Framed above-ground or inflatable pools are a good idea to have fun outdoors in summer days. Pools provide your children hours of fun and active time a few steps away in your home backyard. However, no one wants to have fun in a slimy water, nor do you want the fun time to end up being danger time. Read our article and learn everything you need to know about cleaning and maintaining pools to keep your children safe and pools intact for more happiness in the upcoming summer vacation.
There are many different types of pools you can have in your backyard but the most popular are kids inflatable pools, large family inflatable pools and metal-framed above-ground pools. Not only is it a waste to get rid of the pool water after each use but it is expensive too. All you need is to maintain the pool water and you can use it several times safely. You can find all your questions answered here to maintain all types of pools.
How Can I Keep the Inflatable Pool clean?
It is a waste to get rid of the water each time your kids dip in, you can keep your pool clean and clear for a few days using these 2 important processes:
- Water Chemicals: use a sanitizer and keep it in check. You need to use a chlorine that is suitable for inflatable pools by asking the pool expert at the store. Simply, add chlorine pucks to a floater and the chlorine will keep water sanitized and germ-free to protect your little swimmers from infections.
- Water Cleaning: because chemicals are not enough to get rid of dribs such as leaves, insects, and other floating objects you don’t want them to end up in your hair. So, you need the basic cleaning kit to skim the top of the pool every day with a leaf net and brush the pool walls with the pool brush.
If you are using the pool more regularly, it’s worth the investment of a pool vacuum to clean the pool floor from dirt and a filter pump to keep water circulation suitable for your pool size; let’s say 8 to 12 feet.
Can I Keep the Water in Kids Pool clean and Clear without Chemical?
Yes, all you need to do is take care of the water hygiene. Make sure to purchase the pool maintenance kit once you get the pool. Keep the kids pool clean by brushing the pool walls daily to avoid the formation of sticky algae. Plus, skim the water surface using the net to remove any leaves or insects floating on top of it.
Mothers recommend adding a cup of white vinegar to small pools and mixing it around to make sure it reaches all the sides. This way you can keep the water clean naturally and for a longer period.
You can also get a suitable sized pool cover that protects the water from sand and dirt, and keeps the pool water clean for around a week. You must empty the water and scrub the walls of the pool before filling it again.
How do I protect the inflatable pool walls from sticky algae?
Because small plastic pools do not have a pump to maintain water circulation, algae accumulates faster in them. You can simply clean the pool after emptying the water once a week (maximum) by mixing a quantity of simple household bleach with 5 amounts of water and scrubbing the pool with a cleaning brush. You can also make a mixture of baking soda and rub the pool wall with it or a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water, as a free-chlorine sterilization method. We recommend letting the pool dry under the sun before filling it again to kill germs, promote natural sterilization from the UV rays and rinse thoroughly to remove all cleaning materials. Do not forget to test the effect of bleach on the pool colour before using it on all surfaces.
What Are the Steps of Maintaining Framed Above-Ground Pools?
There are 3 steps that you have to take care of in order to keep the pool water clean and avoid emptying it since it is very expensive. We can call them the 3 C’s:
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Circulation
- Use the filter pump attached to the pool. If your pool lacks a pump, you must purchase it separately. Choose a filter pump that fits the size of your pool.
- It is recommended to operate the filter pump from 8 to 12 separate hours per day in hot climates. On warm days, it is sufficient to operate it from 4-6 hours per day.
- We recommend tilting the pump nozzle down a bit, so it pumps toward the bottom of the pool and covers most of the pool surface area.
- You need to periodically clean the filter pump basket to keep pumping efficient.
- You must clean the filter weekly by rinsing the cartridge or soaking it for a while. Cleaning weekly keeps them filtering sufficiently for more than two months.
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Cleaning
- Skim the water surface daily or at least every 3 days using a leaf net to get rid of unwanted additions such as leaves, insects, and other floating objects – you don’t want them to end up in your hair!
- Scrub the corners and sidewalls of the pool with the brush twice a week. a sticky layer will be formed on these spaces, which promotes the growth and reproduction of algae that cause diseases.
- Sweep the pool floor to clear loose sand and debris once a week using the manual broom that can be attached to the pool pump. It is easy to use and even your children can help you cleaning. You also can get an automatic pool cleaner for large pools.
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Chemicals
Test the chemicals in your pool water once or twice a week to keep them balanced and ensure sufficient chlorine in the floater. You can use the home testing kit or take a sample of the water to your local pool dealership. Don’t miss the part about pool shock in here. We also recommend Krystal Clear Saltwater System Cg-26668 from Intex to keep your water clear and balanced.
How can I tell if the pool water is good to swim in?
Clear and non-sticky water is a sign of clarity. However, you need to test the amount of chemicals once to twice a week using the home testing kit like test stripes or take it to your local pool dealership.
What chemicals should we measure and use in swimming pool water?
You must measure and maintain the following chemicals within the specified level:
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- Water PH level: Maintain PH around 7.2 and 7.6, while alkalinity must be at 100 -150 Ppm.
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Sterilizers level according to the type used:
Chlorine 1-3 Ppm
Bromine: 3-5 Ppm
Biguanide: 30 – 50 Ppm.
Mineral sterilizer: 0.5 Ppm
What is Pool Shock?
Shocking the pool is the process of disinfection with chlorine by a greater amount than usual. It is an important step to keep the water clean and safe. You must shock the pool periodically once or twice a month. However, experts recommend it once a week, especially in cases of continuous use or after a rainy or hot sunny weather. Note that the operation should be performed after sunset. Follow these steps to shock your pool, taking care to wear gloves, masks, and goggles meanwhile:
- Dissolve sterilization material that you will use in a 20-litre bucket of pool water. Never pour water on the material but sprinkle it on the water and stir well with a stick.
- Add sterilization material while the swimming pool filtration system works. Pour it into the pool very slowly near the pool filter to spread it. Make sure you don’t get any chemicals over your skin.
- Re-fill a quarter of the bucket with water and shake the bucket to ensure all chemicals have been removed, then pour in the same way.
- Make sure to measure the chlorine level before swimming again after sterilization, so that your skin remains unharmed.
What are the types of filter and filter pumps for swimming pools?
Sand Filter: Sand filters use special sand as the filter media. the tank through the diffuser. As the water goes down through the bed of sand, the dirt and debris is trapped between the grains of sand. Then clean water returns to the pool. Sand filters filter out debris down to about 40 microns in size. Anything smaller than 40 microns will probably not be filtered out. Filter sand should be replaced every 3-5 years. The sand can be replaced by the Flowclear Polysphere filter balls for a lighter weight.
Cartridge filter:
These filters use a paper-type cartridge as the filter media. They do not filter so finely, but it produces the same water quality as the sand filter. It is worth mentioning that the cartridge should be cleaned once or twice every month and replaced every season. This makes the maintenance issue a plus with these filters.
How can I reduce the chlorine in the pool water and raise the PH as well?
This can be done by adding the alkaline booster obtained from stores specialized in swimming pool tools. You can spread the product on water to raise PH. Otherwise, use a PH enhancer or borax to raise PH if the alkaline booster is not sufficient.
How can I reduce the PH of the pool water?
Use a PH reducer available in stores specializing in swimming equipment, where you add it in a few batches and check the level every few hours until it reaches the required level.
Does sunlight affect pool water?
The temperature of the sun indirectly affects the decomposition of chlorine. A large amount of bacteria grows faster in warm water and when bacteria multiples, free chlorine is used to kill them faster. Here is a general rule: for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you must add twice the amount of chlorine in the pool to maintain the appropriate level of free chlorine. The pool cover can be used to lower the water temperature and maintain chlorine, and a floating thermometer helps you know the water temperature.
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