Anyone who lives in the Metropolitan Atlanta area knows how steamy and hot the summers can get. The best way to beat the heat in this humid climate is a long dip in a refreshing pool.
It’s the quintessential languid summer day; relaxing on a float with a drink in hand. And nothing ruins that experience like looking down and seeing a stained pool bottom or diving into the water with grass, leaves, and bugs floating on the top.
As a homeowner, contractor, or building manager, you know how important maintenance and cleaning are to keep your pool sparkling and inviting. What do you need to know? Read on to find out!
Draining your pool and keeping the water flowing
While it might seem counterintuitive, you do not need to completely drain your pool before you close it each season. Leaving some water in your pool (after draining the heat pump and lowering the water below the skimmer and jets to prevent plumbing freezes) will prevent debris and extreme weather from harming your pool.
Most pools only need to be completely drained every three to five years at most. There are some very specific reasons why you’d want to undertake this task:
- Your chemical balance is incorrect and you are unable to remedy the problem
- You need to remove stains
- The bottom of the pool needs repairing
- The pool needs repainting
- You need to change a liner in a vinyl pool
- Extreme boredom
The best tool to use to drain your pool partially or completely is a submersible pump. Unsurprisingly, a submersible pump operates while fully submerged in water by pumping water from the pool and draining it to a predetermined location, such as a sewer. The motor of the pump pulls water and removes it through a hose.
To drain your pool, in addition to a submersible pump, you’ll need a backwash hose with a clamp and an extension cord. Here are the steps you will need to take to drain a swimming pool using a submersible pump:
- Identify the area for which you will pump the water, such as a drain pipe a sewer system, or a grassy area
- Shut off the water and pool electricity
- Connect the hose to the pump
- Lower the pump into the pool
- As the water level falls, be sure to reposition the hose to the deepest area of the water and continue until the water level is as low as you want it or fully drained
While a submersible pump is not often used to drain a pool, a sturdy, efficient pool pump is necessary for everyday maintenance. Pool pumps ensure pool water is never stagnant, so that sanitization chemicals can circulate evenly and harmful parasites and bacteria do not proliferate. A high-quality hose is a necessary accessory when using either type of pump.
Pressure Washing and Surface Cleaning
How often you pressure wash a pool is mainly dependent on what types of stains are on its surface. Regardless, you should never pressure wash a vinyl or fiberglass pool, as they can irreparably damage the liner or surface. Pools made of plaster, exposed aggregate, or concrete can be pressure washed. Here are some reasons why you’d need to pressure wash a swimming pool:
- To remove stubborn stains
- A buildup of algae, dirt, and other bacteria is causing a slimy buildup
Here are the steps to follow to pressure wash a swimming pool:
- Completely drain the pool
- Sweep away debris, including leaves, twigs, grass, and dead bugs
- Cover nearby electrical components such as pump motors or heaters
- Begin by pressure washing the sides
- Allow the cleaning solution to work for about 5-10 minutes and don’t allow it to dry
- Using a lower pressure spray pattern, flush the detergent from the system, rinsing from the top down
- Clean the floor by beginning at the edges where it meets the wall and work toward the drain
- For more persistent stains, use a turbo nozzle
- For algae removal, pressure wash and then treat with a swimming pool algicide to prevent it from returning
- Allow the algicide to soak for ten minutes, before completely removing it with water
When it comes to maintaining an attractive, inviting area around the pool, a professional surface cleaner is the best choice (You can also strategically place attractive people around your pool). Professional surface cleaners can clean areas faster than a standard cleaning nozzle and can be used on decks, patios, sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, and even parking lots.
Filling Your Pool
There are several water sources to choose from to fill a pool depending on where you live and what is available. Here are the main water sources to fill a swimming pool:
- A garden hose using city water is time-consuming and expensive, but the simplest way to fill a swimming pool
- Water delivery services can fill pools quickly and are often very cost-effective
- Well water (that’s water from a well, not a snarky comment on the obvious)
- Some local fire departments allow the use of fire hydrants to fill pools, but there is great variation among different cities and counties regarding the viability of this option. When using this option, a fire hose will greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to fill the pool.
The exact steps to take when filling a swimming pool depending on which procedure you use. When using your outdoor spigot, you’d simply attach your garden hose to the water source and place the hose in the pool.
Whether you are a homeowner, contractor, or property manager, many of the tools listed above are very expensive and only needed once a year or even less frequently. Northside Tool Rental can help you find the most appropriate tool and the most cost-effective rental option to maintain and clean swimming pools and surrounding areas.
Northside Tool has been serving the area for more than six decades and prides itself on its willingness to offer flexible rental solutions. For more information, go to http://www.northsidetoolrental.com.