Pool care and maintenance

Daily:

• Ensure that the pump is running daily (usually set with the time clock).
• If the pump sounds as if it is labouring, check the skimmer and pump baskets.
• Check the pool cleaner.
• If there are no leaves in the baskets and if nothing is stuck in the pool cleaner, call your pool service centre.
• The ideal circulation time is 12 hours daily in the summer and 6 - 8 hour daily in the winter.
• Clean the Pool Skim / Gobbler net if necessary

Weekly:

• Test the water with your test kit. The chlorine should be 1.5 - 3.0ppm (parts per million litres of water) and the pH should be 7.4 - 7.6.
• Clean the skimmer and pump baskets, backwash the filter for 3 - 5 minutes and rinse for approximately 1 minute
• When turning to the various positions on the Multiport top,

  ALWAYS SWITCH THE PUMP OFF

• Clean the salt cell (unless you have a self-cleaning unit)
• Brush the walls and steps (the areas where the pool cleaner will miss out)
• Test the water and add the required chemicals

Aspects of water management:

pH (Potential Hydrogen) : ideal level is 7.4 - 7.6:

This indicates whether the water is either too acidic, too alkaline or in a state of balance. pH can change due to:

• Fill water
• Rain
• Bather Load
• Chemicals
• Dust and Algae

As a safety precaution, we recommend a dry form of acid over liquid acid.

Total Alkalinity:

Acts a buffer to prevent rapid pH fluctuations

Ideal level:

• 80 - 120ppm: Gunite Pool
• 125 - 150ppm: Fibreglass / Vinyl Pool

Alkalinity can change due to:

• Fill water
• Rain
• Bather Load Chemicals
• Dust and Algae

Calcium Hardness:

Acts a buffer to prevent rapid pH fluctuations

Ideal level:

• 175 - 225ppm: Gunite Pool
• 225 - 275ppm: Fibreglass / Vinyl Pool

Chlorination:

Ideal level:

• 1 - 3 ppm: (FAC - Free Available Chlorine)

To determine Free Chlorine level, DPD #1 tabs must be used. Chlorine attached to swimmer wastes (hairspray, perspiration) is called Chloramines or combined Chlorine and is ineffective as a sanitizer.

Presence of Chloramines is indicated by:

• Strong chlorine smell
• Burning eyes
• Cloudy/dull water
• To overcome Chloramines, the pool needs to be Oxidised (Shock Treated) regularly

• KEY POINT - IF YOU CAN SMELL THE CHLORINE YOU HAVE CHLORAMINES

Salt Chlorination:

The Process:

A salt chlorinator comprises of a power pack (power supply) and electrode (Cell). Salt is added to the pool water to create a saline solution. This solution then passes through the electrode and through a process of electrolyses, chlorine is produced.

Due to the nature of Salt Chlorination, the pH of pool water will rise, thereby requiring regular additions of acid to lower the pH.

The electrodes should be cleaned at least once a week. This can be done in the following ways:

• Remove and hose off
• Use an ice cream stick to remove any excessive build up - NEVER use a knife or wire brush as this will damage the cell (remember - the cost of the cell is approximately 1 third of the price of the chlorinator)
• A formulated Salt Cell Cleaner is recommended to remove calcium build up from electrodes