subject: Ways to keep your swimming pool water clean, sparkling and healthy [print this page] Ways to keep your swimming pool water clean, sparkling and healthy
Your swimming pool has given your friends and family more hours of enjoyment than you'd ever imagined it would. You also knew when you installed it that it would come with maintenance and upkeep and you've been vigilant about keeping it clean and bacteria-free, right?
We offer you these five easy tips to help keep your swimming pool clean and the water healthy for the swimmers:
Your swimming pool filters should be cleaned regularly. The sand in your filters should be replaced every five years or so. If the sand loses its roughness it also loses its ability to keep the pool water clean as it filters through it. When you're cleaning the filter make certain you're running the vacuum to clean the areas of the swimming pool in which the water may not get circulated and stirred up to run through the filters.
You don't want to over chlorinate your swimming pool, but you certainly don't want to under chlorinate either. There needs to be a correct balance of chlorine and chemicals to keep bacteria and micro-organisms at bay. Again, too much chlorine will irritate the eyes, hair and skin and can also lead to the erosion of your pool plumbing. Your pool professional can either help you address pool chemical issues or can teach you how to take care of them yourself. Many times it's best to use automatic chlorine feeders.
Maintaining the correct pH prevents the growth of bacteria in the pool. Regularly check the pH levels and the acidity or alkalinity levels of the pool.
Use an algae inhibitor to keep it from taking hold in your pool. There are three different types of algae that thrive in your pool green, yellow and blue-green. These algae make the pool green and slippery. It's important to keep pH at proper levels to avoid algae from getting a foothold.
You will need to "shock" your pool frequently if it sees a lot of swimming activity. Pool shocking kits can be purchased a pool shocking system from a local pool supply store or your pool maintenance professional.
The last thing you want to worry about is your swimmers getting an infection from bacteria that might be lurking in your swimming pool. Keeping it clean, clear and bacteria- and algae-free will ensure hours of swim fun for you and your family.
