How to Clean a Swimming Pool Filter

 backyard pools  No Responses »
Jul 062010
 

Keep the pool clean and ready to use at all times in the summer is important with a busy pool. A pool filter helps maintain a healthy pool in your backyard oasis.

There are several different types of swimming pool filters. They don’t take long to clean and the benefits of cleaner healthier pool are worth the effort.

The Young.
Creative Commons License photo credit: haleyloves

It’s best to clean a crushed sand filter by back flushing water through the system about once a month. Your system’s pump station will come with instructions on how to reverse the water flow to clean the debris from the filter.

You will need to replace the sand in a crushed sand filter completely every three to five years, depending on the amount of use the pool gets during each season. The kinds of large airborne contaminants your filter encounters will also need to be taken into consideration.

Replace the diatomaceous earth in a diatomaceous earth filter two or three times a year. This helps to ensure the grid-structured system filter is working at maximum efficiency.

Rinse a modern enhanced cartridge filter in the sink when the pressure gauge on your pump begins to show a rise in pressure of 10 or more lbs. After its rinsed place it back into the unit.

Replace the cartridge of these modern enhanced filters every two to three years. You’ll know it’s time to replace When the pressure doesn’t go back down to the normal range; it has become clogged with hard deposits that cannot be rinsed out. This is a sign that the cartridge needs to be replaced.

There are many changes in pools and pool care and a growing shift towards going green in pool care. This is one reason why rushed sand filter systems are being outlawed in a growing number of areas. When the sand filters are back flushed this water is contaminated and may mix in with groundwater supplies.

The new enhanced cartridge filters outperform the old cartridge type systems and the other methods described here. They do not damage the environment, making them popular and the new trend in pool care.

Posted by Denise at 7:43 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Use Swimming Pool Ionizers for a greener pool option

 backyard pools  No Responses »
Jul 052010
 

Going Green is an option more people are looking into for the home. And with swimming pools being a popular addition to many backyards, people are looking toward alternatives to the chemicals needed to keep a pool clean and healthy.

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Creative Commons License photo credit: Coppell Pools

Swimming pool Ionizers are one answer to a “Greener Backyard.” Ionizers are a way to keep pools clean and healthy and reduce the dependency on chemicals.

Ionizers utilize copper, silver and zinc to safely kill water-borne algae and bacteria in swimming pools. An ionizer is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to the disinfecting chemicals used in many pools. Chlorine and muriatic acid, two such cleaners, can leave swimmers with red eyes, discolored eyes and dry skin. Many people will develop allergies to these chemicals in time.

A swimming pool ionizer sanitizes the pool through the use of a low-voltage electrical current. This current disperses positively charged metal ions in the water. Algae and bacteria are negatively charged so they bond with the copper, silver and zinc ions and are rendered harmless.

Most ionizers plug into the regular electrical outlets. But there are a few solar powered ionizers available. The solar units are usually about a foot long and float in the pool. They have a small solar panel that produces the current needed to discharge ions of copper, silver and zinc.

If you are considering purchasing a swimming pool ionizer, make sure that the model you select is designed for the size of your pool. Your local pool supply center will be able to help you determine the correct size you need.

Swimming pool ionizers typically cost anywhere from $200 to $1,500. And in the long run, ionizers are a less expensive option for keeping pools clean than chemical disinfectants. Another advantage of an Ionizer is it requires less frequent water testing. The positively charged metal ions will not evaporate or dissipate so keep a more balanced pool.

Ionizers will also eliminate chemical odors, dry skin, bleached hair and red, itchy eyes that swimmers often complain about in a chlorinated pool. But keep in mind; swimming pool ionizers will not completely eliminate the need for chlorine, especially in pools with temperatures in excess of 90 degrees. Ionizers have a difficult time combating dense growths of algae, which thrive in hotter climates so chlorine may have to be occasionally added to keep the pool sparkling clean.

So if the use of chemicals bothers you or you have a person sensitive to chlorine, you may want to check into the use of a swimming pool Ionizer. A healthier environmentally friendly pool will just add to the comfort of your backyard oasis retreat.

Posted by Denise at 10:48 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Budget a Swimming Pool into your backyard design projects

 backyard pools  No Responses »
Mar 012010
 

Swimming pools provide hours of enjoyment for the entire family. Besides keeping the children occupied they add to any family event such as parties and get togethers. They turn your backyard into the oasis that you always dreamed of.

Sparrow City Swimming Pool
Creative Commons License photo credit: sflovestory

But a pool is a large investment, takes time and space though, so selection and price is very important. You will also have to consider your property value and landscaping needed for the project.

These are a few points to consider when selecting a pool.

Decide what type of pool you want to buy. Above ground pools are less expensive and can be made nicer looking with a deck and landscaping. They can also be removed relatively easily if needed.

In-ground pools are more expensive and will usually increase your property value. But you must carefully consider where you plan to place it.

Shop for the best-priced pool. Try local pool companies and look online for deals.

Make sure you get several references from the companies you contact. Also check with the check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they’re trustworthy and have a good rating.

Get three quotes to five quotes in writing. Make sure the quotes include all installation costs and any extra costs.

Swimming pools can cost more than you expect. So leave room for unexpected expenses. So when shopping try to buy a swimming pool for $1,000 less than your set budget. This extra money will absorb any unexpected costs.

Natasha
Creative Commons License photo credit: Schantzilla

Budget the extras right into you pool costs and budget. Once you add a pool you will need the area landscaped. Possibly a deck, outdoor kitchen or patio placed near the pool area and safety features. Safety features would include a fence, pool chemicals, equipment, pumps and filters. Pool toys will also be a consideration.

Figure out how much money you’ll have to put away each month or week toward your swimming pool. If you have children they may enjoy putting money toward the pool too. It will give them a feeling of accomplishment.

And you may want to put the money in a higher interest account. It will increase faster if you put the money into a mutual fund or credit union with a higher interest rate.

Once you have the money for the pool be prepared to have a new life and look to your backyard.

Posted by Denise at 8:12 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Prepare your Above Ground Pool for Winter

 backyard pools  No Responses »
Sep 302009
 

Fall is setting in and the leaves are getting that “I am about to break into full color look.”  I now know it’s time to prepare my above ground swimming pool for winter weather. The way I see it
Creative Commons License photo credit: lepiaf.geo

Preparing the pool for winter will protect it from the elements, wandering animals and possible inquisitive children. And by preparing your pool properly, reopening it in the spring will be much easier and you will also add years to the pools life.

How to prepare the above ground pool for winter

Clean the pool first. Hopefully you have all your pool supplies close at hand. Use a net to remove bugs and leaves from the surface of the water. Remove the ladder and all toys from the pool and store them for the winter. I store all my pool accessories in the garage near the pool. Basements and a shed are also good storage places.

Next, vacuum the pool as you normally do throughout the season. Once clean, its time to add any chemicals that are needed to control bacteria. Consult your local pool company for suggestions. I use a winter pool kit that seems to have all the right products for my climate. A Winter Wonderland... In April?!!
Creative Commons License photo credit: JoshMcConnell

Carefully place plugs in all the inlets and a skimmer cover over the skimmer. This will protect them from getting water inside that could freeze and break parts of your pool. In my zone 5 climate this is a very important step.

Unplug your pump and make sure you get all the water out. Do the same with the filter and the filter hoses. Again, you don’t want the water to freeze and break the pump.

I buy additional air pillows, inflate them, and place them on the surface of the pool’s water. This will keep the pool cover from touching the water, which is easier on the pool cover. And later in the fall season air pillows are on sale so you will save quite a bit of money buying late in the fall.

Tip: Don’t inflate your air pillows all the way Climate change will affect the pillows, so less air is better.

Drape your pool cover over the top of the pool and over the air pillows.  Tighten the pool cover in place with buckles. Make sure the pool cover is secure for you winter storms and high winds.

I always take one more check around the backyard and make sure any pool accessories are cleaned and put away. I also store the leftover chemicals in cool dry place, my garage, so that they will be useable for the following year.

Swimming pools can be work, but the added fun and activity they add to the backyard oasis area make them worth the extra time. And by preparing the pool in the winter you will have a much easier time in the spring preparing the pool for the summer.

Posted by Denise at 10:02 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Pool Landscaping

 backyard pools  No Responses »
Jul 222009
 

Pool landscaping is a necessity for your backyard oasis. Your pool may have been installed for several years and you feel you need a new look or you may be adding a pool.the rents' backyard
Creative Commons License photo credit: joey.parsons

By landscaping your pool area you add beauty and comfort to your backyard and will create that perfect area to relax and entertain.

The selection of plants will vary depending on your climate, backyard needs and if the pool is an in-ground pool or an above ground pool.

In-ground pool

Trees, shrubs and certain smaller plants should be kept away from the edge of an in-ground pool because their roots could crack the side of a pool and create a pool that leaks. One suggestion if you want small trees near the pool, grow them in movable containers.

Another item placed near the pool would be a security or privacy fence. This needs to be far enough away from the pool as to not crowd the area and give a feel of space. You could also locate any trees or shrubs outside of the fence, usually about 4-foot way from the fence so that the roots and any limbs will not create havoc to the fence.

Annuals and perennial plants will also not do well near a pool. They do not like chlorine and will more than likely be exposed to it by pool activity. One option is to again place plants in containers that can be moved and would also offer them protecting from the pool.

When planning your trees, shrubs and plants for outside a fence or further away from a pool its always best to keep the size of any taller shrub or tree small in stature. This will prevent your pool from ending up filled with leaves.

Above ground pools

And for above ground pools, the same for trees and shrubs apply, keep them smaller the size near the pool. And if you live in a neighborhood with children to have children a security fence is a must to keep children out of the pool unattended! A pool cover is also helpful to keep children out of the pool when not being used.

The above ground pool and your backyard will benefit from finding a way to enclose any areas that are open and expose the pool workings. This can be done with shrubs, flowers or a small decorative fence area.

The most important consideration when landscaping around your pool is to blend it into your backyard so that you add to the comfort and relaxation of your private oasi

Posted by Denise at 8:31 am  Tagged with: , ,
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