Swimming has been a popular activity since time began as ancient cave paintings and Egyptian hieroglyphics depict. As one of the favourite events in the Olympics, many people are inspired to install a pool in their own back garden. These can be outdoor pools in the form of above ground inflatables or tiled concrete pools that are below ground or even an indoor pool. Whichever pool you might have, one thing they all have in common is the necessity for a strict and regular pool maintenance regime to keep potentially life threatening bacteria and diseases at bay.
Fencing
Many swimming pools, especially home pools, are required to have a safety barrier surrounding them to prevent small children and animals from accidentally falling in. However, your fencing may be defective and therefore not able to do its job. You might have wooden fencing, for example, that has rotted at the base and can be simply pushed over, or you might have a metal gate that has rusted open meaning it’s doing nothing to stop anyone getting in. This is why it’s so important to hire a pool fence inspection service on a regular basis to ensure your pool’s safety features are up to regulation.
Floating Hazards
Whether these are above or below ground, all outdoor pools suffer from an accumulation of debris such as falling leaves, dirt, insects and contamination from animals and possibly the swimmers themselves. Algae caused through sunlight also adds to the problem, giving the water a characteristic, greenish hue. Properly installed water filtration pumps, regular cleaning, which should include skimming the surface every day by hand, and the addition of a correctly balanced chemical cocktail, should help to keep the water in a crystal clear and healthy condition. During the winter, or whenever the pool is not in use, temporary covers are available that can be fitted across to help restrict the amount of debris that falls in.
Chemical Treatments
Swimming pool water needs to be tested using a specially designed kit at least once a week to check the correct balance of chemicals is being maintained. If there is an imbalance, swimmers can find their skin and eyes becoming irritated. The colour of the water is then checked against a chart. The main sanitising chemical is chlorine which helps to clear the pool of harmful micro organisms and bacteria. This can be added in the form of a floating block although there are many alternative solutions. Bromine is another chemical that is used to help reduce micro bacteria. Cyanuric acid is added to counteract the effects of sunlight which is responsible for causing algae. The acidity or alkalinity of the water should also be checked and is best with a ph level maintained at approximately 7.5 to 7.8, which can be determined by matching the sample to the water testing chart. Calcium levels have to assessed and corrected if they are too high as hard water can damage the pool lining if left unchecked.
A Clear Swimming Pool
Filtration Pumps help to sieve the water beneath the surface helping to keep debris at an optimum level. Dosing Pumps are also known as diaphragm pumps and mainly use electro magnetics in their operating systems to power the motors. The water is then drawn through the pump to extract debris and is collected in the filtration baskets which should be emptied every few days to ensure that the pump is able to work efficiently. Available in various sizes, its important to fit the right one to match the size of the pool. Some people prefer to maintain their swimming pools themselves, but there are always professional pool cleaners who can offer expert advice and assistance to keep pools healthy and clear so that swimmers can enjoy themselves without the risk of contamination.
