Are you a new swimming pool owner? Here’s everything you need to know about pool repair.
There’s no better way to beat the heat than a dip in your pool. But as any pool owner knows, there’s also no other way to burn through money quickly and unexpectedly.
In fact, it’s fairly standard to expect to pay $100-$200 per month during the summer, just on professional pool services. Paying more isn’t unheard of, and DIY projects cost nearly as much.
With a sneakily high cost of ownership, it’s important for pool owners to understand that prevention is the best cure for any and all pool issues. If the problem doesn’t get bad enough, no one has to call in the pros.
So what’s the best form of prevention? Let’s take a look at the minor pool repair info any new pool owners need to know.
Pool maintenance is the first step in preventing pool repairs before they become an issue. That ugly green color you pool can turn? Maintenance will prevent that. Filter problems? Not if you’re skimming the pool.
With a little scheduling and due diligence, it’s easy to prevent problems. Here’s how.
Skimming and vacuuming the pool are akin to vacuuming your living room floor. Daily use makes your carpet dirty, and the same for your pool. Leaves, pollen, dirt, and grime all end up in your pool, no matter how hard you try to stop them.
Keeping up with skimming and vacuuming means less debris in your pool filter. Less debris in the filter means less work for the filtration system and fewer chances it breaks down.
Even with diligent skimming and vacuuming your filter’s likely to fill with debris, and quickly. There’s nothing you can do to stop the odd leaf or twig from floating into the pool filter while you’re not home.
That’s fine, but only if you’re diligently checking your filter for issues. This means daily cleanings to remove clogs and keep things running smoothly. The more you empty the filter, the longer its lifespan.
It’s also important to “backwash” the filter with special cleaning chemicals. This removes any unseen particles that can build up and cause tiny clogs. Though you only need to backwash sand and DE (dichotomous earth filters). Cartridge filters just need changing.
Pools require a delicate pH balance to keep bacteria and other microorganisms at bay. Overly acidic water can damage your skin, pool lining, and hoses, while overly alkaline water can foster bacteria growth.
It’s very important to test your pool’s pH levels every few days. You’re aiming for a pH of 7. Anything over 7 is too basic, and anything under 7 too acidic. Add chemicals based on your test kits instructions to balance the pH.
In addition to chemicals for pH, you’ll also need to add what are called “shocking chemicals.” Over time ammonia and nitrogen collect in your pool and combine with the chlorine to form chloramines. This makes the pool smell like chlorine.
Most owners should add extra chlorine (the shocking chemical) once a week to ensure their pool doesn’t build up too many chloramines.
While pool maintenance isn’t too difficult for the average homeowner, pool repair often requires a professional. Even with the strictest maintenance schedule, it’s likely you’ll eventually need professional maintenance. Things wear out, and repairs are a normal part of pool ownership.
Let’s take a look at some common repairs you might encounter.
Leaks of all kinds plague pool owners. It doesn’t matter how hard you try, it seems like something always leaks. And while it’s usually not hard to find your leak, fixing takes some finesses best left to professional hands.
Professionals can tell if the leak originated from the lining, hoses, pump, or filter. While a tiny rip in vinyl liner isn’t too difficult to fix, leaks in fiberglass or concrete pools always require professional help.
Further, filter leaks or leaks from your pump aren’t ever an easy fix. These leaks can come from tiny components that the average homeowner won’t have experience working with.
The pool pump cycles water through your pool to keep water circulating through the filter and clean water moving back into the pool. When pumps, fail there’s a number of things that go wrong.
Seals around valves inside the pump are prone to leaks. Replacing these valve seals means disassembling the entire pump; something best left to the professionals.
Pump motors are also vulnerable to break down. Motors burn out from overuse. Any number of things can go wrong with a motor, but all lead to a total shutdown of your pool. No motor means no filter, which means closing the pool.
While cartridge filters aren’t prone to breakdowns, the same isn’t true for sand and diatomaceous earth filters. Sand and DE filters both have specific issues that mandate a professional.
Put simply, sand filters work thanks to regulated pressure. Not enough pressure and the filter won’t clean the pool; too much pressure and the pump tank can rupture. A pressure gauge usually monitors proper levels but can fail. A faulty pressure gauge can make it impossible to monitor proper flow levels.
DE filters commonly fail in a much less spectacular way. They’ll commonly end up pushing diatomaceous earth back into the pool thanks to a faulty valve or o-ring tank connector.
A professional can identify the leaking component and easily switch or patch the problem. They’ll also help flush out any DE that’s leaked into your pool.
Choosing an expert pool repair service means understanding when to call a professional. With our handy guide, you can stop problems before they start, and know when to call a pro if problems do happen.
If you’re in the market for a professional pool repair service, get in contact with us. Our experts have years of experience fixing all manner of pool issues.
No matter the problem, we’ll help you beat the heat this summer. Let us help you get back in the water as soon as possible!