Question 1

How long do I have to wait to use my swimming pool after chemical treatment?

Accepted Answer

There’s nothing better than a refreshing dip in the pool, so we don’t blame you if you want to spend every spare minute in the water and make the most of the swimming season! And while it can be tempting to jump straight back in just after adding a new dose of chemicals, there are some general guidelines we recommend following when it comes to how long you should wait before it’s safe to get back into the water. Generally, it is safe to use your pool after chemicals have dispersed throughout the pool, usually 15 minutes to one hour. Shocking your pool refers to when you add a stronger concentration of chlorine (or non-chlorine shock) to rapidly increase your sanitising chemicals’ levels. While this does a great job at eradicating algae and chloramines, you don’t want to swim in super chlorinated water straight away. 
When using chlorine shocks, you should wait at least 24 hours before swimming. Non-chlorine shocks will usually allow for a shorter wait time.

Question 2

Is Chlorine safe for Swimming Pools?

Accepted Answer

Swimming pools and spas are subject to constant contamination from foreign matter brought in by swimmers, wind, rain, fill water, and articles used in and about water. Such contaminations include particles of dirt, organic matter, bacteria, algae, hair, makeup, suntan and body oils, leaves, mineral residue from chemicals and other debris.

The most common method of sanitation is Chlorine (Bromine for spas). All chlorine-regardless of where it comes from- when added to water, does exactly the same thing. Chlorine destroys such harmful organisms as bacteria, algae, fungi, pathogens, viruses and destroys impurities that are not removed by filtration.

Swimming without them could be like swimming in a petri dish, exposing people to all sorts of potentially nasty microbes. Most people probably wouldn’t want to go swimming in a giant, germ-filled petri dish. But without modern chemistry, that’s what swimming in pools could be like. Even a quick swim in unsanitized water could expose a person to illnesses such as diarrhea, swimmer’s ear and various types of skin infections, including athlete’s foot. Modern chlorine pools ensure a safe and healthy swimming experience.

Question 3

Why is it important that my pool water's chemistry is correct and is it alright to balance chemicals every other week?

Accepted Answer

The need to treat water is the only means of controlling communicable diseases.  It is very important to maintain water balance so that the chemicals can work to optimisation. Water can become aggressive and destroy pools and equipment with corrosion and cause staining or it can become scaling and damage the pool and equipment with mineral deposits and staining.

The most common method of sanitation is Chlorine (Bromine for spas). All chlorine-regardless of where it comes from- when added to water, does exactly the same thing. Chlorine destroys such harmful organisms as bacteria, algae, fungi, pathogens, viruses and destroys impurities that are not removed by filtration. To enable the efficiency of chlorine as well as the corrosive properties of water - PH, Calcium, Alkalinity, Cyanuric acid, and TDS must all be monitored and adjusted. Depending on the outside influences, water can become unbalanced daily or even hourly.

The best-case scenario would be daily testing and adjustments - but that would be cost prohibitive for most residential pools.

Question 4

Why is my pool making a 'gurgling' noise?

Accepted Answer

If you own a swimming pool, you may have experienced the strange sound of gurgling coming from your pool. This can be concerning to hear and may lead to questions about the cause of the sound and potential issues with your pool.

There are several reasons why a pool can gurgle, ranging from simple solutions to more serious problems. Understanding the cause of the gurgling can help you address the issue and keep your pool in good working order.

Gurgling in your pool can be a sign of underlying issues that need to be addressed promptly. One of the common causes of pool gurgling is clogged pool plumbing caused by debris, such as leaves or hair, which results in improper water circulation and pressure.

Additionally, improper water levels in the pool can cause gurgling as water is drawn into the skimmer. Another cause of gurgling is issues with the pool pump or skimmer basket, which can prevent proper filtration of water in the pool.

Question 5

Why does my pool have staining on the floor and walls?

Accepted Answer

A dirty pool is bad enough. But a stained pool? Yuck! How is that even possible? The truth is, pool owners and swimming pool companies can be super vigilant about maintenance, and your pool can still end up with stains.

The most common pool stains generally fall into two categories:
1. Organic Stains: Organic materials like leaves, berries, and other organic debris can leave stains if they’re allowed to settle and left on your pool walls or floor.
2. Metal Stains: Several types of metal can accidentally be introduced into your pool. Maybe your primary water source is a well. Or you have corroded copper pipes in your water system. Rusted metal accessories, parts, and equipment can also cause stains.

If you have a stubborn stain in your pool, it can be aggravating, to say the least. Stains in your pool can be difficult to remove. Once you determine what type of stain you have, you can decide which approach to take to try and remove the stain.

Question 6

Does a saltwater pool use chlorine and is it cheaper to maintain than a chlorinated swimming pool?

Accepted Answer

The main similarity of a salt pool and a chlorine pool is that both chlorinated pools and saltwater pools have chlorine. This comes as a surprise to many pool owners, but it’s true. In a chlorine pool, the chemical is added to the water manually on a regular basis to maintain healthy levels. In a saltwater pool, a regenerative process creates the chlorine.

The initial costs of a saltwater pool will be higher than a chlorine pool. You have to invest in a saltwater generator to process the salt, which isn’t part of a traditional pool system.  And because the system relies on salt, you’ll usually need to replace the cells in the generator about every two to three years because of the corrosive nature of the salt. As long as you keep the cells in the saltwater generator clean and free of calcification and corrosion, the system will continue to produce chlorine.

Both a salt pool and chlorine pool require chemical testing and water balancing so there is little difference in costs between the two.

Question 7

Why is my pool green especially after it rains?

Accepted Answer

Rain can cause many frustrating issues with a pool since it carries a lot of unwanted debris that can upset the delicate chemical balance of your swimming pool. A common occurrence after a bout of heavy rainfall is green water, which is a frustrating and undesirable sight for every pool owner. There are several causes for water turning green, but if it’s directly after a rainstorm, there are usually three major reasons:

1. 1. Rainwater is not the cleanest source of water around, especially nowadays. By the time the water reaches your backyard, it will have passed through several layers of toxins, chemicals, dust, pollutants, pollen, and more. Rainwater can also contain algae spores and other bacteria that can contaminate your pool. When the rain hits the surface of your water, hundreds of algae spores are deposited into the pool. Don’t underestimate algae. In the right conditions, where the water is warm or stagnant, algae can replicate as quickly as 3 to 6 hours.
2. 2. As rain falls into the pool, it dilutes the water, lowering the chemical levels. Rainwater dilutes the levels of stabiliser, chlorine, calcium, alkalinity, and sanitizers used to treat pool water. The dilution makes it even easier for algae to gain a foothold in the water, with the conditions just right for it to thrive and flourish rapidly. 
3. 3. The stagnant pool becomes the perfect environment for algae growth if the water isn’t filtered and circulated well. Poor circulation can occur when the pool’s pump and filter are dysfunctional, your cartridge filters are dirty, or there’s a leaky valve or a clogged impeller. It’s crucial to maintain proper circulation in the pool – especially after a rainstorm. And during – you should not turn off you pump while it is raining.

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