 | | You are here: Ways to save > Energy saving at home > Swimming Pools > Maintenance|
Related Links: Download the Swimming Pool and Spa Booklet | Save water | Save Energy and Money | Eco-Optimse your pool| Maintain your pool | Pool Filters | Pool Heating | Pool Pump Calculator
Maintaining a pool efficiently is vital and doesn’t have to be difficult.
Swimming pool efficiency checklist that can help pool owners eco-adapt their pools.
- Pool cover
- Quiet pool pump
- Timers or automation systems
- Energy-efficient, low greenhouse pool heater such as solar
- Water storage system such as a rainwater tank
- Water saving products such as rainwater diverters
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Effective filtering system
The most eco-friendly actions a swimming pool owner can take are:
- Reducing water consumption throughout the household by topping up the pool with rainwater, using a pool cover and efficiently maintaining the water quality;
- Reducing energy costs by installing efficient pumps and filters. Also check with your local pool shop about installing a quieter pool pump and contact EnergyAustralia to find out how you can move to time-based pricing.
Summer maintenance
 A pool and spa’s maintenance requirements change, depending on the time of year and how often it is used. Here’s a guide to summer and winter maintenance to get the most out of your pool or spa with a minimum of cost and effort. SPASA’s summer maintenance guide:
• Check and clean the skimmer basket and hair and lint-pot basket weekly. Do this more often if the pool is used frequently or when leaves and debris blow into the pool.
• Backwash any sand or DE filters and clean cartridge filters. The frequency of filter-maintenance also depends on how often the pool is used.
• Check sanitiser levels, ideally on a daily basis and add sanitiser to maintain minimum levels. Check the operation of salt chlorinators or automatic systems. The more people that use the pool, the more sanitiser is required to kill algae and bacteria. If using chlorine, a level of 2–3 parts per million is required.
• Check the pH every two or three days. Daily additions of sanitiser and high use of the pool affect the pH level, which needs to be between 7.2–7.6. Add acid if the level is too high or soda ash if it’s too low. It is a good idea to mix all chemicals with a full bucket of water before adding to the pool. Remember: always add the acid to the water and never in amounts more than 500ml.
• Check the Total Alkalinity (TA) weekly. Adjust the total alkalinity level with bicarbonate of soda, or buffer, if the level is below 80–120 parts per million.
• Check and adjust the timer to allow the filtration system to operate for six hours each day. Most people run their filtration system for two periods of three hours daily.
• Take a sample of pool water to the local pool shop every two to four weeks during swimming season to make sure the water balance is correct.
• Salt-chlorinated pools may need additional salt – a local pool shop can confirm the levels needed. The production control on the salt chlorinator may have to be adjusted to increase or decrease its output.
• Maintain the water level at least half way up the skimmer box opening.
• Vacuum the walls and floor of the pool regularly.
Winter maintenance
Just because the weather has turned cool doesn’t mean the pool should be erased from memory until summer. By following a few simple procedures, your pool will be ready to dive into the very first hot day of the season. SPASA’s winter maintenance guide:
• Thoroughly backwash the filter and clean it with a recognised filter cleaner and degreaser.
• Ensure that the skimmer basket and hair and lint-pot are free of debris.
• Lubricate all O-rings with a silicone-based lubricant.
• Adjust the total alkalinity level with bicarbonate of soda if the level is below 80–120 parts per million.
• Adjust the pH to 7.2–7.6 by adding acid if the level is too high or soda ash if it’s too low.
• Mix all chemicals in a full bucket of water before adding to the pool (remember to add the acid to the water, and never in amounts of more than 500ml).
• Mix 500g of granular chlorine or 750ml of liquid chlorine in a bucket of water and add to the pool.
• Mix 750ml to 1L of a long-life algaecide that is specifically designed for winter. Add this to the pool.
• Adjust the timer to allow the filter to operate for two to three hours each day, ideally outside Peak periods.
• Salt chlorinated pools need the cells cleaned and the control can be adjusted to the half-production setting. If using chlorine, ensure a constant level of 1–2 parts per million at all times.
Once you have winterised your pool, you only need to:
• check the chlorine and pH levels every two weeks
• empty the skimmer basket when full
• check the water level is half way up the skimmer box opening
• check the pressure gauge on the filter is not indicating ‘backwash’
|
| |
