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GUIDE / SWIMMING POOLS

Maintenance guide for a new above ground pool.

Welcome to the big Seahorse Pool family. Buying a pool shouldn’t be a burden, but rather a small pleasure in life. Here’s a short, basic explanatory guide that briefly explains how an above ground pool works.

Good pool maintenance starts with knowing your pool!

Before you can fully enjoy and take care of your pool, you may need to familiarize yourself with all of its components. You don’t need to take a class or get a PhD, but knowing the basic parts and their functions helps you make sure the entire pool is working properly.

Understanding Circulation, Filtration and Sanitation

Circulation: Every pool has a plumbing loop system designed to circulate the pool water each day. Pool pumps draw water from the pool, then return it after filtering, heating and sanitizing it.

Filtration: Every pool is equipped with a filter to remove small particles suspended in the water. Sand, cartridge or D.E. pool filters are used to keep the water clean and clear by passing all the water through the filter media, at least once a day. As pressure increases and flow slows, pool filters should be backwashed or cleaned.

Sanitation: Every pool must also have a chemical sanitizer to destroy algae, bacteria and other particles that can make the water harmful to bathers or make the pool water cloudy and green. Chlorine is the most popular pool sanitizer, but bromine can also be used.

Maintain optimal circulation in the pool

  1. The pump is the heart of the pool’s circulation system, drawing water in and pushing it through the filter and back into the pool. This is a very important task that must be done every day.
  2. Make sure the pump basket is clean and properly installed to prevent the impeller from clogging. The pump cover should be lubricatedand tightened very tightly to prevent air leaks.
  3. Run the pump 24 hours a day to keep your pool water clean. When the pool water is colder (early and late season) you can reduce the run time, but it is important to maintain a minimum of 12 hours of filtration. **If you have a 2-speed pump or a variable speed pump, simply reduce the RPM
  4. Check the pump daily to make sure it is working properly and pumping the normal amount of water. Pool pumps can lose efficiency due to air leaks or low water levels in the pool.

Tip: Learn how to check your pool pump for abnormal noises or leaks.

Maximize the filtration of your system

Your pool filter traps small particles to ensure clean, clear pool water. Without daily pool filtration or spot cleaning of the filter, particles quickly build up and make the pool water cloudy and chemical consumption increases dramatically.

Here is the list of sand filter positions:

Filtration:You must be on this position 24 hours a day.

Recirculation: This position allows the pool to circulate without the water running through the sand. This is the preferred position at the beginning of the season, to be held for at least 48 hours before having your water tested

Backwash: The backwash position allows you to decrease the pressure in the filter and clean the sand. You should do a backwash when the pressure increases 10 psi above normal pressure. This one takes about 1 min – 1 min 30 sec.

Rinse: This is the position after the backwash. This replaces the sand before returning to the filter position. The rinse takes about 30 sec.

Close/Close: This position is used to close off access to the water flow throughout the filtration system. It is ideal for cleaning the pump basket or making a repair.

Winterize: Position when closing the pool for the winter season

***Caution! It is important to close the pump every time you want to change positions on the filter.

Here is a helpful link for maintaining your sand filter. Click here!

Maintain proper sanitizer and pool swing

In addition to daily circulation and filtration, a dose of sanitizer is also important for maintaining clean, clear pool water.

To do this, the most important tool is your water testing kit. Before using chemicals, do the analysis yourself or come in and have your pool water tested. Understanding what’s in your water (and what’s not) is the first step to balancing it.

How to properly collect a water sample. Click here! »

The three most important elements of pool water chemistry are:

The pH: The measure of the acidity or basicity of your pool water. Low pH levels are acidic, while high levels are basic. The ideal range for your pool is 7.4 to 7.6

Alkalinity: Works as a pH buffer and helps prevent large fluctuations in basicity or acidity. The ideal range is 100 to 150 parts per million (ppm). Guide what is total alkalinity, click here!

Sanitizer: The amount of chlorine, bromine, etc. in your pool water. Appropriate levels vary depending on the type of sanitizer you choose

  • For chlorine pool maintain 1 ppm to 3 ppm
  • For Salt Pool maintain 0.5 ppm to 1 ppm

Skimmer, 3-way valve and water return

If your pool filter is its liver, the skimmer and returns are its veins and arteries.

Your skimmer is used to suck up all the debris that ends up on the surface of your water. It’s important to empty this basket once in a while to prevent debris from blocking pool circulation. Below your skimmer is a three-way valve. This valve allows you to block access to certain parts of the pool. The majority of the time, the three-way valve should be open half skimmer and half bottom drain. To know what you are closing, you must rely on the tip of the handle on the three-way valve, not the handle itself. The latter will tell you what you are closing. 

In addition, when filling your pool, the water level should fill ¾ of the skimmer’s mouth. This equates to the third screw on your skimmer (from bottom to top)

As for the water return, make sure it is always angled 45 degrees down; optimal circulation will reduce dead spots in your pool.

Tip: No two pools are the same, and you’ll likely encounter specific maintenance issues with your pool over time. But if you get these three things right, you’ll be well equipped to handle most maintenance issues that may arise.

Complete Pool Maintenance System Mineraluxe

The Mineraluxe Pool Maintenance System is the most advanced maintenance program available on the market. 

Your pool is meant to be a special sanctuary for you and your family. The Mineraluxe Pool Care System allows you to focus on making memories and enjoying the summer with your family and friends. It couldn’t be easier to use, offering incredible water clarity and comfort. The system maximizes the number of swimming days by avoiding potential problems and removes the stress and additional costs associated with owning a pool. The best part is that for the typical pool owner, the Mineraluxe Pool Care System costs less than your daily cup of coffee! 

  1. Mineraluxe Advance Sticks: Multi-functional, mineral-based stick that gives you clear, dazzling water and perfectly clean surfaces by fusing and eliminating organic waste.
  2. Mineraluxe Oxygen: Enhanced Active Oxygen Shock specially formulated with powerful water clarifiers and polishers to keep it sparkling
  3. Mineraluxe Sanitizer Sticks: Slow-dissolving chlorine sticks to keep your water healthy.
See explanatory video, click here!

Using the Pentair iChlor Salt System

When all of your equipment is delivered, salt bags come with the pool. When it’s time to add salt to the pool, add 50% of the bags that are delivered to you. Wait 24 hours and take a water sample to come in and have the water tested in the store to ensure you have the correct level of salt in the pool. A technician at the lab will be able to tell you how many bags of salt the pool is missing. 

The amount of chlorine generation needed for your pool depends on several factors (pool size, outside temperature, etc.) The warmer the water temperature, the more chlorine generation is needed on the machine. To play with this generation, simply press « more » to increase and « less » to decrease. Here’s a quick video explaining how your salt system works, click here!

Here are some interesting articles:

Water care with Pristiva Salt

Pristiva is in a league of its own when it comes to maintaining a salt pool. The brand was developed after rigorous research and testing. This one is unmatched in its ability to create a clear and enjoyable salt pool experience. Our Pristiva line of salt pool care products will meet all your needs and allow you to fully enjoy all the benefits of your dazzling salt pool.

Here’s a quick video explaining how your salt system works, click here!

General Information

How to manually vacuum your pool in 3 steps

To vacuum, you need to close your bottom drain via your three-way valve (below the skimmer). Then, you must fill your vacuum hose with the pool’s return water. Finally, you must install your hose on the vacuum plate (that comes with the skimmer) in the skimmer. You can switch your sweeper to the filtration position and then do a backwash. The other option is to switch the sweeper to the waste position; this will prevent your sand from getting dirty with the waste that is in the water. This is best done at the beginning of the season when the pool is open and there is a lot of organic material in the pool. Here’s a quick three-step guide on how to sweep. 

How to use a flexible drain hose

To drain water from your pool (via the backwash or drain position), you will need to unwind a blue flexible hose. This type of hose must be handled with care. Here are a few small steps to follow to prevent it from breaking quickly.

  1. Stop the pump and unwind the drain hose.
  2. Turn on the backwash or drain (waste) position
  3. Wait for the hose to fill with water (by gravity).
  4. Once the hose is full, start the pump to drain the water.

Questions

For all other information, you can visit our website’s pool guides. 

You will also find other useful information such as how to sweep, how to get rid of algae, etc. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to write to us via our website (https://piscinehippocampe.ca) or by text message at 450-632-8680.

Happy swimming! 

The Piscine Hippocampe team