5 Things New Pool Owners May Not Know

5 Things New Pool Owners May Not Know – Buying a piece of real estate feels great. Having a pool in your home feels even better. You’ll have to tend to or take care of your pool, especially if you are looking to show it off to friends and family. If you just purchased this home of yours in more recent times, at first you will be absolutely excited about your home and your pool, then the reality of your new responsibilities will dawn on you.

A pool might have just been a stationary body of water to you in the past, but now, it will mean more to you. You will have to learn more about pools and how to sort your new pool problems. To ensure you are on track in this pool-owning business, you want to pay attention to these five things you should know if you are a homeowner with a pool.

Pool Service Maintenance as New Pool Owners

A pool service provider will help on your pool maintenance journey. They are literally pool doctors who can tell if your water is clean enough for swimming. It is not enough to clean a pool. Your pool needs to be vetted safe enough to ensure your swimmers do not get waterborne diseases. While you may have the best suction pool cleaners with pool service providers, you do not even have to clean up your pool by yourself.

Knowing Your Pool and Its Components

While every pool may be different, they share the same basics. So, what are the major components of most pools?
The Filter: This device collects all the non-water stuff from the pool. Dirt, sand, leaves, suntan lotion, swimsuit threads, detergent residue, etc. The water flows through the filter, which then traps debris and contains it. There are generally three types of filters, and with regular cleaning, they generally last for one to two years, before they must be replaced. Filters themselves have various components to them including baskets, cartridges, and drains. Drains at the water surface are called skimmers.

Drains and Returns: These built-in components work with the filtration system to drain dirty water and debris and then return clean water to the pool. As a side note, pools generally need to be fully drained and cleaned every five years.
The Vacuum: Exactly as it sounds, this robotic device roams the bottom on a pool vacuuming dirt. At a minimum, vacuuming should be performed twice each week and they will need to be replaced after about five years.
The Pump: The muscle behind the filter is the Pump. Pumps circulate the water in the pool and thereby push the debris in the water to the filter drains on the sides of the pool. Pumps can be turned on and off but they should generally be run during the day since that’s when the sunlight is feeding algae and that’s also when the majority of pools are being used. A general rule of thumb is that they should run for one hour per ten degrees of air temperature but running it continuously doesn’t hurt. Pumps have a lifespan of a decade or so.
The Chemical Feeder: Also known as chlorinators, these provide an easy way to introduce chlorine to your pool. Many pool owners use chlorine tablets which introduce chlorine slowly and over time. Chlorinators generally need to be replaced after four years.
A Salt System Is Very Important
Imagine having your hair turn green because you are a regular swimmer. You definitely do not want that. You also want to avoid having an abundance of chloramines. This is why you want to invest in purchasing a salt system and save yourself the stress of going to the store to get chlorine from time to time. A salt system or a salt generator will leave adequate chlorine in your pool, with a reduced risk for chloramines. This is possible through the electrolysis that splits salt into sodium and chlorine.

Pool Laws

Laws for pool owners may slightly differ from state to state. This is why it is so crucial to know what the pool laws are in your state. The laws in your state may place a lot of emphasis on having a gate/fence for your pool or it may totally frown at those who do not have pool pump motors. Whatever the precautions or laws are in your state, they are usually for the safety of the pool owner and as many people that come by their pool. Hence, it is best to abide by these laws.

Utility Bills Awareness

With all the additional water and power that pools use, many new owners are surprised by their increased power and water bills. In addition, some municipalities add a monthly fee for pools and spas. So make sure you are aware of your bills and monitor them closely for a few months. If something is out of the ordinary, you may have a leak, which will need to be repaired.

Tanning Lotion and Sprays Clog the Filter System

Almost every aquatic facility has a sign that says “Shower before entering the water.” This is to help limit the amount of oil introduced to the swimming pool. Oil and water don’t mix. A solution to help in breaking down the oils in the pool is the regular use of Enzymes. This will help prolong the filter life as well.