The Three C’s of Pool Care

If you are a pool owner, you know the pride and joy of having your personal piece of paradise in your backyard. However, your pool needs regular maintenance to stay in its best condition. There are a few essential concepts to grasp in order to achieve that perfect pool. To understand the basics of swimming pool maintenance, one must be familiar with the three C’s of pool care: Circulation, Cleaning, and Chemistry.  

Circulation

Stagnant water is the enemy of a clean pool. Water that isn’t moving encourages the growth of algae, cloudy water, and the hatching of insects such as mosquitos. The pool pump and filter create the moving water that keeps your pool water clean and healthy.   
  • How Long Should You Run Your Pool Pump and Filter?
In a perfect world, you should run your pool pump system 24 hours a day. For most of us, that isn’t practical or affordable. We recommend a compromise of running your pool circulation system 10 to 12 hours a day which is enough to turn the water over several times and keep the water safe and hygienic.
  • Keep the Filter Clean
To ensure that your filter is performing optimally, it will need to be cleaned occasionally. The method of cleaning depends on the type of filter you have, but mainly the dirty contaminants must be washed out of the filter and removed from the pool’s water system.   

Cleaning

A swimming pool with a good circulation system is a pool with half the cleaning battle won. That being said, you will still need to do some physical cleaning to maintain the level of essential hygiene for safe swimming. There are a few basic pieces of equipment that make that job easier.  
  • Net Skimmer  Leaves, flower petals, bits of branches, seed pods and other bits of plant debris can be easily skimmed off the surface of the pool. Scoop them up before they sink to the bottom and become more problematic to remove. 
  • Pool Brush  A pool brush with a telescoping pole to easily reach all surfaces is another essential. Work your way around the pool brushing the sides, steps, waterline, and corners. Thorough brushing dislodges algae trying to gain purchase, calcium formations, and oily debris. These small particles will fall into the pool water and be absorbed by your filtration system.  
  • Pool Vacuum  The main types of pool vacs are manual and robotic. Manual pool vacuums can be fairly labor intensive to use. Robotic vacuums are becoming increasingly popular due both to their convenience and their effectiveness. You can sit poolside, sipping your beverage of choice while your pool vac does all the work.
 

Chemicals

Pool chemistry may seem complicated at first glance, but it will be a cinch once you learn how to balance your pool. The most important tool to achieve this is a pool testing kit. The main components of a balanced pool are:  
  • pH Level  Your pool’s pH is how acidic or alkaline it is. The ideal measurement should be in the range of 7.4 – 7.6
  • Alkalinity    Alkalinity works alongside pH to keep your pool chemistry level. A reading of 100-150 parts per million is what you want. 
  • Sanitizer This number will depend on the type of sanitizer you use in your pool: chlorine, bromine, etc. Your local pool professionals will be able to give you guidance on what to look for.
  Once you understand what your primary chemical levels should be, you can adjust the level up or down with the addition of various chemicals.    Owning a swimming pool does come with the responsibility of maintaining it properly. Once you grasp the three C’s of pool care, you are well on your way to attaining the sparkling blue pool of your dreams. Our professional staff at Fronheiser Pools can be a valuable educational resource to you. We offer the highest quality pool chemicals and a large assortment of cleaning equipment that can make the task a breeze. Visit our showroom and have a look.  
Fronheiser Pools

Fronheiser Pools

Providing quality products for your outdoor living lifestyle since 1965.

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Now offering Curbside Water Testing by Appointment Only!

Visit us online to schedule your 15-minute water testing consultation.

Simply select your store location and choose from the appointment slots available. 

Bring your water test bottle with a sample of your pool or spa water to your scheduled appointment. Please label the test bottle with your name, and drop it off at the water testing counter.


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