While it’s important keep up pool maintenance throughout the year, now is the time to complete certain jobs to ensure you are ready in case summer comes early.
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“Coming into spring, our pool technicians often report they are treating pools that have turned green over the cold, winter months,” Swimart Australasian manager Chris Fitzmaurice said.
“Heavy rain – such as that experienced in many parts of the country in winter – dilutes pool chemicals, especially salt and chlorine, which makes the pool turn green,” he said. To get your pool back into shape:
Step 1: Have a pro test your water
Take a water sample to your local Swimart store and they’ll do a complete test for free including checking the mineral content of the water along with the total alkalinity and pH levels, and advise the best course of action
Step 2: Check the equipment and run the filter and pump
Turn your pump on (if it isn’t running already) and let it run for a few hours. This will help filter out any debris and dirt left in the water. While the pump is going, have a look at your filter, skimmer box, and the pump itself; are they all working efficiently? Are there any blockages, or calcium build ups forming on any bits of equipment?
Step 3: Balance the water
Although now the water might look clean after it has been filtered, the minerals and pH could still be out of whack. If you have a water test kit at home, now’s the time to use it. Check the pH and water balance, as these are crucial to the health of the water.
Check your chlorine levels. If below 0.5ppm you need to ‘shock’ the pool water with a large dose of chlorine to 10ppm. Ensure the filters are running and don’t use the pool until the chlorine level falls below 3ppm
Lower the pH levels by adding acid. Then later add a copper treatment to the water to kill the spores. Aim for a pH level of between 7 and 7.6.
Step 4: Add sanitiser
Spring is a good time to give your pool a good shock of sanitiser. Using an Ultra Shock product, dose your pool according to instructions, then keep your pump running and don’t let anyone in the pool for a day or so.
Details: www.swimart.com.au