Your pool is not only your source of fun-in-the-sun, it’s your source of sanity! Spending time by the water alone, or with family, can help alleviate the stress of the day and put you in a great frame of mind for tomorrow.
Making the decision to let AZ pool builders create a private oasis in your backyard is the easy part. Making sure you take the right steps to keep the pool sparkling clean and ready for action, however, can be tricky. For those who love their pool and want to appreciate it every day, avoid these common mistakes that others have made before you.
1) Not testing your water often enough. On the list of things that your AZ pool builders think are important, this ranks up at the top. There are multiple things that can disrupt the delicate balance of your pool: debris, suntan oil, cosmetics, rain, and more. Checking the chemicals at least once a week is the best way to restore the balance to keep your pool, and everyone who dips a toe in it, healthy.
2) Not shocking the right way. You know how important it is to shock the pool, but do you know how important it is to do it correctly? The chemicals in the shock are non-stabilized, which means that shocking midday will allow the sun to burn off the chlorine quickly. This is why shocking at dusk is the optimal time. Also, dissolve the shock in a bucket of water before adding to the pool; don’t add it directly to the water or use the skimmer for distribution.
3) Not adjusting your pH levels. A low pH level indicates acidity, while a high pH level means alkalinity. Trouble can occur when you have too much of either one. A low pH means acidic water, which looks clear and clean. But a low pH can do damage to your pool equipment, such as the pump, filter, liner, heater, and more. Too high of a pH can result in red eyes, dry skin, and increased chlorine consumption. Balance is the key.
4) Not running the pump long enough. Your filter, heater, automatic pool cleaner, and everything related to your pool will not run properly if your pool pump is not operating efficiently. The pump should run at least eight hours each day to allow all of the water to pass through, and some suggest longer if the pool is seeing more activity.
5) Not cleaning the filter and strainer baskets. AZ pool builders know that cleaning the filter regularly keeps everything running smoothly with your pool. The dirtier you let the filter get, the more difficult it is for your pump to push the water through. This can result in higher operating cost and reduced efficiency due to the resistance that the pump experiences.
