6 Steps to Build Your Pool - Handbook Series
Your 6 Steps to Build Your Pool Handbook Series - You're at the finish line now, you can imagine yourself taking that first dip in the pool. But to make sure it's ready for you, there's one final important stage - commissioning.
Today we'll explore how you can get the pool ready and safe for that first swim, we'll be talking all things commissioning and on going maintenance too, so you'll be all set to keep maintaining your pool. If you've missed our previous emails or blog posts, you'll find it over on our blog here.
We're almost Swim Ready!
Understanding a pool is important to make sure the pool is well looked after. There is nothing worse than being bamboozled by professional terminology when you don't understand the words.
Below we have simplified the maintenance for you and some of the terminology used. Note that covers and water treatment systems that we use, have a massive impact on maintenance.
Commissioning When the Pool is built it will need to be commissioned. To do this you need to power and prime everything up and balance the chemicals in the water. All the pipes will have been pressure tested, so anything with a Union joint in the equipment chamber can be checked and tightened if needed. The Heater can be programmed and the timer for the pump set.
This is something you might like a little bit of help with, so we offer a paid support service to come and commission your pool.
Maintaining Your Pool
A pool is very simple to maintain if you remember to do it. Once a week is all it takes to keep a pool crystal clear. If you forget to do it, you run the risk of it turning green especially in the summer months. It’s always best to have one person look after a pool or keep a log of what has been added week to week.
The Baskets: are located in each skimmer which catches all of the surface debris in the pool. You’ll also have one in the pool pump housing which prevents and large debris from jamming the pump.
The Valves: are located near the pump, this is used to isolate the water from the pool whilst you work on the pump. You can also regulate the flow using these and isolate the skimmers and sumps to use a manual vac.
TOP TIP: Don't worry if you spill some water, it always looks like more than it is.
The Multi Port Valve: is what you use to operate the pools cycles. Never use it when the pool pump is running. Push down on the lever and then turn it, don't lift the lever up as it will break. TOP TIP: Be gentle when using it.
Back Wash: is the term given when we are cleaning the sand filter. They are revising the pools cycle and removing the dirty water from the filter into a soak-away. The sand filter has a pressure gauge on it and when this is high it's time to backwash. This will need to be done every week.
Top Tip: Don't put chemicals in the pool until you have backwashed, you will be throwing money down the drain.
Chemicals: Your new pool will require chlorine. We use liquid chlorine on brand new pools with fresh water in. Free chlorine is the amount of chlorine waiting to be used up, and its this the we are measuring. Chlorine is used up by a number of factors. Sun, Heat, People and organic matter. Don't over complicate the chemicals, keeping it simple is the best way. Follow a strict routine, and avoid the pool getting bad before treating it.
Test Kit: is something you don't need a degree in chemistry, to understand how to use to balance a pool. The two most important tests we need are the Ph levels and DPD Chlorine levels.
Ph Levels: should measure, acid and Alkalinity level 7.4. Low Ph causes eye and skin irritation, erosion on pumps, ladders, even concrete. High Ph can cause cloudy water and deactivates the chlorine.
Chlorine Levels: are recommended in residential pools between 1 – 3 ppm (parts-per-million), one ppm is equivalent to 1 milligram of something per litre of water. Once you know the volume of water you have in your pool you can calculate how many granules to add each week to maintain it and keep the pool crystal clear.
And just like that, our handbook series is over. We're sad too! But don't worry, we'll be back in your mailbox and on the blog, with some great pool building facts next week. We hope you've found our Six Steps series helpful. You can find all the information stored on our blog too here.
An as always if you have a question, tap the email or phone number below to get in contact. No question is ever too silly to ask. Our friendly team are here to help support you with your dream pool build.
Call us: 01903 944594
Email: sales@orbro.co.uk
Opening hours - Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) 8am to 4pm.
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