Knowing a little about swimming pool repair can save the pool owner some cash. Common causes of water leaks from the pool include shell leaks, plumbing leaks, and excessive water splash or evaporation.

Because water evaporation can occur, the best way to rule this out is to take a large pitcher filled with water and sit it on the top step of the pool. Once the water has calmed, remove water from the pitcher until the water levels in the pool and in the pitcher are even. Let the container remain for about two days and then check and see how much water has evaporated from the pitcher. If the amount of water evaporated from the container still matches or almost matches the water level in the pool, then the water loss from the pool is most likely due to evaporation. If this is the case, no swimming pool repair is needed.

If the water level in the swimming pool is significantly lower than the water level in the pitcher, then the pool most likely has a water leak. When a leak is suspected the first place to check is around the filter and pump system of the pool. This is the most common type of swimming pool repair. Look for damp spots around this area and trace them back to the water source. More often than not, leaks around the pump and filter will be at a connection point on the pipes. In order to know which part of the plumbing must be replaced, the pool owner should make note of whether the water loss occurs greatest when the pump is running or when the pump is turned off. If the greatest loss occurs when the pump is running, the leak is on the pressure side past the impeller. If the greatest water loss occurs when the filter is not running, the leak is on the vacuum side before the impeller. To fix this leak, the swimming pool plumbing must be replaced. If the pool owner is not comfortable with doing this, a professional should be contacted. In most cases, it is advisable to contact a professional, especially for leaks on the backwash line which require extensive digging.

The next area to examine if no leak is found in the pool plumbing would is the shell. The best way to find these types of leaks is by placing a small amount of food coloring around any area that looks suspicious or pierces the pool shell. Almost always it is advisable to leave these repairs to professionals, but for the do-it-yourself type, pool shell repair supplies are sold at most local hardware stores. The most common is a simple shell repair patch kit.

Swimming pool repair can seem a daunting task but knowing the causes of common leaks and how to find them can help pool owners save some money and time. Pool owners should check pools any time water loss is noticed, and especially when getting the pool ready for summer swimming. Effective swimming pool repair will ensure the lifespan of the swimming pool and cool, refreshing entertainment for the family.

If you expect to dive into crystal clear waters in your home’s backyard swimming pool, then you must put swimming pool cleaning onto your household chore list on a regular basis. It takes a weekly commitment of at least several hours of labor in order to ensure a sparkling clean swimming pool the rest of the week.

There are a number of cleaning tools you should invest in from a pool supply retailer. These include a long-handled netted leaf skimmer which will make removing large pieces of debris much easier; a pool vacuum to remove any dirt or debris that has settled on the bottom of the pool; nylon-bristled floor and wall brushes to clean every vinyl, fiberglass or painted pool surface; a stainless-steel algae brush for removing any build-up on plaster walls; and a hand-held tile brush and pumice stone for removing calcium deposit build-up from any tiled surface.

There are four basic swimming pool cleaning steps that must be taken weekly. First, skim the surface of the water to remove any leaves or other floating debris before they sink to the bottom and reduce the efficiency of the pool’s circulation system.

Next, remove any debris that has accumulated in the pool’s strainer baskets located on the pool deck or attached to the side. Often leaves or other debris get caught here and lessen the pool’s circulation system. So this simple step will increase water circulation which helps keep the pool’s water fresh and sparkling.

Now it’s time for vacuuming the floor of the pool. Take your time in going back and forth over the pool floor, overlapping your strokes slightly each time to make sure your vacuum is picking up any sediment or dirt that has gathered on the bottom. If your vacuum picks up quite a bit of dirt each week, be sure to clean the vacuum filter on a weekly basis so that all your efforts won’t go to waste with a vacuum that has little suctioning power.

Next comes the work of the brush brigade. Brushing the walls of your pool each week helps eliminate algae and calcium build-up as well as other scum that accumulates. Be sure you are using the correct brush for the type of material being cleaned because you don’t want to ruin handsome tiles or the grouting by rubbing them with a scratchy brush surface. Ask your pool cleaning supplier or pool manufacturer exactly which brush is recommended to use on what surface.

All done? Put your swimming pool cleaning supplies away until next week and dive in!

The level of your pH is a important component of creating a balance within your water. When this is out of whack, goofy things can take place. Not to mention that dirty tile line that can build up over time and if your water is too acidic, dreadful things can happen to your pool equipment causing unwanted repairs and hundreds of dollars spent needlessly.

The water’s pH is a gauge of its total acid-alkalinity balance, the relative proportion of acids and alkalis in the water. Basically put, water that is either too acidic or too alkaline will cause undesirable chemical reactions. If the water is too acidic, it will eat away metal equipment, cause etching on the surface materials and cause skin pain. If the water is too alkaline, it can cause scaling on the pool surface and plumbing equipment and can cloud the water.

Additionally, both high acidity and high alkalinity alters the effectiveness of the chlorine. The chlorine won’t destroy pathogens as well if the water is too alkaline, and it will dissipate much more quickly if the water is too acidic.

On the pH scale, zero indicates extreme acidity, 14 indicate extreme alkalinity and 7 indicates a neutral state. I recommend a pool pH between 7.2 and 7.8. To raise or lower pH, a pool custodian simply adds acids or alkali into the water. For example, adding sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate will generally raise the pH, and adding muriatic acid or sodium bi-sulfate will lower the pH.

Maintaining the proper balance of chemicals in the swimming pool is a continual process, because any new oils from a swimmer’s body, a shot of chlorine, stuff that falls in the water shifts the water’s total chemical makeup. In addition to pH, pool owners should also monitor total alkalinity, calcium hardness and total dissolved solids.

A chemically well balanced pool, utilizes fewer chemicals, has a nice sparkly blue appearance to the water and creates a much more enjoyable experience to those swimming in the pool.

Swimming Pool maintenance is key in saving money and getting the most out of your swimming pool. Not maintaining your swimming pool maintenance and pool cleaning can result in requiring expensive pool service help.

Not checking your pool’s chemistry often enough is a mistake often made by pool owners. By checking the pool’s chemical levels twice a week in the summer/spring/fall and once a week in the winter you can properly maintain the pool’s chemical levels.

Avoid the pH to go above 8.0, this lowers the effectiveness of your chlorine to 10% active. At 7.0 it is about 73% active; allowing you to use more potential of the chlorine that is already in the pool, thus cutting your chlorine costs.

Keep alkalinity between 80-140 PPM; alkalinity affects water balance and your pools sanitizer’s ability to perform.

Checking calcium hardness every month and the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) every 6 months helps to maintain water balance too; although not sanitation.

Routinely cleaning the cells in your chlorine generators is important because if they become calcified or corroded the production of chlorine in your pool is lowered.

If you backwash your filters too often the filter won’t clean as much as it can. You should only need to backwashing most filters if the pressure gauge goes 8-10 PSI above clean.

Not cleaning your pools pumps regularly will result in poor water flow, causing problems in your pool.

When adding chemicals be sure to add them in the evening after the sun has set. Adding them during the day lowers their effectiveness.

Be sure to brush your tile regularly, neglecting to do this can cost a lot of money. Brushing down the walls will help any problems with algae your circulation system may have. If you don’t brush enough your tile will become calcified and require a specialist to clean it, costing you more money.

If the space between the bottom of the cantilever and the top of the tile on the deck cracks put in some silicon to keep water from leaking out of the pool under the decking.

As long as you have a good circulation system you should run your pump roughly 1 hour for every 10 degrees of temperature. Your pools circulation is the main determining factor in having a low maintenance pool; the better your pools circulation the lower maintenance it will be.

Make sure to replace any drains that become damaged or lost. Not doing this is a real hazard.

Keeping swimming pool maintenance and pool cleaning regular helps reduce the need to hire pool service.

If you are an inground swimming pool owner, chances are you are already involved in the maintenance and care of your pool. Or you may have a contract with a company that comes weekly to clean the pool, adjust the chemicals and take care of repairs as they crop up. Perhaps you handle the cleaning and chemicals yourself and just call in a professional swimming pool repair company when you know that you have a major problem. Maybe you have just purchased an older home that has the swimming pool you’ve always wanted but it is old and looks unappealing. Weather it is your own aging swimming pool, or one in a home you’ve just purchased, you want to remodel and upgrade it to add to the asthetics and ambiance of your backyard, conserve energy, and increase your enjoyment.

If your swimming pool is between 15-20 years old, now is the time to undertake a total remodel and upgrade of your inground pool, equipment, coping, tile, lighting and decking. When starting such a project, begin at the foundation. In this case we’re talking about all of your pool equipment, wiring and pipes. Any possible swimming pool leaks must be repaired and the source eliminated before work is undertaken. This includes a total evaluation of your equipment. If minor pool repairs have been made over the years, now is the time to go ahead and purchase new pool equipment if necessary or do a first class repair job on what you already have such as pool skimmers and your swimming pool motor. If you have a heated pool or lights in the pool, now is the time to bring your swimming pool’s electrial wiring up to code.

Next comes the actual cosmetic repair of your swimming pool. If you have a fiberglass pool, damage such as chips, cracks and discolorations are usually limited to the top layer which is a kind of gel coat. That kind of damage can be repaired by a company that basically resurfaces your pool with one of several processes that would be similar to painting the surface layer of the fiberglass. The more common gunite or concrete swimming pool in need of repair usually presents with chipped plaster, cracks, discoloration, or a wearing down of the plaster through erosion. The proper swimming pool repair service can resurface your pool so that it looks brand new. Enjoy!