Pool Care FAQ

Run filtration pump and jet pumps continuously. If functioning properly, your freeze guard should run the pump automatically until temperatures rise above freezing. Note: Direct sunlight on your freeze guard may “trick” it into functioning as if the temperature is above freezing thereby turning off your pump. If this happens, reactivate the pump manually and remove the timer trippers or switch the computer controller to “service” and turn the pumps on. The pumps WILL NOT turn off automatically in service mode.

Break up ice on the pool and spa surfaces to keep the skimmers and skimmer doors free from ice. Carefully remove skimmer doors if it is not possible to keep them free of ice. Use caution to avoid damaging the skimmers.

Maintain proper pool water level at all times (at the middle of the skimmer). If the water level drops too low, the pump will draw in air through the skimmers which increases the risk of equipment freeze damage.

NEVER backwash during extremely cold conditions. Filter pressure gauges can freeze, resulting in inaccurate readings.

DO NOT use heater during extreme cold unless it has been constantly running prior to the drop in temperature.

Adjust pool and spa jets upwards to reduce surface freezing.

 

Power Failure Procedures During Freezing Weather

    • Turn off circuit breakers to all pool equipment.
    • Open the filter air bleed valve. If it is frozen, pour warm water over it to dislodge the ice.
    • Drain the pumps by removing all drain plugs from the bottom of the pump. Place the plugs in the pump basket and loosely replace the lid.
    • Remove the winterizing plugs and/or open drain valves on the heater and place them in the pump basket.
    • Remove drain plug for the filter.
    • Remove the chlorinator tubing and lid.
    • To prevent ice from forming in the skimmer, place a one liter plastic bottle half filled with anti-freeze in each skimmer. This will help take up any freeze expansion in the skimmers.
    • Open all valves or adjust 3-way valves to the middle positions to allow water to flow back into the pool through all pipes.
    • Any pipes that cannot be drained should be protected with electrical heat strips available at local hardware stores.
    • Cover electronic ignition heaters with a blanket for insulation. UNCOVER HEATER PRIOR TO USE.

Freeze damage and resulting repairs are NOT covered under standard homeowner’s policies, or builder’s & manufacturer’s warranties. Proper winterization of pumps, filter, pipes, valves and heaters can help protect your investment. Here are some preventative tasks to keep your pool running smoothly and reduce the risk of freeze damage throughout the winter months:

 

General Winterizing Procedures

      • Run all filtration, spa booster and fountain pumps continuously during freezing temperatures.
      • Set all valves to allow at least minimal water flow through all above-ground pipes.
      • Drain backwash line by opening faucet of sight glass if an anti-siphon valve is not present.
      • Keep skimmer and pump baskets clean.
      • Clean filter to ensure maximum flow. A clean filter is particularly important during the winter months.
      • Disconnect and drain all fill and slide lines. Be sure to blow out these lines to remove water.
      • Have all air and water leaks repaired.
      • Store your test kit away from freezing conditions.
      • Remove and store all pool accessories in a clean, dry area.
This Article was submitted by Sean Sewell of Marietta Pool Pro.
Sean Services Residential and Commercial Swimming Pools in Marietta, Ga. He is a Certified Pool Operator and the Owner of Marietta Pool Pro.

When is the best time to open your pool in Georgia? 

Some say it is best to wait until the pollen has finished coating everything, others say you should open at the first sign of warm weather… 

The truth of the matter is, the pool should be opened before the water reaches 55 degrees. The reason is that algae begins to grow very quickly when the water temp gets above 55.

If you are concerned with pollen clogging up your filters, that can be prevented with an enzyme to help breakdown the pollen. Pollen will also release phosphates into the water which feeds the algae and creates an even larger algae bloom. 

Why is algae so bad?

Once algae has taken root into your pool it can be very difficult to get rid of. The first step is to add a very large amount of oxidizer, such as chlorine. Then an algaecide can be used. But be aware, algaecide can cause staining of plaster surfaces (if it is not applied by a professional) due to its high copper content. Then a stain remover would need to be used to get the stains out. 

The point is, algae prevention is better than algae treatment. If a pool is opened, balanced, and running properly, it is much better off than sitting with a cover on it for a few extra weeks just to avoid some pollen in your pool.

Would you believe that treating algae time and again with algaecides can be prevented? 

And no, we aren’t talking about keeping the free chlorine at or above 10pm all the time, or slamming it with a copper algaecide all summer long. It is pretty simple really, Algae needs 5 things to grow:

  • Sunshine
  • Water
  • Co2
  • Warmth
  • Phosphates

If you remove one of those elements you can’t have algae. The only 2 we have the power to remove are Co2 and Phosphates. 

The most cost effect way to prevent algae is with a Phosphate remover. If you bring the Phosphate level in the pool to 0 parts per billion there is no way algae can even begin to grow. 

So the best answer is to test the water periodically for phosphates and treat as needed. Natural Chemistry is a company that prides themselves in creating a product that can actually bring phosphate levels to 0 with their product “Phosfree“. Call a GAPP member company to have your phosphates tested periodically.

When warm weather is approaching, it’s time to think about swimming outside in Georgia. These steps should help you get your swimming pool open the right way for the pool season.

The first thing you must do is remove the swimming pool cover. 

If there are leaves or other debris on the cover, use your leaf net to remove them. Then pump off any standing water if you have a solid cover. Note: if your cover has a hole in it, you will be pumping water out of the swimming pool. This can lead to draining the pool if you do not watch for this. 

After removing the cover, be sure to clean it, let it dry, and store for the season.

Next, you will need to add water, bringing the level up to its normal operating level.

Remove any freeze plugs, Gizzmo’s, and other items installed to protect against freezing. You should have cleaned your filter thoroughly when you closed the pool for the winter. If not, you should do so now.

Now, start your filter system up, being sure to prime the pump before starting the motor. Be sure to purge all the air from the plumbing and equipment. Warning: Air will be compressed during this procedure. Be sure to release and built up pressure before opening your filter, pump or chemical feeder. 

Check for any leaks. Assess the pool itself. Hopefully, you had a solid cover on and the water is as clear and blue as it was when you closed it. If not, you will want to remove any large debris with your leaf net, leaf rake, or leaf eater. Any dirt, sand, algae, or other small debris should be vacuumed to waste.


After cleaning the pool, it’s time to check the water chemistry.

Allow the water to circulate at least 8-12 hours, so that the water that was added has time to mix with the water in the pool.

After that time, test it thoroughly, then add the necessary chemicals in the proper sequence to balance the water chemistry. We suggest calling your local pool professional to have it tested for pH, Total Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, etc. Be sure to follow the procedure they describe or allow them to do it, to avoid damage to your pool’s surface.

Install handrails, ladders, etc. being sure to inspect them for wear and damage. If you apply car wax to the stainless steel rails, it will help protect them from corrosion.

Inspect the diving board. It should be free of stress cracks and the surface should have a non-skid surface. If the board has any stress cracks, it should be replaced. If the surface has been worn smooth, you can use a refinishing kit to correct this.

Tile lines can be cleaned with baking soda and a sponge if you do not have any pool tile cleaner. Do not use any household cleaners (especially abrasives) to clean the tile. You do not want to swim in these chemicals.

Enjoy your beautiful pool!

Swimming Pool Maintenance in Georgia does not have to be difficult, but knowing how to properly maintain your pool like a professional will make it a rewarding experience as well as a safer place for family fun. Follow these tips for easy pool maintenance:

Check pool chemistry often

You should check the pool’s chemistry at least twice a week in the summer and once a week in the winter. By doing this you can make minor adjustments to your water chemistry.

Don’t allow the pH level to get above 8.0

At 8.5, chlorine is only about 10% active. At 7.0, chlorine is about 73% active. If you maintain pH around 7.5, the chlorine will be 50-60% active. Keeping the pH in check will allow you to use the full potential of the chlorine that is already in the pool. Our Bodies are naturally a pH of 7.5. Water that is too acidic or too alkaline will cause burning in your eyes and skin.

Keep the alkalinity between 80-120 PPM

Low or high alkalinity can affect water balance and ultimately a sanitizer’s ability to perform.

Check TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) on a regular basis

Check the TDS every 6 months and calcium hardness once a month.

Clean the cells in salt water systems

If you don’t clean the cells in chlorine generators, those calcified and corroded cells will produce little chlorine.

Don’t backwash sand or DE filters too often

If you backwash sand or DE filters too often, the filter cannot reach its cleaning potential and you are wasting water. Most filters require backwashing when the pressure gauge rises 8-10 psi from clean.

Clean the skimmer basket in the pool pump often

If these are full of debris, you will get little flow resulting in poor circulation.

Brush the walls and tile often

If your circulation system is suspect, brushing down the walls will help eliminate algae problems. Keeping your tile clean will save you money. If the tile gets calcified, it will require a specialist to clean it off.

Run your pumps adequately

A good rule of thumb is to run your pump about 1 hour for every 10º of temperature. Circulation is the key to a low maintenance swimming pool.

Replace broken or missing drains and suction sources

This can be very a very dangerous hazard. Also remember to replace any fencing, rails or decking in disrepair.

Testing your pool 2-3 times a week is important to maintain adequate water balance and sanitizer levels plus to insure swimmer comfort. 

Test strips are a quick (30 second) way to test the pool for adequate sanitizer levels as well as pH and total alkalinity. Proper testing also ensures that calcium levels are maintained and that there are no metals present in the pool water. These tests can be completed by you or your pool professional. In order to prevent scaling or corrosive action and to achieve maximum swimmer comfort, the pool water should be balanced to the following levels:

TestRange
pH7.2-7.8
Total Alkalinity80-120ppm
Calcium Hardness200-400(Plaster Pools)
Calcium Hardness175-225(Vinyl Pools)
Free Chlorine1-3ppm
Free Bromine3-5ppm
Metals: Copper0ppm
Metals: Iron0ppm

Balancing pH

pH is the measure of acid and base in the pool water. The pH of the pool should be tested and adjusted, if necessary, on a weekly basis. If the pH of the pool water drifts to the acid side of the scale, corrosion of pool surfaces and equipment can occur. If the pH of the pool water drifts to the base side – scaling, deposits, and cloudy water can occur. Use a pH increaser to increase the pH of the pool. To lower the pH of the pool, use a pH decreaser. Follow the label directions for the proper amount of the products to add based upon test results and pool size. Take a sample of water to your pool professional dealer every 2-3 weeks for complete test and analysis.

NOTE: Always follow label directions when adding any pool maintenance products to the pool. Never mix products together. If unsure how products are to be used, contact your local pool professional.

Calcium Hardness

Calcium Hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium in the pool water. Low calcium hardness levels can cause plaster finish etching and shorten the life of vinyl liners. High calcium levels can result in calcium deposits on the pool surfaces as well as equipment. The proper range for calcium hardness in pool water is 200- 250 ppm (parts per million) for concrete pools and 175-225 ppm for vinyl pools. Your local pool profesional can test for calcium hardness on a regular basis when you take a sample of your pool water in for analysis. To increase calcium hardness, use a calcium increaser Follow the label directions for dosage rates based upon pool volume and test results. If calcium hardness levels are high, the pool should be treated to prevent any deposits or scaling on the pool surface or equipment along with preventing metal stains. If the calcium levels are exceedingly high, (in excess of 450 ppm) partial drainage of the pool may be required. Your pool professional can advise you of the best method for treating your pool if you encounter high calcium hardness. If tests indicate that you have extremely high calcium levels in your pool, take a sample of your fill water (water used to fill the pool) to your pool professional for analysis as well.

Total Alkalinity

To prevent the pH from “drifting” or “bouncing” up and down, the proper amount of acid buffers, or total alkalinity, must be maintained in the pool. The pool should be tested weekly with a total alkalinity of 1 20-150 ppm (parts per million) maintained. Low total alkalinity can not only result in pH bounce and fluctuations, but corrosiveness and the possibility of staining increase. High total alkalinity also can cause the pH to fluctuate as well as cause cloudy pools along with possible scaling. To lower total alkalinity, follow the directions from your pool professional. To raise total alkalinity, an alkalinity booster is recommended.

Metals

There should not be any metals present in your swimming pool water. Metals can cause staining in the pool and cause the pool to turn colors. The most common types of metals that appear in pool water are copper, iron, and manganese. Your pool professional can test your pool water for the presence of any type of metals. If tests indicate that metals are present in the pool, a stain and scale remover should be used on a regular basis to prevent staining. You should determine the source of the metals and remove if possible.

Sanitize with Chlorine

Stabilized chlorine products sanitize your pool water and kill bacteria. Stabilized chlorine products are protected from sun light degradation and are an ideal means to keep your pool clear and clean. Most stabilized chlorine products are available in a variety of forms:

Chlorinated Tablets 3”
Chlorinated Tablets 1”
Skimmer Sticks
Multi-functional Chlorinating Granules

Your pool professional can determine the best form and type of sanitization program for your particular needs. A free chlorine level of 1-3 ppm should be maintained in the pool at all times.

Sanitize with Bromine

You may want to use bromine instead of chlorine to sanitize your pool. Bromine tablets provide a reliable method for killing bacteria and keeping your pool clear and clean. To utilize bromine effectively, an automatic brominator should be installed in your pool. Check with your pool professional for the complete bromine story to see if it fits your needs.

Shock

Shocking the pool on a regular basis is an important element in keeping the pool clear and clean. Swimmers and the environment add waste to the pool that must be eliminated on a regular basis in order to prevent problems such as algae and cloudy water. Your local pool store offers a variety of products to shock your pool. They can recommend the product best suited for your shocking needs.

Algaecide

Preventing algae is the key to an enjoyable pool. Algaecides act as a backup to your normal sanitization program and prevent algae from starting and growing in the pool.

Algaecide should be added after every shock treatment. Your pool professional has an algaecide for every need and budget.

A pool that is operated year round offers several advantages, the biggest being that it remains viable to entertain poolside, even when the temperature may not be conducive for actually getting in the water. 

In the South, there are many times where the outside temperatures are very comfortable through-out the late Fall and Winter, and to be able to enjoy reading poolside, or to invite friends over for a cookout is an option when the pool looks as it did all summer.

An exception to this that may require a year-round operational pool to need a cover installed is in situations where there is heavy leaf fall activity, and the removal of the leaves on an ongoing basis is not feasible for the pool owner to tackle.

The key to properly dealing with a pool in the off-season is to ensure that a proper option for your pool and your schedule is chosen. For homeowners that want to minimize their efforts, a pool maintenance contract is recommended. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly options. The plan best for each customer is determined by how involved they want to be in the process.

With a weekly maintenance schedule, it involves services such as testing the water, balancing chemical levels, cleaning the water-line tile, vacuuming and brushing the interior of the pool, blowing or sweeping the terrace, and checking equipment to ensure all is operating normally.

With bi-monthly and monthly service plans, we provide the same services, but it is important that the homeowner performs some of these tasks between visits, or issues can arise. An option is for the homeowner to have weekly visits during the active usage time for the pool, and then change to a less frequent schedule during the off-season, as there are fewer problems to contend with due to the reduced usage of the pool.

Other services that are available with our maintenance plans include periodic cleaning of filters, repairing items that break, and replacing items such as leaking o-rings that have deteriorated. These items cannot be scheduled as part of the standard maintenance, so are billed for as an additional cost when they are required, rather than adding to the ongoing maintenance contract fees. We always consult with the client to explain what is involved with these type items before proceeding if they are discovered during our regular maintenance visit.

There are many choices to look at for dealing with the maintenance of a pool, and each one is dependent upon the unique situation and pool of the homeowner. If you would like to discuss what option would work best for your pool, we will be happy to share our knowledge to help you come to a conclusion. 

Marietta Pool Pro has years of experience in maintaining pool and spas built in Atlanta, as well as Marietta G., in the South, including Marietta, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Kennesaw, Acworth, and the surrounding areas of Georgia.

Most Olympic Swimmers have admitted to urinating in the pool before races and during warm-up. 

These comments along with confirmation from other frequent swimmers and parents of small children has led to a controversy among pool professionals and scientists about the effects of urinating in the pool for both the swimmer and the pool chemistry. 

The conclusion reached by many that although peeing in the pool does not result in bacterial spread it does affect the chemistry of the pool over time, which can lead to bacterial spread in swimmers.

The general understanding in the scientific community is that urine is a relatively clean substance, consisting of salts, water, and several enzymes. With the chlorine in the pool, many of the substances released in urine are destroyed by the chlorine chemicals in the water. 

We must understand however, that when chlorines destroy any type of bacteria or virus in the water they release chloramines into the water. Over time with the addition of more and more chloramines in the pool one begins to see a change in the pH, smell, and irritant nature of the water. These factors will not occur with one or two accidents in your pool, but through prolonged urination in the pool these factors will occur.

The main cause for concern with urine in a swimming pool is that through prolonged urination the pool’s chemistry will change and the properties of a clean pool will begin to diminish. 

Many have heard or experienced that one pool that had a strong odor or it gave you an itchy feeling after you got out of the water. These are signs that the pools chemistry is off, especially in regard to the amount of chloramines in the water. 

To prevent these effects from occurring in your pool there are several things that one can do. First, take the time to take bathroom breaks so that no one pee’s in the pool since with less pee means that the chlorine is producing less chloramines. 

Secondly, if it is possible, wash off before entering the pool. This process allows for any bacteria that are currently on you body to be removed and not spread in the pool. These two simple steps can go a long way for the life of your pool.

In the South, there are many times where the outside temperatures are very comfortable through-out the late Fall and Winter, and to be able to enjoy reading poolside, or to invite friends over for a cookout is an option when the pool looks as it did all summer.

An exception to this that may require a year-round operational pool to need a cover installed is in situations where there is heavy leaf fall activity, and the removal of the leaves on an ongoing basis is not feasible for the pool owner to tackle.

The key to properly dealing with a pool in the off-season is to ensure that a proper option for your pool and your schedule is chosen. For homeowners that want to minimize their efforts, a pool maintenance contract is recommended. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly options. The plan best for each customer is determined by how involved they want to be in the process.

With a weekly maintenance schedule, it involves services such as testing the water, balancing chemical levels, cleaning the water-line tile, vacuuming and brushing the interior of the pool, blowing or sweeping the terrace, and checking equipment to ensure all is operating normally.

With bi-monthly and monthly service plans, we provide the same services, but it is important that the homeowner performs some of these tasks between visits, or issues can arise. An option is for the homeowner to have weekly visits during the active usage time for the pool, and then change to a less frequent schedule during the off-season, as there are fewer problems to contend with due to the reduced usage of the pool.

Other services that are available with our maintenance plans include periodic cleaning of filters, repairing items that break, and replacing items such as leaking o-rings that have deteriorated. These items cannot be scheduled as part of the standard maintenance, so are billed for as an additional cost when they are required, rather than adding to the ongoing maintenance contract fees. We always consult with the client to explain what is involved with these type items before proceeding if they are discovered during our regular maintenance visit.

There are many choices to look at for dealing with the maintenance of a pool, and each one is dependent upon the unique situation and pool of the homeowner. If you would like to discuss what option would work best for your pool, we will be happy to share our knowledge to help you come to a conclusion. 

Marietta Pool Pro has years of experience in maintaining pool and spas built in Atlanta, as well as Marietta G., in the South, including Marietta, Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Kennesaw, Acworth, and the surrounding areas of Georgia.

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