Repairs are something we all try to avoid, whether they are accidental breaks, or have slowly led to repair over time, often repairs are a stressful experience. This doesn’t have to be the case. While we may be a go-getter with an I can fix anything attitude, some repairs call for the professionals. This is exceptionally true when it comes to pool repairs. With these repairs we may be left wondering, how can these repairs be avoided in the future, what caused the problem(s), or even how can it be fixed? Luckily there are answers. Here are a few common repairs when it comes to owning and maintaining a pool.
· Clogged Pool Cleaner-often something can get stuck in the pool cleaner itself which can cause it to either stop moving completely or, the pool cleaner can drag around the debris causing it to spread into all parts of the pool. Leaves, small branches and sometimes even small toys, can all get stuck in the cleaner. While sometimes this “repair” can be as easy as removing an item that is causing the clog, other times it requires you to disassemble the cleaner completely to reach the debris. Keeping a cover on your pool when it’s not in use and cleaning any and all toys from the pool when you’re done with your swim can all help to avoid this from happening again in the future.
· No Heat-while this problem can be caused from multiple different things, it is most commonly caused due to a dirty filter. When you have a dirty filter your flow is reduced causing just enough pressure for the heating switch to be unable to turn on. Depending on how current your heating components are, some more modern versions will be able to indicate where exactly the problem lies, while older models will take a little more digging to find the problem, this is when a professional might come in handy. Make sure your filters as well as fuses, pilots, valves and transformers are checked often to help avoid any heating issues.
· Pump Fittings-of course, ensuring that your pump fittings are in fact fitting correctly is of high importance. If the threads on the PVC fitting have been heated up to the point they have consequently shrunken down, tape won’t do the job and in order to repair the fitting you will need to cut out the portion of piping and replace it. The most common cause to this problem is if your pump has been running for hours without water running through it. To avoid this repair in the future try purchasing and installing a fitting made of stronger material such as CPVC.
· Leaking-a leak in a pool may be the easiest repair to notice because your pool levels will slowly fall. The main culprit is more than likely the skimmer. When in a vinyl pool the faceplate of a skimmer can cause leaks when not gasketed properly, where as in a concrete pool, this can be a common area of separation, which can then lead to the leak. Cracks in the siding of the pool can also lead to leaks, to find these cracks inspect your pool for any visible cracks, or to pin point smaller cracks, try to find small areas of debris stuck to the walls. This debris will likely be hiding the crack.
There are hundreds of different repairs that can arise with pool care. The easiest way to avoid any un-necessary repairs is to have your pool cleaned and inspected regularly by a team of pool cleaning and repair specialists. Keep your eyes open and try to stay one step ahead of the repairs by noting any and all signs of potential damage.