Quick Dip: New Pool Care Overview

GETTING YOUR NEW SWIMMING POOL READY FOR FUn 101

You’ve finally finished unpacking. The kitchen is organized, the garage is set-up and the kids got their Playstation 3 (or is it a 4?) hooked up to the TV. Everything is all set and ready to go… except for that ‘new to you’ swimming pool in the backyard. It’s definitely a wanted feature, but what do you need to do to ensure that it doesn’t become a hassle and cause issues down the line? Here are a few quick tips on what to do if you are new to pool maintenance and care.

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Stock Up On Pool Supplies

Grab your supplies! Maybe not a semi-trailer full, but enough to get you by. It is essential that you maintain proper balance and chemical levels in your swimming pool water. This is not just to ensure the longevity of your pool and pool equipment, but for the safety of your family as well. Shocking (superchlorinating) your pool, to keep bacteria levels down is critical. This needs to be done on a regular basis.

After filling your pool with fresh water, you will need to check the water’s balance. A high-quality test kit from Taylor or LaMotte to check your chemical and balance levels is a necessity! A list of pool chemicals you may need include; stain & scale preventer, chlorine shock, pH increaser and pH decreaser, total alkalinity increaser and total alkalinity decreaser and algaecide.

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Check Your Mechanicals – Pump, Filter & More

Without functioning mechanicals, your pool water will become stagnant and ‘icky’ very quickly. Make sure your pool filter pump is in good order and that your filter system is working properly. Keep your pump running and filtering! Modern pool pumps are quite energy-efficient and any money saved in not running the pump can quickly be lost if you have to increase your chemical dosage to clear out algae or other organic build-ups. If your pump isn’t running, your filter isn’t functioning! If you have a cartridge filter system, you will probably need to either clean the filter or replace it. If your pool has a sand filter, backwash your filter. Backwashing reverses the flow of water through your filter and pushes the contaminants out of the filter’s waste port. If you have done this and still notice low water flow, consider having the old sand removed and replaced with new sand.

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Prepare to clean!

As you begin to live with your new-to-you pool, you will notice that swimming pools can and will attract contaminants. Even though good circulation helps to cut down on a lot of this, you will still need a few extra tools in your bag.

A good net skimmer is used to scoop up leaves, twigs and other ‘floaties’ on the surface of the water. A pool brush is used to scrape off any grime or algae deposits on your pool wall and floor. Pool vacuums attach to your skimmer and are excellent at sucking loose dirt off of your pool’s floor. Keeping your pool free of contaminants and organics keeps it inviting and can help to reduce bacteria growth.

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Call In The Pros – An Initial Service Call

Don’t be afraid to call for help. In fact, we would highly recommend that you consider consulting your local pool pros before utilizing your pool. They can walk you through proper maintenance and chemical balance and can check for any mechanical or structural issues to ensure safe and worry-free operation. Spending the money on an initial swimming pool service call can save you a lot of money and headache over the long run!

If you would like to off-load much of the pool/spa care hassle, Leisure Pool & Spa Supply offers weekly and bi-weekly maintenance packages here in the Michiana region. Spend more time using your pool and less time working on it! Contact us for more details.

Want to learn more? Check out some more of our ‘Quick Dip’ guides at the links below. These articles go into much more depth and will allow you to become a ‘pool pro’ in no time flat!

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Have a Pool or Spa Question?

Leisure Pool & Spa Supply, Inc. was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Syracuse, Indiana. We focus on serving the service and supply needs of both residential and commercial clients. We have grown to include a branch office in Indianapolis allowing us to work with clients across the State of Indiana. Our service technicians are highly experienced and have combined decades of experience in the aquatics industry.

If you have any questions regarding your pool or aquatic center needs, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are always available via phone or email and look forward to assisting you. If you are looking to purchase products directly online, visit our online pool and spa supply store.

Leisure Pool & Spa Supply, Inc. – Service Since 1982

 

Quick Dip: Pool Filter Sand vs. Play Sand – What’s the Difference?

Why Using Play Sand in Your Pool’s Filter is Asking for Trouble.

Question: “Why can’t I just use play sand from Home Depot or Lowes in my swimming pool filter? It is a bit cheaper. Are there any downsides to this? What’s the difference between play sand and pool sand?”

In the words of Anakin Skywalker, “I don’t like sand, it’s course, rough and gets everywhere.” Having gritty sand pouring into your pool is one of the last things you want, but is just what can happen if you use the WRONG sand in your pool’s sand filter system.

How Sand Filters Work

Pool sand filters use sand as the medium of choice to trap dirt and debris. Water flows through the sand while unwanted particles are caught and trapped. Sand meant for use in these filtering systems is specially graded to make sure the individual grains of sand are the right size. (Usually .45 to .55 millimeters.) Sand is a durable, lasting filtration medium. Backwashing the filter to clean out the sand should be done every few years. Fully replacing the sand only needs to be done when performance begins to suffer.

Using the RIGHT Sand

In an attempt to save money, some of our clients have tried to use play or sandbox sand purchased from local hardware stores. Unfortunately, this is asking for trouble. Sand formulated especially for use in pool filters is just the right size to ensure it works with and stays in the filter. When grains of sand are too small, these can pass through the filter system’s laterals and right into your pool – not a fun problem to deal with. When the sand is too large, it is ineffective and allows unwanted debris to pass right through the filter.

Pool filter sand size (such as Mystic White) is highly controlled and is much more effective at actually removing contaminants than play sand alternatives. This means higher efficiency and less needed changes.

Conclusion: It truly is best to use specialty pool filter sand in your sand filters. It really isn’t worth the several dollars in savings when compared against the list of potential issues. When should you change your filter sand? We recommend fully changing your filter sand when the performance of the filter becomes apparent. [Want to learn more? Click here to read about balancing your pool’s pH, TA and Calcium Hardness levels!]

Article by Zac Carr & Benjamin Rogers

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Have a Question?

Since 1982, Leisure Pool & Spa Supply has been serving the needs of both commercial and residential aquatics. From commercial construction to chemical supplies, we offer a wide range of services to get you swimming today.

If you are looking to purchase pool filter sand for your swimming pool, get in touch with us today. We have filter sand, pool chemicals, equipment and more in stock at our Syracuse, IN. showroom and warehouse.

If you have any questions regarding your pool or aquatic center needs, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are always available via phone or email and look forward to assisting you.

Leisure Pool & Spa Supply, Inc. – Service Since 1982 – Shop our new Online Store