| Swimming pools have become common features | | | | Check the pH level of the pool water regularly. |
| of most large homes. Indoor and outdoor pools | | | | The level should be between 7.2 and 7.6. A low |
| are great for exercise, leisure and therapy. If you | | | | pH level indicates high acidic water levels while a |
| are the proud owner of a swimming pool in your | | | | low pH level suggests alkalinity. Water with high |
| terrace or backyard, then you should pay proper | | | | acid content is extremely corrosive and increased |
| attention to its maintenance. Pool safety and | | | | alkalinity makes the water incapable of sanitization. |
| maintenance go hand in hand. Just as you install a | | | | Use shocks |
| high fence around your outdoor pool to prevent | | | | Dry skin cells, body oil, sweat, cosmetics and urine |
| kids from entering the pool area under | | | | can pollute your pool water. You can shock your |
| unsupervised conditions, it is important to ensure | | | | pool at regular intervals to get rid of all these |
| that the pool water is hygienic and safe to use. A | | | | impurities. Shocking is the process of oxidizing the |
| combination of filtration and chemical treatment | | | | water, which removes the 'bather waste' from |
| programs will do the trick. Here are some tips on | | | | your pool, keeping it clean and sanitized. |
| good swimming pool maintenance. | | | | Maintenance of pump set |
| Maintain optimum chemical levels | | | | For ideal maintenance of water in your pool, |
| Maintain the chlorine content of your pool to | | | | replace the pump every 7 or 8 years. The new |
| optimum levels to ensure adequate protection | | | | models are great for moving large volumes of |
| against bacteria. You can buy sticks or tablets of | | | | water and consume less energy. If your pump |
| chlorine and mix them gradually into the pool with | | | | makes excessive noise, it is an indication of |
| chlorine feeder or just let them float in the water. | | | | improper machine functioning. Modern pumps are |
| Avoid mixing the chlorine too fast as it will leave | | | | easy to maintain but the rubber or composition |
| lumps of unmixed chlorine in your pool which can | | | | pump seals can cause malfunctions and result in |
| corrode the inlet and outlet pipes. You should also | | | | short circuits. You should maintain optimum |
| check the calcium content of the water. Its level | | | | pressure levels in your pool by checking the |
| should ideally be between 175 and 225 ppm. An | | | | pressure gauge on a frequent basis. |
| improper balance can cause corrosion and | | | | Safety tips |
| cloudiness in water. | | | | There are a few safety norms that you should |
| Use algaecides | | | | follow while sanitising your pool. Keep hazardous |
| Swimming pools are breeding grounds for algae. | | | | chemicals out of the reach of children. If you are |
| Use an algae inhibitor to prevent more than | | | | using granular chlorine, dissolve it in a bucket of |
| 15,000 varieties of algae from raiding your pool. | | | | water before adding it to the pool. Adding water |
| An inhibitor is a liquid which you can pour in the | | | | to chlorine can cause explosion. It is always better |
| water with the pump system distributing it evenly | | | | to add chlorine gradually to the water. It is |
| in the pool. Copper-based algaecides are ideal for | | | | advisable to use sodium bisulfate or granular pH |
| your swimming pool. They maintain the color of | | | | decreasing agents as opposed to Muratic acid for |
| the water and keep it sparkling by arresting the | | | | swimming pools at homes as the latter creates |
| growth of green algae. | | | | dangerous fumes and is highly corrosive. |
| Check the pH level of your pool | | | | |