How to Clean & Maintain a Pool
A swimming pool, although enjoyable, is also a lot of hard work. Maintaining a swimming is more than just maintaining appearance. Keeping your pool clean prevents swimmers from getting sick as well. Cleaning debris from the pool and maintaining the proper chemical levels prevents the growth of algae which can cause skin irritation and poisoning. Cleaning the pool also prevents damage to your pool plumbing, the filters and the important heart of the pool system, the water pump. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Skim the surface of the pool with a long pool skimmer. Drag the net over the surface of the pool water and then turn it to capture leaves and other debris.
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2
Remove the top of the skimmer baskets on the side of the pool and pull out the basket. Rinse the basket with water to remove the debris.
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3
Turn the nozzles of the return jets around the pool so they face the bottom. Place the vacuum hose in the water and let it fill with water. Connect the hose to the vacuum attachment. Connect the other end of the vacuum hose to the skimmer.
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Run the vacuum over the bottom of the pool. Move slowly in the water to prevent disrupting small pieces of dirt.
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Brush the sides of the pool with a nylon brush to remove debris from the sides.
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Test the pool water using a pool testing kit. Use the instruction on the testing kit. The pH level should be between 7.4 and 7.6. Add muriatic acid to the pool, using the dosing instruction on the side of the package, if the pH is above 7.6. Add soda to the water using the dosing instructions on the package if the pH is below 7.4.
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Test the chlorine using the testing kit. The chlorine levels should be below 1 part per million (ppm). Alkalinity should be less than 90 ppm. Add a shock or alkalinity adjuster according to the instructions on the package. These products are available from all swimming supply stores.
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References
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