Proper Maintenance is the Best Repair Plan

Swimming Pool and Spa Maintenance

In order to keep your pool clean, usable and sanitary and your equipment from degrading you will have to make sure that it gets proper maintenance. Some people take care of everything themselves and other people need help or prefer to hire someone else. Regular maintenance of any swimming pool requires a few things.

Continued Pool and Spa Maintenance

A Cool Pool requires time and effort. Twice a week is a good commitment to your pool.

While Cool Pool Guys offers pool maintenance service we also support your choice to learn ti yourself and be more empowered. Here is the basics of pool maintenance with more coming soon. This is free information for you and if you have questions you can call us for free advice as well. Stay Cool!

Hot Foamy Spas — We will get your spa in the best condition.

Pool Maintenance Basics

Circulation

The most important part of keeping your swimming pool in good order is circulation. Proper pool circulation is essential to healthy and safe swimming. A pool with excellent circulation will rarely have issues with algae or cloudy water. The more you run your pump and filter system the better condition you water will remain,

Every pool needs to get good circulation for at least 3-4 hours every day minimum, six or more is recommended and much better. Many people run their pump continuously and this is a big help but we only recommend this if you have an energy efficient pump.

The Swimming Pool Pump moves the water in the pool through the pool system which includes at the very least a water filter. If you are having circulation problems it could be related to either the pump or the filtration system and it’s supporting systems that the pump must move water through.

Algae also has a hard time growing and thriving in moving water and regular filtration and circulation helps to keep the water clean and to distribute chemicals throughout the pool so the chemical levels are replenished where they are needed.

Cleaning the Pool

The next most important element of swimming pool maintenance is regular cleaning of the pool. We recommend that the pool get someones attention twice a week. Pool Services often come once a week or less. IN small pools that are well protected and have a good system can sometimes go all month without cleaning but this is never recommended. We urge you to at least check out the pool every few days to make sure everything is working and there isn’t algae forming anywhere.

Every cleaning visit should ideally include:

Testing the Water – The first thing you should do is test for Chlorine and Ph. This way you know the state of the pool before you do anything. You may need to test again when balancing the chemicals. Keep a calendar and records of the pool levels. This is the best way to learn how the chemical levels are affecting the condition of your pool.

Cleaning the Traps – Next go to each skimmer and trap in the pool. Open it up and remove all of the debris it has trapped since last time cleaned. This will let you know how much the weather and local wildlife is affecting your pool condition.

Vacuuming the Floor – Most of the debris in you pool will collect on the floor of the pool. Removing particles through the filtration system will prevent these invaders from affecting the water in your pool. Make sure to vacuum the pool floor regularly or install an automatic vacuum.

Scrubbing the Swimming Pool Surface – Scrub all debris and first from the sides of the pool after you have vacuumed. This will help eliminate scale and keep debris from staining your pool walls.

Skimming the Water – After you have done all the work the final cleaning step is to remove anything floating in the pool water or on it’s surface using a skimmer. There are hundreds of types and techniques.

Balancing the Chemicals – After you have cleaned the pool it is time to balance the chemicals. You will read more on that below.

Disinfection

Swimming Pool Water must also have disinfectant in it of some kind. Most pools use various forms of Chlorine and hot tubs usually will use Bromine. If your pool has a low chlorine level will can start to have pool problems very quickly. The chlorine will kill bacteria and viruses in your pool and also helps to keep particles falling to the floor of the pool.

When the chlorine level gets low the bacteria and algae will have a chance to multiply and will start altering your pool water to make it easier for them to survive. If you do nothing you will have a pond with creatures and everything very quickly.

If you check your chlorine level and your pool has any chlorine. That is a good sign. If the chlorine level is 0 then you definitely need to take action.

When adjusting the chlorine level of your pool it’s best to add liquid chlorine until the level is 1-3ppm. However, chlorine will evaporate out of water in 12-48 hours in most environments without some sort of supplemental chlorination.

Usually the chlorine level of the pool is maintained with an inline chlorinator or a floating chlorinator with chlorine tabs. These put a very small amount of chlorine into your water throughout the day or when your pump is circulating the water through the chlorinator itself if it is not a floater.

Gradual keeps the level from dropping too low while you are not adding Chlorine so that you don’t have to do it yourself each day.

The chlorine level should be checked as often as possible, twice a week is recommended. It is the first thing you should check if you are having problems.

Shock

When you check your swimming pools chlorine level and it says you have no chlorine. It is recommended that you shock the pool. You should also shock the pool every 1-4 weeks as part of normal maintenance. What do we mean when we say “shock the pool?”

Pool shocking refers to SuperChlorination.

SuperChlorination is the process of raising the free chlorine level in the pool several times higher than is normally needed so that the chlorine can “shock” through resistant compounds, chemicals, oils and strong types of algae.

Regularly shocking your swimming pool will help prevent many of the problems associated with bad swimming pools.

Ph

The Ph is the acid level of your pool. A high Ph is most common in pools and this means there are not enough acids in your water. High Ph can cause your swimming pool to collect scale on the surface and floor and will make it much easier for algae to grow.

Most algae loves environments that have a high Ph and algaes will naturally put out chemicals to raise the Ph of your water. This is why is it important that you keep your pool at the proper Ph. If your pool water is at a Ph of 8 or higher it is recommended you add muriatic acid to your pool water until the Ph is around 7.5.

If your water is too acidic is may be uncomfortable to swim in and can affect your seals and pool equipment. If you pool water it below 7 is is recommended you use Soda Ash to raise your Ph to 7.5.

Other Chemicals

There are other chemicals that can be tested for in your swimming pool if you have problems that are more complicated than usual.

Conditioner – Pool conditioner is a chemical known as Cyanuric Acid that helps protect your pool and the chlorine in your pool. It helps deflect UV rays and protects the chlorine. If you are in a warm or extremely sunny climate it is recommended that your conditioner levels are checked and balanced each year before the heat of the spring or summer comes and wipes out the chlorine in your pool.
Conditioner or Cyanuric Acid Levels should remain between 40 and 100 ppm in your pool but should never go above 200 ppm. If your conditioner levels are too high you will have to drain some of the water from your pool and replace it to lower the level.

Phosphates – Phosphates come mostly from trees, bushes and other plant matter. They are the reason you want to keep your pool clean. Debris soaking in your pool can leach phosphates which at high levels will make it impossible for the chlorine to remain at sufficient levels in your pool water. If you pool is having a hard time keeping its chlorine levels up phosphates could be the problem.

Dissolved Solids – After 5-10 years you pool will collect chemicals which do not evaporate out of the water like chlorine does. Some of these chemicals are from perfumes and make-up and some come from cleaning products and the general environment. Once these levels are too high your pool will no longer be able to maintain stable chemical levels. Ph and Chlorine will not stay in the water at appropriate levels.
At this time you must drain the pool and put in at least 1/2 fresh water.

Salt – If you have a salt water pool that uses a salt water cholorinator you will have to keep the salt level high enough for the chlorinator to function properly.

Filtration

Your swimming pool requires a filter in order to remove all the particle that fall into the water throughout the day and when people enjoy the pool. Without a filter your pool water will not be balanced and things will grow and live in it like in a pond.

There are several types of pool filters including sand filters, cartridge filters and D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth) Filters. Each of these filters work differently and all require additional maintenance beyond weekly pool cleaning.

If your swimming pools circulation is poor it could have something to do with the filter or the filter system. Be sure to learn to maintain your filter properly as lack of maintenance will damage the filter and potentially other parts of the pool.

Pool Surface

The surface of your pool also need to get attention. Pay attention to the tiles. If you Ph remains too high for a long period your tiles will begin to gather scale which is calcium buildup. This can be costly to remove but is preventable with regular scrubbing and the use of cleaners.
The walls and floor of the pool can also get stained if metal objects or chemicals are left on them. Remove all debris and scrub away stains quickly to avoid costly stain removal.

You Need the Right Pool Guy Whether or not you need a full time Pool Guy depends on your equipment, your environment, and how much work you actually want to do yourself. Some of our customers do the big jobs themselves, they just need someone to make sure it’s attended to every week.

Other customers are the other way around. We let them do the small stuff and they call me when there is a problem. We can help set you up with whatever you need.

We even come to your swimming pool and train you to clean your own pool.
We usually recommend that we visit once a week to check chemicals and clean the pool.

Pools with lots of use should get more cleaning and some pools can switch to an every other week schedule in colder weather. When it is hot we will often recommend my customers add chlorine themselves halfway through the week.
Call today to get a free estimate (619) 312-4440. The cost of regular maintenance varies depending on the size of your pool and the amount of work it will take each visit.
We service and repair commercial and residential pools in the Inland Empire High Desert, Victor Valley, and Mojave Desert District of San Bernardino County as well as most of San Diego County.

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

What should I expect from my pool guy when he visits?

The most important part of pool service is making sure that your chemicals are balanced. When we talk to many of our new customers they are usually under the impression that is all we do. This is called “chemical only service.”
It is important that the dust and leaves and debris is also removed from your pool. This helps to keep the pool in good order. The leave traps need to be emptied and the equipment needs to be checked. Most pools have special needs and there is always more work that can be done.

Most of our pool guys will spend 20-40 minutes working on the average residential pool each visit. Sometimes we will need to stay longer. Rarely we will show up to add chemicals if we are in the process of a long treatment. Please feel free to ask your pool guy what he does or what he is doing if you are wondering. He will be happy to tell you.
If you think that something is being left out in your service, please feel free to tell your pool guy. Thanks for telling us how we can help you better!

How often should I have my pool guy come clean my pool?

If everything in your pool is in good running order and it is clean we usually recommend once a week at least on all pools that are larger than a Jacuzzi. If you are checking chemicals on the off weeks it is ok to do every other week. In the winter time checking the chemicals every other week can be OK in a lot of pools.

Should the pool guy provide the chemicals?

This depends on which company you work with. We provide basic chemicals with regular service. This means that if your use of the pool requires more chemicals than normal, we will turn the extra cost to you.
On large jobs the chemicals are usually written into the bid. We will use your water at your property and that is an extra cost you pay. Especially important to keep in mind if you are having your pool drained and refilled.

Should I sign a contract?

We legally require written authorization to work on your property. When a pool company wants you to sign a contract for extended service, ask what you are getting out of the commitment. Usually we give discounts with all long term obligations. Often this is the only way we can afford to give you the discount.

What questions should I ask my pool guy?

When you have anyone help you with any service you should ask them all the questions that come to you. Whatever your thinking it’s best you ask about before it becomes a problem. A good service professional will adjust the job to whatever your needs are. The best way to end up happy is to ask about it first!

How do I get a free quote?

Call Matt at (619) 312-4440. You can also send us an e-mail at matt@coolpoolguys.com. We will get back to you as soon as possible to set up a time to look at your pool .
Commercial and Residential pool services are available throughout San Diego County and surrounding areas, including pool service to San Diego, North Park, Hillcrest, Point Loma, Old Town, Bay Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, UTC, Clairemont, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, The Beaches, La Mesa, Chula Vista, La Jolla, Del Mar, Poway, and nearby areas.

Links
- Pool Guy – Wikipedia.org
- Swimming Pool Sanitation – Wikipedia.org
- Pool Information

We Service All of San Diego County and much of San Bernardino County

We service and repair commercial and residential pools in the Inland Empire High Desert, Victor Valley, and Mojave Desert District of San Bernardino County as well as most of San Diego County.

For repairs we may travel further for a additional fee.
Emergency Visits are a $100 additional charge.

This includes…

Barstow: Rainbow Basin, Needles, Route 66, Hinkley, Lenwood, Helendale, Silver Lakes, Oro Grande, Grandview, Skyline North, North Barstow, Desert View, Daggett, North Edwards, Yermo, Newberry Springs, Johnston’s Corner, and Wild Crossing

Victorville: Bryman, La Delta, Bell Mountain, Mojave Heights, Bellevue Heights, Valley High North, Golden Mesa, Desert Knolls Manor, The Village, Golden Mesa and Frost

Apple Valley: Sunset Hills, Thorn, Cotner’s Corner, Fizzben Heights, Mariana Ranchos, Apple Valley Highlands, and Ranchos del Oro

Hesperia: The Mesa, Oak Hills, High Country, Golden Valley Acres, Mountain View, Eagle Ranch, Duncan Corners and Baldy Mesa

Phelen: Mountain Top Junction, Wildhorse Canyon, Wrightwood, Piñon Hills

Adelanto: South Adelanto, El Mirage, Houze Place

Kramer Junction: Kramer Hills, Boron: Desert Lake, Baker, and Rich

Serving all of San Diego County: San Diego, North Park, Hillcrest, Point Loma, Old Town, Bay Park, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, PB, OB, UTC, Clairemont, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, The Beaches, La Mesa, Chula Vista, La Jolla, Soledad Mountain, Del Mar, Poway, Santee.

If you don’t see your area, call anyway and maybe we can make it out there.

Contact Cool Pool Guys or call 619-312-4440 to receive a free, no obligation estimate for your swimming pool’s monthly pool service.

Thanks for Your Business!

Each service or job requires unique knowledge, certifications, and sometimes a permit. Cool Pool Guys is a network which provides you with the proper technician for each job. Quotes are free, we will come out to your property and do a free estimate. For special jobs customers will be directed to the appropriate licensed contractor. Your estimator may not be a contractor, however he will know how to find you the right man for the job.