We know how it goes… You search for a pool cleaning service near me and get someone to come out. They arrive to discuss the condition of your pool and they throw all these big pool terms out in hopes to impress you, but all it does is leave you clueless, right? We can help you with that. Here are some of the common terms that can get you to understand what the heck they are talking about!
Alkalinity – This should be tested weekly. Total alkalinity measures the total amount of dissolved particles whose pH is higher than 7.0. It should be kept at 80-120 ppm otherwise it can damage your pool surface.
Bromine – Is is a sanatizer like chlorine but generally used in hot tubs or spas. It’s a little more expensive than chlorine which is one drawback to using it in a larger body of water.
Chlorine – Chlorine is the most common chemical used for swimming pool sanitizing. It is available in liquid, tablet or granular form.
Cyanuric Acid – CYA is also known as stabilizer and conditioner. Don’t let people fool you. They are exactly the same thing. CYA is chlorine’s sunblock and keeps the chlorine protected while it does it job. The appropriate ranges for CYA is 30-50ppm. If it is above or below that it will either render the chlorine less effective or completely useless. The only want to remove CYA is to dilute the water with a partial drain and fill.
Deck Care – Decks should be taken care of in addition to your pool water. Your pool deck can be a breeding ground for mold and bacterica. Have you ever seen those dark concentrated spots on your deck? Clean those and keep your pool and home looking great!
Filters – Filters are the lifeline line of our pool filtration system. They are responsible for cleaning the pool water as it circulates through the filtration system. There are 3 types of filters. You have sand, D.E., and cartridge. All 3 require different maintainence schedules and also have different filtering capabilities. They also all come in different sizes to accommodate your pool and filtration system capabilities.
Green Algae – Green algae is a common result of bad filtration and/or bad water chemistry. If you have a pool with green algae it does not get better on its own. It will only continue to get worse and worse. Chlorine is the chemical that kills it and then you use vacuuming and your filtration system to evacuate it from your pool.
Hardness – This is simply the measure of the hardness of your water. If it’s low it will damage your pool because of how corrosive the water becomes. If it’s too high then it will create scaling at your water line. Ever have that hard plaque type substance on your pool walls? That’s scaling. That could work into the plumbing and inhibit the water from flowing correctly. The only way to remove hardness is by diluting it with a partial drain and refill.
Kit – A test kit is used to check the status of your water chemistry. It measures all the major chemicals such as chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, cyanuric acid etc. We prefer the Taylor K2006. Testing should be done at least once a week.
Main Drain – The main drain aids in cleaning the bottom of the pool when it gets dirty. It is one of the two main intakes for the pump to push the water into the filter. Be careful if you’re swimming down by the main drain. People have been caught by the strong suction and drowned due to it.
Pump – Think of the pump as your heart. It is responsible for circulating the water in your pool and filtration system. If the pump is not working correctly it could reek havoc for your pool water’s quality and condition. It is imperative to install a pump that is the correct size for your pool!
Saltwater Pools – This may be one of the biggest myths in the pool industry. If you have a salt water pool you still have a chlorine pool. The salt cell is responsible, through electrodes, in altering the chemistry of the salt and turning it into chlorine. The maintenance of the water is basically the same with a few goal ranges being a little different. You need to clean the cell to keep it running in tip top shape.
Tile Cleaning – Make sure you fit this into the schedule when you are brushing the walls. Having a dirty water line not only looks bad but it can damage your tile. You can take care of this with the same nylon brush you use to brush your walls.
Vacuum Heads – You should vacuum your pool on a regular basis if you are not using an automatic cleaner. Vacuum heads are attached to a telescopic pole and vacuum hose. There are 2 different types, depending on your pool surface: one weighted with wheels for concrete pools and one with brusheds? instead of wheels for vinyl pools.
Weir – No we aren’t talking about the famous golfer Mike Weir. We are talking about the door that sits in the skimmer bay that maintains a steady flow of water into the skimmer. This aid in keeping your filtration system working correctly so air doesn’t get into the system.
[button text=”We Are Here For YOU!” link=”https://chlorinekingpools.com/contacts/” style=”default” size=”large” target=”_self” display=”inline” icon=”no”]
[mc4wp_form]
