Swimming Pool Maintenance – Busting the Jargon

Many people dream about having a swimming pool or hot tub at home, but once they actually get one they find that they do not know how to properly maintain it. Maintenance is a vital part of swimming pool, jacuzzi and hot tub ownership and you need to know what you are doing to keep them in the best condition.

It can be daunting at first, especially when you consider all of the jargon and terminology involved. Once you get to grips with these, it will then become simple and pool maintenance will be an easy task that allows you to enjoy all the perks of having a pool and regular swimming. So, what are a few of the most common terms?

Balancing

Balancing is a word that you will hear often when reading about swimming pools. This is all to do with sanitising the pool with pool chlorine granules and creating a safe space for people to swim. Pools are sanitised with chemicals, but you must balance these with other chemicals to support the sanitisers and to create ideal swimming conditions.

Shock Treatment

Shock treatment involves deep cleaning with the use of a concentrated sanitiser. Shocking the pool can also be used to deal with combined chlorine, which is chlorine that is stuck with ammonia or nitrogen – this stops it from working as a sanitiser. Shock treatment can break apart combined chlorines to create free chlorine, which is able to interact with other chemicals and “kill” them to create suitable conditions.

Pool Liner

Pool liner is used to keep water inside the pool, prevent leaks and enhance the appearance. High-quality liners can also provide UV protection, reduce bacteria build-up and prevent cuts due to the smooth surface. Vinyl is the most popular option as it is affordable, low maintenance and can last around 10 years.

Pool Roller

It is important that you are able to protect the pool when it is not in use, especially in England! A pool roller is a reel at the end of the pool that allows you to quickly and easily cover the pool. This will help to keep out debris, prevent evaporation and reduce chemical loss to make the pool easier to maintain.

Backwashing

Backwashing is a way of cleaning the filter by reversing the flow of water, which is a fast and effective way to clean out clogged filters. It is generally recommended that backwashing is carried out around 6 times a year and you can find out how to carry it out by reading the manual/researching online for your filter’s manufacturer.

Owning a swimming pool is great and can improve your home and life, but you do need to be aware of the importance of maintenance and the tasks that you need to complete to look after the pool and create the perfect conditions.