Care Tips: Cleaning Pool Tiles And Filters

Algae is a problem that many pool owners face, but you don't need to pay for expensive maintenance; you can do it yourself.

Nothing's scarier than green water with unknown slimy things floating around in it. There are only a couple of options when it comes to cleaning pools; hire someone or do it yourself. If you've recently obtained a pool, you'll soon find out that it's much cheaper to do the job yourself. If your pool is already filled with algae and the water is green, you might need to hire a professional, but for everyday preventative maintenance, make sure the pump and other hardware are operating properly, for starters. Some things which assist the filter are the use of a pool vacuum weekly to clean bottom debris, and a mop to scour the sides. A mop is preferable to a broom, which can eventually tear or wear out the liner. Perform these procedures weekly, whether the pool has been used recently or not. If your filter operates with sand, change the sand before the beginning of each summer. If the pool is indoors, change the sand every six months to help control algae build up. Whether your pool uses sand or another type of filter, keeping it clean maintains proper water circulation which prevents algae from building up as quickly.

To clean a cartridge filter, turn everything off. Loosen the band which holds the top half of the filter and remove filter housing. Remove each cartridge and spray water into each of the pleats until dirt is dislodged. If you spray the filter out every week, that should be enough to keep it clean. There are additional chemicals which you can purchase to soak the filters in every few months to oils and build-up. After placing the filters back into the housing, clean the rubber gasket, then lubricate it and place it back on top of the housing. Tighten the band and restart the pump. To clean a DE filter, turn the pump off and then move the multiport valve handle from "filter" to "backwash". Turn on the pump and allow backwash for 5 minutes. Turn the pump off, move the valve to "rinse", and rinse the DE for 10 to 15 seconds. Turn the pump back off and select "filter", then turn the pump on again. Mix DE powder with water and pour the mixture into the skimmer. A special cleaner should be used every 6 months on the grids to remove deposits. If the grids are frayed or ripped, replace them.

No matter how well you try to maintain the pool, eventually you'll probably have algae issues. Selecting the proper chemicals is vital to the life of your pool and the liner. To make sure that you get the proper chemicals, have the water tested every couple of months. They'll usually test it for free and recommend the right chemicals. One chemical every pool definitely needs is chlorine. Chlorine not only kills bacteria, but it helps to prevent the build up of algae. One application of chlorine is to give your pool a "shock". This is a large amount of chlorine added all at once. After leaving the shock treatment in the pool as long as is recommended on the label, use the mop to scrub the sides of the pool. Walk around the pool with the broom, using up and down motions until you've done the entire pool. If the broom will reach, use it to clean the bottom of the pool, but if not you might need to add an extension bar or purchase special equipment for large pools. Never get into the water immediately after the shock treatment. There are other special cleaners which you can add that will make it easier to remove the algae from the pool. When using any pool chemicals, keep away from kids and animals, use rubber gloves and wash your hands immediately after handling. Also, dispose of the containers properly when empty.

Regular preventative maintenance is vital to your pool and its liner. Keeping the pool clean is not as time consuming as it sounds, since most of the chemicals work independently, but mopping the pool weekly and keeping the filter clean are a must. Signs that it's time to clean your pool or filter again are a slimy feel to the bottom or sides of the pool, cloudiness of the water, a bad smell coming from the pool, or sighting of actual algae growth. Regular maintenance of your pool and filter will protect your liner and save you money.

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